Sir - I would like to reply to C Taylor about dogs, especially rottweillers. My son has had two, one is still with him, sadly the other died. Neither of them have harmed children.

It is the owners who need training not the dogs. They don't know how to handle them.

They have a right to have a good run and on the remark that he has lost count of the number of dogs seen led by children, their parents wouldn't allow it if the dog was fierce.

What some parents don't know, if their child does get bitten, is what the child done to the dog, they don't see how a child torments them.

When I was in Blackpool on holiday, the owner of an alsatian told us the animal was nearly put down because it had attacked her nephew. However, the vet felt the dog's body and found the nephew had been putting paperclips into its skin.

What would the man do if such a thing was happening to him? A dog has to defend itself somehow.

If Mr Taylor doesn't like dogs then he should find an island where there aren't any and live there.

Mrs M Chadwick, Saltburn.

Natural instincts

Sir - I would like to reply to Mr C Taylor and set him straight on a few points.

Firstly about dogs rushing towards him and his wife, I understand that this can be very distressing and nerve wracking but he should realise the dog is acting upon its natural instincts. Someone running towards its owners sets off a dog's protective instincts.

In response to the issue that dogs should be kept on a lead I very much disagree with this statement. Owners let dogs off a lead for exercise and the beach is one of the few places where dogs can still run freely.

I also have to pull Mr Taylor about his comment on rottweilers - does he not realise Jack Russells bite more people than rottweilers? The only difference is the weight and jaw size.

Dogs try to protect their owners - it is one of the reasons for dog ownership, which people need to take into consideration when walking or jogging past dogs.

Does Mr Taylor realise that all dogs even the tiniest, eg Yorkshire Terriers, have the potential to become killers. Would he like to see these dogs restrained constantly?

Mrs C Dent , Redcar.