Experts puzzled by bull mastiff attack

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX and NZPA

Pure-bred bull mastiffs are generally known as a gentle breed who would probably attack only if they were not treated well or had inadequate training, say dog experts.

Four aggressive breeds known to be bred for fighting - american pit bull terriers, brazilian filas, dogo argentinos and japanese tosas - were last year banned from being imported and must be muzzled in public.

But bull mastiffs were bred specifically to chase and hold down poachers without hurting them.

Carol Taylor was mauled to death in Dunedin by her bull mastiff, Sytan, this week.

Professor Kevin Stafford, of Massey University's Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, said bull mastiffs had been specifically bred to be non-aggressive. Dogs with that kind of temperament did not often attack without provocation.


"The Dunedin death is unusual. But it's also not unusual for people to be attacked by their own dogs. Unfortunately, it sounds as though the victim did not have control of the animal.

"When a relationship between the master and dog is out of sync and the dog has taken over, then master does something unacceptable to the dog, the dog attacks."

He said responsible breeders bred dogs to be easygoing and not aggressive, especially the larger types such as bull mastiffs, "because we can't have a breed like that aggressive in society".

Wellington SPCA dog handler Carolyn Press-McKenzie said dogs needed to know their owners were good leaders.

"If they don't have a leader, that can make a dog very insecure ... it's a lot of pressure, especially for a dog who may feel he's got the leadership position but doesn't exactly know what his job is or how he fits into the family ... and that can go terribly wrong," she said.

Dogs were born to work, and please people.

"If dogs aren't utilised or trained properly, they get a little frustrated and they start self-gratifying. That's how you get dogs that perhaps start barking or chasing the postman.

"What happens is that people take a dog on, they will treat it kindly but it probably just hangs out in the backyard ...

"Because it's got no outlet for its natural innate want to please people, it starts coming up with its own jobs and, quite often, those jobs ... are inappropriate."