"weapons dogs" - I despair!.

arybvtcw0eolkf

From this mornings Times newspaper.

And look at the photo used on the front page!.

Actually, I'm a little speechless.

joewicklow

I wonder if that kid who was mauled to death a few weeks ago would have called them something different.

arybvtcw0eolkf

joewicklow wrote: »

I wonder if that kid who was mauled to death a few weeks ago would have called them something different.

You'll have to refresh my memory, someone used a 'weapon dog' against a child?.

joewicklow

Christian Fluffy Hyena wrote: »

You'll have to refresh my memory, someone used a 'weapon dog' against a child?.

Well it wasn't a sweet little puppy. Some of these dogs are trained to hurt people. Guns hurt people too. I suppose this is why the term "weapon" is being used.
I fully understand it's not the poor animals fault but I don't think it's fair on the children who get hurt either.

Run_to_da_hills

A mate of mine has a Pomeranian, I would consider the little ***** is worse than any so called "weapons dog" where do they draw the line?

IvySlayer

These dangerous dogs list are only to appease some sections of society. You know the health and safety type, the parents who think they have a right to dictate what others can do etc etc.

I had a fox terrier who was very good with people/children, but extremely visicous with dogs. Not afraid of rottweilers. Nothing. I took measures to ensure her safety/other dogs.

The scaremongering by the media is not gonna help either. If there is a big problem in council estates with dogs, it has to start at the owners. They need inspectors to go around the area, call in on people, check whether they are suitable owners.

GalwayKiefer

Did ye see the BBC programme a few months back "My Dog Is My Weapon"? It followed some inner city youths in England who were using their dogs rather than carrying a weapon as they knew full well the worse that would happen is the dog would be put down. What this article from the Times reports and the move by Dublin City Council to ban restricted breed dogs from estates under their control absolutely sickens me. Punish the deed not the breed, when will people in these decision making positions realise and accept that it's bad people that make bad dogs. Any dog can be turned into a vicious monster. I have yet to encounter a vicious dog that's on the restricted breed list but I've had several run-ins with Collies & JRTs. Go after the scum using dogs as weapons, not punish entire breeds for the actions of certain owners.

Sid_Justice

Piers Claughton, the charity’s local government adviser, said: “Possession of a knife carries a custodial sentence. Possession of a dog doesn’t, but they can do as much damage. The problem is irresponsible owners.”

Am i the only one that finds this confusing? On the one hand he recognises the fact that it is the dog owners and handlers that are to blame for the actions of their dogs, but on the other hand seems to want to criminalise their possession.

I think the knife analogy is actually quite apt. A kitchen knife you can buy in any hardware store is as lethal as any hunting knife you get from a specialist shop. In a similar vein, a big Labrador cross bite is presumably as dangerous as a bite/attack from a similar sized Rottweiller.

Obviously on the one hand I don't believe in any type of breed specific banning, because anyone who has any experience with the banned breeds know there is very little inherent risk in the animals themselves. All of dangerousness comes from poor handling. But you can't ignore the fact there are groups of little scumbags all across this country and the UK who get these scary looking dogs to look tough, intimidate and generally be anti-social.

The councils have a responsibility to ensure their residents aren't acting in an anti-social manner. Personally I can identify with the guy that lives in a council house and his next door neighbour keeps two big (or small), territorial, scary looking dogs in his front garden who barks to **** at every passer by and bares there teeth. I'm very used to dogs etc. and I would find it very unsettling to have to pass that every day.

The next step above is the local scumbag children accosting you on your way back from the shop with their little scumbag dogs barking at you and looking menacing.

Who really gets harmed by a breed specific ban? There are already enough dogs in the world we don't need anymore. Obviously there will be people who are genuine who want to keep a certain breed for what ever reason who will be affected but at the end of the day, I'm liable to say so what, if the council says you can't have a German Shepard/Staffie/Rottweiller/Doberman just go and get a Golden retriever.

supermum1

I hate how dogs are treated in the media. I had a rottweiler (poppy) who, bless her was as thick as 2 planks, she wouldn't even bark, yet people would cross the road if they saw her. I believe every dog has the ability to attack, just when these dogs do they cause more damage. I don't think the breed should suffer, I do think you should need a licence to both own and breed "dangerous dogs" at least that way you can check the person out.

