Lately the area I live in has had 3 incidents of dog bites in one week. Wondering what is causing the sudden increase of bites? What can dog owners do to prevent it? What is the solution to this?
I did hear of one person mentioning some breeds that are not exercised enough can go aggressive. Has anyone heard of that before?
It breaks my heart to hear of stories of dog bites. The owner is usually the root cause but how do we fix it so bad owners don't have pets?

How do we fix it so bad owners don't have pets?


Now there's a question I wish I had the answer to. And you're exactly right, it usually has more to do with the owner than the dog.

One thing you have to remember is that we have had unseasonal weather around the country. Most bug are flourishing including fleas. Some dogs are allergic and just plain sensetive to fleas and when disturbed can bite. It is hard to say not knowing the situation. Also reporting of bites can go in waves but the actual amount can be steady.

There are certainly a number of aggressive breeds, pit bulls and the like. We have taken to banning certain aggressive breeds and requiring certain breeds be muzzled in public but there are always owners who think they are above the law and who fail to understand their dog may exhibit territorial behavior when the owner isn't around

To deal with the problem you need to educate the public to a no tolerance policy where the safety of the public is put above the owners preferences. This can produce a great deal of conflict as enforcement will mean the public participating in making authorities aware of breaches. So all dogs licenced and stray and aggressive animals destroyed. No use of dogs for property protection

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Originally Posted by paraclete

There are certainly a number of aggressive breeds, pit bulls and the like. we have taken to banning certain aggressive breeds and requiring certain breeds be muzzled in public but there are always owners who think they are above the law and who fail to understand their dog may exhibit territorial behavour when the owner isn't around

to deal with the problem you need to educate the public to a no tolerance policy where the safety of the public is put above the owners preferences. This can produce a great deal of conflict as enforcement will mean the public participating in making authorities aware of breaches. So all dogs licenced and stray and aggressive animals destroyed. No use of dogs for property protection

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You said a mouthful, but it ultimately boils down to the owners awareness and handling of THEIR animal.
If I had a nickel for every client that asked me upon returning to an exam room with their dog "Did he act OK? because he will bite" I wouldn't be working right now.
You think they could tell you that ahead of time.
Sadly I have found that there are many owners who think that their dogs aggression problem is cute. And have had owners laugh because the dog tried to bite me or a co-
Worker or worse actually did bite one of us, it happens.
It's a risk we take every day.
Hence, my feeling that the problem is primarily owner related.
I've seen aggression in every breed and mixes, and we have a pit and a chow mix and a pit mix, two of the breeds that are noted as being notorious for aggression issues.
I have no aggression issues with any of my dogs, but I am a careful owner.
Responsible, knowledgeable owners are key in solving the problem, but how can you make people be either?

If you are a vet or similar and have frequent encounters with dogs why haven't you implemented a muzzle policy, all dogs must be muzzled when they come on your premises and you provide the muzzles. I have no doubt you have experienced a number of cat bites too. The owner can't be responsible if you expect them to volunteer the information you think pertinent after all their mind is on other things..

You are one of the people you complain about, such dogs are loyal but dangerous around other animals and particularly small children. They will attack without provocation because people just don't understand dog psychology, which is very different to human psychology. Your solution appears to be that you can keep dangerous animals because they take on the attributes of their owner, this is absolute nonsense, even a well trained dog will attack if it is startled or feels threatened and is not restrained by its owner.

I had a recent run in with one of these breeds which jumped a six foot fence to attack another dog in its own yard and the dog was very fortunate I couldn't get a stake in my hand at the time.There was both a small child and an elderly women in the yard at the time. I saw the impact on the child for days afterward and I wound up in the ER shortly afterward. Unintended consequences but it could have been avoided if such animals were not allowed to exist. It is illegal to keep one here. Yes the owner was responsible but not present at the time but he removed the animal immediately on his return.

I spent years training dogs and was a dog training instructor so I have experience in what I am saying

"If you are a vet or similiar and have frequent encounters with dogs why haven't you implemented a muzzle policy, all dogs must be muzzled when they come on your premises and you provide the muzzles. I have no doubt you have experienced a number of cat bites too. The owner can't be responsible if you expect them to volunteer the information you think pertinent afterall their mind is on other things."

I've never been into a clicic where a muzzle policy is implemented, neither working in nor as a client. Probably a good idea, but generally owners are offended by the idea of muzzling their dogs and in a clinic setting is unrealistic. And responsible people ARE aware of there dogs tendencies and will also make others aware or keep their dog out of that situation by whatever means they and we see fit. We have many that we bring into the building by means of the back door and not into the lobby for that reason, or ask for a muzzle when they walk through the door.
Every owner and dog get the benefit of the doubt. As do cats.
And we don't have frequent bites, but it does happen even when you are being careful.
Unlike some clinics in our area we do not "fire" hard to handle dogs, we treat them, and therefore get our fair share because other clinics turn them away.

"Your solution appears to be that you can keep dangerous animals because they take on the attributes of their owner, this is absolute nonsense, even a well trained dog will attack if it is startled or feels threatened and is not restrained by its owner."

I'm not sure where you got that I feel it is OK to keep dangerous animals because they take on the owners attributes. I know nice people with aggressive dogs that have never had a problem, due to their awareness. You said it right here "restrained by its owner"

And I'm certainly not suggesting that keeping a known dangerous animal is acceptable, it isn't. But if laws are not such that they MUST be destroyed then it's the owners prerogative and responsibility.
That's my only point here, owner responsibility.
I don't like to hear stories such as yours, it is a traumatic thing for someone to witness especially a child, but personally I've seen aggression in many breeds.

