Protecting kids from dogs

[Yeen]

We live very close to some lovely woods where I take my DC walking most days. Lots of dog walkers as you'd expect, most dogs on lead and perfectly friendly (I haven't got a problem with dogs). However recently there's been a huge increase in very large pit bull type breeds (I think they're American Bully XL dogs), and they never seem to be on leads - owners often miles away. I find these types of dogs really intimidating and most of the recent dog attacks in the news seem to involve them. I have no idea how I would even go about attempting to protect my DC if one attacked. If one is nearby I make sure DC aren't running around and are standing with me. Are there any other practical steps I could take?! I am usually carrying a hot drink of some sort, is that going to be of any practical use against a dog if it attacks??

thanks, that sounds like a good idea!

They are everywhere ATM, I guarantee you will be living near some too. Log on to Pets4Homes and see how many puppies are for sale near you.

I know it's not exactly what you're asking but interested that you say you can't go anywhere without seeing them.

I've still never seen one in real life (in Hampshire)

I don't see them every time I go out, but I have seen at least one in every place I would ever walk. I might go days or weeks without seeing any, but I could never guarantee I wouldn't see one.

There are such things as well trained XL Bully's with responsible owners like this guy

But I have to say if there was a sensible way of banning this particular breed I'd be in favour of it.

I didn't think I'd ever say that - I grew up with a Staffy with the most beautiful temperament and now I have a GSD cross so I've always very much been on the side of 'it's the owner, not the breed'.

However, XL bullies are so huge, dangerous and uncontrollable even for a grown 6 foot tall man that it's untenable for so many of them to be in the hands of irresponsible owners. Especially as they seem to want to have a whole pack of the things if social media is anything to go by.

I think that, in particular, is insane because they're not the kind of dogs that mix well with each other and when one goes...they tend to all go.

There's a horrible video on YouTube of a woman in London being attacked by what looks to be her partners three dogs. He manages to get two of them by the collars but she's left screaming with the third hanging off her arm

The dogs in this video look like actual monsters, however well they might be behaving. I honestly can't understand why anyone would want one.

Also don't the dogs in the video have their ears cropped? Always thought that was something idiot dog owners did to make them seem tough.

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https://www.joe.co.uk/news/family-attacked-by-crazed-dog-battered-it-to-death-with-hammer-to-save-their-lives-399833?fbclid=IwAR1g6N5d9Ro3Ed4zfNwlrcI4VQXwA-sEhvJ0umYyfjb8m6vIK2WNn0bHIow

Me neither, and I take the dogs out a lot to various places.

Yes I think that's one of the ones I remember.

What I don't really trust is non-dog lovers' attempts to identify a breed.

OFC, I don't want my children or (small) dogs attacked, either. There are ways of being sensible.

So you recognise that, and you've also admitted you're not sure of the breed you "just know they're big and scary".

So a scare thread about lots of American XL bullies everywhere and your conviction they will attack and it's all nonsense?

Not triggered, just more knowledgeable about dogs than you are.

If you post about dogs in a way that doesn't quite make sense, people who know dogs are bound to comment.

The same would happen to me if I went to S&B and posted nonsense about facials.

To be serious, though, you've pretty much admitted this is about your own fear of dogs. It's worth trying to get over your phobias when you have small children.

It would worry me too, but I've literally never come across one of these XL bullies. I read every time they're mentioned to try and work out if the numbers are really growing or not.

I don't have a phobia of dogs, I have friends with dogs who we visit regularly and I'm not remotely scared of their dogs. I am scared of large bull looking breeds who are not walked on leads and whose owners don't seem in control of them.

Two separate dog attacks in Worcester yesterday. No word on the breed yet but I would bet my house they were both bull breeds..

I've not read the whole thread but I saw a video recently which showed a trio of dogs, one began attacking the owners friend then the others joined in. The advice in this situation was to have used either the collar to try to choke/strangle the initial biting dog until it passed out. If haven't got a lead, to use scarf/other or failing that, your arm to choke hold until dog passes out. Because of pack mentality, once the first one had a good hold, the others wanted in on the action so quick actions are vital.

I also have fears walking past these dogs off lead especially with young children and it's so annoying that the owners are this irresponsible.

Both inside the family home/property.

No, one was in the street and was tasered due to the risk to people nearby, including kids.

The tasered dog was involved in a dog-on-dog fight in Coventry. No persons were injured.

OP,

You are buying into the media-fuelled hysteria. I suggest you speak to someone about your anxiety before it rubs off on your kids. Making plans to kill a dog in the event of a highly unlikely attack is not normal behavior.

You've admitted yourself you don't exactly know which breeds you are scared of, it's just the large ones that you don't like the look of. If you don't know which breed they are, how do you know they are responsible for any of the recent attacks?

None of the breeds you posted earlier re being over 70kg are commonly mixed into the "XL bully" crossbreed. XL bullies are not usually over 60kg so if you're seeing dogs bigger than this in your area they're not XL bullies and are probably completely innocent.

Well I wouldn't know the weight of a dog by sight, would I. I just know that these dogs I have seen (some of which are certainly bullies) are huge, muscular, and I don't think they should be being walked off lead.

Like I say, if I had a cat that big and muscular and it was wondering round off a lead, it would be similar to having a jaguar or lynx casually strolling round the park.

No, it wouldn't be remotely similar. Jaguars and Lynxs do not have hundreds and hundreds of years of domestication behind them. You cannot compare wild animals with animals bred for human companionship. It's like comparing a domestic pig with a wild boar. They have been the same once upon a time but are nothing alike now.

The lengths some people will go to to defend these dogs is beyond ludicrous.

The gun control comparison is apt.

If that was in response to my last post you don't understand domestication. I've a degree in canine behaviour and welfare and selective breeding has a massive impact on an animal's appearance and behaviour. Domesticated animals are in no way comparable with wild animals. This is why we do not keep wolves as pets instead of huskies.