What should be done about dog attacks?

The dog laws in the UK are already tough enough but even with these laws these terrible fatalities will still happen.

When I heard of the most reacent fatality the first thing I thought was "oh no, and at Christmas again". Then I thought about this and the circumstances. A child visiting reletives under the supervision of another child who took the baby out to pet the dog who was out in the yard (had it been put there as a safety precaution?), two small children, unsupervised with any dog is an accident waiting to happen no matter what the breed but unfortunaley the large breeds do the most damage and as such it is the responsiblilty of us as owners to protect our familys, neighbours and of course our dogs.

I have been around dogs all of my life, as a child my fathers police dog lived at home with us (a big shepherd trained to bite of course) and we were taught at a young age how to behave around these dogs but at the same time were never alowed to be unsupervised with any dog untill we were about 10 or 12yrs old (big enough for a dog not to feel as capable of taking us down and old enough to have a good enough understanding of how dogs tick so as not to get into trouble). It was the same with my own children.

As to banning Rottweilers and other large breeds, how rediculus, the worst bite I have ever had was by a West Highland White terrier and a Jack Russle and as I said I have lived with the large guarding breeds all of my life. Unfortunaltey the bites I sustained have been by "family pets" dogs who's owners haven't bothered to train them properly, had they been large breeds they would have been put down but as they were smaller and didn't do that much damage (only took a small chunk out of my arm and hand!) somehow these dogs are alowed to get away with it.

Before anyone says I must be anti small dogs this isn't true, I love all dogs and have a GSD, two collies and a jack russle at the moment but the Jack Russle has to live by the exact same rules as the GSD and he is the one I muzzle when strangers come to visit, just to be safe!

1. The dog is coming into adolescence. Adolescent dogs are little fur-covered containers of raging hormones. Even if the dog is spayed or neutered, the body--and temperament--is changing. The dog who formerly ran in fright from other dogs might now take the offense. And many dogs who are genetically predisposed to aggression begin showing the signs at this time. Whatever the cause, aggression often manifests between the ages of six months and eighteen months. Intact male dogs are the most likely to show adolescent-onset aggression, particularly toward other intact males. 2. Your dog has not been socialized enough. Even if you have more than one at home, this doesn't guarantee he won't display aggression toward unfamiliar dogs. And because each breed has a specific play approach, a new dog's style may be very different from what your dog is used to. That alien body language could cause confusion--and potential aggression--if he feels threatened. 3. Your dog had a traumatic experience. Let's say your dog loves other dogs, but one day at the park, another dog attacks him. Now your dog may be on the offense when he attends the park, thinking other dogs mean him harm. 4. Something is physically or medically ailing your dog. This is commonly seen in older dogs with conditions such as hip dysplasia or arthritis; these dogs just don't appreciate the body slams of enthusiastic younger pups. But illness or physical issues can strike dogs of any age. If your dog is feeling unwell for whatever reason, aggression may be a symptom. Any time your dog shows sudden-onset aggression, a veterinary checkup is in order.

The moment a dogs attacks, you or another dog, you are permitted to do what ever is required to stop the attack. Dogs, like pit bulls do not respond to commands.

Grab the key to your house, yes it will be hard to, but when you can, push it into either their eyes, or in their stomach. RIP it through their stomach. Their stomach will fall out, killing them, but that is a legal defence - it's you, your dog, or them.

Lets hope the owner of the attacker will learn.

I am afraid the situation will get worse instead of better. Do you know what the reason is behind all this lunacy? People!!!

The ones that go out and buy a dog and treat it as a child and let it get away with murder and never train it using methods that have been proven effective over 100 years. Instead they are on a bandwagon of "positive only" training crap which has proven itself to be worthless among serious trainers and as a result they end up with dogs sleeping on the couches and running the show.

These dogs realize the spineless owners they have and treat them with the contempt that they deserve.

I am fully convinced that there are only a few people left who are capable or handling a large working type of dog I am also fully convinced that the reason for all these problems is because of crap breedings producing crap dogs, dogs being dumped at the pounds at an alarming rate after the idiot owners ruined them with ineffective training and people not doing any research on their particular breed of interest..

Want proof, look at the questions posted here and the majority of answers. Hope I helped!!!!

i think that its the owners fault when a dog attacks, so the owners should be punished not the dogs breed. after all any dog regardless or size and breed can attack if not trained, treatred or socialised propley. and kids shouldnt be left alown with dogs unless they know how to propley handle one or read its body language.

i also think that the more domaniting breeds like the rotti need special owners who understand the breed and who dont just think that the dog will just behave without any training or socialiation.

its like where my friend lives there are 2 rotti owners one have 3 dogs and they do healwork training and everything and there dogs are obediant and wellbehaved but the other doesent bother as its more for protection and the dog goes for any one who walks past them.

so maby the goverment could make it so that ownres or these powerfull breed must first prove themselves sutible befor they can buy or breed them. rether than just conbeming the breed as a whol.

I do not condone violence but you do have the right to protect yourself, I had a neighbor who has a pit bull who would always run after me, bite my shoe one time, she was going after something else, if I was still there I would have had no choice but to shoot it, they would called the police, they would hate me and maybe initiate violence, I am just glad to be away from that drama, try pepper spray or a taser.

www.taser.com, www.PersonalDefensePros.com

If the UK don't already have laws about dangerous dogs yet they ought to be getting one. I think all people should know what to do during an attack that may help in not being attacked or lessen the severity, such as "don't run" which activates the prey drive in most dogs. Rottweiliers are a herding breed so they want to control and sometimes if they are not handled correctly and they think they are boss.

I like cats

Ban dog ownership for large breeds of dog

you should start a movement, petition!