Killer dogs and irresponsible child carers

I bet they don't allow dangerous dogs though Greatnan. The dogs probably have to take a course and hold a certificate as well!

Wow - I was just looking at a forum I use for ex-pats in Switzerland and I saw somone advertising their sevices as a dog sitter. Even knowing how well regulated most things are in that tidy country, I was staggered to find out that you have to take a course and hold a certificate to look after dogs!
I won't be trying to earn any extra dosh and see more of Switerland via that route!

I really like most dogs and often dogsit for my friend. They are great company on walks. However, I think the onus is on the dog owner to protect the public, although obviously sensible parents will not leave a very young child alone with a dog. My daughter had a lovely, gentle springer spaniel, but she developed a brain tumour and turned vicious overnight.
In New Zealand, every dog has to be microchipped and registered with the council every year. If your dog wanders, you can be fined and sheep worriers can be shot.

Jings and if you turn your back on it, it could nip your arse instead.

I agree with Mishap on this. And I do like dogs. Just not the ones who want to eat people.

I would never approach a strange dog from the front with my hand out as suggested above. It would just make it easier for it to bite me.

soop! That's what they all say. When it's too late.

My sister owns a Staffie. He is like a big baby. She has a number of grandcildren and he is as gentle as lamb with every one of them.

Martins little dog is like that always making us laugh and he loves Ellie my lab and E he goes round doing a head count if anyone is out Nd looks for us all..he is such a happy boy

Your doing the right thing, Nellie by cutting yourself loose from DIL's dog. It's not your problem anymore even if your DS still bears the scars.
nightowl, I agree it's so unfair that all Staffies get tarred with the same brush. The first one I ever came across belonged to my friends on a neighbouring farm. We were all about twelve. He was a bundle of fun and went everywhere with us.

As son and DIL have separated the dog that bit my son is with DIL .
We live about 120 miles away and son is now living with me,son and DIL have no contact apart from text messages to each other,that dog is not our "responsiblity" except morally where we can only make our feelings known to DIL family..she already owned this dog before she and son met....my sons staffie cross is muzzled and kept on lead when out,and as he is young will be taken to classes for agility training and socialising so he isn't bored and is easily controlled.

Can you get a muzzle for it Littlenellie? It really would be awful if it bit another person.

Actually am sitting here cuddling my sons staffie cross he is a loyal cuddly loving little chap.
I think it is a case sometimes of bad ownership.
Where we lived in Essex staffies are seen as an accessory and all the "types" that have them are of the culture,and seen as "my dogs as 'ard as me" and IM well'ard
For me I will stick with my Lab.

mishap unfortunately DIL family are blinkered their judgement clouded over DIL health issues when my son was In hospital they asked me to look after it as DIL was in hospital for a few weeks,I refused and asked if her family could have the dog NO they couldn't because it had already attacked their dogs..I am so hoping the next person it bites is on of their family and not some innocent person who k ows nothing of this dogs behaviour...it is a tragedy waiting to happen.

merlot I have to put in a word for staffies in general, as I feel they are victims of their own popularity amongst a certain section of society. They used to be called the nanny dog because they love and are naturally tolerant of children. Unfortunately they have been bred irresponsibly and then 'toughened up' by people who shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a dog, before ending up in rescue. I have known a few staffies who had the sweetest nature and they are just as loving as any other breed. They are a huge problem at the moment but I don't know what the answer is.

Lord above littlenellie! Who needs this grim creature? - get rid of it!!
This is exactly my concern - people's love of dogs overrides common sense. Why keep a vicious creature like this? Is it making anyone happy? Is it having a happy life? I don't think so.

Littlenellie I think I wrote in support of the dog when you first told us about your son - only because I know that when dogs are fighting they sometimes bite whoever gets in the way. With the detail you have now given it is obvious that this dog is dangerous and I agree with you that it should have been put down. It sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen (as if your son's injuries weren't enough).

I hope you son is continuing to recover - how sad that his relationship should have ended over this.

It's hard enough work looking after a sweet tempered dog, let alone a viscious one. I can't understand why some people get their sentiments so jumbled. Why do so many people choose to rescue Staffies? I know the kennels are full of them but doesn't that tell you something? I have a friend who is a competent and experienced dog owner who rescued a Staffie two years ago. We went to a barbecue at their house last year and it ate my mobile phone

My son has just been savaged by his wife's staffie,head to have microsurgery to repair damage ....as his wife has cystic fibrosis her dog is her baby..already a rescue dog with issues the dog is 8 years old...she and her family supporting her refused to have dog put down,,their marriage albeit shaky has ended over this,the dog has already almost killed another dog and bitten several others.
My son has brought his dog to live with us for the tiisme being...a staffie cross,but he is muzzled when out and always kept on a lead....I know this sounds nasty but I am hoping that DIL dog bites her or a member of her family before it bites someone else it should have been put down...it also. BIt me last year when they stayed with us after going for my dog over food and I got in the middle and came off worse fortunately although nasty not as bad as my sons injury...this dog has the taste now of human blood.

Hi all, I agree with riclorian maybe it is time to bring back licences, but how would you enforce it? only the law abiding dog owners (you know the ones who train their dogs to behave, and always pick up after their dogs) will be the only ones to conform, the aggressive dogs are almost always, owned by those who dont give a fig for the law

because you put - in front and after the words or phrases! see below!!

PS - sorry about the lines where did they come from ???

May I come back into this one ? I have always had dogs - a variety of breeds -- some large some small . I have also had 3 children , 7 grandchildren and now 2 greats . They have all been taught to respect the dogs for what they are - dogs . They have also been taught never to approach a strange dog without permission and then slowly from the front with an open hand . Never once has a child been left alone with any of my dogs , placid as they have all been .Who knows one day a dog may have a headache ( or some other minor ailment ) and may not want an unpredictable toddler around him . As for the case we have been discussing I am desperately sorry for the child -- he has been let down by his carer and also the dog owner for not having a child proof garden to keep his dog secure . Maybe it is time to bring back licences !!!

Dog owner and person i/c small child have to take responsibility but the dog needed to be destroyed I am sad to say.

Pet dogs can be trained to bark at intruders without needing to maul. If a dog has been trained to attack it should not be left alone on domestic premises. It is then a working dog not a pet and needs to be housed securely.

I have one DGC very nervous of dogs and 2 who are sometimes over confident. They have all been told never to approach a dog or touch them unless they have asked the owner first if the dog likes to make friends with children. Of course in the sad case that started the thread I think the child was quite a young child so maybe too young to understand.

I agree with the comments about bad owners. People should not be allowed to have a dog if they don't understand the responsibilities.

My lovely basset Nell is fabulous wth children, obeys instructions from them and is very patient and tolerant, having been trained with a dog behaviourist who mixes adult dogs with boisterous puppies to teach them to be gentle, and not object to having her food removed by anyone. Still, I woud never leave her alone with a child because there's always that one exception when there could be a tragedy. There's some photos of her on my profile.

Petallus - that's what I like about gransnet - open minds. I will come out from under the table then!!