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.

It's amazing how quickly people rally to the support of the dog and/or owner. (not that I blame the dog. They are supposed to kill small animals. it's like saying "How was I supposed to know that letting the kids play with a chainsaw would be dangerous")

I don't care how cuddly your dog is. The fact remains that a goldfish can't savage a child and a dog can. When you decided to get a dog that an adult can't fight off then you pretty much waived your right to any respect.

But the attitudes of some posters shouldn't be surprising. We just had 2 threads in which many mumsnetters admitted openly that they would let a child die to save their dog. (apparently 40% of people will) So of course they will be in here saying it's just one of those things and cursing people who care about children.

It's not so much "what can we do about the dangerously savage dogs" as "what can we do about the dangerously savage people"

Animals vs Humans

I always thought that the term pitbull was generic, so used to describe a variety of different types and mixtures of dog with certain characteristics. Is that right?

So while a labrador is a labrador, the term pitbull can be applied to a lot of different types?

I wouldn't say it's the type of dog thats the issue, it's the owner. People need to make sure they can handle their dog regardless of their size. My collie cross pooch has been attacked twice by tiny little dogs that seemed to be treated as accessories as opposed to an animal. Both times my dog tried to get to me, she didn't fight back. It was confirmed this morning on the wright stuff that the dog in the picture with the 4 yr old girl isn't the one that attacked her.

"why haven't they built a tuna-net detector?"

No opposable thumbs...or in fact any fingers. I mean I don't think dolphins are more intelligent than humans, but you can't really blame them for not building things with just flippers.

"I always thought that the term pitbull was generic, so used to describe a variety of different types and mixtures of dog with certain characteristics. Is that right?

So while a labrador is a labrador, the term pitbull can be applied to a lot of different types?"

It's a breed, but because of how they've worded the DDA...they put type in there, any breed of dog that fits the description can be deemed of type whatever it's parentage.

of course they will be in here saying it's just one of those things and cursing people who care about children.

I haven't seen any of that here. The other discussion is over, there's no point trying to stir that shit on this thread.

Ah thanks tabulahrasa

marzipanned Agreed, they also have a resident Husky expert :) and she fills you in on all the dogs issues and will vet you to see if you are suitable for the dog.

No ones said "it's one of those things"

They have just pointed out that clearly not enough thought goes into choosing a dog for a pet. That jumping on trashing various breeds is pointless as any dog placed in unsuitable surroundings, who doesn't have mental and physical needs tended to properly is placing both the dog and the owner is a dangerous situation.

That comment is also in very bad taste - the other thread was about a purely hypothetical situation (and it got way out of hand). A child actually died here.

tabulahrasa No, a pitbull is a pitbull. Here is one www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-pitbull-portrait-image1364780

My Staffie cross is not a 'part of the family' as such, as he is a dog and a pet. We are his owners, we are never cruel or brutal like some of the chavvy types I see out with their dogs, but he knows his place, and who he answers to. Children cannot enforce this type of authority, so should not be left around dogs.

There is no substitute for training, boundaries and common sense.

However, I have never accidentally found myself in a tuna net. I put it to you that dolphins are a bit thick.

I'd probably let the human side down by somehow managing to get tangled in a tuna net

I still don't think dolphins are generally more intelligent though :)

And as far as intelligence of humans and dogs well, in many years of customer facing jobs I've never had

"That dog has shit on the floor"
"That dog had left shifty pants on the floor"
"The dog has left food on the floor"
"That dogs smells"
"There's a syringe in the loos think the dog just shot up"
I've never had a dog vomit on the carpet cos he is pissed and omg the dogs have wagged their tail and given a lick to say thank you. More than half the customers have ever done.

Every fight, every ounce of shit, piss, litter, mess, food, smell has come from humans.

Every dog has sat quietly and patiently. :o

So yes,dogs are far smarter than the people I meet :o

sharplily, there are photos taken from facebook on some news reports
the name of the 'rescue' which isn't a rescue and a link to the rehoming facebook page
the actual dog is on there advertised for a firtnight ago, it states it is a staffordshire bull terrier
I am just going on the information in the public domain

An unclaimed stray will have an unknown background and history

I had a rescue dog from a puppy, she was a cross between a SBT and German shepherd. She was a real sweetie. She was well trained, good with people, good with cats, good with children. A really well laid back dog. However I bought her a rawhide bone. The change in her was something else. She growled at me when I walked past her basket She never got given any rawhide products again.
I don't know what it was with rawhide, you could take toys off her, you could remove a bone from her mouth, the cat would go up to her food, nudge her out of the way and start eating her dinner and she would just step aside and look pathetic but rawhide was a definite no no.
We had her for 14 1/2 years without incident.

