HugUrPup

:p I love those 2 the best

It's not ONLY media reports he also used data from the human society. ETA

Yeh it would be hard to implement but one can dream hey? I recon we need a license to parent human's too

So I'm an idiot yet you agree with me. My head is spinning. And what is this obsession with making out "pit bulls" are LARGE powerful dogs. The real ones are generally around (or under) 20kg - which doesn't make them LARGE by any stretch of the imagination. what are you on about? Was I even speaking to you? and are you Jed now? Now my head is spinning Have I called anyone an idiot? Are you sure you have the right person even? in regards to pit bulls, they are strong powerful dogs.. they aren't as tall as a Bernese mountain dog, but powerful they are. But you are kidding or something right? *backs away slowly*

No you're right I'm tired... and I think i was actually just offended that you forgot about me :laugh: :o I'm sorry I offended you. I won't ever ever forget you again

Staffys and Pugs are the same..ask Ollie (I am sure Hugo agrees). I helped rescue a Staffy yesterday.. you may have missed that post. I am not anti any breed really, but I do have a fear, which doesn't make me a narrow minded person I don't think

I didn't see you post in the thread today before comments were directed at Pug owners. I am also not narrow minded in regards to specific breeds.. thanks for the accusation though.

It's a very uneducated reason to have a small breed then. The only dog that has ever 'damaged' me was a Jack Russell. I've worked full time for two years at two different vet clinics and the only dog that has bitten me was a small one... It slipped it's muzzle off (which it had come in to the clinic with) was taken out to our back area to be mircrochipped. In hind site it should have been done in a smaller consult room, but usually when a vet requires nurses assistance it is taken to the back, and we didn't predict what was going to happen. It bit it's tongue and was bleeding profusely - it was like it was rabid!! It ran around from corner to corner leaping at the vets and nurses (large and small people!) baring it's teeth the whole time. I didn't know it was happening, walked into the kennel area where it was, it ran at me and held onto my arm biting me. It took 20 mins for us to hook it with the noose to catch it. Sure, they might do less damage... but it didn't make it any less scarier or any easier to deal with the situation. I am yet to see a large dog act like this in the clinic or else where. I also mentioned I am more afraid of SOME JRT's than APBT's. I am afraid of little yappy nippers who's owners don't put them on leads and allow them to harass people and dogs on the street. I find it easier to train and to be a leader to a breed which is small... but I also wouldn't like all small breeds, because they don't all have the same characteristics. I won't allow my dogs to go about nipping and terrorizing other dogs and people and I think that if you have a large dog you have to be even more vigilant and responsible when it comes to training and containing them because a) people are often afraid and their fear can feed the dogs anxiety and b) they can be LETHAL if they are not "looked after properly".

My last post now I am on the same page as Jed for those who have misconstrued my comments and accused me of agreeing with banning large breeds. Quit saying "some pug people have said..blah blah blah..because other than Anne, I am the only one who has posted in this thread today who has a pug so it's a bit obvious that certain comments are directed at me.

I am actually more scared of a JRT than a APBT

Then YOU would be a candidate to own what ever dog you want if policies were brought in to ensure proper ownership of dogs. Rescue groups work hard to carefully match up dogs with owners.. but any Jo Blow can go and buy Shar Pei because they look cute and cuddly as pups. I dare say that dog attacks wouldn't be the only problem something like this would reduce.. there would probably be a lot less homeless dogs also.

Maybe not , but I've read some pretty idiotic things in my time on here, when it comes to dog ownership. Some have been down right stupid, dangerous and I think quite a few people here are damn lucky they have not made the news. It's been down to the power of good luck, more so than good management. I consider myself to be an educated and responsible dog owner, I carefully manage my pack and my mind is open when it comes to learning more. Even so, we've had some near misses in this house. One involved my child and dog who was subsequently PTS, we were lucky that my daughter didn't become another bite stat. I watch the dogs and kids like a hawk, I can read a dog and to this day I still don't know what happened. See!?!?! These things can just happen no matter who you are and how well you can read your dog. That's the reason I have a small breed.. less damage... not less likely to bite..just less damage. I am not saying remove the risks, because people should have the right to choose. Just because I don't want to take a risk doesn't mean no-one else should. In regards to stupid posts on DOL, for everyone who walks in uneducated, 10 walk away with more knowledge. If only there were more resources for the general public to learn about pet care.. and not through a program on TV sponsored by a pet shop either. BTW the dog in your avatar is amazing to look at

You have a valid point..which then brings us back to the question which I think Poodlfan brought up in regards to if cross bred PB's or Staffies have been in more attacks than pure bred. If it is cross bred dogs that show a significantly higher amount then there is another point in favour of banning pet shops from selling cross or designer breeds.. another thing to bring to the attention of the public if people are dedicated enough to be bothered, or can find the means to.

Hey anyone notice that no DOL members dogs have made it on the news over their dogs seriously injuring them or anyone else? Gee I wonder if there is a relationship between people who educate themselves when it comes to dogs and having less occurrences of dogs ripping faces off.

doesn't bother me at all actually. We are after different things from our chosen breeds.. I'm totally fine with that. Directing it at me then? Not once have I EVER said that I want big dogs banned.. should I even bother to say it again? I WANT OWNERS TO GET EDUCATED ON THEIR BREEDS BEFORE GETTING ONE THAT IS CAPABLE OF RIPPING ONES ARM OFF!!!!

