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by geordiegaviino on 02 August 2010 - 06:08
BBC's Panorama tonight.
A close look at those who clean up the "fashion" for status dog's mess.
"The UK's oldest animal shelter says it had to put down roughly one third of the dogs it took in last year.
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home said it had no choice but to destroy 2,815 animals - of which 1,931 were healthy - because they were unsuitable to rehome.
The charity rehomes or returns about 5,000 dogs a year, but a growing number are put down because their behaviour means they pose a safety risk, it says.
The charity says the issue of stray, aggressive dogs needs to be addressed." - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10807271
If your serious about breeding or you are a breeder then i suggest you watch it and take in the possibility that some of the dogs you have sold or may sell could end up in a place where everything is uncertain! Dont breed just cause you can, breed cause you need to or no doubt, one (if not more) of your pups will die in one of these shelters!
by Arnies Dad on 02 August 2010 - 10:08
I heard about this panorama program on BBC Breakfast this morning - How very sad.
Respect to Battersea though in that they actually managed to re-home 1,000 Staffies last year, with the breeds
current (unfair) reputation in our country thats quite a task.
There have been so many breeds which have gathered negative press - Pitballs, GSD, Staffies etc
Fashion trends dictate that many people buy dogs they do not have the ability or knowledge to look after.
I remember reading that shelters were flooded with adolesent GSD's a year or so after the theatrical release of Will Smith
film "I am Legend" - due to the popularity of its canine star people bought dogs they couldnt handle
I am strong believer in the fact that these are not bad dogs, they've just had bad or ill-prepared owners.
With regard to breeders - You will find most reputable breeders will state clearly in their "Contract of Sale" that should the buyer be unable to keep the dog for any reason, that they will be returned to them. This coupled with vetting potential owners and endorsements on litters assists breeders in being responsible for dogs bred. No breeder would want a puppy of theirs either in a shelter or euthanised.
Will be watching the program this evening.
Chris
by geordiegaviino on 02 August 2010 - 20:08
I agree! Breeders with contracts clearly stand out from those who dont and i would prefer a breeder to have contract of sale if am buying a puppy.
Did anyone watch it? What did you all think? I think they focused on the Staffie too much and the idea of status dogs, instead of looking at all aspects of why so many dogs end up in shelters. I think it fed the idea that staffie's are untrainable and a danger to the public. They failed to film and talk about other breeds in the same circumstances. Staffie's are on the rise i would 80% of owners in my area has a staffie or a staffie cross. The over percent mainly have german shepherds.
I dont think the GSD is used as a status dog in my area just i think its nature of protection is why so many families prefer one and feel safer at night knowing they have a great gaurd dog (not in the trained sense)
by Diane Jessup on 02 August 2010 - 22:08
by leciesters doghandler on 02 August 2010 - 23:08
''I think it fed the idea that staffie's are untrainable and a danger to the public''
are you for real?? 99.9% of all staffs are people friendly and the same for pits,gsd,rotts etc its the people who cant be arsed to train there dog even just the basic ...sit,stay,down
by Doberdoodle on 03 August 2010 - 01:08
by Diane Jessup on 03 August 2010 - 06:08
I think true obedience training has always been something a VERY small percentage of dogs have received. I like to take "blocks" as a good, manageable quantity to look at. For example, if you live in a half way normal area, ask yourself, "how many dogs on this block have been to basic obedience school"? I think you will find not many.
Add to that, that the average basic training class is worthless. I have friends who train for Petco/petsmart, and also friends who run private obedience classes. I can tell you that what the average person gets from these classes is VERY little when you arehonest about what they are really there for.
Most people want the dog to:
stay in the unfenced yard
not jump up on people
not pull when walking
not go crazy at other dogs
stop digging/'barking
stop being inappropriately aggressive toward people/animals
Which of those are aactually addressed in the basic petco type obedience class?
"Obedience training" per se, is teaching the animal to assume certain positions on command. That's it. Sit. Down. Stay. Come. On lead. Not much there to build on when you start looking at the behavioral issues that so many dogs have today.
by Arnies Dad on 03 August 2010 - 10:08
I watched the program last night and found it to be incredibly sad.
I agree with geordiegaviino that the program clearly had a narrative to tell - In this case being the current plight of staffies being used as status dogs and then later abandoned. I also agree with leciesters doghandler that I've known some fantastic staffies and as with any breed the majority of aggression issues are due to lack of socialisation and training by the owner (though as always there are exceptions).
I think the program failed to acknowledge the other major reason for over crowding in Dog-Shelters - The Recession.
I think this most likely had at least some part to play in the increase in the number of dogs needing re-homing in 2008-2009.
The other major issue raised in the program was the possible return of a Dog Licence to owners in the UK. I'd be very interested to hear others views on this idea. I am unsure personally whether this would be a practical solution or rather an extra burden for those of us who do the right thing?
Overall an interesting (albeit sad) program that could have benefited from an extended running time, so that all relevant issues could have been addressed.
Chris.
by geordiegaviino on 03 August 2010 - 13:08
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