Dangerous Dogs

Vicious dogs are just that - vicious dogs. Vicious people are attracted to them as it fits their image of themselves.

The dangerous dogs legislation goes some way to alleviating the dangers, but people find ways around this. They are a blight on many estates. I do not know what the answer is, but never shed a tear when they are shot.

That poor girl - sacrificed for some sick bloke's ego-boosting pets. Makes me see red!

The sad thing is that people don't think "dog". Dogs' actions are perfectly logical from the point of view of the dog. I remember a dog handler telling me never give a dog a squeaky toy to play with because it can easily mistake the sound of a very small child for the sound of a squeaky toy.

I also remember having a fairly brisk disagreement with a slightly squiffy man who stepped directly on top of my peacefully asleep dog lying beside my pub table. Dog promptly leapt up and snapped at the person standing on him. He insisted that my dog had bitten him and threatened to report me to the police for having a "dangerous, out-of-control dog", even offering to take down his trousers to show me his "severe injury". I pointed out that my dog had snapped irritably but had not bitten – his teeth could go straight through a beef shinbone – so I requested that he should keep his "family jewels"inside his trousers. Maximum Dog, being in large part a Doberman, sat there with an idiotic grin on his face throughout the whole encounter.

Orca Do you have a Newfoundland?

Herein lies the problem. Dogs do of course behave like dogs - and their actions are indeed perfectly logical from the point of view of the dog.

The problem lies in the fact that we are asking them to share the homes and lifestyles of non-dogs (i.e.humans) and to adopt our behaviour patterns. It simply cannot be done without problems arising.

I always hear the phrase "There are no bad dogs, only bad owners" - but how do you define bad? Are bad dogs those that have been less "humanized" by their training? - and what right do we have to do this to animals anyway?

Dogs are pack animals - they do not exist to feed our egos. Every time we buy a dog we are going against nature.

The sort of vicious dogs who killed this poor girl are simply being dogs - and the owners who keep those sorts of dog do so because they identify with their vicious behaviour.

I'm not sure that having a dog living with us goes against nature mishap. They have co-existed with humans for their mutual benefit since time immemorial. I think the danger is in attributing human characteristics to dogs and believing them. We all joke about what our dogs do (or point blank refuse to do), but really dogs learn how to behave in a way that brings rewards for them, and in exchange they will be incredibly loyal.

I can't imagine my life without being round dogs, and feel so sad about these dogs being brought into the world to do harm. This girl must have been confident about dogs in general, for her to leave the house and return on her own with food. I'd like to know if they were chipped, regularly exercised and trained. I bet they weren't!

All dogs are just wolves in different shapes and sizes and, no matter what size they are we have to be pack leader/alpha male or female. If they no loger feel subordinate in some way there lies the potential for attack.

A good article

I would not leave my dog alone with my grandchildren as children could do things like poke them and he could retaliate.
That said people say Andie sounds a lot bigger than he is with his bark.
He is ok with family members but he does lick them and expects some fuss.

Frank

Yes, this dog handler knows what he's talking about. Many damaged dogs can be rehabilitated, but why are irresponsible people able to damage them in the first place. People should not be allowed to breed dogs without a licence, and I would require all dogs to be sterilised routinely if they are bought as a pet. This owner appears to have acquired her dogs for breeding purposes - a way of making a few hundred pounds from sellng puppies. Senseless!

Mishap the owner was not a 'sick bloke' but a woman, the mother of Jade's friend.

Yes Absent I have a Newfoundland called Bear.

We all know that dogs have evolved. They are still pack animals but as when says, their co-existence with humans is mutually beneficial. Genuine dog lovers are not going against nature when they either buy or rescue a dog because in the right environment, dog 'heaven' is to live and work alongside man.

Dogs who are likely to be unpredictable and vicious nearly always end up in the wrong hands so tighter controls must be put in place to protect the public from these stupid irresponsible owners.

Bring back the dog licence. Make chipping compulsory. Anyone wanting more than one dog to be vetted.

