My dog is my weapon!

[Pink Lady]

Did anyone see this programme (my dog is my weapon) on BBC Three last night? It was pretty horrific in places. Sadly Pit Bulls and the other so called dangerous dogs are once again in fashion in the UK and are being used by people to threaten, intimidate and fight, with the dogs being treated like trash in the process!! It brought tears to my eyes to see how cruel and sick people can be. When will humans learn to give animals the respect they deserve?????????????

[Jool]

Probably never as there will always be inadequates and bullies......

[Martin Page]

Since even humans dont respect each other - animals are even further down the ladder im afraid.
A sad fact of life

[Paula]

Agree with Martin, the list is endless when it comes to what humans are capable of in terms of cruelty, to anything and anyone.
Pitbulls and other so called dangerous dogs have always been fashionable with thugs and suchlike, and sadly always will be.
I don't watch this type of program as I find it too upsettng.

[hillybilly]

I started watching it and had to turn over after the first few minutes because it was too distressing to watch those thugs with their dogs over which they had no control. They should just castrate "men" like that.

[crazyred]

It made me very angry too. The girls walking around Tottenham with Pit Bull puppies that they couldn't (wouldn't) control made me really cross. The programme made 2 good points though, the owner of the Rottweiler had it trained brilliantly, shame others don't have their's trained as well and shows that it can be done. Also, it was very upsetting seeing the state of the dogs at the Harmsworth (I've met the vet who was on there) but, even though they had been treated terribly and were in terrible pain, they let that vet touch and show the wounds without so much as a growl. When an animal is in pain is when it quite likely to attack out of fear so, not quite the devil dogs they are made out to be...

The owners allow these dogs to behave in the way that they do by not giving them proper training and allowing the dog to purely follow it's instincts. Being untrained and acting unpredictably reinforces the tough image of their dog. I've walked up to Pit Bulls confidently, let them smell me and then pet them whilst their owners have told me that the dog will 'have' me. It's never happened yet . I usually smile and say that because I'm not afraid and the dog knows I like them they won't do anything except enjoy the attention.

[hillybilly]

I've walked up to Pit Bulls confidently, let them smell me and then pet them whilst their owners have told me that the dog will 'have' me. It's never happened yet . I usually smile and say that because I'm not afraid and the dog knows I like them they won't do anything except enjoy the attention.

Then you are every responsible dog owner's nightmare.
If I advise someone not to pet my dog (with good reason) I would expect them to respect that instruction, for their own wellbeing, my peace of mind and in the best interest of my dog.
You may have been "lucky" up until now but what happens the next time, when you are not so lucky and do get bitten? You end up with a possibly serious dog bite wound, the dog owner is upset, the dog is distressed, onlookers frightened and then starts the snowball effect. Somebody reports the incident, the owner gets into trouble, the dog could be threatened with destruction and all because of your stupidity. I hope it never happens.

[crazyred]

Hilly, I am not a child, I am not irresponsible and I wouldn't pet any dog that didn't want me to. If any responsible dog owner told me not to pet their dog then they are NOT a responsible dog owner. If a dog is going to be out in public then it should not pose a threat if somebody comes over to pet it. Children are not very good at being told 'NO' to petting dogs so, mine is socialised properly and would never turn on anyone wanting to stroke him.
I'm very good at reading animals and if they showed any sign (and there are ALWAYS signs) of being uncomfortable and didn't want to be touched then I wouldn't do it. Pit Bulls/Staffs & most of these 'dangerous' breeds actually enjoy human contact and interaction & wouldn't attack me for petting them. Their instinct is to fight other dogs and chase prey. I certainly wouldn't go to pet a Jack Russell, chihuahua or Yorkie as most are fearful, untrained and unsocialised.

If I were that stupid Hilly, I would not have lived this long without EVER being bitten, even though I've trained & owned more than 30 'dangerous' dogs

[Pink Lady]

I also found it very hard to watch but somehow felt that I should. You might be right that there will always be human mistreatment of animals but that doesn't mean we should just accept it and do nothing. I was only down the vet yesterday when an english woman had taken her spanish neighbours cat to the vet as her ears were covered in cancer. We should do what we can and set good examples for anyone who may be watching. I think in Germany you have to have a license to have a dog now, not sure exactly what that entails or whether it goes some way to stopping dogs being in the wrong hands????? Shutting down all these illegal breeders and websites might be a start. I see the same here in Spain with young guys being dragged down the road by their hugely powerful dogs, how ridiculous they look too!

