dogs

MayBee70, one of my dog trainer friends suggested we carry a small water pistol. If off lead dogs run up, a quick squirt on the side of the face may give you the chance to walk on,
I had a big springer spaniel and a standard poodle sized doodle all over my two on lead dogs recently. My then 5 month old lab was hugely excited, my small spaniel is a smasher, just stood no reaction. The owners were chatting, walking slowly ‘they’re friendly, don’t worry’. I’m afraid I shouted at the two dogs which made no difference but could have upset my two. I’m a confident handler but I’m fed u[

GrannyRose. What should I do when another dog runs up to my on lead dog? I tend to shout a lot since she was attacked but have recently started trying to just talk to the other dog and say words that it may be familiar with like ‘leave it’ or ‘sit’. Unless it looks as if it’s going to attack which, thankfully hasn’t happened recently.

I agree with a lot that has been said. Certainly about the cost of owning a dog. I cannot understand how some people can afford it. Nor can I understand why people don't do everything they can to teach their dog to behave.

But I must also make a plea to anyone who is responsible for young children. Please, please teach them never to approach a stranger's dog without asking. And make sure they know that the best thing to do when a dog approaches is to stand still like a tree, with arms folded, and in no circumstances should they run. If they are knocked over they should curl up like a stone with arms and legs tucked underneath them.

That also goes for adults as well of course. Anything children learn that keeps them from being seriously hurt if the worst should happen is worth teaching them.

Iam64 I agree with you, owning a dog is a LUXURY. I always had a pair of rescues but this time we have stuck to one. I think my insurance is more expensive that your though but my dog is 10 now

I did say I can’t remember what happened when I looked at third party insurance cover. It was a long time ago. My horses insurance covered me for millions regarding third party claims but it’s only been recently that I’ve taken out medical insurance for my dogs. The last one only had year cover and she had several tumours which then weren’t covered but this one has life cover which costs a lot more as they get older. They all automatically cover third party claims though. I’ll dig out my policy and see what it says.

My pet insurance is around £80 per month for two dogs. I have a limit of I think £8000 per claim. As well as health, it covers 3rd party claims.
Dog ownership is an expensive hobby. No longer do people pick up a mongrel from a neighbour, feed it table scraps and hope for the best.
I don’t wish to sound harsh but if you aren’t prepared to commit to training classes long term, to seek out expert help is problems arise - don’t get a dog.
As others have said, we are already seeing many negatives from lockdown pups. It will get worse

It is hard for the majority of responsible dog owners when a few irresponsible ones let attacks happen. I don't have a dog and am sickened when I hear that people have been attacked.

I walk most days in a park where there are many dog walkers and have only once been afraid of a dog. It was off the lead and was snarling, baring it's teeth at me. The owner was as nasty as his dog.

Maybee You don’t say what £100 per month covers in terms of pet insurance, but if it was £100 a month to just insure a dog against injuring someone, that could only mean that there was a high risk of that happening. In turn, that’s an argument for making it compulsory.
Cars cost a lot of money to run and insure. But if people want a car, they find the money from somewhere.
Businesses and clubs have to have public liability insurance too. I don’t see why that shouldn’t apply to dog owners. Responsible owners who could show their dogs had been properly trained and who had no previous claims probably wouldn’t face a big premium.

Everybody should be taught not to approach a dog directly but to ask the owner first. I am a sucker for certain breeds and if I come across one, I ask the owner first and then just put my down towards the dog's nose so that it can smell me first. Then, if the dog doesn't mind I'll stroke it.

With my dogs, if a child comes up and asks I will show them where they can stroke the dog.

It's such a pity that there are ignorant dog owners around. When my mum went into a care home I took her dog on and a few months later acquired another. I used to take them into the care home with me so my mum could see her dog. Most of the other residents also wanted to pat and stroke them and so the two dogs had lots of treats if we were there at tea time. There were one or two people who didn't like but the majority were really happy to meet them.

The problem with that is the astronomical cost of pet insurance. I’m not sure if it’s possible to just take out third party insurance. I did look into it once when my dog started running towards a main road at rush hour (she’d been in a field far from the road but met another dog and they both took off) but can’t remember what the outcome was. By the time my current dog is middle aged I’ll probably be paying £100 a month for insurance even though we rarely let her off lead and never when there are other dogs or people around. The comments on Facebook about ‘what should I do: my dog keeps running up to other dogs and snaps at them’ astounds me.

Taylor this mumsnet thread might interest you www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/2230112-has-anyone-had-a-legal-claim-made-against-their-dog

What struck me was that none of the posters expressed any concern for the people who had been injured by their dog - their worry was focussed on the financial implications for them if their insurance company didn’t pay up.

To Keepingquiet’s list, I would add compulsory third-party insurance for dog owners to protect the public, ie it should be a criminal offence to not insure your dog.

If it can be applied to car drivers, it can be applied to dog-owners.

