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?

@monkeysmum21

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.

I think people see them as police dogs so think there dangerous. In fact they are used for there intelligence not because they are aggressive. Our German shepherd is an amazing family dog, who is well exercised and mentally stimulated, I agree they need this but because they are intelligent, no my dogs are never left alone with my children but that's because I'm a responsible owner and no dog can ever be trusted 100%. German shepherds have really got a bad reputation but in reality they are amazing, loyal, loving dogs, ours literally lives for his family, he loves people and other dogs, in my experience it's small dogs we have had problems with owners allowing them off the lead, no control over them and then they are nipping and barking at our dog, owner can't get them back because they have no recall, we have also had this with cockerpoo's again no control over them, our dog is always put back in the lead when another dog is approaching and we have full control over him.

[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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YABVU

As the owner of a German Shepherd and having been brought up with a Rottweiler I know first hand what these dogs are like!

I will tell you that years ago my mum and stepdad got a Labrador when my brothers were little 6&7 maybe, and that Labrador was awfully aggressive! He used to bark and snarl at us all until we were up against a wall, yet you don't list labs as being aggressive?

My dad and step mum have a GSD who is soft as muck and a Springer Spaniel who is awful! The last time I visited their house the spaniel jumped up at me and bit my clothing and put a huge rip in it, but again, according to you not an aggressive dog? I would rather my daughter be in a room with 10 GSD's that have the temperament of mine and my dads GSD than that Spaniel as I don't trust it as far as I can throw it!

I would never leave my 4Y/O DD alone with a dog as they can turn on a dime, but I have also taught my DD to respect dogs and to not poke or prod, jump on, pull fur, approach whilst sleeping, approach strange dogs etc, because that's what a responsible pet owner & parent does.

I'll be honest though and you sound like you've got some sort of vendetta against big dogs and I doubt anyone will change your mind, despite lots of anecdotal evidence of how great these dogs are. You're convinced they should be banned just because of their size and had you read up on these breeds you will know that they are very rarely to blame for deaths, but yet you have your blinkers on and refuse to listen 🤷‍♀️

Let's be honest, most people who have dogs and children take appropriate action and keep both safe.

It's only the very small minority that are too thick/arrogant/ignorant to. And unfortunately their kids are the ones who pay the price.

Hoppinggreen

Anyone who says they trust their dog 100% (especially with their child) is an idiot and part of the reason these things happen

I agree with you totally. We have a rehomed (no ill treatment) weimarana, soft as putty, daft as a brush and 2 teenagers. STILL wouldn’t trust the dog and always tell the kids not to shove their faces in the dogs face because it only takes one snap

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

Pretty sure the last figures showed it was a Labrador. Fatalities are a different story though - no surprises for guessing which breeds are responsible.

@DameHelena

OP, you're very ignorant/prejudiced about dog breeds. Have a quick google perhaps.

Perhaps you should!

I knew everyone would be on here saying “Staffies are just big softies, mine wouldn’t hurt a fly, did you know they were known as nanny dogs?”

Yet they crop up with monotonous regularity on the lists of fatalities over the years.

Some breeds ARE more dangerous because they have been bred with physical characteristics that can do more harm.

I haven't read the full thread but the original post is very ignorant. OP you are mistaking powerful dogs for dangerous dogs. Yes it stands to reason that a German shepherd or Staffie is harder to control than a jack Russell but smaller dogs can be nasty too. The issue is bad ownership.

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?

25kg is actually a small labrador!

I don’t get it. What do people get out of a dog that is worth risking the safety of their children in their own homes? Even if it’s a 0.000001% risk?

Why would you have anyone or anything in your home that you acknowledge should never be left alone with your child? I find it utterly mystifying that people would choose to have an animal that has the potential to kill their child, and which can never be trusted 100%, in their home.

Clearly I’m missing something because I simply don’t understand it.

Something needs to be done, I feel sick every time I open the news and read of yet another child’s death - and what about the countless unreported injuries? It’s unforgivable that we as a society are allowing this.

I look after dogs for a living.

I've looked after Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskies etc, and they have all been very sweet. I did look after one dog that attacked me every day, for no apparent reason. I still have the scars to this day (some 9 years later) - this dog was a tiny Shih Tzu. I have met several Shih Tzu's since, and they have all been viscious.

To my mind, if you have small children, you should not have ANY dog. The Shih Tzu that bit me, only got as far as hands and feet, but if I was 2 years old, he could have reached my face and neck.

Toddlers are especially erratic in their movements, which dogs hate, and they can pull at dogs ears and tails. It's understandable that many dogs won't like this and may snap. They also hate drunk people for the same reason!

I used to have a Husky, who was the softest girl ever, but I could tell she hated the unpredictability of toddlers, so if any small children came over, she was locked away - just to be safe.

If I was the Queen of the World, I'd make it is against the law to own a dog if there were any children in the house that were under the age of 7.

@nearlyspringyay

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.

