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AIBU?

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Original poster

....to be sick and tired of hearing/reading about dog attacks on children??

190 replies

M0naLisa · 18/02/2014 21:56

I probably am going to get flamed for this so I am donning my hard hat for this one but I am sick of hearing or reading about dog attacks.
And I know I could 'turn the channel or just not read' but why should I?

When will people realise a child especially a young baby/toddler cannot I repeat cannot EVER be left alone with a bloody dog!!!!!!

2 in 2 weeks now! It's getting bloody out of hand!
A dog origins from the Wolf family - not that I need to remind anyone.

Why are some people still blind to the fact that any dog whether it's a Rottweiler or a Yorkshire Terrier or a poodle can turn on their heel and KILL a young child!!! HmmHmm

Rant over!!

OP posts:
Greenkit · 19/02/2014 01:05

That is true Edwinia, but an adult can read a dogs body language better than a child and can anticipate an attack, way before it happens removing the dog or the child from the situation

saulaboutme · 19/02/2014 01:14

It's so tragically sad that these attacks have happened.

I was brought up with a dog who was very independent and very well trained. I was left alone with him and he was my best pal. What has happened?

Defnotsupergirl · 19/02/2014 05:33

OP, I see it as loving your dog if you ensure they come to no harm too. If they were to harm a human they would have to be put down. By removing the temptation you are protecting your dog. Children, I believe, should be given lots of time with animals once they are old enough to understand how to properly pat animals and treat them with respect. This should always be done in a supervised way.
As long as your DM is a good owner hopefully your children will have a wonderful time with her dog, supervised, once they are old enough to understand how a dog thinks and reacts. The ups and downs of a family dog, no matter the breed if they are brought up correctly, can be a wonderful experience for all of you getting out and about walking etc. I have a friend with a "soppy" Doberman. Now her grandchildren are old enough to walk a few miles they all have a great time exploring the countryside at the weekends. The children, of course, are never left alone with the dog - but they all love him and are all respectfully confident with him.

GemmaPomPom · 19/02/2014 05:48

My mum is a dog person, she loves her dogs, they eat human food, they sit on the sofa, she calls them 'the kids', she says she loves them more than her human family, they are lovely and silly and gentle, but... she always says you should never leave the DC with the dogs and you need to superivse them very closely. You just never know.

Also, isn't it almost invariably Rottweiler or Pitbull-type dogs or Jack Russells that kill children? There do seem to be certain types, don't there?

MinesAPintOfTea · 19/02/2014 06:04

saul were you left alone with him below school age though? The victim in the latest attack was 6 days old...

Greydog · 19/02/2014 06:18

I think the main problem here is the stupidity of people. They get a dog that they know nothing about (from the pub, in this case) they have no idea how to handle it, and then this results. It's like buying fireworks, and then leaving matches with them. Who in their right minds leaves a six day old baby with a dog. Any dog? Or a cat, come to that? I love my dog, but would never leave her with a small child,

Lamu · 19/02/2014 06:26

Also, isn't it almost invariably Rottweiler or Pitbull-type dogs or Jack Russells that kill children? There do seem to be certain types, don't there?

I always think anything with teeth has the ability to do untold damage to a child. Whether it's a yappy chihuahua or a big soft lab. We have 6 labs in the family who are the softest, most gentle docile things yet I would never ever ever for one minute leave Dd unsupervised with them.

I think it's bizarre behaviour for the dog to be treated like a human. Of course the dog is going to feel put out when you bring this strange thing baby home that all of a sudden gets all the attention that the dog would ordinarily get.

HadABadDay2014 · 19/02/2014 06:33

I don't think supervision is enough, when you got a dog that is in the wolf family they will lock jaw and once that happens you have no chance of preventing the dog.

Dogs are 15 years plus commitment, think about what kind of dog you are getting and will it fit in with your plans.

mercibucket · 19/02/2014 06:38

op - are you in the uk? if so you have a moral responsibility to report the existence of pitbulls, a banned breed, to the police

LtEveDallas · 19/02/2014 06:49

Deed not Breed.

It doesn't matter what type of dog a person has. ANY dog can turn, ANY dog can bite.

30 years ago it was all about the Alsatian/German Shepherd - they were the boogeyman, the devil dog that bit you for fun.

20 years ago it was all about the Rottweiller - they were the boogeyman, the devil dog that bit you for fun.

For the last 10 years it's been the Staffie.

The next 10? Maybe the Husky or the Malamute.

Who knows, in 20/30/40 years time we may all be terrified of Poodles.

Deed not breed. Don't demonise a species, a breed, a type, because of the actions of a few.

Dogs should not be left with unsupervised children and children should be taught how to act around dogs. The two go hand in hand if you are a dog owner. Polite dogs should not jump up, mouth, bite or dominate - that is the responsibility of the owner. Polite children should not poke, pull, hurt or tease - that is the responsibility of the parent.

No-one with a brain in their head should bring home a dog that was '"got off a mate in a pub". A decent rescue would expect to introduce a dog to every member of the family before they are deemed suitable - and they will be checking how the children act as much as how the dog acts. I would hope that a decent breeder would do the same.

The message from the OP is a sensible one at the start, and more measured than the other "oh my god why would anyone want a dirty stinking killing machine animal in their house" thread.

Responsible owners will have responsible dogs. If you cannot promise to be 100% vigilant, 100% consistent, and train your dog thoroughly, then you shouldn't have a dog (of any breed).

thedogwakesuptoodamnearly · 19/02/2014 06:51

Do you think the parents should face stiffer charges? i'm sure most people with compassion think they have suffered enough already, but maybe the courts need to show that putting a dog in with a baby is criminally irresponsible.

