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?

@Addicted2LoveIsland
Say for example when people run up to a dog and pet them without asking and the dog snaps

People? You mean kids right? Are you seriously saying it's a child's fault if they get bitten by a dog?

I refer you again to guns. If you keep a gun and leave it lying about where a child can grab it and they shoot themselves or someone else, that is on YOU. Not the child, who is just doing what children do - acting impulsively and without understanding. And no, before anyone starts, there is ZERO equivalence between the behaviour of human children and dogs, and it is precisely that kind of anthropomorphism which causes so much trouble with people's untrained, dangerous "furbabies".

Honestly why would you want something like this, they are disgusting, no redeeming features whatsoever. Much loved family pet? I think not, absolutely ban them, no amount of love or training will make them any less dangerous to any animal or person they come in contact with. Sure any dog can turn but can you imagine what this would do to you if/when it does.....shivers! Perhaps graphic pictures of a mangled child would dissuade those determined to support these much maligned breeds

My greyhound hides behind me when we see a cockerpoo so I can't imagine how scared he would be if we came across a dog like that . I'm definitely not walking him down my street with the errant staffy after seeing that pic ! We drive to quiet areas after too many encounters with off lead dogs, but at least he's not been exposed to an aggressive dog, I know if he was atttacked he would just cower and I'd be the one doing the defence!

So if I’m walking my docile and trained Labrador and a child runs up from behind to cuddle the dog who is surprised and snaps, it’s the dog’s fault? The child (and parent who is not controlling the child) hold no responsibility?

The child (and parent who is not controlling the child) hold no responsibility?
Probably not. Children are impulsive and parents are imperfect. I expect dogs are both, but if you want them to share our human world you have to be sure they will follow our rules. If you bring them into our environment, you are responsible for them.

@GreyTS - spot on. They are used as weapons. Dogs like these are one of the last unregulated weapons in the UK. That is why they command the prices they do, it is not because they are splendid family pets.

I am not just talking about kids I am also talking about adults.
I mean grown ups who think they can saunter up to any dog and they are entitled to do so. No. Be real. Some dogs are recovering from trauma or are actually in training.

Let me give you an example, I was in the park quietly sitting with my dog. A lady came past with a buggy and 4 or 5 children following behind. As they were walking past, one of the children grabbed my dog and started smacking him and kicked him. I immediately and very sternly told the child to stop, the adult turned around, didnt apologise and didnt correct the child. Just said "come on let's go". In this instance, my dog didn't do anything but if he did, can you honestly blame him? This could easily make the most well behaved dog snap to protect himself. I see similar situations occur all the time. Here, I feel the onus should be on the parent or adult in charge NOT TEACHING their child appropriate behaviour around dogs, or even correcting the behaviour, especially ones they do not know . Surely despite your limitations even you can see this or are you the person that let's your child do whatever they want and blame everyone else?

Furthermore, I agree you cannot compare an animal to a human. Thank you for helping my clarify my point. They are animals, and as such children nor adults should be just running up to any dogs they do not know or have permission to pet handle, or interact with. Again illustrating my point about EDUCATION.

Let's face facts - there are 10.2 million pet dogs in the UK. The majority of these dogs do not fatally attack anyone. Of course when attacks happen they are horrendous, no one is stating otherwise.

@twentypast exactly.

Couldn't have said it better myself

A bully type pinned down my springer spaniel, she immediately lay on her back totally submissive while he was growling with me stood over her.

Thankfully after pleading with the owner he unwilling put the lead on.

I pulled my dog away still on her back with her hair was standing up in fear.

I really thought I was going to lose a leg.

It's on the owners, not the breed.

Also I would like to say that any dog that does not have bulletproof recall he or she should not be off lead. By law your dog must be under control at all times. The bully - if not friendly and especially not friendly with bad recall should not have been allowed to be anywhere near your poor dog. I'm glad all was OK.

