Did anyone see Dog Borstal last night? (18/10/07)

[leelapops]

Wondered how you all felt about the American Bulldog, WIlson, who was put to sleep. Was he completely untrainable and a consistent danger? OR could an experienced handler have rehabilitated him? I ask without bias, as I really don't know the answer. I just know it made me feel very sad, but that living his life in that same vein as long as he lived would probably have been sadder still. Even Lynne cried, so it was serious stuff...

[babybop6379]

I noticed that too leelapops was very sad, kinda makes you wonder if he could have been taken in by the police or military services to do good. But then like you say it even made lynne cry and she is as tough as old boots. I dont think the decision was made lightly because there are a few experts surrounding that programme and im sure they must have had hard times deciding what to do.

[divegirl]

Hi....this has been discussed on a dog forum that I belong to. It seems that for all of the expertise in place [on the programme] a few basic issues were not considered. Castration, diet and a longer training programme. One lady on the other forum has fostered and rehabilitated 4 AB's all of whom were more aggressive than Wilson. IMO it is a crying shame that these near on giant breeds become 'designer' dogs that people think it is 'cool' to own. People can not take on a bull type breed and expect not to have to put in a hell of a lot of work and time into training it......the woman said she wanted a family pet!!!! I hope she never considers getting another dog :o[....just my opinion.

Lisa x

[eyeshade]

II saw this as well, albeit the first 5 mins and the woman said she had it from a puppy so you may ask why on earth did she not do some sort of training earlier. Not a dog to bring into the house with small children. I agree with you Divegirl, lots of things were not considered, well not that we saw anyway. I would like to think they were considered off camera and after production. I don't think really in the timescale of the TV programme there is enough time taken and it is a shame HOWEVER, what I do think came accross and hopefully , it will make people more aware, that they should think before they buy! Very sad for Wilson, especially when you saw how sad he looked in the pen and almost saying "please can someone show me what it is I'm doing wrong! Hanky moment or what!

[kita1]

Did not see the programme, but, the RSPCA (and other rescues) are having to put to sleep perfectly healthy, well trained, family pets every day simply because they don't have a home.

Why spend hundreds of pounds and hours of time trying to retrain a potentially lethal dog that will probably never be able to be trusted?

Sad, but at least the dog was destroyed in a humane way and never suffered fear, hunger and pain.

Sometimes it is a decision that has to be made - I just feel so sorry for the people who have to suggest it.

[annavc]

I saw it too and cried my eyes out but at the same time I thought what else could they do. The owner did say at the end that she had tried every type of avenue to rehome him - ordinary rescue centres, breed rescues etc. I hope that was the truth but there was no way she could keep him with small children in the house - he was just too unpredictable. Having said that I think perhaps with more training he would have been ok - I don't know.

I love that programme but it does make me really angry - every animal that is on there only has problems because it's never had any training. All these people who take on dogs thinking it'll be easy and that it'll make them look good drives me insane! They really should bring back licening and not the toothless thing it used to be - it should cost a reasonable amount and people should have to pass some kind of test before owning a dog. That's my opinion anyway!

[divegirl]

Kita.... Although I understand what you are saying about the level of un-wanted dogs in this country, IMO this dog was showing classic signs of fear aggression. In the footage of him at home he showed a 'playful' dominance [don't all jump on me... I know dominance in a dog of that size is not acceptable]....when he was put in 'borstal' he....as a young dog, was scared witless and reacted aggressively....there was no need for the dog to be PTS.

Eyeshade....have to agree with you 100%....please let this be a lesson to people.....the look on that poor boys face whilst in the kennel said it all!

Lisa x

[lankeela]

I totally blame the breeder for allowing a dog like this to go to a family that were obviously not the right sort of people to own a dog like this. I think it is breeders that should have to be licensed and one of the requirements should be giving consideration to the owners they sell their puppies to. It is far too easy to breed a litter and sell them, and too easy to go out and buy a dog without any knowledge of their needs.

You only have to look at some of the problems people come on here with, and most of them are breeds that you would consider good family pets.

I definitely feel that the dog should have been PTS.

