Another dog tragedy

Would a simple and effective solution be that lawfully all dogs must wear a muzzle when outwith their own house and garden?

It’s a sensible precaution but how to police it? All the responsible owners will comply but their dogs are less likely to be the problem.

cleo33

Would a simple and effective solution be that lawfully all dogs must wear a muzzle when outwith their own house and garden?

That's a fairly draconian measure, given that the vast majority of dogs don't need one. You'd be punishing the many for the actions of a very few. Some breeds in particular find it hard to breath with a muzzle on.

Agreed blondiescott.

I would however say that NO dog should be bred with features that create breathing difficulties, NONE.

You can get a sort of plastic open basket work muzzle (I’m not describing this well) which doesn’t inhibit the dog’s breathing and that’s what we use for vet trips. I wouldn’t want to have to use it for walking though - understandably, dogs do not like being muzzled. The crucial thing is for the owner to be able to control the dog and have it on a short lead at all times outside their property. If you don’t have access to a decent secure garden or field in which a dog can run free, don’t have a dog. Parks are for people, not dogs imho.

Just today in our local paper a man taking his dog for an evening walk was attacked by two American Bullies then kicked and hit by the two men and girls who were with the dogs The pet dog has had to be put to sleep and the man is seriously hurt in hospital The two men are out on bail no word about what’s happened to the American bullies
This is disgraceful

My granddaughter is a dog walker and never takes more than 4 dogs on each walk.
She is also registered with the Local Authority. I think each Authority has different legislation limiting the number of dogs walked at any one time. Fortunately where she works there are secure areas for exercising dogs. Parks are not suitable I agree GSM.

It is disgraceful BlueBelle but would you not place the primary responsibility on the violent people who should have been in charge of the dogs? It’s likely that they trained the dogs to be aggressive.

My old boy is a border collie and is now very slow and arthritic. He cannot run now so we have to be very careful on our walks and the times that we go out.
We have hidden on many occasions from the 3 American Bullies that are on our estate.They are truly terrifying dogs. Luckily for us they don't seem to be around much in the winter.
Unfortunately for me, l don't think my boy will be here in the summer but at least he will be safe from them.

I follow your posts about your old boy, Mayal’ and the care you give hm is exemplary.

Another person killed by a dog/s !
We had dogs- as children - I do like dogs . My DD has two beauties and I love spending time with them. My neighbour has a lovely dog that comes to visit me regularly and eats my cats food! I thought he was completely harmless - a real softie. However , last week my 6 year old GD was in my kitchen quietly sitting on the bench , the dog came in as usual and made a beeline for her barking and growling - with no provocation at all. I was terrified, grabbed my GD and took her into my utility room, asked her to stay there and shut the door. The dog calmed down straight away , and he was quite happy for me to lead him outside. I couldn't believe that he was so aggressive!! I spoke to my neighbour about it and she blamed my GD for "probably teasing him" This was most certainly not the Case , she was quietly watching tv.
So I now know to never trust any dog! My GD was shocked , but has recovered with no apparent damage done. A dog is a dog and should be treated as such! Muzzles in public - most definitely. This incident has really changed my attitude towards dogs.

The dog is allowed to wander about the lanes, he is not contained in their garden!!!?

Shelflife then they should be stopped as you will never feel you can let your granddaughter out for a walk with you again
GSM of course the rotten owners are to blame but their dog is their weapon against an innocent man out for a walk with his dog now his dog is dead and so might he be surely if the legislation was stricter there would not be these killed dogs in the hands of rotten idiots Surely we can agree on that

Shelflife

Another person killed by a dog/s !
We had dogs- as children - I do like dogs . My DD has two beauties and I love spending time with them. My neighbour has a lovely dog that comes to visit me regularly and eats my cats food! I thought he was completely harmless - a real softie. However , last week my 6 year old GD was in my kitchen quietly sitting on the bench , the dog came in as usual and made a beeline for her barking and growling - with no provocation at all. I was terrified, grabbed my GD and took her into my utility room, asked her to stay there and shut the door. The dog calmed down straight away , and he was quite happy for me to lead him outside. I couldn't believe that he was so aggressive!! I spoke to my neighbour about it and she blamed my GD for "probably teasing him" This was most certainly not the Case , she was quietly watching tv.
So I now know to never trust any dog! My GD was shocked , but has recovered with no apparent damage done. A dog is a dog and should be treated as such! Muzzles in public - most definitely. This incident has really changed my attitude towards dogs.

I’m wondering if it’s anything to do with the dog eating your cats food. Was your granddaughter near to where the food usually is? I’m not defending the dog though. It must have been terrifying.

BlueBelle

Just today in our local paper a man taking his dog for an evening walk was attacked by two American Bullies then kicked and hit by the two men and girls who were with the dogs The pet dog has had to be put to sleep and the man is seriously hurt in hospital The two men are out on bail no word about what’s happened to the American bullies
This is disgraceful

It's more than disgraceful. It's intolerable.

