Another Dog Attack - Sad Story All Round

[Julia]

Well that's odd, isn't it, Tink? You say these three Shepherds are extremely well behaved. Why, then, are people 'on edge', do you think?

 

[overhang]

Another dog attack this time by two German Shepards, funnily enough the thumbnail to the article actually used a picture of a pit bull which is clearly a scare campaign by the media now.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/woman-77-in-latest-dog-attack-20110823-1j824.html
Whilst I despise the dog I'm not sure banning the breed would solve the problem, they can just be crossbred with staffies etc. A mandatory license for dangerous dogs may work where you would be required to have a childproof yard similar to a pool but considering most welfare pit bull owners probably don't even have their dog registered would make it difficult to enforce. As far as the dog owner being legally liable to manslaughter etc sounds great but considering what a disgrace the legal system is atm I cannot see this being a deterrent.
I have no doubt a pit bull can make a great dog if well trained, socialized etc but I can't comprehend why anyone would want one for anything other than hunting in which case there are more intelligent dogs with greater stamina to choose from.
Dog attacks in the USA and Canada between 1982-2006 doesn't paint a pretty picture for pit bulls.
http://dogbitelaw.com/images/pdf/Dog_Attacks_1982-2006_Clifton.pdf

 

[Happy]

Ever since I was attacked few times I took up airport approach, actually I started using airport approach well before they did..
Airport treats every passenger as potential trouble, I too treat every dog as potential threat.
Then by elimination I analyse actual threat.

Dog lovers would probably call me names, but this is when I tell them about “airport approach”.
Prevention is much much better than later on hospital visit and or painful vaccinations.

I just cannot justify any other way, I better be safe than sorry.

Started thinking about carrying small bag of hot chilli, never got to do it, but if dog smell senses are 40 to 10,000 times more sensitive to certain odours, I think this would give me some time to escape to safety.

Did anybody try to have some personal safety devices against potential dog threats, or I am too paranoid?

 

[Tink]

Well that's odd, isn't it, Tink? You say these three Shepherds are extremely well behaved. Why, then, are people 'on edge', do you think?

I think there has been quite a few dog attacks in the media, Julia which makes people a little apprehensive. No lead, no control is how people probably view it.
Just my opinion.

Btw, the dogs I mentioned were Belgian Shepherds not German Shepherds, thought they looked abit different.

 

[gouryella]

I doubt we will ever completely stop dog attacks from happening whilst they live among us. I'm not sure what the solution could be or if in fact there is one. Ban Pit Bulls (although they are effectively banned in some states) and they will most likely end up being bred and registered as a 'Staffordshire Cross' or something similar.

Make the owners of dogs that injure or kill people do jail time? Criminals get off relatively lightly as it is. There have been suggestions of sentences of up to 20 years, yet recently a driver that killed three family members while recklessly overtaking and speeding was given a 10-and-a-half year sentence (minimum of 7).

Make dog owners compulsorily attend dog training classes or obtain some sort of permit/licence to own a dog? Maybe, yet anyone is able to have children, regardless of their parenting abilities or lack thereof.

I'm an owner of one of the often maligned, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. My dog has a stable temperament and was bred from parents that displayed these qualities, which was a priority of the breeder. He is friendly to everyone he meets and I can't fathom him showing aggression toward a human. Still, while walking him or at the park I will always keep him on the lead because I realise that some people don't like dogs and that not all dogs get along.

He has been bitten on the face by a Dachshund that lives up the street and was attacked by a female Staffy that was roaming the street when he was 8 months old. Despite these incidents and him being an entire male (which most people would assume would guarantee aggressive behavior), he still maintains his gentle, sociable nature.

There will always be irresponsible people in society, with that comes irresponsible dog owners. I'm not sure there is a way around the fact.

I'm interested in other people's views on what could possibly be done to prevent these attacks from occuring.

 

[Julia]

Another dog attack this time by two German Shepards,

So awful for the 77 year old woman. However, I'd like to actually see the dogs that have been described as German Shepherds. My observations over three decades of various dogs described by their owners and bystanders as German Shepherds have often had as little as a quarter pure G/S genes some time back and are the result of indiscriminate backyard or accidental breeding.

A dog acquired from a reputable and registered G/S breeder will have come from lines which have been rigorously tested in terms of meeting the breed standard, not just in appearance but in temperament.

One of the great problems with these mixed breed dogs is the number of numbskull owners who want A Guard Dog so they get something big and hairy, have no idea about how to manage and train it, and often coop it up in a backyard or even chain it. The dog, being denied its destiny of a proper pack structure, good training and regular vigorous exercise, will do anything it can to escape. Then when it does (as I'd guess happen in this case, given the dogs were roaming by themselves), they are totally dangerous.