[leelapops]

Thank you all for your opinions so far. I definitely agree that in most cases, shows like DB feature people who've either picked the "wrong" breed for their lifestyle, or haven't considered the time, effort and financial/emotional investment that a dog entails ("Oh, our family labrador was lovely when I was little..." etc.), or, indeed, should NEVER have an animal in their care :(

babybop, I think he would have been a very welcome addition to the military etc. if he had been trained more appropriately.
He really did look so sad, confused, and at the end of the day, thoroughly frightened. Most of the negative publicity surrounding dogs is the fault of humans, and most of the bad things that happen to dogs, be it abuse, or situations like this, are through human failing. It makes me so mad.
divegirl, I know castration isn't a guaranteed solution, but I wondered had they considered this, or a sustained training programme as you say, with a more committed owner. He seemed the kind of owner who would bond with one person well, so they could have considered an ABD fanatic. Bull breeds are bl**dy hard work-I couldn't handle one!!
eyeshade-absolutely! When they had to use the grabber to get hold of him, the look in his eyes just tore me apart.
kita-absolutely, but any situation like this would upset me, regardless of whether or not anything could have been done.
anna, I have to agree re. dog licensing. It is pleasure to own my dog, and I have put a lot of work into ensuring he behaves acceptably when in and out of the house! But it would make people think before they brought home a pup that a mate was giving away, for example....I just wish people could see past their own selfishness nd think about wht's best for the dog, not what's best for them.

My "a" button sticks, hence the oddly spelled words!
What do others think bout the dog licence? I am afraid I am a little too young to remember them

[divegirl]

lankeela....can I ask your reasons for putting this dog down?

[Illyria54]

I am an ex army kennel maid/dog handler and there is no way that they would take a dog as un-predictable as this dog was, I don't however completely blame the breeder although she obviously didn't 'vet' this family closely enough, this dog should have had very firm handling from the first day that lady took him home, and never let to get away with any type of bad behaviour, he definitely had to be pts, albeit through no fault of his own and I hope that woman is more sensible next time she gets a dog, it was the only sensible outcome and a decision that should have been made much sooner than it was, I have kept German Shepherds for more years than I care to remember and believe me if you don't know how to handle them, then you are in a lot of trouble! too many people take on the wrong type of dog 'for them'!

[lankeela]

My reasons would be that this dog showed out and out aggression to all the humans around it. No dog should be allowed to exhibit that sort of behaviour, no matter how many do gooders think they are the ones who could turn it round. There are far too many decent dogs put down without allowing a dog of this mentality to live. I would not have let it go this far, endangering the people involved with it for the sake of so called 'entertainment' TV. Sad, but the dog could never be trusted 100% and that is no way for a dog to have to live.

[chesnuts]

LEELAPOS
i WILL GIV U MY ANSWER AND do no care this dd was beautiful, this family shud hav not take on a big dog eva

I had a bull mastiff who weighed twice his size he was very picky and also cud be agressive without of the family, but he died naturally 5 years ago surrounded by love and kindness and i had him cremated when he died and still have his box and ashes, my wholew world surrounded itself around this baby ,, NOT DOG becos to me he was a bay he never hurt anyone except me when he died. I do have to admit in his youth he was a bit of a lad and could be frisky. My answer is what i wud of dun to him, castrate them if u r PIG IGNORANT to breed then you are looking for trouble. with LEVI he had a swrious heart murmour and if he had had an anathsetic would have died, so i knew i had to keep my 14 stone hunk out of trouble that is twice th weight of the dog on the tv. I am sorry and i dont mean this harsh, but only ever and i mean ever take on a big dog if u know wot u r doing PLEASE becos if u dont U R CONDEMNING THAT DOG TO DIE. please these guys are trained to protect, like a mastiff pin down and most of all if u know wot ut r doing be the bestest frien u will ever have. I await all of thensarcasm about owning a bulli come on ia int bothered,my baby has been dead 4 5 yeard is in a box next to my bed and wud not have hurt a fly

WHY
BECOS I KNOEW WOT I WAS TAKING ON GOD BLESS ALL OF U WHO HAVE LOST A BIG GUY

IF U R STRUGGLING WITH A BIG DOG PLEASE AMIL ME ON [email protected]
DO NOT HAQVE HIM PUT DOWM PLEASE LET E AT LEAST TRY TO HELP U X