Posted on 02/18/2009 11:45:26 AM PST by Chet 99
We all know there are two sides to every story. The pit bull’s story is no exception. Some say “Don’t blame the breed, blame the owner.” Some say a news story about dog maulings always includes a pit. So what’s the real deal behind the threat of a pit bull attack?
You may have heard that a dog’s behavior reflects upon the owner. This is true, to a degree. Much like children, an unruly dog usually indicates a spoiling owner or an owner weak on disciplinary skills. If an owner mishandles, teases, and tortures a dog, he will usually be viewed as vicious. Environment also plays a role in a dog’s behavior. Medicines, food, the air they breath, exercise or lack there of, all affect a dog’s behavior. But it is in fact fact, that there are standard behaviors that are typical of each breed. Some breeds can be more hyper, like my mom’s Boston Terrier, Sofie. This is typical Boston Terrier behavior. Some dogs can be very sweet and loving to all they encounter. A Labrador Retriever is a great example. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to be malicious. A pit bull, though not the only breed, is one example of such an animal.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
My mastiff sounds exactly like your Rott, but the mastiff doesn’t give a warning bark or growl, only an alert posture.
The one time I saw it in person, the person got the message while I was initially clueless. We gave an old truck to a young adult who needed transportati0n to work, and after he was in our house a while, maybe half an hour, he said, “Your dog doesn’t like me” and then I noticed that the dog was in the alert posture. He left the house and the dog went back to sleep at my feet.
I work with dogs, know people who work with dogs, have talked with many vets and vet techs.
They all recognize that different dog breeds have different temperaments with some being much more likely to bite than others, and a bite from some being much more serious than others.
Every vet I have talked to has a “worst offender” breed list, of dogs they know that are likely to bite, and the bite from will be severe.
The details were the dog snapped while riding in the truck for some reason. That’s what rotties do....they snap. My brothers friend loved that dog and treated it the best you can...he was devasted.
How many "pit bulls"
have you trained?
‘Meanest dog breed I’ve every come across are poodles.’
‘I thought you said there were no vicious breeds.’
I keep looking at my post for the term ‘vicious’...maybe I’m just getting old, but I still don’t see it....
And your vet agreed with me, there is no such thing as a ‘vicious breed’. He didn’t say that, as you recount here.
I do appreciate you noting we had that conversation, you did ask your vet, and he agreed with that fact.
Yep, there are some breeds you might not want around you, but I’ll say thats more an indirect comment about the dog owner, and his/her ability with the larger more powerful breeds.
There is a dog for every kind of lifestyle, and when selected with care and some knowledge, they are in fact a ‘perfect fit’ for anyone.
My dogs usually run from 70 - 90 pounds, which tells anyone with knowledge on this topic I don’t own a ‘pure breed’ Rott for example. I like em a bit bigger because while they are family members and treated as such, they also perform a serious function for my family, that of a living ‘trip wire’ in case of a home invasion/burglary/whatever criminal act at our home.
You would be very comfortable coming to our home, with our dogs...unless you have a phobia about large dogs. I can’t help with that aspect.
Mastiffs are a hand full, no denying it. And they don’t give much of a warning, unlike the other breeds.
Yep, no denying it. But you cannot find a vet that declares a ‘vicious breed’ thats respected in their field.
Thats my point.
I learned a lot from the purchase of the mean JRT. The breeder would not let me see any of her adult dogs, I suspect because they were too mean for me to handle. My JRT bit his first person when he (the dog) was 5 months old. I had to watch him closely and keep him away from people his entire life. I’ll never keep a dog like that again.
‘That’s what rotties do....they snap’
You base this on one experience, not witnessed personally.
Its simply not true. Rotts don’t just ‘snap’. Mine hasn’t in 13 years.
That said, don’t get a Rott. Its that straight forward. They can sense fear, hesitation, as most breeds can.
(chuckle)
Its me and you against the forum once again, kanawa.
(chuckle)
I have no disagreement with what you posted to me. My comment is what the hell were the parents thinking letting their three year old down on the ground, doing THAT in front of ANY DOG, let alone a PB.
Dumb humans. They cause more havoc on this planet then every dog that ever existed.
They are also the same dumb humans that cause problems for us 2nd Amendment types, but thats another thread for another day.
I’ll offer up never get a dog from a breeder that won’t allow you to inspect their facility. Thats at HUGE warning sign.
Like Daddy always said, pain ain’t the best teaching tool...but its a teaching tool none the less...(chuckle)
I say anyone who said that there were no temperament differences between breed, including tendency to bite, would be an idiot laughed at by his peers in the field.
‘So the vets and other professional people I know who work with dogs are not “respected in their field”?
I say anyone who said that there were no temperament differences between breed, including tendency to bite, would be an idiot laughed at by his peers in the field. ‘
You want to play semantics here, and I don’t have the patience for that nonsense, sorry.
I SAID ‘There is no such thing as a VICIOUS BREED, ASK YOUR VET.’
I then added ‘no vet that is respected among their profession would ever say otherwise’ or words to that effect.
Now, if you understood my EXACT words on this aspect, we can continue.
If not, move along, we’re done.
I have evaluated a couple hundred on the end of a leash to determine their adaptability to life among humans.
A couple hundred "pitt bulls"?
I do not train pitts as attack dogs because an attack dog has to be completely and totally controllable and there are many other breeds that are much better to work with.
So without ever attempting to train them you hold that they are incapable of being trained?
...incapable of being completely and totally controllable?
Which breeds of dogs are "completely and totally controllable"?
How many Pitts have you professionally trained or evaluated?
None, it is not my occupation.
My avocation is to ask questions, do research
and observe the behavior of dogs with which I come into contact.
I attempt to present facts, make valid generalizations
and advocate for responsible dog ownership.
I, for one, am not into speculating on the MOTIVES for the dog biting (vicious, afraid, protective, dominating, etc); just the fact that they may bite.
That being said, the two breeds I hear are the worst to deal with are Chow and Akita.
Having herd numerous vets or vet techs expressing displeasure with the viciousness of some dog breeds, hearing you say what you did took me aback.
Any vet who doesn't recognize differences between breeds in the tendency to bite and ability to inflict serious injury when biting is an absolute idiot.
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