Breed bans do not work. People will either buy/breed them illegally, or simply replace them with another large breed. (In the US, bloodhounds were once considered a problem breed. Then it was German Shepherds, then Dobermans, now pit bulls. Recommended reading:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1334486.The_Pit_Bull_Placebo )
It is an issue of training and vigilance. In other words, it's a people problem, which is a lot harder to fix.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-ban-american-xl-bully-dogs-by-end-year-2023-09-15/
@TomeReader I’ve known more than a handful of Pibbles and they were all happy, silly, loving, dogs.
I’ve been bit by Labs, a Chi and the worst…actually she bit me and took chunks out twice…was a mini Doxie. Every time it was a territorial issue. I got too close.
Get too close to a Pit and you’re more likely to get licked instead of bit.
Here’s a PSA…treat all strange dogs as a biting danger until you know they aren’t.
@NorCalCherylLyn
I've been bitten twice, both chihuahuas.
Your PSA is 💯 . When my young nieces and nephews were around Dargo, I'd keep reminding them not to get near his face or be around him when he was eating. Their parents would say, "It's okay, it's just Dargo." I'd have to explain that this was simply best practices that the kids should take to heart.
@TomeReader @NorCalCherylLyn Agree about breed band and respecting all dogs. Also, all should control their dogs on leash in public. I don't care if YOUR dog is well behaved in YOUR opinion.
Yeah, little dogs bite more frequently. But you can't deny bully breeds do more damage when they do attack. So more caution is required and more responsibility rests with owners to train and control.
I was bitten 3 times by a lab mix, MY DOG, who went from loving to a snap unexpectedly.
@TomeReader @NorCalCherylLyn Never figured out his trigger.
We grew not to trust him with other dogs or people. He wasn't aggressive, always seemed friendly.
Two bites came breaking up fights with our other dogs. One came when I was petting him and watching TV. (He approached me and put his head in my lap.)
Something in his past or in his brain made his reactions unreliable. Going to the vet was high anxiety when it got harder to muzzle him.
@S_r_stone @TomeReader I don’t really trust my dog around strangers. She’s skittish and LARGE so we keep total control when she doesn’t know somebody. The little one is my daughter’s.
@S_r_stone @TomeReader agreed they can do more damage. That is on humans too but a risk for sure.