Why do people keep dangerous dogs???

[Ori18]

Another little boy pronounced dead this morning on the news - the toddler who was mauled on Monday and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest. The dogs in question are not thought to be banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act - but I'd be interested to know which breeds they were as it's quite evident that certain breeds are more dangerous to children than others - why aren't Rottweiler's on the banned list for example?

And even though Pitt Bull Terriers are banned, people still go out of their way to own them, and are then shocked when they attack small children, maul babies, tear limbs off people. It makes me so angry. Same goes for German Shepherds and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The Bull Terrier dogs are/were specifically bred for fighting - why would you even consider having one of these types of dogs around a baby or a small child? What is going on there? Is it lack of intelligence? Lack of education? Lack of giving a fuck? Because I think there need to be more dogs on the banned list, and heavier penalties served to people who insist on breaking the law to keep these dogs.

Aggressive/dangerous dogs and babies/small children do not mix, should never be mixed and it shouldn't take more deaths for the law to change around this. AIBU?

Rottweilers, German shepherds, Staffies etc are not on the 'banned' listen because they are no more dangerous than any other breed of dog. Staffies used to be known as 'nanny dogs' because they were renowned for being brilliant with children. I have known many Rottweilers over the years and every single one of them has been exceptionally placid.

It has bugger all to do with the breed of the dog and everything to do with the owners and they way they've acquired and raised the dog. Basically, some people are really bloody thick. And that's all there is to it.

You've named a load of really non dangerous dogs. It's these American bulldogs that are dangerous. They're basically put bulls they're horrendous and have already killed at least 3 newsworthy children in the last year.

Why should rotties be on the dangerous dogs list, or most of the breeds you mention? I don't think anyone has been killed in the UK by a Rottweiler. They're usually dopey sods.

Any dog can be a dangerous dog.

Rottweilers are no more dangerous than any other large dog but to be fair you would have no chance pulling one (let alone 2) off a small child
Nothing wrong with Staffies either but the whole “nanny dog” thing is a crock of shit.
People don’t really understand dog behaviour and think they can control their dogs but many of them are clueless and shouldn’t be in charge of a chihuahua let alone a large powerful dog with the potential to kill

Aggressive/dangerous dogs and babies/small children do not mix, should never be mixed and it shouldn't take more deaths for the law to change around this. AIBU?

No dogs are completely safe around children let alone very young ones. There needs to be a concerted campaign to address this. I believe some breeds are very highly represented in domestic attacks but there isn’t one dog I would trust 100% including my own soppy mutt.

This is a list of the breeds responsible for killing people (mainly small children)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_Kingdom

Jack Russells have killed a couple of babies too. I'm not sure dogs and babies/small children are ever a great idea.

This case seems to have involved 3 x rotties unfortunately - the neighbours report they were wild.

I love rotties, they are such nice dogs but they have a poor reputation because of wanker owners, same as staffies.

American bullies and XL designer breeds need to be just banned full stop.

However, I feel very strongly about small, bad tempered and uncontrolled dogs like chihuahuas, pomeranians, oodle-crosses which are pampered and their horrific tempers ignored or indulged. They are very dangerous too but no one seems to worry about them. They might not kill an adult human, but they are just as capable of biting and injuring people, especially small children.

Because they have no regard for their young children. Only rotties l've ever had contact with have been so soft and gentle animals, but l still wouldn't have them near a toddler/baby

Snort-laughed at the thought of Rotties needing to be subject to DDA discrimination! My DB's 60+kg 'brute' used to get bossed around by my (then) teeny tiny 18mo, and basically thinks he's a lap dog. Just because they're big, it doesn't mean they're dangerous 🙄

Here we go with the “all dogs can be dangerous” nonsense well I know I would fancy my chances more with a jack Russell/poodle/chihuahua than a staff, pit or Rottweiler... some dogs have far more ability to seriously injure or kill than others so no they aren’t all as “dangerous”

@YoYoYoYoSup - I think I know what you mean, but the way you've phrased it is awful, "three newsworthy children"?

