Dog whisperer Cesar Milan to train dangerous owners

WALKING across Scotch Horn playing fields in Nailsea do you feel frightened when confronted by a strange dog coming towards you?

Most of us do, whether it is on a lease, muzzled or being managed by a responsible owner it is not your pet and therefore you don’t know how it is going to react.

So what do Nailsea people think about plans by the Government for all dogs to be insured and chipped?

Would this tackle the problem of dangerous dogs?

The Groom Room owner Carolyn Price met dog whisperer Cesar Milan during his UK tour.

Carolyn said: “All dog owners should take a short course on dog psychology as advocated by Cesar.

“This would most definitely prevent dog aggression.”

But pet lover Ivana Cooke believes a banning order for dangerous owners is the answer.

Ivana, who works with the Happy Returns holiday boarding home for dogs in Nailsea, said: “On www.ukandspain.com there was an account of a man who admitted that his three Rottweilers had attacked a woman and killed her poodle.

“He was given a suspension order, sent on an offending behaviour scheme and fined - but not banned from owning dogs.

“He bought three German Shepherds: two started fighting and a 21-year-old man tried to stop them. They killed him.

“I think banning dangerous owners from owning any type of dog would be very sensible - and fairly easy to police.

“When you read a list of people - including children - killed and maimed by dangerous dogs, I think it would be fine to put offenders' photos in the media.

“The caption for the poster should say: ‘This man/woman (name) has been banned from owning a dog. Ring the police if you see him/her out with one.'

“To me, this would be a true interpretation of human rights.

The changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act are aimed at tackling the growing problem of vicious animals being bred for use as weapons, particularly on inner-city estates.

Carolyn thinks people should understand that ‘all dogs can bite even Jack Russells, cute fluffy little poodles or the loveable Labrador’.

To enforce Insurance and micro-chipping doesn’t prevent the problem of irresponsible dog ownership, said Carolyn.

She said: “My message to would-be dog owners is firstly get your self trained.

“It is not enough to love our dogs and to expect them to act like human-beings.

“We need to give them discipline and affection.

“The more we learn about dog psychology, the better we are able to connect with our canine companions!

Carolyn and her staff met Cesar when he was in Cardiff.

She added: “Cesar helps people to see the world through a dogs eyes and  re-trains dog owners, encouraging them to be calm, assertive and balanced pack leaders and never angry or aggressive.

“He believes in guiding and directing the dog compassionately.

“This doesn't mean putting a dog in its place or oppressing him in any way.

“Cesar is charismatic and funny but above all he knows how to read dogs and is dedicated to helping them in a calm gentle way.”

Ministers are also considering making it a criminal offence for a dog owner to allow their animal to be 'dangerously out of control'.

Currently they are only breaking the law if the dog is out of control in a public place.

The change would extend the law to private residences, and could provide extra protection for postmen.

Insurance for dogs costs from around £5 a month upwards

Ivana added: “The huge majority of dogs are well-behaved; insuring and chipping would deter people with limited means.

“Several commentators said that the owners of dangerous dogs are very unlikely to observe any requirement to insure and chip.

“Our third party property insurance would cover injuries caused here by our dog.

“Currently, I understand that the law does not cover dog attacks carried out in private property; this loophole should certainly be closed, to enable prosecutions.

“I believe puppy farms are a cruel scandal and can produce unstable dogs; they could be closed down quickly, if the will existed.

“And an article in the Guardian stated that no one seemed able to close down three known dog-fighting sites; again, if the will were there I think organised dog-fighting could be uncovered and banned.

“Punitive sentences should be applied - also for training dogs to fight.

“The same article stated that vets cannot report injuries from fighting. Crazy! This should be changed.”