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Thousands Of Dog Attacks Reported In Melbourne


samoyedman
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http://www.smh.com.a...118-12st18.html

Canine specialist Bradley Griggs said all dogs had the potential to be aggressive

So tired of this pluralistic BS.

If a person commits an assault, we don't just shrug our shoulders and say "oh well, all people have the potential to be aggressive."

ALL dogs most definitely do NOT have the potential to be aggressive.

What we perceive as "aggression" (anthropomorphism) is a function of breeding, upbringing, and training.

Dogs that have been bred for security work, some forms of hunting, (and yes fighting) often have "aggressive" traits bred in.

Unfortunately dogs bred "wildly" or carelessly bred without regard to "temperament" may also have these traits.

It's like responding to a fatal white-pointer attack by saying "all fish have the potential to be aggressive."

No that would be like pointing to a dog attack and saying "All mammals have potential to be aggressive".

They do, whether or not a pigmy shrew would inflict severe injuries is another matter though. :laugh:

They absolutely do. Some of the nastiest injuries I've had from an animal have been from rabbits. They're cute but if they're in a mood, those claws (the same ones that can dig very nice burrows) are perfectly capable of excavating human flesh. The OH's rabbit goes one further and kills sparrows that come into her house.

Oh definitely ! I was just pointing out that "one shark = all fish" is very wrong compared to "one dog breed = all dogs". It would be "one shark = all sharks of that species" ;)

Guinnea Pigs can cause some damage too! As a child my entire thumb nail was bitten off by one!

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People just go to the extent of reporting things like dog fighting to the council whereas they would not have bothered in the past, it's not evidence of any increase in incidents or even that the level of incidents are high in their own right. These intimidation laws are absurd in my view as well, if a dog is barking it's guts out at you when you walk past it's property carry on with your life and mind your own business as has always been the case, now such things have the potential to be counted as attacks and often are.

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1421642258[/url]' post='6633125']
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1421580535[/url]' post='6632789']
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1421567461[/url]' post='6632662']

http://www.smh.com.a...118-12st18.html

Canine specialist Bradley Griggs said all dogs had the potential to be aggressive

So tired of this pluralistic BS.

If a person commits an assault, we don't just shrug our shoulders and say "oh well, all people have the potential to be aggressive."

ALL dogs most definitely do NOT have the potential to be aggressive.

What we perceive as "aggression" (anthropomorphism) is a function of breeding, upbringing, and training.

Dogs that have been bred for security work, some forms of hunting, (and yes fighting) often have "aggressive" traits bred in.

Unfortunately dogs bred "wildly" or carelessly bred without regard to "temperament" may also have these traits.

It's like responding to a fatal white-pointer attack by saying "all fish have the potential to be aggressive."

No that would be like pointing to a dog attack and saying "All mammals have potential to be aggressive".

They do, whether or not a pigmy shrew would inflict severe injuries is another matter though. :laugh:

They absolutely do. Some of the nastiest injuries I've had from an animal have been from rabbits. They're cute but if they're in a mood, those claws (the same ones that can dig very nice burrows) are perfectly capable of excavating human flesh. The OH's rabbit goes one further and kills sparrows that come into her house.

Oh definitely ! I was just pointing out that "one shark = all fish" is very wrong compared to "one dog breed = all dogs". It would be "one shark = all sharks of that species" ;)

Guinnea Pigs can cause some damage too! As a child my entire thumb nail was bitten off by one!

A small Lorikeet tore up my fingers the other day as I was catching him to take him to the vet because he was injured. He was most definitely being aggressive.

I got what you meant about that comparison ;)

Edited by Simply Grand
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Maddy have you considered an exorcism? :laugh:

That sounds horrifying!

2 words... Watership Down :D

As a child, I remember being absolutely horrified by that movie but still not believing rabbits would actually hurt each other because.. you know, they're cute and cute things don't rip each other to bloody pieces.

When we first brought Rorschach and Blackie home (10 weeks old, meat farm rescues), we put them in a lovely big run on the front lawn so that they could taste grass, feel the sunshine on their backs and breathe in the fresh air of a new life.. that lasted all of five minutes before Rorschach decided Blackie would look better with a Glasglow grin and laid into him with a murdery focus that would've made Jack the Ripper cringe.

post-19844-0-71153500-1421674547_thumb.jpg

^ That is the face of a thug.

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You guys have prompted me to download Watership Down. I think I saw it as a kid and I definitely remember we had an illustrated book as children (was it originally a novel??) and I remember having an uneasy, sad feeling about it and that one was called Hazel but I don't remember the details.

ETA my sister's dwarf lop who stayed with me for 6 months while they were travelling used to chase my two cats off. He never did anything to them but they were scared.

