There is going to be a debate/discussion about dog control on BBC1 now...

Thanks Newf :)

Just back from a walk, would have missed it..... Just switched on now.

It's Roy Hattersly! Have I missed it??

Its on now, taking the 'deed' not 'breed' line :)

Thank you Dawn that was very interesting.  I did not know about the Scottish proposal.  My first reaction is that this has to be a good thing but I will be interested to hear what others are going to say.

just my luck :( ive just turned over and its done :( !!! .

I'm sure it will be on iplayer later.

Worry about a burglar using it if they are attacked by your dog when they are robbing you - the way justice goes in this country you can bet there'd be a lawyer out there looking for a conviction of us dog owners THEN a private compensation prosecution would be a given with the courts just left to award damages to the burglar from their vicitms!

I don't know the details but I doubt the law would be designed to protect anyone other than a casual trespasser at most  ie if the owner had taken all reasonable precautions and entry had been forced.  It will be interesting to learn more on that point though.

I covered this in Our Dogs months ago, I did watch the BBC coverage though, noted the RSPCA in the thick of it as usual.

As to the child what was she doing leaning over a fence where there was a dog in the garden? I hope that none of my children ever did such a thing and that none of my grandchildren would either. I would be interested to know why she was leaning into a garden over a fence, neither of which was her or her parents property. I am sorry she is scarred for life, but if she had not entered the dogs territory perhaps she would not be, so with that thought in mind I am wondering.....

Maybe the problem is not just the dogs but the fact that society as a whole is less animal aware than it once was? As a child (50's & 60's, yeah ok I am old... :-) ...) I knew which properties had dogs, which dogs were ok and which were not. We had in those days a lot of "latch key" dogs, and even with those we all knew which were ok to touch and which were not. What has changed in Society that makes the government feel that they must legislate? Must control dog owners? Why are children not dog aware? Or for that matter animal aware? I know if I had gone into a neighbours property with out permission I mother would have given me what for, so are children encouraged to think there are no boundaries?

>what was she doing leaning over a fence

That's what children do.  She is only 10 years old so we are clearly not talking about a high fence at all.
I grew up in a similar era to you and I do remember laws being introduced to safeguard children from commercial guard dogs following a speight of injuries so the pursuit of making a safer world for them is not new.  I think it is perfectly reasonably to make owners responsible for ensuring dangerous dogs are kept fully secure even on their own property for the reasons laid out in todays programmes.

> I think it is perfectly reasonably to make owners responsible for ensuring dangerous dogs are kept fully secure even on their own property for the reasons laid out in todays programmes.

Absolutely - I also believe it is perfectly reasonable to make parents responsible for ensuring their children are taught respect and what not to do when there is a potentially dangerous dog in the next garden - even if it's never shown any aggressive tendencies.

I'm just about to watch this prog on iplayer, but I imagine I may be getting annoyed :-P.  The thought that a burglar could be compensated because one of my dogs was defending me/my property is horrendous to me.  The argument about postie's fingers being safe I can understand - which is why my postbox is an external one ;-) but burglars, no.  If they commit the crime then they should be prepared for consequences.

> The thought that a burglar could be compensated

There was no mention of anything like that in the programme.
I do feel children such as the one whose face was scarred after leaning over a fence deserve protection despite any innocent foolishness on their part but the main thrust of the programme piece seemed to be an interest in protecting children within their own homes.

> but the main thrust of the programme piece seemed to be an interest in protecting children within their own homes.

It was and I agree there are some really horrible incidents being reported. However no consideration is given in this law that a burglar would have no rights if the dog bit him in his illegal business of robbing your home.

They do mention dog bites again though and I really do not have much faith in them.

Some years ago I was out walking my dogs across the fields, it was raining it was very slippery underfoot. My dogs were off lead and running ahead of me, I slipped and put my hand out to stop myself falling, I made a wild grab at a fence with out thinking. The fence was barbed wire and ripped open the palm of my hand. The local GP who knows me and my dogs suggested I went to the local A & E to get my hand seen to.

On arrival I was asked how the accident had happened so I repeated my story and the person in charge said, "OH so it was a dog bite then" I explained again and said it was not a dog bite, to which I got the reply, "Yes but you were with dogs at the time so we have to list it as a dog bite". Since then I have never believed the dog bite stats when I have heard them.