I refer to the recent Shah Alam municipal council's proposed ban on Rottweilers that they foresee as being 'dangerous dogs'. If these dogs are labeled as 'dangerous', well, here is the reality. They are not as dangerous as speeding cars that causes accidents that kill, swimming pools that are not properly managed which can cause unwanted accidents, public ponds that can cause people to be electrocuted or toys on which children can choke on.

When a dog bite occurs, the state municipalities jump on these isolated cases to pass by-laws that causes stress to dog-owners. We have not heard of these councils coming out with laws to close down all public swimming pools nor do we hear of laws that ban small toys. Passing these laws would be ludicrous. Similarly, banning a certain breed of dog because of isolated cases of dog bites simply does not make sense.

As a dog trainer that has undergone studies on dog behaviour, I firmly believe that it is almost always it is the fault of the dog's owner when a dog bites a human. Dogs that have been abused and are 'under-socialised' are more likely to bite then a dog that is well-loved and 'well-socialised'. Therefore a ban on a whole breed is simply a sheer waste of time. The authorities should focus on deterring cases of dog abuse.

To prevent dog bites, education is the one and only key solution that needs to be implemented. Children should be taught to behave in ways that don't trigger off aggression in dogs. Pet dog owners should not be allowed to send their dogs for 'guard dog training' as these dogs can't tell the difference between an intruder or a visiting relative. 'Guard dog training' should only be left to the police forces and the relevant authorities.

For dog owners, basic pet dog obedience training should be recommended. However that does not mean that compulsory training should be forced upon dog owners. It is heartening to learn that in this modern society, more and more dog owners have learnt accept dogs as a companions and as a family member that could enrich their lives.

Tens of millions of people have silently benefitted from having dogs as pets but sadly all these cases have gone unreported. People that live with dogs are at a lower risk of having heart attacks and children that lives in homes with pets are more likely to grow up having love and care for all animals. Dog lovers will certainly agree with me that people that live with dogs are happier then those that don't.