Minie Mouse Dies In Gold Coast Dog Fight.

[Sandra777]

Unfortunately there are some on this board who would blame your dogs if they had barked at the staffy/staffy crosses and subsequently been attacked.

If your unleashed dog barked and rushed at my leashed dog (regardless of breed) then whatever happens would be your fault.

If 2 unleashed dogs end up in a serious fight then both owners are at fault

If you don't have a 100% reliable recall keep the **** dog on a leash.

Edited March 14, 2010 by Sandra777

[Cosmolo]

The horror that is experienced when you watch your dog being attacked and try to stop the attack is horendous. I would never wish it upon anyone and i think all owners need to start taking responsibility for their dogs actions. I was at the beach with my 4 dogs today and they were all playing fetch and swimming- completely focussed on us and each other.

These 2 dogs came up and one on either side of my biggest dog while he was standing still waiting for the ball and started barking at him with very dominant body language. The owners thought nothing of it, we moved our dogs a little so they weren't so close and then watched the 2 dogs proceed down the beach barking and carrying on at every other dog. Owners need to learn what is within the bounds of acceptable behaviour!

[GeckoTree]

I agree with the comment that a lot of dog owners do not know how to read a dog. My dog was attacked ( not seriously) outside a dog park. I had him on lead waiting for the people to leave the park, we were standing about 10 metres from the gate ( their dogs were on lead) and once they were out her dog pulled the lead away from her, came over and went for my dog. After I finished kicking it to get it off us she asked me " does your dog have problems with other dogs ???" WTF !!!!!!! My husband was with me and the look on his face was priceless, he said he had never heard such a ridiculous remark in the light of what had happened. Can being able to read dog behaviour be taught, or is it something that you an instinct for ? What are the thoughts of other doler's ??

It might also have to do with 'none so blind as those who will not see',alternative ('None so deaf as those who will not hear').

Even when things are obvious to all around them and they are presented with facts, in the eyes of the owner their dog could never be the one in the wrong.

Edited March 14, 2010 by GeckoTree

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I was a the dog park this morning, my four old littlies and a dog that turned out to be a kelpie/whippet cross. An exceptionally gentle dog whose owner was in one of those assistance cars/buggies (not sure what you call it).

The dogs all had a lovely time and the man asked me about mine. He was quite sick with terminal cancer he told me and then proceeded to tell me about his experiences with his dog (he rescued her 5 months ago), at this particular dog park over the last 3 weeks.

The first was the worst, two huge staffy crosses that the owner knew were dog aggressive but let them go anyway!! One got his dog by the throat while the other attacked the dog's shoulder. He couldn't believe it, particularly as just prior to this the owner had one dog on the lead and told him it was because if both were off the lead they acted as a pack and would kill another dog. Suddenly he said she let the 2nd off the lead and that was that, instant.

I actually saw this lady walk past there last week with the two dogs - I asked him was it her and it was, unbelievably she was going in the dog park - I had just left and another owner of a beagle was also going. The thing is about this park is that it is quite long, if you were at one end with your dogs, you'd have a hard time shouting at someone not to come in the other end .. I can't believe how irresponsible this woman is and that she doesn't care about the risks she is submitting other people and their dogs to. The man grabbed the staffy by the throat and it let go, his dog had vetwork and apparently the woman turned up at his door that night, begging him for forgiveness.

I've told him to report it to the council, his vet has the records of the injury.

The following week he encountered a young man with a highly excitable German Shepherd that was becoming more and more agitated with his dog - not for any reason other than the GSD was herding her and she was frightened. The owner said to "let them work it out".

Then last week, someone came in with a Samoyed on a lead and with a muzzle on thankfully because when the idiot owner let the dog go, it immediately went for this poor man's dog.

WTF is the matter with people? I'm sick to death of hearing these horror stories.

[irl]

Sandra777, I could understand the humour if I didn't continually hear about people's dogs being ripped apart or seriously injured by DA dogs.

So sorry dogmad the humor related to the media naming and blaming breeds (be they Mastiffs, Chihuahuas or whatever).

I walk my Staffords and have to be constantly on guard for them being attacked by unleashed dogs - don't assume for a second that it is solely a problem faced by owners of "small" breeds.

If my dog is attacked it may have a better chance of surviving but goD save us if surviving is the criteria we are using to decide if an attack is serious or not.

