Rotweillors

[reptile]

What I can't understand (re the recent case in Dundee of a small girl being mauled by 3 rotweillors) is why we can't have a law limiting the number of these dogs people are allowed to own. I'm a dog owner, but why does anyone need/want 3 dogs, let alone rotweillors.
It would be so easy to police, rather than going on a case-by-case basis, if you had to have a license for your dog, and, in the case of dangerous breeds, had to prove your case for owning more than one (or even just one IMO).

[Lizzylou]

Riven, even I think that that is over the top though and I am far from a dog lover.

Why should well behaved/trained dogs have to wear a muzzle/remain on a lead at all times?

I do agree that in certain areas dogs should be on leads. I admit that I used to think dogs should always be on leads, but I recognise that that is unwarranted. They shouldn't be allowed to run riot through the streets though!

I am not sure about muzzles though tbh, how would you police which dogs need to be muzzled? Bizarrely on Monday, out of the 100s of dogs we saw, only one was muzzled. A tiny dog (looked like a lassie dog, though smaller), the owner obviously felt that the dog needed to be.

[Vallhala]

Riven, apart from Shiny's excellent point, please see my post made at half bleedin' midnight! :o

Shiny, I have a piccie just for you on Pets. :o

[PawMum]

I would be happy to muzzle mine if it was the law aswell. I fail to see how it is cruel when they only have it on for walks.

[ShinyAndNew]

I'd be happy to use a dog park. But with the country in the state it is currently in I very doubt that Dave and his mates are going to be shelling out to build hundreds of dog parks across the country.

Most responsible owners try and take their dog places where dogs are expected to be anyway. Like certain parks, certain beaches, the countryside.

Again it is the actions of a few that are giving the rest of us a bad name.

[Ephiny]

I agree dogs should be on leads in the streets etc, but don't see the problem with (non-aggressive) dogs being let off to run around in appropriate areas, e.g. parks.

As for muzzles, they're a sensible precaution in some cases, mostly for dogs that have might snap at other dogs who run up, but owners should be able to judge whether that's necessary, and it's unfair and too heavy-handed to enforce it on all dogs. How are they supposed to play fetch or catch or trot around carrying the stick they found in the woods and decided is the most fantastic thing in the world?

[pinkthechaffinch]

Dogs are horrible creatures.

my gran's big, soft retriever actually ejaculated with the excitement of seeing baby dd for the first time


Ugh!

cannot understand why anyone would want one as a pet.

[DrNortherner]

Hurrah for Valhalla. Wonderful post.

I hate some of the attitudes on this thread. How ridivulous to ask why does anyone want 3 dogs?

I have a labrador, we got him aged 9 months from a charity called labrador rescue. We went through a very tough screening process to get him, I do think what is wrong in this country is that anyone can own a dog and many unscrupulous breeders will sell to anyone who ahs the cash.....

Incidentally, as a dog owner, on my local dog walks I know 2 rotties and 2 dobermans who are the most friendly, beautiful and kind dogs you could wish to meet.

The dog agressive ones are nearly almost the small breeds who are 'allowed' to show agression because they are small......

[DrNortherner]

I would hate to have to muzzle my lab outdoors. He loves drinking water from the lake, catching and retieving his ball and fetching sticks. It would be like eating chocolate with the paper on - nowhere near as much fun!

[Laska]

Riven

Why should well behaved dogs be muzzled? I repeat myself:

"Statistically, children are infinitely more at risk of abuse / injury / death from their own parents than from dogs. Therefore how's about we remove all kids from their parents at birth and bring them up in state run facilities. There we go "

Or as someone else said - all men to wear chastity belts because some have raped?

Sorry - it's just ridiculous.

The amount of kids whose lives have been enriched through positive encounters with dogs is massive. Let's not forget that in the face of a few isolated incidents (most of which have involved yard dogs, poorly socialised, in nasty circumstances - drug dealing owners in at least 2 cases IIRC).

