Freddie the seal attacked by savage dog

[Genau]

I never used to see deer being chased but it is a regular occurrence now. Little "Milo!" was having his fun with a couple of does yesterday. Once he came back the owner just carried on his way like nothing happened but if the two he chased were pregnant, and they could be at the moment, they may have been distressed enough to miscarry. I do not particularly like posting something that could be perceived as "anti-dog" as the anti-dog lobby already has far too much support in Britain and I am very much pro-dog but keeping them on a lead is hardly too much to ask.

To go off-topic and really into ranting old gipper mode, it's part of a general lack of common sense and a belief that rules are for other people. It's the same mentality that leaves gates open and parks over inspection chambers (I warned you it would be off-topic and ranting old gipper stuff). We can park on the building premises here - that gets interpreted as "must park on the premises" regardless of whether there any spaces. In front of garages, over the telephone manhole, in the middle of the access road - all fine because they couldn't possibly walk 5 minutes from a nearby road.

It's all just so very entitled and stupid.

Edited to add - dogs that will definitely obey recall under any and all circumstances are safe off a lead. How many get that training though?

 

[Cycleops]

I'm sick of pit bulls. Or as the press now like to call them, "cross-breeds". I really don't see why my lab should have his quality of life diminished by an association with a breed that behaves in a way that he never would.

I've never understood why people have these types. Maybe their knuckle dragging owners want to look 'hard' or instill fear in others. They are certainly not animal lovers.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

My wife's auntie has just got a dog a few months ago... terrible little thing, it bites the fingers of anyone who pets it. "Oh but he's just being friendly and playful" she says... the refrain of irresponsible owners everywhere. No Auntie, it has no idea of what is acceptable behaviour... get it trained for goodness sake.
My daughter is only just overcoming a phobia of smaller dogs, a phobia she's had for years after too many instances of aggressive little animals cornering her and leaving her fearful and in tears through their snarling, barking "just being friendly and playful" behaviour. Again, not their fault, but clueless owners who won't give the dog the firm guidance it needs.

You shouldn't get a dog if you're not going to train it (or have it trained) to be properly socialised around other people and animals.
And dog owners need to stop this vile behaviour of dropping bags of mess next to paths, I've had enough of public places being blighted by bags of filth. That's got to epidemic proportions around me.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Its also disgraceful that the Mail should print pictures of an animal, in the act of being attacked, in obvious pain and distress, purely for the gratification of the onanists that 'read' their tome.

The DM has a very bad habit of giving 'Warning Distressing Images' warnings accompanied by a distressing picture of an animal in obvious distress. For example,the other week they had a supposed warning accompanied by an unavoidable photo of a young Zebra being mauled to death by lions,with its distressed mother looking on. These type of photos don't serve a purpose as we can't do anything about such incidents. It's as if the DM enjoys upsetting people like me who let such images play on their minds. Notice the link to the local paper report i gave,gave a warning without accompanied distressing pictures,which you can access if you want to,or like me prefer not to. The DM seems to revel in shocking images that upset unsuspecting readers. Having said that,those upsetting images of 'Freddie' being attacked do show the horrible dog quite clearly,so they could help the owner being traced. Not that much will come of it if he/she is caught. They'll just say something like 'He slipped his lead,it wasn't intentional'.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

You shouldn't get a dog if you're not going to train it

You should not get a dog, until you have showed that you are capable of handling/training/looking after one, you should have to licensed to own one.

There are very few 'bad' dogs, but there are a lot of bad owners, too many dogs are child replacements, they are a pack animal & need to be treat as one, once it becomes dominant in the family all control is lost.

 

[Drago]

If a dog is trained properly, you should never need to muzzle it. I had an Alsatian and I never once muzzled it, no need to. There's no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners.

Indeed, my Lemmy is completely word and command obedient to me. Wouldn't be a lot of cop as a gundog if he went off on a jolly doing what he wanted when there are shotguns about.

Nevertheless, the only places I let him off the lead is on my Dad's land, or on the farm where I know the farmer and have permission to do so (because he knows I'll challenge anyone I encounter who is taking the pith on his land).

