Only a little bit biased

[cj-sharpy]

Family pet needed 32 stitches after being attacked by mastiff in street - London - News - London Evening Standard

Anybody else think its strange that the little dog was off its leash and out of the owners site?
Or that the mastiff was still to blame even though it was on its leash and under control?
Or that the mastiff's owners age seemed to be a point worth mentioning twice?

 

[musicdeb]

Another case of blame the big pup but the smaller pup was off leash and probably charged the big dog. Ban mastiffs...WOW! A sad story indeed because another breed is blamed for owner's stupidity.

 

[jpw0025]

Disgusting. Yet another example of small dogs being given the benefit of the doubt, off leash, out of sight, and not in control no less.

 

[Siloh]

WTF!

As has been said, the dog who "launched a savage attack" was on leash, and the other owner didn't even have a line of SIGHT on his dog.

When did the pit bull-type trope become mastiff-type, I wonder? I mean my dog is screwed either way.

And then the headline. May as well be, BLAMELESS FAMILY PET NEEDED 32 STITCHES AFTER ATTACK FROM VICIOUS UNTAMED BEAST ON LEASH

Holy ginger snaps.

 

[DennasMom]

The comments are terrible. All blame the big dog...
The one commenter who stood up for the on-lead dog, suggesting the little dog needed to be under better control had this posted after his comment:

"Should children also be kept on a lead around these dangerous animals?"

To which I would say, "YES!"
I DO think children should always be under control (on-lead if necessary) around strange or dangerous animals... you don't let a child run up to a lion at the safari park, do you?? duh.

 

[cj-sharpy]

If I had kids ( I don't) I'd teach them good dog manners. I want my niece and nephew to meet my dog and to love him but all three of them need to learn. Hand on heart is trust max more than the kids right now. I know they would run towards him, pull his ears, go straight for his face.
It's not their fault but they don't know any better. So they will need training just the same as max. They are all the same age mentally and all need telling how to meet each other.

 

[Dreadz]

Cant see the comments for some reason but you've got to love the way a paper automatically demonises the big powerful dog even though it was the small dog, off on its own out of sight of its owner, that likely instigated the incident! Plus which expert witness' opinion have they obtained to arrive at the pit bull / mastiff cross identification??
On the flip side I suppose there is the possibility that this was a dog with an unsuitable owner, who either doesn't understand or doesn't aknowledge the responsibility (not just to their dog but to the breed as a whole) that comes with owning a big powerful dog.
In either scenario my opinion is the same

 

[Penelope's Mom]

Things like this really make me angry.

 

[Mag-Pie]

On the flip side I suppose there is the possibility that this was a dog with an unsuitable owner, who either doesn't understand or doesn't aknowledge the responsibility (not just to their dog but to the breed as a whole) that comes with owning a big powerful dog.
In either scenario my opinion is the same

2x ^^^ Absolutely. 100% agree.

After a few encounters with off-leash dogs, mostly little yapping and snapping ones, I realized that owning a Mastiff requires me to be responsible for NOT ONLY my dog BUT ALSO everyone else's WHEN around us. As unfair as this might be, it is what it is. And getting angry every time I have an encounter with someone else's off-leash dog is not solving anything, and trust me I use to get angry and f'n hostile about it. Now I've learned to deal with it.

First and foremost, my responsibility is to myself and my dog, making sure he is not a liability or a nuisance. I do not want my CC to attack any small dog, no matter how annoying they may be. It's my job to make sure that does not happen, and it's for the best when I correct my dog, as well as someone else's dog when I see they are out of line. These days, my dog does a fantastic job staying nonreactive and ignoring other dogs, but I always pay attention to my surroundings and whether or not there is another dog around; I make sure my CC is under my control and we keep our distance. I see too many irresponsible owners out there, either clueless or careless by default. So being proactive is the only way for me to be. I am not afraid of the other little dogs doing damage to mine, but know that if my dog was to grab theirs it would not end well, and they are simply not worth me losing my dog, because we all know that the big dog is always to blame. Reading this news story, it is far too common occurrence, and I concur the mastiff owner is also to blame... after all he was in charge of the dog, and with bigger dog comes bigger responsibility. I doubt the reported teenager has yet grasped this concept.

 

[zardac]

"and with bigger dog comes bigger responsibility"

That's an important idea.
We have a couple of small dogs and now have our second mastiff.

The five pounders often acted more aggressively than our big one, but the potential harm from them was negligible compared to the mastiff.

I'd opt for an attack from a five pound puppy every time.

I'd opt for an attack from a maniacally aggressive person armed with a daisy bb gun, rather than a maniacally aggressive person armed with a 44 magnum every time too.

I know bbs and five pound dogs can sting and (I guess) put out an eye...but they're small beans compared to the real deal.

It's irresponsible to pretend there's no difference.

 

[Siloh]

It's irresponsible of the media to pretend an off-leash dog is not at fault because it's just a witty bitty dog, and that on-leash dog was a beast. This would have been a perfect time for the newspaper to question the owner about why his dog was off leash and out of sight, if he'll think twice next time, any words he has for other owners who regularly do this, etc. Then they could have included a link or two to some sites promoting safe walking practices for owners. Seriously. I've written for newspapers and magazines. This could have been handled way more responsibly by the writer. This piece is even fertile for an OpEd depending on how much of the readership is likely to have pets. It could have been a stimulating discussion bringing just as much or more engagement from readers.

Edit: You know what, guys? Let's just install a blog feature following popular dog stories. I volunteer to write and edit for free. Stop the madness!

