nawnim

Thankyou all for your help. I will try to get some tomorrow.

Good grief, you think I haven't attended seminars on dog behaviour? And from the best in the business, the seminal thinkers, for over 30 years, here and overseas. I might learn something from an entry level seminar, but I doubt it. If a seminar is required for ALL dog owners, I'd go. But don't make any of the education requirements dog-size specific, or you just open up a slippery slope - and damage all of us who do no harm with our large dogs with a cheerfully naive 'or you won't have any problem with our new restrictions.' I repeat Diva I'm sorry if I have upset you. I don't know who you are or what your knowledge of dogs is. What I meant was that people who are already responsible dog owners, as I assume all dolers are, will not have any problems with any new restrictions or regulations. It was meant to be a compliment. I did put in a smiley face. I find Internet communication difficult and I don't enjoy unpleasantness so I will now bow out of this thread.

The coconut oil you use is NOT from the supermarket. Only buy cold pressed organic coconut oil from the health food shops. :) Thanks. Would i get the evening primrose oil there too?

Where do you get the evening primrose oil from? I was once going to try it on my itchy dog but I couldn't find it anywhere. I assume the coconut oil is from the supermarket.

Yes I know what bullbreeds are, thanks for that. But saying that complying with new restrictions would be no problem is ridiculous, do you know what they would be, or how I live my life? Of course not. And BTW I didn't say mine were well behaved, although they are. I simply said they have never hurt a dog or human, and were not capable of savage aggression towards people - if that is the new standard for 'so well behaved', then God help us. I am sorrry if I have upset you. I did not mean to>

If your dogs are so well behaved then you would have no problem complying with further regulations. :) BTW French bulldogs and Boston terriers are bull breeds.

Sadly, I guess it is the same sort of drive that makes young [mostly] men go out and buy super charged cars when they have been driving for a very short while. It all relates to their perceived masculinity, power, etc etc. And then they wrap it around a tree and kill half a dozen of their friends. In this case it is interesting that the owners were two women.

Who do you think you are, being so sensible and clear minded! :laugh: In a pack... all bets are off. Even a really great sheepdog, who has spent it's life working sheep, if it goes off in a pack of other dogs, can and will kill sheep if that's what the pack is doing. This was a pack of dogs, not really surprising they went on a rampage, not much else for them to do if they're at large in suburbia really, the only target they have when they're in a pack and on the warpath is people. Given inadequate socialisation, people can look like a pretty attractive target to a pack of big dogs, especially running people. I own this kind of dog. Every time I hear of an attack featuring very serious injuries, my heart sinks because I just know a bully breed is going to be held responsible. It pretty much always is, simply because they're the most common (in Australia) of the breeds that are powerful enough to inflict this kind of damage. Other breeds attack with the same frequency, but can't do near the same amount of damage, so no hospitalisations or media frenzies with them. Bullys aren't more inclined to attack than other dogs, but they can do a hell of a lot more damage if they do. It is a lot more responsibility to own one. I have changed my mind recently on this issue - breed is absolutely relevant to dog attacks IMO - it determines how powerful the dog is and how much damage it can do. We do need better laws. BSL as it stands is daft, it makes even the most responsible owners of lie to avoid the regulations. My dog's microchip is a lie, it makes me sad it has to be so. It should say, in all honesty "x breed, pit bull type". Doing away with BSL and making all owners of dogs larger than 25kg attend a management seminar (with their dogs) as part of registration might help as a first step. Encourage owners of powerful breeds to comply with management standards through carrot (education), not stick (breed bans). Make the required seminar something that would appeal to people, it's easy to make education appealing, even the most bogan of bogans will attend a defensive driving course of their own volition, people like to gain more proficiency in their fascinations, so even official govt. channels education courses can appeal if correctly structured and marketed. The responsible owners will attend the required seminar, and in attending, won't be penalised for their breed type. They can also be informed about adequate socialisation, management and containment, and learn to identify the behaviours that indicate potential aggressive behaviour, and the different types of aggression. The really irresponsible owners who won't attend a day's registration seminar with their dogs, won't have their dogs registered, that lack of registration can give some indication to rangers and councils the dogs and owners who really do bear watching. Massive fines for those avoiding registration. Perhaps mandatory temperament assessment of dogs found to be unregistered (why have they avoided registration? can they not manage their dogs in a seminar environment?) before the owner can go through the registration process and reclaim their dog. Expensive for councils? Yes. But less expensive than the current crop of BSL court cases. It is a lot more responsibility to own a powerful breed, and owners of bully breeds, and any other similarly high drive, powerful breeds should be required to demonstrate they can adhere to the level of responsibility required for basic safety before they are extended the privilege of ownership of these dogs. Requiring attendence at a seminar for registration demonstrates some capacity for responsibility. We don't let just anyone drive a road train, prospective drivers must undergo education about safety and management before they are licensed. This approach works, people who want to drive a road train can, provided they complete the educational (licensing) requirements. Same approach would work for people who want to own large powerful dogs, allow it on proviso that they have demonstrate basic competence and responsibility. I also like your approach. :) I don't believe that the owners of large dogs understand what their dogs are capable of, and I agree that all dogs over a certain weight (regardless of breed) should be subject to special registration provisions. I don't believe that everyone will attend an education seminar but registration should be dependant on the owners proving that their fencing is adequate, a bit like the yard inspections rescue groups conduct before they rehome a dog. I have owned large dogs and with that ownership comes an extra responsibility. I loved my dogs and I wanted them safe. I know how I was always so careful because I knew if there was a problem my dogs would be the ones blamed.

