The dog whisperer
DOGS may traditionally be known as 'man's best friend' but, when a family pet turns from a beloved companion to an uncontrollable creature that maims or kills, the spotlight always turns to the laws governing dog control.
Sadly this New Year the discussion hit the headlines again following the latest in a string of horrific dog attacks.
The case that grabbed the public's attention was that of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson who was mauled to death by a type of pit bull terrier at her grandmother's home in Merseyside in the early hours of New Year's Day.
Closer to home, in Northampton, there have also been dog attack victims, the latest being a 19-year-old man who last month had been playing football with friends in Boothville when a large grey dog – believed to be a Great Dane – bit into the teenager's ankle.
The law, according to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, now states that four types of dog; the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro, are banned in this country.
They can be owned only when the animal has been placed on the 'index of exempted dogs'; which happens when when courts consider a particular dog does not pose a risk to the public.
A second part of the act applies to every single dog in England and Wales, no matter whether it is a pure bred dog, a cross or a mongrel and regardless of its size.
It states that it is a criminal offence – which can be brought against the owner of a dog, or the person in charge of a dog – if a dog is dangerously out of control in a public place.
But what should the law say regarding the other types of dog which could also be capable of attacking another dog or even a person?
Dog trainers and animal experts in Northamptonshire have increasingly expressed the fear that more responsibility should be placed on the shoulders of the owner.
Where some may think a dog's nature is to attack and kill, many seem to believe that the problem is not necessarily bad dogs but bad owners.
Dog trainer Peter Robinson from Links View, Northampton, said: "Eliminating these four dogs, there are no bad dogs but there are bad dog owners.
"Years ago we were a nation of dog lovers but we are no longer that, we are a nation of dog owners."
Dubbed the "dog whisperer" by one of his colleagues because of his skills with dogs, Peter has spent 55 years handling and working with dogs and he now runs his own training school business called A 2 Z Dog Training.
He believes it should be a legal requirement for dog owners to undergo training before they are allowed to own a dog.
He said a common mistake made by dog owners is to be ignorant of how to control a dog in the right way.
He commented: "Yes, make friends with the dog and be his best mate but don't abuse it. You can't kick it if it does something wrong or beat it up, but you can chastise it.
"Changing your voice and saying it with your voice is all the dog needs."
He continued: "Never laugh at your dog if he has done something wrong, he will think 'he liked that, I'll do it again.'"
But he said paid-for dog licences would not work as having a piece of paper would not help an owner control a dog in the correct way and prevent the problems that can happen with bad management.
Wellingborough rottweiler owner Tiena Shiraishi, aged 45, works as a dog trainer with the Wellingborough Dog Club. She said owners should be made to go through a training course after which they could be given a licence.
She said dogs are essentially "pack" animals and should never be left alone with a young child.
She commented: "If you are going for a walk and the dog pulls you out of the front door that shows them they are a pack leader. At the end of the day you have pack dogs living in houses and you need to be in charge of them. Children shouldn't be left in charge of the dog. The dog should respect the humans and all humans should be pack leader."
She said owners make mistakes when they teach their dogs bad lessons as puppies.
She said: "People teach puppies silly games like chase the arm. When you have a full grown dog nipping at heels it is because an owner has taught it."
When dogs turn nasty, authorities such as the police and RSPCA are usually called in to sort out the mess.
Northamptonshire Police operations commander Chief Superintendent John Millar said: "Northamptonshire Police has previously successfully dealt with issues involving dangerous dogs.
"Essentially we depend upon the community making us aware of their concerns and we have worked closely with other partner agencies in providing an appropriate and balanced response.
"We do recognise that particular breeds of dog, without the necessary supervision or control measures, can present a significant threat and we are not complacent about such issues.
"We have access to expert databases and will always rely on specialist advice to identify dog breeds."
Jim Lucas, RSPCA chief inspector for Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, said anyone taking on a new dog should be careful to find out about the animal's breeding line.
He said: "We would urge people when they are thinking of getting a dog to try to see the parents of the dog, to find out what temperament they have."
He continued: "We as a county need to be looking at breeding, how animals are bought and how they are re-homed.
"Rottweilers and German shepherd dogs were originally bred as guard dogs, but there are reliable breeders producing dogs of these breeds with excellent temperaments."
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
