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.

[Skinheadmermaid]

Oh here we go, more ignorant breed blaming from thickos who don't know a pitbull from their arsehole.
Did you know the first dog breed the media used to make up sensationalist stories about was the Newfoundland?
A couple of years ago a little girl was mauled and scarred for life by none other then a big scary...labrador. But i doubt you know about that, because it wasn't a 'big scary' mastiff breed the media didn't splash it all over the front page. The andrex puppy has done the labradors PR work very well. My poor dog has been attacked by labs more then any other dog breed because idiots buy them and think 'oh its a lab it'll be well behaved and sweet even without training'
WRONG. ALL dogs need training, even supposed sweet fluffy labs.
What about the baby that was bitten by a fox and it turned out to be the parents german shepherd?
You see any dog can bite, any dog can kill.
There is no breed 'born bad' or more demonic then another, there is only whipped up sensationalist tales bred out of hatred by the media to create bias through fear; the same as they do with people.
How would you like it if a story ran in the paper of an african man raping someone and i said all african men rape, they are more dangerous by birth then european men.
Its all bollucks.
The dog most likely to be aggressive and bite its owners is the dashaund.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

With regards to dogs being bred for fighting, I've seen a lot of American animal programmes and all have said that any fighting dog that shows aggression to people is destroyed, they are bred to be dog agressive. They aren't allowed to attack people

[MaidOfStars]

So the irresponsible, lazy dog owners just don't bother.
....to get licences.

In theory, I agree with licensing but how to police? Do you expect all neighbourhood officers to check the credentials of everyone out walking their dog? I don't see how to enforce it.

[EldritchCleavage]

Behaviour that is tolerated in smaller breeds is magnified, but the dog is no worse

This resonates with me. All the direct dog problems we have had when taking our children to the park (jumping up, scratching, chasing or going to nip the children) have been by small dogs, invariably owned by the same group of older women who indulge them like children, seem to do no training and don't really make sure they get any exercise when they do take them to the park and never pick up their dog mess either.

One pug in particular is a recurrent problem, but the owner just says 'Oh don't mind him, he loves children'. He clearly doesn't, he wants to bite their faces off. The thing is, I know I could stamp the wretched little thing to death in pretty short order if I had to. I wouldn't have that option with a pitbull, or Rottweiler.

[feelingood]

Personally I would not have ANY BREED of dog that has previously been abused - their behaviour can be unrepdictable, you just dont know what these dogs have been fully subjected to and how they feel - no one can.

This is because I have small children and a small house.

I thinkt hese dogs are fine to be homed with the correct owners and circumstances. I think the rescue chairty/kennel are irresponsible in homing such a large previously abused dog in a home with a young child.

But that said...it beggars belief why parents of small children do this.

[MaidOfStars]

Skinheadmermaid - harsh. I don't see too much breed blaming, only a discussion to recognise that all dogs can bite.

[tabulahrasa]

"In theory, I agree with licensing but how to police? Do you expect all neighbourhood officers to check the credentials of everyone out walking their dog?"

Why not? run it like a driving licencing scheme.

[SharpLily]

The point is that you have to be around to stop it happening in the first place, MaaidOfStars. You can kick it all you like but that won't do a lot of good after it had been left alone with a child and smothered it to death.

You can't guarantee the behaviour of any breed any more than you can any human, but let's pretend, just for a second: I believe with certainty that if dogs were only ever to go to the appropriate homes and be correctly brought up and handled, and NEVER, EVER allowed to live with the wrong owners, we would find the incidences of attacks would decrease to almost nil, regardless of breed. However I believe the same could be said of humans - if all were to be brought up in 'the perfect home' (could such a thing ever really exist?), the world be a different place, prisons would not be overcrowded and the Jeremy Kyle Show would not have to exist.

So again I would go with the owner being the problem rather than the breed.

[EldritchCleavage]

How would you like it if a story ran in the paper of an african man raping someone and i said all african men rape, they are more dangerous by birth then european men

Please stop comparing race in humans to breeds of dog, it is not comparable at all.

[Sparklingbrook]

The dog that bit me was one of those yappy type small dogs. It's owner had to get it off me.

Unfortunately both DSs were with me and were little. I think it affected their thinking about dogs. Even now they aren't keen.

[Retropear]

Yanbu

Ugly,slobbery,smelly,expensive to feed,time consuming,scary and dangerous.

Sick of hearing of this type of thing.It's bad enough the general public having to tolerate these dogs out in public but frankly if you put your child at risk from any animal I think it is a child protection issue and prosecution should happen.

[WhatTheFoxSays]

Can you ever fully trust a dog whatever the breed?

Good point. Any dog can turn when you least expect it.

[Lazysuzanne]

I think often dog owners are being overly anthropomorphic, when they say they 'trust' the dog they are ascribing to it human characteristics.

They speak as if the dog regards their children with a human like sense of affection.

[MaidOfStars]

SharpLily - not sure if you misunderstand me. I posted earlier, very much of the opinion that breed is irrelevant and owner demographics were a few more reliable indicator of tendency to attack.

And yes, I'd have to be around the chihauhau attack to actually stop it. But I would think it sensible to not have dogs and children alone together anyway.

[Retropear]

And yes time for a massive overhaul of the system.

Too many members of the law biding public are being jumped on,nipped,bitten and made to feel scared.

Why do we have to put up with it?

[FunnysInLaJardin]

I think that re quote there^^ by Eldritch may be one of the reasons there things happen. Dogs are considered a family member and so on a par with the other family members including the children.

There seems to be some skewed thinking where dogs are given the same 'rights' as humans. These are animals we are talking about.

[MaidOfStars]

I think it is a child protection issue and prosecution should happen.
That's an interesting point. Is it not the case that new laws (already implemented?) say owners will be held responsible for any injury caused by their dog? What would be the charge, does anyone know? Is it possible to be charged with murder, say, by using a dog as a deadly weapon?

[fromparistoberlin]

"Her daughter has literally just been killed in front of her, and some of yo on here are calling her an idiot, a fuckwit and thick as fucking shit.


how dare you, the question had nothing to do with that poor little girl. and it was not a pitbull staff, it was different breed.

I really do not appreciate you twisting my words to make out I am insulting a poor bereaved mother.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Humans are animals too. And the species responsible for more deaths than any other animal.

[Sparklingbrook]

if you are going to compare them with humans you never know when a human will turn either.

From watching that scary lady with the black ponytail on the dog training show I believe she says you have to let them know you are the pack leader.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

No you don't. That's a true point as well.

[curlew]

Of course it's not the dog's fault. Dogs don't have the brain power or consciousness to be responsible for their actions. No animal does.

Dogs act on instinct and training. Or lack of training.

[fromparistoberlin]

Skinheadmermaid


(a) thats a vile comparison you used there, yuk

(b) I was bitten by a lab. But I am far more scared of pitbull/staff. Why? their owners scare me, they walk down the street smoking spliff, and the dgos usually have scary studded leather things, and they are SCARY as fuck!!!

[Wallison]

Humans don't shit on the floor and bite joggers in the park though.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

YY Lazy. My DC are 13 and 10, and I have two dogs. The 15kg spaniel and a 6kg poodley thing. Both are lovely, soppy dogs. But they are dogs. They are attached to us, like being with us, and add something special to our family. I do leave the room when the dogs and DC are together, because my DC are older and I know they won't torment the animals. I never leave visiting DC and the dogs alone, and if small children are visiting the dogs are shut in the kitchen. I think trusting a dog puts an unfair burden on the dog, tbh.