Another child killed in dog attack

from the guardian

“There has been widespread speculation about the incident, which is not helpful and is distressing for the family, who have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time. We will provide further updates when we are in a position to do so.”

An example of an irresponsible breeder locally, if someone hadn’t been injured and reported it, I assume she’d have carried on.
www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/crufts-winning-farnborough-breeder-jailed-8110624

Totally irresponsible and obviously physically incapable of looking after dogs such as those. Glad she got a custodial sentence.

Reading what she'd done before was horrendous too, Jaxjacky.
She'd had a suspended prison sentence for cruelty to animals yet was allowed to continue breeding dogs.

There has been a report in my village of an American bully type dog running loose around the village. Its owner has replied by saying it’s her dog and it wouldn’t hurt a fly. Totally oblivious to the fact that they are the breed responsible for recent child deaths. It was being exercised on the playing field where the children’s playground is.

The woman who warned people about the dog has been accused of being a snowflake who knows nothing about dogs…

She shouldn't be exercising it on a children's playing field for a start, even if it was a charming little chihuahua. MayBee.

Here we go again. Three women and a man bitten by two bulldogs, and their husky dog badly injured, costing thousands of pounds in vet fees. This happened on a beach.
She said: 'A dog came over and sniffed my dog and then done a little scuffle and made a noise and then just jumped on her and bit her face and wouldn't let go.
'They didn't have harnesses or leads, nothing at all. So there was no way of grabbing them to get them off.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11726735/Three-women-man-rushed-hospital-bitten-two-bulldogs.html

I'm beginning to think people including dog walkers need to carry some kind of protective device in case of dog attacks. After all, it can happen any time, any place, anywhere. There are a lot of complete idiots owning dogs now.

There are a lot of complete idiots owning dogs now

Yes.

Watching Dogs Behaving Very Badly makes you realise that. A family in a small house with a very small garden bought a Staffie? I think. They had a two year old and wanted another baby. The dog was completely uncontrollable indoors.
Graham Hall did help but I thought what stupid people and that sometimes it would be better if the dogs were taken away from people like that.

So how do you stop a dog attack in its tracks? It's probably illegal to carry a laser or taser of some kind. Would an attack alarm stop a crazy dog? They are very loud and ear piercing.

My dog grabbed the back legs of the dog that attacked her dog. I know that’s what they advise you to do but no idea how she managed to do it.

Callistemon21

She shouldn't be exercising it on a children's playing field for a start, even if it was a charming little chihuahua. MayBee.

We’ve had arguments like this on our local page several times. The people that let their dogs off lead say those of us that keep our dogs on a lead are at fault because we should have trained our dogs with 100% recall so we don’t know enough about dogs and they’re experts. There’s a Labrador in the next village that’s just attacked a dog on a lead: it’s the second time it’s done so.

MayBee70

My dog grabbed the back legs of the dog that attacked her dog. I know that’s what they advise you to do but no idea how she managed to do it.

My daughter I meant to say…

I don’t believe the piercing alarm would stop a dog attack or fight Chestnut. Once dogs have become so aroused they won’t usually respond to noises or even their owners. MayBee suggests picking the dogs back legs up, something often recommended. The big risk I think, it human hands or arms getting bitten by intervening. But I’m sure if my dog was under attack I d be unlikely not to intervene.
Carrying a heavy walking stick begins to feel necessary. Alternatively, only exercise your off lead dog in a secure field, on its own or with another family/friend dog

At our training group this week, they set up a cafe area with tables, chairs, a counter to collect a biscuit and drink , which you’d to carry back to your chair, whilst keeping your on lead dog by your side. No barking or lunging (by the dogs) allowed.

