Anyone noticed the increase of Rottweilers around at the minute?

[Ploppi]

I saw 3 on my walk this morning alone. (Not all together).

I like Rottweilers so this isn’t a negative post about them - it’s a concern.

Apparently since the XL bully ban was announced last year there has been an increase in the buying of both Rottweiler and Cane Corso dogs. The new “Status breeds”.

Ive not looked but I’m assuming Rottweiler puppies are a hell of a lot easier to get hold of than Cane Corso pups - so let’s assume the Rottie becomes the next breed of choice for wrong uns.

Are we likely to see an increase in the number of Rottweiler related attacks/deaths? If so - will the government really ban one of the most popular breeds in Britain? I don’t think they could … it would be akin to banning the German shepherd. So what then?

AIBU to think the way we’re heading is a semi- ban on all bull type/guarding breeds? Meaning you will need a license for certain breeds? Would it actually work?

Rottweiler
all bull breeds over a certain weight
All Mastiff breeds
German Shepherd
Cane Corso
Dobermann
Malinois …

Where is all this heading?

FEIW I supported the XL Bully ban but I’m now worried about where all this will lead. They will always find a new status breed.

I agree 100% with all you say, & it's good to know there's people out there who are doing something about it, well bred dobes are wonderful dogs & deserve good health & a long life.

GSDs are one of 'my' breeds, not sure if I'll have another as life stuff has meant smaller dogs are an easier option at this time, but if I do there's only a handful of breeders I'd go to for a pup, one of them still produces dogs from my past dogs' lines, so I know they would be a good choice.

We should know by now that banning breeds doesn't work.

Banning pitbulls (and the other banned breeds) didn't stop dog attacks, so why does anyone think banning XL bullies will stop them?

I've a friend who is a rottie breeder and there have been messages with other breeders to remind everyone that they need to be very, very, careful about who they sell to. Whilst they are big and muscular they aren't terriers so I'm less concerned about them. Cane Corso and Presa Canario, though 🙈 and God forbid Malis become the scumbags breed of choice, I don't want strong jaws combined with a higher IQ than the owner

That's very true. {Re Dobes}
There is one very large cropped ear one near me, but there used to be far more.

It's dog aggressive dogs that worry me most - the ''Fighting breeds''.
Ones that fixate onto a gentle passive dog just minding his or her own business.

Malinois particularly could out think the average scummy owner.
They need so much work to keep them happy, and there is a local man with one, but he is responsible and his dog is well trained.

I'd not want someone else's dog trying to get his ball though.
I am very careful to not let my dog try to chase a ball flung with a ball thrower in our direction for this reason.

So many Pedigree animals are suffering with their hearts in past few years.
Responsible breeders heart test and would not consider breeding from unhealthy lines.

A family member lost a beloved cat recently to probably inherited heart condition {Burmese Cat}. She was just 6 yrs old.

My neighbour lost both her Cavaliers at 8 yrs - they were brother and sister {both neutered} but they were the longest lived out of their litter- some were dying at 3 yrs old of heart problems.

GSD's seem rarer these days - hips and tummy issues seemed to be a big problem with them.

A good GSD is a lovely dog.

My dad used to say 'Why get a passive sighthound when you could have a German Shepherd that would at least defend you?''

He couldn't see the point of a small silent dog.

@oakleaffy yes, pedigree cats are also starting to display very similar genetic issues as dogs, not helped by people wanting to breed for flat faces, shortened legs & folded ears.
I love Burmese, we currently have a Siamese & she is like a dog in a cat suit!

I had no idea that pedigree cats had also suffer from increasing congenital heart defects to dogs.
Very worrying and upsetting.

I too love 'Orientals' {Burmese, Siamese and Bengals [f4's] they are absolutely dog like.

Brother's Burmese used to ''fetch'' and bring back a toy to hand - it was so sweet to see.
Her litter sister is still alive, but pining.

Burmese ,Siamese and Bengals are extremely bonded to their people.
They really miss them when they leave the house, in the manner of dogs.

About 18 yrs ago, Dad was driving his soft top Beemer towards the M4, and noticed a lot of motorists were flashing headlights at him.

He thought it odd.. but ignored it.

Only when more people started to do it- with hand gestures and expressions did he find a safe place to pull over and to his amazement, the Burmese was clinging to the soft top with his claws.

Thank Heavens for the people alerting him....The acceleration once on the M4 could have blown the puss off...would have been unthinkable.

Dad was on his way to a job, so had to take cat with him, inside the car.

Cat didn't care!

I have a Whippet {very cat like} they love to curl up quietly out of the way, somewhere warm, or sit on a lap.

If there was a Venn diagram of Cats and Dogs, Whippets and Oriental cats. would be in the centre.

