A dangerous dog.... always a dangerous dog!!!!

[Manonabike]

A couple of days ago I saw a TV program Me or the dog (or something very similar )

They featured a dangerous dog and how to control it. I watched how a couple were shown techniques to relax the dog so it would not harm guests. To me that felt like saying, here is your car, it has faulty brakes but I'll show you how to stop it by driving it very carefully. Nope, in my opinion dangerous dogs have to be put down otherwise they are an "accident" waiting to happen.... and I say "accident" because I'm not entirely sure that really constitute an accident, more like negligence I'd say.

Some people say "there aren't any bad dogs only bad dog owners" I don't buy that either. I can understand that a dangerous dog in the hands of a bad dog owner is a loaded weapon but in the hands of a competent owner the dog is still dangerous and nobody can be sure the dog will always be under competent supervision. A friendly dog is great but dangerous dogs that are difficult to control, I think, they have no place in society

Has anybody here ever been attacked by a dangerous dog?

 

[vernon]

No but I've been dangerously attacked by a dog.

 

[asterix]

Yes, a French hunting dog. I was climbing a hill through a village and it chased me then stood in front of the bike and bit my hand, drawing blood.

I was furious and went from house to house till someone admitted ownership and I told them what I thought of their dog which was hiding under the table. They were extremely apologetic, I calmed down and we parted more or less amicably. I believe the dog is no longer allowed to roam free as I haven't seen it the last 2 summers. I don't believe all dogs that chase are in fact dangerous but this one could have done me some damage.

Was also bitten behind the knee by a small dog when delivering leaflets and it took ages to heal, infected I guess. Who'd be a postie!

 

[ColinJ]

Has anybody here ever been attacked by a dangerous dog?

Nearly!

I was toiling up a steep local hill on my bike when I heard a blood-curdling baying growl. I looked up ahead to my left and saw a huge Doberman racing across a field. I thought I was safe because there was a dry stone wall round the field, but no - the dog leapt over the wall and landed in the road ahead of me.

The dog was so desperate to get at me that its paws were slipping on the road cartoon-style as it tried to accelerate down the hill towards me!

I did a massive back-wheel slide through 180° and sprinted back down the hill with the Hound of the Baskervilles in hot pursuit. It got within about 10 ft of me but I had become a sprinting superstar and powered away from it.

Phew! Only problem was that I was now doing 40 mph into a tight RH bend. I had no choice but to lean the bike right over and try and snap my left pedal off. I managed to get round the bend, but I missed the kerb by only a couple of inches.

I knew someone who lived opposite where the dog came from. I mentioned the incident to him and he told me that the dog had already attacked two other people in recent weeks. I think it was taken away a few days later, presumably to be put down.

I like well-behaved dogs, but beasts like that are a menace. If I'd been a child, I think it would have caught and killed me.

 

[ELL]

I saw a couple of Staffs running free a couple of months back. No owner in sight so can only presume they got out. 1 attacked a little Yorkshire T owner of the YT was screaming bloke stepped in to help and got bit on the arm. I love dogs but I'm not a fan of Staffs at all as I think they are so unpredictable. Some dogs need to be under tight control at all times.

 

[montyboy]

I saw a couple of Staffs running free a couple of months back. No owner in sight so can only presume they got out. 1 attacked a little Yorkshire T owner of the YT was screaming bloke stepped in to help and got bit on the arm. I love dogs but I'm not a fan of Staffs at all as I think they are so unpredictable. Some dogs need to be under tight control at all times.

I have been and still am the owner of a large breed dog and I do have some experience in this area.

I think that the "there is no such thing as a bad dog, just a bad owner" is partly true. I believe that most bad dogs have been created by their owners and the first 6 months of any dogs life will usually map out its behaviour for the remainder.

I do think however, once the damage is done it is irrevearsable and with large dogs that usually means only one thing.

 

[tyred]

Yes, I was bit by my uncle's sheepdog as a child and more recently was attached by an Alsatian which came running out of someone's garden when I was cycling past. It genuinely did cut me quite badly on the back of the leg and I couldn't get it to let go of my leg and with a large dog hanging on my leg, I couldn't seem to get my foot out of the toe clip to try and shake it of. Someone in a van turned up and the dog ran off across a field. I limped up to the house where the dog had come from but they wouldn't answer the doorbell even though I am 100% convinced there was someone in the house. I did report the incident but nothing was done as the owner promised to keep it under control in future. I have avoided that road ever since.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Has anybody here ever been attacked by a dangerous dog?

