Boy 10 mauled to death at holiday park

[Witchofzog]

I can't link on this phone but it is on most news sites. The owner was found off site after a police hunt so possibly fled when she knew her dog had killed a child. It's just awful - a young boy probably just going to the loo in the middle of the night on a campsite having his life ended because of a dangerous dog and an owner who can't control and/ or keep it securely away

@LittleMissHappy19

Most people don't need to pay thousands to get a trainer out multiple times.

An easy to train breed and a few books is enough to get a nice mannered dog. I know because that's what I did. My dog has never been to classes or a trainer and he is the nicest dog you can meet, because we picked a good breed and read up how to train a dog.

Also you can pay 12 a month for flea and worm treatments and yearly check up - you don't have to pay it in one lump sum.

Small breed dogs are affordable for most people. Dispite what you may think people on benefits or a pension can choose to budget for a pet if its what they want to spend their money on.

I dont think the list given does clarify actually - as with the labrador example, certain types of people, the irresponsible ones who want a status symbol, are drawn to certain breeds.

Er yes, they’re drawn to these dogs as status symbols because these dogs are the most dangerous.

It's ridiculous to say all dogs should be banned and is never going to happen. It's also ridiculous to say all large dogs should be banned and that, also, is never going to happen.

So what size equates to "large"? Yes a Great Dane or an Irish Wolfhound are large but all the ones I have ever met (and it has been quite a few) have been the biggest softies going.

Dogs bigger than a Labrador? Or bigger than a standard poodle? Are only the small dogs (much more likely to bite or snap) going to be allowed?

People go on about responsible dog ownership and taking tests, having licences etc but how come anyone can have a child? No tests there unfortunately.

Also now someone says poor people should not have dogs! Well how about they don't have children either?

I know this is a thread about a child killed by a dog but you cannot argue that the numbers of dog attacks are far far lower than children injured or killed by cars or humans. This thread is mainly dog haters venting their hatred of dogs and their wish for them to be banned.

There are lots of things that others like or enjoy that I don;t but I don;t expect them to be banned just because I don;t like them

@Thelovecats85 I am disabled, so it was extremely important to me to have a well trained puppy, and then getting a second dog I obviously done the same thing.

After having children as a responsible dog owner, I did have a dog behavioural specialist come out, as having children is a huge disputation to dogs.

I have no doubt that any money I have spent has been wasted. I have wonderfully trained dogs.

Reading a book, doesn't make you a fantastic dog owner!! I would think that there is no argument on me spending money, to make sure my dogs are well trained?!

I think it should be mandatory that anybody that wants to own a dog, should have a professional trainer or dog behavioural specialist out to work with them.

And you may be able to pay monthly for vet bills etc..but it doesn't make the cost any less?!

@Thelovecats85 and can I ask, what breeds you class as easy to train?

At last someone talking a bit of sense @mydogisthebest

thank you for your contribution mydogisthebest, please take the time to read the full thread, you will then see that your points have already been addressed and discussed

This thread is mainly dog haters venting their hatred of dogs and their wish for them to be banned.

I dont hate dogs I have a dog. But I don't want another child to lose its life. People can shout deed joy breed blah blah blah buts these fatal attacks are always by the same types of dogs. The same dogs that I see when I'm walking my dog thry terrify me because if they get loose the only thing stopping them ripping my dog to pieces is me and my baby. And guess who my dog hides behind.

@LittleMissHappy19

I'm not saying you wasted your money. I'm saying most people don't need a dog trainer. I didn't. Why make me pay for a dog trainer when I didn't need one.

I'm not an encyclopedia of breed characteristics but most dog breed websites will rate how trainable a dog is. It's somthing we factored in when choosing our dog breed. Sadly alot of people don't and first time owners go out and buy difficult dogs.

I’m not a dog hater.

I think you should have to take a test and get a license to keep a dog. I think you should have to take a more stringent test to keep an un neutered dog. I think all dogs should be registered. I think dog ownership should be difficult . For the sake of people AND dogs.

Agreed Bertrand.

