Yes, some dogs are vicious. Is it restricted to certain breeds? No. ANY animal will attack when provoked, it's instinct. While there are some breeds that bite more often, they are also usually the breeds that are harder to train, that require more time from their owner, and most of the time are the breeds in which owners dont know HOW to properly train and handle the dog. Some dogs, such as a Weimareiner, pit bull, rottweiler, german sherperd, Lab, Retriver, etc etc require TONS of attention, care and training. They arent the kind of dogs you can purchase, and leave home for 8 hours a day for most of their lives, they become territorial, and dont KNOW that their 'home' is shared. I own a lab, and my boyfriend has THREE pitbulls, and they are ALL the most docile animals ever. Yes, when they play they get rowdy and bark and it SOUNDS scary, but they've been around people their entire lives, so they understand what it is to share their lives and homes with humans. I believe that just as much as it is a dog's fault when it mauls a little child, I also believe it should be investigated into the way that animal was raised.

I agree with Michelle. The key thing is if you get a dog be prepared to socialize and train it. It is a grey area with the rottweilers because they where behind a fence but maybe if they had been better socialized with the children of the neighboerhood it may not have ended up like this, but it is a big maybe. If aa person adopts or purshases a dog they need to take the ttime for it not lock it up in the yard and forget about it.

Hey Michelle and Anthony, thanks for your posts --
The stats do show that Rotts consistently are on the list of dogs that fatally attack people (not just bite them but kill them). But that very well may be because they are more likely to be owned by people who buy them for protection, never socialize them, and train them to be protective and aggressive. And I agree: Any breed of dog can bite. The thing that concerned me about the Davie dogs' owner is that he had not licensed or vaccinated them (or at least there was no record of it). It one thing to legislate against potentially dangerous dogs, but how do you legislate against potentially dangerous owners?

I think that he should be able to keep the dogs but special arrangements should be stipulated for the indoor containment of the dogs.I notice that in so MANY of these dog-bite situations, these dogs are kept outside, in the backyard. Someone either climbs INTO the backyard or the dogs get OUT of the yard, start running in the neighborhood and bite a person or pet. I don't believe in Breed Ban, but there needs to be a LAW that these dogs need to be kept INDOORS or in a carefully constructed, large, air-conditioned RUN when the family is at work. Time after time, it sounds to me like the owners are careless in how they CONTAIN these dogs...I think that a special license should have to be obtained to keep these dogs and specific stipulations should be required as to their containment, which would be checked on by wildlife management..Many times, the news articles say "...and the dog got loose from the yard..." or the owner interviewed says " ....the dog was in the yard when I went to work and I don't know how he got out, etc. etc."

As a professional dog trainer, who also happens to be disabled AND Partnered with an assistance dog, WHO happens to be a Rottweiler.....
I am very saddened by this.
Unfortunately, what I would recommend would likely not be followed through on...as the dogs were not vaccinated...which shows a true lack of responsibility on the part of the owner(Unless the dogs were Titer Tested, which was not mentioned)
I would require that the dogs go through formal, PROFESSIONAL obedience, and be temperament tested(ATTS=American Temperament Test Society), and once they have gone through all that....then...discuss what happens from there.
What these dogs did was normal.
What the kid did was normal(Altho, my parents would have waited till I got home from the hospital then blistered my butt for trespassing.).
Would we be so upset if it were a rapist or a burglar running through the backyard and got bit? No, we would be buying the dogs a steak or two and giving them medals.

I don't agree that not having the dog vaccinated is a lack of responsibility. I think rabies is the one vaccine that is mandatory. There are alot of people that do think vaccines can have risks and not needed. I think beyond rabies its up to the owner. I also work with rescued dogs that would not meet the temperment testing but are great dogs for the right people. The only other option would be putting thousands of dogs down.

As I said, if the dogs were titer tested, then yes, I would agree with no vaccines.

Do do anything less than either vaccinate or titer test, is dangerous and irresponsible.

