Are there still any responsible dog owners left?

[Cla7]

I just got attacked by three dogs in our local park when I was out with my toddler. Knowing what might happen, I always stay right at his side so I was able to lift him up when the dogs charged at him. They started to jump up at me and nipped me, luckily not him. I screamed at the dog owners but they weren’t even that bothered, just half heartedly called them back. No apology, apparently it’s fine because they only nipped me and ‘had they actually attacked I wouldn’t be standing here talking anymore’. I have red bite marks but no broken skin. They doubled down saying that toddlers reassemble prey and that everyone with a brain should know that, so why would I take my toddler to a park where dogs are around.

Am I really expecting too much wanting to walk in the park with my toddler and not get attacked? Sadly this is not the first time it’s happened. Where have we come to and in the light of dog owners not being responsible, is it time for stricter rules?

*bite someone! Not something

I think this highlights the problem. I haven’t reported incidents in the past, and I know other people who haven’t either, because luckily no one got hurt in the end, so it goes down as an annoyance rather than an attack. No one wants to feel they’re overreacting, and this thread shows that at least half of the people consider what happened not be a big deal. But this only leads to more dog owners not caring enough to prevent these things and some parks will soon be a dog-only zone rather than a shared space as is should be.

Where are you going where this is happening frequently? I'm a dog owner and we are often accosted by badly trained dogs and their idiotic owners, there are two beautiful parks near to us in walking distance and I never go to either anymore, as it is not fair on my dog to be harassed all the time. Both these parks are in close vicinity (surrounded by) housing estates.. I don't think it is a coincidence! Anywhere where we have to drive to, or pay for, seems to attract a far more considerate crowd.

I am rarely approached by dogs when it is just me and DD5 though wherever we go.

If you are thinking of reporting, please try and gather evidence, photos, names, descriptions, types of dogs etc, without that there is little point.

I think it demonstrates the opposite. I, as a dog owner and parent, deeply care about the reputation that dog owners have (falsely) been tarred with via anecdotes and the ensuing 'us versus them' mentality that result from these types of posts.

I have noted that you have backtracked on a couple of your points when clarification was requested. Initially you stated that this wasn't the first time it had happened but then said it wasn't an ongoing issue. You then stated that everyone was aware it wasn't a serious attack, which is in direct opposition to your thread title.

Despite this, myself and others, are shouting from the rooftops that you should, 100%, report this to the police. If they request evidence beyond your statement, we have suggested that you ask the park for CCTV footage and the neighbours for camera footage to assist you with your claim.

I will personally assist you with this endeavour if you are unable or unwilling, for any reason, to pursue this avenue in the interest of a) civil and community safety b) education c) correct acknowledgement and redress from law enforcement

Otherwise, we are within our rights to a) doubt the version of the story as it has been presented here b) defend this owner (and other owners) of the claim of being irresponsible personally and en masse as well as presenting dangers to the public including (spectacularly) towards defenceless toddlers.

So, as a responsible dog owner (who doesn't exist) if we are all going to work collectively to address a very serious (alleged) incident, I would ask that you please do not assert that dog owners condone or encourage this type of behaviour nor do we turn a blind eye to it.

It's not true and comes across as a cheap shot by a badly titled thread, presumably designed for user engagement, initiated in bad faith.

I don't speak for all dog owners. Just myself. I'm entitled to my opinion and, out of courtesy, explained from whence it's derived.

Anyone else just piling on for an opportunity to hate dogs, dog owners or people in general, can take a long jump off a short pier.

Thank you.

Just returned from a dog show where over 200 dogs and many more people mingled happily and without incident for hours and hours.

Being attacked by dogs sounds so scary! Did you photograph your injuries? Did the owners call an ambulance?? This is so awful, hope there were witnesses and you were able to get treated quickly.

Sadly it seems like responsible owners are the minority now.

Of course it’s your right to doubt my story. But I’m not sure where you think I backtracked. I said throughout this thread that this was NOT the first time that this happened.
I also don’t know where I said that everyone was aware that this wasn’t a serious attack. I had no way of knowing that, I only saw three dogs charging at me. I said that the owners might have known that this was not a real attack because they know their dogs, but I also said that this doesn’t make it ok in my eyes.

I think this obsession that people have with dogs has gone too far. I find it both worrying and distressing in equal measures.

No im not but when you have posters calling for all dogs to be killed for 0.2% behaviour oh and thats not just the serious attacks its all reported attacks including those that leave no injuries.
If a dog bites anyone, unless defending its owner from attack or in the line of duty (police and military dogs) i believe that they should be put down immediately and the owner prosecuted.
What we need is a proper serious conversation about how to deal with it properly, the haters and reactionary posters need to get a grip though.

No need for an ambulance or any kind of treatment as the "attack" didn't involve any broken skin or crush injuries it was allegedly a couple of nips

They should be on leads. In other countries it is not allowed to have dogs off the lead in areas with people or wildlife (pretty much everywhere). This would cut out 90% of these problems.

Are you going to the police or did you want us to do this for you?

I'm happy to report an alleged dog attack in your area for further investigation and on your behalf.

