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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

699 replies

FunnysInLaJardin · 06/11/2013 11:12

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.

OP posts:
LtEveDallas · 07/11/2013 19:39

Dahlen, I agree totally.

SharpLily · 07/11/2013 19:40

As a dog owners and an animal lover I am fed up of people who don't know what they are doing making life difficult for me, a responsible owner. Not to mention contributing to the problem of not enough homes for unwanted animals. And the fact that people who allow their dogs to breed by accident or without due consideration to health screening, genetics and temperament are precisely the ones who produce dogs with expensive and heart-breaking health problems, temperaments that are more likely to be neurotic or aggressive, and don't pay enough attention to the suitability of owners and homes for the puppies they have produced, which inevitably results in exactly the type of dog who is on it's third home before reaching 1 year of age and therefore becomes unplaceable.

Spot on.

Re a poster's previous comments about Princess Anne's repeat offender dog/s -they should have been taken away and destroyed, and she charged with not having her dog/s under control in a public place (if it was public) or whatever Act is appropriate for a dog owner whose dogs kill other dogs and are out of the owner's control.

I think this did happen. I'm sure I read that Princess Anne is the only member of the royal family with a criminal record, given for this offence.

Tuhlulah · 07/11/2013 20:01

Re neutering, I agree. I think it must be hard for a dog to be entire in a city, with all the smells and the need to establish territory if you're a dog, and being harassed and impregnated if you're a bitch. Plus the risk of certain dogs being stolen for breeding. My understanding of the Dangerous Dogs Act is that dogs who fit the pit bull-type criteria should be muzzled in public and neutered, yet still I see PB types with testicles the size of oranges, no muzzle.

In 2000 I bought an expensive beautifully bred (bloody mad) pedigree dog, and the breeder was very anti castration. I found breeders who weren't prepared to sell to people who considered castration. Odd.

I recently read research that said many dogs are castrated because they have shown aggression, and the owners assume castration will stop this, but by the time the animal has shown aggression it s too late for castration to be a remedy. And the most dangerous dog as measured by biting its owners? Not pit bulls, or Staffs, or anything big and scary -English Cocker Spaniels. THis was a peer reviewed research paper.

So glad to hear the Princess Royal was prosecuted. Hope her dangerous and out of control dogs were destroyed too.

CalamityKate · 07/11/2013 22:09

Dooin - what's the difference between a rehoming centre and a rescue? This rehoming centre clearly got things all kinds of wrong - is that typical?

D0oinMeCleanin · 07/11/2013 22:38

This particular rehoming center was a council pound. As it also had an attached boarding kennels, I'd be happy to assume it is one of the worst, ran only for profit and with little interest in doing anything with the dogs other than selling them on as quickly as possible once the council's 7 day funding for strays has ended.

Council pounds generally never advertise that they are a pound, they're aware of the image that pounds have and how damaging this would be to their side business/rehoming success.

Some rescues class themselves as rehoming centers, ones that work primarily with kennels rather than foster homes eg. Dog's Trust and they get things very right.

Some simple advise to follow is that if the rescue you are hoping to adopt from does not at least do a homecheck and interview, does not ask to meet the whole family and will not offer lifetime support, then they are not reputable rescue, so walk away. Unfortunately there are no regulations in place and any eejit can call themselves a rescue. All reputable rescues will perform the above checks.

D0oinMeCleanin · 07/11/2013 22:41

Also all reputable rescues spay or neuter before the dog is rehomed, unless their are genuine medical reasons as to why they shouldn't or the dog is too young, in which case they will pay to get it done and will do a follow up to ensure it's been done.

curlew · 08/11/2013 07:10

"If you have moral/sound reasons for not neutering"

And these might be?

Unless you are a reputable breeder, obviously. If there is such a thing. Which I have my doubts about.

But moral reasons? Give me strength!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geckos48 · 08/11/2013 07:11

I'm sure Nicholas Knatchbull has gained a few notches on his criminal record too ;)

Geckos48 · 08/11/2013 07:14

There was a girl on my college course who 'doesn't believe' in splaying cats or dogs. Her dog was on its forth litter of puppies and cat on its fifth litter of kittens.

