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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dogs capable of sending us to hospital/the morgue need to be banned

305 replies

SplishSplashIWasTakingABath · 16/01/2023 11:51

Yet another serious dog attack.

uknip.co.uk/Breaking/News/breaking/woman-rushed-to-hospital-after-attack-by-dog-in-the-street/?fbclid=IwAR3bVa7T5KdsbfMlHZqg8CjSCFIkSVJtGYjB8iAZJ5_2C2Rv4tomNMO1ask

YANBU - ban these dogs (bully breeds, huskies, Dobermans etc)
YABU - aw, poor pibbles, must have been provoked

OP posts:
SplishSplashIWasTakingABath · 16/01/2023 12:15

Simonjt · 16/01/2023 12:14

I had to go to hospital due to a pug biting me a few years ago, I needed antibiotics and stitches, would like them banning for non-health reasons?

Any animal with teeth can hospitalise you, so you would need to ban all dogs if you ban any dog capable of hospitalising people.

Then seriously, we should reconsider our love affair with dogs. Of all breeds.

I hope you have recovered.

OP posts:
GelPens1 · 16/01/2023 12:15

I was going to click YANBU but I don’t think huskies and dobermans should be banned. Most fatal/life threatening dog bites in the UK since 2020 (I looked on wiki) are from other breeds eg American bully and cane corso.

curlymacv · 16/01/2023 12:21

Imaginative dog thread number 8363826286263 of the week....

louise5754 · 16/01/2023 12:21

So ban all dogs then?

How would that work?

Would we have to pay to have our perfectly healthy dogs out down?

Who would enforce it?

Cheeseandlobster · 16/01/2023 12:21

Your post is uneducated and also your yabu statement is ridiculous. ANY dog can injure someone in the wrong hands. You can't just categorise whole breeds. And Dobermans. Really?

Tallulah28 · 16/01/2023 12:21

SplishSplashIWasTakingABath · 16/01/2023 11:51

Yet another serious dog attack.

uknip.co.uk/Breaking/News/breaking/woman-rushed-to-hospital-after-attack-by-dog-in-the-street/?fbclid=IwAR3bVa7T5KdsbfMlHZqg8CjSCFIkSVJtGYjB8iAZJ5_2C2Rv4tomNMO1ask

YANBU - ban these dogs (bully breeds, huskies, Dobermans etc)
YABU - aw, poor pibbles, must have been provoked

A person is statistically more likely to be attacked by another human than a dog. Should we ban people as well?

vodkaredbullgirl · 16/01/2023 12:23

curlymacv · 16/01/2023 12:21

Imaginative dog thread number 8363826286263 of the week....

So many of them.

GelPens1 · 16/01/2023 12:23

theemmadilemma · 16/01/2023 12:13

According to the Kennel Club, the number one breed in the UK is the Labrador.

This friendly, lovable breed has long been a family favourite. However, with evidence suggesting most dog bites are from the family pet that’s had no previous history of biting, it follows that Britain’s most popular breed is also responsible for the highest number of canine attack personal injury claims, because there are more of them.

Other breeds that were highlighted in the report included German Shepherds, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Border Collies.

This data comes from a report published by pet insurers Animal Friends.

So no Labs then?

How many labradors have killed people in the UK? Most deadly dog bites were from American bullies, pit bull types, Staffordshire bull terriers, cane Corsos and Rottweilers. Quite often they’re ‘beloved pets’ that turn on their owners.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_Kingdom

ElephantInTheKitchen · 16/01/2023 12:24

YABVU, seeing as any animal with teeth can send you to the morgue if the cut gets infected and it isn't treated quickly enough. Cat bites and scratches are particularly prone to infection.

The interesting thing about the article is that the dog owner has been arrested on suspicion of GBH with intent. Normally it would be on suspicion of having a dog dangerously out of control.

That strongly suggests to me that the victim was known to the dog owner, and the dog was deliberately set on the victim.

Nicanabanana · 16/01/2023 12:25

Round here it is precisely the people you would not like to have the dangerous breeds who are the most likely to want them. They are status symbols for the owners and not trained and are often poorly treated. All of that is a recipe for disaster but honestly it is the owners we could do with banning not necessarily the dogs.

