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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:
Theodorous · 19/02/2014 08:41

Actually I am just sick of stupid twats full stop. I rarely encountered unsocialised agressive dogs when I lived in the UK that were being walked in a green space (rather than down Poole High St by a twat weilding it like a weapon) by normal decent people. The only aggressive dogs i came across were Poole High st twat types to be honest apart from the odd defensive "he is really friendly" type of person.
Normal people just have a dog of whatever breed and behave normally. Sad that the twats make dog ownership somehow sinister. i find people with no pets or books sinister personally.

drnoitall · 19/02/2014 08:42

You don't have to listen.
It's important people are aware of the dangers of keeping a dog around children. We can't assume everyone "just knows"

thedogwakesuptoodamnearly · 19/02/2014 08:47

The news reports quote the mum as saying "He's blaming me for it," which is very sad. Partner brings home dog from the pub with unknown past, but bad treatment is suspected, and it's her fault?

StealthPolarBear · 19/02/2014 08:50

If you have a dog (treated as a member of the family) and child though, isn't it a logistical nightmare to never leave them alone together? Does it not require constant supervision of one or the other?
My family always had dogs when we were little, I know we (me and smaller cousins) will have been left 'alone' with them at times. I think my mum now finds this horrifying but at the time they did't know any different really.

StealthPolarBear · 19/02/2014 08:50

I see young children aged 9 or 10 walking dogs on their own. That to me seems hugely more risky than being in a room in the house with them.

glendatheveryexcitedwitch · 19/02/2014 08:52

I have a 6 yr old choc lab who we've had since my older daughter was 18mths but last year whilst I was on maternity leave was my companion, I talked to her, took her for walks and snuggled in the sofa watching daytime crap - then I went away for 2 days and brought home this tiny bundle who squeaked and I doted on and was constantly holding - the dog had her nose put well and truly out of joint and rightly so.

She sulked and wouldn't entertain us when we called her. I would never have left her with the baby as she was so jealous - it took a good few days for her to even come and sniff at the baby. We made a fuss if the dog and gradually introduced her to the baby and gave her a place to disappear to if the noise got too much.

Now baby is walking and eating they are the best of friends, she is so gentle with her, let's her give her food and let's her hug and kiss her. Baby knows not to hit, hurt or be mean in any way to the dog and still the dog can disappear if she wants peace and quiet. Yet I still would not leave them in their own together!!!

I am a student midwife and have been talking with my cohort and midwives if we should be talking about pets at home when we do a discharge chat???

trampstamp · 19/02/2014 08:57

I live in London and I know no one who has a large enough house or garden for a dog

My friend who lives in a 3rd floor flat has just brought a staff she has a two bedroom open plan flat so kitchen and front room in one and there are 2 adults and 3 children who live in the flat which is tiny Confused

HectorVector · 19/02/2014 08:59

An excellent point glenda maybe midwives should talk to parents about safety of their baby in the presence of pets, not just dogs, but cats as well. I don't think it can do any harm and may just alert some people to the risks.

On another note like monkeyandanimal I am getting pretty sick of dogs running up to my DS (aged 3) when we are out on walks and trying to bounce and jump up at him. I pick my DS up because he doesn like it and neither do I. But I've actually received lectures from dog owners on how I shouldn't pick my child up, I'm making my child afraid etc... No fuck off and control your dog. One woman had the audacity to tell me she didn't need to train her dog, I needed to train my child. If my DH is there he picks up my DS and I get hold of the dogs collar to guide it away. I know it's not the dogs fault, it's a dog, it's the bloody owners. Rant over. I actually like dogs believe it or not.

hackmum · 19/02/2014 09:01

I've never actually heard of a child being savaged to death by a poodle. Or a bichon frise. Or a West Highland terrier. Or a corgi...

So am largely sceptical about this "deed not the breed" mantra.

trampstamp · 19/02/2014 09:06

Hack mum

It's bull shit something owners of big dogs say to make them selfs feel better

A poodle would not have the power to bite a baby's head off which is what sadly happens to that poor baby

Also it ha not got the muscle mass to kill a teenager or adult

The smaller dogs. May wound but can't buy dint of there size kill also a lot of these staffs get lock jaw which the smaller dogs don't get

I seen a lot of young lads with these husky type dogs now they have swapped then for staffs but I think more and more people are cottoning on to it they are fast becoming drug dealers choice

Theodorous · 19/02/2014 09:08

I think it's more to do with the fact that idiots who want a trophy dog choose ones that "look hard" and get the staffs etc. If those people had obtained a cocker spaniel in the pub on it's 10th twatidiot owner, it is likely to have been the same outcome.
I pick up the pieces from lots of irresponsible owners, little designer accessories (snappy and jealous usually) retrievers (designer garden dog) and Pit Bulls (dumped if they don't show aggression early on). After about 50 fosters, I don't think there is much difference between breeds behaviour apart from obvious size differences. The Pitbull is very passive Chihuahua is not. The only difference is that a pitbull is potentially a much more dangerous weapon, hence why twatidiots choose such dogs.

