To think ALL aggressive dogs should be PTS

[JaffaMyCake]

This isn't a thread about a thread.

AIBU to think that dogs that repeatedly display signs of aggression towards humans and/or other dogs should be PTS?

I'm not talking about the odd growl here or there, but I mean dogs where the owners know that the dog can be aggressive.

As someone who has previously been bitten by a dog who the owners knew to be aggressive, but assured me was under control, I don't give two shiny shots whether you think you can control your dog, if it repeatedly behaves aggressively then it should be PTS, regardless of the circumstances in which the aggression occurs. (Obviously discounting being deliberately tormented or scared).

And before I get flamed, I love dogs and have one myself, but I know that if my dog was aggressive I wouldn't hesitate in having him PTS.

I know dogs are often "part of the family", but really, it would be far more sensible if people were stringent about this and no doubt it would prevent a lot of accidents/deaths!

dons flameproof suit

[JaffaMyCake]

tabulah honestly yes I would. It's sad but I couldn't personally take responsibility for an aggressive dog. I don't want the risk of it attacking a person even if it is out of fear.

[yoniwherethesundontshine]

Yes totally agree.

I am sick of reading about dog attacks where nothing can be done.

Generally we need to gear up on dogs, dog shit, aggressive dogs and feckless owners who want their dog to be aggressive.

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

Being on a lead does make my dog more aggressive. On occasions where she has been off lead she'll ignore other dogs or have a quick sniff. On a lead she'll pull, snarl and bark but I'll always call her back or keep her on her lead completely because she's a dog and I'll never know how she's going to react. I'd rather have her snarling on lead than potentially hurting another dog/getting her arse kicked in a dog fight.

[theodorakisses]

I agree op

[LackingEnergy]

JaffaMyCake - Funnily enough I've never heard that being on a lead makes dogs more aggressive hmm unless they haven't been appropriately lead trained. If this is the case then please do inform me why at numerous dog behavioural classes I've attended the dogs have been encouraged to socialise with each other whilst on leads?

Dogs can socialise on a lead but the leads should be lose otherwise the dog is put into a more dominant, challenging pose (raised head/chest ect) which can make the other dog feel threatened and lead to 'aggressive' behaviour from both dogs.

Personally if I don't know the dog I won't let them near mine if they are not displaying appropriate behaviour on their approach, even if they are on a lead.

Dogs are far better interacting off lead as their behavioural responses aren't restricted

[yoniwherethesundontshine]

I come across people every single day - whilst out walking my dog who I consider to be irresponsible.

In that "irresponsible" category I include owners who think its OK for their large dog to come charging at me or my DC and not give a shit.

The other day in a park, two ladies sat on a bench with dog, very nice looking cute dog bounding around, mine went up for a sniff....their dog suddenly turned and saw my dog off and was barking.

They didn't bat an eyelid, didn't say anything to their dog. We put our dog on the lead.

If it looks like my dog is running up to people I call her back immediately, I apologise I ask if they mind dogs.

Usually I hasn't to add I have to fight people off her, parents always want their toddlers to stroke her, she is ultra cute, people always stop and ask me about her.

I do not however take it for granted that people want her bounding up to them, or in fact walk in her shit.

[KnickersOnOnesHead]

Ok, so my dog is dog aggressive. He stops on his lead everywhere. Tonight, someone new was walking their large dog on the same field, without a lead. I shouted and asked if they could kindly not let their dog run up to mine, because he will bite. Luckily, they did.

If someone decided that they would allow their dog to come up to mine, whilst he was on a lead, on my dog lunged at the other dog, would my dog therefore have to be pts in your eyes?

[yoniwherethesundontshine]

Knicker, why cant you put a muzzle on him when out and about so this risk isn't even a consideration>?

[Booboostoo]

JaffaMyCake I can only go with what you post and you don't sound like you have a clue about dog behaviour. May I suggest S.R. Lindsey's three volume research overview on dog behaviour which will explain how the pulling of the lead makes dogs more aggressive, how there is no link between dog aggression and people aggression, management techniques for aggressive dogs, etc.

So your dog was involved in another fight with another dog but that's not aggression? What counts as aggression then and who gets to decide?

[LEMisdisappointed]

My rotweiller that had a history of food aggression bit my DD1 (she was 16 at the time) i didn't have him put to sleep. It was her own fault he bit her.

[KnickersOnOnesHead]

Why does he need a muzzle? He is only dog aggressive if a dog comes bounding up to him and barking etc. He walks lovely with the great dane next door, and the heinz over the road.

[pinkhalf]

I sort of agree - Its very hard to argue that you should be able to keep an aggressive animal, really what is being said that you cannot control a dog in its most important respect and the rest of society had better suck it up.