I work in an inner city school and many of the kids families have XL bullies. They are just ignoring the ban and as I drive to and from school they are walked off lead without muzzles as if the rules have not changed.

On the other hand near where we live in suburbia, there are some absolute softie bull breeds that would probably meet the description whose responsible owners are muzzling and keeping in the lead. They have the most gentle personalities and are just big loving dopes.

I don't support the XL bully ban as I can't see how it will be enforced with the irresponsible owners it should most apply to.

I think people are just noticing them because of all the talk of them being the next big thing. I mean, unless they're a puppy they would've been bought long before the ban.

I see a lot whilst driving though the dodgier areas of Birmingham. I think a lot of people don't consider that many of the people who own them are statistically more at threat from humans than dogs, which is why they have these dogs.

Terrifyingly, any time I see a dog when I am out with my toddlers, the thought in the back of my mind constantly is "How would I kill this beast if I had to?" My answer is to always wear steel toe capped boots, but how has it come to this?

It hasn’t come to this. You are completely overreacting.

Ironic that XL bullies were deliberately bred to be a friendly, lazy family pet and now they and other similar looking breeds are being persecuted due to the actions of bad dog owners. And not just bad XL bully owners, it has become acceptable to allow all breeds to run amok and be let off with no control or recall. Or bark incessantly at people and other dogs.

The XL ban was just a convenient ploy from the government to deflect and draw attention from their latest incompetence and please the mindless sheeple who love animals but not bully breeds because they are “big and ugly”.

Dog licensing and education for owners of all breeds will improve dog owner etiquette. And importantly breeder regulation with standards and again licensing will protect the next breed to be scapegoated - I just hope it won’t be Rottweilers.

@oakleaffy that sounds like typical Burmese behaviour!

Our Siamese will happily follow me out to the car & get in with me & she'll get in & have a nap in it if I'm out vacuuming the interior.

Love whippets, I have spitz & they are also very cat like, they wash their faces like a cat does & can easily jump 6 ft horizontally.

That sounds like an unhealthy level of obsession, please seek help.

She’s not wrong though.
When these attack they are almost impossible to stop
@fliptopbin American people who have these or suffer from them say choking them out is the ONLY way.
a belt or long lead to loop and pull UP to literally cut off the airway.
Then get the child or little dog away as soon as possible.
A boy (7) was attacked in Europe only in last few days
He was being flung around like a rag doll while people kicked the Pit

Kicking makes it bite harder.
They are immune to pain while attacking- but need oxygen.

You are right to be concerned.

I am, too.
So few owners have control of these XL or Pit types.

Thanks to The Omen movies in 1976, Rotties were the breed that the original 'Devil Dogs' moral panic rose up around.

It's nothing new.

Rottweilers haven’t much “ Form “ for killings and maulings compared to Pits and XL Bullies.
The Omen was just a film featuring canine actors- Rottweilers haven’t been banned anywhere, I don’t think?
It’s the serious maulings and deaths that have called for controls on Pits and XL Bullies .

It hasn't "come to this" at all.

As an aside, steel toe-capped boots would likely do absolutely nothing to get a dog off you if you were genuinely being attacked, because dog would have you on the floor and you'd have no chance of kicking at them.

They used to. Linked in part to their use as guard dogs and stereotypical tough guys.

Hence the Sun resurrecting the title for stories such as 'DEVIL DOG Shocking moment lad, two, is mauled by pet Rottweiler,'

Granddad of boy savaged to death by devil dog calls for a change in law in wake of recent killings
Tragic Archie-Lee Hirst was grabbed by the family’s Rottweiler in 2007

I haven't seen a Rottweiler for years. I live very close to a popular dog walking area, and see loads of dogs.

I reckon around 50% of the dogs round here are varieties of of poodle cross, with spaniels and labs next most numerous, although whippets seem to be getting more numerous, as do dachshunds.

One of my neighbours has a beautiful GSD x BSD. He's enormous, but very gentle, and she's a very responsible and experienced owner, so he's well trained and gets plenty of exercise.

In fairness though, Rottweilers have been involved in quite a few fatal dog attacks in the UK over the years. According to Wikipedia, they've been responsible for the following deaths:

1989 - an 11yo girl.
1996 - an 11yo boy.
2006 - a five month old baby.
2007 - a one year old boy.
2008 - a 78 year old man.
2022 - a two year old boy.
2023 - a 40 year old woman

That's a pretty significant number of deaths - especially when there are hundreds of breeds who never even make it onto the list in the first place.

I don't think it helps when owners of certain breeds double down and refuse to acknowledge how dangerous their dogs can be, tbh.

@Greenshake I've got one.....

She's the best!

Bobbies on the beat.. that's a blast from the past!