Ask & Chat » DOG ATTACKS » 'DANGEROUS DOGS'???

Question Posted: Saturday, September 30th, 2006

'DANGEROUS DOGS'???

I am posting this and the 2 comments below in the hope that some indication of informed public opinion can be obtained.
Following the terrible tragic events reported recently in the national press I have tried to obtain radio time to inform the public of some possible underlying explanation of why these tragedies occur from time to time.
By looking at the origins of various breeds such as the Rottweiler it is possible to assess some of the risks involved in owning them.
I am pleased that this has been taken on board by such organisations as the Dogs Trust following my broadcasts on Minster Fm TFM Metro Fm and Radio Cleveland.
The Rottweiler was originally developed as a European cattle drover's dog. Cattle were driven long distances across hostile and wild dangerous terrain so an intelligent courageous and strong dog was required to help control the cattle and fend off predators. These drives would last weeks or even months and when the cattle had been sold the drovers would be in the mood for celebration. They would place most of the money they received for the cattle in a purse inside the stout leather collar of the Rottweiler. The dog's purpose was then to protect this money and woe betides anyone (even the drover himself if worse for drink) who dare try to remove the collar to get at the money. Consequently in addition to being obedient strong and intelligent the Rottweiler had to be acutely aware of mood changes around it and if necessary be possessive or aggressive. They had to be acutely aware and instantly responsive to minute changes in circumstances that like a hair trigger transformed them from docile defence into ferocious attack. These innate instincts are what make them popular as guard dogs today. They also give them the potential to be lethal when these natural instincts are triggered.
Problems arise when the dog is more sensitive to these triggers than the humans around them. Dogs and responsible adults can be trained to recognise and respond to these triggers. YOUNG CHILDREN AND BABIES CAN NOT. Owners of Rottweilers and similar types of dog must be made aware of this danger and that it is their responsibility to ensure that this risk is eliminated. This they can do only with a thorough understanding of the nature and origin of the breed.

Reply Posted: Sunday, December 30th, 2007

In light of the horrific incident this week where another baby was mauled to death by a rottweiler I would sincerely like to put over my thoughts as a rottweiler owner of 20 years and someone who is very involved with the breed. If you go on sites like Epupz or Preloved you will find litter after litter at a price that could not possibly have given each pup the best start in life, offered for sale with no homechecks, followups etc. You pay your money - you get your dog with no criteria set.
The internet has not done any breed any favours as people have more access to advertising their dogs and are now just mass producing.
The press have not done our breed any favours in the way they have reported anything about rotties they have encouraged just the people we do not want.

Reply Posted: Sunday, December 30th, 2007

I do, after years of problems truly feel that this is the last straw, and I can honestly see governing bodies now removing the breed by spaying and neutering all and therefore eventually bringing about the demise of the breed.
Who can blame anyone for wanting that when these incidents are occuring.
I am just SO sad that this wonderful, intelligent, handsome breed has been allowed to be owned by so many who shouldn't.
So many of these incidents have occurred where a child is visiting the dog's home and is not used to children around. Common sense says you keep a close eye on any dog around children, let alone a dog that is not used to living with children. Rotties brought up with children are actually a very tolerant dog, but if they are not used to them then ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Reply Posted: Monday, December 31st, 2007

Something has to be done, and I thank you so much for your thoughts on the matter. A friend's little girl spent several days in hospital just before Christmas needing face reconstruction from a collie bite. Of course that didn't make the news. Doesn't take away though the fact that a rottie killed a child, and I am not trying to put a dark cloud on other breeds but it is a case that all dogs should be watched with children.
As said, I feel the press and sites like preloved and free-ad etc where people just "go and buy a dog" really do have to be looked at.
The case the other day with the woman that lost an arm. I am 99% certain that some stupid person had tried to do a bit of DIY protection work. Sigh.
We are all thinking long and hard about this.

Reply Posted: Monday, January 7th, 2008

Here is what we are up against. This is from a post I put on the rottie site.


October that has just joined us and lives near me, gave me the number of someone selling a rottie. She had got the number from a friend locally.

I said immediately that a sequenced number like that is usually a business.

I phoned to see what the situation was and to offer any help if needed.

