Dogs

The owner should definitely be given a custodial sentence and be banned for life from owning any animal.
I have a little dog who is gentle and dear but I would never leave her alone with any of my little grandchildren . You just never know!

I am really nervous of dogs but still go out on my own refusing to be kept at home by my fear. I do have a stick to protect myself.

What upsets me is that if a bouncy dogs comes up to me and I ask the owner politely to take the dog away as I am frightened the response is ‘oh my dog is fine he won’t hurt you’. The number of times I have had to repeat my request is numerous. Someone said ‘it’s your fault you are giving out negative signs’.

I have read in a book by Bear Grylls what to do when threatened by a dog, stand sideways on to it, do not give it eye contact and keep calm. This is good advice.

Yes *NanKate". When a dog I passed on a wet day leapt up at me and dug its claws into my coat which it ripped, the owner laughed and gave no apology. The dog was on a lead but she obviously couldn't control it. I was shaking with fear and too shocked to say anything. The coat was dirty and torn. I had to throw it away.

Perhaps we need a Minister with portfolio for dogs. There are so many aspects that need regulation, from puppy farms to dangerous breeds.
At a local level there could be the funding of dog wardens, poo bins, and fines for dog fouling. Just seen this on my local Facebook, £100 fine for leaving mess around.

Bluebelle I imagine that everybody found the attack abhorrent - there is really nothing else say, nothing to make a discussion about.

When the dog warden was called around here when a dog was running around the street frightening people (it bit a man who tried to help it), the dog warden was as terrified as everyone else.

I doubt it EllanVannin. It takes deliberate breeding to produce killer dogs. My own GSD girl was too soft for her own good. Certainly the law of dog breeding needs some adjustment so bad or unhealthy dogs are not produced any breeder.

what to do when threatened by a dog, stand sideways on to it, do not give it eye contact and keep calm. This is good advice.

It is indeed Nan Kate and should be taught to children in school.

It was a horrific attack on a defenceless elderly lady, her family must be distraught, and also extremely angry that this has happened.
Dog licences, why were they discontinued? should be compulsory, all dogs, say, over 20kg should be muzzled when out, all dogs chipped and insured. If this were law, and checked on a regular basis, this would be a start.
I own a spaniel, trained to behave herself, well apart from when she sees a squirrel in the woods, is not interested in other people or dogs, only in her ball, is constantly invaded by other dogs, oh they are just friendly is the call from their owners, who do not seem to have any control, recall seems to have passed them by, my retort, call your bloody dog off, as mine isn’t! My spaniel doesn’t particularly want her backside inspected for any length of time and soon let’s them know, I’m then berated for having an aggressive dog, my point being, some dog owners are completely and utterly irresponsible!

dinnahmo why should it not be discussed ?
How do you ever find solutions for anything if it’s not discussed I m certainly not asking you to read or post on this thread if you don’t wish to BUT it needs discussing just like every major problem does, things like this cannot be just brushed aside as sad or distasteful, we need to talk it through, try to discuss and find solutions, and if necessary lobby or petition governments.

Licensing will have to return and heavy fines given out to those who don't have one. Chipping too should be compulsory.

This particular case will be forever with the family and the worst scenario, not worth thinking about, is that there could also have been children involved too as the lady was a grandmother. I sincerely hope that the owners get what's coming to them. It's all we can hope for.

I have Rottweilers...both are well trained, sociable, loving dogs with beautiful nature's. They love other animals and people BUT I've spent a lot of time and effort training and socialising them.
They are kept on leads in public, not because of their behaviour but because of other people and the view some people have of their breed!
I'm so much in favour of some sort of test or license for anyone wanting to own dogs..there is actually a ruling under the appalling DDA Act for a "fit and proper person" as an owner but how this would/could be policed I'm unsure of.
I do believe this would go a long way in preventing such terrible attacks.

I am a firm believer that all new dog owners should need a licence , not for the dog but to certify they have passed the requisite dog husbandry course.

Far too many people have dogs that are unsuitable for the household they live in , who are untrained and have the worst habits. People seem to assume because so and so has a nice well trained dog their new puppy will assume the same characteristics by osmosis almost.

Certain breeds should even have more training. And it doesn't stop when they are no longer pups. We've owned giant breeds in the past weighing 10 stone or more and you can believe we trained EVERY day.

I believe breeders need more regulation too as some of this is a product of poor line management and breeding.

Microchipping has been compulsory for several years. Also dogs must wear ID tags. I agree that something must be done to make owners keep their dogs under control, especially now that so many people seem to keep dogs that never seemed to want one before. Our council has a safe neighbourhood warden who also advises people if there is a dangerous dog in the neighbourhood. He is far more proactive than the local dog warden and the police (who have enough on their hands as it is these days).I thought this was a countrywide initiative but read the other day that it wasn’t. I’m sick of having to protect my on lead dog from other dogs. And people on Facebook saying ‘my dog runs up to other dogs and instead of playing with them nicely tries to nip them: what should I do?’. I can’t imagine what that poor woman went through and how her family must feel.

BlueBelle

dinnahmo why should it not be discussed ?
How do you ever find solutions for anything if it’s not discussed I m certainly not asking you to read or post on this thread if you don’t wish to BUT it needs discussing just like every major problem does, things like this cannot be just brushed aside as sad or distasteful, we need to talk it through, try to discuss and find solutions, and if necessary lobby or petition governments.

