Devil Dogs?

Question

Do you believe certain breeds like the Rottweiler and Staffordshire Bull Terrier should be banned?
My boyfriend's family has owned staffies for years and we are against this move. Perhaps a 'vetting' should be introduced by breeders to make sure their dogs don't go to unsuitable homes?
What do you think?

Answer 1

I think all new pet owners should be vetted - a decent breeder would do this but that is not to say any person could fool a breeder into believing the pet will be going to a great home when they might not be.

I have a friend whose son wanted to buy a goldfish - the shop wouldn't sell one unless they provided sample water from their tank to ensure it was going into the right environment... I remember when all you had to do was smile nicely at the fairground guy, through hooplah and walk off with one that would die within a week as you kept it in tap water over the telly feeding it crumbs...!!!

I think more punishments should be dished out to those who are cruel to pets.

I do not believe certain breeds should be banned - the insurance companies alreadyb make it hard to own certain breeds and have insurance..

Maybe the government should ensure pets are microchipped and that they are insured (info can come from the chip) and if it isn't chipped or insured the owner pays out within 7 days for a chip and insurance or the dog is re-homed.

It is so difficult as there are thousands of other issues the police have to deal with - but the RSPCA are there too - and community bobbies... it would not bother me if a copper asked to scan my dogs.

Answer 2

There's no such thing as either a devil or an angelic dog. A dog is a dog.
For owners who believe their dog's heart is made of gold and they wouldn't hurt a fly, it is not the case that a nice home makes a nice dog. Dogs have to be shown how to behave, they have to be taught good manners and self control; just in the same way that our kids do. Training is teaching, being nice is not training.

In days gone by more people spent more time around animals, living and working with them. We had a more realistic attitude amd more skills. As we become increasingly urbanised we are losing those skills. People are increaingly unable to tell the difference between conformation and condition, for example; so greyhound owners get shouted at for having thin dogs by people who mean well but don't know very much.

Some dogs are on a short fuse. Most of those have been banned. Some are still available as pets.
Since most breeders are not responsible - we hear horror stories every week on here - its asking too much to expect them to tell the difference between a knowledgeable home and a not so good one.
There is no one easy solution to this problem. It is going to take a number of iniotiatives to sort it out.

In Belgium, dogs are banned from citiy streets until they pass a 'good citizen' certificate. It's a training and temperament test, and its an excellent idea. It would be a good start here.

Answer 3

People who think this are obviously narrow minded people, the fact of the matter is there are good dogs and bad dogs of every breed however you only ever hear the worst of it. for example staffordshire bull terriers have the nickname of nanny dog as they used to be left at home with the children of the family and would look after them whilst the families worked (obviously this was when it was socially acceptable in the olden days). german shepherds as well are used as police dogs and when working appear to be vicious however the breed is extremely good trackers and only attack when they know it is the criminal and they never attack to maim only to scare them into laying down. the friendliest german shepherd i know is a police dog who is the soppiest dog and the handlers three children love him.

A lot of a dogs actions comes from the owners, if they are bred properly by responsible owners then the dog is more likely to be the 'good' catagorie, even the breeds who are generally known as the most placid have been known to attack if not bought up properly. i agree that a vetting system for breeders should be introduced however this wouldnt stop those buying the breeds from ruining them .

Answer 4

No the breeds shouldnt be banned, I have a staffie and she is a softie & I know loads of people with them & they all say same. I agree with you on the breeders introducing vetting homes of prospective owners to ensure suitability & correct care etc. to be taken of dog.
A dog generally doesnt start being vicious for no reason unless it is taught to be. It isnt just the two breeds you mentioned though that can be vicious any dog can be. My OH rehomed a spaniel which had been very badly treated by its owners & it has taken 18 months for it to trust us it has bitten me several times for no reason. It makes me cross that anyone can just go and get a dog without any checks on that person being done.

Answer 5

In recent years, pit bulls have gained more than just a foothold in the public awareness. Unscrupulous breeding and negative media attention have resulted in many apartment complexes, neighborhoods and even counties imposing bans on the breed, citing them as "inherently dangerous" to the public.
But did you know that pit bulls, despite the fact that they were originally bred to fight with each other, were also bred to be trustworthy and friendly to people? These dogs actually earned the nickname "nursemaid's dog," because they were so reliable with young children.

Today, however, the breed often attracts the worst kind of dog owners--those who are only interested in them for fighting or protection. It's a shame what has happened to this loyal and affectionate breed-but as the pit bull population has increased so rapidly, shelters are now struggling to deal with an overflow of image-plagued, hard-to-place dogs. And despite its illegality, people are still training and breeding pit bulls to participate in dog fights in cities and towns across the country.

Answer 6

No breeds should be banned. There should be laws on breeding and dog ownership instead. Perhaps reintroduce dog licences for certain breeds and/or dogs intended for guarding purposes. The way a dog turns out all depends on the way it is raised from a puppy. Most examples of the most hated breeds that i have ever met are wonderful dogs, with terriers being the ones to watch for their aggressive tendencies!!

Answer 7

I do not think they should be banned, they are great dogs. I have owned both breeds and they have never been the problems. Then there are other breeds of dogs that are not exploited for their power but are extremely temperamental. I fostered a couple of breeds ( not rotts or pits) that were raised improperly and were vicious animals. Their breeds were known to be aggressive and then they were not given a fair chance by their previous owners. Dogs are a product of their masters so I guess there should be responsible breeders that monitor who their puppies go to, and not just pits or rottweilers. My friend recently purchased a Cane Corso which are known to be people and dog aggressive if not handled properly. That breeder took the time to research who each of her puppies went to and checks in frequently to make sure things are good. Thats a breeder who cares and is responsible, every breeder should be that way.

Answer 8

I never believed in labelling dogs as dangerous, my aunt had a yorkshire terrier that was extremely savage but because of its size it wasnt really a problem. It would be impossible to police the distribution of such dogs but there should certainly be definite laws about taking these dogs into public places. My dog and I were attacked by 2 german shepherds and a rottweiler earlier this year but that was negligence on the part of the owner. The police cant be bothered who does what because its all too much trouble for them so at the end of the day, we all have to say a prayer that the majority of owners remain responsible.

Answer 9

In a local survey it was found that Staffordshire Bull Terriers were responsible for over 50% of the collision accidents between dog and person. The figure was nearly 90%.

It is because they are small and stubborn. Minor injuries like cuts and grazes.

I would go for statistics. Rhodesian Ridgebacks seem to be OK but Dogo Argentinia are not (just too bloody big!). Dobermans seem to be better than Alsatians, but a Doberman running full belt at a car going slowly will make a hell of a dent in the car. And it is just being peaceful.

The onus should be on the dog owner to prove they are safe, rather than the public to prove they are dangerous.

Answer 10

I believe that any dog in the wrong hands can become dangerous. Too many Rotties and Staffs belong to the wrong people, they are used as status symbols. Prospective owners should be vetted for suitability and if necessary dogs could be sterilised before homing or if sold as puppies with agreement that they are sterilised. This would stop them being bred by the wrong people.
If people are convicted of having a dangerous dog out of control they should be banned from keeping dogs for life