What sane person would own a dog?

Question

Todays headlines...

Boy, 9 mauled by three rottweillers....

Answer 1

Not all dogs are bad.

Answer 2

I take it you're not a dog person then.....

Some dogs are much more likely to attack than others. We've had male labradors and none of them have been aggressive at all. Dogs also pick up a lot from their owners i.e. if the owner is a nervous, stressed person, the dog can also become stressed and nervous etc. The dog can also become aggressive if the owner hasn't kept proper control over it or has mistreated it. Another factor is that some people are attracted to certain breeds of dog that have a reputation for violence because they think it's 'tough' to have an aggressive dog. I think the real question is what sane person would own a dog that's likely to attack someone, particularly if there are children in the family.

(I believe in this case the dogs belonged to the boy's friend's family, who he'd been visiting. When he was leaving, the dogs were secured in the kitchen, but somehow got out, followed the boy across the street to his home and attacked him. Surely the fact that they were "secured" in the kitchen suggests that the friend's family knew that these dogs were a danger.)

Answer 3

That's the same as asking what sane person would own a car - there are far more injuries and deaths related to cars than to dogs yet not many people would not have a car because of the risk of injury. I know cars and dogs are very different, but it's the best analogy I can think of: in the right hands it doesn't matter what kind of car or dog you have it will be safe, yet in the wrong hands the nicest dog or the smallest car can still have the capacity for serious injury.

Dogs are quite rightly the nation's favourite pet, and provide companionship and company for millions of people. Dogs can be unpredictable - they are a living creature after all - but by good breeding and training we have produced animals which are bonded to their human family and would never think of doing them any harm. However, at the same time as we have selectively bred dogs for good traits to make good family pets, certain dogs have also been bred for aggressive, fighting tendencies. These dogs have traditionally only been used for working purposes, whether legitimate like guard dogs or illegal and immoral like dog fighting. Unfortunately it seems to be the case thses days that there is a fashion to bring these completely unsuitable dogs into a home or family situation and expect them to behave like a 'normal' dog. Quite why these dogs are popular I'm not sure, possibly the kudos or power people think they get from 'controlling' such a potentially dangerous animal, possibly complete ignorance of the breed. In some of these dogs the instincts that have breed bred into them are naturally low, in some training can supress these instincts; but it would be like living with an unexploded mine: one wrong move and there is a potential for tragedy.

Other, 'normal' breeds of dogs can have the tendency of aggression too, either due to poor breeding or mistreatment, but these dogs do not have the physical strength or characteristics to cause the same amount of injury or damage if they do turn aggressive. for example, if a working collie is kept in a small house with no exercise it can become frustrated and may nip or bite. When a collie bites it is a quick bite then let go: it's what they're bred for. Contrast that with a pitbull, a dog bred to bite and not let go until the other dog is dead.

I would never discourage anyone from owning a dog, but I would always strongly recommend they research their chosen breed carefully to make sure it would be suitable for their lifestyle. I also think that for certain dogs the return of the dog license would be a good idea; although it will never prevent people illegally owning dangerous dogs, it may discourage people with a lack of knowledge about certain breeds from buying a dog for the 'look' of it.

Answer 4

All breeds are dangerous in the wrong hands. Irresponsible pet owners that do not invest the time and money it costs to train a powerful breed like this are the reason these things happen.

If every dog owner would invest in real training...not puppy classes and sit/stay classes...but real training for their pet we wouldn't have this problem. I have seen Rottweilers and Pits as well as many other dogs be rehabillitated after attacking a person or animal. It can be done, but most people think they know everything about their dog and don't need to invest in training it.

I own 3 dogs and will continue to own dogs as long as I live, they are wonderful companions as long as I remember they are dogs and need to be treated as dogs. I have been through proper training as well as my dogs. It just takes time and patience.