Edited by Simply Grand
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The article states : <br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); line-height: 19px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">'Dog attacks have made headlines in recent years after strict laws were introduced in 2011 following the tragic death of four-year-old Ayen Chol, who was mauled to death in St Albans by two pit bulls.'This is incorrect . Ayen Chol was killed by one dog , not two pit bulls . The dog would not have measured up to either the new or old restricted breed standard . The article opens with ' thousands of dog attacks ......' No wonder the general public think there is an epidemic of crap dogs who need legislating against . The media plays a large part in 'educating ' people . Victoria's BSL has been exposed as folly yet the reporter doesn't bother with the more interesting fact that the community is less safe with our current laws .

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Rabbits are one of the most territorial animals I have ever had, they will rip each other apart in seconds if they dislike one another.

My British Giant boy will take on anything in his path if he feels threatened, my Angora girl kicked me in the face a few weeks ago as I knelt down to pick her up, left a nice scratch from my forehead, over my eyelid and down my cheek.

Also had a cashmere mini lop a few years ago, would lunge and bite anyone that stepped into her run, I let my guard down one morning and she sunk her teeth into my bare thigh, left a nice hole and huge bruise.

20 years of grooming dogs and I've never had injuries like that, usually my injuries are caused by my own scissors not the dogs I'm grooming.

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In my 35 years of growing up in England I only ever knew of one single dog attack.

Nasty little terrier next door was being walked by teenage daughter & lunged & got my 8 year olds leg as he ran past. No big fuss, a band aid, tetanus shot & mother told her off for not shortening lead near children. My son isn't scared of dogs or scarred for life he knew all dogs were like grumpy old little whatshisname.

Many & most families had dogs. Not all were responsible owners & dogs often went out on the street to play with children as that is what many did when I was young.

More common practise in the less affluent areas though. Councils were not so nazi in attitude then & only intervened if complaints were made. These dogs were generally even tempered, treated as family & taken to places. Not everyone there lives in small apartments many family homes have a garden & there are farms where they have dogs that don't rip visitors to shreds.

I really believe that is what made the difference. Not suggesting for a moment that dogs be allowed to roam loose.

The people were more tolerant too. Not many put in official complaints for barking or anything else much. If a person is in the pub or a hotel etc & the dogs is being a nuisance the person generally gets asked to remove it.

I can't believe the number of children I have met that are nervous & scared of dogs here.

They get so much bad publicity.

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How do you measure something like 'far more responsible dog owners and general public' in Europe Lhok? What are they doing differently to us?

Well for example the whole don't worry he/she is friendly wouldn't fly there from the boards I am on they leash their dogs or bring them under control when someone approaches. They take dog ownership very seriously. In most European countries they don't spay/neuter their dogs and they are able to manage them in a way they don't have heaps of opps litters. I have also been told from my Swedish friends that they wouldn't dream of just walking up to some random dog and start to pat it and they wouldn't allow children to do it either and it isn't just limited to just my friends it seems across the board they are more socially responsible (off topic but my Swedish friends think it is socially not responsible that we drive over 80km/h lol)

--Lhok

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Someone could look on here and assume all Australians think X way, I don’t think we are a representative sample here. I would assume the same goes for OS forums.

Joe Blow with his off lead dog is not represented very well here, the general public don’t tend to wind up here 9and stay) unless they’re a certain type of person who keeps their dogs in check fairly well.

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http://www.smh.com.a...118-12st18.html

Canine specialist Bradley Griggs said all dogs had the potential to be aggressive

So tired of this pluralistic BS.

If a person commits an assault, we don't just shrug our shoulders and say "oh well, all people have the potential to be aggressive."

ALL dogs most definitely do NOT have the potential to be aggressive.

What we perceive as "aggression" (anthropomorphism) is a function of breeding, upbringing, and training.

Dogs that have been bred for security work, some forms of hunting, (and yes fighting) often have "aggressive" traits bred in.

Unfortunately dogs bred "wildly" or carelessly bred without regard to "temperament" may also have these traits.

It's like responding to a fatal white-pointer attack by saying "all fish have the potential to be aggressive."

No that would be like pointing to a dog attack and saying "All mammals have potential to be aggressive".

They do, whether or not a pigmy shrew would inflict severe injuries is another matter though. :laugh:

They absolutely do. Some of the nastiest injuries I've had from an animal have been from rabbits. They're cute but if they're in a mood, those claws (the same ones that can dig very nice burrows) are perfectly capable of excavating human flesh. The OH's rabbit goes one further and kills sparrows that come into her house.

Yes all animals do have the 'potential' to be aggressive but the levels of 'aggression' and damage can vary greatly. Just like motor vechiles. All motor vechiles can be dangerous. But what has the potential to be more dangerous and do more damage- a Mazada 2 or a Semi-Trailer??

