Dangerous dogs: uncontrollable harm

Do u know what though, not sure if I am missing the point of the article, but there are dogs out there that AREN'T dangerous, but still attack postmen!

Are they insinuating they are all dangerous dogs??
 
BoolavogueDC said:
It's the owners who are dangerous, not the dogs.
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I thought this until a very well respected dog trainer was on the radio the other day discussing this. she said she had a dog, who was lovely but turned aggressive very quickly. In the end he was put down and they found he had a brain tumour.

although most of the time people cant be bothered to train their dogs. Sad really
 
We have always been very careful with our dogs and any visitors but especially the postman. Murphy, a mastiff x and a very big dog, is lovely, very friendly and has never been known to turn on anyone. I always thought our postman was a bit soft as, despite the fact we made sure the dogs were never out when we weren't out with them, he was still nervous coming up to the house because the dogs would bark through the window at him. I was interviewing a postman for work one day and we got talking about dogs, he told me about one of his colleagues. This man had delivered to this house every day for years, every morning he spoke to and stroked the dog when he went in, the dog was friendly with him. One morning he went as usual and the dog attacked him for absolutely no reason, he was left very badly injured and can no longer work due to both physical and psychological injuries. That story changed my way of thinking totally, we now have locked gates with a post box in the gate, the postman knows if the gates are open then it is safe to come to the house if he needs to (parcels etc) and we make sure the dogs cannot get to the door when we open it to anyone. I work visiting houses and have been bitten several times, fortunately not badly. I don't hold it against the dog because they are protecting their territory but I do think that many owners need to be more responsible.
 
I <3 My Teddi said:
I thought this until a very well respected dog trainer was on the radio the other day discussing this. she said she had a dog, who was lovely but turned aggressive very quickly. In the end he was put down and they found he had a brain tumour.
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I know the lady well - it was a very difficult time for her when she lost her boy and definitely not due to a lack of training or understanding of dog behaviour on her part. Illness is certainly a possibility where dogs change their personality suddenly, as in this case.
 
I <3 My Teddi said:
I thought this until a very well respected dog trainer was on the radio the other day discussing this. she said she had a dog, who was lovely but turned aggressive very quickly. In the end he was put down and they found he had a brain tumour.

although most of the time people cant be bothered to train their dogs. Sad really
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Sad story but doesn't really apply in the sense of posties though does it?? Just don't give your dog access to the front garden tumour or no tumour no matter who you are. Safe dog - safe postman.
 
Actually mine turned nasty after they were attacked by a postman. It has taken years to stop them attacking others in bright jackets because they go on the defensive. Postie arrived, one of them barked (in a non agressive way) he marched up and kicked her so hard I saw her at least 3 foot from the floor. She was very bruised and shocked and that is what turned them.

The dog he kicked was used for some years as a therapy dog for people with learning disabilities and was as agressive as a slug in cider before this. She is still very gentle but does get very worried about people coming to the house that she doesn't know now.

I have my mail delivered to a box at the end of the drive instead of the house. Safer for my dogs who I do not want to bite anyone and safer for the postie too.
 
Any dog can be dangerous. JR terriers are horrble.Any dog can turn on strangers. PB terriers are not nasty,each dog is different,blame is humans giving them a lousy name.Ive met some nasty JR terriers as well as nasty border collies.No dog is perfect.
 
It's your responsibility as an owner to ensure that anyone visiting your property is safe from your pets IMO, not only to avoid any incidents but for your own dog's safety and reputation too. I always take my dogs inside or I go to the gate if the Postman is on his round, if I am not here the dogs are always shut in the house. My dogs would probably boing about and try to lick the Postman but even boisterous behaviour can be misconstrued, I would be too worried to take any risks especially owning three bull breeds.
 
Tinseltoes said:
Any dog can be dangerous. JR terriers are horrble.Any dog can turn on strangers. PB terriers are not nasty,each dog is different,blame is humans giving them a lousy name.Ive met some nasty JR terriers as well as nasty border collies.No dog is perfect.
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Aggressiveness is atypical in all breeds of dog.
 
Tormenta said:
It's your responsibility as an owner to ensure that anyone visiting your property is safe from your pets
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End of the discussion really :p

there are plenty of nice,well behaved dogs that go bananas at the postie, if yours is one put a cage on the letter box or board it up and put an alternative external box up.
 
I always thought dogs being nasty with postmen was just a comedy thing only seen in cartoons! I had no idea it was an actual problem :O :O
My doggie loves anyone who comes to the house! She's such a softy.
 
Tinseltoes said:
Any dog can be dangerous. JR terriers are horrble.Any dog can turn on strangers. PB terriers are not nasty,each dog is different,blame is humans giving them a lousy name.Ive met some nasty JR terriers as well as nasty border collies.No dog is perfect.
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ever heard the saying 'blame the deed, not the breed' ?!
 
Ibblebibble said:
ever heard the saying 'blame the deed, not the breed' ?!
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True,but Its beyond a joke when the owners know their dog is nasty and REFUSE to muzzle it,makes me cheesed off. Theres a couple in particular that are really nasty.Owners dont care one bit.
Give me a rottie or german shepherd any day.Just not keen on JRT and thats my choice.
People moan about pittbulls theyre not dangerous,its the owners.
I know THAT any dog can be nasty.
 
blazingsaddles said:
Aggressiveness is atypical in all breeds of dog.
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Nope, not true at all. Some breeds of dog, due to their "jobs", are very aggressive and not good with people.