Januaryspring · 16/01/2023 12:25

With dogs you get out what you put in. Puppies need an incredible amount of care, attention and training devoted to them. It should feel like it feels with a newborn baby (seriously). It saddens me that there are very few people who will step up to that sort of responsibility because the dog is not then going on to develop into the best version he/she would otherwise be.

It's not the dog that's the problem, it's the owners who are the problem.
Dogs are inherently beautiful and empathetic creatures, they are our faithful companions in life, naturally. The so-called 'bully breeds' will fight to the death to protect their owners so it is absolutely vital that they are trained to recognise when this is and is not appropriate.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 16/01/2023 12:26

It all comes down to responsible ownership and common sense.

My parents owned a boarding kennels, dogs were walked on their own or with dogs they came with. Dogs were not ever mixed because they didnt know each other and we didn't know how they would respond to each other.

Dogs were walked on leads at all times unless we could guarantee they had good enough recall to return when called immediately. This was tested several times in a fully enclosed paddock before we went off lead on the open bridal path where members of the public and other dogs could be present.

All dogs were approached with wariness and respect, big small and anything in between can bite and will if they are Ill, hurt, scared, threatened... you cannot look at a breed and know that it will or won't bite in every circumstance. We had a border collie customer who was an absolute delight, lovely to walk, friendly, soft as anything. Unless you touched the top of her head in which case she bit immediately with no warning and hard. She came from an abusive background where a previous owner had apparently hit her over the head repeatedly.

What would I think be effective, but wouldn't happen because it's too costly, is to bring back dog wardens in much greater numbers and issue on the spot fines to anyone not picking up dog poo and who have dogs off lead that they can't recall or that are pestering other dogs/people. Basically put penalties in place that are enforced, that require effective training and/or control of your dogs. Repeat offences should result in the dog being removed and a ban on owning more dogs with a consequence if they breach the ban.

Last year I saw a pit bull mix come running out of a house, through the open garden gate and launch itself at a dog being walked on a lead on the other side of the road. It latched onto this dogs throat and was shaking it like a rag doll. It was a kill move. The owner of the attacked dog was trying to get away and ended up being bitten badly in the process. The owner of the attacking dog was standing like a moron in the gate shouting the dogs name. Me and a couple of others went over and threw blankets over the attacking dog and managed to rip it free of the poor dog and owner who were streaming with blood.

Called the police, logged it. I was terrified as the owner of the attacking dog has little children, the youngest still a baby. The police took the report but did nothing. The dog is still there and I'm waiting till I hear it's killed another dog or a child.

Onegingerhead · 16/01/2023 12:28

Yeah. Lets also ban all men because they are capable of raping a woman

TheSnowyOwl · 16/01/2023 12:29

CactusFlowers · 16/01/2023 12:10

But they rarely do. If you look at the stats it is the same breeds.

If you look at the stats, in the U.K., the Labrador is responsible for more personal injury claims than any other breed of dog. However, these stats are likely to be skewed somewhat by the fact people mistakenly think they are biteproof family pets and don’t act suitable caution, and that they are a very popular family pet.

Museya15 · 16/01/2023 12:30

Clymene · 16/01/2023 12:00

You know that the dog walker woman was attacked by a group of dogs including a cockerpoo and a couple of dachshund don't you?

Totally different situation. Not a random attack but a series of circumstances that led to a pack attacking.

NewFoxOldTricks · 16/01/2023 12:31

Clymene · 16/01/2023 12:00

You know that the dog walker woman was attacked by a group of dogs including a cockerpoo and a couple of dachshund don't you?

How do you know this? I cannot see this reported yet (probably looking in the wrong place)

Dachshunds are viscious bastards

SilliusSoddus · 16/01/2023 12:35

curlymacv · 16/01/2023 12:21

Imaginative dog thread number 8363826286263 of the week....

Yup

gogohmm · 16/01/2023 12:35

Any dog can bite, untrained dogs are more likely to bite. BUT some breeds are more dangerous when they do bite

My ddog has bitten me (when injured) it hurt but didn't break the skin, he's a breed known to be nippy but they are highly trainable

HaveYouSeenNancy · 16/01/2023 12:36

GelPens1 · 16/01/2023 12:15

I was going to click YANBU but I don’t think huskies and dobermans should be banned. Most fatal/life threatening dog bites in the UK since 2020 (I looked on wiki) are from other breeds eg American bully and cane corso.

