AIBU to think dogs should be muzzled in public now?

[TraitorsSandwich]

I’ve just seen the awful news that a man has been killed by a German Shepherd - I can’t even imagine how awful and scary his final moments must have been.

Dog attacks seem to be happening all too often - AIBU to think dogs need to be muzzled outside the home now ?

For too long dogs have been humanised but the bottom line is they are animals.. who are ‘friendly’ until they are not and attack someone.

Dog owners seem to be getting more and more selfish & irresponsible- our local recreation ground has signs up everywhere stating dogs must be on leads but it’s completely ignored despite their being a free and secure dog field 10 minutes walk away. Therefore meaning that no one else is able to enjoy the rec ground.

I see so many adults being dragged around by their dogs and it’s so obvious that they would not have the strength to intervene if their dog did attack.

So surely it’s safer for everyone to muzzle dogs ?

My staffy cross was attacked by a cockerpoo. It was a vicious little fucker.

No I think that goes too far but do agree with a lot of what you say. I mean does a cavapoo really need a muzzle?

However, I think all dogs unless in a designated dog area should be on a lead. I have a dog and am sick of dogs off leads who are ‘friendly’.

Maybe I don’t want your dog around me, or ‘playing’ with my dog, or jumping up on me.

Dogs on leads. If dog is off lead - fine/penalty. If dog attacks then criminal liability for the owner.

You would say that.

The common denominator is humans and specifically men, they own and train dogs usually the ones in these scenarios. Men also rape, abuse, steal, con, and kill in proportionally large number, they instigate wars( usually) ..our prisons are busting at the seams, to the point they have decided to let some out, because of overcrowding.
Maybe we need to start early, restrictions on boys before they become men to prevent behavioural problems? Ridiculous? Yes, of course, but ultimately humans makes reasoned choices, dogs can do what comes as instinctive behaviour even well trained can revert to breed traits in the right circumstances.
Muzzling every dog because 'Ryan' has decided his status dog needs to protect him from local drug dealers is the wrong end of the lead.
It far easier to say dogs should be restricted but ultimately its a human at the end of the lead.
Some dogs are reactive either human or animal, good owners manage their dogs behaviour. We already have laws around human breaking laws, we have laws around 'dangerous dogs'. We can't stop humans misbehaving, they know what's illegal, dogs don't know the laws.

Mumsnet loves to talk about blanket measures.

I bet mumsnetters wish they could muzzle children in public too. Use dummies, sellotape, or face masks, or whatever it takes to silence the little shits (the last pair of words being Mumsnet’s words, not mine).

May I muzzle the dog that keeps barking at 11pm most nights?

I have big dogs and wouldn’t mind muzzling them at all if it came into force.

The issue is the people whose dogs need a muzzle won’t do it.

🙄

Yeah, those Sausage Dogs are lethal!

I saw a viscous, out of control cocker spaniel at the park yesterday, those little wagging tails could take someone's eye out.and don't get me started on wolfhounds, all that standing around, doing nothing, they need locking up.

Cars have a use, dogs (other than the minority of working and assistance dogs) are a fashion statement/accessory./status symbol/fluffy thing to cuddle.

Anyway taking steps to resolve one menace doesn't stop us also resolving another menace, eg by investing in cycle lanes .

I said on the other thread that we need to treat injuries by a dog as assaults by the owner. Hopefully that would concentrate a few minds. Many owners are entitled idiots, not criminals, so the threat of criminal action would hopefully make them invest in training and potentially take greater care with their extendable leads.

Ha ha yes please!

I am going to take out a hosepipe soon (to the owner!)

Problem is if every dog has to be muzzled, many people won't bother to train/socialise their dogs at all because 'they can't do any damage'

I think all dogs is a bit OTT, but I agree there are a lot of big scary dogs about that tbh I don’t think anyone even sensibly had any business owning, let alone taking out in public.

Most often dog attacks are at home, where they wouldn’t be muzzled anyway.

They need to be trained. You have to train a dog to tolerate a muzzle too. So how are you getting people with the lack of responsibility to pick up after their dog or keep it out of areas it shouldn't be to take on even more responsibility.

The dog may have bitten the poor man, but probably didn't cause the fatal injuries. There are two separate charges. They don't usually charge people with murder for dog attacks.

From how it’s been reported, there was an altercation beforehand and the owner of the German shepherd purposely set it on the man. You really think someone like that is going to adhere to a muzzle rule? Yeah right

I think instead that

1. you should need a license to own a dog
2. that license should be contingent on enrolling in and passing specific classes, and having appropriate insurance (for the health of the dog and in case of damage to people or property)
3. it should be law that dogs should be on leads, apart from in designated dog fields
4. penalties for not picking up dog shit include having your license removed

I’m sick of stepping in dog shit, and being harassed by untrained dogs / having to patrol grass for dog shit in kids parks where they’re not even permitted.

Irresponsible dog owners have been a problem round here for years, and I notice it even more now I have a toddler.

This.

I think there also needs to be much tighter regulation for breeders and consequences for not being registered/licensed etc. Any Tom Dick or Harry shouldn't be able to breed and sell animals (any animal tbh) , a breeder would then need to see evidence of completion of a dog handling course, license and enrollment for the dog onto obedience training, before you could purchase one. The dog would be chipped at that point, and it all linked up, a bit like log books for cars. It would mean dog ownership is then out of reach or too much hassle for a lot of people, I don't see that as a negative.

I don't particularly like dogs but this particular case sounds like the dog was deliberately used as a weapon in an altercation so muzzling all dogs would make no difference to cases like this

That's not true though.

We didn't ban guns. And guns are responsible for more deaths than dogs.

Even at its highest, there is about one death per million dogs in the UK. By contract, there is one gun death per 17,500 gun owners in the UK.

So a dog is 57 times less likely to be responsible for a death than a gun owner.

It is normal to have separate area for dogs and cats in vet waiting rooms.

All dogs should be muzzled and on short leads in public places, and tied up outside shops / cafes etc.

No exceptions.

Well… My dog is honestly the least aggressive being I have ever encountered. If she needs to be muzzled then so do lots of people!

However, I do think breeds such as XL bullys need to be muzzled - it should just be the law. And fines should be issued for non compliance. 100%!

That’s completely ridiculous.

A dog tied up outside of a shop is not in control by it's owner.
Only an idiot would leave their dog alone outside a shop nowadays.

Ok cages then.