Dogs

[brionon]

I'd like to see a programme about how to re-act if you or your kids are attacked by a Dog.

[pusskin]

Good idea brionon. I'm scared to death now to have a nice stroll in the countryside. terrified of certain types of dogs, but most are ok and dont think they'd attack me. its the killer type dogs that scare me, and for that reason I could never own a dog of any sort for fear of it being attacked by other dogs.
wish I could get over this fear.

[andy-hughes]

Definitely a good idea.

The problem with some dog owners is their refusal to accept that their dog, no matter how docile and loyal, is capabale of attacking someone with no apparent provocation.

The 'He won't hurt you ...' mantra is utterly futile because he might, and the owner can never know when or why. Of course, most serious woundings are from a dog who has 'never done it before' - you would hope so wouldn't you, since most are destroyed just after, rather than being given a chance to do the same again.

I recall holding my screaming two-year-old over my head while a slavering labrador jumped up at me in the local park.

The woman advising me that "He won't hurt, he's just playing ..." was met with a response she didn't expect since this type of dog owner thinks everyone thinks their pet is as fabulous as they do -

"Your dog is terrifying my child, call your dog off right now or I'll kick it in the face ..." delivered at the top of my voice, was not a response she appreciated.

She accused me of being a savage and a dog-hater, I am neither, but I do love my child more than a stranger's pet.

[Ankou]

"The problem with some dog owners is their refusal to accept that their dog, no matter how docile and loyal, is capabale of attacking someone with no apparent provocation."

definitely. but some children do lack a bit of education too. i have seen kids just stroll up to any random dog in the street to stroke it (not mine). i am a dog lover (not currently an owner), but would always recognise their natural instinct to attack without warning or particular reason no matter what size or breed.

[mccfluff]

the "he won;t hurt anyone" drives me bananas

i had a friend who would let her black lab run loose on the canal tow path, he used to delight in mock charging people and i couldn;t get it through to her that she should put him on the lead and not let him. "he's only playing and won;t hurt anyone" was her standard response. She refused to see it from the other side, how terrifying it can be for a child or non dog lover to have this massive thing charging at her.

[johnk]

I have been attacked by 3 Doberman types and the owner got upset when I kicked the cr*p out of them, said it was my fault they attacked me.

[LoftyLottie]

How about a programme about to how to re-act if you or kids are attacked by humans. Are there any. There are more chances of being attacked by humans than by dogs.

I will agree that dogs should be kept under control and I appreciate that big dogs running to play with toddlers can be intimidating, I just wish that all this outcry about dogs at the moment could be put into perspective.

Unfortunately, the owners of these dogs that attack are the irresponsible ones and are giving some breeds of dog a bad name,i.e. Staffies, because their stupid owners are using them as trophy dogs and encouraging bad behaviour.

What I would hate to see is children living in fear of dogs because of the over reaction of people to dog attacks, which are not that common.

From the point of view of a dog owner, also, there are some seriously silly parents that let their children run up to dogs to pet them which can really cause anxiety in a dog who thinks it may be being attacked.

Respect from both sides is needed.

[johnk]

Attacks may not be common but the consequences can be devastating.

[LoftyLottie]

Obviously if a child or my own dog was actually being attacked by a dog I would take the action Andy threatened. But some people would kick out just because their child was frightened because a dog was running towards them - and a screaming terrified child would be likely to make the dog attack.

I can't stand it when children start screaming and getting upset when they see a dog coming towards them - even when the dog is on the lead!! Parents need to understand that it is not wise to install a fear of dogs into their kids.

[LoftyLottie]

So can the consequences of attacks by humans john. There have always been dog attacks and the Trophy Dog thing has made it worse. But it is not common. A film wouldn't be a bad thing, but it should also show how to avoid dog attack by showing how to behave if a dog off a lead approaches.

[andy-hughes]

Excellent point Lottie.

Some parents do love to let their children pet strange dogs, which is never a good idea.

Talking of things parents let children do - why do some parents think their children chasing pigeons is an acceptable way to behave?

[Ellipsis]

This looks a pretty good article on how to handle a dog attack:

http://www.wikihow.com/Handle-a-Dog-Attack

Obviously not written for a UK audience (it's rare that I carry a can of pepper spray around, anyway) but "If a dog has locked onto another animal's neck, or human limb, pick its back legs up and hold it in the air" is good advice in emergency situations ...

Of course, prevention is better than cure, so this article on preventing dog attacks (for both owners and potential victims) from the same site is also worth a read ...

http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Dog-Bites

[NOX]

People generally lack the common sense as Lottie has highlighted to understand that instilling a fear of dogs in children makes the child behave in a way that in fact would encourage a dog to attack. Generally the more self posessed and assertive you are the less likely you are to be attacked and this common myth that dogs ' turn' randomly really needs to be put to bed, that is really not the case. Whenever a dog attacks anyone there is a very good reason, just because the human concerned doesn't understand what that reason is does not make it a a 'random' attack.
I have a very large family, none of us afraid of dogs and none of us have ever been bitten, save once for me when I was breakling up fighting dogs but I'm happy to say that was my own fault, and i'd hazard to say we probably have more to do with dogs of an unknown history than most people who are panicking about what is a very very occasional happening.

[LoftyLottie]

Andy, we have a lovely area on the river with ducks and chickens just down from where I live. The amount of children allowed to chase the ducks and chickens around amazes me. Their parents just laugh.

[LoftyLottie]

Excellent links ellipsis.

[LoftyLottie]

Nox, I have lived with dogs for most of my life, as has Mr LL and Master LL (who is now 29). None of us have any fear of dogs and none of us has ever been bitten. You are very right in what you say.

[NOX]

Great links Ellipsis- really what everyone ought to be doing:)

[LoftyLottie]

Sorry to dominate this thread. My dog is only a very small dog but she is quite nervy when it comes to strangers, and she doesn't like being petted by strangers. She is also uncertain about children. When there are little children approaching I make sure she is on a lead and when they get near I keep a reasonable distance away and make sure they have room to pass. If it looks as if a child might come running up to her I tell them or the parent politely that the dog doesn't like being touched. I wouldn't be surprised if she bit someone because of fear. I don't think a savage attack would be on the cards though.