to not understand why people have these types of dogs in their homes

[FunnysInLaJardin]

I've heard the arguments for and against keeping pit bull/mastiff type dogs and just don't understand at all why anyone would keep a powerful muscular dog as a pet in a family home. Yet another sad news story today in a village just down the road from my home village.

This isn't a AIBU really, just a 'why do they do it'. Is a pet really worth the risk? There are so many other dog types to chose from. I don't understand at all.

YANBU I don't understand why people with children have animals that could kill them if they turned.

Madness.

They are animals not people, I think some people forget that though.

No wonder people stereotype dog breeds when LaQueen stereotypes all people from the same 'societal background'

These awful, sad stories have really started to unsettle me as we have a rescue dog, she's an American bulldog (poss cross with something else). When we visited the RSPCA she was only 1 of 2 dogs we were allowed to rehome as we have 3 young children and she has always been very gentle with the kids and is adorable so we fell in love and adopted her.But more and more of these accidents keep happening and it really scares me, we've had her for over 3 years now and my youngest DD is now 4.5 yrs old so has grown up with her.
I can see that people are fearful of her when I take her for a walk sometimes as she is a big dog and has "that" look.
I couldn't ever imagine her attacking one of us...but that's what everyone always says isn't it? She's part of the family now and I love her, but I do wish I could wave a magic wand and make her smaller and fluffier just to ease that little niggle in my mind

Softsheen - agreed, surely the rescue centre must have done a home check, interview, assessment of the dog etc etc? Or did I read it was more like a kennel situation?

Excellent point bakingtins.

Strange how the 'glamour' dogs are never the ones known for having softer, more gentle temperaments (looks at one year old Springer who is soft as butter and who we have also put hours into training - in fact, had I known just how much time and commitment it takes to get the kind of well behaved, well mannered dog I always envisaged having, and the true meaning of two plus hours exercise a day, then I might have thought twice, which sadly happens all too often and why the rescue centres are full)

Sash Labradors have been bred for centuries to have a soft mouth to pick up game without damaging it, then they are bred and puppies selected by GDBA specifically for temperament, then very well socialised and trained by their puppy walkers before entering the GDBA training program. Pretty much the polar opposite in terms of responsible breeding and training from the situations that cause such tragedies. I have never heard of an assistance dog biting anyone, but that is not to say that all Labradors don't bite.

I do get a bit fed up that every time a big brute of a dog kills or maims someone, we have to listen to all the stories about "terrifying" labradors.

Yes, of course a lot of it is down to the owner to make sure that the dog is properly trained and controlled at all times. But don't you think that if labradors were really this vicious menace to society, we'd see more stories about them killing or maiming people? Given their popularity as family pets, it'd be big news if they really were as dangerous as some posters on here like to claim.

I don't know if anyone watched that dog programme on the beeb a couple of weeks ago, but they talked there about the differences between a bite from something like a labrador and something like a staffy. Apparently, because labs have been bred for retrieving game, they have soft mouths, which means that they bite and then let go. On the other hand, terriers and other hunting dogs are bred to kill their prey, and so will bite and hold on. This makes the likelihood of damage from a terrier bite much greater than that of a lab/spaniel bite.

I just can't understand why people want to bring these big muscly dogs into close proximity with their children in the first place. Yes, of course all dogs can bite, and even kill. But I think some dogs are much more likely to do that than others, and using powers of observation and a bit of common sense can enable us to distinguish between them quite easily.

It would also help if the breeders were properly checked, and animals weren't given away on Gumtree - "swap dog for...." Ban puppy farms!

i reported my earlier post as did not realise this thread was about Lexi

I agree that licensing is needed, but lets face it it will never happen as

(a) its will cost millions
(b) the license cost wont cover the running costs
(c) are we going to then arrest all un-licensed dogs? I suspect not
(d) alot of dogs would end up getting put down eventually although thats not the end of the world given the type of owners i suspect

ahh - labradors - fluffy, friendly dogs - www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1295350
www.parentdish.co.uk/2013/01/07/labrador-attacks-girl-of-four/

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/four-year-old-girl-scarred-life-after-2091124
www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/News/Bishops-Stortford/Police-investigate-dog-attack-in-Bishops-Stortford-park-20130921110450.htm

My dog is terrified of labradors

People can pay more and go to a KC registered breeder, whose bitch and sire have had appropriate health checks, whose puppies are raised in a family environment and well socialised, who care deeply about the breed, who 'interview' potential owners, who are prepared to go on a waiting list for a puppy and pay substantial amount of money for them, who make you sign an agreement to return the puppy rather than rehome at any stage in their lives etc etc.