[hillybilly]

If I were that stupid Hilly, I would not have lived this long without EVER being bitten, even though I've trained & owned more than 30 'dangerous' dogs

So, in the scenario of you having been advised not to pet a dog but you go ahead anyway and DO get bitten (as you have acknowledged in your first post is a possibility by your use of the word "yet"), who would you blame? Yourself or the dog owner? Who would GET the blame? Yourself or the dog owner?

[katy]

My Mum had a cairn Terrier. He was perfect with us but nasty with strangers. He looked cute as he would lie on his back as if to be petted. We used to warn people that he was fine but never to touch him. Suprising how many ignored it, fortunately they just got nipped.

[crazyred]

So, in the scenario of you having been advised not to pet a dog but you go ahead anyway and DO get bitten (as you have acknowledged in your first post is a possibility by your use of the word "yet"), who would you blame? Yourself or the dog owner? Who would GET the blame? Yourself or the dog owner?

I don't just go and launch myself at a dog and start stroking it as this would be perceived as threatening to a fearful, untrained or unsocialised dog. The point I was making was that these 'yob' owners of Pit bulls etc... would tell me that the dog would 'have' me after interaction had started, normally instigated by the dog because of the way I present myself to them, just to try to make their dog seem more vicious. The yobs seem to think that nobody else has any experience with dominant breeds. I've never been bitten because of the way I present myself to the dog and allow them to decide if they want my attention. If I see any change in their body language then I stop immediately and ignore them. I've nearly been bitten by Jack Russells 3 times, when they have rolled over to let me pat their tummy (after the owners have said that they are 'good as gold') for them to turn and snap. Seems to be a particular trick of the breed.

If I was acting in a non threatening way and I got bitten it would ALWAYS be the owners fault for not making sure the dog had better manners or making sure that it had a muzzle on. By the law here, I believe that the fault would also be placed with the owner and depending on the severity it would be noted and the owner told to use a muzzle when out in public. Personally, if I was bitten it would depend on the circumstances but, unless my arm was hanging off I doubt that I would get the law involved but, if an owner has a dog that snaps at people without good reason then I don't think that it is unreasonable to expect them to either take steps to correct the behaviour, muzzle it or not have a dog.

My youngest son got bitten by a Fox Terrier because he ran past it. Was my 5 year old at fault because he was running? I told the owner that if I saw it out without a muzzle I would either denounce her or allow my very much bigger dog to eat hers.

I think that you have taken one thing that I have said and run with it Hilly. If an owner told me not to touch his dog because he'd bite me, I wouldn't touch it but I wouldn't stop it coming to me if it so wished. I would probably also offer some training advice.

If I advise someone not to pet my dog (with good reason) I would expect them to respect that instruction, for their own wellbeing, my peace of mind and in the best interest of my dog.

I don't want to have an argument with you Hilly but, at the end of the day the dog is the owner's responsibility and if there is a possibility that it might bite then the owner needs to have better measures in place than simply telling people. What happens if an enthusiastic child runs up out of nowhere and starts petting your dog before you can get your instruction out? I know that they will be safe with mine not just because he is muzzled by law because of his breed but, has also been taught manners.

[hillybilly]

OK, but that is at odds with what you said before

I've walked up to Pit Bulls confidently, let them smell me and then pet them whilst their owners have told me that the dog will 'have' me.

[crazyred]

Pardon me for not writing the full unedited lengthy version. I didn't know I was going to be grilled on it nor did I think that I had written anything contraversial although, I did say "then pet them whilst their owners have told me that the dog will 'have' me." I thought think that makes it clear that they haven't warned me beforehand but, have decided while I am stroking their man eating beast that I am making their killer look a bit too domestic & friendly and want to bring that to an abrupt end. By telling me their dog will attack or bite me they think I am going to jump back in fear.