Dog Attacks Increasing

[seasideBill]

Worrying trend:

Dog attacks: 34% increase recorded by police in England and Wales

There were at least 22,000 reported cases in England and Wales last year.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Bailey58]

Maybe down to the increase in dog ownership, and later abandonment and rehoming, during and since Covid?

 

[seasideBill]

Maybe down to the increase in dog ownership, and later abandonment and rehoming, during and since Covid?

Apparently attack rate is growing faster than new pet ownership rate.

 

[Phill D]

The article following that report says,
Dog behaviour problems linked to Covid increase in dog owners.

 

[TheBig1]

Covid purchases are only one part of the problem. The lack of basic training and poor attitude of many owners is much more relevant. This is only going to get worse with the youngsters I see getting dogs. They can't deal with their feral kids, so what on earth do we expect them to do with dogs. The marked increase of dog fouling is an indicator of this, as they don't see it as their responsibility to clean up after their untrained dogs

I hear on the rescue grapevine that dog fighting has also seen a massive increase since covid. But that is also partly down to a cultural thing with recent immigrants not accepting what was legal in their home country is banned here. The dogs rescued from fighting rings, sometimes stolen, are very hard to rehome safely. Even the apparently timid ones have serious issues and can panic and bite if they feel in danger again. PTSD basically

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[Miggs]

Seen it just yesterday, on two separate occasions I was walking my dog and the quite clearly both foreign owners were struggling to stop there dogs from ripping my dogs head off, one of them was pulling with all his might on just a piece of rope round it's neck!
We walk our Collie off the lead everywhere and when I see these types coming I just tell her to go round and she will just give them a wide berth.
I sometimes wonder what these foreign scroats keep these dogs for!
By the way, i'm not racist...I hate all foreigners equally!

 

[The Wino]

Covid purchases are only one part of the problem. The lack of basic training and poor attitude of many owners is much more relevant. This is only going to get worse with the youngsters I see getting dogs. They can't deal with their feral kids, so what on earth do we expect them to do with dogs. The marked increase of dog fouling is an indicator of this, as they don't see it as their responsibility to clean up after their untrained dogs

I hear on the rescue grapevine that dog fighting has also seen a massive increase since covid. But that is also partly down to a cultural thing with recent immigrants not accepting what was legal in their home country is banned here. The dogs rescued from fighting rings, sometimes stolen, are very hard to rehome safely. Even the apparently timid ones have serious issues and can panic and bite if they feel in danger again. PTSD basically

Do you have any link's to it being recent immigrants that are driving any increase I looked on Google but they were all links to us immigrants.

 

[Googlebot]

Wow! Dog attacks increase and it’s the immigrants fault really is out there.

The mind boggles…….

I deal with the aftermath of dog attacks across the region, I can’t recall one in my lifetime that I could say was due to immigrants having dogs.

 

[The Wino]

Covid purchases are only one part of the problem. The lack of basic training and poor attitude of many owners is much more relevant. This is only going to get worse with the youngsters I see getting dogs. They can't deal with their feral kids, so what on earth do we expect them to do with dogs. The marked increase of dog fouling is an indicator of this, as they don't see it as their responsibility to clean up after their untrained dogs

I hear on the rescue grapevine that dog fighting has also seen a massive increase since covid. But that is also partly down to a cultural thing with recent immigrants not accepting what was legal in their home country is banned here. The dogs rescued from fighting rings, sometimes stolen, are very hard to rehome safely. Even the apparently timid ones have serious issues and can panic and bite if they feel in danger again. PTSD basically

I did find a link to a dog fighting ring in Birmingham that sound very much like part of one community

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/sep/21/animalwelfare.ukcrime

But that was 2007.

 

[The Wino]

Wow! Dog attacks increase and it’s the immigrants fault really is out there.

The mind boggles…….

I deal with the aftermath of dog attacks across the region, I can’t recall one in my lifetime that I could say was due to immigrants having dogs.

That's what I thought. I thought it was more likely knuckle draggers also likely to be into football hooliganism . I did find one link as in my previous post but is it really the majority?

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[Googlebot]

That's what I thought. I thought it was more likely knuckle draggers also likely to be into football hooliganism . I did find one link as in my previous post but is it really the majority?

