Another child killed by a dog

[NeverTrustAPoliceman]

Breaking news now. When is this going to stop?

Rip little one.

How many times do we have to read these stories before some sort of dog control legislation is put in place?

It’s getting to the point that this is one of my biggest fears in giving my kids some
freedom and allowing them out on their own.

Breed not released by the police - but we all know this isn't going to be an attack by a cocker spaniel or a golden retriever, is it?

Sep I agree. Both my DC were attacked by dogs when they were young. Both times we were just out enjoying ourselves. Thankfully neither were seriously injured but one incident could have gone badly wrong if it had not been for two burly passers by.

It is NEVER going to stop because certain people will always make an excuse for a dog. The injuries - never mind deaths - inflicted on people by dogs are horrendous but when I posted pictures on another thread, they were ignored or at least minimised.

There’s already a thread going on this

A car under unskilled ownership has the potential to kill.

A dog under unskilled ownership has the potential to kill.

Yet we only license one of these things?

Government will do nothing because it would not be popular.

Don't tell me. It was a loving gentle family pet that had never done anything like this before.

This is very sad. The death happened in a back garden, so chances are this was a family pet, either hers or one in the extended family. Almost all children killed by dogs are killed by a dog known to them - typically the parents' or grandparents' dog.

The "something must be done" brigade are rarely evidence based; the last bit of legislation that was brought in after a spate of dog attacks, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1992, is widely regarded as being a very poorly written bit of kneejerk legislation, that has done little to improve safety.

If I were going to do two things to improve dog safety, I'd

1. Regulate the dog training and behaviour industries - currently, literally anyone can call themselves a trainer or behaviourist, and can give out incredibly dangerous advice.
2. Improve public knowledge of dog body language; so many times dogs say "I'm not comfortable" in a great variety of polite ways, get completely ignored, and end up biting. The "cute" videos of children climbing all over dogs that are clearly not happy make me cringe.

Sadly @LastOfTheChristmasWine feckless dog owners won’t give a shit about any of that it’ll be all ‘my Tyson wouldn’t hurt a fly’.

We can’t trust people to be sensible so we need to ban American bullies and go back to licensing dogs, every prospective owner to go on a safety course before they can buy and register a puppy.

Next up.... it's not bad dogs it's bad owners. This nation is obsessed with pets and animals, often to the detriment of humans.

Absolutely agree with you here, especially on those last two points.
Dogs give out signals when they are not happy. Someone who lets their small kid continue to climb over a dog who had whale eye and is panting, is a dick.

Also, licensing will do sweet FA. Responsible people will get a license, and the dicks who treat their dogs like trash wont bother. Same as with cars really.

To take on ownership of a dog has got to be at least as big a decision and as significant a level of responsibility as learning to drive.

We don’t allow people behind the wheel of a car until they can prove to an approved examiner that they are capable of handling it, and will not be a danger to the public.

Why does same not apply to dogs?

We need specially trained police then to start a mission to look for dangerous dogs. ..

@HufflepuffRavenclaw absolutely agree! There needs to be new legislation banning breeds that keep killing

If we would need tests prior to getting a dog, then surely there should be tests prior to someone wanting a child?
A child brought up the wrong way can also cause a lot of harm as an adult.

Not sure how that would work when there's no money and no resources.

Define "dangerous dog".
Yes, maybe one who has already done something awful, but you can't define a dog as dangerous simply by how it looks.

It happened in a garden. Not on the street.

On the topic of body language education, anyone who has a dog or comes into contact with a dog should get a good understanding of these things, and also know that there are lots of myths. For instance, a wagging tail does not necessarily mean the dog is happy (just emotionally aroused), and a growl isn't always aggressive (there is such a thing as a play growl, though if you're unsure err on the side of caution). It's important to look at these things in the wider context.

Text version: www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/canine-ladder-of-communication

Video version:

Do your children never go in gardens?

and as usual all the loved up dog apologists are here already

First off the banned breeds. I believe pit balls are distinctive by their ears and I see a few around here.

So train officers on that. Give them powers to test the dog dna

A general drive to look for younger people usually men walking with massively straining dogs on leash or without. Talk to them...backed up with law's around training.

anyone who has a dog or comes into contact with a dog should get a good understanding of these things
NO !!
KEEP THE DAMN THING UNDER CONTROL !!

Well said 👏