Across Kenya, dog ownership is rising, particularly of large breeds kept for home security. But alongside this trend is a quieter problem: many owners lack the training, knowledge and support systems needed to manage animals with strong physical and behavioural capacities.
Experts warn that the result is a preventable public-safety risk playing out in homes and neighbourhoods.
That risk came into sharp focus two weeks ago in Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri County, where a 70-year-old woman was mauled to death by one of two guard dogs kept in her homestead.
Her adult sons, who no longer lived at the home, had brought in the dogs about two years earlier to provide security in their absence. The dog believed to have carried out the fatal attack is described as a chocolate-brown cross between a Boerboel and a Great Dane.
Since then, several theories have been fronted to try understand what may have triggered the attack. One theory suggested the elderly woman may have confronted the dog in a way it perceived as threatening. Another speculated that the animal may have been underfed or poorly cared for.
Edward ‘Eddy’ Ng’ang’a, a professional dog trainer and handler and founder of Alpha Kennels, dismisses the latter theory as unlikely.
‘For a domesticated dog, food alone is rarely a good enough motive for a fatal attack,’ he says. ‘If lack of food persists, dogs tend to run away. A severe attack is more likely to be linked to a struggle over dominance. Dominance ranks very high in dogs.’
The woman’s children are yet to have the dog euthanised, which Eddy says is one of only two realistic options after a fatal attack.
‘Once a dog kills a human, it poses a serious risk going forward,’ he says. ‘If the dog is to go back to whoever was handling it before, the better option would be to euthanise it. The alternative is handing it over to a professional for aggressive behaviour rehabilitation to suppress those instincts.’
Eddy is careful to note that not all dogs are predisposed to such outcomes. However, he points to a category of dogs he says requires a particularly high level of experience and control.
‘There is a certain type known as Mastiff,’ he says. ‘Dogs that fall under this category tend to be large, muscular and display strong behavioural predispositions towards dominance and aggression.’
Highly aggressive breeds
These include breeds such as Boerboels, Cane Corsos, Pit Bulls, Caucasian Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dogo Argentinos, Tibetan Mastiffs and Presa Canarios. Their imposing size, coupled with temperament, can be dangerous if thorough training is not done. The risk, he adds, is amplified when dogs are mixed breeds within this category.
Because of this, Eddy stresses the need for early and professional training.
‘These dogs only respond to authority,’ he says. ‘I usually recommend training from about two to three months old. By then, their instincts are already beginning to show.’
Why training is crucial
Training, he explains, establishes human authority, suppresses harmful instincts and teaches consequences for disobedience. Without such structure, dogs may begin to see themselves as the leaders of the household, making decisions about territory, food and perceived threats.
‘In the wrong hands, these dogs become a dangerous problem,’ he says. ‘Yet in the right hands, they can be some of the best companions. The difference is training and experience.’
Training also helps bridge what Eddy describes as a communication gap between humans and dogs.
‘Aggression is rarely an overnight outburst,’ he says. ‘It escalates over time. For a dog to reach the point of killing a human, there will almost always have been warning signs.’
The early warning signs
These include growling, incessant barking, bared teeth, raised hackles, intense eye contact and a rigid, upright tail. To the dog, these signals communicate discomfort or threat. To an untrained owner, they may go unnoticed until it is too late.
For this reason, the trainer advises first-time dog owners to avoid large, dominant breeds altogether.
‘Getting such a dog as your first is like throwing a first-time swimmer into the deep end,’ he says. ‘It’s better to start with a smaller dog. Once you understand how dogs think and you build confidence, then you can move to a more intense breed.’
Another trainer, Eric Odhiambo Otieno, founder of Nairobi’s Royal Brand, argues that the issue extends beyond training methods to the broader culture of dog ownership.
‘More Kenyans are pro-dogs nowadays,’ he says, ‘but we still don’t have enough knowledge about what responsible dog ownership actually involves.’
Common malpractices
One common malpractice he highlights is confining guard dogs during the day and releasing them only at night.
‘Dogs are creatures of habit, but they can also be unpredictable,’ Eric says. ‘You need to interact with your dog enough to read its body language instantly and respond appropriately.’
Beyond bonding, he adds, owners must consistently assert leadership. When commands are inconsistently enforced, dogs learn that authority is negotiable, a dynamic that can eventually lead to defiance, dominance behaviours and aggression.
‘Pet ownership is like owning a car,’ he says. ‘It’s not enough to just have it. You need to know how to operate it. While humans grow and take responsibility for their lives, pets don’t. You have to remain in the leadership position. If you slip, they tend to take charge.’
Socialisation, Eric says, is equally critical, particularly for dogs with aggressive temperaments. Regular exposure to humans helps reduce fear-based reactions and improves behavioural predictability.
He also warns against buying dogs from disreputable breeders.
‘You may think you’re getting a calm purebred, but undisclosed cross-breeding could mean you don’t understand your dog’s true character,’ he says, adding, ‘I’ve also seen falsified vaccination cards, which are crucial not just for accountability but for public health if a dog bites someone.’
How to act during attack
To avoid this, he advises prospective owners to seek breeders registered with the East African Kennel Club or those endorsed by a veterinarian.
Otieno also offers guidance on how humans should behave during an active dog confrontation – advice he says contradicts instinct but is rooted in experience.
‘Stay calm and try not to fight back,’ he says. ‘If the dog is pulling you, don’t pull in the opposite direction. Keep your hands in a fist to protect your fingers. Avoid direct eye contact or running away. If the dog wants to sniff you, let it, and project confidence. Don’t let them sense fear.’