dangerous breeds of dog

[torinsmom]

A mix is not a breed.

I was wondering about that, because a PP had mentioned that their HOA considered CHows and German Shepherds to be dangerous. My mutt has German Shepherd AND Chow (and a few other breeds we think), and he is not a danger to anyone. I have met quite a few pit bull mixes who were not a problem either.

We have several pit bulls in our neighborhood, but only one owner is a problem. You notice I said the OWNER is a problem. They have a 4 foot fence that the dogs can jump. They continue to get out once every few weeks. They haven't hurt anyone, but they have challenged several joggers and have tried to get into other peoples' backyards to get to their dogs, mine included. These people are just keeping the dogs to breed, never take them for walks, and as far as I can see, they never spend any time out there with them. Animal control is called, comes out and has yet to take the dogs away. My next door neighbor has two sweet Pit Bulls and they are terrified that the HOA will ban pit bulls because of all the problems.

Marsha

 

[java]

In our neighborhood the dangerous dog is an Akita. And also the old dangerous dog was a Newfoundland(which are generally not considered dangerous but he attacked 2 other dogs unprovoked)- he's past away. So he is gone. The Akita is still around. He tried to eat another dog. Really tried to eat it. Not just hurt it. It was bloody and he also bit the owner of the little dog when he tried to get his dog back.
He is an abused dog. So his situation is making him a dangerous dog. We've called animal welfare several times(he is left tied to a tree with no water all day long)
They took him once but they somehow got him back.

We don't walk our dogs down that part of the neighborhood.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't think there are dangerous breeds, I just think some owners need to take better control of their pets and not let them run loose.

 

[mamacatnv]

I have a friend with a chawienie (chahuahua/dachsund) and a Dachsund. They are both nasty snippy little beasts.

I am in the camp of the HOA needs to enforce the leash laws and that keeping animal control in the loop is the best approach.

My homeowners insurance excludes several of the larger breeds; akita, doberman, shepherd, rott, chow and shar-pei that I can think of surprisingly pits were not on the list. I think it is becoming well known they got a bad wrap. Plus I think there are several different terriers that resemble a pit but are not. I personally know several pits who think they are lap dogs and are total couch potatos. Now that chawienie my friend has is a nother story....nasty little dog

 

[crazee4mickey]

Any dog can and will be potentially dangerous if it isn't trained properly. If a person doesn't take the time to train, nurture and love a dog then it is anybody's guess what may "trigger" bad/dangerous behaviour.

IMHO, if the owners agreed to fence and train the dog I wouldn't have a problem with it---invisible fence? Not a chance I've seen dogs if they want something bad enough and are so focused on getting at it, they will "charge" right through it with little effect....it is when they try to re-enter that they feel it.

 

[Wonders10]

Since we started discussing responsible pet owners vs. the dogs themselves, I just need to vent about my pet peeve that I am currently dealing with in my development. Owners with their little 5-10 lb dogs thinking it is totally okay to not clean up after their dogs and better yet, not use leashes.

Almost daily I have to deal with a teeny tiny dog charging at me and my 40 lb 9 month old puppy (who is leashed) and all he wants to do is pounce and play with this furry thing that is smaller than most of his toys. The best was a woman who watched her barely 1lb yorkie run over to my dog as she was literally standing a good 10-15 yards away, chatting on her cell phone. She just stood there, watching as my dog is practically squishing her dog because he's just plain bigger than her dog. I finally had to just squat down and hold him because he was so excited, and I was getting concerned that he would accidently step on his head or something. The woman never came and got her dog either btw. A neighbor was also outside and ended up walking over to get it.

So frustrating. Especially after we just got this letter about cleaning up after them and leash laws, etc. Seems what I'm actually seeing more of now is the tiny little poops and un-leashed tea cup sized dogs.

Ok...vent over.

 

[teskak]

I agree with the previous poster's comment about invisible barriers. If a dog really wants something, the pain barrier is not going to stop them.

My standard schnauser believes his job is to guard the street and will bark loudly at anybody coming to the front door. We had an electric barking collar on him where the amount of the zap increases with each bark, so first bark is a strong tingle and so on until it really hurts at level 10.

Somebody came to the front door, and he of course started barking, and it graduated to bark yelp bark yelp before I could get the collar off him. Yes it was hurting him - but he really wanted to bark.

So, if you are concerned about a dog displaying a dangerous attitude, get a proper fence and some quality training for the owner.

 

[squirrlygirl]

A few things: the bylaws say any savage or dangerous animal, so the association cannot live behind this dog not being a dangerous breed. This dog has become dangerous in the eyes of the family that lives next door, and while that might not be enough in the court's eyes, it's enough that this family might try to take them to court anyway.

Second, the association was thinking invisible fence because the dog keeps busting through the front door. If an invisible fence won't stop him (which I was wondering about because we once rescued a neighbor's loose dog that tried to keep going home and kept getting zapped), how do you contain him? Fencing must be in the back yard. What do people do to their front doors to keep dogs from busting through? This family is STILL leaving only the screen door open and allowing the dog out in his yard with no chain.

And last, the second half of my original question: if you were the neighbor of this man, would you be satisfied with dog training and a fence?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

A few things: the bylaws say any savage or dangerous animal, so the association cannot live behind this dog not being a dangerous breed. This dog has become dangerous in the eyes of the family that lives next door, and while that might not be enough in the court's eyes, it's enough that this family might try to take them to court anyway.

Second, the association was thinking invisible fence because the dog keeps busting through the front door. If an invisible fence won't stop him (which I was wondering about because we once rescued a neighbor's loose dog that tried to keep going home and kept getting zapped), how do you contain him? Fencing must be in the back yard. What do people do to their front doors to keep dogs from busting through? This family is STILL leaving only the screen door open and allowing the dog out in his yard with no chain.

