Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,698
24 February 2010
20:0941307Does anyone else share my concern over the growing number of pitbull, pitbull crosses and rotweillers one sees in Dover these days.
These dogs are bad enough when they are on a stout leash being walked by a responsible owner, unfortunately the vast majority are either off their leads (if they had one in the first place) or on leads that will snap at the first tug from the dog, plus too many of the owners seem to have them solely to intimidate the rest of us.
This trend, which is not restricted to just this part of the world, really needs to be stopped. I would strongly suggest that these breeds and cross breeds should be banned entirely for all our safety.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
24 February 2010
20:1441308I get concerned as well Ross, especially when quite often I see the dog is taking the owner for a walk.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
24 February 2010
20:2441310The problem is most of the owners see them a s a "Butch Status" symbol.
I am surpised the police in Dover have not asked these owners to put them on leads (A regular gathering place is outside the post office in Pencester).
Of concern is (if what I am told is true) that part of drug/alcohol rehabilitaion is that dogs are part of the therapy and that such owners are able to claim a dog allowance...yet another waste of taxpayers money
24 February 2010
22:0741323I believe that is only for people committed to residential treatment who may keep their dogs with them - different.
24 February 2010
22:2741324Alcohol rehabilitation???? Dogs part of the therapy???
I thought it was just the 'hair of the dog' not the whole bloody animal......
24 February 2010
22:5341325Ross, you clearly have spent very little time with a rottweiller dog. As a proud owner of a rotty AND a dobermann, and having known many such dogs in my life, I can honestly say that your comments are totally misguided and straight out of the Daily Mail's guide to life. Saying "these dogs are bad enough on a stout leash with a responsible owner" is uttter rubbish. Frankly, I feel safer leaving my kids in the company of these dogs than I do with most humans! They are loyal, affectionate, totally trustworthy, and almost everyone who meets them falls in love with them eventually. Sure, they'll probably savage any burglar to death (tough crap on the burglar I say) but other than that they are the absolute best animals I have ever owned.
I hear what you are saying about the terriers and staffs etc, they are indeed owned by an increasing number of yobs who use them as a form of living weaponized status symbol. But please, don't go lumping my dear rotties in with them all, it just continues giving ALL large working/livestock dogs a bad name, especially if they've appeared in an Omen movie!
Guest 665- Registered: 24 Mar 2008
- Posts: 345
24 February 2010
23:1041326Ross did you mean Pitbull or Staffordshire Bull Terrier? They do look similar but there are far more of the latter in Dover than the former.
Well said Rick. And what's more, ANY dog can be a menace if it's inappropriately reared and treated. And that's down to the owner not the dog.
The following list is the top 10 biting dogs in Miami Dade County Florida in 2007. Interestingly labradors, known and loved the world over are in second place, while rotties, deemed by some to be highly dangerous, are well down the list. Note the pit bull is low down because there is a ban in the state so there are not many of them - they are bred for fighting so otherwise would expect to be top of the list, and indeed are in states where there is no ban. Terriers were also bred for fighting hence the high count there, it is their instinct if not well trained. I bet the high lab bite count would be a surprise to you though. Will you be calling for a ban on them too?
Terrier: 108
Labrador mix: 95
Shepherd mix: 90
Mixed breed: 81
German shepherd: 53
Chow mix: 50
Boxer: 39
Rottweiler: 33
Pit bull: 32
American bulldog: 30
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,698
24 February 2010
23:3841327Rick & Claire - I can only speak as I find in this dear benighted town, and there is a growing number of staffs, other large terrier crosses and large dogs such as rottweilers being paraded round the town by ne'er do wells and/or let run loose off the lead. I do absolutely agree that in the wrong hands all dogs can indeed be a menace and be made to be vicious and in the right hands are most normally good natured loyal beasts.
I have worked with and trained rottweilers, german shepherds, collies and I used to breed jack russells for use as rabbiters and ratters so know how good these working breeds can be, both as pets and as working animals, I do however, maintain that one should always keep ones dog under control on a leash appropriate to the weight and power of the dog when one is out in public.
I am not particularly interested in statistics from the USA as I do not think their behaviour and lifestyle translates to the UK and therefore quoting their stats is little help, nor do I read the Daily Mail, ever.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
24 February 2010
23:4341328No Bishon Friese my Georgie will be upset,she may look soft and cuddly but you come to my door,I have seen grown men running down the road,funny when you open the door they cannot believe such a small dog can make such a loud noise.
