Royvon Dog Training Schools was asked to comment on the most recent tragedy in West Yorkshire involving the death of a 13 month old baby by the family's Rottweiler, a dog that has been reported as having "no previous signs of aggression". It is this last sentence that make the incident so difficult to peg - the fact that the dog had no alleged previous signs of aggression. Although the post-mortem report for the dog is yet to be released, which may reveal a linked medical condition, there are also conflicting reports from neighbours and others familiar with the situation that further cloud opinion on who or what is at blame.
The point being made here is that endless commentary can and will be made with the most powerful bottom line being that a child brutally lost his life without known provocation - and by a dog. This case illustrates more than others of its kind that dogs are unpredictable regardless of the owner's best intentions, naive as they may have been. This is a very hard pill to swallow, as the probability of this happening again, albeit unlikely, will always exist. It goes without saying that the emotional scars from this incident, and others of its kind, are life-lasting with the trickle-down effect as concerning and possibly damaging.
As a dog training school, our responsibility is to train dogs and train and educate dog owners. We do not wish to see breeds banned and we do not wish to see laws enforced so strictly that dogs have less of an opportunity to live balanced lives and more of an opportunity to be stressed by confinement and lack of proper socialisation. Stress promotes aggression - it is a perpetuating cycle that will always and understandably end in a stale mate for those for and against what the Dangerous Dogs Act is trying to accomplish.
We, as a dog training school, can and do provide free information on dog development and learning; the importance of proper socialisation; good games and bad games to play with your dog; how to raise a dog with children and children with dogs, and so on. However, we can only reach those interested and willing to listen and take heed.
Therefore, our response to this heart-wrenching and heart-breaking story is to not only take full responsibility for your own dog - an obvious response, but also to take responsibility for yourself and for your family, regardless of whether you own a dog. You may not be able to avoid an encounter with a dog, but you certainly can be prepared for one. The Kennel Club has a fantastic Safe and Sound Scheme that is geared for teachers, children and adults alike. Take it upon yourself to learn and promote the Scheme or have the Scheme taught as part of your local school's curriculum. Exercise the essential do's and dont's in the company of dogs as you would practise safety with traffic, fire and meeting strangers. The more dog-safe and dog-aware people there are, the more apt we will be as a community to pro-actively identify the truly dangerous dogs and dangerous dog owners.
As a company, it is our Purpose to enhance the quality of life for dogs and their owners, and with this Purpose we promote the value dogs add to our lives. However, we are not here today to convince others to love or even like dogs, we are here to grieve and share as much information as possible as to how this might be prevented in the future.
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About Royvon
The Royvon Dog Training Schools was established a near half-century ago in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales as Royvon Boarding Kennels by successful, International award winning dog breeders Roy and Yvonne James. Today, their son and daughter Darren and Sarah not only continue this proud family tradition of quality care for pets, but are committed to growing and enhancing its services and overall well-being of the dog community.
For more information, please visit:
www.royvon.co.uk and www.trainyourpuppy.co.uk
A well trained dog is a happy dog - Please be a responsible dog owner
