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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

powerful, potentially life-threatening dogs

139 replies

Bjarnum · 19/04/2022 12:14

AIBU to think people who own such breeds which then go on to kill/maim a child / pet/adult should automatically be prosecuted? With so many smaller weaker breed available ( which may well be snappy but who would struggle to inflict the ghastly injuries seen lately) WHY would you pick a dog so heavy and powerful that if they turn they would be unstoppable? Another child in the paper today maimed by his "best friend".

OP posts:
SharpLily · 19/04/2022 12:15

Children have been killed and maimed by all sorts of different dog breeds, including Chihuahuas. YABVU.

BertieQueen · 19/04/2022 12:32

Unfortunately no matter what is reported or people say it’s not just the bigger breeds that can cause serious injuries.
Smaller dogs can also cause life changing injuries and can also kill if they attack the wrong place on the body.

Animals are a big part of our family, we have worked very close with domestic pets and wild animals. We have had lovely big dog breeds that were like gentle giants. I could tell you many stories about smaller breeds or dog breeds that people think are gentle that have attacked humans that I know, one relative has horrible facial scarring from a Jack Russell.

GooglyEyeballs · 19/04/2022 12:35

Even small dogs have capacity to tear your throat out if they felt like it. It's not just big dogs.

AryaStarkWolf · 19/04/2022 12:35

@SharpLily

Children have been killed and maimed by all sorts of different dog breeds, including Chihuahuas. YABVU.
Have children been killed by Chihuahuas though? I know they're one of the most aggressive breeds but generally speaking they can't do that much damage and even a child could over power them, one swift kick and that's that
Womeninblack · 19/04/2022 12:38

There is a page on Wikipedia that had a list of dog attacks in the u.k and according to that list it’s 99.9% working dogs that have attacked. Mostly pitbull type dogs.

Babadook76 · 19/04/2022 12:39

Chihuahuas can do horrendous damage. One of my care users is missing most of her nose after her own dog bit her. I remember last year in was on the news that a woman had her eyelid ripped off by her beauticians chihuahua when she was getting her eyelashes done. And I know they’re a little bigger but a jack russell mauled a baby to death in England a couple years back

Schulte · 19/04/2022 12:39

Agree OP. I would like to see some dog breeds banned, like they are in other countries.

Babadook76 · 19/04/2022 12:40

This reply has been deleted

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ThreeB · 19/04/2022 12:41

@Schulte

Agree OP. I would like to see some dog breeds banned, like they are in other countries.
Some dog breeds are already banned but they are still around - banning the breed doesn't solve the problems.

I'd be against automatic prosecution but I would be for all dog owners undertaking training before they own a dog.

BemoreDerek · 19/04/2022 12:42

If it's the story I'm thinking of it was entirely avoidable, the family were flying toy helicopters round the living room while the dog slept. The supervising parent left the room and the dog obviously woke up and was freaked out by the helicopters, sadly the child face was the nearest thing to the dog and the inevitable happened. I have 'powerful' dogs and they are never alone with any DC let alone when there are things going on around them which may frighten or excite them, surely that's dog 101?

JollyHippo · 19/04/2022 12:44

With you OP. A tiny dog might well snap and cause injury but nobody would have the same trouble getting it off it's victim as one of those that has hugely powerful jaws that lock on.

JollyHippo · 19/04/2022 12:45

@BemoreDerek

If it's the story I'm thinking of it was entirely avoidable, the family were flying toy helicopters round the living room while the dog slept. The supervising parent left the room and the dog obviously woke up and was freaked out by the helicopters, sadly the child face was the nearest thing to the dog and the inevitable happened. I have 'powerful' dogs and they are never alone with any DC let alone when there are things going on around them which may frighten or excite them, surely that's dog 101?
So training of owners and the potential to be prosecuted would be a good deterrent, I think
Inkyblue123 · 19/04/2022 12:48

If you own a dog you are responsible for it. Regardless of breed you should be prosecuted if it harms anyone. Targeting specific breeds can give a false sense of security- all dogs can be dangerous. I can’t remember the last time I saw any dog muzzled, half the time they are not even on leads. Dogs have been used as weapons , as noted in the dangerous dogs act, not sure that the penalties really reflect the seriousness of the crime tbh.

