Alison03

The owner of the rude puppy should be corrected not the dog who reacted to being jumped on. The trainer shouldn't have focused on the victim at all. I think that whole belief in "puppy license" can get your puppy bitten. My dog on leash would hide behind me while I dealt with the naughty puppy. Off leash she'd try to avoid but if she couldn't, she'd warn the pup with air snapping and that awful warning noise Shihtzu's make, which makes people turn around and say "Was that your dog". I don't understand any dog owners putting their puppies in harms way like that.

This could be the beginning of another tragic story on the news. I dare say this young man will say how shocked he is when the inevitable happens. Stupidity isn't against the law unfortunately.

The police dog was just doing it's job, what it had been extensively trained to do, the dark, the water and general chaos caused him to bite the wrong person, that's not the dogs fault. It's the fault of the handler who put him in that situation. Why anyone is surprised that a police dog bit his handler I don't know, when a dog is trained to bite in chaotic conditions, no one should be shocked if the wrong person gets bitten. I'm sure the handler isn't shocked at all, it's a hazard of his job I would think.

It's awful the poor cat was attacked but it shouldn't have been roaming on the street. Many cat owners don't keep their pets confined, they have free access to everyone's gardens and hunt all night. I've owned cats myself and kept them in at night in particular (that's back in the day when the cat was put out at night) because I couldn't cope with the carnage they created in the local bird life. We have a lady who lives on acreage behind us who owns many cats, until we got our Shihtzu cross these cats were in our garden every day and night yowling, hunting and spraying. Now they recognize it as a "no go" zone, due to our dog's regular patrols of the area. It's nice to have our garden back without the terrible cat smell. Our dog sleeps on our bed at night, so she's not outside at night but the cats still avoid our garden. Our dog has the worst possible intentions where cats are concerned and if she caught one it would be a full on fight, trying to stop her having that prey reaction is like telling her not to breath. I'd hate for her to catch one of the cats, but if it was in our garden at the time, what she did would be beyond my control. I can't cat proof my garden (and we have tried) my responsibility is only to keep my dog from escaping.

Yes don't let the cowboys win, sometimes people pick their job for the wrong reasons, they don't care about making the world a better place, those types shouldn't be put in charge of making decisions for our loved ones (ie pets). Unfortunately all too often they are the ones with that power. People like you even out the balance and remind the others how they are supposed to act, with firmness and compassion. : )

You guys realise that they have just made it super easy to, and clearly have the intentions to, add more breeds to BSL under the menacing category? Owners of any large, powerful breed should be very afraid. They wouldn't have put that in unless they intend to use it. It is positively terrifying, isn't it! As the owner of a rescued bull breed of unknown origin, it really does scare the hell out of me, where this is going.. It is hard, I love bull breeds and can't imagine owning any other breed or type of dog. I also choose to rescue, rather than buy a pedigree dog from a breeder. Don't get me wrong, I would love another pedigree SBT but my heart is in rescue. Buying a property out of town, is looking more and more appealing.. Not even that will keep your dogs safe necessarily... Clarence Valley Council killed a man's 18 'pit bulls' (supposedly) who lived on a property with him, and had never done anything wrong other than exist. They revel in telling the story every year at the Ranger's conference, to a room full of cheering idiots. Their favourite part to tell that gets the crowd cheering is the part where they came to check out the dogs, and one had died from a snake bite. They wanted a certificate of euth from the vet, and of course the owner didn't have that, and had buried the dog. They made him dig up his own dog in front of them so they could scan the body for a microchip to confirm death. That was very cruel and heartless of the rangers to make the man dig up his own pet. Why is it so hard for some people to just be decent human beings. Even if there is good reason to PTS someone's dog, there is no need to carry on like its a celebration. In this case when they were killed for being a certain breed and for nothing else, it's especially disgraceful. : ( That is exactly it. As NSW is a BSL state those of us in Council officer roles are expected to enforce it, it's part of the job. That does not excuse relishing in it, enjoying it and treating people like dirt because they own a dog that was born with the wrong appearance. I refuse to go to the Ranger conferences anymore - it is all about enforcement, stomping your boots and 'getting' people and their dogs rather than progressive animal management. The Australian Institute of Animal Management conference is much more inspiring. Good for you Melza, it's hard to refuse to go with the crowd but I can see it would be sickening for you to have too. Even if a dog has done something wrong, it should still be treated as fairly as possible. It's the owners who are to blame not the dogs. I've had some interaction with animal control officers in the past and they seemed to go out of their way to be fair to everyone concerned. I guess that's not true of all of them.