eatyouwithaspoon · 19/02/2014 09:11

I know my dog possibly wouldnt do anything but you never know - years ago I caught a neighbours 4 year old child who let themself in my fenced garden kicking him in the stomach while he sat looking very sad indeed, thankgoodness he didnt try to defend himself as he could have easily killed her - large family type breed. (parents had no idea where child was but thats another story) I never left my children with my dog, I have taught them how to behave around them and taught my dog how to behave around children (ignore or sit nicely!)
The ammount of times my DC have been knocked over by dogs, the 6year old had one jump up in their face yesterday - luckily to lick, owner just ignored and carried on!
Our dog is a much loved and wanted family pet, he is a dog and treated as such.

LtEveDallas · 19/02/2014 09:11

If you have a dog (treated as a member of the family) and child though, isn't it a logistical nightmare to never leave them alone together? Does it not require constant supervision of one or the other

It is, and I cannot pretend that we follow this rule. We did until we were 'sure' of our dogs, but we accept that we can never be 100% and that is a risk we have to take.

We have ensured that the dogs are always well trained and DD has been 'trained' alongside them. We understand the dogs body language and cues, and have made sure that DD does as well.

Nothing in this life is a certainty - we've just minimised the risk as much as we can.

HoneyDragon · 19/02/2014 09:18

I half expected dog lovers to flame me down

What, genuine dog lover would flame you for saying children and dogs shouldn't be unsupervised together?

I think that goes for all domesticated animals though, horses, dogs, cats and rodents.

To much potential for harm to child or animal.

Tragically, some parents don't realise that the buck stops with them, until it's too late Sad

trampstamp · 19/02/2014 09:22

Also I think a big big factor is the size of peoples homes in relation to the size a breed of there dog

People who live in flats should NOT have a dog unless it's of the tea cup variety

Also many people who work full time have dogs not sure why

Can't see how leaving a dog alone for 30-50 hours a week dose anything for it's mental health

mrsjay · 19/02/2014 09:24

of course dog lovers are not going to flame you a baby died we dont know if this little baby was left alone with the dog or it just went for it, I am sure the owners thought their baby was safe maybe they were in the room , dogs can turn with tragic consequences people really need to stop thinking of dogs in human terms iyswim as in aww they are gentle love the baby etc etc,

mrsjay · 19/02/2014 09:25

People who live in flats should NOT have a dog unless it's of the tea cup variety

I live in a flat my dog is not teacup size he isnt huge mind you but not tiny

divisionbyzero · 19/02/2014 09:27

If your emotions short-circuit your thinking in relation to a news story, you are being manipulated.

Always ask yourself, if your blood boils, whether there would be a new legal power available to the state somewhere down the line from this news story.

LtEveDallas · 19/02/2014 09:29

I've never actually heard of a child being savaged to death by a poodle. Or a bichon frise. Or a West Highland terrier. Or a corgi...

What about a Jack Russell - that's a small dog.

It's bull shit something owners of big dogs say to make them selfs feel better

Bollocks. I'm the one hackmum is quoting and I don't have a big dog.

A poodle would not have the power to bite a baby's head off which is what sadly happens to that poor baby

Bollocks. The baby did not have it's head bitten off. A poodle could kill a baby with one shake. A poodle is also a big dog.

Also it ha not got the muscle mass to kill a teenager or adult

Doesn't need muscle mass to bite the carotid artery.

The smaller dogs. May wound but can't buy dint of there size kill also a lot of these staffs get lock jaw which the smaller dogs don't get

Bollocks. There is no such thing as Locking Jaws in dogs. That is a myth that has been scientifically disproved.

DEED NOT BREED.

trampstamp · 19/02/2014 09:30

Sorry mrs jay but ti think dogs should have acesss to a garden or a outside space with out havering to rely on it's owner to take it somewhere

Like I said earlier my friend has a staff she has a two bed flat were 5 people live and the dog relies on being walked and has no acesss to an outdoor space

I do think this is part of the issue

trampstamp · 19/02/2014 09:31

poster LtEveDallas

Please point me to the last recored time a Scotti dog killed a child or a adult

mrsjay · 19/02/2014 09:31

oh we have a garden infact we have 2 gardens but he doesnt go in the front garden but he has access to a space

trampstamp · 19/02/2014 09:31

Or a dog of that size

mrsjay · 19/02/2014 09:32

a JRT cross injured a baby last yeat I am sure it was on the news

trampstamp · 19/02/2014 09:32

Fair enough mrs jay but most who live in flats dont