Can we muzzle all dogs in public yet (warning, graphic image of mauled hand)

[lfYouLikePinaCoIadas]

“Whilst out walking a route that Tom has been on numerous times, he was the victim of an unprovoked attack by an unleashed dog. The dog attacked Tom multiple times as he tried to protect his puppy from being mauled by the dog and was left with horrific injuries. What is more horrifying, however, is that the owners of the dog didn’t try to help and fled the scene leaving Tom bleeding from his artery on his wrist.

Wife Katy recalls the moment that she opened the door to find her husband standing there after the attack: ‘‘Tom managed to get home where I had to tourniquet, to try to stem the bleeding, while waiting for 999. He lost several litres of blood in the short time until the ambulance arrived. Our two children were at home at the time and were woken up by the commotion. My 7-year-old was terrified and thought that her dad was doing to die from the blood loss.’’

https://www.familiesonline.co.uk/news/dad-of-2-viciously-mauled-by-dog-trying-to-protect-family-puppy

Imagine it had been a child’s face, or neck, or little body, instead of an adult’s hand.

Absolutely sick of nothing being done to protect the public.

YABU - dogs are man’s best friend
YANBU - something needs to be done

I have had akitas in the past and used mekuti balance harnesses. Internet only, excellent quality, strong, and is a proper y shaped harness, so it doesnt encourage puling. It comes with instructions, and you can teach your dog to walk to heel well with it if used properly.

We use a Julius-K9 when she's calm, but if she's feeling frisky we tend to go with a OneTigris Goliath.

One thing that's worth noting is that you don't necessarily need a 3-point harness - if you're using a lunge line with a single-point harness, you can create another loop from your leash hand and around the dog's chest (in front of the front legs), which effectively creates a second point of control; while dogs will pull against something on their back or around their neck, they really don't like to pull against something on their chest. It takes a bit of skill to keep that loop taut but not tight, but when you get the knack it properly stops them pulling.

Good luck :)

At the end of the day, it's not the dogs that are the problem it's the owners for not properly training their animals.

If you dog doesn't recall correctly, dont let it off the lead.

So simple.

This is why a Mekuti harness is good,as it has the correct anchor points across the chest and on the back, without faffing around. It will give you full control, whereas a k9 julius etc wont, will cause the dog to pull like a train.

The solution I mentioned is only for when you don't have a 3-point harness. When we need one, the Goliath has three points which are more than strong enough to hold an Akita at full tilt.

The Mekuti is just another option to explore and i have in the past found it to be the most robust. My last dog was 70 kg so it needed to work!

‘I have never once said I am scared’ @HeadsShouldersKneesAllHurt you don’t need to say you’re are, your anxiety comes through the crazier your posts get.

it’s difficult as an adult to admit you’re afraid of something that usually only Children fear, but it’s not too late to address it.

‘let your doggy baby lick your mouth and share your bed ‘

you're accusing dog owners of bestiality now? You sound unhinged.

I just want to repeat that serious dog attacks are common - but mostly happen at the dog's home. It's really worrying and serious, but won't be fixed by the knee-jerk, ill-informed suggestion of muzzling all dogs in public.

I agree 100% about dogs being on lead in parks. I have a rescue who would much rather not have other dogs running up to him. Dog runs, a fenced-off part of a park where dogs can be off lead, would be a good compromise.

Dogs will pee on the grass. But they shouldn't be free to run onto a picnic blanket.

Nope, not my Goldie

What? Goodness that didn’t cross my mind. Odd that it crossed yours..

There have been comments of dogs kissing people, and I know some owners let their animals sit on sofas and sleep in their beds. Nothing sexual. Just over-familiar and unhygienic. I think you need to take a break…

Certain types of aggressive big dogs need banning. That means taking them away from people.
Bloody Rottweilers & Bull breeds give other dogs a bad name.

Muzzling all of them won't help.

Yes. These people need to be fined & having their dogs removed.

I don’t have anxiety but that’s by the by now.

I work in mental health at a senior level, and don’t think accusing people of MH issues is on at all. I see it a lot online. It’s a low blow when used as a sly dig, and increases stigma towards the mentally unwell. Words like ‘unhinged’ and ‘crazier’ and unfounded accusations of anxiety increase the stigma for sufferers. I am done with you.

I bet it’s more common than you want to believe.

this is just for starters:

https://fb.watch/k00oDzFrOy/

🤮🤮

To be honest my favourite picnic ls are ones where someone's dog decides to join in. Dog guests are always welcome at my low lying picnic blanket.

It's perfectly valid to be scared of creatures that have sharp teeth, eat meat (we are meat, after all), and have been known on numerous occasions to maul and maim humans. And sometimes kill us.

It's odd to me that society in the West has gotten people so accustomed to dogs being our best friends, that most people gloss over the facts, that these animals do bite us, often to very serious extents.

I think sadly this thread just goes to show there are a lot of dog-barmy people in complete denial and deflection. what about cats? What about children? What about wood(?yes, battshittery but it’s on this thread somewhere). I apparently shouldn’t have picnics on the grass anymore because dogs should be entitled to run through my picnic or any the very least be able to shit and piss where I want to sit. So it totally doesn’t surprise me that with these attitudes we now have a problem with unruly dogs and yes, it isn’t the dogs fault sadly but the owners who can’t even admit that there might be a problem until it is too late. Keep your dogs under control, I say this as a dog lover and previous dog owner but also as someone one who lives in the Lake District where dog attacks on sheep and lambs is a daily occurrence and bags of dog shit line our beauty spots ☹️

I was replying to a post about dogs being annoying, not biting. Maybe before calling me an ignorant ass you should try reading the full post.

There should definitely be licences, some dog owners are thick and rough as are their dogs.

I love dogs, nice dogs, I have 2, they are well trained but when they on occasions don't recall, they go straight on the lead.

I am seeing more and more rough people around with scary looking dogs, either bulldog types of large menacing looking ones. I would hate for my dog or any nice dog to me muzzled, it cause huge distress especially during spring and summer with warmer weather as dogs cool of by panting, which they can't with a nuzzle.

A dog tax, dog licence and dog wardens would help as well as clearly designated areas for off lead walks. There are many dog owners who are clueless and aggressive as are their dogs, I fear for my dog and myself when I meet them on a walk.

I'm a dog lover but when I was heavily pregnant a man let his two bull dogs jump on me and did not call them bag, he enjoyed my fear and distress.

On the other hadn't, there are also some amazingly nice dog owners and gorgeous dogs around, it's all about how their owners manage them and the breed.

Thank you for replying! Your tip about looping the leash around her chest is great, I'm going to try it out. She's a good hearted dog, just a bit much sometimes 😁She's 2 in June and still acts like a giant puppy!

No, not muzzling my dog. She is in her 90s in doggy human years.

Muzzle my dog? No. And she's not always on lead in public either. Neither of those things are going to change any time soon.