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?

Anyone who says they trust their dog 100% (especially with their child) is an idiot and part of the reason these things happen
Dogs are animals and as such have a certain amount of unpredictability, added to that most people can’t really ready their dogs properly so think a dog is ok with something when it’s not or don’t see any warning signs

@CounsellorTroi Indeed.

My family have had 4 German Shepherds over the years. 3 from puppies (but not from the same breeder) and one rescue. They have all been absolutely fantastic family dogs. It might just be a) luck b) that we are responsible dog owners and have trained/treated them well or c) it might be that actually they’re not the dangerous killing machines that the OP is suggesting.

I think it’s unlikely to just be option a, to be honest

Anyone who allows their child to pull their dogs ears as a pp stated is a massive part of the problem (and an idiot)

I have a greyhound, he's big but the softest, gentlest most placid dog I've ever met. He literally wouldn't hurt a fly and he loves children. I still don't 100% trust him around children because he's a dog. Any dog can turn at anytime. He's always supervised around kids and there's always a quiet place for him to go if he gets fed up. Children are taught to respect the dogs boundaries. And whilst I obviously don't want a child to get hurt I do this to protect the dog too.

Personally, I don’t think it’s about breed at all. I don’t trust any dog around young children whether it be a Pit Bill or a Cockapoo.
My Dsis has the most beautiful, gentle, puppy-like Stafford mix breed. He is a big boy and you can see the sheer power behind the muscle on him. I happily cuddle him, play with him, roll around with him. But my young DCs are never in the same room as him, and are only around him when he’s got his harness & short lead on, and is under the control of my Dsis’s DP. He’s never been aggressive, or given us any indication that he might attack, but all it takes is a noise or a touch from a child that he doesn’t like, and there would be no stopping him. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take, no matter how sure I am of his gentle nature. There’s never a 100% guarantee.

And don't be fooled by handbag/companion breeds, little dogs are good at jumping & you can get some really poorly though-out cross breeds with really bad temperament as with a dog of any size!

If it's a terrier, even a small one, it's likely to have a high prey drive, and can easily be trained to kill (look at his many try to take squirrels). You see dachshund and see small and cute? You're actually looking at dogs bred to take on badgers and boar.

A well trained, responsibly owned dog is not the problem.

Ownership without regard for training, breed traits and safety is a massive problem.

Banning breeds hasn't worked, and won't work just because you add more breeds to the list.

I don’t think it’s as easy as identifying a select few “dangerous” breeds. I have a Jack Russell who can be a bit grumpy so I never have him around my toddler niece. If I visit them I always leave him at home. It only takes a second to turn your back and something awful to happen.

If we take the general consensus of most dog owners on here who advocate that any dog has the potential to be a dangerous dog then in answer to @oatlattetogo post I think bigger/stronger dogs such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers are more dangerous because they are bigger, stronger, more physically powerful. It's about the size and strength of the animal (or should be.)

Yes, any dog could bit you and cause you distress (potentially) but a little child is more likely to be killed in this fashion by the breeds I've mentioned, due to their power. So purely based on physical size and strength alone, I do stand by my opinion that certain breeds are more dangerous to children than others.

I'm genuinely curious to know - the posters who have a big dog - would you happily leave your baby/toddler ALONE in a room with your dog? Seriously, an honest question. Would you feel comfortable with this?

I was raised with German shepherds and Rottweilers. The only dog that ever injured me was someone's chihuahua - completely unprovoked because I was taught from a young age how to respect animals.

I've owned German shepherds and now own American Akitas. The only dog that ever injured my DC was someone's Jack Russell - totally unprovoked as she was taught from a young age how to respect animals.

Responsible large dog owners train their dogs and teach their children to be respectful of them. Anyone letting their child pull on the ears of ANY dog is a bloody idiot and should have neither dogs nor kids.

And then you've got toy owners who think because their dogs are small they're beyond reproach, and appear to be highly complacent about how much damage a toy dog can do to a small child's face. But somehow that's ok because at least you're not dead.

@MatildaTheCat

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.

Exactly! Ive had Golden Retrievers for years and never ever left them alone with my children when they were young. I read once that a goldie had sat on a baby’s head and suffocated it ! Vigilance, vigilance and more vigilance is needed when you have a dog and children.

Just seen @Ringmaster27's post. Thanks for your honest reply

It's obvious that dogs with powerful jaws cannot be stopped when attacking a human. Their jaws can't be prised open. A smaller breed can inflict a lot of damage in a short time, but it is possible to pick them up and open their jaws. It's a risk any parent who has a dog and small children take and should be fully aware of the risks. Unfortunately some people care less about their children than their status symbol dog.

@Ori18

I'm genuinely curious to know - the posters who have a big dog - would you happily leave your baby/toddler ALONE in a room with your dog? Seriously, an honest question. Would you feel comfortable with this?

That's a loaded question and you know it.

But I'll answer anyway. I wouldn't leave ANY small child with ANY type of dog irrespective of size or breed. That doesn't mean I don't trust them, that just means I understand that ANY dog can be unpredictable because it's an animal, not a 'fur baby'.

@AHungryCaterpillar

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”

Since i've been given stitches from a Jack Russell Terrier but never been given any sort of injury from a Rottie or Staffy I'd argue you're completely wrong and go as far as saying you're part of the problem (which is not being correctly educated in dogs).

Its about raising and training dogs not the breed.

The amount of times people comment 'on how well behaved my dangerous staffy is' whilst their little yorkie is trying to bite my own dog, is ridiculous.

