Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈Is this animal abuse?
Ari "Second Breakfast" JacksonYes. People can be cruel and short sighted when it comes to animal welfare.
Working dogs need jobs to do, but I never think that training a non-military dog in this manner is smart. It's not a family dog at this point. Other people might disagree with me, but that's where I stand.
I know a family that has a number of Belgian Malinois just for the very fact that they scare people. Even and almost especially if they are not trained as a security dog, their temperament can be highly overprotective and volatile.
I'm extremely cautious around my friends' dogs, even though the dog who likes me is a complete and utter goofball and he never even barks at me when I arrive at their house.
His brother protects his owner way too vigilantly. If I goof up and stand close to my friend, her dog will get between us and warn me. Heaven forbid I ever try to give her a hug! He has bitten Amazon drivers just for showing up on their property.
@arisummerland sounds like an accident waiting to happen, and those poor Amazon delivery people!
Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK@Lazarou under current legislation it would depend on the training - but it immediately puts doggo at far more danger - apart from poor training (or commands) causing it to attack unintended targets, a determined assailant now won't have any issue with stabbing / shooting / poisoning the dog as well as the owner (something that may be overlooked is training to prevent a food-motivated dog accepting tasty "treats" from strangers!)
I remember the "lotto lout" from round my way who got through about *5* Rottweillers which he got for "protection" - whoever had it in for him kept poisoning them...
@vfrmedia yikes! And also, 'never reveal you won the lottery'
@Lazarou nowadays whoever runs the lottery gives winners much more of an option to avoid publicity (although it would still be blatantly obvious if someone in a working class area with a "normal" job buys a brand new car they could not otherwise afford).
I've read some sources mentioning the best way to guard your house is not to train the dog for aggression as such, but to raise it with a cat - cats are very good at keeping an eye on their territory and if they sense danger will even wake sleeping dogs (who sleep in longer stretches like humans) - but nowadays if the threat warrants it its better to get CCTV to keep your family safe at home (also if the dog isn't that well trained and is worth a bit the burglars might even nick the dog!)
Angua 
@Lazarou
Short version: yes.
Longer version: still yes
As stated, personal dogs have no protection and are subject to being shot* / euthanised if deemed to be "out of control"; sheep worrying for example. Biting a human means instant death for almost all dogs.
See also those SODDING "Beware Of The Dog " signs; in law, in the event of any incident, it means you are stating you are aware that your dog is a danger. Fine/jail for you, death for the dog.
IF someone feels that vulnerable, they should hire human bodyguards and lobby for a change in the gun laws.
Having a dog is a privilege and in law you are responsible for their wellbeing which excludes "using them" in such a fashion.
Also any shepherd or similar is a working dog, easily bored and can be a pain in the arse even if not aggressive.
They have nasty health issues as a rule (breeding practices) and take a lot of time and cost a lot of money to look after properly.
I wouldn't leave a family pet dog alone with a child let alone one of these.
*Farmers etc as well as pigs.
I don't approve of pig / military use of dogs or horses etc either.
Short version: yes.
Longer version: still yes
As stated, personal dogs have no protection and are subject to being shot* / euthanised if deemed to be "out of control"; sheep worrying for example. Biting a human means instant death for almost all dogs.
See also those SODDING "Beware Of The Dog " signs; in law, in the event of any incident, it means you are stating you are aware that your dog is a danger. Fine/jail for you, death for the dog.
IF someone feels that vulnerable, they should hire human bodyguards and lobby for a change in the gun laws.
Having a dog is a privilege and in law you are responsible for their wellbeing which excludes "using them" in such a fashion.
Also any shepherd or similar is a working dog, easily bored and can be a pain in the arse even if not aggressive.
They have nasty health issues as a rule (breeding practices) and take a lot of time and cost a lot of money to look after properly.
I wouldn't leave a family pet dog alone with a child let alone one of these.
*Farmers etc as well as pigs.
I don't approve of pig / military use of dogs or horses etc either.
@AnguaDelphine aye, let humans murder humans, don't bring animals into our madness.