Another dog tragedy

Mosie

I understand that the young woman was a dog walker walking 8 dogs. They turned on her as a pack. A couple were dachshunds not known for their dangerous behaviour. I think the issue here is that she was walking too many dogs together. Eight dogs are too many for one person to control if they are not the owner. It would be relatively easy to register and licence professional dog walkers

Daschunds, not bad?!? You've not had one then? MiL had longhaired dsch. Called Sacha and he was the snappiest nasty bad tempered little horror I'd ever come across!! He ruled the roost and she let him! So 100% her fault for not getting to grips with his place in the family - below the youngest member ALWAYS! Any dog will have a go if scared/spooked/untrained and clueless as to what's expected of them enough! Don't be fooled by size! It definitely DOES NOT matter with pooches🤣

Nvella

Hampstead Heath, near me, which is run by the Greater London Authority, brought in fairly stringent rules and licences for dog walkers last year- 4 dogs only per walker and they are not allowed to meet up and have, for example, 2 people with 8 dogs. However - it has not really been policed at all and yesterday I saw a walker with 6 dogs and a Heath van drove past her and didn’t stop to challenge her. Also there are packs with dog walkers getting together in groups all over the place. Not sure what the solution is at all.

The solution is to take photos of anything like this (involving packs of dogs or walkers in groups) and send it to the council and your MP and remind them of the young lady who has just died. The more evidence there is of this dangerous practice the better. The more we pester our MPs the better.

Blondiescot

This is why children need to be taught that they cannot just run up and pet strange dogs. You need to teach dogs how to behave around people, yes - but people (not just children) need to learn how to behave around dogs too. Some dogs love attention - others don't, especially from strangers. I love all dogs, but I'd always ask the owner before petting one. My friend has a Cocker Spaniel who was horribly treated as a puppy by the children in the house he grew up in - he's a lovely little thing now, but still very wary and mistrusting of children, and with good reason.

Quite. We had darling rescue JR cross who was Christmas puppy and passed from pillar to post before we got him. Took me a week of strict boot camp to get him to understand what I was about and he lapped up(!) The mix of discipline/rewards but my training never ended, I never got so lax with him that he went off piste ever! He was adorable happy social loved by everyone who knew him and left us aged 16.5 in 2021..😢

Hampstead Heath, near me, which is run by the Greater London Authority, brought in fairly stringent rules and licences for dog walkers last year- 4 dogs only per walker and they are not allowed to meet up and have, for example, 2 people with 8 dogs. However - it has not really been policed at all and yesterday I saw a walker with 6 dogs and a Heath van drove past her and didn’t stop to challenge her. Also there are packs with dog walkers getting together in groups all over the place. Not sure what the solution is at all.

We're not talking about two years ago, but about this latest tragedy which prompts action to be taken. Everyone should write again mentioning the number of dogs being walked and why dog walkers should be registered. Post them a link to this thread!

Apparently the lead huge dog which had lunging issues previously, had lunged at a passing dog. She tried to pull it back at which point it did go for her, I suspect the others were very scared and panicked, resulting in attack. Other folks ' dogs are a different planet! I wouldn't like to try and manage even one dog I didn't either train or know extremely well! Dreadful result poor girl

I wrote to my Mp two years ago
To my council last week

Bear1 yes to compulsory training. One problem imo is the growth in ‘positive only’ dog trainibg alongside the total lack of legislation around who can set up as trainer or Walker
I train my dogs positively, praise and some treats. Dogs also need a consequence if their behaviour is unacceptable - barking jumping up,etc. I do nit mean hitting or terrifying

Great point Chestnut and thanks to your reminder I’ll do an email today.
It’s no good us just chatting about it.