Yes, a guard dog doberman/rottweiler (10 years ago I forget which) had gotten loose from its garden and perceived me as a threat, not on the bicycle at the time so had to climb a tree to avoid it. Council warden called, dog captured but no further action taken as it had not actually succeeded in biting me.

On the subject of Staffs I've had two experiences one good, one bad. The bad was as someone has described were a loose staff attacked another dog, before setting its sights on me which is where another tree came in handy. The good is my friends staff which is the nicest, playfull dog with people but is wary/suspicious of other dogs. My friend explained this is common with Staffs but can be trained out.

My personal opinion is that if a dog has actually attacked and injured someone, it should be put down. Dogs are worthwhile pets/workers but if there is any doubt the safest option for us should be followed.

The same applies for genuine dangerous dog breeds which require specialist care/ownership, they shouldn't be available to people generally?

 

[Night Train]

Not necessarily always dangerous but I am sure some, like some people, start off bad and stay bad and even get worse. Same solution to both would be an interesting concept but I digress...

I have been attacked by only one dog.

It was a German Shepard chained to a lamp post outside an off licence a few door up from my house (in London).
As I returned from walking my dog, Barney, the GS went balistic as Barney appeared to be approaching though we had stopped at my door. The GS broke its lead and ran at Barney attacking him. Barney, sensibly hid behind me and so I got the brunt of the GS's attack. I could have killed that dog in the ensuing fight had the owner not returned, called the dog off and legged it the other way. I often think perhaps I should have killed the dog, that way the Police would be involved and the owner wouldn't have got away with it.
I, at least, escaped with minor injuries, as did Barney.

 

[Manonabike]

My personal opinion is that if a dog has actually attacked and injured someone, it should be put down. Dogs are worthwhile pets/workers but if there is any doubt the safest option for us should be followed.

The same applies for genuine dangerous dog breeds which require specialist care/ownership, they shouldn't be available to people generally?

Absolutely.

 

[Crankarm]

Any dog which shows the remotest bit of aggression should be put down. If it bites or tries to bite anyone then it becomes dogMcNuggets without exception.

 

[Globalti]

I got bitten on the arse by an over-excited collie last winter while out cycling. It didn't draw blood.

 

[coffeejo]

IME, there is a minority of dogs who are "bad" and cannot be trusted. The rest of the "bad dog" population has been made that way by humans, either deliberately or unintentionally. Such people should not be allowed to keep animals.

Any dog which shows the remotest bit of aggression should be put down. If it bites or tries to bite anyone then it becomes dogMcNuggets without exception.

Define this? My dog is bit bouncy and clumsy but loving, gentle and loyal. However, she's very alert at night for suspicious noises and having seen her when someone was creeping round the yard, I wouldn't cross her if I didn't know her when she's like that. And, quite frankly, if someone broke into my house, I wouldn't be telling her to sit or calming her down.

 

[wiggydiggy]

IME, there is a minority of dogs who are "bad" and cannot be trusted. The rest of the "bad dog" population has been made that way by humans, either deliberately or unintentionally. Such people should not be allowed to keep animals.



Define this? My dog is bit bouncy and clumsy but loving, gentle and loyal. However, she's very alert at night for suspicious noises and having seen her when someone was creeping round the yard, I wouldn't cross her if I didn't know her when she's like that. And, quite frankly, if someone broke into my house, I wouldn't be telling her to sit or calming her down.

Hey Jo, theres obvious exceptions and common sense to be applied to my opinion of destroying dogs that have attacked humans, so one that attacks a creeper as you mention should likely be rewarded Police dogs, guard dogs etc etc all of those are trained to attack or guard as needed, that is their purpose.

 

[Friz]

Haven't been attacked so to speak but many of the dogs on my route take up chase for a bit. Only one has ever gone for a nip and he got a nice boot in the head for his efforts and ran back home with his tail between his legs. A few days later he tried it again at which point I skidded to a stop, got off the bike and stalked back towards his house shouting something along the lines of "You ignorant motherf*cker. One kick not enough?" He scarpered again and since then we enjoy a fine relationship. He hides in the hedges and I growl as I pass him.

I believe it's called a commanding presence.