Some dogs have more strength, size, power and alot more prey and fight drive in them because that's why they were bred and that's why they even exist. People shouldn't pretend that all dogs are equal. Some dog breeds are less suitable as family pets, for apartment living, and city socialite life.

The old adage that all dogs(or mammals) have the potential to bite is True but also False. Because I'd rather my kids play with 'potentially' dangerous Rabbits than 'potentially' dangerous Hunting dogs ( and yes i have met hunting dogs before).

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Its the stupid government & council rules that cause this to become more commonplace.

If dogs were allowed in more public places, on lead of course, they would be far more social & less likely to attack.

English & European countries don't get the problems we have here to this extent because dogs are welcome on transport, in taxis, in cafes, in hotels & pubs, in some shops & markets & they are not cooped up in the yard & house not mixing & meeting people like they are here.

Australia is so dog intolerant & unfriendly it shocks me :confused:

Poor dogs aren't allowed anywhere except unsafe off leash dog parks & a few beaches.

I think your conclusion is correct, but not for the reasons you think.

In a culture where dogs live in small apartments, are taken everywhere including cafes etc, and often carried on public transport. By necessity people have to buy small, heavily domesticated dogs who have been bred for placid temperaments.

Because Australia has a heavily rural modern history, even our urban dwellings have traditionally had huge back yards, and we tend tend toward s an "outdoor" lifestyle, we have tended towards different breeds. (Often working breeds not far removed from their working ancestry.) Not only do people not worry about lack of "social niceties" in their dogs but a tendency towards guarding property or people is often seen as a good thing.

I was in Europe late last year and I can assure you that just because the people have smaller houses does not mean they buy and own smaller, more heavily domesticated dogs.

In fact I saw more primitive type dogs there than I ever have and they live in apartments, go on public transport, etc The difference here? Their dogs are trained and expected to behave. People take responsibility for the actions of their animals but they also seem to be aware that a dog is still a dog and will behave as such.

I didn't see one child rush up to a dog while I was there, or anyone else trying to pat another persons dog without permission. Nor did I see one off lead dog the entire time.

Quiet frankly, it was refreshing.

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Its the stupid government & council rules that cause this to become more commonplace.

If dogs were allowed in more public places, on lead of course, they would be far more social & less likely to attack.

English & European countries don't get the problems we have here to this extent because dogs are welcome on transport, in taxis, in cafes, in hotels & pubs, in some shops & markets & they are not cooped up in the yard & house not mixing & meeting people like they are here.

Australia is so dog intolerant & unfriendly it shocks me :confused:

Poor dogs aren't allowed anywhere except unsafe off leash dog parks & a few beaches.

I think your conclusion is correct, but not for the reasons you think.

In a culture where dogs live in small apartments, are taken everywhere including cafes etc, and often carried on public transport. By necessity people have to buy small, heavily domesticated dogs who have been bred for placid temperaments.

Because Australia has a heavily rural modern history, even our urban dwellings have traditionally had huge back yards, and we tend tend toward s an "outdoor" lifestyle, we have tended towards different breeds. (Often working breeds not far removed from their working ancestry.) Not only do people not worry about lack of "social niceties" in their dogs but a tendency towards guarding property or people is often seen as a good thing.

I was in Europe late last year and I can assure you that just because the people have smaller houses does not mean they buy and own smaller, more heavily domesticated dogs.

In fact I saw more primitive type dogs there than I ever have and they live in apartments, go on public transport, etc The difference here? Their dogs are trained and expected to behave. People take responsibility for the actions of their animals but they also seem to be aware that a dog is still a dog and will behave as such.

I didn't see one child rush up to a dog while I was there, or anyone else trying to pat another persons dog without permission. Nor did I see one off lead dog the entire time.

Quiet frankly, it was refreshing.

That's great! Seems like they have a good culture around dogs.

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I think the rise in reports is that with the new rules, it's easier to do so... and for some rather trivial reasons to boot... what one person sees as a menacing rush, someone else would see as an enthusiastic happy greeting of a new friend by an exhuberant pup...

T.

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There used to be really good NSW bite statistics but they stopped publishing them for some reason.

It's a bit like the government reporting on refugees - they just stopped. Like that makes the problem disappear or something.

Oh wait - they've put some stuff up to 2014

http://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/content/dog-attack-incidents-reported

will just go read it now. They used to put up a list of attacks by breed (or breed guess), I think Labs and JRT topped pitbulls. And you really don't want to mess with a cattle dog.

They've stopped making the by breed list - perhaps because of the difficulty in identifying the breed in most cases.

This is a Brisbane report from June last year - which is almost balanced.

Edited by Mrs Rusty Bucket
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