No, it’s just yet another example of the wedge issues that keep being pushed and blaming certain groups for the woe’s of all and some people get taken in by it.

We have seen an increase in dog attacks, my own view is that it’s down to poorly socialised animals due to Covid and lack of training due to the cost of living crisis.

People can’t afford the expensive training and behaviourists, so it gets missed and the dogs end up poorly understood and confused.

Add to that increasing self entitlement that their dog should be able to do what it wants and you end up with a problem. The amount of idiots with no manners who have their dogs off the lead is such an example. One the other week even had a go at Lucy because our dog was on the lead and his off the lead dog had a go.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Owning a Staffie / Pitbull cross with huge jaws seems to be a status symbol for equally aggressive dregs of society.

I bet it makes them feel big when people jump off the pavement or cross the street.

 

[TheBig1]

Look guys I can only tell you what the rescues are dealing with. The rise in dog fighting has a definite element of non UK born people feeding the increase. We had it tightly under control until the last few years. I am absolutely not being racist in these comments and can categorically state that UK born people are also involved, watching, betting and supporting the events. Until recently most dog fighting was related to the traveller community.

People rarely get bitten at such events, but the dogs involved can be very mentally scarred. If a dog rescued from this abhorrent "sport" get rescued to a family environment don't receive ongoing support and training they can be a disaster waiting to happen

Yes I know what I am talking about having been at the sharp end of taking down dog fighting rings and the court cases that follow. More than once judges have put a ban on anyone mentioning the nationality of those involved so as not to stoke racism.

I will not share private sources, intended to help and protect those working on banning such blood sports. But if you do a few google searches and look at the names prosecuted, you will get a good idea. My point though is not that fighting dogs regularly attack people. They are kept at isolated farms etc to hide them. But to point out that there are reasons why dog attacks are increasing. The fighting rings and their supporters are one big part of the picture. Covid purchases are another

I didn't even touch on to totally irresponsible breeding from the wrong dogs like XL bullies and other dogs that were bred for aggressive nature previously. You have to stop and think, why do dogs attack??

 

[TheBig1]

Owning a Staffie / Pitbull cross with huge jaws seems to be a status symbol for equally aggressive dregs of society.

I bet it makes them feel big when people jump off the pavement or cross the street.

I have rescued and owned a few pitbull/staffie crosses and none have ever bitten anyone. In fact the one that died last year was rescued from a fighting ring and with us trained as an assistance/therapy dog. Train them right and give them something to occupy their intelligence and they are great dogs. More than once we had the wrong people ask to adopt big muscular dogs. One in particular was a serving police officer that wanted one that "looked hard" to accompany him on his runs and working out in the park. Yes I spoke to his superior to explain why he was turned down

 

[Phill D]

One thing I believe is certain is that any increase in dog attacks/ biting will be almost entirely be due to an increase in irresponsible owners.

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[seasideBill]

One thing I believe is certain is that any increase in dog attacks/ biting will be almost entirely be due to an increase in irresponsible owners.

I don’t doubt that’s true in the vast majority of cases, but why is there an increase in irresponsible owners on the scale we’re currently experiencing? There are about 8,000 dog related NHS admissions annually. Time was most folks were happy with 1 dog. Now 2 or 3 (or more) is very common. You see owners walking down the street struggling to control a pack of dogs. When they’re off the lead, it can be mayhem and extremely annoying. I think some are bought as weapons (as discussed above), but many are bought as fashion accessories, child substitutes and children’s toys. Are these good reasons to own a dog? I guess there are unfit owners in all categories but how bad does it have to get before measures are taken to control the situation?

 

[Phill D]

I don’t doubt that’s true in the vast majority of cases, but why is there an increase in irresponsible owners on the scale we’re currently experiencing? There are about 8,000 dog related NHS admissions annually. Time was most folks were happy with 1 dog. Now 2 or 3 (or more) is very common. You see owners walking down the street struggling to control a pack of dogs. When they’re off the lead, it can be mayhem and extremely annoying. I think some are bought as weapons (as discussed above), but many are bought as fashion accessories, child substitutes and children’s toys. Are these good reasons to own a dog? I guess there are unfit owners in all categories but how bad does it have to get before measures are taken to control the situation?