How many on this thread have written to their MP asking for regulations for dog walkers with packs of dogs. I have done so two days ago (after reading this thread) and received a reply today from my Conservative MP. You need to let them know if you have concerns.

a lot of people buy a dog because its a in fashion breed, i worked for dogs trust for several years and we used to get times when a certain breed went out of fashion then we would get several of one breed in a lot of people pay silly money for a breed they know nothing about and have no idea how to train or socialise a dog or puppy which is a must for any dog, then they wonder why the dog is in many peoples words uncontrollable simply because they cannot be bothered its not the dogs faults its the fault of humans never in the time i owned or worked with dogs have i found a dog that was untrainable or friendly i believe anyone who buys a dog should by law have to attend dog training classes

This is why children need to be taught that they cannot just run up and pet strange dogs. You need to teach dogs how to behave around people, yes - but people (not just children) need to learn how to behave around dogs too. Some dogs love attention - others don't, especially from strangers. I love all dogs, but I'd always ask the owner before petting one. My friend has a Cocker Spaniel who was horribly treated as a puppy by the children in the house he grew up in - he's a lovely little thing now, but still very wary and mistrusting of children, and with good reason.

‘Dallie’

My daughter was bitten by a collie while out walking along the river ….we had our dog on a lead ( Dalmatian) …she had grown up from baby with him….she adored him …and learnt to walk hanging onto his collar. ….he used to go very very slowly while looking at her all the time , I can only assume to see she was safe! But that collie dog put her of dogs for life …she was about 6 at the time … she thought all digs were like her ‘Sallie’ you see and ran forward to pet him.

This is a great idea.

As I say, it's easy enough to trip over one dog- without having multiple dogs clustered around your feet. Not good for the dogs at all.

There should be proper ratios of dogs to human because the dogs have emotional needs and basically walking many at once is not going to be good for them. I've only used a dog walker once, but she gave my dog one to one. I wouldnt pay for anything else.

There are lots of enclosed fields springing up all over the places. I’m planning to take my dog to one. I’d hate the thought of dog walkers exercising lots of dogs on them though, as they surely wouldn’t be able to clean up after them properly.

I have read a suggestion that part of the problem was that all the dogs were actually on leads. When the chain of events was set in motion, some of the dogs would have wanted to escape and get away but couldn't do so because of the leads. They became aggressive and joined in the attack because of their fear and panic. I don't have dogs, but it sounds plausible.
My friend has a dog Walker. A local landowner has fenced off a very large field, equipped it with running water, some dog jumps and exercise areas and hires it out by the hour to dog walkers. Only two walkers at a time and a very limited number of dogs. And they must be insured. Because the field is thoroughly fenced in and it isn't open to the public the dogs can be let off their leads and get the exercise they really need. My friends dog comes back filthy and totally exhausted and has obviously had a great time. Maybe more landowners could consider this as a money making idea?

It's a very sad occurrence, whatever happened.

Sometimes dogs go for other dogs even when they walk past -when they are not forced together. It must be awful to be harnessed to someone who you are out of step with and do not like. It's also possible the dog walker may have tripped and fallen on one or stood on a paw as having so many pulling it could have altered her centre of gravity.

The other day I tripped over my dog in the kitchen and I could not stop myself. I managed not to hurt her, but she was very shaken. Her heart was beating madly and I calmed her down. I could not manage more than one to give my best.

We don’t know that they turned on her. It seems she lost control of them (assuming one person could ever have control over so many dogs). They may have panicked and she tried to separate any that were fighting. We just don’t know the facts yet. Maybe we never will.

You know your own dog. My small dog has not bitten me since she was a puppy and even if she decided to she would not be capable of hurting me.

I am scared of big dogs because of a couple of bad experiences but I always stop and talk to people I know who have big dogs if they are on leads.

I understand that the young woman was a dog walker walking 8 dogs. They turned on her as a pack. A couple were dachshunds not known for their dangerous behaviour. I think the issue here is that she was walking too many dogs together. Eight dogs are too many for one person to control if they are not the owner. It would be relatively easy to register and licence professional dog walkers

Trust is a funny word I suppose. There arent many people I would trust implicitly.
My dog has absolutely enriched my life. It's been quite a surprise how much to be honest.

You won’t be surprised to know that I don’t share that view.

It seems more that posters, including me, wouldn’t trust dogs belonging to other people.Quite rightly.

My latest GSD, a rescue, came from the Republic of Ireland. Is that ‘abroad’? She is well trained and not timid.

It’s sad to read that someone would never trust dogs. Each and every one of mine has been a wonderful friend and has enriched my life with unconditional love. They have also made me feel very safe when alone.

Not sure what the inference is about dogs from other countries JPB123