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Okay! WE NEED TO BRING A GOOD OFFENSIVE GAME!!! Let's collectively DO SOMETHING!!!!!

All of us who have had our dogs attacked by dust mops on or off leash who are not controlled by their ditzy owners, we need to create a history: document, document, document! Create the field of evidence that WE collectively, worldwide, can use as evidence to support the defence of our animals.

Mastiffs Owners Need To Support Mastiff Owners. A Petition Helps, BUT A Body of Evidence Could Be Life Saving.

A Petition, Country by Country (so it's useable in your jurisdiction) affidavits, signed, notorized or availability to provide affidavits. I Don't Know!!! Something more organized that Mastiff owners can use as persuasion in their own cases.

My dog has been attacked by a terrier at the dog park (a calculated risk), BUT the Bitch that owned the terrier was setting her dog on the large dogs and laughing her ample behind off. Her vicious little darling was ripping winter coats off dogs, neck scarves, and my dog had tears in her muzzle. The last time, was the last time, two of us urged my dog to fight back. Bailey did what Mastiffs worldwide do, she used her weight, not her teeth and rolled the little monster! That's the last time I've seen the little rat. Bailey didn't bite it, but she did put the fear of God in it; it and it's depraved, psychiatric owner. She was laughing her head off and encouraging her dog to attack everything in the park, Rodesian Ridgebacks, Great Danes, GSD's, Collies, everything. If any one of them had mauled her dog, it would have been Cops, and Animal Control, and maybe/probably a death sentence.

When is The BS going to stop? I'm With Siloh...Let's Create a Specific Continually Updating File That We All Can Use.

 

[Siloh]

WTH, ewliz, really?! I have so many expletives for this story.

I actually got a bit confused when you wrote "bitch that owned"--I was envisioning a lady dog.

I'm surprised no one called AC! Good for Bailey, standing up for herself, but very very distressing to hear she was in that situation.

If you see her again, I would take a look and see if the dog has its rabies tags on it. If not, call AC immediately and report that a poorly socialized dog with no tags is terrorizing the park and disrupting the peace. I might add that the owner appears to be intentionally inciting a dog fight.

If it does have tags, I'd call and say all that without the tag part!

I have had to assist in detaining an owner after a dog with no tags ripped open my friend's dog's leg down to the muscle. It was not a fun situation. Don't let it get that far, but if it does, take a photo of her license plate and attempt to detain witnesses to file a proper report!

It really is a terrible situation. This was a husky mix tearing into a pitbull puppy (9 months), but the woman's terriers were just as bad as the husky, and I always stayed as far from them as possible, because I was always worried about the terriers influencing the husky, and it finally happened.

 

[Sharrielynne]

We all know how hard it is to control one of our dogs when they are in the zone. The lad who was walking him had him on a leash, but the mastiff is at fault? If the lad had not got control he would have been dragged on the ground if the dog had been fighting with the smaller one. Why can't owners of small yappy dogs realize that they can be dangerous to themselves. So many of them think they are rottweiler size (mine included) and have a go at the bigger dogs, but it the bigger dog that will be in trouble every time! Mine are always leashed and are expected to behave themselves!

 

[alejandro]

So if a guy falls sleep on the train track and the train runs over him it's the train's fault. Should train drivers always be on the look for stupid people sleeping on the tracks.

 

[zardac]

I don't think you're gonna win the hearts and support of the larger community by denigrating small breeds.

We don't want to employ the same hysteria, stereotyping, and biased reporting that's been used to target specific breeds of large dogs.

 

[Siloh]

I don't think you're gonna win the hearts and support of the larger community by denigrating small breeds.

We don't want to employ the same hysteria, stereotyping, and biased reporting that's been used to target specific breeds of large dogs.

I agree. That's why I half-jokingly suggested a blog feature to comment on news stories demonizing dogs. The media at large isn't really interested in pet safety, just eyeballs.

 

[chichi251076]

By sounds of it little dog syndrome springs to mind an bet the out of sight an off leash dog made fist move an well JUST lost, silly little dog an a naive owner, who let's there dog out of sight in a very public place?

 

[chichi251076]

OWNER to blame or dog ? The Miniature Schnauzer is an intelligent, loving, happy dog. It is energetic, playful, gets along well with children and likes to be with its people. Affectionate, keen, devoted and docile. With proper leadership it can get along with other dogs. Socialize this breed well. It makes a good companion and family pet. The Mini Schnauzer will not listen if it senses it is stronger minded than its owner. Owners need to be calm, but firm, possessing a natural air of authority. These dogs do not have a yappy bark, but rather they make sounds like a low, carried-out howl of a voice. This breed makes a good watchdog and vermin hunter. An easy dog to travel with. Some can be reserved with strangers if the humans do not provide stability in their lives, but most love everyone. Do not allow this little dog to develop Small Dog Syndrome , human induced behaviors where the dog runs the home. This can cause a varying degree of behavior problems , including, but not limited to separation anxiety , being willful, nervous, barky, guarding , bold, sometimes temperamental, and not hesitating to attack much bigger dogs. A well-balanced dog that gets enough mental and physical exercise will have a totally different personality. These are not Miniature Schnauzer traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way the dog is treated by the people around them. It is all up to the humans. As soon as the humans start being true pack leaders, the dog*s behavior will change for the better.

 

[Doggyhelpplease]

The boy should have punted the little dog as he wouldn't get in trouble probably if he was protecting his own feet. I am sure we all love animals but step up in front and protecting our own dog is number 1 and sometimes that means a shoe to their face.