Am I going to far/worrying too much?
Discussion
rufusgti said:
I also worry. I can't stand the "he won't bite" brigade. Dogs bite for all types of reasons, and I want to see that the owner could control their dogs. So when I see a big american bulldog type dog with no collar it does infuriate me.
I think you would find if a dog went for your child you could fight it off no problem. It would take a very very large dog to overpower a 15st man. Not a nice situation though. And why should you have to be concerned. At least in your semi rural area your average dog owner is probably better than the inner city bulldog/tracksuit brigade that seem to choose dogs purely on there physical presence.
Why do you quote American Bulldogs? I own one of these (she's actually a rare blue blood) and a Sharpei/mastiff cross. Both despite their reputation are the softest dogs you could ask for. Even after our neighbours dog ( 'a very safe x racing greyhound') attacked her resulting in eight stitches in her side. I think you would find if a dog went for your child you could fight it off no problem. It would take a very very large dog to overpower a 15st man. Not a nice situation though. And why should you have to be concerned. At least in your semi rural area your average dog owner is probably better than the inner city bulldog/tracksuit brigade that seem to choose dogs purely on there physical presence.
Any dogs can be aggressive from the smallest handbag dog to the largest 40kg+ pet. It's the owners (as you say the tracksuit brigade) that make the dog not the breed. Have you ever tried training a giant schnauzer? Stunning dogs but VERY hard to train compared to some.
Andy_mr2sc said:
Any dogs can be aggressive from the smallest handbag dog to the largest 40kg+ pet. It's the owners (as you say the tracksuit brigade) that make the dog not the breed.
I think most on here would agree entirely with you on this and I'm not on side with the OP's slightly paranoid view on dogs off the lead but you cannot get round the fact that if I get attacked by a greyhound the odds are I'll come out on top, against a "fighting" breed that may not be the case so much. 
There are loads of owners of 'socty softy wouldn't hurt a fly' dogs.
Here's the thing, a dogs mind and thoughts are primitive. They learn through praising and also through scalding. They think about food, they think about their owner, their territory etc.
Obviously they cant speak. They can become anxious. They can become irritable. They can become unwell or get aches and pains. They can become frightened or spooked by things that they have not seen or experienced before or things that remind them of a traumatic experience.
My point is this: No matter how you think you know your dog and how it reacts or behaves, no matter how well under control or trained you think it is; it can always, always surprise you and can attack for no reason. In the dogs eyes the reason may be valid but it could be a simple misreading of another human.
For example: one of my children has cerebral palsy and can't walk so he uses a wheelchair. Kids like him with similar conditions or worse can move suddenly or move erratically or shout out for some reason. This could be misinterpreted by a dog.
Kids playing in a park maybe throwing a ball about could inadvertently in invite a off lead dog to play fetch and make a mistake when trying to retrieve the ball and spook the dog.
Nobody can predict a dogs behaviour accurately all the time. There is always fhe cbance of something going wrong...i dont care what anyone says.
So instead of blaming non dog lovers and telling them to get to understand dogs etc tbe dog owners as responsible owners should take the view tbat they are in charge of an animal that injure people and try and forsee potential situations. They should be keot on a lead in public places and if going through a park where children are it should be muzzled.
All dog owners think their dog is soft and harmless. Well go and talk to bereived parants whose family dog has been destroyed because it attacked or killed their child.
Here's the thing, a dogs mind and thoughts are primitive. They learn through praising and also through scalding. They think about food, they think about their owner, their territory etc.
Obviously they cant speak. They can become anxious. They can become irritable. They can become unwell or get aches and pains. They can become frightened or spooked by things that they have not seen or experienced before or things that remind them of a traumatic experience.
My point is this: No matter how you think you know your dog and how it reacts or behaves, no matter how well under control or trained you think it is; it can always, always surprise you and can attack for no reason. In the dogs eyes the reason may be valid but it could be a simple misreading of another human.
