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.

This is going upthread a bit, so sorry about that, but all of these people cacking on about how the public shouldn't be 'biased' against certain breeds - do you think that the dogs feel upset at this bias? It just seems a strange thing to rail against.

this case is terribly sad and makes me feel sick - "not another one" was my initial thought.

Regardless of any thought of blame or judgement of peoples decisions, I feel tremendous sympathy for the family - how they will ever recover I don't know. Also really feel for other parents who have lost children to dogs and who are re-living their worst nightmare again now.

But fundamentally I do not understand why so many people are in denial about the possibility, that ANY animal/dog COULD one day turn and attack, snap, bite etc. and how devastating the consequences could be if the dog is big and strong, or acting as part of a pack. Woman on local radio this morning was adamant that her 3 staffies were safe round her 8 DC and her 11mo DGD and the dogs would all curl up and sleep together with the baby on the floor, and dogs did not mind the baby pulling their tails and hitting them. - wrong on so many levels - dogs are being elevated to the same rank as children and children not being taught to respect and not annoy dogs! She was all "I KNOW my dogs, I KNOW I can trust them" etc etc. How many women have been brutally beaten by a DP they thought they knew and trusted and who had previously been of good character?? Incident waiting to happen IMO. What makes these people think THEY won't be the one it happens to?

I have a toy poodle who is more the size of a miniature poodle. He's thick as pig shit (I love him though ) and an incredibly gentle, loving dog around children. He's good with adults too but just adores children. I've had him from 9 weeks and was interviewed thoroughly - twice - by his reputable KC registered experienced breeder. I would still never ever leave him alone in the same room with a child or tbh, even with a strange adult. Surely, it's common sense? I find it baffling that people can be so blasé. I know my dog could turn and while he's probably not strong enough to do anything serious physically, he could still cause some harm physically, not to mention cause psychological damage. I love him but I won't ever trust him which I think is a good thing because it ensures I am always cautious.

Sure, WereTricksPotter. I blame both, really - but a parent has to assume some level of incompetence when it comes to this kind of thing. Like if I take my kid to a soft-play center and they're doing something dodgy (like I'm worried about a head or neck injury) and the person working there assures it's fine, I don't really put much stock in that. Possibly the people working at a pound are more qualified than people at a soft-play center, but it's certainly possible that they're not.

Phantomnamechanger or dogs can change through illness. We had a dog which had worked with children for years and was adorable, never barked (perfect dog in my opinion as I hate barking) but one day suddenly snapped and growled at a child- it turned out he had arthritis in his back legs and the child had accidentally bashed the painful leg. Even nice dogs can be in pain, surprised or turn nasty and that's why having big powerful ones around tiny children is such a bad idea.

I don't think large dogs and tiny children go together. IMHO. I have a deep distrust of dogs. But I know all this wouldn't hurt a fly stuff. Sorry I don't buy it.

Yes, I remember some story of a previously lovely dog who killed or attacked a child in their home, it turned out the dog had a crayon stuck in its ear.

Which is why I don't like really strong dogs. Not because I'm worried about a crayon specifically, but you just never know. Every time you hear these stories, it was the first time the dog attacked - no warning bell.

yes mumsy my schoolfriend had an adorable lab who she had grown up with - it didn't do anything when kids from the local school broke in and nicked stuff one day! But then one day it turned round and just bit her while they were both sat in front of the TV - she did not do or say anything to hurt or startle it - turns out doggie had a brain tumour

WereTricks I'm wondering why you have listed horses as an example? They are freely available, prices have plummeted in recent years as the costs of feed and keep have gone up, you can buy a horse for a fraction of the price of a pedigree dog. I've seen novice owners do themselves and their animals serious harm.

Totally agree Where. Bring back the dog licence. If you cannot afford to pay at least £100 for a licence, you cannot afford a dog.

Exemptions for some potential owners could be introduced but make the licence cost high enough to fund assessment and monitoring and change the law to make these attacks a prosecutable offence with tandem lengthy animal keeping bans.

My son has a dog that lives w/ his Father because we do not have a lifestyle conducive to full time ownership. I would love, love, love a dog. But will not until I live somewhere with a decent amount of land in the country and I do not work full time. I walk him (my son spends most of his time w/ the dog) and have the Springer to stay whenever I am home but most of the time he lives happily in my exes home with a large country garden and plenty of activities and people around him. If I was putting myself and my emotional needs first I would have taken the dog with me. It broke my heart not to.

Dogs are not meant to be alone all day in a house either. They are pack animals.

Also to have a rescue dog without knowing the full history is dicing with death. I don't understand why someone would want such a big dog in a flat

my dwarf hamsters bite but I would defy either of them to kill my children. The same goes for the cats.

I would not want any animal at all to share my living space if I couldn't defend myself against it. I guess that is my pet criteria.

I wouldn't have a leopard or a tiger either much as I love cats, not even one which had been well trained and socialised!

Reading this thread, I can see why so many children have died due to mauling by dogs.

They are not people, ffs.

Funnys - yes, and even zoo keepers and tiger trainers have been caught out and hurt/killed because they have taken risks, not stuck to the rules and ended up mauled to death by their animals, because they thought they knew them and had a relationship with them