"Less agreeable" people are more likely to prefer dogs associated with aggression

fluffnutter

Person_one wrote: »

Dog attacks or dog bites? Have you got the numbers that show how much and how quickly they're rising?

I've had a quick google and there are a few bits and pieces on the web. It's risen for five years in a row apparently, with one report stating a 120% increase in the past decade (so more than double).

These stats were from the Telegraph but I first heard about it a few weeks ago on You and Yours on R4.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/9024452/Dog-attack-hospital-admissions-rise-for-fifth-consecutive-year.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01gg7dp/You_and_Yours_Call_You_and_Yours_Is_the_Dangerous_Dogs_Act_fit_for_purpose/

I'm not sure about attacks versus bites. I don't know if there was a distinction made. I guess neither are desirable!

alleycat`

The actual number or the number reported to the papers / in the news?

Todays 24 hour news "doom a thon" gets right up my nose in distorting many things.

Dangerous Dogs is one of the many things i'm suspicious of the reporting on.

fluffnutter

alleycat` wrote: »

The actual number or the number reported to the papers / in the news?

I don't think this is about the press having a moment (although I agree that they certainly do this!). The figures are from hospital admissions.

Person_one

i actually think part of the problem is that lots of dogs (even otherwise well cared for ones) aren't properly socialised, and that lots of children aren't growing up learning how to interact with dogs anymore.

fluffnutter

Person_one wrote: »

i actually think part of the problem is that lots of dogs (even otherwise well cared for ones) aren't properly socialised, and that lots of children aren't growing up learning how to interact with dogs anymore.

I agree (I think; it's not something I know a lot about).

My question though is why? Why are children not being taught how to behave around dogs? Why aren't dogs being properly socialised?

Person_one

fluffnutter wrote: »

I agree (I think; it's not something I know a lot about).

My question though is why? Why are children not being taught how to behave around dogs? Why aren't dogs being properly socialised?

Its a gradual change of attitudes I think. Dogs used to roam the streets like cats, and while that's not a good thing at all that's been replaced by attitudes that dogs should be 'seen and not heard' almost.

There aren't as many opportunities for young dogs to mix freely with other dogs of all ages and learn how to behave, and lots of owners don't make the effort. So many dogs spend their lives on tight leads whenever they're out of the house and never allowed to approach other dogs.

Lots of parents are over protective around dogs and cross the road with their children or tell them not to go near dogs, even little fluffy cute ones like mine!

krlyr

fluffnutter wrote: »

I don't think this is about the press having a moment (although I agree that they certainly do this!). The figures are from hospital admissions.

One thing to bear in mind is that the hospital figures are for "injuries caused by dogs" or something like that - it isn't limited to bites if I recall correctly, so if your friendly mutt retrieved a ball a bit too quickly and bowled you over, spraining your ankle badly in the process, if you go to the hospital then he becomes one of those statistics. Ditto with an enthusiastic 'high five' that causes a scratch that gets infected, or an accidental chomp on your finger instead of the tuggy you were playing with, etc.


Re. dogs and children, I've seen a scheme that was started in the last couple of years called the Blue Dog project, I think they were trying to get it into schools etc. to educate children. http://www.thebluedog.org/
The amount of kids I've had just approach my dogs and hug/stroke them without checking it's OK is unbelievable, and when you consider that I own a Rottweiler cross and a GSD it's quite scary - parents are either oblivious or don't care to stop what they're doing and ask me if my dogs are OK with children. As it is, they are, and they'd be muzzled and not walked in busy areas if they did have issues, but these people don't know that I'm a responsible dog owner! If they have no problem with their child approaching an unknown Rottweiler then how many other dogs will this kid be allowed to walk up to - one day their game of russian roulette may end up with a nervous, in-pain or aggressive dog that snaps, when it could have easily been avoided by teaching the child some basic rules (always ask if it's OK being the main one) or the adult taking responsibility to check first.

alleycat`

Person_one wrote: »

Its a gradual change of attitudes I think. Dogs used to roam the streets like cats, and while that's not a good thing at all that's been replaced by attitudes that dogs should be 'seen and not heard' almost.

There aren't as many opportunities for young dogs to mix freely with other dogs of all ages and learn how to behave, and lots of owners don't make the effort. So many dogs spend their lives on tight leads whenever they're out of the house and never allowed to approach other dogs.

Lots of parents are over protective around dogs and cross the road with their children or tell them not to go near dogs, even little fluffy cute ones like mine!

Generally i'd agree with most of what is written.
I have a couple of places i disagree.

Little dogs are evil

In all seriousness I tend to find smaller dogs the most likely to be snappy. I'm therefore, generally, more wary of them when my son is around them.

Kids running up to our dogs is also a problem (especially when they don't know either me or the dogs).

This comes back to not knowing how to behave around them.

Edit:- cross posted with krlyr, seems we have the same experiences about kids and dogs.

It's a bit late asking me if my dogs are ok after you've patted them, given them a hug!

fluffnutter

krlyr wrote: »

One thing to bear in mind is that the hospital figures are for "injuries caused by dogs" or something like that - it isn't limited to bites if I recall correctly, so if your friendly mutt retrieved a ball a bit too quickly and bowled you over, spraining your ankle badly in the process, if you go to the hospital then he becomes one of those statistics. Ditto with an enthusiastic 'high five' that causes a scratch that gets infected, or an accidental chomp on your finger instead of the tuggy you were playing with, etc.

No doubt many of these incidents aren't as a result of aggression, but that doesn't explain why the figures for dog injuries in general have been rising significantly each year for the past five years.

Person_one

alleycat` wrote: »

Little dogs are evil

In all seriousness I tend to find smaller dogs the most likely to be snappy. I'm therefore, generally, more wary of them when my son is around them.

See, ignorance.

You just called my beloved pets, rescue dogs who've had a !!!!!! start and are doing brilliantly despite it, snappy and evil.

The size of the dog has nothing to do with how safe it is for your son to approach and interact with them.