[PawMum]

It isn't just children who get bitten

[Laska]

pawmum And your point is?

[Vallhala]

In 25 years of dog owning, all my time as a foster carer and as a volunteer, which spans years too, I have been bitten twice.

Once by a stranger's dog who was injured; I was trying to get to the wound to inspect and stem blood flow prior to moving her and getting her to the vet. Once by a dog who is a permanent resident at a rescue, has health problems wrt eating/metabolism so can't keep weight on when I was stupid enough to come between her and her dinner.

Neither left more than a bruise.

Neither dog was a Rott or bull breed - one a little mutt and the other a husky cross.

And yet I deal with/have dealt with more dogs in the space of a year than most of the hystericals on here will deal with in an entire lifetime.

Perspective. Please.

[PawMum]

That not only children get bitten or attacked by dogs. I don't think it was that difficult a sentance to decifer.

[Ephiny]

I agree, the huge majority of dogs are not ever going to bite someone for no reason (or at all), the bites that do happen are often as Valhalla described, trying to help an injured dog (the poor thing is frightened and in pain and doesn't understand your intentions) or trying to separate dogs being aggressive towards each other (in this case biting the human is usually an accident).

Yes there's a problem with a minority of dog owners not being fit to have animals and mistreating them/failing to train and socialise them. But that's where the focus needs to be, not penalising the huge majority of sensible owners and good dogs.

[DrNortherner]

We met some hystericals the othe day Valhalla, was walking my dog with my 8 year old ds. Dog was off lead, it's a popular place with dog walkers, open countryside type place, not a play park. Couple coming towards us with a kid who looked about 4. We approach them, my dog slightly in front, tail wagging, the kid becomes hysterical, Mother picks her up, Father chunters that my dog should be on a lead.

They were probaly out for their one walk, cause the sun was shining. We walk that route with our dog every single day, rain, hail or shine.

[ShinyAndNew]

Yes but what is the point of that post? It's not just children who get bitten and....?

The vast, vast, majority of dogs do not bite anyone.

And it's not just dogs who bite. Hamsters bite too. And ferrets. And cats. And lions. And my nephew. He bit dd2's belly button and didn't let go apparently, perhaps his jaw locked? Would I BU to suggest my sister muzzles him next time she has guests? Just to be safe you see.

[Ephiny]

PawMum I think we all understood the literal meaning of your sentence, just not how it's relevant to the discussion. If there's been a focus on children here, that's likely because it was a little girl who got bitten in this particular incident.

[EdgarAllInPink]

it is precisely because Dogs are animals that it is daft to heap blame upon them - they are possessions of their owners, and it is their owners responsibility to make sure they are safely kept.

If an idiot left, say, a lawn mower near young kids and those kids were injured - there would be no call to ban all lawn mowers! We'd think the person that let that happen - that didn't watch their possession properly - was an culpable idiot. Why isn't it the same for dogs - if they are just possessions - you have to blame the owners for being twunts.

any law limiting the behaviour of owners to lead walk only is only ever going to be obeyed by law-abiding owners - i very much doubt it will stop idiots from causing damage with their dogs.

[EdgarAllInPink]

Agree strongly Shinyandnew and valhalla

[PawMum]

the point was by muzzling dogs whilst out in your community it would make the chance of them biting someone almost zero?

I don't usually take my hamster a walk down the beach

[MollysChambers]

ShinyAndNew - Quite agree - the vast majority of dogs don't bite.

However I don't think there is any comparison between the utterly horrific injuries sustained by this girl and the being bitten by a hamster, cat or ferret. And as far as I am aware it is illegal to keep lions as pets in this country. As Valhalla has repeatedly said - perspective please. On both sides of the argument.

[MollysChambers]

EdgarAllinPink - But they're not inanimate objects are they. They are very intelligent living creatures. To compare them to lawnmowers is just silly.