I often get stopped by folks who ask is my dog a Welsh sheep dog (no she is a red and white collie) - this week I met a guy who did have one and was asking me where to get a book on Welsh sheep dogs.  He had been to puppy classes and I think getting problems now.  This morning he drove past me while I was walking and he had his dog with him.  He certainly looks like a Welsh sheep dog - a really good looking dog.  He was upset because he had had a visit from the police.  His dog had got out of the garden and jumped on a child.  The police paid him a visit after a complaint from the mother.  They told him that if it happened again the dog would be placed on the dangerous dog list.  This case is an exuberant pup - however I told him that if the dog is not under control he is liable. A sheep dog might nip a child's legs if they are excited or try to run away.  Although agreeing that the dog was obviously not dangerous (I don't know that but didn't want to get his back up) I had to emphasise that on no account must he let this happen or the result could be disastrous.
I have found him info off the net and the temperament is different to a border collie, I printed out some other info on clicker training and mouthing
- He doesn't have a computer otherwise I would have got him on here.  Can a dog really be put on a dangerous dogs list for jumping on a child?

This link <a class='url' href='http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/domestic/dogs.htm'>http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/domestic/dogs.htm</a> should help you.

Can a dog really be put on a dangerous dogs list for jumping on a child?

Yes, but it has to be proved with a court case first! The police can't just decide. The court decides, and if the court rules the dog ISN'T dangerous, nothing need happen at all. If the court decides it IS dangeorus, then it has the power to decide either that the dog has to be muzzled in public at all times as well as being on a lead, or put to sleep. But the owner will be allowed to get expert witnesses to help prove the dog's character etc.

That's good information - thanks.  I will pass it on.  I hate the thought of a dog being put down because it's owner let it roam.  Hopefully he will be prepared to make sure the dog is secure in his back garden.  Having a dog escape is something that can happen to anyone.

Never mind escaping - last summer holidays my lab jumped up at a child when on lead.:rolleyes: I had bent down to pick up his poo, and this child, on a bike, suddenly shot out of the underpass just in front of us, shouting at the top of her voice. My dog jumped up at her, the child started to cry very loudly, the father and his dog then appeared, I apologised profusely, and to crown it all, my dog then barked at his dog. :o: The father was not happy, and I beat a hasty retreat. It is very scary how quickly this scenario developed, and I know I was very lucky that the father didn't take it any further.

The main thing for all dog owners to be aware of is that their dog has only to scare someone for the owner to possibly be taken to task - that is literally all it takes, if of course the matter is reported.

I never used to insure my dog for various reasons - I do now, literally because of this.

Lindsay
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Sometimes its not even the dogs that make the situation dangerous.
I was walking our SBT along the street, her on my inside as usual and walking nicely beside me, as usual and a woman with her 2 children came round the corner, Mitz was no where near her kids or her and she started screaming for me to get my dog away.
I was shocked! Mitz was getting anxious as the lady was pointing at her and shouting, it was all i could do not to slap her to shut her up! Even her kids looked at her bewildered as all they wanted was to stroke Mitz!
So parents can also be the cause for situations where things go wrong with their irrational fears passed down! And if a kid antaganises a dog who are they to say the dog is bad if they get bitten? If you annoy someone long enough with a person you would have the same conflict, parents need to take responsibility!

I thought that public liability is included on house insurance - I did ask my insurance agent this year before I renewed but I haven't actually checked it in writing. 

I don't know this man and his dog but day before yesterday I had another altercation with the man who has acquired a piece of land crisscrossed with footpaths.
I did mention it last year when he took a bull dozer in and destroyed all the bluebells took down trees and cut up the footpaths.  We are trying to get part of the footpath adopted - it has always been used as such but is not on the map.

  He was there after a year of doing nothing with a machine again.  He was very threatening and agressive to me trying to prevent me walking any further along this path.  Of course Meg was drawn towards this man who was shouting and waving his arms - he then said get this dog away and growled very loudly at her while waving his arms.  All done to try and intimidate her I am sure.

Luckily she was good and didn't jump up - she wasn't listening to me because I was really upset.  He was pretending to phone the police - but he didn't know my name.  I knew his and I reported his behaviour to the police.  I was worried about the dog because she was off the lead.  However I had met the 2 young community police people on the same footpath the day before - they saw me have Meg under control and they both made a big fuss of her.  Lucky that.

I thought that public liability is included on house insurance - I did ask my insurance agent this year before I renewed but I haven't actually checked it in writing.

Sometimes it is :)

I believe also there is one charity that includes public liability in their package but can't remember which one - it may be Dog's Trust...

Lindsay
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Went and dropped the info about Welsh sheepdogs and what I have learnt from here off to the fellow I had met.  He wasn't in but I could see that he had made every attempt to block the back gate and stop the dog getting out.  He is obviously a caring owner pleased to see.