Hi Darren,

Thank you for your comment.

It is not the intention of this website to provide legal advice to any person over any matter whatsoever. For this reason I only told the lady to go and visit a person competent to judge in this matter. As you can appreciate, it is impossible to judge individual circumstances over the internet.

I really need to ad an FAQ to the site and explain that we do not provide legal advice. It amazes me how many people send emails asking questions about specific instances that I could not possibly have any knowledge of.

You make an excellent point that people really should research their chosen breed far more thoroughly. A small cute puppy, might just grow up into an enormous dog – unless you know what you are buying. Taking some personal responsibility seems to be the key that is missing in many cases.

Hi Karen,

Your comment sounds like you have strong feelings on this subject, along with some emotional personal experiences. I respect your viewpoint, but I have to differ in some aspects. I hope you understand.

Dog behaviour is a complex subject. There are usually many contributing factors in any dog attack. Human behaviour and training, or lack thereof, is usually a large part of these events. Many “house dogs” are poorly socialised with humans and other animals and are often kept outside in the yard. This means that they can hardly be called “household pets.” Breed is often a very small part of the equation, yet it is often over-emphasised when events are reported in the press and this in turn gives rise to public perceptions that are often quite incorrect. Most members of the public cannot identify a Staffordshire Bull Terrier from a Pit Bull Terrier for example.

Unfortunately many owners are drawn to various “status breeds” to bolster their own low self image. They admire a dogs perceived vicious traits and seek to encourage them. This is an aspect of many dog attacks that is unreported in the press as to do so accurately would require real investigative reporting which takes time and therefore costs money. If the report was later disproven then the journalist and the organisation they work for leave themselves open to a court case and compensatory damages. It is far easier therefore for the media to demonise a particular breed of dog, as dogs do not sue in court.

The only real factor a dogs breed plays in the majority of dog attacks is the actual damage it inflicts. This is in direct relationship to the size and power of the dog, not in relationship to the dogs breed as such. The American Centre for Disease Control did actual hard research into dog attacks and breed behaviours. Their findings would no doubt surprise many, if they were wider known. There is information about this on this website, as well a link to the book about this research on Amazon – I understand you might not want to buy it, but please order it from your local library and read the scientific facts of the issue, rather than the usual lazy media hype about particular breeds.

While I don’t doubt for a minute that you witnessed a particular problem with an individual Staffy outside the shop, or that there may be a wider problem with Staffys in your home area, I doubt very much that this has any relationship to the breed of the dog itself. Far more likely is that idiots of various stripes are drawn to buying a dog that the media tells them is vicious and they then treat it is a manner likely to accentuate those behaviours. Dogs will do practically anything to please their owners. This fact, when constructively employed, gives rise to drug sniffer dogs that save many live every year. When destructively employed, this same aspect gives rise to dogs that are a danger to the public.

In closing I just want to make a few final points, directly relating to your comment.

1. Owners are, or should be, legally responsible for their dog at ALL times. Leaving a dog tied up outside a shop means that the owner was not behaving responsibly.
2. Under present UK law a dog should be kept on a lead at all times. The Police do not enforce this law however. If you doubt the truth of my statement, please visit your local Police station and ask.
3. Muzzling of dogs is a possible solution to attacks by poorly trained and socialised animals in public places, but it should apply to ALL dogs and not just certain breeds if it is to be brought in at all.
4. You stated that two Staffys attacked a kitten in front of seven children at your home. I assume that the seven children were actively being supervised by a competent adult at the time? If they were, why did the adult not stop the attack? If the dogs were predisposed to attack (known to be vicious) then why were they loose with children and other small animals?

Hi Selwyn,

Thank you for your comment.

Sadly The Control of Dogs Act does not remove BSL as it does not trump UK law. What it does (for once) is not include BSL in an Act that deals with dangerous dogs. Hopefully one day the UK will repeal Section 1 of the DDA and set up a new law that punishes deed and not breed.

I agree 100% with what you say about being able to defend yourself in your own home, but at the same time delivery workers need to be protected too. A balance is needed and this Scottish law is probably not it.

The Scottish Controls of Dogs Act was aimed primarily at protecting delivery workers and not so much at improving the situation for dog owners. A “Beware of the Dog” sign in the UK is probably more likely to be seen as an admission of guilt, rather than an attempt to prevent injury to strangers. The Scottish law actually extends legal penalties for dog attacks into the home, sorry if I gave another impression in the article. I will review it after I post this.

The whole dog law issue needs a thorough re-examination by a sensible panel of experts, not hysterical fools who are only (mis)informed by the media. Now that we have recently had an election in the UK there may be a possibility that this could happen.

Here is hoping!

Hi Rachel,

I assume you mean a Rottweiler? Sorry, but it is impossible to answer how dangerous a particular dog is, especially without having personal experience of the dog itself. The answer simply depends on too many factors.

If you have concerns over a dog you already own, my best advice would be to take it to a vet and ask him his professional opinion. Vets can assess a dog for aggression and other personality traits for a reasonable fee. They can also offer advice on any issues you may be having.