Ever since I was attacked few times I took up airport approach, actually I started using airport approach well before they did..
Airport treats every passenger as potential trouble, I too treat every dog as potential threat.
Then by elimination I analyse actual threat.

Dog lovers would probably call me names, but this is when I tell them about “airport approach”.
Prevention is much much better than later on hospital visit and or painful vaccinations.

I just cannot justify any other way, I better be safe than sorry.

Started thinking about carrying small bag of hot chilli, never got to do it, but if dog smell senses are 40 to 10,000 times more sensitive to certain odours, I think this would give me some time to escape to safety.

Did anybody try to have some personal safety devices against potential dog threats, or I am too paranoid?

Happy, you are not at all being paranoid, but quite sensible. Just one request, though, please don't ever throw chilli in a dog's eyes.
I've found with aggressive dogs if you just stand still and yell in a commanding voice "GET AWAY!!!" most dogs will be surprised enough to turn tail and retreat. The worst thing you can do is turn your back and run away. This immediately signals to the dog that the game is on and he will likely pursue.

I think there has been quite a few dog attacks in the media, Julia which makes people a little apprehensive. No lead, no control is how people probably view it.

The irony is that the opposite is probably true. Compare the frequent sight of an owner being essentially dragged along at the end of the lead, with the dog forging out ahead, totally in charge, with a dog off a lead that is calmly walking at heel close beside the owner. Who do you really think has the control?

 

[overhang]

I doubt we will ever completely stop dog attacks from happening whilst they live among us. I'm not sure what the solution could be or if in fact there is one. Ban Pit Bulls (although they are effectively banned in some states) and they will most likely end up being bred and registered as a 'Staffordshire Cross' or something similar.

Make the owners of dogs that injure or kill people do jail time? Criminals get off relatively lightly as it is. There have been suggestions of sentences of up to 20 years, yet recently a driver that killed three family members while recklessly overtaking and speeding was given a 10-and-a-half year sentence (minimum of 7).

Make dog owners compulsorily attend dog training classes or obtain some sort of permit/licence to own a dog? Maybe, yet anyone is able to have children, regardless of their parenting abilities or lack thereof.

I'm an owner of one of the often maligned, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. My dog has a stable temperament and was bred from parents that displayed these qualities, which was a priority of the breeder. He is friendly to everyone he meets and I can't fathom him showing aggression toward a human. Still, while walking him or at the park I will always keep him on the lead because I realise that some people don't like dogs and that not all dogs get along.

He has been bitten on the face by a Dachshund that lives up the street and was attacked by a female Staffy that was roaming the street when he was 8 months old. Despite these incidents and him being an entire male (which most people would assume would guarantee aggressive behavior), he still maintains his gentle, sociable nature.

There will always be irresponsible people in society, with that comes irresponsible dog owners. I'm not sure there is a way around the fact.

I'm interested in other people's views on what could possibly be done to prevent these attacks from occuring.

You sound like a responsible owner and I've always found staffies have a placid temperament but do slobber a bit much.
I just think many people don't realize how big of a commitment owning a dog really is, its potentially 15 years of your life. They are happy to walk the dog over summer but come winter the poor dog spends chained up. Sheep dogs are the prime example of friendly natured dogs that can attack out of boredom from insufficient training and zero exercise. they should never be a suburban dog.

So awful for the 77 year old woman. However, I'd like to actually see the dogs that have been described as German Shepherds. My observations over three decades of various dogs described by their owners and bystanders as German Shepherds have often had as little as a quarter pure G/S genes some time back and are the result of indiscriminate backyard or accidental breeding.

Your probably right and as bad as the attack is I feel the dogs weren't having a real go anyway as few people could fend of 2 large dogs with a head of adrenalin.

 

[dutchie]

Deeon Higgins, 2, mauled to death by mastiff cross in Deniliquin, NSW

Read more: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/br...sw/story-e6frfkp9-1226691337150#ixzz2b4t2FEuk


When will people learn. Children and certain types of dogs do not go together.

When children die there must be some accountability by parents and owners (it's not the first time a toddler has been injured or killed by a dog). There are plenty of warnings about dogs attacking toddlers.

I was a bit disappointed in the RSPCA's and other's response to this attack (not a dangerous dog - had not attacked before).

Who are the advocates of children when it comes to dogs?

Educate dog owners and make them pay (jail and fines) if their dogs do something wrong.

What a tragedy for little Deeon.

 

[Julia]

Totally agree. It's ridiculous that local councils continue to give such dogs a second and third chance after the first attack. It should be one attack on any person, child or other dog, and it's euthanasia. Finish.