To wonder when the UK government plan to revisit the dangerous dogs act?

[EbbyEbs]

Woman killed by American Bulldogs.

This is just another victim to add to the list of dog fatalities in recent years - yet another American Bulldog.

Britain must have one of the most pathetic dog regulations in the world - only 3 breeds in the list and two of those breeds most people have never heard of.

When will the government do something?? How many more people need to die?

And it’s not just about banning breeds - they need to tighten up the laws in owning dogs in the first place.

Many states in America have tight regulations around many breeds common in the UK including Shar Pei, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Dobermann and even German shepherds.

AIBU to think Britain needs to wake up to the dangers of irresponsible dog ownership?

[MaybeIWillFuckOffThen]

@Agrudge

Good to see the usual BS on here.

People are looking at the wrong end of the lead .

Well sadly there's not much we can do about self-centred idiots. Plenty we can do about dogs. And your average self-centered idiot can't bite my toddler's head of if they take it into their head to do so.

[pigsDOfly]

@DdraigGoch

Driving licences are compulsory, yet there are unlicensed drivers about. Doesn't stop driving licences from being a good idea.

Did I say that microchips were not a good idea?

If you actually read what I said I think you'll find that I didn't.

I was one of the first to get my cats chipped when microchips first came out and, of course, my dog is microchipped.

The point I was making is that the microchipping law doesn't work because too many people are not getting their pets chipped.

It's pointless having a law if no one is enforcing it, which is the case with the microchipping law.

Microchips are never checked, so the law is not enforced and therefore we haven't managed to make it compulsory for a very large percentage for the dog owning population.

The dangerous dog act is the same, very largely ignored by a certain type of person.

Both laws are unworkable and badly thought out and will only be adhered to by the law abiding.

[Agrudge]

Good to see the usual BS on here.

People are looking at the wrong end of the lead .

[WingingItSince1973]

So sad.

[DdraigGoch]

@pigsDOfly

We've managed to make microchipping compulsory, so I'm sure that vets can easily charge owners for taking a saliva sample to add to the database when doing routine check-ups.

Actually, no we haven't managed to make microchipping compulsory.

The law might have been passed to say all dogs must be chipped but thousands of dogs are not chipped. The law is unenforceable and only responsible owners will get their dogs chipped.

I have had my dog for 11 years and have never had any of the various vets I've seen during that time check the microchip during routine check-ups.

Driving licences are compulsory, yet there are unlicensed drivers about. Doesn't stop driving licences from being a good idea.

[DdraigGoch]

Your constant comparison of dogs and guns is absolutely ridiculous. Dogs are not weapons and are not bred to kill, injure, or maim.

Some breeds are bred precisely to do that.

[UserOneSquillion]

Yes, the owner can be charged if their dog attacks someone and they frequently are, as obviously they are ultimately responsible for controlling their animal.

Large, powerful poorly trained breeds with an innate prey drive and aggression are a huge responsibility. The dog can seriously injure and kill, this happens regularly in the UK. There absolutely needs to be updated restrictions around breeds and ownership.

[reigatecastle]

Tbh if dogs would leave me alone I'd be more than happy to leave them alone, honestly. But because they give me so much grief and worry (an abnormal amount apparently!) when to the best of my knowledge I'm just going about my business in a non-provocative way, and the general impression I am given is that it is totally unreasonable to resent this or to expect anything to be done about it whatsoever, I've just lost patience and am now very much on the "to hell with them, what is even the point of them" train! Seriously - dog on a lead, or off a lead more than an arm's reach away from me and mine, doesn't bother me at all. But that's apparently a totally unreasonable expectation

Totally agree. Until recently most dogs were ignoring me, but I seem to be giving off a "come over and hassle me" vibe now. And I suspect owners just aren't training them properly.

I don't think people should have their quality of life limited by other peoples' badly behaved dogs.

[reigatecastle]

@I6344

@reigatecastle I hadn't seen @MaybeIWillFuckOffThen comment to me before I said about hating dogs. I wrote it before I'd read the full thread as the comments were making me giggle

Doesn't sound like it was ironic in the end :)

I 100% believe the only way to change it is make people criminally responsible. If your dog bites, your responsible

I think that is technically the case although people seem to get ridiculously short sentences.

[Dinoteeth]

@WingingItSince1973 another one where the warnings just weren't listened too.
I 100% believe the only way to change it is make people criminally responsible. If your dog bites, your responsible.