For example: one of my children has cerebral palsy and can't walk so he uses a wheelchair. Kids like him with similar conditions or worse can move suddenly or move erratically or shout out for some reason. This could be misinterpreted by a dog.
Kids playing in a park maybe throwing a ball about could inadvertently in invite a off lead dog to play fetch and make a mistake when trying to retrieve the ball and spook the dog.
Nobody can predict a dogs behaviour accurately all the time. There is always fhe cbance of something going wrong...i dont care what anyone says.
So instead of blaming non dog lovers and telling them to get to understand dogs etc tbe dog owners as responsible owners should take the view tbat they are in charge of an animal that injure people and try and forsee potential situations. They should be keot on a lead in public places and if going through a park where children are it should be muzzled.
All dog owners think their dog is soft and harmless. Well go and talk to bereived parants whose family dog has been destroyed because it attacked or killed their child.
lord trumpton said:
There are loads of owners of 'socty softy wouldn't hurt a fly' dogs.
Here's the thing, a dogs mind and thoughts are primitive. They learn through praising and also through scalding. They think about food, they think about their owner, their territory etc.
Obviously they cant speak. They can become anxious. They can become irritable. They can become unwell or get aches and pains. They can become frightened or spooked by things that they have not seen or experienced before or things that remind them of a traumatic experience.
My point is this: No matter how you think you know your dog and how it reacts or behaves, no matter how well under control or trained you think it is; it can always, always surprise you and can attack for no reason. In the dogs eyes the reason may be valid but it could be a simple misreading of another human.
For example: one of my children has cerebral palsy and can't walk so he uses a wheelchair. Kids like him with similar conditions or worse can move suddenly or move erratically or shout out for some reason. This could be misinterpreted by a dog.
Kids playing in a park maybe throwing a ball about could inadvertently in invite a off lead dog to play fetch and make a mistake when trying to retrieve the ball and spook the dog.
Nobody can predict a dogs behaviour accurately all the time. There is always fhe cbance of something going wrong...i dont care what anyone says.
So instead of blaming non dog lovers and telling them to get to understand dogs etc tbe dog owners as responsible owners should take the view tbat they are in charge of an animal that injure people and try and forsee potential situations. They should be keot on a lead in public places and if going through a park where children are it should be muzzled.
All dog owners think their dog is soft and harmless. Well go and talk to bereived parants whose family dog has been destroyed because it attacked or killed their child.
Frankly all that reinforces the impression that you don't know much about dogs and have some fairly serious fear issues, presumably from childhood experiences or just being brought up that way. You are far more likely to be randomly attacked by a person than a dog (or killed in the car on the way there), until it becomes law that all people are only allowed out on a lead with a muzzle then frankly that suggestion is ridiculous.Here's the thing, a dogs mind and thoughts are primitive. They learn through praising and also through scalding. They think about food, they think about their owner, their territory etc.
Obviously they cant speak. They can become anxious. They can become irritable. They can become unwell or get aches and pains. They can become frightened or spooked by things that they have not seen or experienced before or things that remind them of a traumatic experience.
My point is this: No matter how you think you know your dog and how it reacts or behaves, no matter how well under control or trained you think it is; it can always, always surprise you and can attack for no reason. In the dogs eyes the reason may be valid but it could be a simple misreading of another human.
For example: one of my children has cerebral palsy and can't walk so he uses a wheelchair. Kids like him with similar conditions or worse can move suddenly or move erratically or shout out for some reason. This could be misinterpreted by a dog.
Kids playing in a park maybe throwing a ball about could inadvertently in invite a off lead dog to play fetch and make a mistake when trying to retrieve the ball and spook the dog.
Nobody can predict a dogs behaviour accurately all the time. There is always fhe cbance of something going wrong...i dont care what anyone says.
So instead of blaming non dog lovers and telling them to get to understand dogs etc tbe dog owners as responsible owners should take the view tbat they are in charge of an animal that injure people and try and forsee potential situations. They should be keot on a lead in public places and if going through a park where children are it should be muzzled.