I agree Orca. And not 7/6p either!

Sorry, it wasn't 'p' it was old pence!

And the people who didn`t pay their dog license before still won`t pay it. I don`t think that bringing back the dog license would make a haporth of difference.

A friend of mine's sister was walking on a beach in N.W.Wales last year with her pup when a van pulled up 5 large dogs - three of which were Rottwiellers and the other two of a similar size bounded across to her and savaged her puppy which later had to be destroyed. The owner ran and called the dogs off, ushered them into the van and left the young woman and her dying puppy on the beach. It was reported on BBC Wales and other stations but I don't know if the owner was ever caught. Just another example of irresponsible owners with too many dogs to control.

We had a Beware of the Dog sign on our gate so non doggy visitors would know there was a soppy springer on the other side who may well lick them to pieces.
Said springer was soppy only because we had a pony at the time so he got enough exercise charging around the countryside with pony. The breeder had only let us have the dog because we could give him the exercise he would need. Irresponsible breeders have a lot to answer for too.

Quite right Nfk and that's why we need a sensible licensing system for them too. I don't deal in negatives number you're argument doesn't hold water, might as well say no point in having road tax or car insurance as some people wouldn't pay it.

What I can't understand is how what appear to be really poor families seem to go in for the quite large dogs. I don't begrudge them a pet, not at all, we all need something to love and care for, but why the big animals, and what about those people who sit and beg with one or two dogs curled up alongside them on a nice warm blanket. Again, they obviously need something to love, but are they able to care for them, and how do they feed them if they have to beg for a living - sorry going off on a tangent here, but I feel quite strongly about this - people living on benefit and keeping large expensive to feed animals.

print I think if I was living rough I'd want a big furry friend for comfort, warmth and protection too.

My next -door-neighbours have two Dobermann, a Norfolk Terrier and a Miniture Schnauzter (think that how its spelt). The two Dobermann spend their time outside - especially if we are in the garden - snapping, snarling and growling through the fence. They are never taken out for a walk, the garden smells of excrement which the teenage daughter cleans up every weekend. With four dogs you can imagine the smell. My son put a 6ft fence up last year and had to use their garden to work, his boots were absolutely covered in the stuff.

It is no pleasure in the summer months in my garden as these dogs bark at any movement at all. They spend a lot of time indoors but when in their garden it is a nightmare. I really do not understand why these people even want dogs. They are not poor by any means and the dogs must have cost a fortune.

Another neighbour (moved now thank goodness) used to breed pit bull type dogs. One would often gnaw through our fence and stand glaring at me through our french windows. So glad she moved. I think a licence is a brilliant idea and should be enforced for all dogs

Orca, I could not agree more, but how do they afford these big cuddly animals? I dog is for life, and needs to be cared for, of course animals give comfort, and I am sure they know when they are much loved, but they still need care and if we truly care for them, then they too need warmth and food, which must be difficult to provide if one is living on the bread-line. Again, I say, I do not begrudge anyone an animal, I am just concerned for their welfare if someone has to beg for money to live on.

My wonderful neighbour has four black labs in her smallish terraced house. She has bred from a couple of them in the past. They are the quietest dogs ever and the friendliest. One is from her first litter but has gone blind and she took him back from her ex husband. She is out with them at 7am every day and again late afternoon, getting a lot of exercise.

I may be wrong but I think people on benefits can get free treatment for their pets at PDSA/RSPCA [?] places [I'm thinking back to the Rolf Harris series]. anno; can't think of any cases where a labrador has hurt anyone. Golden cocker spaniels were very nasty at one time due to inbreeding to get the colour [doesn't apply now as far as I know].

It is quite beyond my comnprehension why someone would want to keep an animal that roams about the garden growling at the fence and is generally a darned nuisence to all and sundry. What is this about?

How many times have I visited people and they have said about their dog "Oh he's just being friendly" as I emerge covered in dog slobber, clothes damaged etc. - yuk!!

I have no idea why people keep these horrible creatures.