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Original poster

yes, my dog is very large but he is not vicious....

110 replies

nothercules · 07/05/2006 14:07

Only had my dog for nearly 3 months and getting fed up of people accusing me of having a vicious dog. He's still a puppy and has never hurt anyone or attempted to. He is always on the lead in any areas where there are lots of kids and minds his own business on walks.

Why do people assume because he is large he must be vicious?
Actually I worry about him as he's already been bitten by a couple of small dogs.

OP posts:

2labs · 09/05/2006 12:45

I would say you are perfectly entitled to defend your daughter, Rhubarb, and I would do the same for any child of mine. I take it she knows what to do if a dog does jump up at her? - make like a tree and stand still, arms crossed and stare at the ground. She should make herself as boring as possible to it and try to resist any urge to scream or run away which just tends to make things worse.

I tell off kids in no uncertain terms who tease my dogs and have had some very offended responses from parents. As far as I'm concerned I'm doing them a favour - next time they might pick on the wrong dog.

Rhubarb · 09/05/2006 12:45

France Caligula - they don't give a shit (pardon the pun!)

I've found in this country that it is better to threaten to run over their beloved dogs than to threaten to report them. Disputes usually don't get as far at the Town Hall iyswim!

magnolia1 · 09/05/2006 12:54

Rhubarb: I have 2 dogs myself but would still not hesitate to give a hefty kick to another dog who was making an attempt to attack my kids or my dogs.

We had a dog attack our youngest dog the other day and my dh had to use his boot to get it off her

I totally think you are justified in the way you feel if dog owners are not in complete control of their dogs they shouldn't have them off lead and any dog owner who lets a dog on a lead still jump at children shouldn't have dogs at all!

geekgrrl · 09/05/2006 12:58

my dad always threatens to stab dogs that run at the children with his pen knife.
He's an absolute dog lover but finds this totally unacceptable.

Caligula · 09/05/2006 12:59

Ah France.

Say no more.

Twinkie1 · 09/05/2006 13:09

Bleugh - sorry do you live in france - what has france got to do with this???

If you do live in France I pity you we go over to BILs places in Paris and Dieppe and the worse thing about the whole expwerience is (other than his child's behaviour!!) the dog shit everywhere - it is awful - there is so much of it you can smell itin the air - and if I say anything to my SIL - she says 'oh its a frnech thing - you wouldn;t be french if you didn;t have a dog!!!' - AND LET IT SHIT EVERYWHERE!!!!

LittleB · 09/05/2006 13:32

I used to work as a dog warden, if the dog is roaming the streets it can be collected and impounded and they'll need to pay a charge to get it back, if you're willing to make a statement about it fouling they can fine them for that too. Contact your local council, usually a fine is enough to make people keep their dog under control.
I have a very old collie (and dd 1 yr old). My collie is nervous of strange children, wouldn't bite just barks and backs off, but I get fed up with kids who run up to her a grab her, when she's on the lead, it upsets her and hurts her, she's sensitive as she's arthritic. And people who let their dogs bound up to her and jump on her. But there will always be irresponsible dog owners and irresponsible parents. We just need to make sure we try and do the right thing. Not trying to preach, just saying its not kids versus dogs, just responsible versus irresposible.

wannaBe1974 · 09/05/2006 16:16

I would also do the same to anyone else's dog that jumped up at my ds or my dog. My dog was attacked 5 years ago by a staffy who was being looked after by my neighbour and who had got out of their garden. My dh bashed it over the head with a laptop.

Fimbo · 09/05/2006 16:36

There is a code of practice for dogs in parks and public places which states they must be kept out of children's play areas but a lot of people seem to think it is acceptable to have a dog off the lead where children are playing. My friend's dd nearly tumbled out of a baby swing when two "playful" dogs chased each other and caught up with each other under the swing, bobbing it up and down. My friend's dd was hysterical, the owners were so far away because they had let the dogs off the lead, they couldn't do anything. Sheer madness. "Don't worry it wont hurt him/her - doesn't wash with me, sorry but how do you know the dog wont attack? My fil was brought up on a farm with dogs and says at the end of the day all dogs are hunters and you just never know.

Fimbo · 09/05/2006 16:44

Dog Owners Code of Practice
The national Pet Advisory Committee has come up with this code of practice for dog owners:

When your dog is off the lead, please ensure it is under control and does not interfere with other people. When sports pitches are in use, it is particularly important to keep your dog on the lead.

Train your dog to poop close to home before you go for a walk. Clean up after your dog at all times – especially if it poops on a sports pitch or other public place.

Don’t allow your dog to go into children’s play areas, even when on a lead.

Don’t let your dog out on its own unsupervised.

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