powerful, potentially life-threatening dogs

[Bjarnum]

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".

"Much like children some dogs have additional needs, and the owners really are doing all they can."

What an idiotic comparison. If a dog has "additional needs" such that it's dangerous there's simple solution - put it down!

I completely agree that dog owners should be prosecuted if their dog causes harm to a human or another animal.

I think we have reached a stage where this is needed for people to wake up and take responsibility for an animal they choose to have, it may make people think twice before buying cheap dogs over the internet with no history of their behaviour.

I also think dog licences should be brought back and people only able to buy from registered breeders, adverts for previously owned dogs banned and if people no longer want their dog they either need to take it to a adoption centre or have it put to sleep. In my opinion making dog ownership more difficult is the only way forward.

The problem is white shitty owners

Erm what!!!

Probably unpopular opinion but I don’t think anything with a bite history of any kind should ever be rehomed, so I would introduce a law if you can’t keep it and commit to making sure it’s cared for properly and become responsible for its behaviour for the rest of its life then it must be destroyed. Regardless of whether it’s fearful or the reason. There’s just no need for that level of risk. I honestly would ban all this rehoming dogs that have only bitten a child to child free homes etc- complete madness.

I also would support prosecutions for dogs that attack other animals. It might make people more careful about who and what they allow their dogs off lead around.

Disclaimer: I don’t let my dogs off lead around any livestock, animals, dogs, children or strangers regardless of how lovely my animals are.

For me the problem is that (some) people don't really want a dog: they want some kind of human baby/teddy bear hybrid in a dog's body.

They want it to magically know what they want and behave accordingly. They want the dog to give all, and for them to be barely inconvienced. They don't want to bother learning about the species they are keeping, it's wants and needs, its communication methods.

There are far too many myths and fairy tales about dogs - and too few people who can be arsed to look past them and SEE the animal they have.

Dogs don't turn for no reason (with the rare exception of idopathic medical issues, in which case there is still a reason but no one knows what it is) and they don't turn without warning. It's just too few people bother to learn the warnings.

I could type in "dog and child cute" to Google images and guess that around 50% of the first 100 or so photos that come back, include a dog displaying some form of communication that it is not comformatble. And most of those are 'professional' photos. It's actually shocking how few people with dogs and children could recognise a dog trying to communicate that they are unhappy with what the child is doing.

I don't know whether I'd agree with banning specific breeds - because we tried that and it didn't work - but I'd sure support mandatory training in canine needs and behaviour.

"powerful, potentially life-threatening dogs"

how would that (PPltD) be defined -- anyone?

10 kg? I chose that because it's about the minimum for a Staffsh terrier. The net would also therefore take in greyhounds, labradors, French Bulldogs, daschunds....

or defined by breed -- but then what do you do about cross breeds?

And then, how is regulation to be managed and funded? Out of general taxation or a special dog-owners' tax?

If 10kg is threshold, is it reasonable if a smaller dog maims someone, that the owner doesn't get prosecuted?

If you extend the prosecution law to all dogs, then why not extend law to physical harm from all pets or all owned animals? Plus what is the threshold for maimed... assuming we don't just mean death, would a scratch from the cat count as maiming? One dog bite where just one of the dog's teeth drew blood? What about a nip from a pet rat that drew blood?

And why stop at physical harm? On MN I often read about people who were scared by a dog that "jumped up" in the park? Why stop at fear caused to people, what about "my dog was terrified by another dog that jumped at it in the park!" ?

I quite like my cats so hope these crazy laws don't come in before my cat's natural lifespans end.

Probably unpopular opinion but I don’t think anything with a bite history of any kind should ever be rehomed, so I would introduce a law if you can’t keep it and commit to making sure it’s cared for properly and become responsible for its behaviour for the rest of its life then it must be destroyed.

What about a dog that is in undiagnosed, unmedicated pain because of the "I would know if my dog was in pain" crew, somebody is hassling the dog and corners it, so the dog bites?
Or an arthritic dog with limited vision that's been taken by a surprise by a loud person running over saying "I LOVE DOGS" and shoves their hands on them before the dog knows they're there?

Should those dogs be PTS or were humans (both owner and others) being hugely inappropriate?

Banning breeds doesn't work. We've already banned four breeds of dog in the UK and we still get numerous fatal dog attacks (from perfectly legal breeds) each year.

The law around selling and owning dogs is what needs to change. At the moment, anyone can go online, pick a dog, buy it and take it home with their newborn baby. That's the problem. Not the fact that some people own certain breeds.

Any breed can do damage. There was a 9yo girl in this country who needed 200+ stitches because she was bitten by the family Labrador - yet Labs are constantly rated as being amazing, friendly, biddable family pets. There are also cases where Jack Russells have killed babies.

Yes, size and breed matters to an extent but it's not the sole thing that dogs should be judged by. Temperament, health, breeding and socialisation are all much more important factors than breed.

