In Western Australia the government has decided to introduce new laws to deal with dangerous or aggressive dogs. So owners need to make sure their dogs know how to behave.


GEOFF HOLT (Dog owner): I could hear my wife screaming for me to help. There were two Pitbulls, one of which was locked onto his leg. He was just yelping and crying and blood was rushing out.

DIANNE BAIN: It's a nightmare scenario: A young family, two vicious dogs and one frightened puppy. Two weeks ago, the Holt family took their eight-month old Weimaraner to the Hillarys dog beach. Out of nowhere, two Pitbull terriers latched onto the puppy.
The puppy underwent surgery and the Holt family has so far spent $1500 on vet bills. And there's little chance they'll be compensated.
The Government's already announced it's cracking down on so-called fighting dogs.
But those who work with dogs will tell you all breeds can be aggressive.
Kathy Kapellis McLeod is fast getting a reputation among her clients as Perth's very own dog whisperer.
She specialises in treating aggressive dogs.

Don't let their cute looks fool you; all these furry friends have another much angrier side.

KATHY KAPELLIS McLEOD [To a group of dog owners]: I can see a little dog in the distance so if your dog does notice that, you want to be able to reinforce your dog. So good things and good associations are made for your dog. Penny, Ben's just had a bit of a look now, so that sort of would be deserving of a few food treats there. So get in before he might get a little bit worried about seeing that other dog. Well done.

DIANNE BAIN: Mrs Kapellis McLeod believes in the power of positive reinforcement.

KATHY KAPELLIS McLEOD: If you can get a lot of these dogs early, it teaches the people some really good, vital skills so they know how to manage situations and hence their dog doesn't get to practise more and more of the bad behaviours.

DIANNE BAIN: If a dog performs well, give it a treat and there's no need to hit or scold the pet for behaving badly.

RSPCA OFFICER: You can teach an old dog new tricks. And it's more teaching the person to teach the old dog new tricks.

DIANNE BAIN: And five-year-old Rex is proof of that philosophy. Rex used to hate other dogs. It got so bad his owner, Jodie Bullock, couldn't take him out for walks. She now swears by the power of positive reinforcement.

JODIE BULLOCK (Dog Owner): It's taught them that the dogs coming up to him aren't a threat and that it's an exciting time. He gets rewarded for his positive behaviours.

DIANNE BAIN: It's a pity the owner of the Pitbulls that attacked Bungie, the Weimaraner didn't have the same foresight. Geoff Holt and his family are now so concerned about aggressive dogs they're finding it hard to get back down to the beach.

GEOFF HOLT: There were a couple of big dogs running around off the lead with no muzzles on or anything the very next day, so I don't think we'll be heading down there in the near future. I mean, an experience like that just makes you once bitten twice shy. It's a cliché, but I mean, you just don't want to do that any more.