I agree, there was another thread recently about an XL Bully and someone posted the statistics of fatal attacks in the UK. American Bully and Cane Corso are still extremely rare here, yet responsible for about half of the fatal dog attacks. I don't think there were any lab/spaniel/dachshund on the list, and a Jack Russell had attacked a baby.

I would attempt to help someone being attacked by a small dog, but I'm just not sure about larger dogs, and I'm not confident that a large muscular dog could be reined in and held back by the person holding the lead. I love dogs, and I'm sure that most of the bully breeds have a lovely nature (I've known two beautiful Staffie bitches), but the XL and Cane Corso genuinely frighten me. They are just too powerful to be stopped attacking if they want to.

DanePack · 16/01/2023 12:36

I've name changed for the purpose of this thread.
For over thirty years I have bred Great Danes. ( There are only two true giant breeds of dogs, Great Dane and Irish Wolfhound ) both are known as gentle giants.
Along with being a breeder, I am also a trainer.
I'm licenced with both the local council and the kennel club.
I will only allow a pup to go to a new owner under a strict criteria, which includes their domestic/ working set up, do they have children or other pets for example, two home visits to assess suitability, one arranged, one on spec, location of the home and garden and how large they are, their knowledge of the breed, fitness of the new owners, a DBs check to check if they've ever been charged with animal cruelty and their participation in training classes.
I offer a six month aftercare package where I can help with any problems, give advice and check that the pups needs are being met.
If they fail on ANY of the above, or I have the slightest suspicion that they won't care for the dog appropriately then I won't allow that sale.
This as far as I'm concerned should be the law and backyard breeders need jailing on top of hefty fines. I despise them and people who buy from them.
I believe that the problem starts with the breeder allowing anyone to buy a pup, so long as money changes hands.
The law needs changing on that.
In my home country it is the law that an owner of a dog over the weight of 2.5 kilo have to legally attend training classes with their dog, at the owners expense. When out in public with that dog after completing training, they have to carry their licence with them as proof that they have completed the course, which anyone can demand to inspect at any time that you're out with the dog.
This law should apply here as far as I'm concerned.

Alexandernevermind · 16/01/2023 12:37

I think your leading post is a bit silly and goady, although I do believe strongly in licensing dog ownership. As a dog lover myself, I am looking at this from a welfare point of view, and in most cases tighter control on dog ownership will increase the welfare of the animals, promote responsible ownership and reduce dog on human attacks.

SussexBonfireViking · 16/01/2023 12:37

SplishSplashIWasTakingABath · 16/01/2023 12:13

Then we ban ALL breeds that are strong enough to seriously hurt us.

What about Deerhounds?

This is my friend with her deerhounds, they are huge but extremely gentle to humans

Dogs capable of sending us to hospital/the morgue need to be banned
Alexandernevermind · 16/01/2023 12:42

Another important thing to note is that in the home, many dog bites are a result of health issues. Blindness and dog dementia can cause anxiety in all dogs, but some of the bull breeds, usually in the most part very gentle, loving dogs, can be prone to tumours, specifically brain. I've seen horrific injuries caused by loving dogs who have just come out of a seizure caused by a tumour.

Eastereggsboxedupready · 16/01/2023 12:44

Your opening post is very ignorant op. We had a Rottweiler for 11 years issue free. Coming up 10 with a Husky. My ddogs are personally not dangerous. They haven't been badly treated or lack training.
Half arsed comments spread around that ddogs need muzzled, banned, is speculation and scare mongering.
Ddogs need training.
Owners need vetting and educating.
Councils need to limit dog walking groups to smaller numbers.

More ddog wardens out and about. Pcso presence in ddog walking areas.

NameChangeGin · 16/01/2023 12:45

SplishSplashIWasTakingABath · 16/01/2023 11:51

Yet another serious dog attack.

uknip.co.uk/Breaking/News/breaking/woman-rushed-to-hospital-after-attack-by-dog-in-the-street/?fbclid=IwAR3bVa7T5KdsbfMlHZqg8CjSCFIkSVJtGYjB8iAZJ5_2C2Rv4tomNMO1ask

YANBU - ban these dogs (bully breeds, huskies, Dobermans etc)
YABU - aw, poor pibbles, must have been provoked

What's wrong with huskies? I have a husky cross and he's gorgeous and cute and no harm to anyone?

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