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7 Dog Breeds that Don't Deserve Their Stereotypes
Yahoo! Shine ^ | 1/10/14 | Carol Bryant

Posted on 01/10/2014 12:51:52 PM PST by Slings and Arrows

Have you ever been out in public, minding your own business, simply walking your dog, and people start moving to the other side of the street in fear? There are many dog breeds that don't deserve the bad rap society places upon them. Perhaps your dog is one of the breeds or mixed mutts that get a bad rap.

Dogs of certain breeds are not born dangerous by default. This, coupled with breed legislation, media focus on particular breeds, and the sensationalizing of certain incidents of attack have lead to an overall generalizing that ultimately hurts a dog, and may cost him his life.

-snip-

1. Pit Bull: Sadly, this breed has taken on more criticism and warnings than most other breeds in recent years. Often labeled as vicious, untrustworthy, and in possession of locking jaws, the Pit Bull tops our list as receiving a bad rap. According to the American Temperament Test Society, Pit Bulls ranked second in reliability overall. In other words: This original "nanny breed" is not the problem, but the way he is trained may be the issue.

(Excerpt) Read more at shine.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: doggieping; pitbull
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To: Slings and Arrows

I was agreeing with you that the numbers were drawn in part from press reports, which I thought was being disputed.


141 posted on 01/11/2014 10:47:42 AM PST by Scoutmaster (I'd rather be at Philmont)
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To: JLLH

That’s not mine...I lifted the graphic from a mastiff owner on another message board.


142 posted on 01/11/2014 10:52:14 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
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To: Scoutmaster

Then I misunderstood, and I beg your pardon.


143 posted on 01/11/2014 11:31:45 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

We got a Rottweiler about 4 months ago,I’ve been using the same training for him as I used for the German Shepherds.He’s very easy going around strangers in public,loves all the kids he meets.He’s never shown any hint of unwanted aggression,but by the way he reacts to strange sounds at night I can tell he’ll be a good watch dog as he gets older.


144 posted on 01/11/2014 12:14:04 PM PST by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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Breeding (not the breed) and socialization have more to do with how a dog will act (ALWAYS unpredictable) that the breed itself.

Great examples include St Bernards, Dalmations, and Cocker Spaniels, all of which have had intense "spurts" of popularity, leading to irresponsible breeding and eventually to increased rates of dog bites. Rottweilers, while they haven't had something like that happen, I believe their featured role in some horror movies as "devil dogs" (most notably, "The Omen") have led to bad reputations as well.

My personal experience with Rotties has ALWAYS been good (every one I've met has been a loving couch potato), and in fact, when my best friend's son was being mauled by a feral dog as a 2 year old, their neighbor's Rottie jumped the fence into the yard and attacked the other dog, helping to save my friend's son's life.

Finally, the long term breeding results can really have excellent results. A terrific example of that would be the English Bulldog, which is for all intents and purposes, a "man-made" dog. They can't really breed without human intervention now a days, but in Ancient Rome, their predecessors were banned from the public streets as a dangerous animal. Over the centuries they've been bred to a smaller size and a far more attractive personality.

But you ALWAYS have to remember that all animals are individuals, and absolutely unpredictable.

Mark

145 posted on 01/12/2014 9:15:43 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: LaRueLaDue

Do not have time to post in this place, on iPad, so let me comment on the thing closest to my heart: you are talking to the Queen of allergic GS, the photo shows the dog who is Queeb of allergic dogs. Ask her dermatologist, she has the thickest file ever. She was itchy from the time I picked her up at 9 weeks. She and our other dogs had good food, and Tara nothing but IVD from when she was 1 visiting the derm 1st time.

No one has been through what I have been through with this 1 dog! My sister almost as bad with 2. All pure German.

The greatest dog I ever knew was my last, a half German half American show. Very healthy, tough and bold BUT steady and stable, and merry and playful. She was the best ever, and I kid not. Worst thing, seasonal allergies resulting in ugly pussy sores for the season, but no big deal. German half? I know it’s anecdotal, but I never hear anyone talk about allergy problems in any circle. Not that I have tons of experience!


146 posted on 01/12/2014 1:37:18 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: LaRueLaDue

Tara is a girl, all I remember is she is German, at least all background. Don’t recall specifics would have to look it up! even if show vs. working.

She is the most beautiful dog I’ve seen, including gorgeous conformation and true lovely effortless trot - before the dysphasia really hit her. The derm vets say she is the worst allergy case and her beauty is partly luck, partly testament to our dedication to caring for her.

Hate to say it but she has character flaws from the start, including just plain not good GS traits. But she is a sweet dog, and playful and mine, so we take care of her.


147 posted on 01/12/2014 1:44:05 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: Ditter; pallmallman

Here ya go. Thunder

thunder_head.jpg


148 posted on 01/12/2014 8:22:00 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: Ditter; pallmallman

Maybe this will come through. I can never remember where the download of pics are.

http://www.gallantwatchkennels.com/images/shiloh/thunder/thunder_head.jpg


149 posted on 01/12/2014 8:26:00 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers
I was not aware that German Shepherds had any sort of bad rap. My family has had a couple of them, and they were very good dogs.

I recall going through my home owners insurance policy, and it specifically banned a number of different dog breeds, including German Shepherds, Dobies, Rotties, and of course, any mix of American Staffordshire Terrier (and I think American Bulldog, though English or French Bulldogs were not mentioned).

Mark

150 posted on 01/13/2014 6:09:07 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: Joe 6-pack
Isn't the "pit bull" actually an American Staffordshire Terrier?

IIRC, the term "bull" applied to a dog dates back to ancient Rome when some dogs were bred for "Bull Baiting."

Mark

151 posted on 01/13/2014 6:04:55 PM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: MarkL
"Isn't the "pit bull" actually an American Staffordshire Terrier?"

Therein lies the rub..."pit bull" is a generic, inflammatory term that control freaks in government and their enablers in the media use for pretty much any vicious dog. Technically speaking the American Staffordshire and the American Pit Bull are the same dog, the former name being applied by the AKC and the latter by the UKC.

152 posted on 01/13/2014 6:43:02 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
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153 posted on 01/15/2014 1:26:24 AM PST by KneelBeforeZod (I have five dollars for each of you)
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