IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS

[Janis]

[Dave Rowland]

[Alan and Lynsey]

you are welcome.
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Cheers,

Alan, Lynsey, Meg, Peanut and new arrival Bella

[Janis]

[Jack]

[Claire/Mark]

Yeah I have done it with Tara especially if I know there is going to be a lot of dogs around. I put it on Tara also before I go into the vets as I know she has issues and never know what might happen. I don't do it in class but we have Tara on a tight leash...Or out on group walks I usually just stay at the back. My poor misunderstood girl angel in house and with Mylo till it comes to class but that's why we are all there.

Feel for you Shirley and hope you have managed to calm down I know am a bag of nerves and that's only if Tara goes off in one....

Wouldn't it be great if they all loved one another

[Steven]

Did not want to really get myself involved in this as we no longer come to class but we are friends with a lot of people on this forum. This unfortunately is not as I understand the first time that Luka has shown to be aggressive, as several of you know Kaiser was attacked by Luka on at least 3 occasionson in the same day when out walking. On all 3 occassions Kaiser was on lead and I believe that Luka was trying to be the dominant dog, no real damage was done. Fortunately I could see some of the challenges coming and managed to step in between the two dogs. We did not have a problem with this, if we did we would have taken the issue up with Shirley, but I would just like you to know that Luka does seem to have some aggressive issues that need to be addressed and I am glad that Shirley is being a responsible owner and muzzling her dog. We are only too aware that some dogs do have issues with each other and that this will perhaps never change, best in that case to keep the dogs under close supervision as we need to with some of the dogs on our walks.

Stevie

[Margaret J]

Sorry i have been away at Irvine beach all day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

firstly all i wanted to do was voice my concern in terms of insurance and how we all stand ....i thought that i made it perfectly clear i was not on to Lynch anyone ...if i had wanted to do that my post would have contained very different wording...........

i think it is sad as a group of like minded people that i cannot come on and put forward a valid concern without being accused of such tactics ...be assured if i wanted to Lynch anyone it would have been done on Thursday night...in fact i felt quite the opposite towards you Shirley...................

the silence i spoke about was to urge everyone to make any suggestions as to what they felt would be adequate measure to take 1. prevent this happening in the future and 2. satisfy my own concerns. ........

i fell as a paying member of the club that i am entitled to voice my concerns in club matters. i do not care what arrangements have been made personally in this matter.............................

Gordon as for my dogs being off lead.............Roonie and Breagha are only every unhooked from the table to drink or when swapping dogs for class and then retethered again ....i am there at all times ............

Balach is often off by my side and i allow him to play with Charlie and Echo........as this is a socialising skill that they should learn ............however, this as Janis has stated will not happen again..................

as i previously stated this is not something that crossed my mind in the past and i suppose i was relaxed at class as i felt that it was a secure environment to allow Balach who is the pup to play with the other pups.

However, Breagha and Roonie never have off lead freedom in the waiting area.

Please remember that this post was on how to move forward and not to nit pick at others as we have all made mistakes and none of us have perfect dogs......after all this incident happened whilst both dogs were on lead so on lead is not necessarily the answer but merely a step in the right direction although vigilance is also required as the lead alone will not prevent situations from arising.

i would like to apologies to you Shirley as i had no intention of offending you but as a post you are unable to hear the tone in which this was put across and i can assure you there was no malice intended...... and i had hoped you knew me better than that.

[Isabel]

I think that it is good that you have spoken out about this margaret and you should be able to express your opinions. I agree that the owners should have to prove that their dog is insured in case of adverse events happening. You need it these days cos people sue at the drop of a hat.

It is a shame about what has happened but I don't think that there is any blame, dogs will be dogs, but owners need to make sure that they do the most to control their dogs and ensure that no other dog or person gets hurt. I think it is best to learn from this and for everyone to move on. Dogs eh, who'd have em!!

[Jack]

ME Isable.....ME!!!! - A thousand times over some humans.....ALL present company excepted of course!


OK I think this thread has now served it's very very valid purpose. To save it becoming a "blaming" or "hurt feelings thread" why don't we all throw in some ideas as to how best to prevent a recurrance AND what we would do with an aggressive dog to rehabilitate it and help it achieve balance therefore allowing us all to live happier lives?

NO more naming of any one particular dog other than by it's owner please - as Margaret has said this was never intended to be a witch hunt so let's turn it into something positive, something that could help us ALL - any one of us could have a problem dog now or in the future so how about throwing in some actual helpful ideas for each other? I intend to work with aggressive dogs (Staffies naturally) in the hopefully not too distant future so this is just as much for my benefit as anyone elses..
I've stated in my post above what I feel would help in foyer/class situations.....what do you think of them? What else could you suggest???


My suggestions were: so making being on leash a rule of the club wouldn't either help moving forward or have prevented this in the first place! I think perhaps moving more slowly when amongst the pack i.e. no sudden movements along with ensuring all dogs can be given a wide berth if necessary would be more effective. Avoid causing the dogs to "eyeball" each other in confined spaces would also help. Also if ANY dog has issues, irrespective of who's it is then as Shirley is doing on Thursday that dog should be muzzled to protect all around it AND it's owners pockets. In an ideal world these precautions wouldn't be necessary BUT we all know that the unexpected can happen so best protect as much as you can to prevent them.

Finally, for now, I know there's a class tonight and I hope it went well with you ALL doing as you usually do and pulling together to be constructive and help each other. That's why I was drawn to this forum - the lovely personalities and the willingness to be friends and help each other out no matter what the issues - please don't let what has happened spoil that for any of you.

Much love to all & your dogs - every last one of them!

Jack.xxxxxxxxxx
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Staffies are my life! Visit us at www.staffies.co.uk

[charlene]

not wanting to get involved in this situation but i would like to say how i feel without causing any upset..........
i feel sometimes the reception area gets to busy at times, i understand this is because classes r coming in and out, but i no myself im guilty for hanging about in between times to have a we gab and a laugh with people, i also like tina socializing with the other dogs but maybe in a small reception area this is not the best place to do this........and have noticed tina gets nippy with some dogs......but on walks shes fine.............my point is that i think when all the dogs are together in a confined space they get grumpy with one another.

as for insurance i know people will prob judge and have alot to say about this but i will put my hands up and say tina is not insured, my mum and dad never had our dogs insured so its something i never thought of when i got tina, we always just payed for anything that needed doing.........but after the recent events i have realised that my dog should be insured not just for me but for other owners and there dogs......im angry with myself that it takes somehing like this to make me realise i should have tina insured well before now.
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[Dave Rowland]

Tara's not insured either.
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Quoting Jack: you know me - a complete hopeless case & Sadly - and mark it in your diaries folks as you won't see this happen often - but <gulp> I HAVE to agree with Dave on this.
Quoting Kendal: coulu you decapitate innes for me please

[Isabel]

Charlene I hadn't thought that much about insurance either until we got Alfie from the dogs trust and they talked to us about it. Aside from the huge vets bills that you can be faced with nowadays it's the third party insurance that is really important. If your dog causes any accident or injury to whatever you are liable and can be sued. Say if your dog runs into the road and causes an accident, you are liable and if someone sues (which these days they probably would!!) then you could be paying thousands out.

I think it is a good idea to have insurance for them, I know it is another cost but I would say it is important, and no doubt you will recoup the money on vets bills at some point.

[Isabel]

Oh and Dave if Tara decides to do something bad as a cat you can just deny any knowledge of her Unless she is chipped!

[charlene]

your right isabel thats why im now looking at all the different insurance companies......just wish i had done it sooner
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