I don't get why so many people think they're dog whisperers. You're human not a dog. Why assume you know for certain the inner workings of a dog's mind? 2 human beings can have very similar backgrounds yet grow up with totally different mindsets and boundaries; who says its any different for dogs?

In fact, why should it always be 'owners are irresponsible' but, never the dog? I haven't seen mention in reports of tragic latest incident that, the parents were irresponsible dog owners. Yet that line is already doing the rounds based solely on assumptions. Its disgusting.

A dog on a mission to attack a child will do so, and will wait till that child is alone and vulnerable too

Pointing out that you have a 5ft tall stocky dog or some such, who wouldn't harm a fly, is totally irrelevant. Its like saying just because you as a human being would never kill anyone then you can swear its unlikely another human being would kill - and if they do, then its always down to the parents.

I feel very sorry for that family. They'll remember this traumatising incident every waking day for the rest of their lives. Horrible.

topknob I know, it is a breed - except as far as the law on dangerous dogs goes. That's what I was saying.

My heart goes out to the family in this case. It is horrific.

My parents had a rehomed Jack Russel (from Battersea), she lived with them for 3 years without a hint of aggression. I had DS, and she wasn't too happy about it, she barked when we visited, and we kept them separate. A few weeks later she went for a childs face who walked past her (she was on a lead and my mother managed to pull her back). She was PTS later that day, after my mum breaking her heart about it.

Having seen a staffie kill a dog on my doorstep, the power of the animal was terrifying, had it been a child nobody would have been able to intervene.

No dog should ever be trusted with children. I ask my SIL to put her dogs out when we visit (a staffie) as having seen one turn I will not take the risk.

sharplily, there are photos taken from facebook on some news reports
the name of the 'rescue' which isn't a rescue and a link to the rehoming facebook page
the actual dog is on there advertised for a firtnight ago, it states it is a staffordshire bull terrier
I am just going on the information in the public domain
That's what I mean - there's quite a lot of information out there and a lot of it conflicting. I've seen pictures of at least three different dogs, for example. I'm hesitant to fully trust any of it just yet.

I don't get why so many people think they're dog whisperers. You're human not a dog. Why assume you know for certain the inner workings of a dog's mind?
Who is doing that on this thread?

I haven't seen mention in reports of tragic latest incident that, the parents were irresponsible dog owners.
Really? I've seen plenty. However as I pointed out above, I'm not sure how much of it can be trusted.

By the way, can anyone tell me why this * and this ^ don't always take effect? (Sorry, I know it's off topic)

If I read in the paper that a 10 year old has killed someone do I then naturally assume that most 10 year olds are killers??? The law of average is that if most people now own staffies/bull mastiff 'type' dogs then if there is an attack it will be a breed of this 'sort' (grumpy Grandmas JRT or poodle who have been treated like a precious child ) can attack MANY times but the bite force will not be so severe so will never be reported/make the news. I have owned rescue staffies ( 1 passed and 1 with us now) for over 20 years and 2 children (1 of which is wheelchair bound) without so much as a growl towards ANY human being. If you take a dog on (any dog) and do not read up on the breed, do not exercise the dog enough/at all, get a dog too big for your accommodation, do not train the dog, do not socialize the dog properly and have no rules/boundaries for the dog (especially around children) and let the children pull around/torment the dog you have a recipe for disaster. Certain breeds such as the 'hunting' breeds or dogs with a high prey drive will 'react' when they hear an excited child squealing and can mistake the sound to that of an injured animal...( if the dog is in a pack in a home the prey drive can be heightened). Responsible dog ownership is a must but just the same as you have lazy arsed parents who's children are 'feral' you also have the same scenario with SOME dog owners. fromparistoberlin I find YABVU to tar ALL owners of certain breeds as caring, mensa membership, guardian reading, lentil eating pitbull owners with the same brush...I suggest you go to a large dog show and see responsible dog owners of these breeds who are ALL very different! Some of these 'backstreet breeders' are now crossing an Akita (guarding breed with a staffy/mastiff) originally fighting breeds....in a small flat with lots of kids around this is not going to be a good outcome for either dog or owner/child, I personally think the laws should be tightened on breeding. My sincere condolences to the child who has passed away and her family today . xx

SharpLily, I mentioned the thread because it was relevant and so is the 40% from the poll . I didn't tell anyone that some of you were there ones putting dog lives first did I. I didn't even know until you posted to me just then which prompted me to check. I'm terrible with names.

Maybe you should have let it go. Now you've made it worse.

I don't understand why they don't always work either as it has happened to me as well
and you are right, it is purely speculation on my part sitting at home with vertigo.....

You left a space between the * and the words that's why