Oh, and I would immediately ban adoption of dogs from abroad until there wasn’t a single dog left in a refuge in this country. Not least because the checks are so much less stringent and who know what sort of life the dog is going to have , after massive trauma, months in what are often substandard kennels and a traumatic journey.

Exactly kissingintherain they are drawn to dangerous, powerful dogs that, according to that chart can kill adults not just children.

You ban that breed (or have strict licensing) and it would help the issue as what would these people move on to? Cockapoos?

That is where in my opinion you are wrong.

Most people do need dog trainers!!!! Look back through all the posts on here. Dogs running riot, people being scared, lack of control..you may be the perfect unprofessional dog trainer, but there is obviously a huge issue.

Like I wrote hundreds of posts ago, If there was a law that dog owners had to have a professional, teach them how to train their dog correctly..where they are going wrong, what food the dog should be on etc..there wouldn't be this huge problem of dogs causing people and other dogs distress!! Once the trainer is satisfied, you can be signed off.

It would put a lot of people off owning a dog, as they would see it as hassle..and people would be safe in the knowledge, when out on walks etc, that those dogs and owners they come across, are well trained and educated.

Where is the problem in that?

Surely a law like that would only be beneficial?!

TBH I reckon even among MN posters the true reason for owning a Staff is that they look so menacing and would be understood to be capable of doing a great deal of damage to someone.

On the threads where the Staff owners post pictures of their dogs on sofas and in baskets and say things like “look at this vicious brute 😂” I always think, actually your dog does look a vicious brute.

I’m not saying all Staff owners strut around trying to intimidate; but I do think they all enjoy the feeling of being accompanied by a scary looking dog.

All the ‘nanny dog’ stuff is just convenient PR for having a canine weapon, whether offensive or defensive.

Yes- the “nanny dog” myth really pisses me off.

I know a retired solicitor in her late 80s who lives in a well heeled area and has... A staffy.

She fostered a string of dogs for the local shelter and always said she would take anything except a staffy as she'd heard of of their reputation.

After one foster dog had gone to its new home, the rescue rang her up to ask if she could take this dog in desperate need of a fostering placement, and the very last thing they mentioned was that it was a staffy. Somewhat reluctantly she agreed to take it on.

That staffy ended up living out its life with her and since then she's had nothing but a string of staffies, with the most recent one being a stray that was most likely to have been dumped after being bred from far too many times. She's a darling - the worst thing I can say about her is that she is rather greedy.

I’m sure there are similarly heartwarming stories about rottweilers, dobermans, mastiffs and many other intimidating and powerful breeds. In the US I bet we could find plenty of pit bull happy-ever-after tales.

These dogs all still maim and kill though.

Er yes, they’re drawn to these dogs as status symbols because these dogs are the most dangerous.

But in responsible hands, they wouldnt be.

But in responsible hands, they wouldnt be.

Their danger is their physical capability. You can’t train a dog to be smaller or less powerful. Nor, as far as I’m aware, is it normal to have all its teeth pulled out.

But you could keep it on a lead, exercise it in appropriate areas and manage contact with children etc. I have to do the same with my cocker. I wouldnt just let him run riot because he's small and cant do MUCH damage

@kissing
I own bull breeds; adopted plus a collie, all live happily together. My choice of dog was nothing to do with making myself look good, I live in an affluent area, so don't be so judgmental in your assumptions about Staffy owners, I know solicitors, vets, doctors, nurses, teachers who own them, the majority rescues.

I think we agree that owners could make responsible choices to limit the risks from their otherwise dangerous dogs - though they can’t eliminate the risks.

But the reason so many don’t is because the dogs are inherently dangerous.

Your dog is less dangerous than a rottweiler whatever you do with it.

Yes, he is, but i would manage both the same and have no incidents, regardless of how dangerous either was, due to responsible preparation.

The ppl drawn to dangerous breeds have no intention of doing any such thing, which means the list given isnt conclusive proof that the dog breeds themselves are the issue.

so don't be so judgmental in your assumptions about Staffy owners

I’ll happily be as judgmental as I like about the owners of dangerous dogs.

And I didn’t say anything about affluence. I’m sure the rich enjoy having vicious looking dogs as much as anyone else.

Didn’t princess Anne appear in court because her staffy attacked someone?