@afizzysweet personally if my arthritic old dog bit someone I would be kicking myself into next week for putting a dog into the situation where it can be touched by someone and have to escalate its behaviour to that extent without me advocating for it first. I would then very sadly have it put to sleep if I couldn’t ensure 1000% that it wouldn’t happen again, although like I say I wouldn’t have put it in that position in the first place.
There’s no way on earth I would pass it on to someone else as so many people seem to do.

People are unpredictable (more so than dogs!) and behave like entitled idiots but I don’t think they deserve to be bitten for it.
My dogs are stupid human magnets. It’s a pain when children or even adults on occasion run up to them but the responsibility is mine to make sure nobody is insured as they are my pets under my control.

I love dogs, I work with dogs, they are my hobby and my passion however I understand that not all dogs have a place around other people and other animals.

@Agrudge I read that as a typo “with shitty owners” and not white shitty owners!

[quote HorseGallopingOnATomato]@Agrudge I read that as a typo “with shitty owners” and not white shitty owners! [/quote]
Let's hope so

Unfortunately domestic dog ownership has too few rules and the ones that are there are way out of line now with powerful breeds that are being breed to be larger and stronger than ever before, or powerful working breeds are being introduced to domestic homes, and anyone can just go out and buy one.

I have a Rottie and a toddler and have no issues the dog is well trained the toddler is very good around dogs. I also have a smaller poodle/ Lab cross. It has now got to the stage now where I keep the Rottweiler on a long line when going out for a walk because the amount of times he has been attacked by other smaller dogs who's owners have no clue.
I have also had issues of peoples dogs coming into my land and attacking my dogs/ horses, A few weeks ago it look about five minutes to get a staffys teeth out of my dogs neck while the owner stood other aide of the hedge on the footpath telling me its not my fault she cant call her dog back.

I live on a small holding and have previously had outbuildings burgled. As well as being a family pet he has been a fantastic deterrent which a smaller dog would be no substitute for. But yes the fact of the matter is a 60kg dog can do a lot of damage and should only be owned by responsible people.

A Labrador is a big strong dog and could potentially do untold damage.
Do we ban them too?

Size is the dog is really nothing to do with it.

Personally, I think Jack Russell’s are horrid dogs (never met a nice one, but no doubt there are); snappy and vicious and could do serious damage to your Face if it got close enough.

I’ve had rotties and staff, bulldogs and now a lab.

All dogs were properly trained and never left alone with tiny kids regardless.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

Banning breeds doesn't work. We've already banned four breeds of dog in the UK and we still get numerous fatal dog attacks (from perfectly legal breeds) each year.

The law around selling and owning dogs is what needs to change. At the moment, anyone can go online, pick a dog, buy it and take it home with their newborn baby. That's the problem. Not the fact that some people own certain breeds.

Any breed can do damage. There was a 9yo girl in this country who needed 200+ stitches because she was bitten by the family Labrador - yet Labs are constantly rated as being amazing, friendly, biddable family pets. There are also cases where Jack Russells have killed babies.

Yes, size and breed matters to an extent but it's not the sole thing that dogs should be judged by. Temperament, health, breeding and socialisation are all much more important factors than breed.

I hadn’t red your post before mine below, but you illustrate my point perfectly (if very sadly).

The dog I walk is now fear reactive thanks to numerous bites from little off lead dogs.

My ex lost a significant jewel and was horrendously scarred on his legs from a Jack Russell.

No dog should be left alone with children regardless of size or breed.

I'm sure i read somewhere that Labs are right up there near the top when it comes to bites. Not fatal maulings but incidents of biting in the home.

But then you have to set that statistic against the fact that Labs are one of the most common breeds kept as family pets. So even if Labs are one of the breeds least likely to bite, they're going to be up there in the stats. just because there's so many of them!

Personally i think the prevalence of dogs being kept as status symbols and dogs being purchased without any thought to enough exercise or training that is driving up the awful numbers of fatal attacks.

Only properly trained working dogs and service dogs should be allowed and licensed. That is their job, dogs were not made to be domesticated as pets.

There is hardly room for humans let alone dogs in urban areas now. At least humans use a toilet and flush their poo away.

And another attack just reported - 3 Rottweilers pts after attack on two year old.

@Suzi888

And another attack just reported - 3 Rottweilers pts after attack on two year old.

Jesus

:(

@PegsandBags

Only properly trained working dogs and service dogs should be allowed and licensed. That is their job, dogs were not made to be domesticated as pets.

There is hardly room for humans let alone dogs in urban areas now. At least humans use a toilet and flush their poo away.

What happens to the dogs that don't make the grade as working/service dogs?

Being shocked and saddened by the suffering of these (mostly) young children is just not enough anymore is it?

Xeno,

What is done with other working and trained animals who no longer make the grade?

Same for working dogs.