All dog owners think their dog is soft and harmless. Well go and talk to bereived parants whose family dog has been destroyed because it attacked or killed their child.
Yes there are bad dog owners who fail to control their dogs, yes dogs should be on leads anywhere around roads or livestock or in extremely busy areas and dogs with a history of violence should wear a muzzle. Otherwise people should accept that in large open areas and in the countryside there will be dogs around just as there has been for countless generations. It's a simple fact of life which isn't going to change, if you can't deal with that then either A: Don't go there or B: get some help to deal with your issues.
That said I don't understand why some people feel the need to own such massive dogs, I would personally only own a dog that I could physically control if I needed to. Seeing tiny women and skinny little chavs with great danes, bull mastiffs and Alsations makes me dubious as to why they got the dog (to look well 'ard innit) which makes me think they're best avoided.
I like dogs but choose not to have one.
But once I was attacked whilst walking my brothers dog by the canal.
Our dog loves fetching sticks, so I grabbed the stick he had and aimed to smack the attacker on the head. I missed but it was enough to scare the dog away.
Since then I have pondered the OPs question.
Poking eyes with two fingers is an option.
Or else offer the attacker your arm (hopefully in a coat sleeve), and once its grabbed on, fall down on the dog with all your weight. With luck you'll break its neck.
Obviously you'll need hospital treatment for cuts & tetanus but better that than losing a finger.
But once I was attacked whilst walking my brothers dog by the canal.
Our dog loves fetching sticks, so I grabbed the stick he had and aimed to smack the attacker on the head. I missed but it was enough to scare the dog away.
Since then I have pondered the OPs question.
Poking eyes with two fingers is an option.
Or else offer the attacker your arm (hopefully in a coat sleeve), and once its grabbed on, fall down on the dog with all your weight. With luck you'll break its neck.
Obviously you'll need hospital treatment for cuts & tetanus but better that than losing a finger.
woodypup59 said:
I like dogs but choose not to have one.
But once I was attacked whilst walking my brothers dog by the canal.
Our dog loves fetching sticks, so I grabbed the stick he had and aimed to smack the attacker on the head. I missed but it was enough to scare the dog away.
Since then I have pondered the OPs question.
Poking eyes with two fingers is an option.
Or else offer the attacker your arm (hopefully in a coat sleeve), and once its grabbed on, fall down on the dog with all your weight. With luck you'll break its neck.
Obviously you'll need hospital treatment for cuts & tetanus but better that than losing a finger.
Yeah, it might just work .... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-29694744But once I was attacked whilst walking my brothers dog by the canal.
Our dog loves fetching sticks, so I grabbed the stick he had and aimed to smack the attacker on the head. I missed but it was enough to scare the dog away.
Since then I have pondered the OPs question.
Poking eyes with two fingers is an option.
Or else offer the attacker your arm (hopefully in a coat sleeve), and once its grabbed on, fall down on the dog with all your weight. With luck you'll break its neck.
Obviously you'll need hospital treatment for cuts & tetanus but better that than losing a finger.
The number of dogs in this country has increased enormously in the last few decades. Many are kept by owners who have no idea of how to properly care for or treat a domesticated animal - they treat it more like a spoilt child.
I don't think I've seen a report that said 'He was a mean bugger, we knew he'd have someone one day.' It's always 'He was the most gentle dog you could could wish for. We can't believe he savaged poor johnny. Sorry.'
As a cyclist I'm often wary of dogs roaming free on cycle paths, including those on extending long leads. The owners seem to have no comprehension of the potential danger they pose, to themselves and as well as others.
I share your concerns OP but I'm afraid I don't have a solution except to remain vigilant.
I don't think I've seen a report that said 'He was a mean bugger, we knew he'd have someone one day.' It's always 'He was the most gentle dog you could could wish for. We can't believe he savaged poor johnny. Sorry.'
As a cyclist I'm often wary of dogs roaming free on cycle paths, including those on extending long leads. The owners seem to have no comprehension of the potential danger they pose, to themselves and as well as others.
