Dangerous Dogs

I remember meeting Lord Halifax When I was five. I was staying with his gamekeeper and his lordship had come to retrieve his beautiful black labrador which made a habit of running away. He took great pleasure in telling us about the beating the dog would get when they got home. Even at that age I could see why the dog kept running away. Bad owners can come from any background, like bad parents really.

Yes - I knew a little girl who lost her sight in one eye from dog worms; then she was hit in the eye by a conker and lost the sight in the other one. Very sad.

Stansgran/*Flowerofthewest*. I also used to get furious with seeming irresponsible dog owners apparently tossing filled bags into trees/hedges, until one day I spotted the real culprit - birds! (particularly rooks). They pick around the rubbish bins and fly off with any 'debris' they can find. I can't really imagine anyone throwing the stuff around, as the bags might leak or split and that would not be a happy ending to any poo flinging games

I still don't know why dog owners collect the poo in bags and then decorate a tree or toss it over a hedge. What's the logic? The Lake District is dreadful for that. I was speaking to a NT volunteer who said being a warden on an area frequented by dog walkers made you think twice about them actually loving the human race. Dog poo is dangerous for children. My FIL used to operate on children whose eyes were damaged and was appalled that the families would insist on keeping the dog.

I don't think dog licences would help I'm afraid, although think all dogs should be chipped so owners could be traced. But I do think people should have to have a licence to breed and sell dogs which might stop people breeding from dogs with dubious temperaments.

The only time I've been bitten by a dog is when I was delivering cataolgues to a house and two Jack Russells ran after me as I left. Got back to the car to find the backs of my legs covered in blood where they'd bit me. Just going to go and sniff the whippets ears; they are the cleanest dogs and, I may be wrong but I don't think my house has a doggy smell about it [although she does fart for England sometimes]. But I can't keep her off the sofa; previous non whippet dogs were never allowed on it but I don't know of any whippet owner that has succeeded in stopping them from taking up their rightful place on the sofa. I did used to get a bit angry years ago with a friend who used to bring her four children to my house where they'd all but wreck it, but then shout at my dog if it came near her [even though the dog was kept in the kitchen and not allowed into any other rooms]. I always wanted to point out that the dog did actually live here [just wanted to get that off my chest; it always irritated me!].

Absolutely agree NFk

Perhaps it's time for dig licences? Not just token ones at 7/6d. Proper ones, with enforcement. It gives police a reason to stop and check dubious dogs/owners.

I can also remember when I used to be walking my DC back from school, we used to pass a house and the little jack russell dog used to hide and wait for you to walk by and then would rush out and try to bite the back of your legs. It is funny but the family were known, as the males of the family had been in and out of prison and were not very nice people. People used to be frightened of reporting this dog because they were frightened of the family and I wonder if this might have possibly been the case when that poor girl was savaged and killed by those four dogs. People were wondering if these dogs were so bad why nobody had reported them. Could it possibly be that they were more frightened of the family than the dogs? I have known many dog owners as I am sure many of you have and I haven't met a nice person with a nasty dog. I just wonder if you agree, cos I really believe it is how you treat them. I would love to think there is a way to sort the problem of dangerous dogs out but, they cannot even enforce poo picking up even though they threaten a big fine. Responsible dog owners will have their dogs chipped get a licence or whatever law might be brought in and the irresponsible ones wont and I think, unfortunately, that will be it. Everytime something tragic happens there will be uproar but nothing will change because in all honesty what really can? And please believe me, I am a glass half full girl and not trying to be pessimistic just, I think, realistic. Sorry.

A sad and horrible story in defence of a lovely elderly dog.

My DDH's mum's cousin had a lovely spaniel. she was about 14 and had never hurt anyone in her life. One day her lady owner stepped back and onto the dog's foot - the dog bit the lady's leg. The husband promptly took her outside and shot her. He proudly told us this story. We left after a few short sharp words and never went back.

This man shot all sorts of wildlife and never had any respect for any animal. He even used to take pot shots at the blue tits on his apple tree. Bas*"$d

We haven't seen him for over 30 years and I hope he lived a long and painful life.

What about the dog poop bags I often see hanging in bushes, In many colours I may add. Even when there is a dog poop bin nearby some people find it necessary to decorate nearby bushes with these offending objects.