I'm terrified of letting my dog off the lead (despite his recall being fantastic) incase he gets attacked by another dog but he's blamed because he's the staffy.

Its the owner who causes the issues, not the dog.

@Thisismynamenow I had my lip ripped open by a chihuahua when I was very small. Needed stitches and have a scar. My DD1 was bitten by a Jack Russell when she was 2, needed stitches. Both completely unprovoked attacks by random dogs. But because it was 'just' a small dog apparently that's ok. The complacency of small dog owners is worrying quite honestly.

I've had German Shepperds in the past. I know lots of people who have them and never heard a problem. I don't know why you label them as dangerous, I have the feeling that your are just against dogs.

@Ori18

I'm genuinely curious to know - the posters who have a big dog - would you happily leave your baby/toddler ALONE in a room with your dog? Seriously, an honest question. Would you feel comfortable with this?

You're asking a leading question.

But i'll play your game and answer. No I wouldnt leave my Rescued Staffordshire/English Bull Terrier Cross in a room with my baby (who is due in 3 weeks).

Why, because he's an ANIMAL.

Would i leave a Spaniel, Collie, or any other dog you deem 'safe' in the room with my newborn? No.

Why, because their ALSO AN ANIMAL.

Leaving any animal (remember cats like to smother babies!) in a room with a baby is a stupid thing to do, and if any child gets injured or killed as a result their parents should get prosecuted for manslaughter and child abuse - because its an injury or death caused by neglectful parenting.

Responsible pet owners and parents should know this, and ensure their never left alone together. Take one or the other with you when you leave the room.

Also teaching the child the animal is AN ANIMAL is vital.

That would solve like 99.9% of all babies/children deaths due to dog attacks.

@Ori18 I’m not disagreeing with you that a bigger dog has the potential to do more damage and is harder to physically restrain/remove than a smaller dog. I just don’t understand why you’re focusing on certain large breeds that you have ‘decided’ are dangerous, rather than asking why anyone would have any large dog around children. Labradors are (or were until recently) the breed of dog responsible for the most dog bites. I would struggle to drag an adult Labrador off someone if it decided to attack them.

And in answer to your second post no, I won’t be leaving my baby unattended with the German shepherds. I also won’t be leaving her unattended with my small, ‘middle class’, socially acceptable family friendly dog either though. Because as I said in my earlier post, any breed of dog is capable of causing serious injury to a young child.

@Infinitemoon

Sorry this thread is ridiculous. No one should own two rottweilers with young children. GSDs should also be kept away from young children and kept in a secure kennel when you are not able to supervise around children.

I cannot understand why and it is mainly women are oblivious to the potential of their dogs.

Countless times whilst walking my dogs recently have I seen large breed dogs off the lead, no way would the owner be able to control two 25kg dogs should something happen.

What is it you think a German shepherd is going to do different to any other breed of that size? You clearly know nothing about the breed! I never leave any of my dogs unattended around my children they are always with me but you are being ridiculous saying they should be kennelled. Whatever dog you have is just as likely to attack someone.

Many people just don't have the intelligence to be able to own a dog, any dog. They can't understand the species, know how to train them and to correctly assess any risks involved when taking them out, having children nearby etc.

Dogs are complex creatures and don't do well with thick people.

@Infinitemoon

First off, 25kg can be a large Labrador does that mean labs go onto your ridiculous list of dogs that should be kept in kennels away from kids?

Secondly, you do not have the right to say someone cannot control two dogs at once as an overall picture , yes someone people can't I give you that but it's not everyone BUT just like SOME people with small breeds can't socialize their dogs correctly hence why so many small dogs have the so-called "little dog syndrome".

I am a working dog handler and female. Does this anger you? I mean according to you I simply cannot do my job correctly.

I think you should seriously consider yourself as an incompetent dog owner because people like you are what give dog breeds a bad name.

DO YOUR RESEARCH A DOG MOST LIKELY TO BITE IS A CHIHUAHUA. What a shock to you.

Get back in your box.

[quote Pops100]@Infinitemoon

First off, 25kg can be a large Labrador does that mean labs go onto your ridiculous list of dogs that should be kept in kennels away from kids?

Secondly, you do not have the right to say someone cannot control two dogs at once as an overall picture , yes someone people can't I give you that but it's not everyone BUT just like SOME people with small breeds can't socialize their dogs correctly hence why so many small dogs have the so-called "little dog syndrome".

I am a working dog handler and female. Does this anger you? I mean according to you I simply cannot do my job correctly.

I think you should seriously consider yourself as an incompetent dog owner because people like you are what give dog breeds a bad name.

DO YOUR RESEARCH A DOG MOST LIKELY TO BITE IS A CHIHUAHUA. What a shock to you.

Get back in your box. [/quote]
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We have a collie and also had two before , that were 2 and 3 when we had kids
We always kept the kids and dogs apart if we were not there
My first 2 collies were very gentle and good with kids but you never know
My kids were also not allowed to pull them around or climb on them etc
Our current collie is a bit more nervous and he is fine around my teenagers and ok with kids but if kids are here too long he will take himself away from them as he seems to only be able to tolerate them for a few hrs
When he does this we then take him to another room and close door so he is not disturbed as he is telling us enough is enough
Very subtle warnings dogs give when uncomfortable and so many don't know wjat they are of think they arebeing cute

I remember as a child my dad talking about renewing the dog licence so they did exist. It’s just difficult to enforce them. Some people don’t microchip their dogs so no way if tracing who they belong to.