Because there are already laws about the control of dangerous dogs. Everybody agrees that it was a terrible incident and that something should be done.

Far too many people who have no idea on how to teach a dog good manners are dog owners. Nowadays, I rarely see any dog walking correctly on the pavement. They are mostly pulling their owners along and wandering left to right and into the road whilst the twozzock on the other ends of an elastic lead is too busy on a phone to notice or care.

The majority of dogs are eager to please and will behave properly if shown the correct way. Sadly, there will be many more dog related incidents until common sense is used.

Dogs can be unpredictable. We know someone who had had a 'placid' labrador for years. When our friend was hanging out washing one day, she heard terrible screams. The dog had attacked her 18 month old daughter whose face was scarred for life.
Someone actually said to her that the child must have upset the dog!

*dinnahmo why should it not be discussed ?
How do you ever find solutions for anything if it’s not discussed I m certainly not asking you to read or post on this thread if you don’t wish to BUT it needs discussing just like every major problem does, things like this cannot be just brushed aside as sad or distasteful, we need to talk it through, try to discuss and find solutions, and if necessary lobby or petition governments*.

Because there are already laws about the control of dangerous dogs. Everybody agrees that it was a terrible incident and that something should be done

How would we possibly know everyone agrees it was a terrible thing unless we talk about it and isnt it good that for once we are all in agreement and excellent that I now know others are as worried and concerned as i am

Surely this is a discussion site to get things of your chest and share ideas and thoughts about all subjects happy and sad with others

Kate1949

Dogs can be unpredictable. We know someone who had had a 'placid' labrador for years. When our friend was hanging out washing one day, she heard terrible screams. The dog had attacked her 18 month old daughter whose face was scarred for life.
Someone actually said to her that the child must have upset the dog!

It's possible that the dog was blind and that they had not realised. A similar thing happened to my OH's cousin when they were children - dog in a basket, asleep. Child touched it and the dog bit him. It turned out that he was blind in the eye on the side the child approached.

I have a blind dog, obtained from a refuge. He was up for re-homing because of his blindness. The family hadn't known and he did bite their 7 year old son who jumped into his basket whilst the dog was asleep. My vet thought that he had been blind for a long time. If you saw him you would not realise that he's blind.

Kate1949, it's quite possible that the child could have upset the dog in some way - even a toddler of that age could have pulled its ear or tail, for instance - which could cause even the most placid dog to snap. Children need to be taught from the start how to behave around all animals, including dogs. We've always had dogs, but we've always taught our children - and now our grandson, who is 3, how to behave around them, and I would never leave them unsupervised together. We have just brought home our new puppy and our grandson has been told to be gentle with him and how to behave around him. It's not always the fault of the dog. Some children treat them like a toy or a plaything - then the poor animal gets the blame when it finally snaps. Give me dogs over people any day...

I believe the police are establishing whether the dogs are an illegal breed.

Thank you for the thread Bluebell. Sorry, I know these attacks happen and result in devastating injuries and death but I can't read about such events. It's been posted twice but I'll say it again, turn sideways on, no eye contact and keep calm. Waving a stick at a dog will exacerbate the problem.

I am a dog lover but haven't always owned a dog. The two occasions when I have, are when I'm at home to always care for the dogs. I've never had one whilst working full time.

Whilst knowing all my dogs have been and are friendly due to their good training , I always take them out on leads. Extendable ones but on short leads when I pass others. Again, whilst knowing my dog is OK, I do not trust any other dog until I know the owner well. Mya goes to a dog creche a few times in the year for day stays, She was vetted by them to ensure she would get on well with their 3 dogs and the other dogs that board with them. They've remarked how calm and responsive to their commands she is when they walk the dogs all together.

I wish there was a law for all dogs when out of their own gardens, to be on a lead.

I was rushed into the trauma unit almost two years ago with a hand injury (careless with a tool), Whilst being treated, I asked if mine was the worst he had in that day. It was the worst that week. That lead onto what sort of injuries came in the most. Top of the list was injuries from dog attacks.

I can't see how banning people from owning a dog will work. How would it be implemented? However, a law for all dogs on a lead at all times, outside their home could work but even that would need wardens a plenty !

I'm just back from walking my Mya (rescue dog - mixture). We only met two dogs, both on leads. First one, quick bark and wagging tail at Mya. OK - a bit of meet and greet for them both. 2nd dog - snarling, no tail wagging. Mya's hackles went up. Calm word from me and she walked on. Owner did apologies and asked if Mya was OK.

You should never wake a sleeping dog as it’s their natural instinct to protect themselves, especially sighthounds that seem to sleep very deeply.

Kate1949 I can understand your fear, you really have to know the dog before you can trust it. My DD used to have a weimaraner, he was big and strong, but soft as mush! When given a teddy bear, he cuddled it - it lasted for months. The Terrier we have just now will demolish a toy in seconds. She does a lot of barking, but in her case her bark is worse than her bite.
I don't understand why people get dogs if they don't know how to look after them. It's horrific what that lady must have gone through.

I love my dogs very much too, they are small. They are exercised daily, without this they would bark a lot and be a nuisance in the home.
When out free of lead walking I have to recall the toy poodle frequently as he is over friendly with humans and this is nuisance behaviour as he jumps up at them. So immediately I see anyone else around he’s put back on his lead to prevent this. All dogs require a lot of attention and exercise to stop frustration and boredom.
My ideal is to train people before allowing them to own dogs.