Maybe I am reading your words wrong, but it seems that your solution would be to have all presumably aggressive breeds, Rotties, pits, chows, cane corsos, etc. euthanized and every dog wear a muzzle outside the confines of it's own home, that is unrealistic.

I don't doubt your experience and knowledge as an instructor, I'm merely speaking of my experience with the average every day dog and owner, most of which haven't spent an hour in a training class.

I did not mention breeds of the dogs for a reason as I want it focused on behaviors and not breeds. To be fair one bite was from a bully breed and the other two were not. People get bit by small dogs as well as large dogs. Any dog has the potential to bite. My question is what do we do to prevent dog bites as responsible owners?
Today for example we were out for a walk and a hyper terrior type dog was walking on one of those extendable leashes. We stated to the owner our dog is not allowed to greet dogs on walks unless we let him. She still let her dog come at our dog, so we stated to Owen " Come you are on a walk not the off leash park" She ignored us and this tiny dog jumped on Owen's back when he started to walk away. He did growl at her dog and she got upset.. why because my dog "is a pit bull" (he is not) and therefore dangerous. NO her dog was as she had no control over him. I am tired of owners of small breed dogs blaming the larger breeds. I am also tired of the bad owners in the world of all sizes of dogs.

My mother used to say "if it has teeth it will bite"
That is exactly what I've been trying to say, owner responsibility and just good common sense.
But sometimes I wonder if common sense is that common.
My dogs are never off leash when outdoors even to go the back fenced area of our yard.
I value their safety too much I can't allow them to run into the neighbors yard to greet his dog who roams at will and goes where she pleases.

Agree with LadySam. It is the owners and not the breed . Pit Bulls get a bad rap . They are not dangerous or vicious by nature. According to the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS) for dogs, the American Pit Bull Terrier receives a passing score of over 86%. That is better than Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, etc.

I believe there are 2 problems and both are owner related . Dogs need to be trained as pups to obey the basic commands... and dogs need to be socialized ,exposed to people and other dogs early. Dogs should be leashed when not in confined areas ;and should not be exposed to others ,especially children ,unsupervised . Other advice for people . Don't invade the dog's space ; don't try to take food or objects away from the dog if the dog isn't yours . Don't abruptly wake a dog up. Watch for signs from the dog that it is disturbed... raised hair ,growl ,partly bared teeth ,etc.
Also Cal makes a great point. If it is hot then a dog is uncomfortable .Check out the general appearance of the dog. If it appears well kept ,it probably has an owner that cares to train it . If it appears unkept then it has a neglectful owner .Those dogs should probably be avoided .

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Originally Posted by tomder55

Agree with LadySam. It is the owners and not the breed . Pit Bulls get a bad rap . They are not dangerous or vicious by nature. According to the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS) for dogs, the American Pit Bull Terrier receives a passing score of over 86%. That is better than Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, etc.

I believe there are 2 problems and both are owner related . Dogs need to be trained as pups to obey the basic commands.... and dogs need to be socialized ,exposed to people and other dogs early. Dogs should be leashed when not in confined areas ;and should not be exposed to others ,especially children ,unsupervised . Other advice for people . Don't invade the dog's space ; don't try to take food or objects away from the dog if the dog isn't yours . Don't abruptly wake a dog up. Watch for signs from the dog that it is disturbed ...raised hair ,growl ,partly bared teeth ,etc.
Also Cal makes a great point. If it is hot then a dog is uncomfortable .Check out the general appearance of the dog. If it appears well kept ,it probably has an owner that cares to train it . If it appears unkept then it has a neglectful owner .Those dogs should probably be avoided .

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OK Tom tell that to the little kids and old ladies who have been killed in Australia by these visicous dogs. There are banned here and rightly so

We don't have dingoes here.

I understand you have seen a dog bite by a bully breed. So are you saying because that breed is banned Australia has 0 dog bites now. That the small breeds don't bite? Is it terrible when anyone is bit by a dog... yes. Will all dog bites be stopped when certain breeds are banned... no. This anger towards certain breeds is not aiding this discussion at all.

Yes ;if a dog is trained to fight, or be a vicious guard dog ,then that is what it will do.

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Originally Posted by mogrann

I understand you have seen a dog bite by a bully breed. So are you saying because that breed is banned Australia has 0 dog bites now. That the small breeds don't bite? Is it terrible when anyone is bit by a dog..........yes. Will all dog bites be stopped when certain breeds are banned..... no. This anger towards certain breeds is not aiding this discussion at all.

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Unfortunately we have various viscious breeds here imported by idiots who look for blood sport and use them for pig hunting but they cannot be trusted in suburban areas so they have been banned but they do exist because lawlessness abounds even here. Any dog that shows viscious should be put down I do not hestitate to do so myself and so can demand it of others.
As far as I am concerned people, children are more important than feelings toward a pet or the ego of an owner.

Tom dingoes cannot be trusted, they have shown themselves to be unreliable around children. They are another breed that needs to be eliminated. If we had taken this stand long ago attacks that have happened would not have. We do not need to learn the Chamberlain lesson again where native dogs were held to be more important than people