I agree with you in cases such as this one. But unforeseen events do occur .... which is why we have insurance :). I am sorry but I don't understand how whether or not an owner has pet insurance will prevent dog attacks ever.

Petplans liability insurance cover is up to 5 million but it's cover for those with the money to cover. People have the ability to take out insurance on themselves for injury and disability if they so want. Pet liability insurance is just shutting the door after the horse has bolted, and it just gives insurance companies another source of income. Lower income people will no longer be able to afford a dog and will miss out on the wonderful companionship dogs provide. Also innocent people will still get mauled and even killed.

I agree totally. It simply shouldn't be that way.

yes they had,but only as far as charging the fence at people walking past,but enough to make some people walk the long way round to avoid them,the dogs came from Harrison street and the attack occurred on the corner of Day street which runs between Maxwells Ave and Harrison,ironically Day street is where my mothers 3mth old Gordon Setter was attacked by a large Mastiff cross years ago while she was walking past,it was on lead but the owner didn't have a firm grip and wasnt paying attention to the dog while talking to friends,this is accross the road from the entrance to a primary school so probably fortunate in some ways that it happenned on a week end Plenty of dogs charge at fences, it doesn't make them aggressive to humans. I'm interested to know if these dogs would have shown any sign that they were capable of attacking someone? What makes dogs do this? Charging at fences is aggressive behaviour and something should be done about it before it escalates.

I have just seen the dogs on the news. They were three very powerful dogs. I don't care what breed they were. Fortunately it wasn't a child they chose to attack. That poor guy!! I hope the people who helped him receive bravery awards.

I agree it looks great. The photos are an excellent choice. Have fun.

Call her FoxyBella, and you can change the name slowly to Bella, or Roxanne and she can become Roxy or Annie. Ny dog (registered name - Lottie Matilda) responds to Lottie, Bubs, Cutie Pie, Sweetheart, Miss Matilda, Bubba girl etc.