Turns out to be a place in Milton Keynes breeding puppies. They have rotties there and they breed rotties. I asked the girl if someone could reconsider what they are doing with rotties at the moment as rescue were having whole litters come in. She said No, she wasn't interested. There was still a demand for puppies and all the time there was then they would still breed.

Reply Posted: Monday, January 7th, 2008

They do no homechecks, no follow ups. No nothing, no thoughts on genetics & lines.

She did say that people could phone them for advice --- and people could bring their puppies back ---- but nobody ever does. !!! Well that's good of them.

These would be just the sort of puppies that have been brought up outside in a kennel without much human contact without the sound of hoovers, TV's etc in their first 8 weeks of life that could end up nervous.

Sigh. Really wish someone could help.

Reply Posted: Friday, February 1st, 2008

there do seem to be an increased amount in dog attacks recently and i think that it is unfair that all of the americna bull terriers are disliked because som of them are vicous from that breed family

Reply Posted: Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

people just discriminate all dogs of the "feared" breeds because of the small minority of the breed that do attack.in my opinion a dog always has a reason to attack and though at the time when i was personally attacked i didint want to take action as i knew that it was my fault.i was raising money for charity by posting envelopes through letterboxes i was bitten by a spaniel.it was my own fault as thre was a post box on the side of the house that i hadnt noticed.the laDy came to see me and pleaded not to take any further action which i didnt as he was otherwise a very frielndly dog.many people would have hated all cocker spaniels for this thinking that they were all vicious becuase of this attck but nothing like that even crossed my mind.

Reply Posted: Thursday, October 16th, 2008

I have had two japanise akitas (max bieng the 14mth white pup). there have been a couple of attacks in my ares of south yorkshire recently. allthough terrifying, both recent incicents involved chilldren entering the akitas territory, one via a back kitchen door, and one boy climing a 10 foot wall to get his ball back! what are dogs with natural guarding instincts supposed to do? make them a cup of tea!!!!! i am not making light of this situation and max has been well socialised with chilfren,dogs,cats, strangers etc. from 8 weeks old and is as soft as abrush. this does not however mean i am unaware of the [potential danger of my dog and always employ caution in all public/even home situatios. often telling my children to respect the dog and his space.

Reply Posted: Thursday, January 15th, 2009

DEED NOT BREED: i have sympathies with all the so called dangerous dog breed owners and obviously my staffie comes into this bracket as did my first staff who was a very big boned red, which unfortunately looked exactly the same as the picture that the sun decided to publish when pitbulls were banned in this country (they later wrote an apology in their paper for the picture of the staff consisting of a measly four lines even though their original story was spread over three pages). i was stopped 9 times by police in 2 months and had to resort to carrying his pedigree certificate with me when we went out. ALL dogs can be dangerous and should be judged individually and NOT by their breed. the most docile dog i have ever met was also one of the biggest , my neices exceptionally large rottie.

Reply Posted: Friday, February 13th, 2009

i agree all dogs can bite small dogs to the large dogs i have had 3 rottis i never had any problems with rottis and my 4 children.i have now a very very large german shepperd a belgeim sheppard and a staff no problems with my dogs and my kids but then i wouldnt have left my young children alone with any dog unsupervised rotti are fab dogs lovely dogs now it seems that the staff will be next for a ban! the trouble nowdays is that some idiots breed dogs for fun dogs nowdays are used for the ego by horrible people who dont care who or where the dogs go its not the dogs fault and i think its about time the press and goverment realise this its the owners fault but it will never change no licence will ever change things there are ways around everything and people know how to do it. makes me sick

Reply Posted: Thursday, June 4th, 2009

i reckon when you poke angry dogs with sticks it even makes the more ferocious,,you have just gotta make sure the door on the cage is locked properly before you start poking though ;) have fun

Reply Posted: Thursday, June 4th, 2009

yeah man pit bulls will rip your face off! just stay away. unless you got a taser or something then have at it

Reply Posted: Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

I had a rotty for 11 years and she never once showed a nasty side and she was brought up with 4 small childern that did alsorts to her bless her she passed away last year at the old age of 11 she was the best dog i have ever had and i think its the way they are brought up :)