I share your concerns OP but I'm afraid I don't have a solution except to remain vigilant.
Admittedly i have only read the OP's post before replying but I have a 2.5yr old girl and a 1yr old boy - if a dog attacked either of them I can assure you I would kill the f
king dog on the spot adrenaline would be at max capacity - protection instinct in its highest possible incarnation etc.
I love animals and we have a Boxer who is super soppy and very tolerant but if he "turned" I would put him down there and then without hesitation with my bare hands. I would cry my eyes out afterwards but my children are no1 priority.
I was walking him and my PIL's Boxer bh a few weeks ago and a big Alsation escaped its owner and charged full pelt at us; it went straight in biting both the dogs - I reacted very vigorously with my feet kicking it to stop the attack, no hesitation whatsoever.
If you feel your children are genuinely in jeopardy I have no doubt you would not need a weapon, other than your hands and feet.
king dog on the spot adrenaline would be at max capacity - protection instinct in its highest possible incarnation etc.I love animals and we have a Boxer who is super soppy and very tolerant but if he "turned" I would put him down there and then without hesitation with my bare hands. I would cry my eyes out afterwards but my children are no1 priority.
I was walking him and my PIL's Boxer b
h a few weeks ago and a big Alsation escaped its owner and charged full pelt at us; it went straight in biting both the dogs - I reacted very vigorously with my feet kicking it to stop the attack, no hesitation whatsoever.If you feel your children are genuinely in jeopardy I have no doubt you would not need a weapon, other than your hands and feet.
woodypup59 said:
I like dogs but choose not to have one.
But once I was attacked whilst walking my brothers dog by the canal.
Our dog loves fetching sticks, so I grabbed the stick he had and aimed to smack the attacker on the head. I missed but it was enough to scare the dog away.
Since then I have pondered the OPs question.
Poking eyes with two fingers is an option.
Or else offer the attacker your arm (hopefully in a coat sleeve), and once its grabbed on, fall down on the dog with all your weight. With luck you'll break its neck.
Obviously you'll need hospital treatment for cuts & tetanus but better that than losing a finger.
Did you really go up that mountain with Miranda?But once I was attacked whilst walking my brothers dog by the canal.
Our dog loves fetching sticks, so I grabbed the stick he had and aimed to smack the attacker on the head. I missed but it was enough to scare the dog away.
Since then I have pondered the OPs question.
Poking eyes with two fingers is an option.
Or else offer the attacker your arm (hopefully in a coat sleeve), and once its grabbed on, fall down on the dog with all your weight. With luck you'll break its neck.
Obviously you'll need hospital treatment for cuts & tetanus but better that than losing a finger.
Our small dog got attacked by a Weimeraner, he was intending to kill, a good boot to the ribs made it leave him long enough for him to get away, owner went off at me then for over reacting, sorry but your dog had mine by the throat and was trying to shake him, I will try and kill your dog (the aggressor) to stop him killing mine by whatever means I have to hand and a size nine to the ribs did the trick, though have seen a terrier not want to let go of a Chihuahua, far more tenacious, god only knows what a Staff/Pitbull is like.
Woudlnt mind, this guy with his trophy dogs, also had a Dalmation with a muzzle on, suggested he needed a second one, he said he would be sending me the vets bit whilst as I checked my lad over for mortal injuries, I said good luck with that but I would gladly pay the sixty quid to get it put to sleep
I think keys may be useful if in that situation, for poking into the attacker but the trouble is, they move so fast, would need to be still, just never want to go there again.
Woudlnt mind, this guy with his trophy dogs, also had a Dalmation with a muzzle on, suggested he needed a second one, he said he would be sending me the vets bit whilst as I checked my lad over for mortal injuries, I said good luck with that but I would gladly pay the sixty quid to get it put to sleep
I think keys may be useful if in that situation, for poking into the attacker but the trouble is, they move so fast, would need to be still, just never want to go there again.
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