Clean our Streets of Dangerous Dogs

Lets not forget all the good that dogs do

Guide Dogs for the Blind
Hearing Dogs
Pets as Therapy
Police Dogs
Tracker Dogs
Search and Rescue Dogs
Mountain Rescue Dogs

Hi I'm new to the forum but if I may be so bold as to pick up on a few issues.

Sam states that the top 10 dog bites are Daschund, Yorkshire Terrier, etc. This is nothing more than a statistical faux par. As more people own these types of dogs then you would expect in any survey that they would appear towards the top of the list. Sic: 100,000 people own Yorkshire Terriers producing 100 bites per year equals 1 bite per 1000 dogs, however if the number of rottweillers is around 25,000 with say 80 bites per year, then that gives us a median average of 1 bite per 31.25 dogs. So you are 31 times more likely to be bitten by a rottweiller than a Yorkshire Terrier. It is the 100 bites per year figure appearing higher than the 80 bites that these tables so often (mis)-quote.

On another point - an extension of all the good things that dogs do, an average dog costs about £1,500 per year maintenance (not including vets fees). How much good could be done for charity with that money?

Lastly on a pedantic note - Devil's Advocate titled this discussion 'Clean our Streets of Dangerous Dogs' - it should be 'Cleanse our Streets of Dangerous Dogs'

Go rot in hell numbers geek - DOGS ARE DAMMNED GOOD.
I have 3 prize versatile hunting dogs - I use them for sniffin out rats, cats, stinkin foxes, rabbits, boar and gators. Why I even use them for trackin squirrels and coot.
All 100% good american blood - none o that pussy footin limey stuff mind ya.

The RSPCA says it is to withdraw from Crufts dog show amid concerns about the health of pedigree animals.

It is to scrap its regular welfare stand at the contest next March.

The charity says "morally unjustifiable" breeding practices lead to disability, deformity and disease among show dogs.

If this isn't a damning indictment of breeding dangerous pedigree dogs then I don't know what is....!!!

BBC SCAREMONGERING

The Kennel Club feels that the programme, Pedigree Dogs Exposed (BBC1 19 August) missed a real opportunity to progress the cause of dog health. It appeared to have a very specific agenda repeating prejudices, providing no context for the debate, and failing to put forward any constructive proposals. It left viewers with the mistaken impression that all pedigree dogs are riddled with a wide range of health problems and that the dog community is doing little or nothing to improve the situation. This is patently not true.

Whilst the Kennel Club was shocked by the dramatic imagery used in the programme, and accepts some of the important issues raised. What it does not accept is that these problems apply widely across the 200 plus breeds in the UK. Pedigree Dogs Exposed also failed to show the real progress being made by both the Kennel Club and responsible breeders in improving dog health or to recognise that 90 percent of dogs will not suffer from health problems that have a detrimental impact on the quality of life.

More than that, the programme drew upon a new study on dog genetics by Imperial College to underline its criticisms of dog breeding, without acknowledging the fact this study was entirely enabled by the Kennel Club as part of its commitment to health research. This research will now provide the Kennel Club with a valuable scientific platform to enlist the support of breeders in tackling key health problems where they occur.

Commenting, Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club spokesperson, said: “in reality the gap between some of the views expressed on the programme and those held by both the Kennel Club and most responsible breeders is very small. Over the last 20 years we have been working to develop tests and health screening schemes to identify and eradicate problems, many of which are historic. One example of this is the elimination of canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) in Irish Setters, that caused early death in puppies which was eradicated through the concerted efforts of both the Kennel Club and Irish Setter breeders.

“However, it is important to put this into context. The Kennel Club has no legal standing, unlike some similar bodies in other countries. We have to work on these issues through partnership and persuasion – not coercion. The danger of introducing draconian measures is that some breeders could choose to operate outside the Kennel Club’s jurisdiction; with absolutely no controls. That cannot be the best way forward.

“The programme also made some sweeping, and far from accurate assertions. The Kennel Club refutes that it would put ‘looks’ above the health of pedigree dogs, in fact we actively discourage the exaggeration of features in any breed. The standards have been, and will continue to be amended when necessary to ensure the breeding of healthy, well conformed dogs. Dog show judges are also educated to judge to those standards ensuring that dogs with obvious problems that could affect their quality of life do not win, and that the rewards go to fit, healthy dogs. All of this of course is dependent on the responsibility of breeders and owners – and this is where our efforts must be concentrated.”

“We can state categorically that the majority of pedigree dogs in the UK are healthy. We increasingly have in place checks to monitor health issues going forward. In those few breeds where there are problems, including those highlighted in the programme, we have been and will continue to work with breeders to improve long term health through the development of tests and screening programmes.”