Its definately not just a small dog problem, I have to walk my dogs Echo (boxer) and Merlin (great dane) seperately because of offlead and sometimes onlead dogs rushing us. Just about everyone that i see walking dogs around my area has a stick of some sort to try to protect their dog. Most of the time its small breeds that come rushing at Merlin and the owners think its amusing that their little tiny dog is attacking and trying to take on a great dane.

[Winterpaws]

I was a the dog park this morning, my four old littlies and a dog that turned out to be a kelpie/whippet cross. An exceptionally gentle dog whose owner was in one of those assistance cars/buggies (not sure what you call it).

The dogs all had a lovely time and the man asked me about mine. He was quite sick with terminal cancer he told me and then proceeded to tell me about his experiences with his dog (he rescued her 5 months ago), at this particular dog park over the last 3 weeks.

The first was the worst, two huge staffy crosses that the owner knew were dog aggressive but let them go anyway!! One got his dog by the throat while the other attacked the dog's shoulder. He couldn't believe it, particularly as just prior to this the owner had one dog on the lead and told him it was because if both were off the lead they acted as a pack and would kill another dog. Suddenly he said she let the 2nd off the lead and that was that, instant.

I actually saw this lady walk past there last week with the two dogs - I asked him was it her and it was, unbelievably she was going in the dog park - I had just left and another owner of a beagle was also going. The thing is about this park is that it is quite long, if you were at one end with your dogs, you'd have a hard time shouting at someone not to come in the other end .. I can't believe how irresponsible this woman is and that she doesn't care about the risks she is submitting other people and their dogs to. The man grabbed the staffy by the throat and it let go, his dog had vetwork and apparently the woman turned up at his door that night, begging him for forgiveness.

I've told him to report it to the council, his vet has the records of the injury.

The following week he encountered a young man with a highly excitable German Shepherd that was becoming more and more agitated with his dog - not for any reason other than the GSD was herding her and she was frightened. The owner said to "let them work it out".

Then last week, someone came in with a Samoyed on a lead and with a muzzle on thankfully because when the idiot owner let the dog go, it immediately went for this poor man's dog.

WTF is the matter with people? I'm sick to death of hearing these horror stories.

My dogs range in size from 6kg to 65kg

You would NEVER get me in a dog park, EVER! Too many twats who think their dogs are lovely.. .but history proves otherwise

[darlingdog]

I was a the dog park this morning, my four old littlies and a dog that turned out to be a kelpie/whippet cross. An exceptionally gentle dog whose owner was in one of those assistance cars/buggies (not sure what you call it).

The dogs all had a lovely time and the man asked me about mine. He was quite sick with terminal cancer he told me and then proceeded to tell me about his experiences with his dog (he rescued her 5 months ago), at this particular dog park over the last 3 weeks.

The first was the worst, two huge staffy crosses that the owner knew were dog aggressive but let them go anyway!! One got his dog by the throat while the other attacked the dog's shoulder. He couldn't believe it, particularly as just prior to this the owner had one dog on the lead and told him it was because if both were off the lead they acted as a pack and would kill another dog. Suddenly he said she let the 2nd off the lead and that was that, instant.

I actually saw this lady walk past there last week with the two dogs - I asked him was it her and it was, unbelievably she was going in the dog park - I had just left and another owner of a beagle was also going. The thing is about this park is that it is quite long, if you were at one end with your dogs, you'd have a hard time shouting at someone not to come in the other end .. I can't believe how irresponsible this woman is and that she doesn't care about the risks she is submitting other people and their dogs to. The man grabbed the staffy by the throat and it let go, his dog had vetwork and apparently the woman turned up at his door that night, begging him for forgiveness.

I've told him to report it to the council, his vet has the records of the injury.

The following week he encountered a young man with a highly excitable German Shepherd that was becoming more and more agitated with his dog - not for any reason other than the GSD was herding her and she was frightened. The owner said to "let them work it out".

Then last week, someone came in with a Samoyed on a lead and with a muzzle on thankfully because when the idiot owner let the dog go, it immediately went for this poor man's dog.

WTF is the matter with people? I'm sick to death of hearing these horror stories.

My dogs range in size from 6kg to 65kg

You would NEVER get me in a dog park, EVER! Too many twats who think their dogs are lovely.. .but history proves otherwise

We moved to an acre so we never have to use a dog park again for that reason but I understand how there are lots of people for whom the dog parks are the only place they have to go and I feel for you all in that situation and hope your dogs stay safe.