On the other hand, my BF's son walked his dog one evening for an hour so. Came home and she caught him going out again. His explanation was that he had forgotten his poo bags and was going to retrace his steps to pick up his dog's poop. What a guy. The same person was in her garden one evening when the neighbour called over the fence saying 'I think this is yours' The young man reached out and took the newspaper wrapped poo in his hand - saying thankyou. The thing is his dog could never scale the 6.5 ft fence and never would, being a black lab. The poo was fox poo. I love the politeness of my friend's son. Bless him.

Aren't whippets' ears supposed to smell like butterscotch, now there is a dog I could love.

PostivePam I think those extremes of dangerous status dogs and tarted up handbag dogs both bear no relation to responsible dog ownership, and the fabulous working dogs that help humans with disabilities.

Nail on head there positivepam! - I am only too aware that doglovers tend to think that those who do not like dogs are intolerant people!

Oh and they are not miniature, dressed up or put in a designer bag.

I just think it is true, you are either a dog person or not. I have two small dogs and I totally love them to bits. They are chipped are regularly wormed, clipped and vaccinated. I always seem to get on well with dog lovers and not too impressed with people who aren't cos they sometimes appear to be intolerant people not only about dogs. This is not aimed at anyone on here by the way, as I do not know you but aimed at people I have met.(just wanted to clarify this ). I always pick up the poo and it makes me very angry when I see people not doing this and have been known to comment as I find these are the same people who would go mad if their children or grandchildren walked in it but do not care if mine do!!!! Although I totally trust my dogs I would never ever leave my DGC on their own with them as I think it would be irresponsible and very naiive to think my dogs are 100% safe. I think they are but what a price I would pay if I was wrong don't you think? I have chuckled at a couple of posts but always respect everybodies right to have their own views.(even if they are wrong ha ha).

Yes. I'll never forget the occasion when I was wheeling my daughter in her pushchair along a public pathway through a leafy part of the village I lived in at the time when I saw, in the distance, a Great Dane bounding towards me - I was terrified for myself and DD!

Fortunately it just bounded around a bit, then turned and galloped back in the direction from which it had come, but obviously its owners had either let it out or let it escape, and though I'm not saying Great Danes are known to be vicious they're certainly intimidating when encountered in such a fashion.

I must admit there aren't nearly as many dogs around these days off the lead like they used to be in those days, which is a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned!

Mishap I would probably drop-kick any dog that tried to stick its nose in my crotch! My love of dogs includes requiring them to be well-behaved and under control. They're dogs, not humans. No getting on the furniture or being fed from the table. I would be as horrfied as you if I witnessed such unacceptable behaviour. I distinguish between what dogs naturally do that can be managed, and what they might do if not disciplined, exercised and given affection. I despair of the idiots who have dogs in order to threaten others, but also those brainless twits who acquire miniature dogs and parade them round in Christmas outfits and stick them in their designer bags.

Each to their own indeed - but sadly the dogs do not keep themselves to themselves. I could cope if they did!

I'm with you all the way, Mishap! Never have been a dog person, but each to their own.

Phew! - nice to know I am not totally alone!

Anyone else out there who does not like other people's dogs sticking their noses in her crotch!?

whenim, you're obviously a responsible dog owner, and I can understand that you enjoy being a dog person. I was brought up with (well-trained) dogs and that was OK, but now I find my views more like those of Mishap. Like you, I can't understand how anyone would want to pick up warm poo with a plastic bag (although I am delighted that they do as we suffer a lot from the pests who don't). What turns my stomach is seeing people who let their dogs lick their faces. We all know what dogs do with their noses, given half a chance!

I don't expect everyone to be overwhelmed with the charm of my grandchildren, who are all,of course, perfect, so why am I expected to be delighted when somebody's horrible dog wants to jump up at me?

I must admit to having a soft spot for bull terriers [I think it's something to do with seeing The Incredible Journey when I was a child] and have known some really sweet natured ones.

Will do!

My grandma used to have a bull terrier. Mum remembered that the dog at the time wouldn't allow her then fiance [my dad] kiss her and would growl like mad. When I was little grandma had another bull terrier as soft as grease. Grandma would brook no trouble with that dog and I wasn't afraid at all. These days, in spite of having grown up with dogs and then having my own, I'm very wary of other people's. One dog is OK if well trained - but NEVER 100% trustworthy - it is a dog after all with doggy ways. I'm amazed that parents are happy to leave a baby alone in the same room as a dog. Owning two dogs is beginning to create a pack and whatever breed, big or small, can easily cause a problem. Licensing and chipping a dog? It's better than nothing. Most people will do it but there will be a percentage of those who won't. Perhaps wardens / police could have a device to check out any dog they meet and have on the spot fines.