BemoreDerek · 19/04/2022 12:48

No dogs jaw 'locks', there is no physiological difference between staff/pit bull/rottie etc jaws and any other dog. Yes they are big and powerful and that obviously means they can do damage but the idea that bull breeds and similar have 'locking' jaws is simply not true.

Lbnc2021 · 19/04/2022 12:54

I agree with you OP

I’ve said it before, anything that can’t be trusted to be left alone with my children for a minute, whether it’s human or animal, doesn’t get past my front door.

Original poster
Bjarnum · 19/04/2022 13:21

@SharpLily

Children have been killed and maimed by all sorts of different dog breeds, including Chihuahuas. YABVU.
Just done a Googol search and can't find anything about Chihuahuas killing or maiming a child. I'd not heard of this - perhaps you could give me a link, please? I have seen the adult who was bitten by her own dog though. It's more about people outside the family - or any child. So, whilst I agree all owners need to take responsibility for their dogs I still think those that own the larger, stronger breeds which statistics suggest do the most damage need to be particularly called to account. Maybe then I should amend my aibu to say that any dog who attacks a child/pet/adult causing death or serious injury should be prosecuted? (Unless of course, the injured party is the owner alone )
OP posts:
Limegreentangerine · 19/04/2022 13:27

It's much easier to get out of a chihuahuas jaws than a pit bull ....

Iheartmysmart · 19/04/2022 13:31

One of my friends was horrifically bitten by a Jack Russell when I was a child. We were sat on the kerb playing and the dog ran over and went for both of us. This was back in the 70s where people would just let their dogs out in the morning and take them in at night.

I was ‘fortunate’ and only had a few bites on my hands, arms and legs and one on my face. She was practically ripped to shreds and had to have extensive surgery to repair the damage. It’s not just big and powerful dogs that can cause dreadful injuries.

Bagelsandbrie · 19/04/2022 13:38

I agree with you op.

And yet here we already have people saying “but what about xxxxx tiny breed of dog” blah blah- come on, yeah if you’re stupid enough to let them get near your face it won’t be good but they’re unlikely to kill a child. If my 9 year old was attacked by any breed of dog I think they’d stand a pretty good chance of getting away from a Yorkshire terrier or a chihuahua…! Hmm

People need to stop buying big powerful dogs as pets.

capricorn12 · 19/04/2022 13:41

I was at a local park last week with DD and we were queuing for ice cream when a woman appeared with a huge English bulldog. The woman was about 7 stone and was clearly struggling to keep hold of the dog which looked like it weighed more than she did. At one point she tried to tie it to a table but it just walked off and took the table with it!
Luckily it wasn't an aggressive dog but it highlighted to me that the owner would have no chance of controlling it if it had been.
I agree that some smaller breeds can be more aggressive but like a previous poster said, their size make them easier to control.

Eddielizzard · 19/04/2022 13:43

Yes, I think if you have a dog that has a history of aggression, you absolutely should be prosecuted.

AntiHop · 19/04/2022 13:43

That poor little boy.

Of course larger breeds are a higher risk. They are stronger. Doesn't mean other dogs aren't a risk too. I don't know why some people are so keen to deny this.

Bagelsandbrie · 19/04/2022 13:44

@AntiHop

That poor little boy.

Of course larger breeds are a higher risk. They are stronger. Doesn't mean other dogs aren't a risk too. I don't know why some people are so keen to deny this.

Because they think it justifies their own selfishness to keep these types of dogs as pets.
Maydaysoonenough · 19/04/2022 13:45

A lady was killed by a pack of dachshunds..
Imo it is all about circumstances and owners than the breed...
Recent deaths were ddogs that has recently been acquired from unknown sources and thrown into a new life with dc in it. Is the ddog really responsible for that?

TheWayTheLightFalls · 19/04/2022 13:48

(Bias warning - I love Rotties and staffs.)

I think the average larger dog can do more damage than the average smaller dog, but there’s also this thing where the “tough guy dog du jour” - which let’s be honest is not ever going to be a Chihuahua - becomes popular with people who bring out the worst in it/fail to train it/fly drones around it while it sleeps/lets their kids chew its tail. And then we all talk about banning the dog.