Saw a dog attack my grandchild!

[oldfatfool]

Yep, cat lover!

That can be just as aggressive and dangerous as dogs, and that go round randomly killing other wildlife for fun. Not that i am averse to a nice pussy you understand

 

[Pale Rider]

unless there's a by-law, such signs are merely a request, utterly unenforceable, so not worth getting het up over it.

And your final sentence reminds men of what car drivers say about cyclists, and vice versa, and we know it's tosh.

A dog owner has a general legal responsibility to keep the dog under control.

To me, a dog running free cannot be under control, although I accept owners and the authorities disagree.

I think the wording of relevant charge is 'you had a dog dangerously out of control'.

If a dog running free causes me to swerve or brake while riding my bike, it is surely presenting a danger to me.

 

[PaulB]

Some interesting comments on this one. We've got Eddy coming round today but sadly I'll be at work for most of it so won't be seeing too much of him. My wife however thinks Christmas has come early.

 

[pubrunner]

My wife's in bits constantly blaming herself and breaking out in uncontrollable tears every half hour or so.

Your wife is blaming herself unfairly, IMO this situation could not have been predicted and might have occurred anywhere. Traumatic though it must have been, it is very fortunate, that you were there.

My son and his wife, the parents of Eddy have both said that they DON'T want the dog to be put down. They both know the dog and have only seen the evidence of his actions.

Yes, but the outcome could have been much worse . . .

I reacted fastest of all - as described to me in minute detail by my wife - and she reckons that saved him from more damage as I dragged him off by his collar and threw him in the garden before he savaged Eddy even more while she admits she wouldn't have known what to do.

IMO, by reacting so swiftly, you might well have saved Eddy's life; whilst it must have been extremely upsetting for all present, it was very fortunate that you were there . . . and hadn't left Eddy alone with the dog. Ultimately, given the circumstances, the outcome could have been so much worse; whilst your son and his wife might not want the dog to be put down, would they have the same opinion if the dog belonged to someone else ?

Best of luck to the young fella and I hope that you and yours are able to make the most of Christmas.

 

[pubrunner]

A dog owner has a general legal responsibility to keep the dog under control - that is the primary responsibility of any dog owner.

Yes, dogs should be kept under control.

To me, a dog running free cannot be under control . . .

In my experience, they can be kept under control when running free . . . . . . . but only if they've been trained to do so.

When I lived in the pub, we had two dogs; these dogs were with me virtually 100% of the time - this is important, because it enables both the owner and the dog to build up a clear understanding or 'agreement' of how to behave. They were my dogs, they knew this and they were well aware of their position in the hierarchy - which was below everyone else - family, customers, children etc.

The one dog that I had, came running with me virtually every day - up to 22 (hilly) miles on my longer runs. She was rarely on a lead - usually, only to provide reassurance to others, that she was under control. When she ran with me, she never strayed from my side, even when there were cats, sheep and other dogs in close proximity. I didn't put her on a lead, mainly for convenience - it made it easier for her to jump gates and stiles etc.

I used to be a member of a particular running club, which held a well-known (to runners) race every Boxing Day; I did the race (with the dog 'Freda' by my side) for four or five consecutive years and not once was she on a lead (Dogs were allowed in this race). In fact, Freda was seen as a 'fixture' in the race by both race organisers and the contestants, though as a Great Dane x Mastiff, she couldn't be missed; we didn't 'race' the race, but rather jogged round - as we both would be 'suffering' from having 'over-indulged' the previous day. Whilst I'm sure that she cherished her finisher's medals, her aversion to the mince pies and mulled wine that was given to all the runners meant . . . more for me .

The dog even had her own running number and I'm pleased to see, that her name can found in the race results (runner 212) :

http://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/RtW1997-Result.pdf

Too many generalisations are made about dogs and their owners. My dogs were like they were, because I was them nearly all the time, whether I was working in the pub, or upstairs in the private quarters - the level of understanding that we had, would only be matched by something like a Police dog and far above (no comparison) those dog owners who leave their dogs alone for a lot of the day, because they are out at work. A close 'working' relationship with a dog, is something that very few dog owners experience - largely because they cannot or will not, give the time to make it work.