[EmeraldShamrock1]

Again? Fgs.

[WingingItSince1973]

Sorry my mistake it was the daughter that was killed. The mum had begged her to get rid of the dog as he was aggressive.

[WingingItSince1973]

Sadly another news story of a lady killed by and American XL bully. Her daughter had bought it from a dodgy dealer a few years ago and the dog was constantly causing issues. So sad another person dies because of irresponsible people.

[Murdoch1949]

Too easy to buy a dog - any dog - and avoid microchip and accredited address, then not train the dog appropriately, sometimes even the reverse, training dog to be aggressive as a status symbol for chav/criminal types. All dogs should be trained, but this does not happen. People pay their £2,000 then take sweet puppy home, do no training then are surprised when said puppy turns into an agressive or neurotic animal, unable to coexist with other dogs, or children, or strange adults. Particularly these very muscular and strong Pitbull type dogs. They may be legal but they shouldn't be. If the owner of such dogs get attacked, I care not, but when it is a baby, child, or stranger outside the house then I care very much.

[MaybeIWillFuckOffThen]

@I6344

@MaybeIWillFuckOffThen My dog is a needy fucker but wasn't doing anything wrong on these 4 occasions. 3 of the dogs were off of the lead and had no recall.
Obviously as a dog owner I do not agree that dogs should be wiped off of the face of the earth (which is your preference) but I do agree that dogs who do not have perfect recall should be kept on the lead if there are other people/dogs around. I don't like being jumped on by other peoples dogs unless I've initiated the contact (with owners permission).
I obviously love my dog to death (she is my reason for still being alive) but I am still afraid of some dogs so don't like being approached by them.
I don't think you're wrong in a lot of your arguments. You've made me laugh loads after a crappy day. I do disagree with some things you've said but that's life!

Glad I've made you laugh 😁 been a shitty day for me too so may well have been more obstreperous than strictly necessary (maybe 😆). Tbh if dogs would leave me alone I'd be more than happy to leave them alone, honestly. But because they give me so much grief and worry (an abnormal amount apparently!) when to the best of my knowledge I'm just going about my business in a non-provocative way, and the general impression I am given is that it is totally unreasonable to resent this or to expect anything to be done about it whatsoever, I've just lost patience and am now very much on the "to hell with them, what is even the point of them" train! Seriously - dog on a lead, or off a lead more than an arm's reach away from me and mine, doesn't bother me at all. But that's apparently a totally unreasonable expectation!

[Alexandra2001]

There are plenty of places were dogs aren't allowed or they have to be on a lead... including beaches, parks and nature reserves

I'd suggest anyone who is scared of dogs should be going there and leave the rest to people who don't mind sharing a space with dogs and other people

Ha another entitled dog owner.

But if only it were possible? We ve a new wetland just built nr us, cost a fortune of tax payers money but despite signs and polite requests, owners like you still let their dogs off the lead, chasing wildlife and ruining the place with their shit, so now many more '000s have to be spent to put up a dog proof fence.

Personally id just shoot them and if we can get the dogs too, so much the better.

[I6344]

@reigatecastle I hadn't seen @MaybeIWillFuckOffThen comment to me before I said about hating dogs. I wrote it before I'd read the full thread as the comments were making me giggle

[I6344]

@MaybeIWillFuckOffThen My dog is a needy fucker but wasn't doing anything wrong on these 4 occasions. 3 of the dogs were off of the lead and had no recall.
Obviously as a dog owner I do not agree that dogs should be wiped off of the face of the earth (which is your preference) but I do agree that dogs who do not have perfect recall should be kept on the lead if there are other people/dogs around. I don't like being jumped on by other peoples dogs unless I've initiated the contact (with owners permission).
I obviously love my dog to death (she is my reason for still being alive) but I am still afraid of some dogs so don't like being approached by them.
I don't think you're wrong in a lot of your arguments. You've made me laugh loads after a crappy day. I do disagree with some things you've said but that's life!

[MaybeIWillFuckOffThen]

@I6344

@MaybeIWillFuckOffThen you really do hate dogs don't you? 🤣🤣🤣

Yup!

[BonesOfWhatYouBelieve]

There are plenty of places were dogs aren't allowed or they have to be on a lead... including beaches, parks and nature reserves.
I'd suggest anyone who is scared of dogs should be going there and leave the rest to people who don't mind sharing a space with dogs and other people.

