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).

'Is it still legal to let your dog wander alone for instance?' - yes it is. In these cases either get hold of the dog if you feel you can and take it to a place of safety while you wait for the dog warden or keep the dog in view call the dog warden.

It's then up to the owner to get the dog out of the pound. In our town that will set you back £60 and a possible court appearance if happens frequently.

I hate dogs being sent to pounds, but I agree things need to change and it's about time that irresponsible owners were held accountable for their actions. That will only happen if the general public act and pick up the phone. Ranting on MN about killing them all will do nothing to change things.

I agree more restrictions on breeding/homing is probably the best approach, and would have benefits all round, e.g. reducing numbers of unwanted dogs.

Our neighbours recently bred their Staffie, and while the puppy was cute and everything (and they are good owners), I couldn't help being a bit when I think of Battersea a short drive away and full of Staffies desperately needing homes.

It may be true that the vast majority of dogs can be trusted in public without a muzzle. Some clearly cannot.

That is exactly why I do not want any dog bounding up to my DC's. I don't believe that makes me hysterical.

I agree owners shouldn't be letting their dogs run up to or jump up at people.

Though when I'm out with mine, I tend to have the opposite problem - small children run up excitedly to pet him or try to play with him ,without asking me if it's OK. Fortunately he's very calm and good with children, but it doesn't seem a very sensible thing to do, I'm amazed the parents allow it.

Ephiny I have had that with my Dad's dog. Who we got when I was a teenager and so he isn't used to small children. He will tolerate them, but he certainly doesn't like it.

I had to stand arguing with a man once who let his boy touch him, despite me telling him that the dog doesn't like children, but the boy could fuss the smaller dog if he wanted to as she loves children. Apparently my dog was 'enjoying' himself, look his ears are back and his tail is wagging. His tail wasn't wagging. His tail was down, which says to anyone who knows him 'Stop this. I am pissed off'.

Fortunately I am able to reassure and control this dog, despite his size. But if he had bitten, myself and the dog would have been blamed not this idiot father

Its nearly 25 years since my gentle spaniel/collie cross dog was attacked and killed by a rottweiler. My dog was totally non aggressive and submitted showing his stomach. The rottweiler bit through his abdomen, exposing his intestines and ate pieces of my gentle dog.

Since then I've seen 20 odd years of serious/fatal rott attacks in the press on children and the predictable uproar when the Rott Club and other enthusiastic rott owners swing into action, along with well meaning people who dont want to tar all rotts with the same brush.

I just shrug and know one day the headline will be repeated. Nothings been done for the last 25 years and nothing will be done.

As for my experience of dogs, I'm a Championship Show qualified judge, for what that's worth.

I should say I think it's pretty unlikely a dog would bite in this situation, and I'm sure mine wouldn't. But with a strange dog you never know, some are nervous and easily stressed or startled by a noisy, excitable child, some can be a bit funny about being touched. They're not toys and shouldn't be treated like they are.

Ephiny - perhaps the parents don't allow it. Small children don't do things to command (mores the pity)...

Shiny - Maybe you should protect this dog and yourself from being put in this position by putting a muzzle on it when out and about?

Why will that protect him from being annoyed by small children and idiotic fathers?

He doesn't need muzzling. He is under control and would only bite if he was seriously provoked or if someone was threatening me. All I had to do was what I did and that is tell the dog to heel and have him walk with me in the opposite direction, away from the child.

Besides which this was years ago. It takes him ten minutes just to hobble to the end of street now, bless him. But he still loves his walkies.

I said he doesn't like children. Not that he eats them for lunch. Why not just educate your children not to touch strange dogs without asking the owners permission first?

Or keep your children on leads if you can't control them otherwise

The people over animals row. The way I see it people who care for the weakest and most innocent in society, animals included, are better than the "only an animal" brigade any day of the week. I'd rather leave my children with Val because I know by the way she treats animals she's a nice person. Much nicer than the "kill em quick" lot. Why do people think not caring about animals makes them superior . It doesn't.

How is that ridiculous??? I would rather a kind person who had the ability to care for the defenseless look after my children who are also defenseless. Would you leave your child with someone cold and callous? Ridiculous my arse

ElenorRigby, I'm so sorry to read that and accept that such an incident may colour someone's opinions. However your experience as a Championship Show Judge, as clever as that doubtless is, does you no favours here.

Although we can credit most, but by no means all, KC breeders as opposed to the backyard ones, the fact remains that rescue and breeders are two worlds apart and citing experience gained where you are in the ring is to lead people astray, albeit unintentionally.

Whilst rescue is striving to save the dogs we already have and to prevent the breeding of yet more - hence the sayong "Why breed and buy whilst others die?" - someone in your position serves to encourage and condone yet more breeding and worse still, to a standard where only the best is good enough (looks wise, not health wise, healthy dogs should be encouraged, obviously).

I respect your knowledge, which is far superior to mine wrt the show ring. However I don't think that it is relevent to the matters such as rescue, the stray problem, public perception and so on - in facr, quite the contrary, especially as you yourself have expressed the very prejudice I am countering.

Come and work at the sharp end, where the dogs really need you, and then we're talking... :)

You wouldn't leave your child with a CM who kicked her dog up the jacksie would you? That would tell you something about her nature wouldn't it?

Spikey, it's not just me, is it?

Jeez am I glad to have you back! :)

The point is if a CM said oh I hate animals why do people give to animal charities kill all staffies etc I'd think a) bit dense b)bit cold hearted. On the basis that how we treat the weakest in society reveals our true character, and that animals are the weakest seeing as they can't call the RSPCA themselves and all that.
Just agree will you

Ephiny, I have that with my DC.
One DS gets very nervous when a dog goes anywhere near him.
The other has to be restrained from petting every dog he sees.

I am training my DS's, just wish that more owners would train their dogs

Hi Val. You get my point about rather leaving my children with an animal lover don't you? That Fio is pretending I'm wrong