Answer 5

Do you mean "a dog"? Yes, that's right! Chihuahuas, toy poodles, Yorkshire Terriers - all ferocious dogs just ready to take a flying leap at the throats of innocent bystanders.
I think you mean a particular type of dog - maybe, those that were bred for fighting?
You mustn't condemn all dog owners as "not sane" because they want to have a loving companion. There are many elderly people who rely on their dogs for company and friendship.
There is also the needs of the blind. In fact, in the very building where I work is one of these working guide dogs for the blind.
There is, indeed, a Dangerous Dogs Act and the people who own dogs found on this list are breaking the law.
You ask what sane person would own a dog? Plenty but the people who would own a ferocious, dangerous dog bred for attacking are those with little self-respect and little regards for the animal in question and should not be grouped with the many farmers, blind, elderly and just plain folk who like the company of their dogs. The people who own dogs on the "no" list are those who want to show off to the pathetic little people who surround them.

Answer 6

What sane person would assume that a newspaper headline was an accurate, unbiased, unsensationalised, piece of information?

What sane person would assume that the journalist who penned that headline knew exactly what had happened and gave a balanced account of the FACTS instead of just writing something sensational in order to sell newspapers and advertising space.

Thankfully, the majority of dog owners are sane and responsible enough not to allow tragedies like these to happen.

Answer 7

How ridiculous. More people (mainly women and children) are hurt and/or killed by abusive spouses than by dogs... Indeed, your chances of suffering harm are much greater w/ a spouse or a parent than with a dog. By your own twisted logic, you might be better off asking "what sane person would take a husband?"

Todays' headlines...
"Mother and three children beaten and killed by husband..."
(Obviously, I made this particular headline up, but I'm sure that there is a similar headline SOMEWHERE today.)

I, by the way, happen to have a kind and wonderful spouse, as well as two very gentle large dogs. I would trust any one of the three with my very life.

Answer 8

It is usually the owner not the dog. Bring back the dog licence. Our dog kennels breed rotties and never have we felt in danger and they are big boys and girls. I would never leave a child alone with any dog, why would you, both children and dogs are unpredictable regardless of upbringing. These dogs as per headline were obviously owned by scum who couldn't give a monkey for humanity. What you should ask is , was this child an innocent passer by or allowed to play around these dogs????

Answer 9

I own a dog and i am sane. My gorgeous 5 year old staffie is so friendly and such a good companion and it drives me crazy that all dogs of certain breeds all get tarred with the same brush. Anyone with a bit of common sense would not leave a boy of 9 alone with 3 rottweilers, its just common sense. I would not leave my dog alone with a child unsupervised because you never know, dogs get jealous. WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE NO COMMON SENSE?

Answer 10

Rottweiler's are trained for there distinction in defending their master and their masters property, as are other dogs such as Dobermans, Alsatian's, German Sheppard's and Pitt bulls. This is due to over breeding and manipulation of the Dogs Psyche,

They are trained in this manner, and some ways in which the Dogs are trained are savagely and inhumane, this makes them vicious and unfeeling except only to there master and it is fear which they only feel.

You cannot tarnish all dogs with the one brush. I have 2 Jack Russell's and they have the most sweetest temperament. They are very gentle as I have not trained them to be anything other than my pal and loved!
Its not the dogs at fault its the people who train them for what ever purpose they see fit, if anybody is to blame its the owner of those Rottweiler's!

The police through out the world use Rottweiler's and other large breeds as I have listed for all sorts of benefits for the public and the safety of the public, dogs have also saved lives, You need to not be so ignorant about the subject...
Unless you own a dog and understand what most dog owners feel about their pets, then you haven't got a clue!

Ever heard the saying " A mans best friend is his Dog" and 99% of the time its true...

Answer 11

What sane person would leave a 9 year old and 3 rottweillers unattended together? It makes me laugh when the owners of dangerous dogs say "oh but ours isn't like that he/she wouldnt harm a fly".

Someone at my local pub bought a Japanese fighting dog and when it goes mental and jumping on people the owner laughs and says "oh don't be daft it won't bite".

Er, if an animal is bred for it's killer instinct which some breeds of dog have been in the past, no matter how pampered or 'trained' it is - there's always the potential for nature to rear it's true face.

Any owners who are pig ignorant and downright stupid enough to deny this purely natural potential deserve to have their arms chewed off. It's just a shame a lot of these owners don't need to have a licence before they be left in charge of children.