It's not the dogs, it's the way they're being trained, or not, and also where are the parents or carers for the poor children attacked when these attacks happen?

Maybe there should be like a dog owner's license or something. There is probably a reason why there isn't but as pp, it's not the dogs, it's the owners.

Also, agree 100% with PPs who have pointed out that the dogs involved in this attack were known for being untrained and out of control. Any dog is safe when it is properly controlled (and this does need to be at different levels for different breeds and/or personalities), same as any dog can be a danger in the wrong hands.

Because it's not the breeds fault

If you breed two shitty dogs with bad temperaments and no testing, then raise the puppies with no training, a chaotic household with not enough exercise, then let a toddler pull the tail and be surprised when the dog snaps..

I grew up with a GSD that was like a teddy bear. The only time she ever growled was when I was walking her on the road just outside the house and a stranger approached me. She made a load of noise because she was quite protective over me. But she had puppy training, a place to get away where nobody disturbed her, boundaries, regular exercise...

So it's breed plus the actual breeding plus nurture/environment/exercise and a million other things

The dogs I see walking past off lead with a teenage owner wearing a balaclava and swinging it off a tree branch from its jaw are the ones I am wary of
A well bred Alsatian that's been in the same home since a puppy with sensible owners..

[quote WeAreTheHeroes]@YoYoYoYoSup - I think I know what you mean, but the way you've phrased it is awful, "three newsworthy children"?

It's not the dogs, it's the way they're being trained, or not, and also where are the parents or carers for the poor children attacked when these attacks happen?[/quote]
Do we need to start with the "where were the parents" crap? I'm sure they're already going through hell, let's not make it worse by adding to the guilt.

Any dog can be dangerous - from JRTs to mastiffs.

Acquiring any adult dog poses a risk and dogs raised from puppies need to be carefully trained.

A huge portion of people with large and aggressive dogs, have them as status symbols and encourage poor behaviour.

The vast majority of poorly behaved dogs have dickhead, irresponsible owners.

It’s not the dogs, it’s the idiot brained owners. Why can’t people just admit that?

Aggressive/dangerous dogs and babies/small children do not mix, should never be mixed and it shouldn't take more deaths for the law to change around this. AIBU?

YABU - deaths like this are a tragedy but changing the law as you suggest wouldn't magically stop them from happening.

WHY do people have them?

A combination of many factors, ranging from, idiocy, ignorance, "it'll never happen with X, he's so soppy". Right down to fear, intimidation, crime.

Dogs should never be left alone with young children, full stop. Children are unpredictable and could easily do something that the dog reacts to. People become complacent.

I'm well educated and fairly intelligent. I have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a six year old son and a baby due in September.

We've had the dog since a puppy, he has been extensively trained, is walked twice daily and has a brilliant temperament, has never shown signs of aggression.

I guess, by your reasoning, that I'm an awful person and it is just a matter of time before he mauls my child to death.

Do we need to start with the "where were the parents" crap? I'm sure they're already going through hell, let's not make it worse by adding to the guilt.

But it isn’t crap. It is the parents’ responsibility. I appreciate they will be going through hell but in the vast majority of these cases, it is absolutely the parents fault.

@SantaHat

Do we need to start with the "where were the parents" crap? I'm sure they're already going through hell, let's not make it worse by adding to the guilt.

But it isn’t crap. It is the parents’ responsibility. I appreciate they will be going through hell but in the vast majority of these cases, it is absolutely the parents fault.

Regardless, I can tell you for sure that they will be searching out every mention of their child's death, reading every comment and every speculation, and hating themselves just that little bit more because of it.

They have lost their child. Leave them be.

I own “these types of dogs”. I get them from dog’s homes after they’ve been rescued from a home where they’ve been mistreated. I’m childfree though so that might make my choices more acceptable to some.