There needs to be clear and effective legislation.
All dogs should be chipped and if not impounded.
Licensing should return as proof of ownership.
All puppies should be registered and owners given training.
Children should be taught respect for animals in school.
Fines should be heavy and prison sentences issued for actual physical injury.
Dangerous and deliberate breeding for market and status purposes should be stopped.
No one will vote for it though. Nothing's going to change.

NanaandGrampy

I totally agree with Iams comments!

I’m another who has dogs all my life and when our children were small they got just as much training as our dogs and we replicated that with our grandchildren .

I am saddened when out on a walk and we meet a small child who is terrified of dogs , we take a great deal of care to control our dog near people for that very reason. But I feel even non dog owning families need to work on how to interact and act around dogs .

It would be safer for all concerned .

My daughter now has a dog which the children adore. However her eldest son and husband, confident as they are with their own dog are still nervous around other dogs. We don’t know why the boy is scared but I think her husband may have been bitten when he was young. Everyone who owns a dog should have an awareness that other dogs and people may be scared of dogs. I do think that, with the increase in dog ownership (where did all those puppies come from?) there needs to be some sort of education programme. The breeder we got our latest dog from questions people thoroughly before she lets them have one of her dogs: ditto with my daughters dogs breeder. There are going to be big problems over the next couple of years imo.

Thank you all so much for replying.... it's made my day.
It's been a long drawn out procedure as I have instructed a solicitor however they required dog owner's name and address which I didn't have as it was refused when requested. Hence dog owner txt me her insurance details with a reference number.
I then reported to police and whilst empathy was shown..... very little they can do.
Most frustrating bit is that dog owner has a three month response window to my solicitor.
Sit back and wait...... Thanks again.

So sorry to hear that Taylor hope you make a good recovery. I agree with Janeainsworth this accident has had a massive impact on your life.

I would never trust any dog 100% even my own. Luckily they walk away from trouble but can be bouncy and are strong.
The vet told us last week he is seeing more and more dogs after lockdown who are not microchipped and who aren't vaccinated. Their provenance is very dubious. There could be big problems ahead.
That must have been awful for you Taylor2016.

Taylor2016 I think I’d be suing for damages through a solicitor rather than waiting on the dog owner’s insurance company.
I hope they’re going to compensate you not only for loss of earnings, but for pain, modifications to your home, your sister’s costs, and future disability.

Taylor2016, a dreadful thing to happen. It sounds as though the owner had third part insurance, something all dog owners need. Hope you’re compensated

I was walking on a Sunday morning end of February when a large breed of dog ran at me knocked me over from behind. Owner was walking ahead of me unaware of event's - 6 weeks in plaster now in a boot for another 5 due to dislocated ankle along with four breaks, metal plate and eight pins. My sister has had to move in with me and adaptions to my home. I get one month sick pay from work, awaiting on a decision from dog owner insurance.

NanandGrampy, yes to non dog owning families having information about dogs. Pre lockdown I was walking through a market town in the Lakes when a girl of about four grabbed my spaniel around her middle, from behind the dog. Luckily my spaniel is a gentle, calm girl and No reaction. Child’s mother laughed, said “I’m always telling her not to do that”. The family walked off as I called they were lucky the child hadn’t been bitten

Given the number of dog owners who think they know better than dog trainers and don’t go to training groups, I think we are on a loser expecting non dog people to be better informed

I totally agree with Iams comments!

I’m another who has dogs all my life and when our children were small they got just as much training as our dogs and we replicated that with our grandchildren .

I am saddened when out on a walk and we meet a small child who is terrified of dogs , we take a great deal of care to control our dog near people for that very reason. But I feel even non dog owning families need to work on how to interact and act around dogs .

It would be safer for all concerned .

That’s dreadful Iam64, I knew lots of dogs were being stolen from their owners for breeding or resale, and I’m paranoid about my dog not being one of them, I’d never let him off the lead in public just in case. I hadn’t made the connection between the rescue centres having very few dogs for adoption and why though, those poor dogs being treated like commodities.

Casdon, the specific breed charity I volunteer for expected an influx of lockdown puppies/young dogs. Sadly, rather than relinquish and have the dog assessed then matched for adoption by experienced people, it seems dogs are being sold.

These poor creatures have often been bred in puppy farms from unsuitable parents, sold for inflated prices, given a poor start before their first home, not given the proper care then sold on like second hand cars

There actually aren’t lots of dogs who need rehoming at the moment, I know because I’ve I’ve been looking to do a rehome. A lot of people took dogs for rehoming during lockdown, and not many new dogs are coming into the rehoming centres at the moment. There is however a huge problem with dog thefts.

Dogs that are rehomed from centres are actually much less likely to have a problem you’re not aware of than buying one privately, because they are thoroughly assessed, and often fostered before adoption to make sure their rehoming meets their needs (they may have problems, but at least you know about them).

Dogs need proper training and socialisation, unfortunately a lot of new owners got puppies last year when it was impossible to socialise them or take them to training classes. It's hard work training dogs properly and sadly too many people don't bother. People also buy from puppy farms, you really need to sure how your puppy has been bred and preferably see both parents (or at least the mum) to know it's going to be OK. A conscientious breeder will always check out a potential owner and the best never need to advertise.