As you point out there are many reasons for having a dog in the home; we have one. He is a great companion and keeps me active. Are you a dog owner?
I like to think i am a responsible for the behavior of our dog and would welcome any actions that will prevent responsible well looked after dogs getting a bad name and poor press. So what measures do you think can be put in place to control the situation you have described?

 

[Spriddler]

Noticeable increase in dog owners in my village.
Many get few walks (one owner opposite me takes her new designer dog to the verge and then straight back indoors after it has cocked its leg). Many of the Lockdown dogs have few walks so never properly 'socialise' and consequently become nervous/protective/aggressive when outdoors and near to strangers and other dogs.
Even worse now that folk have gone back to work and leave them shut in alone all day.

 

[seasideBill]

Noticeable increase in dog owners in my village.
Many get few walks (one owner opposite me takes her new designer dog to the verge and then straight back indoors after it has cocked its leg). Many of the Lockdown dogs have few walks so never properly 'socialise' and consequently become nervous/protective/aggressive when outdoors and near to strangers and other dogs.
Even worse now that folk have gone back to work and leave them shut in alone all day.

I think the shut in alone all day is commonplace. What their owners don’t realise is the amount of annoying barking & howling that goes on in their absence. The dogs are obviously distressed.

 

[seasideBill]

As you point out there are many reasons for having a dog in the home; we have one. He is a great companion and keeps me active. Are you a dog owner?
I like to think i am a responsible for the behavior of our dog and would welcome any actions that will prevent responsible well looked after dogs getting a bad name and poor press. So what measures do you think can be put in place to control the situation you have described?

I don’t have a dog. There are various reasons e.g. too much of a tie, smell, poo, restrictive etc. However, I’m not a dog fan, but I’m not a hater either - I shared a house with dogs for about 20 years.
As far as measures are concerned that’s a tough one. I guess you’d need to look at licensing and compulsory training options. A blunt tool but that’s the way it always works, the majority get to pay for the transgressions of the irresponsible minority.

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[Phill D]

As far as measures are concerned that’s a tough one. I guess you’d need to look at licensing and compulsory training options. A blunt tool but that’s the way it always works, the majority get to pay for the transgressions of the irresponsible minority.

it certainly is a tough one. the biggest hurdle to overcome would be the implementation and policing of any policy that was put in place and of course the cost.
some of those that take on a dog may reconsider if there were additional costs or hurdles in place and that alone may reduce some problems. however, it is likely that those owners that are truly the problem with aggressive dogs are quite likely not to comply with any measures that are not fully and effectively policed.
its rather like the motorhomers that dump waste irresponsibly or park irresponsibly; we all carry the stigma for the behavior of the few.

 

[Brody]

We live near a massive field which, when we first got our dog 10 years ago was used regularly but not excessively by locals for dog exercise.

In the last couple of years though we haven't step foot on it, it is noticeable the increase of dogs on there along with their irresponsible owners. So much so we don't let our children take the dog out anymore for walks, not because of them but because of other people and their blasé attitude with their own dogs behaviour.

 

[Poppy and Hamish]

I am a dog owner and get really frustrated with people who don't train their dogs. I have the skills and expertise to do so myself, indeed my I had trained my puppy to never approach dogs on lead, never to jump up people, to move left or right or weave off lead on my direction to avoid bikes/mobility scooters/VOI scooters/pushchairs and toddlers, and to have perfect recall by the time he was 7-8 months, so it can be done. My older girl even knows the command 'swan' which is a personal favourite. However, not everyone has the skills to do this and need trainers or classes. I took my eldest to classes as a puppy for socialisation and it was about £40 for 8 classes. When I got puppy, it had tripled for less classes. Many people can't afford this

Add this to the lockdown/poor socialisation/separation anxiety issues, in addition to people breeding poor quality dogs and charging the earth it's a perfect storm!

 

[TheBig1]

I don’t have a dog. There are various reasons e.g. too much of a tie, smell, poo, restrictive etc. However, I’m not a dog fan, but I’m not a hater either - I shared a house with dogs for about 20 years.
As far as measures are concerned that’s a tough one. I guess you’d need to look at licensing and compulsory training options. A blunt tool but that’s the way it always works, the majority get to pay for the transgressions of the irresponsible minority.

