[Central Scrutiniser]

No suprises on that list to me. I loathe Pit Bulls, I can't go to too many dog parks because my dog (Irish Terrier, 30 lbs) hates Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, and gets into trouble with them. I am suprised that Dalmatians aren't up there, they are mean and very stupid dogs.

But what is most disturbing is pet stores in shopping malls that sell dogs like Akitas and Rotties. They are fine dogs, but only with an educated owner, I see Akita pups at stores and I can only imagine what kind of person would buy it. Cute as hell when they are a pup, but a potentially violent adult.

[SCalGal]

But what is most disturbing is pet stores in shopping malls that sell dogs like Akitas and Rotties. They are fine dogs, but only with an educated owner, I see Akita pups at stores and I can only imagine what kind of person would buy it.

Impulse buy. I got a 4 mo old Akita pup in through rescue a while back. The owners bought it because their old Akita had just died and they wanted a replacement. Total impulse buy. The people were afraid of him, and he was just a little guy.

The pup was a terror. Even my brood bitch didn't like him, and the little monster managed to draw blood on me.

What people don't realize is that pet store pups are typically separated from mama and siblings at 4 or 5 weeks, then shipped off. Well, they never got the socialization and training they needed in how to be a civilized dog - mama teaches that best! And all the puppy squabbling has a purpose in teaching doggie manners.

Never buy a pup from a pet store.

[hershey]

I agree with you wholeheartedly about mall petshops selling Rotties and pitbulls to allcomers. Recipe for disaster. I rescued a pitbull/lab mix who's a sweetie. Originally from the pound, he'd been tied up at his first home and drove the neighbors nuts, barking. So there's no way I can put him on a run. The only time he ever growled at a person was at Agway, when a woman came up and tried to make friends. He growled, I took him to the car, and the people in Agway told me the woman was from the pound...so he'd smelled that and it scared him. I have a gang of minidachshunds, and the pitbull thinks he's one, too. He rolls around on the floor and tries to look small. I'd never take him to the dog park, though. If anything happened, he'd be blamed just because he's obviously part pitbull. I wouldn't take my shepherd/huskie for the same reason. You don't know the other dogs, if they're trained, what they're like. A great many run loose. Some years ago, when I had greyhounds, I'd take them to a nearby dog park. Saw others there, running loose, but I never felt easy about doing the same.