Kennel Club health initiatives include: funding research to identify problems and develop efficient screening for health, such as eye testing and hip scoring; the introduction of the Accredited Breeder Scheme, to act as a ‘kite mark’ for responsible breeders; and most recently the launch of a major campaign which seeks further to promote health improvements across breeds - ‘Fit for function – fit for life’. This, in conjunction with breed clubs, focuses on tackling unnecessary exaggeration in some breeds, whether that is of coat, weight, skin, angulation, eye formation or shortness of muzzle. All dogs should be fit for function, even if that function is to be a pet - all dogs should be able to see, breath and walk freely.

“By their lack of context, programmes such as Pedigree Dogs Exposed, far from helping the situation run the risk of damaging the work already being done. This work will not be carried out by TV production companies – but by the hard work of the Kennel Club and the country’s responsible breeders.” said Caroline Kisko.

In summary, health issues are of primary concern to the Kennel Club but changes cannot be made overnight. We are working proactively with breeders to make these changes – but we are dealing with the legacy of 100 years. What we need is the support of experts such as those featured in the programme, not their condemnation – support which we have indeed received from a number of respected bodies such as The Animal Health Trust, The Blue Cross and the British Veterinary Association.

Notes:

The Kennel Club’s efforts concentrate primarily on heritable diseases because these are the ones that pass from generation to generation and have the potential to impact on a breed’s disease burden, generally. Non-heritable conditions affect the individual dog, but have little, if any, impact on the breed moving forward.

The KC has deliberately chosen to work with dog breeders and encourages and educates them on their responsibilities to screen their potential breeding stock with all available health screening programmes for heritable conditions that affect their breed, rather than to mandate that such tests should be undertaken. The KC is also very involved in sponsoring new research that will increase the number of screening programmes for heritable conditions.

The reason that this approach has been adopted is because registration of dogs with the Kennel Club is a voluntary activity, but, at the moment, we actually register the vast majority of the pure bred dogs in the UK. This means that we know how to contact most people that are breeding pure bred dogs and inform them of their responsibilities. We are cautious of becoming overly prescriptive in what we expect so we do not drive people away from the KC registration system. It would be naïve to expect that this would stop breeders from breeding, but it could significantly reduce the impact of the KC’s message, by drastically reducing the numbers of breeders with which we have contact, which would be of little benefit to breeds generally.

This is only a small part of the work the Kennel Club does in improving the health and welfare of pedigree dogs. It is a sad fact that there will always be dogs in need of further care and attention and we hope that through continued work and research, and contributions from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, we can continue to make a real difference to the health of these dogs.

For more information on Canine Health, please visit www.doggenetichealth.org

I rang the RSPCA once to report my neighbour, when they went out they used to lock their two German Shepp's in the cupboard under the stairs. The two dogs howled all day and night.

When the RSPCA arrived all they checked was that the dogs had food and water and then left.

What the RSPCA needs to remember is that it is the dog loving public that donate to keep this charity alive and by withdrawing from Crufts they may have just bit themselves in the ass.

Too often these forums become one entrenched position vs another.

I consider myself a very reasonable individual with no affiliation to any side in this debate but I would like to comment.

I think that most people despise anyone who commits acts of cruelty against animals and that it is clear in these case that it is the owners who are at fault. The fines handed out are pitiful and being banned from keeping an animal for 3 months are no deterrents whatsoever. Plus following up on this is never a police priority. And very few lead to a jail term - none of this is right.

However and this is a big however, on the other side of the debate people (very often with a vested interest) such as breeders and the Kennel Club ALWAYS blame the owners even when there is a death involved. The fact that these cases always involve the same few breeds of dogs HAS to be important and it cannot always be the owners - the breed is the common factor not the owners.

I say ban these certain breeds - they were in fact initially bred for fighting, agression, muscularity, size, etc and are relics of an age now long gone. I do not say ban all dog breeding.

And on the subject of breeding - the BBC was right to broadcast what it did. These practices have long been known about. Yesterday's decision by the RSPCA must surely be another reason for the KC to improve it's act. This withdrawal that KC supporters consider a shot in the foot for the RSPCA, will in the long run damage the KC more as they will lose out on as much credible endorsement as they can get.

Lastly - Dan D Lyon's point about charity donations should be made again - starving people or starving animal?

I watched Martin Clunes' dog programe the other week. Apparently there some ridiculous amount of unwanted dogs born every year in the UK. We're talking millions here.

An idea occurs to me in response to the General's teaser "starving people or starving animal?".......Why not feed all the starving people with all this four legged extra protien that's walking around.? The Koreans have advocated this policy for decades...