I’ve just had lunch at our village cafe, which is dog friendly. I didn’t take my dogs because every time I’ve been, there have been badly behaved yappy dogs. My older dog would simply lie down, no trouble. The 2 year old would almost certainly had barked at the yappy cockerpoo near us. The cockerpoo was sitting on a sofa, between its humans. It yapped often. They’d stroke him, give a treat, good dog then carry on as though this is acceptable. Humph

Iam64

I don’t believe the piercing alarm would stop a dog attack or fight Chestnut. Once dogs have become so aroused they won’t usually respond to noises or even their owners. MayBee suggests picking the dogs back legs up, something often recommended. The big risk I think, it human hands or arms getting bitten by intervening. But I’m sure if my dog was under attack I d be unlikely not to intervene.
Carrying a heavy walking stick begins to feel necessary. Alternatively, only exercise your off lead dog in a secure field, on its own or with another family/friend dog

Stopping a dog attack is not just for people whose dog is being attacked. Anyone either alone or with a child or toddler might need to stop an attack.

I could never manage to pick up a dog's back legs without falling over, and what if there are two dogs? What if it's a child aged 11 walking home from school being attacked?

I doubt I could beat a dog off with a stick, they would probably get the better of me, and school children can't carry sticks.

How do any of us defend ourselves during a dog attack? I know nothing about this, so over to the dog owners to advise.

Well, they do say training a hosepipe or throwing a bucket of cold water over them will stop them.

But most of us wouldn't have a bucket of water handy.

Iam64

I don’t believe the piercing alarm would stop a dog attack or fight Chestnut. Once dogs have become so aroused they won’t usually respond to noises or even their owners. MayBee suggests picking the dogs back legs up, something often recommended. The big risk I think, it human hands or arms getting bitten by intervening. But I’m sure if my dog was under attack I d be unlikely not to intervene.
Carrying a heavy walking stick begins to feel necessary. Alternatively, only exercise your off lead dog in a secure field, on its own or with another family/friend dog

Our dog was attacked when DH was walking her through the village. A Staffie ran out from someone’s garden and went for her. Thankfully DH had his walking boots on: it took both him and the dogs owner to get it off our dog who was unharmed. It had hospitalised another dog the previous week by doing the same thing.

I have heard it advised that if it's your own dog that is the attacker the best thing to do is run away from the fight calling your dog urgently as you run away.

In British Columbia some people carry bear deterrent sprays . Are they legal in the UK?

I Googled bear deterrent (pepper) sprays. Police say they are illegal and classed as firearms.

Well maybe with all the dog attacks and bad owners on the loose they should make pepper spray legal with a licence, rather like a gun. After all, we should have a way of defending ourselves. In fact, would you rather be savaged by a dog (maybe fatally) or charged for carrying an illegal pepper spray? I know which I would prefer.

I've just found this on Amazon and the reviews seem very positive that it will stop a dog if you spray enough. It's not cheap though at £26.91 especially if you want a few of them.
Amazon Bite Back Non-Toxic Dog Deterrent 50ml

Here's another one. The reviews seem to say they work and will stop dog attacks!
PetSafe SprayShield Animal Deterrent Spray

To be honest dog attacks happen so quickly that it’s impossible to react. Unless you carry a deterrent spray in your hand at all times you’d struggle to get it out of your pocket and activate it. When my dogs have been attacked it’s usually been a dog that looks friendly, approaches wagging its tail and then turns suddenly. I do carry dog treats at all times and although I always ask permission from the owner to give one to their dog if possible if I’m worried and about a loose dog I will throw the treats to divert it. DH carries a metal pole (a shortened walking pole) but I doubt if he’d be able to use it. If we’re worried he picks our dog up. I looked at the profile of the lady who owns the XL Bully in our village. She honestly looks like someone that has never owned a dog before but she thinks she’s an expert. Still, she has a small child and he’s the one most at risk so I hope she’s got one with a good temperament. But why anyone would have that kind of dog when they have small children is beyond me. As people on the Facebook page have said all dogs can bite, why demonise a particular breed. But a bite from a terrier or a spaniel isn’t going to kill someone. These owners don’t seem to realise that in some countries dogs have to be kept on lead and muzzled but they seem to think they’re experts and people like me are ‘ Karen snowflakes’. I despair.