VisualiseAHorse · 08/11/2013 07:15

Geckos what does she do with all the puppies and kittens?

SharpLily · 08/11/2013 07:22

Blimey. There's an epidemic of stupid.

Geckos48 · 08/11/2013 07:44

To be honest talking to her gave me a really bad taste in my mouth so I didn't probe. This was a person on a social worker course though.

There were some interesting characters on that course...

It's definitely not enough to say you have 'moral reasons' in my opinion.

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/11/2013 07:47

Just Shock what on earth does she do with the babies? Neutering is the best thing you can go for pets those poor cats and dogs must be horrendously run down from all the pregnancies.

ShinyBlackNose · 08/11/2013 12:16

I strongly agree with all pets being neutered. Only registered breeders should be allowed to keep 'entire' animals. There is absolutely no good reason for anyone else to keep un-neutered animals.

Opalite · 08/11/2013 12:26

I choose not to get my dog spayed... I have and continue to ensure she doesn't get pregnant while she's in season (it doesn't last long so it's not difficult)

It's an operation and the dog has to go under anaesthetic. Also, dogs are born with reproductive organs and it's pretty easy to make sure your dog doesn't get a bitch pregnant or get pregnant herself. Dogs are born with reproductive organs, it's natural and unless it's absolutely necessary I wouldn't get a dog neutered.

baskingseals · 08/11/2013 12:39

My male Labrador is not neutered, we live in the country, and I would like to breed from him. He could easily escape from the garden, but so far he hasn't. He is five.

D0oinMeCleanin · 08/11/2013 13:08

There are a lot of health and behavioral advantages to spaying and neutering, particularly in dogs, including reduced risk of certain cancers, reduced risk of straying and reduced risk of aggression. Of course not all complete dogs will become aggressive, most will not, but why risk it?

As for wanting to breed, while there are dogs being killed in their thousands each year through lack of homes, I find the thought abhorrent. Work in a rescue for a week then come back and tell me you'd still breed your dog.

It's not just staffies and bull breeds being dumped, there are hundreds of pedigree labs and "good" family dogs being abandoned. We do not need more dogs in this country.

CalamityKate · 08/11/2013 13:57

Baskingseals - I assume your dog is an outstanding example of his breed temperamentally and physically and that's been assessed by experts, hence why you've got top breeders travelling from miles away and hammering on your door because they've done their research and know that your dog has the exact right characteristics to complement their bitch.

baskingseals · 08/11/2013 14:00

Doing, I wouldn't actively breed my dog, but say a friend of a friend had a dog and was looking for a mate, then I would be interested, because I would like to have one of my dog's puppies, and as would other friends. I would never use a breeder, my dog did not come from a breeder, I was unable to get a dog from a rescue as my children were too young.

CalamityKate · 08/11/2013 14:01

Dooin - I was looking on dogsblog the other evening and there are LOADS of young dogs and puppies of all breeds and types on there. I DS is desperate for a dog of his own that hopefully he'll get bored with so I can take over and honestly, anyone would be spoilt for choice.

curlew · 08/11/2013 14:03

Sorry, baskingseals- that is so wrong on so many levels. Get him neutered.

CalamityKate · 08/11/2013 14:04

Wow how lucky that the owner of a dog that's perfectly matched to yours happens to be a friend of a friend! What are the chances!
So how did you manage to get hold of your dogs lineage?

ShinyBlackNose · 08/11/2013 14:05

Basking - your reason for not neutering is that at some point during your dog's life there may be a random person with a random dog who would like to do some breeding?

CalamityKate · 08/11/2013 14:06

If he's not a rescue, he came from a breeder. A BYB possibly but still a breeder. Unless he was re homed to you?

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/11/2013 14:07

opalite

Do you know what else is an anaesthetic and a surgery?

A c section when the puppies get stuck
Or when they have to remove a uterus full of pus. Both are far far more risky and than a routine spay/castrate.

Death being a strong possibility also