And he says that they need to be managed very carefully. He wrote an article on his (not so) new pup a while back and some people here got upset because he said... shock horror..... they are powerful dogs that need very strong leadership and someone to manage their interactions with other dogs. I agree totally with him, but it's not just APBT's that need that, any large or giant breed needs the same thing. Cesar is just showing that with the right owners & training, they are wonderful pets, but unfortunately BSL only concentrates on one breed of dog. Education & stricter controls on who can own big dogs, is far more important than banning an entire breed. exactly.. I agree 100% with that

Maybe you can turn your Kenny into a celebrity? Just because Cesar is highly visible that doesn't make other people transparent. Anyone can take action and build up notoriety like Cesar if they are absolutely dedicated to a cause. His dedication is how he became famous.. he is single person who has already made a HUGE difference in people's views of dogs and Daddy (RIP) was just as famous and change people's views on well trained PB's with an owner who knows what he is doing. Unfortunately that is still the message.. the only trustworthy PB is one trained by Cesar. If we multiplied Cesar and Daddy by 10 can you imagine the shift in societies views of bull breeds? The RSPCA taught so many people in a 10 minute segment about puppy mills, which members here have spoken about for years but the word hasn't spread far enough to make a difference. Hopefully now that the foundations are set and people know what puppy mills are, some clever person can get on the TV and put the connection between puppy mills and pet shops for everyone to see. Become the media if you want your messages to get across. Don't blame other people who are already in the Media for having their own perceptions and opinions for "brainwashing" society. They didn't lie about a dog attacking a woman 2 days ago. If they are capable of creating social panic, then what's stopping you from getting out there and giving YOUR opinions and perceptions?

Cesar Milan is one person.

I'm not a risk taker.. I won't sky dive.. chances are I won't die doing it (most people don't), but I have a fear of heights..NO... I have a fear of landing from a great height, therefore I don't skydive, bunji jump, parachute or rock climb. I also have a fear of the unknown. I don't know much about the circumstances of these attacks which have made the news. I know that many people fall in love with the smoochie temperament of their PB's, Amstaffs and other bull breeds and they trust them entirely. I wonder if this 67 year old woman trusted this dog? Was his temperament the typical loving affectionate type? What signs did he show before the attack? I helped with the rescue of a Staffy cross yesterday. He was such a lovely boy, hugging my legs for a pat, wagging his tail, sniffing around. I didn't know his history. I didn't know if he had ever snapped before. Why was he needing to be rescued, where had he come from? While patting him, I thought, at any moment, if he decides he'd like a chomp, I'm fecked. How do I know if he is about to do that? Is there warning? What warning did this woman get? Surely if she knew this dog she would have seen something was off? What if his reaction was totally sudden.. what if she was just going about her daily routine and BANG???? I had an intense fear. It may not be valid to some of you, but to me it's a valid and justified fear, because these dogs are turning on their owners, on kids, on little old ladies, smaller dogs... Fact is, I know my pug and I know my cavalier. I researched the breeds before getting them but I can never be 100% sure that they will never get a brain tumour, or a fright or an urge to attack, but I can guarantee that if they do, they aren't going to cause as much damage as a dog which is designed to do the damage a bull breed can do. I'm not saying everyone should be encouraged to get a smaller breed because it's safer.. I am saying, some people don't mind the risks. Some people love the breed so much and believe they know the breeds so well, that they don't see them as a risk at all. Let's face it though, fear of any animal, object or situation that could potentially cause you major damage or kill you isn't something to ignore. Just because one person isn't scared of swimming with sharks, doesn't mean that everyone else should jump in the ocean and suck it up. If you want society to feel safer and lose this fear which is causing enough panic for the authorities to step in an put in legislation, work out a way to educate people. This forum is a great start, but the DOL population is small. Make a difference without damning people over their fears.. put their fears to rest with some compassion..there's always 3 opinions to a situation, your opinion, my opinion and the right one.

Got to run, but just wanted to say, that I am here to learn. I am not here to argue, so thanks to those that are responding with their views, opinions and facts.

If you have a good look at the statistics, that's not borne out. Breed misidentification is alive and well. A goodly proportion of dogs who seriously harm folk arent' purebed either. Do your homework Puggerup.. the facts are out there. Right now you're voicing what the media report without critically analysing it. No that's what I am saying, misidentification is alive and well, but surely people can tell the difference between a PB and a poodle. They get cross breeds mixed up, but Staffies unfortunately are copping the most flack from mistaken identification because they do look similar KWIM? So, do the stats show that more Cross bred PB's are attacking than pure? If so it is because there are less breeders of that bred now, so most are crossed?

great points

So, other than mistaken identity, why is it the majority of dog attacks that make it to the evening news, involve a PB or Amstaff? Is it the damage they do? Surely it couldn't be because they are the main breed attacking..because it's not the breed that's the problem right? I know that there are loads of aggressive small breeds such as JRT who bite, never known one to severe an adults arm and make it to the news though.

I am not speaking about specific breeds of dogs when comparing lions and bears. I am saying that if ANY breed of dog has the potential to cause such horrific injuries like the ones suffered by this 67 year old women, then people MUST do as a bear or lion handler would in a zoo or circus (that's another thread, totally against exploitation of circus animals) and bloody well educate themselves and not just be nuff nuffs like in Texas and get them because they are exotic or look cool etc etc My point has totally being missed and it seems some of you are picking apart my posts and taking them out of context to build an attack. Trust me I am not for the banning of breeds, I am for the forced education for potential pet owners. Like with ANY breed, make sure you know about them and make sure you can handle them (for the protection of yourselves and others) before getting one.