Kuvasv
Cane Corso
Komondor
Ill-bred Malamute
Pit Bull (it's not always due to scummy owners causing their attacks)

I've a neighbor with a Kuvasv, he's Hungarian and wanted a "bit of home" breed. Scary dog, meant to be in the mountains with sheep, taking care of business by himself.

Sometimes it is the dog's breed.
 
Trakehner said:
Nope, not true at all. Some breeds of dog, due to their "jobs", are very aggressive and not good with people.

Kuvasv
Cane Corso
Komondor
Ill-bred Malamute
Pit Bull (it's not always due to scummy owners causing their attacks)
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I read somewhere that Pit Bulls are excellent with people and were once known as "Nanny Dogs" due to them being so good with children..?
 
I take great exception with the 'JR Terriers are horrible' comment, thats the most absurd thing i've ever heard. Unless you have personally met every single jack russell terrier then you are just making a sweeping generalization.

Infact jack russells are friendly, and intelligent and incredibly loyal, I have one myself and he's the sweetest dog you've ever met! Great with other dogs, my horses, young children and livestock.

As is said before bad owners make bad dogs, if you don't take the time to train your dog be it a rottweilier or a bichon frise there is the possibility it will be vicious. The are also huge factors such as sex, age and exercise that will effect a dogs predisposition to be vicious.

The postman thing is obviously a problem, and although my dogs do bark when the postman is outside, i do not allow them to run out to him and have situated the postbox in a place where he doesnt need to come onto the property. I think all dogs are territorial to an extent, that isnt a bad thing as they feel they are protecting us and their home but you must take precautions to stop them attacking a bloke who is just doing his job!
 
I may be shot down in flames here and my point may actually be used against me but I'll plough on anyway.

I read somewhere (unfortunately can't remember where now) and it makes sense to me, that biologically terriers are the most aggressive of breeds due to what they were originally bred to do. Now I am a HUGE believer that (baring medical problems) aggression in dogs is created by the owners/humans in the majority of cases, and I have never ever known a nasty JRT (more likely to lick you to death than bite) but if you think about how they were bred for ratting etc, they need their aggression to get in there for the quick kill. BUT, even a dog bred for aggression in this sense (or even in the dog fighting sense) doesn't necessarily translate to human aggression. How many times do you hear of dog aggressive dogs being totally fine with people.

OK, I've totally rambled here and not sure I got my point across. Basically, just because a breed has had a certain type of aggression bred into it, doesn't mean it's more likely to be human aggressive.

Also, back on the topic of posties... if you have a dog, it's your responsibility to ensure that anyone coming to or into your house is safe. Your dog, your responsibility!
 
You are correct about the breed traits of terriers, however before they were selectively bred, they were man's friend too. :)

And Cane Corsos are NOT aggressive to humans! Look at the size ratio here, Tito (RIP big man) was gentle and kind. When will people realise, any thing is a weapon in evil hands.

DSCF2847.jpg

DSCF2852.jpg
 
georgie0 said:
That's Staffordshire bull terriers, not pit bulls.
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I've read the same thing about Pit Bulls! Also I have read that pit bulls are bred to NOT be human aggressive, its counter productive to have a human aggressive fighting dog, as you need to be able to break them apart without getting attacked yourself.
 
Interestingly for all their selective breeding, if you look at the scientific facts around APBT, Rottweilers have a stronger bite force pound for pound.

Why aren't *they* on the DDL? Reason - The DDA/L is a farce.
 
Personally I find dogs are in more danger than the postman who usually kicks first and asks questions after then wonder why they get bitten.The local camp breeds Akitas and the police won't go near they are more afraid of them than Irish Staffies (Pit bulls ;) )
The only dog I have ever been atacked by was a boxer!
 
Trakehner said:
Nope, not true at all. Some breeds of dog, due to their "jobs", are very aggressive and not good with people.

Kuvasv
Cane Corso
Komondor
Ill-bred Malamute
Pit Bull (it's not always due to scummy owners causing their attacks)

I've a neighbor with a Kuvasv, he's Hungarian and wanted a "bit of home" breed. Scary dog, meant to be in the mountains with sheep, taking care of business by himself.

Sometimes it is the dog's breed.
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I have to disagree with this! I live in Hungary and am a vet student so I do handle Kuvasz, Komondors and pit bulls regularly - including fighting dogs :(

All Komondor and Kuvasz are not 'very aggressive'. The ones I have handled have been just fine. A yard I used to go to had a large uncastrated male Kuvasz who was great with strangers as this was the way he was brought up. He was very well socialised with people, and was used to seeing them coming and going through the yard constantly. In the surgery they are fine to treat; rarely growl or make a fuss and need to be muzzled. Not all over you to say hello but not aggressive either.

The pit bulls, bandogs etc tend to be very good with people. Including the ones terribly abused and used as fighting dogs. The pit bulls I know that come in for regular treatment are often overjoyed to see me even though the proceedures may be painful. They just seem to like people. And we do have problems with dog fights here - if you see tyres hanging from trees in some areas of Budapest this is not for kids swings - they are to train the fighting dogs. Even abused like this then rescued, these pit bulls can be gentle though I have only seen one or two of the real fighters, so not a representative sample. The rest are pets :)

I wold also say that at least owners of large potentially aggressive dogs are sensible and will muzzle them. I have only (touch wood) been bitten twice so far - by a lab and a bichon. Funnily enough the lab bit me after her muzzle had been taken off when the bill was being paid. She looked at me and just quietly closed her mouth gently round my leg - not hard but just to let me know what she thought of me :eek:
 
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