LtEveDallas · 19/02/2014 06:54

when you got a dog that is in the wolf family they will lock jaw and once that happens you have no chance of preventing the dog

Locking jaws are a myth. There is no breed of dog with a locking jaw.

sebsmummy1 · 19/02/2014 06:59

I've been present at a dog attack. Rottweiler teethered to a tree by a long leash where I used to work. New women who was renting workspace there decided to march up to dog to get 'acquainted'. I went with her as the dog knew me and I knew it could be unpredictable.

What I wasn't expecting is the woman to squat down so he face was level with the dogs. Slow motion from then on. I saw the dog bare it's teeth momentarily. I very calmy said we should go. Directly she turned her back it mauled her, nothing I could do.

At hospital she had to have muscles reattached, it had shredded her arm. Thank fuck it hadn't bitten her face. It was destroyed. It had previously gone for children but the owner always down played every thing and the dog was her baby. I worked at a Riding School so this dog was around children regularly and her solution was to tether it to a tree. Genius!!

YANBU.

bigkidsdidit · 19/02/2014 07:00

I'm so fed up with idiot dog owners. Round here it's huskies, twice recently I've had one scrabbling at tr side of the pram while the owner says 'oh don't worry, he's very friendly'. They drag the owner along, badly trained and way too strong, and leave massive poos on the path which obviously are never picked up. It makes me furious.

madmomma · 19/02/2014 07:02

I absolutely think there should be a prison sentence for any dog owner who allows their dog unsupervised with a baby. The fucking owners should be put down not the dog. I just cannot fathom the sheer stupidity.

bonvivant · 19/02/2014 07:03

YANBU. I was bitten on the face by a relative's dog as a child and STILL had arguments with my Dad when I used to visit with my baby as he wouldn't move the dog away.

Probably as a result of me being very cautious with my son, he is now a bit nervous of dogs. When we are out and about, people allow their very often large dogs to come up and sniff around my son. 'He's only being friendly' they say. Well, I don't give a toss - take your stupid dog away!

Sorry for the rant but it really winds me up!

Uptheanty · 19/02/2014 07:14

YANBU

We have a beautiful dog. My dd & our dog are bff Grin. Totally inseperable.

Our dog has a different relationship with everyone in our family.

My dd dresses him up, she particularly enjoys putting glasses on him and staging him reading the paper Blush
Interestingly, he would never allow anyone else to do these things to him Hmm there was the teddy bear picnic he attended in a dress...the pram my dd pushed him around in while wearing a ribbon....

I would never leave a child of any age alone with him. We want to keep him with us as long as possible & if anything ever happened, regardless of whose fault it is, he would be gone.

I have full sympathy and my heart aches for the families loss...
But you have to question the desicion to bring any dog home from the pub.

Minifingers · 19/02/2014 07:24

I left my small children alone with my dog on the odd occasion.

30% of UK households own a dog. On average one child a year is killed by a dog.

On the other hand 52 children a year are killed by an adult, most frequently a step father or a male relative or friend of the family. Vastly more than 52 were sexually and/or physically abused by same.

Maybe we ought not be leaving our children alone with men other than their fathers or brothers.

Dogs are rarely dangerous to children when compared to human adults.

bigkidsdidit · 19/02/2014 07:26

I would say 1. It's not only death, bite numbers are massive and 2. Whataboutery never solved anything!

Monkeyandanimal · 19/02/2014 07:31

I don't trust dogs around my children. We go for walks in a lovely wood which is perfect for children to walk in as they are funnelled around a woody path and can't run off across fields or fall in anything. The walk is spoiled by dogs off the leash (and their shit) running up to my small children, jumping up at them and stealing their snacks, while their owners make some indulgent non-apology. But the worst is that i daren't let my children run in case some dog thinks they are prey! Why should my 2 year old have to walk sedately past dogs in case they hunt him? ('he's just playing'). It makes me very uncomfortable.

CerealMom · 19/02/2014 07:44

Unsocialised dog= problem
Bored dog = problem
Under excersised dog = problem
Dog that has no recall = problem

Breeders (KC/farms or people who think their dog 'has a lovely temperament) = problem

People who buy dog based on looks/lastest dog fashion = problem

But it's ok, because you can always take the bored destructive dog that you've never put time into training to your local rescue centre. They'll sort out the 'unpleasantness' for you.

Theodorous · 19/02/2014 08:35

Have any of the recent dogs reported been trained/socialised? or picked up in a pub after being passed from pillar to post or bought on Gumtree because they were a status trophy.
Why don't people get angry that people who have children still think it's ok to buy status trophy dogs who are unsocialised and trained usually in aggression. I despise the humans, not the dogs. It's just the same as smoking, drugs, screaming at toddlers etc.

Original poster
M0naLisa · 19/02/2014 08:36

I am in the UK.

My mum rescued him, well she took him from someone who wanted rid due to her not having time to look after him.
He was a state when he arrived. He had been locked in a cage all day so his nails were very long. He loves attention and is very loving but I wouldn't trust him.

OP posts:
Minifingers · 19/02/2014 08:39

Really believe that all dog owners should have to apply for a licence, and to get this licence you would need to pass a test - like a driving test, but this would be about dog training. You would also have to attend training classes after you had taken ownership of the dog to complete the licence requirements.

I know people who never walk their pets. Ever. :-(

bigkidsdidit · 19/02/2014 08:41

I agree. Plus some sort of enforcement of picking up poo.