"Requested Muzzle for Large Dog, Received Insults and Assault Instead"

"Large Dog Owner Claims Assault After Requesting Muzzle"
Dog Breed Presumed Doberman... Not Subject to Muzzle Mandate

A story has sparked controversy after a person was assaulted for asking the owner of a large dog that looked fierce in the neighborhood to put a muzzle on it. On the 21st, Mr./Ms. A posted on an online community, “A large dog in the neighborhood apartment was drooling and baring its teeth aggressively, so I asked the owner to put a muzzle on it, but they cursed at me saying ‘What does XXXX have to do with it?’” and “Afterwards, when I headed to the park, they called their husband who followed me for about 100 meters and assaulted me,” they claimed.

[Image source=Bobae Dream capture]

Mr./Ms. A said, “I have currently reported the incident to the police,” adding, “It’s really absurd. I just asked politely for a muzzle because I felt threatened, but I was followed and assaulted. I never thought I would experience something like this in my life.” The attached photos show redness on the neck and bruises on the calf caused by the assault. The hospital diagnosed the injuries as requiring three weeks of treatment. Evidence photos presumed to be from a car’s black box near the incident location were also posted.

The large dog Mr./Ms. A asked to muzzle is presumed to be a Doberman. Dobermans are not classified as dangerous dogs under the Animal Protection Act, so muzzle-wearing is not mandatory. The breeds required to wear muzzles are American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and Dosa dogs. Mixed breeds crossed with these five breeds are also included.

Mr. A requested that a large dog, presumed to be a Doberman, wear a muzzle. The photo is a stock image of a Doberman and is not directly related to the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

However, concerns about this breed have been consistently raised, such as an incident in 2022 in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, where a leashed Doberman attacked and injured a child. Dobermans are large dogs weighing between 30 to 45 kg, with a sturdy skeleton and strong muscles. They have a strong sense of caution toward strangers and may pose a risk of attack under their owner’s command.

In July last year, Kang Hyeong-wook, a trainer on KBS’s 'Dogs Are Great,' said about the Doberman featured on the show, “They have a high level of caution, so owners must always be careful,” and added, “People who are enthusiasts of large dogs like Dobermans, Rottweilers, and Shepherds say the situation can become dangerous.”

Netizens who read this story expressed anger, saying, “The owner hit a person just because they asked to muzzle the dog,” “They should be sued both civilly and criminally,” and “These people have no sense.”