Whispered

GalKiefer wrote: »

Go after the scum using dogs as weapons, not punish entire breeds for the actions of certain owners.

I would be very happy to see these people under survellience. And of course ANYTHING they use as a weapon should be taken from them. If that is their dog, an actual weapon, their car etc. People need to be protected. They only way to do that is to effect the PERSON not their pet. If one breed of dog is made illegal it suddenly jumps in popularity among scummy "hard" types. Likewise when the media hypes a breed up. I wonder how many young people this morning are thinking "I want a weapon dog".

Sid_Justice wrote: »

Who really gets harmed by a breed specific ban? There are already enough dogs in the world we don't need anymore. Obviously there will be people who are genuine who want to keep a certain breed for what ever reason who will be affected but at the end of the day, I'm liable to say so what, if the council says you can't have a German Shepard/Staffie/Rottweiller/Doberman just go and get a Golden retriever.

While I see your point. I am absolutely against breeding except for in exceptional circumstances so I agree with you there. The fact is though, these dogs exist, if there was a ban, what do we do with the existing dogs?

Secondly, a lot of people who know these dogs choose them for their personality. Staffies for the clowny personalities, Rotts for their constant calm demenour etc. People should make an effort to choose a dog that will fit in with their lifestyle. Why should people be deprived of their breed of choice because of a few irresponsible owners. I think by that logic, nobody should be allowed own a dog over a certain weight due to the damage they "could" inflict. I also believe that if things continue the way they are, this could happen, or at the very least there will be calls for it from a few "concerned" but absolutely dog ignorant people.

I don't know if anybody will agree with me here, but it would be tragic if somehow these dogs were banned, gotten rid of, no more anywhere. They would go down in history as an abomination, breed(s) who were so dangerous, monstrosities of animals who were not fit to live in human society. I know this isn't the case, as do most dog lovers. It would be terrible to see this type of hysteria win out.

I think that all dog owners should be vetted, if your dog, whatever it's size, is causing problems for the people around you then by all means something should be done. I would be happy to see a tighter law around ownership & breeding of these dogs. But while people are allowed run riot, while kids are being turned into little troublemakers and parents are not or can not do anything about it, then there will always be a problem. Leave the dogs alone and start trying to "fix" the people behind the trouble. It doesn't matter what type of laws are brought in. You're still going to have antisocial behaviour and they will use whatever breed they can get their hands on if they are that way inclined.

lrushe

Does this look like the face of a weapon

Brook2.JPG

And lets face it this is how all dogs start out, its people who change them. I would like to see stricter controls on everyone owning any dogs. I feel that because they are so freely available (I could get up right now and get a dog) and so few reprercussions for those who mistreat them that they are all to easily seen as disposable. I would have no problem going through any 'test' to prove that I was suitable to own my restricted breed because it is the breed I love, I don't own them for any other reason. Tighter restrictions on who can own these breeds is whats needed to weed out the breed lovers from the breed users.

votejohn

lrushe wrote: »

Does this look like the face of a weapon

Brook2.JPG

OH. MY. GOD. im in love!

Sid_Justice

But aren't these bans only for council properties and not for those in private accommodation? Thus, there is not danger of breed specific extinction.

lrushe

Sid_Justice wrote: »

But aren't these bans only for council properties and not for those in private accommodation? Thus, there is not danger of breed specific extinction.

I think it would just be a stepping stone to a complete ban

Graces7

Often with "scary dogs" it is in the perception of the viewer?

I have just had someone here fixing the plumbing. We have two dogs, soft as they come, but I am alone here almost all the time, and they are my guardians.

So they of course growl and bark whenever anyone comes near; and sound ferocious.

If there are workmen etc in I make sure the dogs are in and in a separate room.

Even so the man was scared.

But that for me is their job. They are always under control and would never attack ..

Lollymcd

lrushe wrote: »

Brook2.JPG

Sends shivers up my spine!!! Just kidding, what a cutie. Most of the so called dangerous breeds need a lot of time and training, otherwise you end up with a very big, strong and wilful dog you cannot control. I think this is what has given them a bad reputation, owners who cannot be bothered learning how to control their animal, it's willful ignorance.