Actually Ross I share you concern and I believe it should go further,that all dogs should be on a lead in a built up area such as the Town Centre,there is a man that walks down the town nearly everyday with a big black poodle,and it is a nightmare around other dogs,and my Georgie is very unhappy when another dog starts sniffing round her..... all dogs on a lead in a Town Centre,you never know if another dog or a loud noise will upset the dog and any dog could bite in uncertain circumstances.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 665- Registered: 24 Mar 2008
- Posts: 345
24 February 2010
23:5541333I totally agree that dogs should be kept on a lead except in areas where they can safely be let off, that is responsible dog ownership. But to make generalisations that a particular breed is a menace when in actual fact it is the owner that's at fault is not fair on the dog.
Nice sidestep of the stats Ross, which conveniently avoids the issue. Perhaps you would care to read this interesting article instead which does relate to the UK.
http://www.dogbiteclaims.co.uk/compensation/dangerous-breeds.html
Please note particularly what it says about the Rottweiler. It is an education, and I rest my case that problems are down to the way a dog is raised and treated and not the breed, so please don't make generalisations about breeds, it is highly unfair. Criticise the owners yes, but not the dogs.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,698
25 February 2010
00:3641337Claire thanks for the link - interesting, would like to have seen the data behind the summary though, such as number of respondents, number of dogs of each breed etc. but still interesting.
I was not avoiding the issue, I just think US stats are not pertinent to what happens in the UK.
I note the comments, but speak as I find and have in the past week had issues with 2 rottweilers in and around the sea front - of course this is down to irresponsible or worse owners as the dogs behave how they are allowed/encouraged to behave.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 665- Registered: 24 Mar 2008
- Posts: 345
25 February 2010
07:2041338Ross, I agree that is not acceptable, but the solution is for a strategy to tackle the owners, not to ban the dogs. To respond to the trend by banning rotties and staffies because they are the chosen 'accessory', then another breed would soon become the trend. There are hundreds of breeds to choose from and would not solve the problem. All it would do is perpetuate and reinforce giving all the much-loved, responsibly-owned rotties and staffies a bad name. Hence my need to stick up for them!
25 February 2010
10:5441344Ross - I never, ever, thought I would see your name in the same sentence as the Daily Mail.............#6.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,698
25 February 2010
21:2741393Me neither Bern
Claire, yes you are right about the need to deal with owners
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 February 2010
23:3841408what does a pitbull look like?
many people i know think that a "staff" is a pitbull.
my cat sits on the wall and winds up staffs, they always walk of with a wagging tail, they seem a great little dog.
they are renowned as being great with kids, but with their strength i would not think it clever to leave one alone with them.
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
26 February 2010
10:5341422Dog allowances?! For junkies and alkies?! Give me strength.
This bloody government.
26 February 2010
11:2641425i to agree dogs should be kept on a lead for the safety of all, how the regulars at pencester get away with letting their dogs run riot is beyond me as small children are sharing the same area.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
26 February 2010
13:3141430
This is a photo of our dog Mungo (a Heinz 57 with some pitbull/staff in him) , some members on here have met him and know him to be, like Rick's dog, a lovable and peaceful dog who wouldn't harm a fly (except the Postman). Despite that, I won't let him near children unless he's on a lead, nor will I let him near any other dog because he would fight until serious harm was done. He came from Fred Scales' rescue place at West Hougham and was quite clearly raised by an owner who trained him to be aggressive; the studded collar gave it away, but when we first got him he would pick a fight with anyone, and we had him neutered to try to work some of the testosterone out of him.
Six years down the line, he's now a perfect a dog at home and very friendly to the majority he meets, but he cannot be trusted near children or other dogs. Knowing this, he's fine, but I do keep him on a tight lead if and when he finds himself near kids, just to be safe for child and dog alike. There is probably nothing to worry about - a friend visiting from Japan brought her 14-year old with her, whose first reaction upon seeing him was to fling her arms around him and give him the biggest hug you ever did see, and any suspicion he may have had about her vanished. On another occasion, visiting my wife's Godson in Blackpool (he's 8 now, 6 at the time), the lad actually got into the dog's bed in the back of the car and pestered the dog to death; far from any aggression, Mungo scarpered as quick as he could! Such was the effect of a tearaway boy on him! That aside, he does seem a lot calmer in general with kids around him, but one never knows the history of rescue dogs, and in Mungo's case I would much rather be safe than sorry. I'd be devastated if he hurt a child, both for the kid's sake, and for the fact that I'd probably lose Mungo too.
True friends stab you in the front.
26 February 2010
19:0241437He is gorgeous!!!!! Love him.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
26 February 2010
23:2841446My wife said he looks good enough to eat......joking...only joking..
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
