Who out their has a small dog that bites,and do u think it should be in the dangerous dog act.?

Question

Do westies ,yorkies and lhasa become dangerous when they bite,or are they small enough to bully

Answer 1

The dangerous dog act is unfair as all dogs could potentially kill if they wanted to. I'm not saying that dog's shouldn't be on it but it is unfair to stigmatise an entire breed. It is certain owners who should be banned from keeping dogs. If you are a responsible dog owner who understands the animal and how it should be treated, trained and socialised then these attacks wouldn't happen. In my opinion it is entirely the owners doing for allowing the animal to behave in an aggressive manner.

Answer 2

Of course they are dangerous. In the course of my work I've been bitten by small dogs several times and never a big dog (in fact, the only big dog that's shown agression to me was a dalmatian). Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 states that it is an offence to be an owner of a dog of any type or breed which is dangerously out of control in a public place or a non-public place in which it is not permitted to be. If a dog intimidates someone with agression it is dangerous. Period. Size and breed irrelevant.

Answer 3

For any dog to bite any human is a big "no no".
It must be dealt with correctly AND dogs need to be confined away from strangers that enter the dogs domicile.

My Scotties have a rack of teeth that can do some serious damage. They have ganged up to kill some pretty strong animals. They look very cute and cheerful. I keep them well away from anyone entering my home. I know that my dogs have never bitten anyone, but the first time is one time too many.

People who don't know dogs will reach right into the dogs face and then move their hand right up over the top of the dogs mouth. For some dogs it is really hard for them to understand this action from a stranger. It looks menacing to them.
I don't want anyone putting their hand in my face. And never in my dogs face.
What makes people do this is ignorance.
So please pass the word. People should never reach to pet a dog they don't know well. I teach everyone who comes near my dogs. "Always ask for permission before you pet a dog you don't know."
If people knew more about how to raise dogs that is helpful.

Answer 4

The issue should not be whether the act is 'dangerous'. A dog should not be biting people for any reason other than as a staged event such as protection work and for actual work such as a K9 unit. People laugh off their small dogs aggression because it really is not 'dangerous' since it would be hard for a chihuahua to actually kill someone (other than possibly an infant) but it does not make the behavior acceptable and those owners should be responsible.

Answer 5

Fatalities have been caused by the following small breeds: Pomeranian, Lhasa Apso, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Jack Russell, Basenji, Yorkshire Terrier. I personally know a lady whose infant was killed by the family Lhasa Apso.

People accept behavior from small dogs that would never be tolerated in a large breed.

Answer 6

i agree with the first person stating any dog can be dangerous. Although we have the advantage to do alot of damage to a small biting dog unless it's biting a small child that can't get it to stop then there's big problems for the owner. No one should let their dog continue to bite the owner needs to stop that from happening right from the beginning.
I wouldn't be afraid of a small dog biting me now if it were a pitbull, doby, rotty then I'd be worried.

Answer 7

The dangerous dog act incorporates any dog that bites regardless of breed. In my vast experience with dogs, lots and lots of small dogs are snappy & yappy. Small bloke complex. The thing that is really annoying is that because they rarely (because of their size) scare people, the owner lets them get away with it. All owners should be more responsible. I have a 57kilo German Shepherd and he is as good as gold because I have spent a long time training him. I didn't want a dog that was aggressive, annoying to other dogs and people and didn't do what I tell him WHEN I tell him. It is all down to the owner...not the dog...

Answer 8

No dog should have rights to bite for nothing, you know most of the time it's down to the up bringing, all dogs show signs that they are unhappy and unless notice is taken they will snap or bite. A small dog can still do the same amount of damage as a large dog, it just depends on the size of the victim!

Answer 9

In my town the dangerous dog act covers behavior, not breeds. Many people mistakenly believe that small dogs acting aggressive is funny, it is Not. The most horrible dog attack I personally know of was by a shiz tzu who mauled an infant, the dog was presented to my vet clinic for rabies quarantine and later euthanasia. And in my opinion the attack could easily have been prevented, but because it was a small dog they had dismissed its behavior. At our vet clinic we also see many pitbulls, rottis,chows and other supposedly aggressive dogs who are all awesome sweet and well trained. It comes down to the owners and responsible adults, unfortunately responsibility is not a popular trait.

Answer 10

There is no reason it shouldn't be in the dangerous dog act. Most just ignor this though. Honestly dogs that bite should have their owners beaten for not putting their pets in line. Just cause you slap your dog for biting doesn't make you a horrible pet owner, it makes you a good one for teaching it right from wrong, and preventing it from attacking people later.