Similarly if there is a dog that is over friendly and runs up to onlead dogs (could be old, recovering etc) with little or no recall, your dog shouldn't be running around like a loon doing whatever he or she wants.

Ok, sorry about your mum, but you sound rather dismissive of my issues and how my dog helps with them.. almost like you do not believe any of what I have said. Also, depression is not my primary diagnosis.
If dogs (and pets in general) did not help with loneliness and MH issues, there would be no such thing as therapy/support animals.

Yes, find a photo of a dog in heightened state to sway your argument.
I am sure there are equally nasty pics of small breeds too.

Honestly why would you want something like this, they are disgusting, no redeeming features whatsoever. Much loved family pet? I think not, absolutely ban them, no amount of love or training will make them any less dangerous to any animal or person they come in contact with.

@GreyTS "let's find a horrible picture of a breed and demonise it, and at the same time show how ignorant I am!" good one!!

^This always seems to happen in rough areas and never in normal homes.^

There is almost a checklist when this happens.

Sad isn't it that the decent families in these areas have no choice but to accept it alongside drug dealer, scrambler bikes, antisocial behaviour.

As the other side of society accept it as part of wc social housing peoples life.

There is no incentive for the people who have the power to help these areas or even try, normal residents have absolutely no choice but to put their DC at risk daily in these areas because authorities don't care.

I know a lab in the park I walk who would have done the same to your dog..

I know a lab in the park I walk who would have done the same to your dog.
Any dog has the potential it’s the responsibility of the owner to keep their dog on a lead if the dog isn't trained.

It has a lot to do with owners, I sure. Some people think an aggressive dogs is a good image, it seems to me.

😂😂 imagine that, a gormless Border Collie 😂

Some dogs are more intelligent than a lot of people (I.e. border collies!)

So if I’m walking my docile and trained Labrador and a child runs up from behind to cuddle the dog who is surprised and snaps, it’s the dog’s fault? The child (and parent who is not controlling the child) hold no responsibility?

It's strange, isn't it? It's only dogs that get this type of "it's always the dog or owner's fault if they harm someone" line, even when a child is behaving inappropriately to the animal.

If a child wasn't taught to respect a horse properly and ran up behind one and scared it, and the horse kicked the child, people wouldn't generally blame the horse for being spooked. They'd blame the parent for letting their child run up behind a horse.

If a child ran up to a car and grabbed its tail and the car turned around and started scratching the child, again, the cat wouldn't be blamed in the same way a dog is. You'd tell your child that that's why you don't grab at cats.

If you child squeezed someone's hamster a bit to hard when they were holding it, and the hamster bit your child, you'd tell your child that's what happens when you mishandle an animal and to be more gentle. That the animal was scared.

Weirdly, if a child runs up to a dog and hurts it or scared it, it's all on the dog and it's owner.

Car should obvs be cat 🤷🏼‍♀️

@MaybeIWillFuckOffThen - you hate dogs, I get it.
But why stop at culling all pet dogs?
Why not drain reservoirs during the hot summer months? Children/ teenagers are impulsive and will jump into the cold water ...
And cars & roads? Should they not have soft padding? Children are impulsive and run into the road...

There was a thread here a while back where OP said that kids should be taught how to approach dogs, and how to recognise any warning signs that the dog is not happy. OP got flamed into oblivion.... most people said that any attack on a child is the dog's fault.

A dog group I am on in FB had one chap talk about his beloved deaf dog who was fast asleep, and a neighbour's child climbed on it. Dog was startled and bit the kid... kid's parents went to the police and the dog was ordered to be PTS. Owner was heart broken.

My own dog was minding her own business in our local park. I called her, and as she was running to me, a kid came running over and tried to kick her in the face. No reason for it at all.
Saying that, when most kids approach my dog, they ask permission to pet her, which is amazing and is how it should be.

I also have a friend who has a chihuahua, and she has no end of entitled parents expecting her to let their kids pet her dog, when she keeps on saying that her dog is not friendly to strangers.