For too many owners, dogs are just something to be let out of the door in the morning and evening and left alone whilst the owner is out at work - this kind of ownership simply isn't 'fair' to the dog.

Dogs are clever creatures, but a lot of time needs to be spent getting them right - if you haven't got the time, or can't be bothered, don't get a dog. As with most things in life, the more time that you put into a dog, the better that dog will be.

 

[ColinJ]

Dogs are clever creatures, but a lot of time needs to be spent getting them right - if you haven't got the time, or can't be bothered, don't get a dog. As with most things in life, the more time that you put into a dog, the better that dog will be.

I like well-behaved dogs (and children!) but I thought that I wouldn't want to put the hours in to be a good dog owner (or dad!) so that is why I never had dogs (or kids of my own!).

 

[User33236]

.....the level of understanding that we had, would only be matched by something like a Police dog....

The only dog I have ever been bitten by was a police dog when I was a kid (aged 11 or thereabouts). I was cycling past, on the road, when the dog leapt from the pavement and sunk its teeth into my left arm. The officer accompanying the animal seemed as shocked as I was.

 

[pubrunner]

The only dog I have ever been bitten by was a police dog when I was a kid (aged 11 or thereabouts). I was cycling past, on the road, when the dog leapt from the pavement and sunk its teeth into my left arm. The officer accompanying the animal seemed as shocked as I was.

Okay, perhaps my understanding with my dog, was akin to that of a guide dog and owner.

 

[pubrunner]

. . . but I thought that I wouldn't want to put the hours in to be a good dog owner (or dad!) so that is why I never had dogs (or kids of my own!).

A sensible outlook; but unfortunately, many people buy dogs with the same sort of consideration that they'd give to buying a takeaway meal and this shows in the behaviour of the dog.

But we shouldn't be too hard on dogs - we all know people, or ARE people, who have issues that if they were in a dog, they'd be considered big problems. Dogs are expected to be (behaviourally) almost perfect. I don't know many humans who are free of behavioural issues of some kind - especially most of the members of this forum - excepting myself, of course.

 

[PaulB]

Here's little Eddy an hour or so ago in my kitchen. Immensely upsetting to see it like this I have to say.

 

[PaulB]

Yes, dogs should be kept under control.

The dog even had her own running number and I'm pleased to see, that her name can found in the race results (runner 212) :

http://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/RtW1997-Result.pdf

Some great comments in your post but as (primarily) a runner myself, I couldn't help focussing on the race and a look through the results there. I remember Basher very well and have had some good tussles with him down the years (which I think he always won) and I'm glad to see your dog's name in the results!

 

[ColinJ]

Blimey, that bite was not far from his right eye! A horrible thing to happen, but I think that Eddy was actually lucky that his injuries were not even worse.

 

[PaulB]

Blimey, that bite was not far from his right eye! A horrible thing to happen, but I think that Eddy was actually lucky that his injuries were not even worse.

Indeed. Although he looks a bit sad there, ten seconds before and ten seconds after, he was chuckling, toddling and dancing up and down the kitchen pointing at things and trying to hum the theme tune to the Minions!

 

[pubrunner]

Some great comments in your post but as (primarily) a runner myself, I couldn't help focussing on the race and a look through the results there. I remember Basher very well and have had some good tussles with him down the years (which I think he always won) and I'm glad to see your dog's name in the results!

Bashir was/is a great runner and his girlfriend Jackie was a top fell runner, back in the day . . . . . . . 'Bash' was one of the few runners (can't think of another - Mark Croasdale ?) who has represented the UK on the track, cross country, mountain running, fell running and possibly, even on the roads. He's a good fella, I remember talking to him at the Llandudno 10, some time in the late 90s, it was a fast course and he did sub 50. Great days, I really must get back to some decent training.

. . . . . . . I couldn't help focussing on the race and a look through the results there. . . .

Ha ha ! Me too ! . . . . . . . virtually all runners do this.

If you want a nostalgia trip, take a look at http://www.ukresults.net/

 

[midlife]

Here's little Eddy an hour or so ago in my kitchen. Immensely upsetting to see it like this I have to say. View attachment 154837

Glad Eddy is home. Neat job, tidied up and incisions along Langer's Lines, should be invisible when older. Certainly likely less visible than the average chicken pox mark.

Shaun