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).

owners have the power of life and death over their dogs - responsibility must lie with them (and does in the eyes of the law)

it would also reduce their chance of playing and doing things come naturally like chasing and fetching balls to zero. Like I said why punish a whole species for the idiocy of a few?

The dogs weren't to blame. The owner was. They should never have been out unattended. I'd hazzard a guess and say that is highly likely they have been poorly socialised and not walked enough. My dog tries to attack horses. This is because he doesn't encounter them often. I am working to improve this by walking past the stables a few times a week with my clicker and treats and treating him when he is calm. He was almost perfect when a few unexpected horses came trotting through the park yesterday.

What's the betting these dogs haven't seen many children on bikes before, owing to the fact that they haven't been properly walked or socialised with all situations?

Should I be punished because my dog is nervous/aggressive around horses? Even though I am working on training this behaviour.

But mine hate the postman and apart from Sundays he visits daily :o

MollyChambers I was almost killed by a ferret as a child. We owned a doberman at the time who never in her life bared her teeth at anyone. At the time I was bitten by the ferret I was in my uncles house with one of his Rottys. But it was the ferret that almost killed me. I didn't immediately demand that all ferrets stay in their cages or wear muzzles. That was one ferret. Just one of a whole species. And again it was my fault.

Off topic - What is the issue with postmen and dogs??? I know the loveliest lump of a german shepherd. Really friendly and docile. Extremely well socialised and used to people coming and going round about him. He goes mental when he sees the postman. Poor guy is terrified! Drives his owner mad too.. Just wondered why postmen in particular can be an ishoo... Sorry, rambling..

because they put things in your hole?

Cannot believe some of the comments on this thread,

DrNorthener so because you walk a certain path daily does that said path then become your personal property?So what if the hystericals as you so kindly called them were out for their one walk?If its public land then anyone can go on there surely?

I think ALL dogs should attend a training course & unless they pass then the owners cannot keep the dog.

We should also have specially made dog parks where they can quite happily run round muzzle free licking & sniffing each other as dogs do.

Unfortunately in this instance enforced muzzle wearing would not have saved this little girl being attacked,dog owners need to be made to be responsible,if they cannot be then they should be banned from keeping any animal for life.

Riven, I don't consider someone hysterical who speaks of an issue involving Labs and does so without calling for them all to be PTS, citing them ALL as a danger to humans or indicating that there is something wrong with the breed.

And I didn't notice you doing any of those things that I so despise. No issue with you there.

I was referring to the hystericals at the start of this thread, the OP included, who all seem to have melted away instead of taking up my challenge.

Shiny - Ferrets are vile creatures. Wouldn't want to be bitten by one. But that's unlikely to happen as I've never seen one walking down the street or running round in the park. That's why ferrets and dogs are not comparable in my view.

BTW, in general, I like dogs.

No it's not my personal property, but as a dog owner, Sometimes folk look at me like I have no right to be there, with my dog.

Regarding your idea bout the courses that dogs must pass - what would the criteria be? Who would test them? What age would they be tested at? Could they live with a family prior to the test? Where would all the 'failed' dogs go?

We have a driving test, quite a thorough one, and yet we still have nob heads on the roads......

Pawmum -

I think people do take ferrets for walks dont they? Someone walks a polecat here, mind you it is a bit of a 'odd' place to live

The same way that you as a dog owner look down on non dog owners walking on your path?

They should be able to make the dog walk to heel,stop on command,sit on command,you know basic obediance??

I believe every dog is capable of following instructions with the right owners,those that cannot be trained at all should be put to sleep,there is hardly a national shortage of dogs now are there?

Ah I like ferrets. Despite one almost killing me and giving me a permanent scar on my jawline/neck. Hamsters otoh are eevil.

Oh and it's not the dog that would training. It's the owners. I could hand over a perfectly trained to an inexperienced owner and within a couple of weeks all my hard work would have been undone. Not deliberately, but because some people just don't know how to train dogs and how to keep that training going. It can be very easy to 'accidentally' train undesirable behaviours if you are not 100% certain of what you are doing.

AHEM!

Excuse me! And who says that no-one takes a ferret for a walk?

The resident pet ferret here frequently goes out for a walk.

DrNortherner - I would agree that the father of that child was unreasonable to tell you off for not having your dog on a lead. If his child is scared of dogs then that is an issue for them to sort out. Assuming your dog did not run up to the girl and stick its nose in her face then I completely agree that he was being daft.

Those that can not be trained should be put to sleep

Yes thats why i think there should be properly run courses that ALL dog owners & their dogs should attend,those that fail should not be allowed to keep a dog.

Having a dog is a big responsibilty & people should prove they know what then entails.

Ahh - but I said that I'd never seen a ferret being taken for a walk. Which I haven't.

Well where would you put them then DrNorthener?

If a dog cannot be trained by a properly trained dog handler then surely that dog is not safe to go in public.

Or shall we just stay as we are?

Cwthcy that is a bit ott no? Could they not just have to keep attending the classes until they pass or until they are allowed to let their dog off leash.

There really is no need to go around murdering innocent dogs because of the failure of people.

And while we are discussing this, who is going to pay to set up all these classes? Train all the trainers? Who is going to police it? I mean, the sort of person who owned these Rottys aren't going to voluntarily turn up are they? They are just going to go to a backstreet breeder and procure a dog illegally. Where is all the money coming from to set up and police this scheme? As a country we are already skint.

And who is going to pay to murder all these dogs and who will pay the therapy bill for the vet who has to routinely inject these dogs?

Therein lies a question for the training experts I think. Can a "badly behaved" dog be rehabilitated? Iyswim. The type that have been trained to be aggressive by dickheads I mean. Or even just those whose owners haven't been able to train them to be obediant for whatever reason...

Well for one, a properley trained dog handler can not be expected to train every dog in the UK. After taking my dog to obedience classes I learnt that it was me who needed training, not my dog!

My dog has excellent recall, and responds to distance down. I also pick up his shit. I am a responsible dog owner, we do exist.

Irresponsible dog owners are the issue, and it annoys me as much as you. I don't have the answers, but I'm not spouting rubbish that all dogs who failm a test should be put to sleep.

Maybe the owners would have to pay for the course themselves.

Again owning a dog is a big responsibilty & if owners cannot invest in their pets then they dont deserve them.

Something needs doing though,or the easiest option is just to make ALL dogs wear a muzzle when out in public,but again thats cruel isnt it?

Here we go. Hysterical.

Kill them, that's the solution! Fuck me, why didn't I think of that. It would save me HOURS of work a week.

Wildly intelligent.

Dont'cha just love humane people...