h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

During the last three days in Germany several peoply were injured by so called "Kampfhunde" (sorry I don't know the word in English; Kampfhunde are dogs like Pitbulls, American Staffordshire etc.). Two days ago a little child (only 6 years old) was killed (mauled) on the schoolyard by a Pitbull!

What do you think should be done ? Killing all dangerous dogs? Killing all "Kampfhunde" (either harmless or harmful) ?
Punish the owner? (this is my favorite!)

Greetings from Germany,
Funkenmarie

Certainly punish the owner!

Dogs usually do not go around mauling people unless they have been:
a)trained for it
b)severely traumatised because of ill-treatment.

In both cases the owner is to be held responsible. I advise burning at the stake.

Of course, children should be taught not to fool around with strange dogs because while "playing" they might go over the line and upset the dog, with obvious results.

BTW, do you know how to keep a dog quiet during the night? I have started taking sleeping pills because

*Ein Wachhund ist ein Hund der Alle wach haelt.*

Alles Gute!

nim

I agree with you Nim - all dogs need discipline. If you are going to be a dog owner you should be a responsible dog owner.

Perhaps responsibilty is a trait that we are all lacking.

I dont think i am generalising, but it would appear that the easier life in general becomes, the more we take things for granted. Use family planning as an example if you like, the morning after pill, of which i have encountered, but not directly, is treated as a means of overcoming the immediate barrier to enjoying intercourse, that is the risk of pregnancy. But this does nothing to teach us how to be responsible for the remainder of our lives, only to allow us to feel at ease, safe in the knowledge that we dont have to worry.

Back to the issue at hand

I'm not that keen on dogs myself, but i am less keen on owners that assume abuse and punishment is fair treatment for them.
It's a shame that dogs only get one chance to bite, before they are put down....perhaps we would think twice about teaching our dogs these methods if they could bite the owner rather than the admirer.
Sparky

Perhaps responsibilty is a trait that we are all lacking.

I dont think i am generalising, but it would appear that the easier life in general becomes, the more we take things for granted. Use family planning as an example if you like, the morning after pill, of which i have encountered, but not directly, is treated as a means of overcoming the immediate barrier to enjoying intercourse, that is the risk of pregnancy. But this does nothing to teach us how to be responsible for the remainder of our lives, only to allow us to feel at ease, safe in the knowledge that we dont have to worry.

Back to the issue at hand

I'm not that keen on dogs myself, but i am less keen on owners that assume abuse and punishment is fair treatment for them.
It's a shame that dogs only get one chance to bite, before they are put down....perhaps we would think twice about teaching our dogs these methods if they could bite the owner rather than the admirer.
Sparky

Perhaps responsibilty is a trait that we are all lacking.

I dont think i am generalising, but it would appear that the easier life in general becomes, the more we take things for granted. Use family planning as an example if you like, the morning after pill, of which i have encountered, but not directly, is treated as a means of overcoming the immediate barrier to enjoying intercourse, that is the risk of pregnancy. But this does nothing to teach us how to be responsible for the remainder of our lives, only to allow us to feel at ease, safe in the knowledge that we dont have to worry.

Back to the issue at hand

I'm not that keen on dogs myself, but i am less keen on owners that assume abuse and punishment is fair treatment for them.
It's a shame that dogs only get one chance to bite, before they are put down....perhaps we would think twice about teaching our dogs these methods if they could bite the owner rather than the admirer.
Sparky

I AM a dog owner - that is, my father is; but as we live in the same house its the same.

We aquired Leo by default. He spend the first 4 years of his life in a great garden, chained up during the day and loose during the night. Then we took him to a factory as a watch dog where he was for another 4 years. All this time he was with at least another dog together. Now he is with us because at the factory they said that he is growing old and they brought a young strong and very wild dog in. After about one month with us he now believes that he is a lapdog. Also, at night he feels alone and cries or talks to himself. If we bring him inside he runs from one room to another and expects us to play with him. It very difficult because my father and I have to go to work, and my mother is upset because of the neighbours.

Please, any humane ideas on keeping him quiet?

nim

There are special collars which deliver a burst of lemon scented water into the air when a loud noise triggers them - this startles the dog and it stops barking...at least that's the theory, and it is totally harmless.

As for the problem of dangerous dogs, they should be muzzled when contact with children is a possibility because children can't be expected to realise how dangerous they are...if the owner is not responsible enough to do so then they are not responsible enough to own a dangerous dog.

There aren't such collars here in Iran. Also, he is not loud, it just goes right to the bone!

My mother listens regularly to the German news on the radio, she said in a discussion the experts said that the trainers and owners of "Kampfhunde" are mentally and emotionally ill.

nim

I think the trainers are only really guilty of gross naivety in believeing that you can train an instinct out of an animal. If they believe this then why haven't they trained dogs not to pee on lamp-posts?

Have you tried to give him an alarm-clock near his sleeping place? An old one which is macking sounds (tick,tick, tick). The dog thinks it is the heartbeat of another one (for example his mother) - I know, it's not a baby dog but an old one - but try !!
Or you can swith on a radio ...... etc. etc.

Grüße aus Hamburg
Funkenmarie

Its true it works - you wrap a clock and a hot water bottle in a blanket. All our puppies get this when they are first away from the litter.

It would probably work if he would lie down for the night, but he prefers to run arround and then sleep through the day.
Leftover habit from his watch dog days...

I'll try it anyway. Thanks folks!

nim

Is there any possibility to keep him busy through the day for a few weeks so that he is absolutely tired at night? I think that would turn his day/night habits.

By the way: Because of this problem with the dangerous dogs there are now new laws, which make it very expensive to have such dog (DM 1.200 taxes) and very uncomfortable because of a lot of new regulations.
The result is: The owners are now exposing their dogs, what makes, it after all, much more dangerous for the people!

Don't panic!
Funkenmarie

I won't panic, because the dogs we have here in Tehran are:
a)small lapdogs and poodles etc.
b)big guard dogs who live in big gardens and are not brought out
c) a very small percentage of wild dogs who run away when they see humans, poor things

My brother lives in Hamburg and was always worried about those dangerous dogs; DID YOU MEAN THE OWNERS ARE LETTING THE DOGS FREE?
Oh God (the other one) I better not tell my mother about this ...

By the way, Mariechen, YOU have a cool weather right now, WE have 37 degrees celsius in the shadow. Anyone interested in keeping a Russian Shepperd busy?

nim

Hy nim,

1) OK, Ok, my idea was not that good :O) --- and what's about sleeping pills ??????? Either for the dog or(if you prefer not to give drugs to dogs) for your family ???
;O) i am only joking! It's difficult to make jokes by writting. A friend of mine wove the idea to set a "§" in front of any sentence which is meant as a joke - it works!

2) YES, THEY ARE LETTING THE DOGS FREE !!!! Right in the middle of the cities and parks etc. etc.
Don't tell your mothern.

Where in Hamburg lives your brother?

F.

all I know is:

My dog tells me that the blood of my victims cleanses the Earth.




how dangerous is that?

Funkenmarie,

my brother lives in Wedel (ok, that's Schleswig-Holstein but the S-Bahn connects to Hamburg).

He is about 180 cm, 38 years old, doesn't look too bad and cooks rather well.

Oh, and he is also single.

nim

Hy NIM,

hmmmmm, tell me more about your brother ............ :O)
Can he join us at h2g2??

Greetings
Funkenmarie

He is not online at the moment (I mean, no computer at home) but I'm trying to get him interested.

More details? Grey eyes, dark blond hair cut very short, and is a very strict housekeeper which poses problems when I visit him

Height... about 180 I would say but I'm not sure.

nim