Couple sentenced after pit bull attacks baby

WECT ^

[TChris]

This is a link to the actual study, but you have pay to see it.

Breed differences in canine aggression

Here's an article which quotes pretty extenstively from it, and provides tables:

The Most Aggressive Dog Breeds

Pit Bull appears to be the most aggressive large and/or powerful breed in the study.

[GranTorino]

So what is the other half of your point Webster?
The only thing that is absurd is your rationalization.
I would much rather trust someone who has actually owned a large dog and has educated themselves about the breed they own.

[TChris]

I don't think you've been rude, but you appear to be making unfounded assumptions, since you argue against something I never advocated: banning particular breeds.

I am contending that neither the "it's all the breed" nor the "it's all the training" camps are right. It's both, and either side (bad breed, bad training) can lead to a dangerous situation.

There are plenty of cases where otherwise well-behaved dogs have attacked and seriously injured or killed innocent victims. As much as we might wish it weren't so, it just is.

Also, a wide variety of breeds have been abused and/or trained to be nasty, and have gone on to injure or kill.

Breed matters and training matters.

I'm not calling for destroying/banning any breeds, but for folks to think seriously about it and make wise choices about what kind of dog they keep around their children.

Please don't anyone be a blind advocate of "it's never the doggie's fault".

[kanawa]

Dachshunds aren't killing people.

Pinckney and Kennedy13 studied human DBRF from May 1975 through April 1980 and listed the following breeds as responsible for the indicated number of deaths: German Shepherd Dog (n = 16); Husky-type dog (9); Saint Bernard (8); Bull Terrier (6); Great Dane (6); Malamute (5); Golden Retriever (3); Boxer (2); Dachshund (2); Doberman Pinscher (2); Collie (2); Rottweiler (1); Basenji (1); Chow Chow (1); Labrador Retriever (1); Yorkshire Terrier (1); and mixed and unknown breed (15)

13.Pinckney LE, Kennedy LA. Traumatic deaths from dog attacks in the United States. Pediatrics. 1982;69l:193–196.

From: Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998 CDC

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"Only" 2 deaths, but that is little solace to the parents of the victims.

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Nor is the non-fatal damage a Dachshund is capable of something to be taken lightly...

Dachshund Mutilates Baby Boy's Genitals

When we look at this story and the one posted here as a thread, we find a similarity, not of breed,
but of failure by the owners to responsibly supervise or contain their dog while an infant is present.

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Some like to focus solely on a particular type or breed of dog,
others have a wider goal of preventing all dog attacks.
By analyzing attacks, salient factors can be identified that are common to all dog attacks.
Once uncovered, conservative solutions can be proposed that emphasize
education and personal responsibility, coupled with effective laws rigorously enforced
while avoiding emotion based laws that target the good as well as the bad.

[TChris]

Again, in comparison with other breeds, Dachshunds aren't killing people. It was a way to express that they aren't among the breeds people should worry about.

Any breed can kill, but certain breeds are much more likely to.

A Dachshund isn't one of those.

Two fatal attacks in about 20 years only confirms this.

[GranTorino]

Well I am glad that you don't advocate breed bans. I don't understand your point.
Good breeders cull bad dogs. It needs to be done in any breed and the breeder needs to be able to recognize this.
To say a whole breed is aggressive is foolish. And yes I can counter your studies with breed temperament studies that prove this.

[GranTorino]

www.atts.org
And it’s Free!

[TChris]

Thanks for the URL, but that's an apples-to-oranges comparison with the study I posted.

Where a temperament test covers all aspects of a dog's behavior, the study I posted was specifically about aggressiveness.

Both studies are valuable information, but not on exactly the same subject.

[solosmoke]

” I’m not calling for destroying/banning any breeds, but for folks to think seriously about it and make wise choices about what kind of dog they keep around their children.

Please don’t anyone be a blind advocate of “it’s never the doggie’s fault”.”

I agree with this. It’s not always the owner’s fault. Sometimes things happen, and whether they should have seen signs or couldn’t have, sometimes people are taken by surprise. However, of all the stories on the news where dog owners say the dog was a family pet and they had no idea, there have been quite a number of cases where calling animal control revealed something quite different, and this concerns me because people tend to take the owner’s word for it. I don’t, and have actually called their local AC a few times to try and get more detailed information. I don’t always get someone that is willing or able to tell me anything, but of the ones that do, some have reports of dogs running loose, bite history, or other neglect, and this means something. It can’t be discounted because the owners gave the dog “love”. That is not enough, especially for athletic dogs that need a job.

[TChris]

That is not enough, especially for athletic dogs that need a job.

LOL!

Excellent description! I can think of many that "need a job". Our Cocker/Bichon fits this as well. He gets in trouble a lot more in the winter. :-/

[solosmoke]

The ATTS is a test on unprovoked aggression. Look at the parameters of the test. It is pretty comprehensive. This is a useful tool to predict the kind of behavior you might see in an unfamiliar situation, and this can help to predict whether your dog is safe in public or needs work. I think everyone should have their dog tested in this way, as well as the CGC, which is wonderful also.

[solosmoke]

“Excellent description! I can think of many that “need a job”. Our Cocker/Bichon fits this as well. He gets in trouble a lot more in the winter. :-/”

I cannot imagine what a mix like that looks like! Must be cute

[kanawa]

they aren't among the breeds people should worry about.

I wonder if that's what the victims parents were told?

Yep, some breeds are bigger than others and can potentially do more damage,
but what I am trying to emphasize is that
there are common factors involved in attacks regardless of breed
and common principles that can be applied.
If one's wish is to be a responsible owner,
then learn them, apply them and take the necessary precautions.

[GranTorino]

Thanks. I would like to read the specs on this study. No Cash. I still don't think aggressiveness is breed specific but rather “dog” specific. Something a responsible owner can recognize and address.

[GranTorino]

It sure is nice having civil conversation about this subject rather than the emotional name calling that so often works its way into these threads.

[solosmoke]

“It sure is nice having civil conversation about this subject rather than the emotional name calling that so often works its way into these threads.”

I absolutely agree. It has been lovely!

[kanawa]

The City of Calgary: Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw

http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/cityclerks/23m2006.pdf

[kanawa]

Calgary's Dog Bite Prevention Brochure...