Another dog attack, man killed, can this just go on?

[IthinkIamAnAlien]

Just on the news - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-66817795

Week after week, there is something wrong with dogs (and the owners) today, I grew up with them and this never, ever happened. Maybe because dogs were treated as dogs and not trophy animals. Awful for everyone.

I'm not sure it's a case of layabouts having them but it's defo a class thing, even if it's not pc to say it. I'm not sure I ever met somebody with a similar dog in a decade of office work.

Now I'm working in a blue collar plant environment and three guys at work have bullies - one standard, two are XL bullies. They also know quite a few other people that own them as two of the guys have talked about breeding them. Obv bullies have become popular lately but there have always been tough guy dogs available and previously it was things like American bulldogs, amstaffs, etc. I've never known a professional middle class family to have one.

This is actually a long enduring myth. They are a specific breed but the phrase is often used as a catch all, very similar to how people will call any vacuum cleaner 'a hoover'.

@TorqueWrench they are not a recognised breed in the U.K.

Neither are pit bulls a recognised breed

Pitbulls are recognised by several kennel clubs as an official breed of dog.

However UK law also bans pitbull "type" dogs which is where the confusion comes in. Under UK law if a dog fits the description of a pitbull it can be banned even if it doesn't actually contain any pitbull DNA.

They could keep it simple and just ban bull breeds over a certain size or weight.

They are, which is why they're one of the four banned breeds.

However, the law also bans pitbull "type" dogs which means that a dog doesn't actually need to be a pitbull to fall foul of the law.

@TorqueWrench

Although the UK Kennel Club does not recognize the pit bull or American pit bull terrier as a breed and therefore has no breed standard for it (Kennel Club, 2006), dogs are considered “pit bull type” if they meet a substantial number of 15 physical features outlined by the DEFRA

The government has been quite clear that step 1 is to define the breed.

Yep, which is what they did with pitbulls and there are still plenty of those around.

Indeed.

I feel like the widening of the category is intended to prevent situations like the 'designer drug' issue where small modifications are continually made to stay ahead of legal definitions.

But there actually aren't. Most are bullies. There are a few american bulldogs too but they're not that common. Proper American Pit Bull Terriers are quite rare.

Define "plenty". There's 13 million dogs in the UK. The fact that a few lowlifes still keep illegal dogs proves nothing.

It's devastating. I couldn't sleep at the weekend thinking about that poor man. It's is completely unacceptable that so many attacks are happening on the streets of this country. I am livid everytime I see a bully love meme or the pathetic whining about having to muzzle the damn things.

I would hate the idea that people even felt uncomfortable around my dog but these people seem to enjoy it. What it is wrong with them?

I agree, as a dog owner that things have gone to far and as culling won't happen sadly, a huge clampdown on dog ownership needs to happen which sadly will affect all dog owners not just the selfish bastards who just HAD to have this type of dog.

I would put money on most XL bully (pit bull type) owners having very little dog experience or knowledge prior to buying it on a whim from Damo at Bastardbullz.com

Same.

And they were wagging their tails as they did it, because this is what they were bred for.

People try and trot out other breeds bite etc. - of course they do. But a Pomeranian isnt going to try and fucking eat me for fun.

Many people have been bitten by labradors

@ChristopherTalken dogs wag their tails for many reasons, not just because they're happy.

@Dotjones seriously?? I've seen some absolutely ridiculous things on Mumsnet but this comment wins

Yes, another poster corrected me.

I don't think they should be banned though.

My little dog bit me by accident. He's terrified of big dogs and someone bought their big dog up to us whilst we were sat on the grass. My dog went for the big dog but I put my arm up so stop him. He definitely wouldn't be able to kill a grown man.

That's why I don't agree with letting dogs sniff each other unless both owners are sure it's going to be a friendly encounter.

Yes easily, she weighs 22kg and if i couldn't, i wouldn't own one.

A large Bully is 50 to 60kg! and far far stronger than any GSP.

However, she knows her place, doesn't sleep on my bed and i would never have her or any dog in the same room as a child, no matter who is in with her.

I cringe when i see these idiots with their dogs and babies, anyone who has ever hunted with a dog, will know that a dog can be extremely violent.

What happened to your dog being the most docile thing ever?

😂I've got two dogs! 😂

@Oliotya You thought you'd caught me out there, didn't you? Hilarious and a little pathetic.

@Oliotya & before you start no he's not being muzzled either. No need, I repeat I don't let my dogs approach other dogs or children or adults or cats etc etc.

Define "plenty". There's 13 million dogs in the UK. The fact that a few lowlifes still keep illegal dogs proves nothing.

Well, there are enough of them around that they're still involved in fatal dog attacks on a greater level than pretty much every legal breed except the XL Bully.

Hardly. You're the one lying by omission and expecting to get away with it. You own an aggressive, reactive dog. That's your responsibility. What will you when your dog tries again and you don't get your arm in the way fast enough?

Labrador’s are the most common dog breed in the U.K (61,559 in 2021) so sheer numbers dictate that a lot of people will have been bitten by one.

And yet looking at the list of fatal incidents in the U.K. since 1980 I cannot see a single one carried out by a Labrador.

In the same period, I count 12 fatal incidents (out of 70) that involved a Staffordshire Bull Terrier (pure bred or cross), though one of these came about through sepsis after a single bite.

23 of those 70 fatal incidents have occurred in the last 3 years. 9 of those involved Bully XLs and a further 4 American Bulldogs/Pitbulls.