You guys realise that they have just made it super easy to, and clearly have the intentions to, add more breeds to BSL under the menacing category? Owners of any large, powerful breed should be very afraid. They wouldn't have put that in unless they intend to use it. It is positively terrifying, isn't it! As the owner of a rescued bull breed of unknown origin, it really does scare the hell out of me, where this is going.. It is hard, I love bull breeds and can't imagine owning any other breed or type of dog. I also choose to rescue, rather than buy a pedigree dog from a breeder. Don't get me wrong, I would love another pedigree SBT but my heart is in rescue. Buying a property out of town, is looking more and more appealing.. Not even that will keep your dogs safe necessarily... Clarence Valley Council killed a man's 18 'pit bulls' (supposedly) who lived on a property with him, and had never done anything wrong other than exist. They revel in telling the story every year at the Ranger's conference, to a room full of cheering idiots. Their favourite part to tell that gets the crowd cheering is the part where they came to check out the dogs, and one had died from a snake bite. They wanted a certificate of euth from the vet, and of course the owner didn't have that, and had buried the dog. They made him dig up his own dog in front of them so they could scan the body for a microchip to confirm death. That was very cruel and heartless of the rangers to make the man dig up his own pet. Why is it so hard for some people to just be decent human beings. Even if there is good reason to PTS someone's dog, there is no need to carry on like its a celebration. In this case when they were killed for being a certain breed and for nothing else, it's especially disgraceful. : (

Currently if a dog attacks a cat off it's own property it is most likely to earn a Dangerous Dog Declaration. The incident is viewed the same in the legislation whether it's a person, a dog or a cat. Only vermin is excepted. The Menacing thing might allow some dogs to get menacing rather than Dangerous for these incidents, although it's unlikely as most dogs will kill or do a real number on a cat if they get to them. My Shihtzu cross would definitely chase a cat (or a bird )and do something horrible to it, if she caught it. I'd never let her off leash in a suburban area for that reason. She wouldn't bite a human but small animals and birds bring her prey drive to the surface. That's the reason she wears a large bell on her collar at all times, except when she's asleep on our bed. : )

I had the exact same problem with large breed dogs T, as you know, one bad experience can wipe out a 1000 good ones unfortunately. After some intensive desensitization with various large breeds, I'm a lot better than I was. You are spot on when you say to treat each dog as an individual and not as it's breed type or size. : )

We picked up our Shihtzu cross up at about 14/15 weeks, but she was kept with the breeders family all that time, also her mother, a litter mate and a male and female Staffy ( who the breeders OH referred to as the "real" dogs in the house) there were three little kids too, one a toddler. Bonny is great with kids, respectful and gentle too, doesn't jump on them. She's afraid of nothing, couldn't care less about thunder and lightening, when my friends dogs are going crazy in a storm, she's asleep, she'll put her head up at a loud clap of thunder, so she's not deaf, can hear the faint click of the garden gate or next doors cat jumping off the fence. She's not dog aggressive in the slightest, she's very calm around all types of dogs but respectful and careful at the same time. She's great at the kennels, very easy going they tell me. Being kept in a family situation as a tiny puppy worked well for her. : )

Bonny sleeps on our bed, at the bottom of the bed in summer, between me and my OH at other times. Sometimes on OH's pillow on top of his head. : ))) he doesn't care, she's his baby.

Sounds like he knew who they were, perhaps he'd been watching the pup for a while before he saw his opportunity to snatch it. What a nutcase, glad the puppy made his life hell. He should be charged with something, it wasn't just theft he tormented the owners as well. : (

I know the feeling. : )) Sorry if I misunderstood.

We're not all like that, my little dog is neither untrained or antisocial, so while there might be some truth in the generalization you mentioned, you must also allow that there is some truth in the generalization that not all large dogs are well behaved and under tight control by their owners.

To be honest that other thread got a little bit too involved for me, a lot of people at cross purposes. It was about an incident that happens everyday somewhere, an unstable dog bites a stable dog, it doesn't matter what size the dogs were, the biter was in the wrong. The big dog small dog thing just got in the way. The small dog bit the large dog, which brought up similar experiences in the minds of big dog owners. So they told their stories which got the small dog owners telling theirs. The facts are there will always be irresponsible dog owners with confused dogs that lack guidance and leadership. The rest of us who try the best we can to be responsible have to protect our dogs from them. That's about all there is to it and all the foot stamping in the world won't change that. I know I've done a fair bit of foot stamping myself which acheived nothing. Simply Grand by reposting her experience with Saxon, ( no pun intended) simplified a subject that had become unnecessarily complex. : )

Interesting RMS, it was a curly coated retriever that attacked my best friends son and put him in hospital. One of the dogs that attacked me and my Shihtzu cross was a GR cross, I always thought they were quiet and reliable till that day.