Starving Children or Starving Dogs - WHAT A STUPID AND TOTALY IRELIVANT THING TO SAY

What have Dangerous Dogs in the Uk got to do with the Worlds Starving Children - I fail to see the point.

The KC do not recognise the dogs that are listed on the Dangerous Dogs Act.

You cannot register one of these dogs with them so they therefore have no control over the Pitbulls of this country.

The big problem is that neither the KC or the RSPCA have any legal power.

In the USA the similar organisations do. They have the power to arrest, detain, fine and imprison.

Do not blame the KC for something they cannot LEGALY ENFORCE.

too many long posts have now turned this thread into the MOST BORING THREAD EVER.

on my way out i will remind you all of the thread title, highlighting the most relevant word on which i think we all agree.

'Clean our Streets of Dangerous Dogs'

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 16/09/2008 10:43:57

Hey for once Sponk is right

Here is a picture of my dangerous dog

And onother one of my dangerous dog

Oh and another one of my dangerous dog

Oh and look how vicous they are in this photo

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 16/09/2008 11:58:36

what do you mean 'for once ...' ??
I'm always right.

You just haven't learnt that yet.

oh, i forgot to add this :

'Clean our Streets of Dog Shit'

It may have happened to you before: you’re walking or cycling through the neighborhood when suddenly an unfamiliar dog crosses your path. The dog begins barking, growling; maybe it even charges you. So much for man’s best friend. Even small dogs can be threatening if they’re worked up, and just about any dog can inflict a painful bite. In the US alone, nearly 5 million people are attacked by dogs per year, and 1,000 people go to emergency rooms per day as a result of a dog attack; many of them are children, and about half of them have been bitten in the face.[1] If a dog attacks you or your child, your response can be the difference between walking away unharmed or being injured by the dog, and perhaps even be the difference between life and death.
may be putting on a friendly face, but an aggressive dog sees you baring your teeth for a fight.

Dogs that are chained or tethered to a stationary object for extended periods of time are more likely to be aggressive, so do not come within their reach.

Look for warning signs. Most dogs are not aggressive but rather just curious or defending what they perceive as their territory. It is important to be able to tell if a dog is just playing or is being truly aggressive. While some breeds have been singled out as being particularly vicious (pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes[3]) any mid-size and large dog breed can be dangerous (poodles, terriers[4]) so do not ignore warning signs because you think a certain breed is harmless or friendly.

If the dog approaches you with its head held high or low, it is probably not going to attack. A dog whose head is level means business.
A loping gait means the dog is playful and checking you out. An even, steady run means business.

Remain calm. There’s some truth to the adage that dogs and other animals can sense fear. If you panic, you may make the dog feel more confident in his attack, or you may appear threatening to the dog. Neither of these is a good situation.

Control the situation. Remember that most dogs are in subjugation to humans. A commanding “Down!” or “Go Home!” may stop an attack momentarily, giving you time to back away.

Don’t run. Running away can awaken the dog’s instinct to chase and catch animals, and he may pursue you vigorously even if its initial intent was just playful. In addition, you won’t be able to outrun a dog if you’re on foot. Even if you are on a bicycle you usually will not be able to outrun a dog.

Hold your position. Dogs have short attention spans. Often after some barking, the dog will lose interest and go away. Do not appear threatening to the dog, and don’t open your hands and arms up to a bite by extending them. Keep your fingers curled into fists to avoid getting them bitten. The dog may come quite close, even sniffing you, without actually biting.

Curl into a fetal position if there is no way to avoid the physical attack.[5] Use your arms and hands to protect your face and neck, and curl up in a ball. Remain motionless and don’t scream. Dogs will almost always lose interest in you if you remain still.[6] Wait until the dog leaves the area before getting up.

If the dog is biting, the last thing you want to do is struggle or pull away, as this can cause open, torn wounds. If you stay still and protect your ears, face, chest, and throat, the dog will only be able to inflict puncture wounds on areas of your body that have thicker skin.[7]

If the dog is biting someone else, do not pull the victim away for the very same reason. Try to force your arm in the dog’s mouth. Push your arm in forcefully towards the throat to minimize damage to yourself.[8] If you have time, wrap your arm in a shirt or jacket first.

If the dog attacks your dog, let go of the leash and do not interfere. Learn how to break up a dog fight.
Back away slowly and leave the area once the dog loses interest in you. Staying calm
and stationary can be a real test of your nerves in this situation, but it’s the best thing to do as long as the dog isn’t actually biting you.

i hate dogs

I hate CATS - what is the point in having one.

They dont do anything

They piss and shit all over your garden.

My friend had a flat roof on their kitchen that was covered in shingle.

When the roof leaked and he went up to have a look next doors cat had been using it as a toilet.

They go outstide standing in shit and then come in and walk all over your kitchen units

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT