Cheltenham dog behaviourist calls for responsible pet ownership after serious dog attack

A dog trainer and behaviourist from Cheltenham has called for pet owners to raise their animals responsibly, after an 11-year-old girl and two men were hurt in a dog attack in Birmingham.

Chris May, from Chris May Dog Training, has been reacting to news that West Midlands Police were investigating the incident in the Bordesley Green area on Saturday.

“Owners have a responsibility to their families, they have a responsibility to their community and the public and they have a responsibility to the dog itself – there’s no need for dogs to behave in the way we’ve all seen recently,” Chris said.

"In Birmingham, the tragedy that’s happened there, that is a consequence, most likely – though we don’t know all the details – of inadequate socialising and training.”

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Suella Braverman is pushing for a ban on American bully XL dogs, arguing they are a "clear and lethal danger", particularly to children.

The Cabinet minister announced she has commissioned "urgent advice" on outlawing the dogs after she highlighted an "appalling" attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham.

But Chris thinks the issue is more complex.

"The number one priority should be public safety," he said, "but I would say no dog is inherently violent or dangerous.

"It's all it’s to do with the early experiences in that dog’s puppyhood and if the owner has taken their responsibilities properly and they’ve done everything they need to do.

"Dogs don’t need a lot to be set up for a calm, safe life but when that doesn’t happen that’s when these problems occur.”

And the American Bully XL?

“They’re boisterous, they’re full on, they’re very challenging as a dog to own but they can and should be wonderful pets” Chris said.

Chris argues all big dogs can be dangerous, if not raised properly: “the problem with these larger is breeds is when things do go wrong they go wrong catastrophically because the breed is so large, so powerful.

"The focus and the message that needs to be out there now is if you’re the owner of any dog but especially if you’re the owner of a large dog, take your responsibilities seriously.

"Make sure there’s training in place so that they’re under control when they’re out in public and make sure they are safe to be around.”

It is against the law to own, breed or sell dogs on the list drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

But it is also against the law to have a dog that is dangerously out of control, which can be punished by prison sentences and unlimited fines.

But Chris tells us this isn't something to worry about as long as do owners start training and socialisation as soon as possible.

"You've got four months," Chris said, "You have to go out and show them the world and the important thing is that early exposure,

"Show them the world is safe - that's what socialisation is: exposing the puppy to everything that we want them to be calm and relaxed around as an adult dog.

"A dog that is calm and relaxed is a safe dog. A dog that is stressed or nervous or anxious - those are the dogs that will in some cases, revert to aggression."

Chris recommends all new dog owners visit the Animal Behaviour and Training Council for information.