The tough issue is the responsible owners will get a licence and already do dog training and socialising with a puppy. However the ones that are an issue now will for ever be so. They will not get a licence or train, and if they get into bother "not my dog mate!" and abandon the poor dog. Then immediately get another to terrorise the neighbourhood, bought down the pub from a back street breeder

We need to implement the compulsory licence to breed dogs and fine anyone heavily that does not. Then there should be compulsory microchipping, registration and liability insurance. Within a generation you will see the majority of dogs registered and owners traceable and liable. Include compulsory neutering for dogs not licenced to breed and the number of dogs ending up in rescues would drop dramatically

 

[dunnah01]

Wow! Dog attacks increase and it’s the immigrants fault really is out there.

The mind boggles…….

I deal with the aftermath of dog attacks across the region, I can’t recall one in my lifetime that I could say was due to immigrants having dogs.

Yeah - I'm sure I read somewhere about an owl and a pussy cat in a boat so there must be lots of dogs in dinghys crossing the channel

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[Poppy and Hamish]

The tough issue is the responsible owners will get a licence and already do dog training and socialising with a puppy. However the ones that are an issue now will for ever be so. They will not get a licence or train, and if they get into bother "not my dog mate!" and abandon the poor dog. Then immediately get another to terrorise the neighbourhood, bought down the pub from a back street breeder

We need to implement the compulsory licence to breed dogs and fine anyone heavily that does not. Then there should be compulsory microchipping, registration and liability insurance. Within a generation you will see the majority of dogs registered and owners traceable and liable. Include compulsory neutering for dogs not licenced to breed and the number of dogs ending up in rescues would drop dramatically

Ooh.... I'm not sure compulsory neutering would be the way to go, especially when neutering males that are anxious makes them MORE aggressive and reactive not less.... So essentially that would make the situation worse on the individual dog level

Microchipping is also already compulsory.

I agree about controlled and licensed breeding though. My dogs are from a registered breeder, that does the health checks (breed specific) and are assured KC not just regular KC. She carefully selects lines for personality and provides hearing dogs for the deaf, so you know they are well bred dogs

 

[Phill D]

The tough issue is the responsible owners will get a licence and already do dog training and socialising with a puppy. However the ones that are an issue now will for ever be so. They will not get a licence or train, and if they get into bother "not my dog mate!" and abandon the poor dog. Then immediately get another to terrorise the neighbourhood, bought down the pub from a back street breeder

We need to implement the compulsory licence to breed dogs and fine anyone heavily that does not. Then there should be compulsory microchipping, registration and liability insurance. Within a generation you will see the majority of dogs registered and owners traceable and liable. Include compulsory neutering for dogs not licenced to breed and the number of dogs ending up in rescues would drop dramatically

I agree with all of your points John except i would be extremely uncomfortable with your suggestion of compulsory neutering for dogs not licenced to breed. Although I perfectly understand why you have raised the point.
however, as you and I have said those who are the problem will do as they please not register the dog and not get it neutered.

Licensing and policing of breeding is absolutely key. Microchips have been compulsory in Wales for some time, but the transfer of ownership to match the held details is neither compulsory of policed.

 

[pampam]

Dog fights are so cruel and sadistic,they should get a minimum 5 years,and dont get me started on puppy farming

 

[Tonks]

I didn't even touch on to totally irresponsible breeding from the wrong dogs like XL bullies and other dogs that were bred for aggressive nature previously. You have to stop and think, why do dogs attack??

The regulations on backyard breeding and the sale of dogs and other animals needs significantly tightening up. There are far too many animals being bred, and far too many have unhealthy parents and no proper socialisation or medical care. And that doesn’t touch those who bring in puppies bred outside the UK, which often come in having been taken from their mothers too young and subjected to long and traumatic journeys. Well meaning people buy them to get them out of their awful situation which leads to the perpetuation of the problem and frequently to large vets bills and much heartache for the new owners.

 

[Spriddler]

The regulations on backyard breeding and the sale of dogs and other animals needs significantly tightening up. There are far too many animals being bred, and far too many have unhealthy parents and no proper socialisation or medical care.

Couldn't agree more. After retiring I did occasional daywork for a builder pal. One job was stripping out a damp semi-derelict barn pre-conversion to a dwelling that had been a puppy farm. It was utterly disgusting and heart-breaking to see the conditions in which they had been kept.

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