And last, the second half of my original question: if you were the neighbor of this man, would you be satisfied with dog training and a fence?

The bylaws are not written properly for a judge in the court. You would have to prove your case to him/her.

Again this is a police matter and I recommend that the HOA contact them. I don't know if you have "neighborhood watch" but an HOA can contact the police and discuss the matter.

This sounds as someone else said a matter of enforcing the leash law on them and the attacks from the dog.

If this was my neighbor it would be a problem and no I think an invisible fence is not a solution. I have 2 dogs that I need to leash to go to the backyard many times a day. I make sure we properly leash them.

The owners of the dog are the ones that are the problem.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't belong in the *there are no dangerous breeds, its the owners not training or letting them run loose* attitude. All dogs have the potential to become visious and dangerous but there are certainly certain breeds that show they are more likely to be.
OP, any dog that breaks out of the home to attack someone is dangerous in my opinion. I hope for the sake of the residents of your neighborhood that the board sees the actions of this dog, coupled with its breeding, as a danger to them and requires the owner to get rid of it. If the owner sues, I hope he loses.

 

[Hercules10]

Until someone with authority deems the dog as dangerous the HOA has no power except for the control part.

Only option sounds like fining the homeowner for not having the dog under constant control. Do the CCR's or bylaws say how much the homeowner can be fined (maximum)? Maybe hit them in the pocket book for every uncontrolled incidence and they'll do more to control the dog.

 

[disney1990]

Pit Bulls are illegal in the county that I live in.

"Pit Bulls born after February 3, 1997, are illegal and must be removed from the County.

For Pit Bulls owned prior to February 3, 1997, owners must provide written proof of ownership which could include rabies certificate, veterinarian bill, or other similar documentation. Pit Bulls owned prior to February 3, 1997, must be maintained within a building or kennel at all times. When outside, Pit Bulls must be kept under control of an adult and secured by an unbreakable or unseverable leash. Violations of the Pit Bull Law will result in fines up to $1,000 or a sentence of not more than six months imprisonment."

 

[PaulaSue]

I would not be happy if that dog stayed. They already complained it going after people so I would be really scared what it could do to a child. Especially with AC citing the family and it not properly Lic.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I've been taking my dog to the dog park at least 5 days a week for the last 6 months where I'm in frequent contact with so many breeds of dogs, and I have to say I no longer believe there "dangerous breeds". I live in a big city where there are often 50-plus dogs there at one time, from pits to St Bernards to whatever, and I'm convinced it's all the owners doing, for good or bad, no matter what the breed is.

Owners have a lot to do with it but be honest, you have a much greater chance of being seriously injured by a pit bull than a shi zu. Some breeds are more dangerous because they were bred to be. A good owner makes a huge difference but breed does matter.

 

[hiwaygal]

I agree with others that invisible fence will not contain this dog.

I'm also assuming that the dog has broken through a type of "screen" door, not a heavier storm/exterior door. I'm not sure how it could be accomplished or enforced but obviously the screen door is not strong enough to contain the dog. The homeowners can try to reinforce it but that sounds like one determined dog and the only way to confine it is to keep the heavy exterior door CLOSED.

It sounds like the only thing the HOA can do is enforce the leash laws and ensure the dog is controlled when he is outside.

 

[Wonders10]

Owners have a lot to do with it but be honest, you have a much greater chance of being seriously injured by a pit bull than a shi zu. Some breeds are more dangerous because they were bred to be. A good owner makes a huge difference but breed does matter.

So glad someone else said this before me! I'm not going to pinpoint breed to breed but I do totally agree that certain dogs are more prone to attacking/biting, etc than others. And owners do play a part, but still...

To the OP, knowing this dog's history of escaping and chasing people in the neighborhood, I would not be 100% happy with training and an invisible fence. For a dog with these behaviors it will take a LOT of hardcore training to get them under control. And like others have said, the fence would be useless if the dog really wanted something. To those truly concerned and afraid of the dog, I would literally call the police/animal control every time I see the dog outside, as I stated earlier. Literally, just outside with no leash. It doesn't even have to be when it is chasing or doing something "really bad". Hopefully, eventually, the owners will get the idea and/or the dog will be taken away whether the owners like or not. And for crying out loud, close the screen door - a cat could break through those!

 

[squirrlygirl]

Silly question, but does anyone know...does the dog need to be on a leash/chain when it's in the owner's yard or can it wander loose? I know our bylaws say it must, but can animal control do anything about it being loose in the yard or must it leave the yard first?

 

[Boston Tea Party]

So glad someone else said this before me! I'm not going to pinpoint breed to breed but I do totally agree that certain dogs are more prone to attacking/biting, etc than others. And owners do play a part, but still...

I agree. My dog has hunting instincts that are bred into her breed. I believe that there are other insticts that can be bred into dogs as well. And I will leave it at that.

 

[Hercules10]

Silly question, but does anyone know...does the dog need to be on a leash/chain when it's in the owner's yard or can it wander loose? I know our bylaws say it must, but can animal control do anything about it being loose in the yard or must it leave the yard first?

Depends on local ordinances. But usually a dog must be contained within a fenced yard or it must be on a leash. So if the yard doesn't have a fence that can contain a dog then the dog must be on a leash. Most do have something like this on the books since dogs are so territorial.

 

[Hercules10]

I agree. My dog has hunting instincts that are bred into her breed. I believe that there are other insticts that can be bred into dogs as well. And I will leave it at that.

All dogs have these instincts in them. In the 1800's even little terriers were used to find and kill vermin (rats) in farmers markets.

The thing with any dog is that if someone sees a dog running after them they tend to run. Thus triggerring the predator instinct in the dog. Owners should know this and not let a dog out of their control.