Dogs not being allowed somewhere doesn't ever seem to mean they won't be there anyway. Same for places where dogs are meant to be on leads. There's a nature park near us with a huge dog park, and a large area of the main park where dogs are allowed off lead, but due to birds nesting in the undergrowth there are clearly signposted areas where dogs must be on leads. Doesn't make the slightest bit of difference and despite a huge area where the dogs can be off lead, many owners still seem to think it's reasonable to go into the on-lead area without restraining their dog. I'm not scared of dogs, but the entitlement of these owners is fucking irritating as well as being a risk to other animals.

[reigatecastle]

@MaybeIWillFuckOffThen

My kids are entitled to enjoy green spaces without being harrassed.

Not a bit of it.

Your children (and you, and indeed your own dog if you have one) has no rights to enjoy green spaces without somebody's out of control, badly trained, dog "being friendly". Or, the last time a dog jumped up at me, it was apparently chasing squirrels and when I commented that I didn't look much like a squirrel "he thought you were friendly". I just said "no I'm not friendly".

[reigatecastle]

@I6344

@MaybeIWillFuckOffThen you really do hate dogs don't you? 🤣🤣🤣

It was clearly ironic. Well, to me, anyway.

Those of us who don't like out of control dogs are constantly told we must be horrible people and should stay out of places where dogs are. So @MaybeIWillFuckOffThen was just channeling that viewpoint!

[I6344]

@MaybeIWillFuckOffThen you really do hate dogs don't you? 🤣🤣🤣

[MaybeIWillFuckOffThen]

@I6344

My dog has had 4 dogs go for her recently. One was a Newfoundland off lead who actually injured me as I tried to protect my dog, the owner just laughed and gave a pathetic sorry. I wasn't bitten so in her mind it was fine.
1 was a Yorkshire terrier and 2 were jack Russell's.
The last two I kicked as the owner was the other side of the park, dogs had 0 recall and then she tried to have a go at me for kicking her dogs. I'll kick any dog that goes for mine, sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️. Also if your dog has no recall they shouldn't be off the lead when other dogs/people are around.
My dogs fear of other dogs has increased, she used to love mixing with all dogs at the park or doggy socialisation. We keep her on the lead apart from when she's chasing a ball around the park. We advise other dog owners on walks that she's a bit nervous and we keep out of the way. She's ok with other dogs when she's off the lead as she's faster than most dogs (greyhounds excluded 😂).
We're going to take her to training to help her but need to lower some other life costs to be able to afford it.
My main point is, none of them were the typical "bad" dog. Unfortunately there's a lot of irresponsible owners now.
I think a license to own is an absolute must. Don't think it would happen though.
I'm not the best dog owner by any stretch of the imagination, but she is calm, fun, safe and if there was any time I ever thought she would hurt another animal or person, I'd do absolutely everything in my power to take measures to stop something happening.

4 times recently? That'll sound suspiciously 'above average' to @MooseBreath . It's probably something your dog is doing wrong - maybe you should take them somewhere people aren't walking dogs off lead if it bothers you so much?

(do not mean any of the above obvs, just illustrating the total absurdity of the PP).

[I6344]

My dog has had 4 dogs go for her recently. One was a Newfoundland off lead who actually injured me as I tried to protect my dog, the owner just laughed and gave a pathetic sorry. I wasn't bitten so in her mind it was fine.
1 was a Yorkshire terrier and 2 were jack Russell's.
The last two I kicked as the owner was the other side of the park, dogs had 0 recall and then she tried to have a go at me for kicking her dogs. I'll kick any dog that goes for mine, sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️. Also if your dog has no recall they shouldn't be off the lead when other dogs/people are around.
My dogs fear of other dogs has increased, she used to love mixing with all dogs at the park or doggy socialisation. We keep her on the lead apart from when she's chasing a ball around the park. We advise other dog owners on walks that she's a bit nervous and we keep out of the way. She's ok with other dogs when she's off the lead as she's faster than most dogs (greyhounds excluded 😂).
We're going to take her to training to help her but need to lower some other life costs to be able to afford it.
My main point is, none of them were the typical "bad" dog. Unfortunately there's a lot of irresponsible owners now.
I think a license to own is an absolute must. Don't think it would happen though.
I'm not the best dog owner by any stretch of the imagination, but she is calm, fun, safe and if there was any time I ever thought she would hurt another animal or person, I'd do absolutely everything in my power to take measures to stop something happening.