There have been a few deaths attributed to Rottweilers, sadly.

why aren't Rottweiler's on the banned list for example

Because they’re not dangerous..

They’re large and fiercely protective, that does not equal dangerous.

I think owners of dogs that attack should be charged with whatever the dog does. If it kills someone, then the owner gets charged with manslaughter. I have a large dog but never let it off it’s lead as if it ran to a child to play, it would knock the child over and probably make the child scared for life. 99% of the time it would come back on recall but I don’t take the risk.

Reading that list of deaths caused by dogs, one woman has drunk 2 bottles of wine and had 10 spliffs whilst in charge of a kid but no charges despite clearly being incapable of making rational decisions.

I had GS and found them to be even tempered and a lot more 'sane' than smaller dogs, probably due to intelligence and their ability to bond with us. That's what is lacking in the XL Bull breeds, they don't have the same reasoning and bonding. If you can't control your large breed verbally then it is a danger to everyone, including yourself. GS is a breed that can be completely trained and controlled.
Small terrier types are more dangerous than a GS. The main danger with a GS is when you have sibling mating down the line. I've had my GSs (I've had many over 40 years) attacked by smaller dogs. One was permanently scared by a cairn terrier. My GS didn't retaliate but looked at me to sort it.
I had designed my garden with a big walk in kennel and run, so at school getting ready time and other manic times, my dog would have peace.
The issue is that people are Ill equipt to have any dog.

There is no 'dangerous' dog, just idiot and incompetent owners
In the wrong hands, any dog has the potential to harm.

@nearlyspringyay

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.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-two-year-old-boy-26593729.amp

@MbwaKali

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

Sometimes it IS the dogs. Our old JRT gave me a black eye once! All I did was bend over to kiss him but he had the start of dementia. Any dog can turn.

An old school friend of mine had a number of staffies, cats, rabbits and other dog breeds who all just run amok around the house together. Never any issues.

I have a lab and he’s amazing and I trust him but would never leave him alone with a child. He adores children, but his sheer size means he can knock them over, claws can scratch faces/arms/legs so easily. It’s not worth the risk to me that a child be injured even innocently by his over exuberance. He gets very excited and wants to join in and follow and will invariably at least step on someone’s foot or steal a sandwich. I just tuck him in another room if DD has someone here. He’s older now so not too bothered, likes a pat and an ear scruff. They can say hi to each other and that’s generally it.

Dogs need training, exercise and shouldn’t be left alone with children. No matter how much you love them.

If I was the Queen of the World, I'd make it is against the law to own a dog if there were any children in the house that were under the age of 7.

👏

And this from someone who looks after dogs for a living.

We speak of never leaving a child alone with a dog, but they just shouldn't mix at all. Parent, baby and dog could all be together in one room, but if the dog suddenly clamps it's jaws on babies neck you are going to struggle to get the dog off.

People are quite clearly seeing the word “dangerous” and equating that with “viciousness” or “liable to attack”.

I am equating it with “ability to cause serious harm” and by that definition a Rottweiler is clearly more dangerous than a chuiauwa, given that everyone on this thread has said that no dog ever should be 100% trusted.

@Schnauzersaremyheros

There is no 'dangerous' dog, just idiot and incompetent owners In the wrong hands, any dog has the potential to harm.

Even in the right hands, any dog has the potential to harm, if all the stars align in the worst way possible.

We can all say in a self congratulatory way, well my dog has never harmed anyone, so I must be a good dog owner. You mean "yet". Don't risk it. Ever.

My family bred and trained working Labradors and spaniels - I grew up with dogs and I am very fond of them. As children, though, we were NEVER left alone with the dogs and were taught from a very early age to be highly respectful of them and their space.

Seeing photos of babies or toddlers pulling dogs' ears, leaning into their muzzles for 'kisses' or invading their feeding areas makes me feel physically sick - they are inches / seconds from being badly injured by even the most placid dog havig a bad day.

Any dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands. I have seen people badly injured by so-called 'safe' breeds (IMO, smaller breeds, especially terrier types, are the worst for aggression, but they don't at least have the size or bite power to do the same amount of damage as e.g. a Rottweiler / GS / pitbull type).

Dog licencing should be re-introduced, as well as mandatory training classes for potential owners. So much damage is caused by poorly-educated / careless owners and ultimately, it's the dog that is put to death when it errs.

@IVFNewbie - depends what you mean by "turn" . I took my two elderly terriers out to the park where there is little hut which sells coffees so I sat down with them ( they were on the lead sitting under my chair) A woman on her phone taking no notice had a young child running around with a stick trying to poke my dogs in the eye and giggling. I asked him to stop , I asked his mother to ask him to stop - but she said - he's only playing. At which point I left my coffee and walked away with the dogs. If a dog is hurt by someone they can do an instinctive snap or bark. Mostly and mostly this will not result in any injury it's a reflex reaction . But just as dogs need to be watched carefully when round young children I think it is irresponsible not to monitor young children around dogs or teach them how best to behave . I do not speak of genuinely dangerous or aggressive dogs here.