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 you have to teach kids to respect all dogs space. You just never know…
When walking Abby downtown, lots of tourist kids would come up to her face and start petting. She hated that. And hated kids. Despite her obvious efforts to communicate — back off, the parents just glared at me.
I finally started saying a loud No when asked if she could be petted. Also declared she didn’t like kids. You can’t imagine the nasty responses from stupid parents.
@LnzyHou I get the same with Ziggy down in Panama. Labradoodles are very uncommon down here. Kids come running asking if he bites. I used to say no. But then he’d bark cause he doesn’t need to be petted. Due to the language barrier I couldn’t get them to back off or come at him slowly. So now when the ask if he “morder” (bite) I always say sí.
@TwitterExpat @LnzyHou @TomeReader it’s best to say yes to that question. Keeps the dogs safer.