And that's a damned lie.
$710.96... The price of freedom.
Posted on 07/09/2004 2:10:42 PM PDT by Shermy
Remember that mauling in San Francisco where it turned out the attorneys who owned the dog were engaged in an...ahem...improper relationship with said dog?
That dog was a Presa Canaria.
Our previous dog, Maggie, a sable GSD, absolutely loved cow ears and other chewy things, but Heidi prefers to bury them instead. The only time she's really had a good solid chew was on her "cousin" Rufus' rawhide bone.
You, good friend, are the rare exception to the rule.
Pointers point. Bloodhounds track.
People ooh and ah over the obvious intelligence and energy of a Border Collie and the way they can pick a particular sheep out of a herd at the command of a shepherd.
Rescue dogs almost always have some Labrador in them, because of their surpassing sweet nature and eagerness to please.
People with children choose a companionable and affectionate dog like a Golden.
But Pit Bull owners cannot accept that their dog was bred to be a dogged and stupid killer of other dogs--and people then get in the way of those dogs.
I particularly dislike the owner of a mean breed who says, when their beast comes rushing at me, that "the only thing I have to fear is that he'll lick me to death." The owner seems to enjoy my uneasiness...
And that's a damned lie.
$710.96... The price of freedom.
LOL....
I recued a border collie from the side of the road... took him home and had him for about 3 days before his owner was found... (seems they were on vacation for a weekend, and the dog had dug out under stress)
That dog was ~intense~. shadowing me everywhere, most intense expression I have ever seen. And would have played ball till my arm fell off ;~D
If you sincerely mean that . . . stay the hell away from me. No dog is worth killing just because of its breed.
How many Golden Retrievers does it take to change a light bulb?
"It's summer, the sun's shining, we've got a new ball to chase around the park, and you're worrying about a light bulb? Get a grip on the PRIORITIES, man!"
According to a study by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, covering the years between 1979 and 1994, pit bulls were involved in 57 fatal attacks -- well over twice the number for the next breed on the list, rottweilers, with 19, and more than German shepherds (17), huskies (12) and malamutes (12) combined. A 2000 study by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association concluded that pit bulls "were involved in 65 fatal attacks between 1979 and 1998 ... twice that of rottweilers and more than three times German shepherds.''
Even more damning are the statistics kept by Clifton, a dog activist who has been keeping meticulous records since 1982 of dog attacks severe enough to have been reported in the media. It should be noted that Clifton excludes attacks by guard dogs, police dogs and trained fighting dogs and does not chart cases where the breed is uncertain.
The numbers are stunning. As of last week, meaning Mabel Wong's mauling would be included, pit bulls were cited in 831 attacks. The next closest was the rottweiler with 373. No other breed made it out of double digits.
Every responsible terrier owner knows that every terrier has a hunting instinct - that when something triggers "prey" inside their head, they won't stop until its dead.
Consider this, from the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America:
The Bad Dog Talk: I am not "Wishbone"Jack Russells ...
... are first and foremost hunting dogs. The traits and skills that make them excellent hunting dogs (i.e., digging, barking, aggressive nature, ability to follow scent) are often interpreted as bad habits that cause people to give them up.
... are bred to go underground, following scent to locate and bark at quarry until they are dug down to or the quarry bolts. If they do not have an outlet for their natural instincts, they will invent new and fun jobs for themselves, which frequently include guardian of the world and/or their possessions and family, chasing cars, hunting birds, bugs or leaves, or endlessly digging in the soil.
... are a big dog in a little body. They have the same need (or more!) for exercise as a much larger dog... and the mentality to match -- they think they are at least 150 pounds, and are fearless, often challenging other dogs three times their size.
... are often aggressive with other dogs. Same-sex aggression and aggression towards other breeds of dogs is well documented with this terrier. It is strongly recommended that no more than two Jack Russells (of opposite sex only) ever be permitted to stay together unattended.
... are NOT a non-shedding breed! All coat types shed! Smooth coats shed the most, dropping hair continuously year round. Rough coats maintain the guard and dead coat, requiring manual shedding a few times a year. The broken coat is an intermediary coat, between the two types.
... require firm, consistent discipline. They are extremely intelligent, continue to test their limits throughout their life. More often than not, train their owners before the owner knows what has happened! This ability to train their owners can include displays of aggressive behavior. Their assertive nature must be understood and handled properly!
... can become very possessive of their owner or a favorite member of the family or of what they consider to be their personal property if allowed to do so to the point of showing aggressive protective behavior that must be controlled from an early age.
... are commonly known to harass, injure or kill other small pets, such as cats, birds, rabbits, mice, rats, etc., simply due to their strong natural hunting instinct. Raising a puppy with a cat does not guarantee the cat's life-long safety!
... remain active well into their 15-year-plus life span; their need for activity and desire to hunt continues for their entire lifetime. Untrained, unsupervised dogs rarely meet their life expectancy.
... require at least basic obedience training. The dog's life may depend on it! Even well trained dogs will be tempted to chase something interesting, or even disappear into a hole while you are not looking. Off-lead is always a dangerous situation for a Jack Russell unless in a safe environment with experienced JR owners.
... absolutely need a securely fenced yard! Jack Russells will roam due to their hunting instincts.... even if left in an unsecured for a few minutes! You can let them out every day for three years with no trouble....but one day they will disappear and may never come back. Many JR's have been killed by cars by darting into the road in pursuit of a squirrel, cat, etc. They can also dig under, climb or jump over fences; some can climb trees and any height chain link fencing.
... can be very destructive if left unattended and unemployed! Most behavioral problems are due to a lack of companionship, discipline, activity and exercise. If you've only seen perfect, well-behaved JR's, they are ones that were lucky enough to be exercised, well socialized, and trained.
... are country dogs. When made to live in a city or suburban-type environment, their needs and instincts do not change. It would be unreasonable to expect them to be anything other than what they are genetically bred to be -- a serious hunting dog. Your lifestyle must be adjusted to meet their needs; they must have jobs to perform -- an outlet for their considerable energy and intelligence.
... are NOT recommended as apartment or condo dogs. They need a great deal of exercise and outdoor activity, and are usually too loud for such high-density living. They need room to run; leash walking does not satisfy their boundless energy. Unless your schedule permits many hours at home and a lot of outdoor activity, with a safe place the terrier can run, this is not the dog for you. MANY rescues come from apartments, condos, or homes where the owners work away from the home for long periods of time.
... will NOT TOLERATE even unintended mistreatment from a child. They will not put up with typical child handling such as pulling of ears, tails, etc., or taking or "sharing" of the dog's bones, food, toys, etc. They are very assertive and demanding, and never still... jumping all over whoever will allow it. Jack Russells are not recommended for households with children under the age of six unless you are previously experienced with this feisty little bundle of energy.
... are NOT as they are portrayed in the movies, on TV, or other forms of media. Those dogs are professionally trained and handled, and are very obedient only for VERY short periods of time. Celebrity dogs have their needs met by the trainer, and perform their jobs accordingly.
... require a long-term commitment to obedience, activity, exercise and entertainment... their unique character, intelligence and high energy level can frustrate you, will undoubtedly entertain you, and can bring you great joy (when they're happy!) or great grief (when they're not!). If this type of relationship does not appeal to you, then consider another breed. Jack Russell Terriers are always a work in progress!
Now admittedly, Pit Bulls are considerably more lethal to humans than are Cairn Terriers - simply because they weight sixty pounds, instead of six. But they aren't fundamentally different in temperment.
They all of them need a firm hand, and a lot of time and effort.
And the Labrador?
"Oh, me, me!!!! Pleeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I?"
They are off the charts,'' says Gamez. "If you look at the fatals and severe bites, you will see the majority are rottweilers and pits.''But that's just part of the story. If you've been to an animal shelter lately, you know that it seems like half the dogs there are pit bulls. Naively, our family thought that was because families were not adopting them.
Actually, it is the result of a population boom in pit bulls. In the three days before the Fourth of July holiday, Clifton contacted 22 animal shelters, and compared the results with a study he did 11 years ago. In a sample of 2,918 dogs, he found that the number of rottweilers and pit bulls had increased five times, including an "astonishing'' four times more pit bulls. And, it is important to note that with spay and neuter programs, the number of animals of all breeds in shelters has actually been decreasing.
"I've been in this business since 1975,'' Gamez says. "In those days, we used to pick up lots of types of dogs, Irish setters, Afghans. Now you walk into a shelter, and every other dog is a pit bull. This has been going on for 10 years. It may appear to be exploding, but it has been happening exponentially.''
Here's another problem. Those of us who are old enough remember when Dobermanns were the "killer dog". Before that it was the German Shepherds.
The problem is not the breed per se. The problem is that every so often a breed gets into vogue with trash rednecks, hoods, gangstas and folks who think a mean dog will make up for their own inadequacies. Then a supply is ginned up to meet the demand, and the demand is for a "bad" dog.
Puppy mills of this sort make no attempt to breed for health or temperament, other than "mean". You get what you usually get from puppy mills - doubtful health, bad temperament, and a proportion of dogs that are what Barbara Woodhouse called "schizophrenic" - they seem o.k. until they suddenly snap and savagely attack anything and everything.
But this can happen any time a breed becomes so popular that it's bred indiscriminately. Crazy (and deaf) Dalamatians courtesy of "101 Dalmatians", crazy fear-biting Cockers courtesy of "Lady and the Tramp", I've even seen a couple of dog-aggressive Goldens and Labs.
Originally the pit bull terriers were bred for dog aggression but gentleness to people, because the handlers had to get down in the pit with them during dog fights. That is gone now because the unscrupulous breed and sell ill-bred, unsocialized, damaged dogs.
And banning PBTs and AmStaffs won't solve anything, because the gangstas will just find another large breed to tout as a "bad dog," and the breeders will once again answer the demand. And then there will be calls to ban that breed.
I'd like to see breeder licenses myself, and more careful policing by the breed associations and AKC. But pigs will probably fly first . . .
See #50
Likw WOW! Is there anyway I could like capture these genes for use in the breed I am establishing:
You see, it's not the animals that are bad at all. In fact, my new hybrid is going to be sold as a play-pet to day-care centers all over town. And how do you know that old lady was so innocent? It's careless remarks like that, which could stigmatize an innocent breed like the warm and friendly Pit Bull, which already has enough trouble with those wild-eyed animal haters, the actuaries of America!
Just remember, Petey from The Little Rascals was a Pit Bull.
$710.96... The price of freedom.
I hear this from you from time to time. Must be a persistent problem. Have you tried (1) chlorophyll tablets; (2) activated charcoal; (3) the doggie equivalent of Gas-X?
And have you read the chapter in "All Creatures Great and Small" about the Boxer?
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