I am 5ft and slight, a Lab would be too powerful for me, even well trained.

But it doesnt seem necessary for them to be of the type known to attack more ferociously.

Who is to define which should be banned though? I'm fairly sure my breed would be one of the first to get lumped in that category, but I feel far safer owning Dobermans around children, with experience and knowledge of the breed, than I would with a Labrador, Westie or other breed with which I have no history.

And I take your point LaQueen, but it may be better to hold off the lifestyle judgements until more reliable information is released. Yes, at the moment it's looking unfortunately like this case is another of the kind of which we've already seen so many, that paints these poor dogs in an unpleasant light and I'm the first throw abuse at the chavs, but I'm trying not to assume too much here until the dust settles.

Totally agree. They can be very dangerous and cause such injury and harm. I would not have one, let alone go near one.

It doesn't seem (from the media reports anyway) that the dog came from a rescue centre, but a boarding kennels and cattery, so possibly not so stringent on the checks on the animals/home etc.

I fully support licensing and the associated legislation for dog owners but am worried about the cost issue. My dog and I lived in Spain for a large part of his life, where we had to undergo annual veterinary and psychological testing, take out public liability insurance and be registered with the town hall, having proved I don't have a criminal record. He was also obliged to be muzzled and on a lead in public. The same rules applied to all owners of a list of 'potentially dangerous' breeds. None of this cost anything (even the insurance as mine came as a standard part of my home insurance) and the police were happy to enforce.

Unfortunately when licensing measures have been proposed in the UK, high costs seem to be an inevitable part. My problem with this is that there are a number of lonely old people whose dogs are incredibly important to them, who cannot afford these fees. Their dogs are a lifeline to them - they form part of their social life and keep them fit. It would be terrible to make this inaccessible to them. But if it would save a child's life, you might ask? Well yes, you would have a point, but again how many cases of these dog attacks have you heard of where a child is killed by an elderly person's tiny, fluffy mongrel?

I totally understand the point you are making OP
My friend has a rottie, a much larger than average, big softie.
But when I look at him I do think that if he ever did turn you wouldnt stand a chance, he is so strong and muscular
I have a miniature poodle and I could break her jaw easily or overpower her
She is a great dog and has never been aggressive but if she did she is much less likely to cause harm

I find it quite scary that most every time you hear one of these stories, the owner/neighbors always say: "He was such a nice dog".

Which is why people find it hard to swallow the "I have a pit bull but he's so sweet, he would lick you to death if you broke into our house" yada yada yada.

It's a numbers game, really; lots of dogs carry some risk (I'm not sure what damage a yorkshire terrier or similarly tiny dog could do, or a french bulldog) - so why not just go with a breed that's less likely to turn, and if they do turn, one that can't kill.

Yanbu. Stupid people, not the dogs fault.

I am also amazed considering the incidents over the years that people don't consider the unpredictable element of pets while they still have vulnerable children at home. yes if you want one as an adult and accept the risks fine but why put your children or those of others in the firing line. I live in the city and most people who have these dogs I am sure don't have the money or home/lad required to house them and exercise them properly. Unfortunately as non Pc as it sounds where I live there is a type. About 2 yrs ago a dog exactly like the one this story refers to knocked me over v close to my house I can honestly say I was terrified for months and I still see the guy with it off lead all the time

Last week I was walking with DS on some grassland when a random dog came running over. Couldn't tell you what breed as I'm really not a dog person but it was fluffy, white, it had a flat nose, was about as tall as 2 year old DS and was absolutely NUTS.

DS stuck his hand out and I told him that he must never touch strange dogs as they may not like it and might bite him. The owner overheard me saying this and started yelling at me, saying his dog wouldn't ever bite, I'm an idiot etc, blah blah.

That's the kind of owner I think is irresponsible in my opinion as he just doesn't know but isn't prepared to take steps to minimise the possibility.