[hortfurball]

Unfortunately there are some on this board who would blame your dogs if they had barked at the staffy/staffy crosses and subsequently been attacked.

No, there are some who would blame any off leash dog that lunged at and/or attacked an on leash dog, regardless of whether it was a chihuahua attacking a great dane, or a mastiff attacking a maltese. Being big doesn't automatically make them the one at fault, and some of us will say that, whether you want to hear it or not. Doesn't make us small dog haters, or mean that we automatically blame the small dog in all situations. There are some small dog owners who think it is acceptable for their dog to launch into a full fledged attack on a larger dog, and laugh it off, until the big dog retaliates, and then all large dogs are devils, and people should be restricted to small dogs to stop these vicious attacks. Why? Because their small dog displayed behaviour that in a larger dog would be deemed unacceptable and created a situation that endangered its own life. Do they recognise this fact? No.

Until large dogs stop getting the blame in ALL these situations, there are those of us who will point out that ALL dogs should be leashed unless under 100% control, and that if your dog lunges at and attacks other dogs, then keep it on leash, even if it is only 5 kilos. It is NOT OK to let your little dog attack. It is not cute, or endearing, and if my dog, on leash, responds to a constant snapping in his face challenge, he should not be blamed.

But that was entirely off topic, as it has nothing to do with Minnie's situation.

RIP Minnie, hope your poor owners can in time get over your loss and the awful manner in which it happened.

[Diva]

Until large dogs stop getting the blame in ALL these situations, there are those of us who will point out that ALL dogs should be leashed unless under 100% control, and that if your dog lunges at and attacks other dogs, then keep it on leash, even if it is only 5 kilos. It is NOT OK to let your little dog attack. It is not cute, or endearing, and if my dog, on leash, responds to a constant snapping in his face challenge, he should not be blamed.

But that was entirely off topic, as it has nothing to do with Minnie's situation.

RIP Minnie, hope your poor owners can in time get over your loss and the awful manner in which it happened.

I totally agree!

[Sharna3]

Until large dogs stop getting the blame in ALL these situations, there are those of us who will point out that ALL dogs should be leashed unless under 100% control, and that if your dog lunges at and attacks other dogs, then keep it on leash, even if it is only 5 kilos. It is NOT OK to let your little dog attack. It is not cute, or endearing, and if my dog, on leash, responds to a constant snapping in his face challenge, he should not be blamed.

But that was entirely off topic, as it has nothing to do with Minnie's situation.

RIP Minnie, hope your poor owners can in time get over your loss and the awful manner in which it happened.

I totally agree!

I do too, I am a fan of DOGS, be they little, medium, large or giant - I am equally an anti-fan of ANY dog that shows aggression and more so of any owner who promotes that by their non-action.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Hear hear Missin Bastian. The whippet/kelpie cross IS a large dog. The aggression I've described was completely unprovoked and a common tale that I hear.

I am complaining about anyone whose dogs are off leash and out of control but also able to do an awful lot of damage or kill another dog.

Yes, small dogs can do it too - especially the foxies and Jack Russels, I know. However, I'd feel a lot more confident in trying to deal with an offleash Jack Russell who was threatening my dogs than a dog of 20+ kilos dog of whatever breed.

The owners usually know what their dog is capable of and yet still choose to put other dogs and their owners at risk. It is just not acceptable at all.

Edited March 16, 2010 by dogmad

[Jed]

I have my own dog park. I am not a fan of dog parks.

However, there was a period when I walked my dogs (on leash), and took them once or twice to the dog park.

After my dogs being menaced a few times, I carried a walking stick with a knob, not a handle, and the next dog who approached showing aggressive body language got a taste of it. Before there was any real aggression or any fighting, or my dogs were damaged.

I don't recommend this, because you need to be able to read the approaching dog, and to decide whether to take action before anything happens. If you wait too long, and the approaching dog is truly aggressive, you will exacerbate the problems, and escalate the drama.

Until councils do as they are supposed to do, and take action about unsuitable dogs loose in off leash dog parks, the situation will never resolve.

Go to a dog show, and see hundreds of dogs on leash. 99% of them interact extremely well with other dogs. People are passing with dogs, very close, plenty of opportunity for aggression, but it very rarely happens.

Socialisation and training. Not breeds.