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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think all dogs should be muzzled in public?

220 replies

ToughTalker · 13/01/2023 20:10

By law.

Many things have been banned as dangerous where less people have been injured and killed.

Obviously we can’t ban dogs but it should be law to have them muzzled outside of your own property to reduce the injuries and deaths they cause.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 13/01/2023 20:33

Have you seen the muzzles you can get for pugs? They end up looking like Hannibal Lecter.

People see a muzzled dog and assume they are aggressive.

echt · 13/01/2023 20:33

If you muzzle dogs in public, why not have a curfew on men?

Same reason, most of the shit happens at home.

curlymacv · 13/01/2023 20:35

bellswithwhistles · 13/01/2023 20:31

Why should my gorgeous Golden Retriever have to wear a muzzle just because some awful people can't control their dogs acquired purposely to be aggressive?!

let's be honest, when was the last time you saw a golden retriever being walked around in a rough area! Or a dangerous dog by a well to do lady?

Bit judgemental there...

But yes you're being unreasonable. Muzzles won't stop the behaviour other people seem annoyed by, like jumping up, or dogs running at them. Plus as other people said most of the attacks happen in the home...

happygertie · 13/01/2023 20:36

Fucking stupid idea

TrentCrimm · 13/01/2023 20:36

No. The vast majority of dogs will never present a problem to any member of the public.

I say this as someone who did muzzle a foster dog, because we just weren't 100% sure how he would react to certain situations. He never once resisted us putting the muzzle on him, but the way his whole demeanour changed to sadness when we fastened it on, was really upsetting.

I still think in those circumstances we were right to muzzle, but it's not something I would do for no concrete reason.

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 13/01/2023 20:37

Here in NI we have had a spate of attacks on women by men resulting in things ranging from death to serious injury - can we have them muzzled as well then, or at least some sort of chastity belt type thing for them? Maybe a curfew?
In all seriousness, this won't work because trust me us well behaved, hard working dog owners are the ones who obey laws for our dogs, and the ones who own the dogs who do the attacking don't.

EffortlessDesmond · 13/01/2023 20:37

I have a well trained, now elderly, bitch. I hardly ever put her on a lead, unless on a road. She's not keen on kids, and detours them, she's not very sociable generally. And we walk in proper country. On 8K today we saw one person, with another gundog breed. They sniffed each other politely, had a 20 second chase and walked on with their humans. Where do you all live that you think that dogs are such a problem? The problem comes from people who want butch fighting dogs, and train them for aggression.

Peoniesandcream · 13/01/2023 20:37

More harm would come from them not being muzzled so it's common sense really.

WetBandits · 13/01/2023 20:37

XenoBitch · 13/01/2023 20:33

Have you seen the muzzles you can get for pugs? They end up looking like Hannibal Lecter.

People see a muzzled dog and assume they are aggressive.

Yep! There’s a lady I see on walks whose dog is muzzled but off lead, I was confused at first when he came quite close to me and my dog as his body language was entirely friendly, which is when she called over to say he’s only muzzled because he eats everything he finds. He’s become a regular zoomies buddy for my dog now when they see each other! 🥰

StillMedusa · 13/01/2023 20:38

As previous posters have pointed out: most dog attacks occur within a home ; unfortunately there are PEOPLE who should not own dogs because they are substandard dog owners who generally go for badly bred breeds which need a high level of training. The vast majority of dogs are not dangerous.

Men cause far more deaths
Cars cause far more deaths
House fires due to overloaded electrics.

Why is a death due to an untrained animal somehow more outrageous than the death of a woman at the hands of her partner.. who at least in theory has intelligence and free will?

ps Dogs are definitely not all on leads in Australia!!!

LetsDoThis2023 · 13/01/2023 20:38

Don't be silly.
Dangerous breeds should just be banned.

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/01/2023 20:38

YABU. The majority of dogs aren’t dangerous. They should all be on leads in public places though and parents need to teach their children not to approach dogs.

LetsDoThis2023 · 13/01/2023 20:39

Men cause far more deaths
Cars cause far more deaths
House fires due to overloaded electrics

This.

anonymousMuse · 13/01/2023 20:40

FFS. Where to begin.

  1. In the vast majority of cases, dogs find muzzles are best distracting and at worst distressing. Therefore less tolerant and more likely to snap.
  2. what about service dogs who use their mouths to signal? And who don't want distracting by a bloody muzzle?
  3. What an overreaction to the small number of aggressive compared to the majority who are absolutely no trouble?
  4. Why are we punishing the dog for the owner and breeders piss poor care?
  5. How do gundogs and other working dogs do their job? I have a dog who could be considered "dangerous" according to her breed. Her jaw is more powerful than a lion's. She weighs approximately eight stone. She has NEVER put a foot wrong or uttered so much as a bark in aggression. She is utterly lethal with her rope toy when she swings it around, and she will kill all the feeling in your leg when she lays on you. I often wake up to find her laid on top of me in the night. She recently had an overnight in the vets for a routine operation and even they commended her behaviour as being the best they'd had all week. It's not rocket science; she knows I am Alpha, no exceptions. She knows DH and DD are to be respected, no exceptions. She is walked 2x a day, plus garden playtime. Fed four times a day. Given toys and puzzles to keep her mind occupied and is spent time with so she knows she's loved. Train the bloody owners and leave the dogs alone.
WetBandits · 13/01/2023 20:42

anonymousMuse · 13/01/2023 20:40

FFS. Where to begin.