 

[Ridgeway]

There are very few 'bad' dogs, but there are a lot of bad owners

Taking that quote, i tend to think there are way, way more bad dogs these days then there ever used to be. Each person can define what they understand as a "bad dog" and i agree that it's us humans that make many bad (nurture rather than nature) but still, the amount of testosterone fuelled, muscle dogs i see these days is 100's of times more than i ever used to and i've been around dogs all my life. Family raised pet fidos that can tear a hole in most things in a few seconds even when on a lead and under "control" of an owner.... where's the pleasure in walking a loaded machine gun that's just waiting to go off

I nearly always take a thumb stick with me these days, you never know what you may meet

 

[HMS_Dave]

You should not get a dog, until you have showed that you are capable of handling/training/looking after one, you should have to licensed to own one.

There are very few 'bad' dogs, but there are a lot of bad owners, too many dogs are child replacements, they are a pack animal & need to be treat as one, once it becomes dominant in the family all control is lost.

I wish that were the case. My last dog who died last October was a bull mastiff I rescued. A big lump and the friendliest dog I have ever owned. Even so he could easily pull over the missus. Never let him off the lead and was trained to walk on it. But I never got him out of chasing squirrels so he would suddenly pull. He'd see the squirrel before you and when 100 pounds of muscular dog goes, you bloody know about it. That is the unpredictability of dogs. I see too often a teenager or someone you see struggling with a large dog breed and you know they can't handle them. It isn't worth the risk...

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I see too often a teenager or someone you see struggling with a large dog breed and you know they can't handle them.

That is the whole point, it's not the dogs fault, it's only doing what it believes the handler wants it to do, the question should ee should we allow that type of dog to be owned by untrained, irresponsible owners

 

[HMS_Dave]

That is the whole point, it's not the dogs fault, it's only doing what it believes the handler wants it to do, the question should be should we allow that type of dog to be owned by untrained, irresponsible owners

No... I'd happily take a test, course or whatever, if it means dogs are in the hands of people with a fully functioning brain, have common sense and that the dog stands a chance and people and wildlife are safe...

 

[Exlaser2]

Couldnt agree more about there being very few bad dogs and a lot of bad owners. Training of the dog is always the key and for owners to understand situations when their dog can behave unpredictability.
We sometimes look after my sister in laws dog. He is beautifully trained , all ways comes when called and walks to heel if needed when not on a lead, but that does not mean I don’t put him on a lead when I think a situation deserves it for this and other people’s safety.

 

[T4tomo]

with regards leads and muzzles, one rule doesn't really suit all. the problem is that those bad owners with potentially dangerous dogs would flout the rules anyway, and dear old Mabel would likely get fined for not muzzling her soft as brush cavalier king charles that wouldn't harm a fly.

 

[guitarpete247]

My sister was killed when she was frightened off the pavement into the path of double decker bus. She was 5. Bus driver was traumatised for life. My uncle was waiting across the road for bus to work witnessed it. The dog involved was running around the streets as the owners, who were never traced, didn't have it secured.
Dog running about on Wells next the Sea beach. Ran straight across granddaughters baby blanket seconds after her did picked her up. Owner walking along beach with his hound running around terrorising all on beach responded with "Share the beach".

 

[oldwheels]

Don’t see the point of having a dog if they have to be on a lead the entire time as it’s great to see them run free.....but only if they are well trained with excellent recall. I agree they should be put back on a lead around livestock and vulnerable wildlife though and also if approaching another dog which is on a lead.

On my trike runs down Loch na Keal I often see dogs let loose as the owners walk along the shoreline. Not only are there lots of sheep not far off lambing but it is also a prime bird nesting area.

 

[oldwheels]

My neighbour has a dog which looks a bit like a collie/labrador cross. The most obedient dog I have ever seen. His wife must have some magic words or something as she only murmurs something quietly and the dog [bitch to be accurate] responds immediately. It is very rarely on a lead but seems to have more sense than many humans.