You can make as many excuses as you like, but its not the dog's fault. It rests with the owners, and it should be law that people who cannot control their dogs around people or other living creatures sufficient to cause injury should be banned from owning them. Owners having liability for their dogs would resolve a lot of problems.

[LackingEnergy]

Think dog owners guide to canine psychology

A very good book :)

[JaffaMyCake]

booboo there is quite clearly a difference between being on a lead and pulling on a lead. It is not aggression when another dog comes up and randomly attacks my dog no. Just as you wouldn't describe a victim of gbh as aggressive .

knickers I am on the fence tbh. The other owners are wrong but perhaps you could muzzle.

[attheendoftheday]

I totally disagree. Animal lives have an intrinsic value imo, just as human lives do (i'm not saying they are as important, before someone shouts me down, just that they aren't worthless). Other options should be looked at before considering pts.

My lovely and soft ddog, who is trained and has no history of aggression to humans or dogs, has recently started growling and barking at unfamiliar dogs if they approach my dc. I would not think of putting her down when her behaviour is both understandable and able to be remedied through training.

[tabulahrasa]

"tabulah honestly yes I would. It's sad but I couldn't personally take responsibility for an aggressive dog. I don't want the risk of it attacking a person even if it is out of fear."

But fear aggression towards other dogs is fairly easily managed and can sometimes respond really well to training and behavioral modification...

It's a learnt defence mechanism - they attack me, so I'm going to get in there first, if you can teach them that not all dogs attack, you can pretty much cure it and it's got absolutely nothing to do with being human aggressive.

[Peachy]

Mum's dog used to go for other dogs and growl at men thanks to the asshat who whipped it with a chain until it was rescued and rehomed.

It was fine with decent training and until then not given an opportunity to harm anyone. If someone says ah but what about the future I will laugh, Mum got him at 18 months and he died two years ago aged 12.

So no OP I don't think you are reasonable; I'd go with a system of compulsory training attendance but not PTS.

Fortunately I am anti death penalty otherwise the asshat who hurt the lovely creature in the first place might make a better candidate than the dog.

[SelectAUserName]

My dog is dog aggressive. It is not dominance, being an "alpha male" or nastiness. Most so-called 'aggression' usually isn't. It is prompted by fear. He is a rescue and wasn't correctly socialised as a puppy.

We manage it by walking him outside 'regular' dog walking hours in a field which is usually deserted, by crossing the road and/or taking a different route if we're going to otherwise pass another dog head on and by making him sit and rewarding him for non-reaction if it's unavoidable that a dog has to pass him while warning the other dog's owner. I can't predict which dogs he will react to and which he won't. If a dog comes too close to his 'bubble' he will snarl, bark and lunge but I try to keep him at a sufficient distance that even if he does that, he isn't close enough to touch the other dog. I won't muzzle him because that will make him feel more vulnerable, and therefore more fearful, and therefore more likely to react.

To be brutally honest, it is stressful and exhausting managing a dog-aggressive dog, because I have to be on high alert every time we're out to ensure he doesn't cause a fight. So far, he never has. My life would be a lot easier if dozy owners of other dogs showed a bit of common sense and/or understanding of dog behaviour and prevented their own dogs from getting too close.

So why do we keep him? Because he is the soppiest, sweetest thing around people. He loves nothing more than a belly rub, to lie against my leg and fall asleep touching me. He doesn't look twice at our cat. There is no correlation whatsoever between dog-on-dog aggression and dog-on-human aggression, and just because someone gets bitten in the course of breaking up a dog fight does NOT make that dog human-aggressive. It just makes the person daft enough to stick their hand into the middle of a dog fight.

One final thing: growling is not 'aggression'. Growling is a warning, it is a dog's way of saying "I'm really uncomfortable in this situation". A sensible person heeds the warning, backs off and approaches that situation in another way that is less threatening/worrying for the dog. A growling dog is a GOOD thing; it gives you an opportunity to stop things escalating further. Beware the dog who has been punished for growling, because it will suppress the warning signs and proceed straight to 'bite'.

[Peachy]

I also remember my Jinny- first ever dog aged 9, I am 40 now, half border collie and half dalmation.


Aggression free until someone tried to attack my sisters over the park. Once tossers left them went back to her gentle self.

Hardly deserved a death sentence for that!

[Peachy]

^What selectausername said.

[plinkyplonks]

OP you are being unreasonable.

How about this 'I think we should kill all aggressive children and adults. It's just a matter of time before they hurt someone. I got hit by a boy with blonde hair once. Therefore, all it's likely blonde haired boys are dangerous and need to be put down.' I think some of the logic is used in this thread is seriously flawed and a complete over reaction. Do you not believe therefore that dogs cannot be trained out of their habits, or that their temperament is a result of training and their environment?

I was bitten by a dog once too. Doesn't mean that I get a free pass to advocate a legalised dog killing spree.