Owners need to train dogs properly

DANGEROUS?: Should American Pitbulls be banned in New Zealand?PHOTO/FILE

Nurture, not nature, is to blame for New Zealand's most dangerous dog breeds, says the Wairarapa Kennel Association.

Following the brutal dog attack on a seven-year-old Japanese girl in Murupara, the Times-Age asks whether dangerous dog breeds should be banned.

It is illegal to import four breeds that are considered dangerous into New Zealand; American Pitbulls, Dogo Argentino, Brazilian Fila and Japanese Tosa breeds.

However, those already in New Zealand can be kept and bred - the only restriction is that they have to be muzzled in public.

Secretary of the Wairarapa Kennel Association, Ngaire Walker said that nurture was to blame for most dangerous dogs.

"I would prefer not to see them (the four breeds) in the country, the wrong people always get hold of them. Nine times out of 10 it isn't a bad dog, it's a bad handler, the dogs go straight to gangs and end up being used for fighting.

" That's not what a dog's life should be," Mrs Walker said.

Ben Van Wijk from K9 Clippers had a similar opinion to Mrs Walker, saying that it was not the dog but the owners' handling of the dog that determined if the dog would be dangerous. "It depends on the owner, some people just have them to take them into dog fights, I don't think they [the breeds] should be banned," Mr Van Wijk said.

An article in the New Zealand Herald suggested that the current laws do nothing to stem the number of dog related injuries.

For the year to June, 2013 there were 12,406 dog related compensation claims made to ACC.

Responses on the Wairarapa Times-Age Facebook page trended towards nurture being to blame for a dog becoming dangerous.

Posters argued the onus is on owners to train their dog with care, like a parent is responsible to raise their child to become a decent human being.

Another prominent suggestion was that all breeds of dog have the potential to be dangerous if the owner is neglectful.

Facebook comments:

"Ban back yard breeders for a start and that goes for all breeds... too many unwanted dogs and too many morons having them. Blame the deed not the breed or blame the human." Michelle Toweel

"No these dogs should not be banned. it's not the breed that needs regulating it's the owners. Maybe some sort of licence or permit to own certain breeds would be more appropriate.." Josh Taylor

"Sure it is the owners who don't know how to train a dog who are at fault but it is also the owners of guns who are to blame for shootings and we don't let just anyone have a gun without a licence and training." Aaron Dot Compton

"No it's the owners who mistreat them any dog has the potential to do harm." Cath O'Driscoll

"Definitely yes, the owner of the dogs that attacked the little girl was a responsible owner yet they still attacked. Too dangerous and unpredictable!" Janine Guppy

"Perhaps the owners should be banned from breeding."Greg Ball