  1. In the vast majority of cases, dogs find muzzles are best distracting and at worst distressing. Therefore less tolerant and more likely to snap.
  2. what about service dogs who use their mouths to signal? And who don't want distracting by a bloody muzzle?
  3. What an overreaction to the small number of aggressive compared to the majority who are absolutely no trouble?
  4. Why are we punishing the dog for the owner and breeders piss poor care?
  5. How do gundogs and other working dogs do their job? I have a dog who could be considered "dangerous" according to her breed. Her jaw is more powerful than a lion's. She weighs approximately eight stone. She has NEVER put a foot wrong or uttered so much as a bark in aggression. She is utterly lethal with her rope toy when she swings it around, and she will kill all the feeling in your leg when she lays on you. I often wake up to find her laid on top of me in the night. She recently had an overnight in the vets for a routine operation and even they commended her behaviour as being the best they'd had all week. It's not rocket science; she knows I am Alpha, no exceptions. She knows DH and DD are to be respected, no exceptions. She is walked 2x a day, plus garden playtime. Fed four times a day. Given toys and puzzles to keep her mind occupied and is spent time with so she knows she's loved. Train the bloody owners and leave the dogs alone.

Only problem with this is that you didn’t attach a photo of the good girl 😌

gobbyshafto · 13/01/2023 20:43

LetsDoThis2023 · 13/01/2023 20:39

Men cause far more deaths
Cars cause far more deaths
House fires due to overloaded electrics

This.

Why should we care about any of these things when cancer kills more people?

Iamclearlyamug · 13/01/2023 20:44

anonymousMuse · 13/01/2023 20:40

FFS. Where to begin.

  1. In the vast majority of cases, dogs find muzzles are best distracting and at worst distressing. Therefore less tolerant and more likely to snap.
  2. what about service dogs who use their mouths to signal? And who don't want distracting by a bloody muzzle?
  3. What an overreaction to the small number of aggressive compared to the majority who are absolutely no trouble?
  4. Why are we punishing the dog for the owner and breeders piss poor care?
  5. How do gundogs and other working dogs do their job? I have a dog who could be considered "dangerous" according to her breed. Her jaw is more powerful than a lion's. She weighs approximately eight stone. She has NEVER put a foot wrong or uttered so much as a bark in aggression. She is utterly lethal with her rope toy when she swings it around, and she will kill all the feeling in your leg when she lays on you. I often wake up to find her laid on top of me in the night. She recently had an overnight in the vets for a routine operation and even they commended her behaviour as being the best they'd had all week. It's not rocket science; she knows I am Alpha, no exceptions. She knows DH and DD are to be respected, no exceptions. She is walked 2x a day, plus garden playtime. Fed four times a day. Given toys and puzzles to keep her mind occupied and is spent time with so she knows she's loved. Train the bloody owners and leave the dogs alone.

Couldn't agree more. I also have a dog who many people would class as 'dangerous'. Softest dog I've ever met bar none, immaculately trained and follows orders given by my 10 year old even though he weighs the same as she does 🤷‍♀️

asblindasabat · 13/01/2023 20:44

DonnaDonna0 · 13/01/2023 20:17

I’d much prefer to muzzle some people than most dogs!

I’m with you on that!

WhereIsMyRollingPin · 13/01/2023 20:45

It probably won't happen in my lifetime but I hope society moves away from its obsession with owning animals. Very few of them are necessary.

I wouldn't support all dogs being muzzled but I would support a total ban on off lead dogs except in designated fields etc, purchased and maintained by a large sum when someone buys a dog. All dogs to be registered, chipped and DNA entered on a database. Huge fines for breaches and dogs removed from offenders.

That won't stop attacks in the home but it would make life better for the many people who dislike being jumped at, sniffed or mauled while going about their daily business.

Before anyone starts the "Oh but the poor little doggies" line, please think if you have ever supported the killing of an animal so you could eat it. Be aware of double standards.

rebecca100 · 13/01/2023 20:45

@anonymousMuse I love this post, an exact example of why specific breeds shouldn't be punished.
Your girl sounds lovely ☺️.
I bet these people would be horrified to know that Guide Dogs and Canine Partners use German Shepherds and police have been using rescue staffy's.

DottieUncBab · 13/01/2023 20:46

DonnaDonna0 · 13/01/2023 20:17

I’d much prefer to muzzle some people than most dogs!

This 😂

LetsDoThis2023 · 13/01/2023 20:47

@gobbyshafto because it's about proportionality.

Don't smoke, do exercise, don't drink too much.... etc & you'll be less likely to get cancer.

EffortlessDesmond · 13/01/2023 20:47

But my mum's bichon, weighing 5kg, was a nightmare randomly attacking people he perceived as a threat. He was too small to hurt anyone seriously, but he's a pussycat with two kids under 5.

LetsDoThis2023 · 13/01/2023 20:47

DonnaDonna0
I’d much prefer to muzzle some people than most dogs!

Yup.

rebecca100 · 13/01/2023 20:48

@bellswithwhistles I live in a very affluent area, live in a nice house and have a good job. I have also owned 3 Staffordshire Bull Terriers and currently have a German Shepherd, what does that make me? Your point is utterly ridiculous.