Doesn't matter what breed they are. They are dangerous dogs and should be dealt with accordingly,as should the owner. Well tell all the people who's dogs have been seized and killed for nothing more than looking a certain way that. It DOES matter, for all pit bulls and their owners. Also I never said they should be dealt with. Huh. You never said they should be dealt with? I don't, in all honesty feel it matters what breed was involved. These dogs should be dealt with accordingly. I do sympathize with with the fact that innocent dogs are being taken away from their loving owners merely because they look like a pit bull type, but it can be said that this has come about by owners who couldn't give a continental what their dogs get up to, and so the it seems most pit bull types are tarred with the same brush. That was a typo. Should have read "shouldn't be dealt with". I never once condoned what these dogs have done. I don't think claiming ignorance is acceptable either, but I'll give up now because people don't seem to see what I'm getting at. If the name of the breed is such an issue why don't you change it? Drop the 'Pit' which makes people think of aggressive fighting dogs in a dog pit and call them American Bull Terriers or ABTs? Because the name isn't the issue, people's ignorance as to what the breed looks like is. I would have thought it was easier to change the name than educate the public.

Doesn't matter what breed they are. They are dangerous dogs and should be dealt with accordingly,as should the owner. Well tell all the people who's dogs have been seized and killed for nothing more than looking a certain way that. It DOES matter, for all pit bulls and their owners. Also I never said they should be dealt with. Huh. You never said they should be dealt with? I don't, in all honesty feel it matters what breed was involved. These dogs should be dealt with accordingly. I do sympathize with with the fact that innocent dogs are being taken away from their loving owners merely because they look like a pit bull type, but it can be said that this has come about by owners who couldn't give a continental what their dogs get up to, and so the it seems most pit bull types are tarred with the same brush. That was a typo. Should have read "shouldn't be dealt with". I never once condoned what these dogs have done. I don't think claiming ignorance is acceptable either, but I'll give up now because people don't seem to see what I'm getting at. If the name of the breed is such an issue why don't you change it? Drop the 'Pit' which makes people think of aggressive fighting dogs in a dog pit and call them American Bull Terriers or ABTs?

How are the bubs? Would love to see some more photos. Do they have names yet?

I think what the general public mean when they say "pit bull" they mean a bully breed - doesn't matter if it is a cross or a purebred bull breed. To Joe Public a pit bull may be a stafford, amstaff, bulldog, pit bull, aussie bulldog, american bulldog etc or a cross of these breeds and those types dominate the stats in these horrific attacks. And to some people a pit bull is a type of dog. Even regarded dog people sometimes cannot always pick a 'pit bull' from amstaffs or their crosses. I hope the two people involved heal quickly and the dogs are destroyed and the owner is punished severely. I agree with this post. I have even been asked if my boxers were pit bulls, and until a few years ago I did not know what a pitbull looked like and I consider myself to be a dog savvy person. The issue is not the misnaming of the dog breed but that dogs have attacked and injured someone which dogs should not be able to do. The safety of the public (you and me) must be paramount. Edited to change 'doggy' to 'dog savvy'

It is actually very inconvenient for a runner to have to stop for anything. It breaks their rhythm and it's often difficult to get going again especially if they are tiring. What do you think beep tests are all about?

Thankyou for this info. I am quite horrified. for rescue. How can anyone leave their dog which is about to give birth at a pound? Some people disgust me. It's hardly the dog's fault she is pregnant.

I know I'm ignorant about the ways of country pounds but if you had not rescued this dog what would have happened to her? Would she have given birth in the pound? What would have happened to her then and to her pups? Or would she have been euthanised when she was so close to giving birth? The pound notes just say that she may be pregnant. She's a gorgeous looking dog. Thankyou for rescuing her and her babies I hope they all find wonderful homes.

Oh Anna, I have just seen this. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. They all take a part of us with them when they go. Cherish the memories of the better times when he was not ill.

Stan's mum I have often wondered and Google hasn't been able to help, but what's a wilbooker?

Such a moving story. RADAR and Chezal It is Mother's Day and I have just transferred some money to your account in memory of my dear darling mother who always found room in our home for any stray animal in need and I know she would want to help this poor dog.