branched from here

I think there should be some sort of vetting system in place prior to getting a dog whereby people have to PROVE they have the capability to rear a pup or a dog .
If you want to look after children you have to prove you can do so and that they will be brought up in the right household - well dogs are a hell of a lot more dangerous than children if they arent brought up in the correct way and the consequences a lot more severe .
Realistically I dont think you could introduce such a thing - it would be too hard to keep track of for one .
I just wish I could persuade "idiots" to stay away from my favourite breed and stop them geting all this bad press :( :( :(
Lel

Idiots have children too and they do not have to prove that they are capable or able to bring those children up in a responsible manner. Look at any weekly, local newspaper and you will see children behaving in an unacceptable way. If people can not control their children, they are hardly likely to control their dogs ;-)

Yes thats quite true Admin - but if I wanted to foster or adopt a child I would have to go through a million tests to assure the authorities I was fit to do so- yet I can go and buy the most aggressive dog possible tomorrow and train it to be antisocial etc without anyone asking any questions . It would only be afterwards that my capabilities would be questioned and by then its too late :(
This is what makes me sad :(

Agree with all you have said Lel.

I take your point Lorraine :-)

Now,

1)What sort of tests would you (and anyone else) like to see potential dog owners have to undergo?
2)Do you have one test or a test for each breed/group to be owned?
3)How do you apply breed specific tests to potential cross breeds owners?
4)Who carries out the tests and who makes the final decision on who can and can not have a dog?
5)Who will police the testers and the licence issuers?
6)How would you fund this?

Realitically it cant be done . If it could it would have to be to prove that you can care for a dog full stop and not apply to specific breeds . If you are capable and able enough to be a responsible and sensible owner then you must surely be sensible enough to realise which is the right breed for you .
When you pass your driving test its not just for a certain car is it ? It doesnt say you can only drive a small car and keep away from the sporty types :)
There would be no -one willing to finace the project anyway as it wouldnt make enough money . :(
I think its just a matter of the Government being realistic enough to realise that a whole breed shouldnt be condemned for the deeds of tthe few - which, maybe they are realising ,as the Dangerous Dogs Act introduced in the 90s didnt address the problem just caused more confusion :(
Lel
Anyone else have any ideas ??

It's an interesting concept. Modern society is progressively getting more anti-social towards dogs each year. I note more & more 'No Dogs Allowed' signs popping up everywhere, even in local parks where dogs have been walked for years. Maybe a 'Driving test' for prospective owners isn't such a bad idea. It would certainly put a lot of people off - which in my opinion is a very good thing. If you can't be bothered to invest the money, time & research into what goes into owning a dog then you probably shouldn't have one.

If such a test were introduced, I think the breeders would lose a fair amount of business & the animal re-homing societies would have an even tougher job. But to be honest, is this really such a bad thing? We already have so many dogs & cats in the UK, many of whom are unwanted and/or badly treated that perhaps if the demand were curtailed by a test like this, we could all slow down the production line a little. (I'm getting into a really controversial topic now aren't I?! I can hear all the breeders snarling at me already...:p)

I can't actually see a problem with funding either. Perhaps the KC could draw up some guidelines involving the applicant studying some theory just like the Highway Code, then the applicant has to sit a test, answering general non breed specific questions on dog law & liability, general dog care, exercise requirements, feed requirements, dog health, irreputable breeding etc. The Government could then approve & introduce the test as law. Each test applicant would pay standard fee, just like the driving test, say £45.00 & in order to pass the exam you would have to answer 95% of questions correctly to gain your certificate issued by the KC. I'm sure hundreds of private companies would spring up from nowhere willing to take it on. A percentage of the fee would go towards the government (unfortunately) some to the KC & the KC & the rest to the local companies running it.

Well done Lel - you've created local employment & better prepared prospective dog owners in one fell swoop! At any rate, it's something worth thinking about.

Or perhaps breeders should be made more responsible for where their pups are going - prospective owners have to visit them every week for so many weeks to study the breed (or x-breed), prove they can handle the bitch (before she is mated) so these are not last minute decisions.

If a mating is accidental then the bitch is automatically aborted - This also to be the case if a panel of, say, 10 breeders from assorted breeds can prove a good reason for the breeding not to take place (too many litters produced by that person, no health testing for breed, very poor specimen, bad temperament etc etc)

If there are less than, say, six prospective new homes in the bigger breeds then the mating not to take place until the next season.

Now ducking for cover!

Christine

Where did you buy a wooden spoon as big as that, Christine?! ;)

Me!!! Wooden Spoon!! Nahhh :)

It would just mean that everyone - breeders and purchasers had to put that much more effort into it before they bred a litter and if you can't or won't do it then don't breed - easy!

Would cut out the need for rescues or certainly cut down on them in one fell swoop, without adding to our taxes as it could be self regulating amongst the dog community

Christine

It's a lovely idea....but how do you make people become responsible?

Sadly it won't happen because too many people see breeding dogs as an easy way to make money - and that, so the song says - is what makes the world go-around!

Christine

I have though about this long and hard and cant see a realistic way in which to manage it unfortunately :( although I really do think "something" should be in place .
Lesley