I agree with this 100%.

Thank you. That's all very interesting - and I'd never heard of genetic learning in particular before.

OP, hope you are OK. More should be done to owners if their dogs attack, dogs should be on leads at all times and only let off in dog only areas. There is no need for dogs to be allowed everywhere, in shops, cafes etc. Just because you love your dog does not mean I and others have to tolerate it. Just as I teach my child not to chase your dog or jump on it, dogs should be also be trained. Its getting out of hand and many owners, not all, have badly trained dogs with poor recall and they have an entitlement for their dog.

Apparently, there are approximately 13 million dogs in the country. So 0.2% is 26,000 dogs that ‘attack’ (and maybe multiple times).

That’s quite a lot of dogs and a lot of attacks (71 per day), potentially leading to the death of a person or another animal.

And this is where meta glasses are useful. The ability to voice activate the record function and catch the incident on video might make all the difference in keeping folk in.

Not wishing ţo derail the thread but it is a really interesting thing. Dogs (and probably other animals) can alter their dna with learning to pass knowledge on genetically to their offspring. This works in their natural world but not necessarily in ours. Taking some spurious extreme example to demonstrate the principle, let's say a dog was abused by an owner in a hat in its own house, it could potentially pass that fear of people in hats to its offspring. This is why puppy farms and irresponsible breeding is ill advised as all sorts of problems can manifest in puppies that either take a long while to resolve, or are never resolvable. I can't recall the name, I think it begins with A but I'll look it up for you.

Thank you. This is fascinating stuff.

The figures for last year I found are 15.5 million dogs and 32000 attacks reported which includes everything from zero injury all the way to death.
The number attacks is not great and we do need to have a reasonable conversation about what can be done to reduce them but its not the majority as some haters claim nor should all dogs be killed like another poster wants and others have agreed with.
Personally I'd like to see mandatory dog/owner training courses as a minimum.
I've had dogs all my life and am perfectly capable of training my dogs myself but have always taken them to dog training classes as puppies as it helps them learn in a safe environment (no children or reactive adults (of the human kind to be clear)) what is appropriate behaviour around other dogs and people. Which imho prevents most of the bad behaviour from dogs when they are around the general public and dogs who haven't been properly trained.
I have a husky who is exceptionally well trained (even if i do say so myself) who has near perfect recall, it only fails when suicidal squirrels are involved (that would be the squirrels in 1 local park that are regularly hand fed by visitors and come right up to you even when you have a dog with you), and tbh as squirrels are the natural food source of siberian huskies its to be expected so when we are in that park shes never off lead. She is however a vocal mardy so and so though who will sit nicely and loudly howl her demands for treats from any adult who was ever foolish enough to have given her 1 in the past and will loudly howl (a different howl from the treat 1) for belly rubs whilst in the belly rub position from any adult who has previously given her them. She doesn't jump, paw, scratch or bite, she just targets known softies who can be conned into giving her treats and belly rubs. We used to go into my sons primary school to help with dog phobic kids (with parental consent and MH staff) and would just sit patiently waiting for them to come to her and when they had petted her a few times would offer her belly for rubs. All of the kids got over their fears.
What im trying to say is dogs are not the problem people are and whilst some give us a bad name most owners are responsible and train our dogs.

How is 32,000 attacks not a ‘great’ number?

Ok im not sure what your asking here, but out of 15.5 million dogs 32000 is not great because it should be zero but its not 90% as some posters have claimed. Its literally 0.2% of all dogs and tbh im certain that some will be repeat offenders whilst others wont be reported so its not a wholly accurate figure just the best we can do with official data.
Would I like to see that number come dow to zero yes but its still not most or even many dogs that attack is a tiny proportion.
I would like to see the number come down and I think thers a couple of things that could be done to starting with puppy and owner classes for all and the outlawed of all unlicensed dog breeding and sales and certain breeds particularly yorkie terriers and chawowas (sp) and all fighting dogs because aggression is bread into all of them (yorkies and chawowas (sp) were bred for ratting and are highly aggressive due to this). I also have issues with certain fashionable cross breeds as they have bred for fashion and ignored the natural traits of the breeds and often creat difficult mixes that the owners haven't got a clue how to deal with.

Your posts are pretty scary! I’d be more worried about running into you in a park than any dog!

so controlling and nasty!
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‘Are you going to the police - or do you want us to do this for you’. Borderline intimidation and bullying. Perhaps we need some laws against you!

Have you been at the glue? Have you seen the kinds of dogs people have now? You should absolutely pick up your child if a dog is coming at you and get ready to knee/kick it as well. What would you do if a malinois/bull herder/5 patterdales/staff is coming at your child as fast as it could? Throwing some biscuits won't cut it and even if there's a risk of the dog jumping up trying to snatch said child it's better odds than being on the ground and letting out a horrible squealing noise because a dog is terrifying it. "Don't scream and don't move the object of the dog's desire" what a world we live in where the victim has to just freeze and do everything and play doe 100% incase fluffy gets a bit bitey and scratchy and jumpy otherwise. Any dog that would escalate if a child is picked up is going to escalate if the child is on the ground aswell.