Let me ask you this:
Those dogs you speak of that do not pass temperament tests....what happens when they bite someone, something, or otherwise cause harm?
And, aren't there enough animals that will pass temperament tests being euthanized every day, that we have to go out of our way to "rescue" the ones that can't and are a danger?

Oh, I understand the argument "They deserve a chance to live", however....Unless you can positively, beyond any shadow of any doubt guarantee that that animal will never cause harm to another dog/person/child/animal....then....

And, truthfully, you can't guarantee it. Period. Unless you have a concrete run, with steel bars, double fenced, with a roof over it, there is always, always a possibility that the animal will harm something/someone.

Keep in mind, I work with aggressive dogs every single day of my life.

However, I will not "rescue" a dog with behavioral issues that will take me months/years to rehab, when there are other dogs without those problems that I can rehab in a matter of weeks and move on to the next dog.

I know this is a hard line to take....but....I used to try to save them all---then I realized it won't work.

I think that system much like they have on the Island of Majorca Spain would be great.

1) All dogs over 22 kilos must be registered
2) All dogs with bully breeds must be registered.
3) Owners must pass a criminal background check
4) Owners must have medical clearance that they are sound enough physically and mentally to care for such an animal and handle it.
5) $250,000 in insurance(about 100.00 Euros)
6) A letter from the vet,saying that the animal has been vaccinated(Or titered), and that the animal is not vicious.
7) Dog must have with it at all times a muzzle---they don't necessarily require that you have the dog wear it, but you have to have it with you at all times.
8) No flexi leashes, or long lines(6 foot leashes only.)

I go to Majorca to train dogs for a client of mine. I went ahead and jumped through the "hoops" to legalize my Rottie, who is my service dog.

They were amazed that a Rottweiler had been taught to open doors, turn on/off lights, pick up dimes of marble floors, etc....And I took her to the Agricultural Department with me, and demo'd her.

If people with these breeds would obedience train, and work with their dogs, then most of these problems would not exist.

Anyway, thoughts from the peanut gallery.

Hey Karla: That is pretty interesting about Majorca. I wonder what others think. So would the insurance/owner background check, etc. apply to owners of all dogs that weigh more than 22 kilos or all that are bully breeds? (which breeds are included?) Those are some pretty strict requirements, especially if it applies to dogs that simply are large. On the other hand, I could see requiring more restrictive licensing for a few breeds, to ensure that owners are taking their responsibilities seriously and equipped to properly handle their dogs.

Diane,

It's all dogs over 22kilos. Not just bully breeds.

Also, it's interesting....I travel in Europe quite a bit, showing and training dogs....I have only had problems in Barcelona Spain....There, in the airport(remember, my dog flys with me on the plane because she is my service/assistance dog) they want her muzzled.
No where else, have I ever been asked to muzzle her.
She has been to Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Mexico, all over the US....

It is also interesting to me, that I see very few dogs spayed/neutered in Europe----yet, no problems with strays.

Also, while in Switzerland, NO ONE LEASHED THEIR DOGS! Except me. How weird is that?

One bus driver even brought his dog on the bus and it rode all day long with him!

So, yes, altho it is an unpopular position amongst many bully breed advocates....I am for tougher regs on dogs.

But, we also need to remember----no breed bans....Vicious dog laws. That are enforced.

I remember one client, up in Martin county. Lhasa. 32 DOCUMENTED DOG BITS FROM THAT LITTLE DOG! Not 1, not 3, 32!

Granted, when the large dogs bite,they tend to do more damage.

But, lets be honest, small dogs can kill children. Small dogs can kill elderly people.

Wasn't it California where a Pomeranian killed in infant?

Again, no breed bans, no mandatory spay/neuters(Google it---they don't work), simply enforce the existing laws that are on the books, and make tougher laws for those with dogs that are vicious, whether they weigh 80lbs or 8lbs.

I think we should make laws that pertain to owners not breeds I also believe that you should have to follow the same steps and obligations that you need to drive a car or own a gun i.e. a liscence or permit a small bond or insurance policy. I really like the laws that the island off spain has I think they are very reasonable but then again i'm a responsible pet owner who understands the commitment, necessities and requirements of owning a canine or any animal for that matter