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.

Ditto, piano. My spaniel is an anxious soul, and very submissive to humans. He sometimes reacts to other dogs, though, so I tend to just not allow him to greet people or dogs when we're out and about. Visitors to the house are always slobbered on and have tummy rubs demanded of them, though :) The poodley pup loves everyone and everything, but in the right/wrong circumstances...Well, they both have a full set of teeth.

I prefer not to own a dog that I couldn't physically overpower if I needed to
I agree. And as much as SharpLily's descriptions of her Dobermans makes me yearn to have one (gorgeous, intelligent dogs), I am a small person and I can't imagine feeling comfortable with a dog that could put their paws on my head. And that kind of wariness is never going to be good for dog either.

Dachshund means badger hound. They were bred to go into setts after badgers and can be terrifying. But they are small, so they tend not to kill.

Owllady, has that been 100% confirmed? Because I've seen reports and pictures of various different dogs.

A dog would probably be more likely to attack a child than an adult for the same reason it'd be more likely to kill a rabbit than a horse, easier prey.

Quite, MaidOfStars - no-one should have a dog they are not comfortable with - and as comfortable and confident as I am about my experience with my own breed, I would not get a dog of another breed - big, small or any kind - without doing a lot of research and planning first. It's just irresponsible.

I didn't think we had 'pitbull' types in this country? And if it was a pit, then why was it rehomed to her? I thought they had to be destroyed?

If dolphins are so intelligent how come they jump into tuna nets.

Good point.

I suppose everyone has one of those days, including dolphins.

I was just going to ask that. Pit bulls are banned I thought too.

Eldrith, I agree dogs are often sort of living toys that human amuse themselves with...when other reason can there be for having them?

Dachshund means badger hound. They were bred to go into setts after badgers and can be terrifying. But they are small, so they tend not to kill.

I know I always find the scene hard to imagine when I look at my dachshund on the sofa - especially given how vicious a badger can be.

Mine's a standard size though not a mini, and they're a decent enough size. She's more of a medium than a small dog - it's just that the height is deceptive

Unfortunately a lot of people don't appreciate they're hounds and not lapdogs, which is why you see so many overweight ones :(

Because their echo location doesn't pick it up. People walk I to things, trip over, stand on things all the time too

sticky you're absolutely right, and this is actually something the rescue centre told us when we went to look at getting a dog (in the end decided it wasn't right for our situation). They need several hours of intense exercise - running - a day, plus they are an unsocialised breed and their kill instinct has not been suppressed. Scary.

Er, for companionship, for protection or as working dogs, Lazy?

I think the people at the re-homing centre must also take some of the blame here. Why would they let a dog of this size go to a one bed flat where a small child lives and the tenancy agreement states no dogs. I have had rescue animals, cats, and the place I got them from were very strict and did home checks before they let me have them. Disregarding the breed of the animal just the size of it would deem it unsuitable in my eyes.

And unfortunately for our gambling pleasure :(

Because their echo location doesn't pick it up.

Human eyes don't work well in the dark. But aircraft can land in pitch darkness thanks to radar, radio, in some cases GPS and the rest of the technology our intelligence has produced. If dolphins are so clever, why haven't they built a tuna-net detector?

topknob that rescue page really is heartbreaking. But I am very pleased to see that they will only rehome with children 14+, that they demand experienced/intermediate owners, that they will not rehome with other pets, etc.

dogs are often sort of living toys that human amuse themselves with...

I agree some dogs are treated like that (I'm thinking of the ones you see poking their head out of a designer handbag) but hopefully not the majority.

Did I read that they only had the dog for 4 weeks?

That's a seriously massive risk; a rescue dog with a troubled abusive past in a small flat with a child...

It's the owners fault , my parents have also kept awful dogs and as a result I've hardly ever taken their grandchildren round , it's actually my dads fault as he thinks animals are more important than people ! Due to his own pathetic people skills

I am quite clumsy and often spill things down myself etc - I have even broken toes just by walking into doors. However, I have never accidentally found myself in a tuna net. I put it to you that dolphins are a bit thick.