that makes me so angry - little ***** like that! The dog will end up biting someone because of them and will have to be destroyed!

I don't think having an age limit on walking a dog would be fair because it depends on the individual. There are loads of responsible youngsters who would miss out. Also it could probably never be enforced It would only be the responsible ones that took any notice.

It's horrible what those kids were doing, but adults can be exactly the same. We have adults round here who take their dogs into the fields to attack the cows

I disagree on an age limit for HANDLING dogs...

I LOVED walking my dog when I was a kid, and used to be gone for 4 hours plus per day (when I wasn't in school) just walking!

I think that the idiots are the minority, and all the younger people who get great pleasure from dog walking would miss out.

As for the age of dog ownership, again, this varies.

I ALWAYS wanted my OWN dog when I was younger, but now, I look back and I am very happy that I didn't get one. It is a BIG responsibility, and you often have to put your life on hold in order to care for the dog, ie, going out for the day/night.

As a youngster or young teen this would not be a problem, as you are genererally not bothered about mates and going out as much. But when the hormones kick in, and you want to socialise, a dog could become a resentment and a burden. Of course, not always.

Also, if/when you decide to leave for uni... then what? Most halls won't take dogs! Lol! And there are LOTS of nights out!!

I think that if someone under say 18 wants a dog, then they should only get one if there is a back up (family, whatever) to pitch in. It is a huge responsibility to say, I will always be able to devote time to this animal for the rest of it's life at any younger age.

Of course, things always crop up in life, and circumstance always change, but at an older age, you can accomodate more easily.

I waited till age 24 to get Bodhi, and it is hard enough work now, never mind during adolescence

I don't regret waiting for her for one day, and think I have benefitted from being older.

that must of been such a shock for you.

Yep i agree , and of course we all know a lot of it is status the bigger the breesd the harder the dog i dread the school holidays , we get kids as young as 10 out with dogs they couldent possible control , and even if their dog is friendly whos to say they wont meet another dog who is'nt, im all for familys haveing a dog but , the parents have to take the ultimate responabiltly, god forbid when the worse happens its the dog who usually pays the ultimate price ................with its life .

In Japan there used to be a law regarding motor cycles, if a person could not stand a bike from lying down on its side, they couldnt have that type of bike and had to go for a smaller one. (dont know if this still applies) but the principle should be the same over here with regards to large breeds of dogs, if a young person or any age really cannot totally control a dog manually ie if pulling etc, then they should not have that breed of dog, if this type of law applied it would prevent situations where young lads can walk a large dog, but if it wanted to fight and they had no contol, they would fall into the first catagory, and so not be eligilbe to own that breed, the problem once again comes back to breeders who will sell their pups to anyone that would buy them, instead of doing a "family" check. I personally have done home checks found the parents OK but on meeting their teenagers have decided NOT to let the Family have the dog(large breed) because of the vibes I got from the teenagers ie hinted at the macho side of owning my breed. something does need to be done about loutish teenagers in control of dogs, a serious incident is just waiting to happen.

Mo

I have a mixed opinions, cause i am 15 and my family have three wheatens two of which are mine. I am a responsible teenage dog owner, but i also can agree with what some people have said because most teenagers that you see with dogs are not responsible. My wheatens are my responsibility, i feed them, walk them, groom them, show them, trim then, bath them when the have rolled in something truly disgusting! lol and i also train them. You can’t not categorise all teenagers as irresponsible dog owners because once in a while you get someone like myself or Luke that truly do look after their dogs I think that most of it comes down to the breeder judging if the owner is responsible, but as everybody knows most teenagers with their fierce (normally a bull breed) dog, did not get them from someone who would care if the owner was responsible or not as long as they had the money to pay for their over priced poorly bred money spinning puppy.


Sarah xxxx

Mmm they sound like right little !***!, but I'm not sure about an age limit for walking dogs. I used to walk our family dogs from when I was about 12 years old I guess and was always pretty careful. I think that helping to care for dogs actually instills sense of responsibility in kids. I'm not sure how an age limit could be enforced - and I have a feeling it wouldn't exactly be a priority for the police! I suspect that you'd have responsible dog owners who followed the law and the irresponsible ones it was aimed at wouldn't.
Also, I have a nasty feeling that those particular kids will be no more responsible when they grow up (if they ever do).
Dog ownership is different though - I think that should be 18.

i am inclined to agree with most others - sadly there is no way to police an age limit on dog walking.

I think there should be more education on dog ownership as many adults dont have a clue never mind children/teenagers.

I was recently talking to a friend whose sister was really wanting a dog and she was asking me some advice on it as she doesnt think her sister is responsible enough ( her sister is in her late twenties !!)

her sister was saying that she wanted a dalmatian puppy in one sentence and then the next sentence talking about the 3 week foreign holiday she was going to book, after they got the puppy ??. She lives in a flat so i was sayign I didnt think it was fair to get a puppy -especially a larger breed due to joint problems walking up and down 3 sets of stair every day - and also that due to the fact that they both work all day and go out many nights when was she planning on training the puppy etc etc - Its very sad as more than likely this person will end up with a pup and that pup will end up in rescue... what else can you say other than try and make them see sense.....

please note:

The Dangerous Dogs Act also made it illegal to own a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, or Fila Braziliero unless the dog is neutered, insured and has a transponder implant and a certificate of exemption confirming this. They must also always be muzzled in a public place and kept on a lead by someone who is over the age of 16