Those two men - and the women who colluded with them - should be behind bars, and not just for 4 months, either. I'd also make sure that such individuals were never allowed to own an animal again, either.

It just keeps on happening. Powerful dogs in the hands of people like these two; irresponsible, ignorant and low-intellect. What type of person attacks you because you've been attacked by their dogs?

Some individuals just shouldn't have dogs, like some parents shouldn't have children.

People should stop humanising dogs. They are animals.

Maybee , an interesting thought ,but no, cats food in utility room me and child in the kitchen. It really was a terrifying experience. The dog in question hasn't been to visit me since! He really does seem very gentle - can't believe he behaved in that way.

Catching up - I’ve been out training my young labrador 🐕

I read on line (telegraph) that it’s thought the woman who was attacked was a ‘professional’ dog Walker, in charge of 8 dogs. The injured woman didn’t know her but went to try and help.

I could rant for England on this subject so I’ll try to keep it brief.
I’m 73, other than ages 18-25 I’ve always lived with dogs, between 18-25 I shared other people’s dogs. I’ve rescued 8, fostered a number and owned 10. I volunteer for a breed specific charity but no longer foster because I have young grandchildren.

I agree with the comments about banning puppy farms. I share germanshepherdsmum’s thoughts on the legal complexity of pulling back from the absolute shambles we currently live with.

I’d start with ‘professional dog walkers’. My dogs always had off lead exercise on our local park, woodland, reservoir areas. Since my lab puppy arrived two years ago, it’s become increasingly stressful/dangerous to walk him and my placid, well trained spaniel in areas I’ve enjoyed for 50 years.

0Ur l.a pUt no bye law limit on the number of dogs a sole person can walk. Neighbouring councils limit to 5. The result, the prof dog walkers come here. It’s not unusual that about 9.30-10 am to find 4 vans, each with 7 or 8 dogs arrive, the doors are opened, the dogs run out. So maybe 28 or more dogs in an unstable pack running loose. It’s not an environment I see as safe or appropriate for my young, immature, 5 stone lab to learn doggy manners in.
One van has two humans, each with 7 dogs. They’ve no recall. So I don’t use my ow much loved park (no I never go near the children’s play ground, we have a river, lake and woodland or in my case, we did have these things]

When mr I was give his awful diagnosis and we had 3 days a week with hospitals, I found a professional dog Walker so my lovely young dog wasn’t left too long. She walks a max of 3, she carefully chooses who mixes. She has an enclosed field - that’s where he goes
I use another enclosed field to excercise. He’s on lead for socialisation and obedience round the village, shooing Mal etc
Sorry I’ve ranted

I’d bring in legislation ensuring ‘prof dog Walkers’ were qualified to a kennel clinic type standard.
Guide dogs don’t allow their highly trained staff to handle over 4 dogs - I’d only allow prof dog walkers 3. I wouldn’t allow them to excercise dogs off lead, other than in a safe enclosed field.
I’d tighten legislation on any dog breeding.
Ditto on companies importing rescue street dogs

Shelflife
I know exactly how you feel.
Back in the summer a few of us went to stay with my godson to finish building his barn.
Neighbours came to visit with their French bulldog. Without any warning it was up on its hind legs and took a bite out of my hand.
It’s shaken me so much I don’t think I’ll stroke a dog again.
I was tempted the other day with a neighbours dog but I knew I would be giving off a smell of fear.

MerylStreep - my rant doesn’t include how wary I am of dogs these days. I’m generalising unkindly, but as others have said, look to the owners and sometimes be wary
Shaven headed thugs with xl bullies, avoid. Frenchies, dacksies/some poodle crosses - keep a distance these may be ‘fur babies’ so totally over indulged and not trained

Fleurpepper

Agreed blondiescott.

I would however say that NO dog should be bred with features that create breathing difficulties, NONE.

Oh, I totally agree with you on that!
Re the comments on dog walkers - my friend is a dog walker (fully registered, trained, insured etc), but she specialises in one-to-one walks and is finding more and more demand for her services from owners who don't want their dogs walked as part of a 'pack'. Fortunately we don't seem to have too many dog walkers who walk several dogs at a time around here, but I have seen this in other areas. It's crazy that different authorities have different guidelines in terms of this. No-one can be expected to control six, seven, eight dogs at a time. It's not fair on the dogs either.

I never stroke dogs. Sometime when I meet a neighbour who has a dog with them, I feel bad as they seem to expect me to fuss the dog and I don't want to do that.

Blondiescott, that’s so reassuring, to hear your dog Walker friend is finding more owners want 1-1/. That’s what I have for my young dog.

How do dog walkers clean up all the poo if they have so many dogs? Or don’t they bother?

MayBee70 - they don’t bother. Another huge problem here
I’m really rather cross 😵‍💫