Spot on Dogmad. : )

The problem for small dog owners its that its not just the owners risk. The risk to the dog IF it meets the wrong dog is significant. Its a risk I'm simply not prepared to take. I know that most times it would probably be OK but my dogs don't particularly enjoy the company of strange dogs and they're older now. Best to seek exercise elsewhere or wait for quieter times. Dog parks are an artificial situation that's not natural for a territorial pack animal and the combination of sizes can see the equivalent of a toddler being let loose in the middle of a rugby game. Add clueless owners of some dogs and it's an accident waiting to happen IMO. That's very true HW, my dogs safety is at the forefront of my mind every time I go out, I am responsible for her so if I make a mistake, she pays the price. So the risk of taking her to a dog park is too high. It's just like letting a toddler join in a Rugby game. : )) I prefer to walk her everyday with friends and their dogs, then create our own dog park in my garden. There are too many variants in a public dog park for my liking. Nine times out of ten it would probably be good, the tenth time disaster, not worth the risk to my dog. Our little group have walked through a small dog beach area a few times with no problems, a beach doesn't feel as artificial and closed in as a dog park but it's still way up there in the risk taking stakes. That's as far as I go with communal socialization and I have my husband with me for that.

I know what you are saying Megan, I went through that feeling that I should be able to take my dog anywhere without fear of being attacked, after we were attacked, it was a wake up for me. my dog could easily have been killed. Even though I was doing nothing wrong at the time. I. realized that being in the right would not save her life I can only control what I do, not what other less than responsible dog owners do. The irresponsible dog owners eventually get their comeuppance, their dog may pick on the wrong dog one day, or they may get sued for a dog bite, they are accidents waiting to happen, they need educating but they don't know that and mostly wouldn't care if they did. All of that knowledge will not save my dogs life if I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm not saying don't go to dog parks, I'm saying it's to be done at your own risk.

Unfortunately the breed of the dog is no indicator as to whether it will attack your dog, in someways it would be easier if it was but it's just not. In my experience any dog of any size can be aggressive, any off leash dog is suspect, but not all, some are just on their own mission. I've been rushed by a Kelpie, Sheltie, Border Collie, Doberman, several Maltese crosses and once by a bull terrier. The best advice is to try to avoid an off leash dog, carry a stick or something that makes a noise like a loud whistle and if you see someone walking a highly reactive dog, give them a wide berth.

I've had a few similar experiences, a couple where I've had to make contact with the chasing dog to stop it grabbing my Shihtzu cross ( 30kgs plus into 6 kgs doesn't go well), I've got back and knee injuries and suffer for it afterwards but I'm not going to let another dog kill mine in front of me and do nothing. I don't wait for the owner to react, because quite often from their angle it's looks like the dogs are doing "you chase me, I chase you" play. They can't see the lips drawn back and teeth out. My dog always runs back to me if she's in trouble so the fight is brought to me so to speak, she's a fast little girl in short spurts and can out run a lot of dogs but only over a short distance, by the time she gets to me running flat out she's spent, so I take over. I've never hurt another dog yet but I've scared the living shit out of some of them and it's all bluff and shouting, with a few well aimed smacks for those who don't get the message straight away. Most dogs I've come across (lucky for me) aren't human aggressive and will respond to an assertive human. I do not use dog parks and will not risk it, I know I have every right to do so and should be able too but it only takes one dog having a bad day and I will go home alone. My little girl means too much to me. I've come across many off leash dogs of all types in public parks with owners who are just not aware of their dogs capabilities. In short I know I have every right to take my dog to a dog park, but if another dog grabs her and shakes, she'll be just as dead as if I'd been wrong. Glad to hear Saxon is ok. : )

I see quite a few people walking their dogs in what they call a Halti, is that what you mean by a head collar? They are supposed to give more control, I've never examined one closely but they seem to have a strap that stops the dog opening it's mouth too wide, kind of like a muzzle I'm guessing. I wonder how comfortable they are to wear, no pressure on the throat but quite restrictive nevertheless.

I prefer using a collar, if the dog is trained right, they walk on a loose leash anyway, so there isn't much call for putting stress on the neck. I do have acquaintances who use harnesses because they think it's kinder, but they haven't got as much control over their dogs and indulge in a lot of dog skiing. One uses an extender leash and a harness, then asks me how I get my dog to walk at heel because her dog won't do it. : ( I do use a harness in the car as a safety restraint.

That's archaic thinking. Wouldn't let that stress you out! Who ever said that to you Hankodie doesn't know anything about what motivates a dog or any other creature. Steph is right it's very old fashioned thinking.

Isn't that called distraction and redirection, something like that, it works on kids too. If it works it's in, eventually you might not need the peanut butter. I started with treats to get my dog to retrieve, she doesn't need them now retrieving has become a habit and the praise is enough. I trained her to "wait" using the same method, with a finger click, so when I open a gate or door and say "wait" she doesn't charge through them. She doesn't need treats for that anymore either, just the finger click will do it.