[Kokojmudd]

"I think with some dogs you have to be extra clear who the alpha dog is... "


I agree. Particularly with large working dogs. I cringe when I see a Rottweiler or other large dog dragging its owner down the street by a leash. The dogs need a lot of training simply because they were bred to work, pull carts etc, and protect their owners. I would be for requiring owners of certain breeds to train their dogs. IMO an untrained Rottweiler, German Shepard and other breeds are dangerous. Also, over breeding hasn't helped. If anybody wants to own a Rottweiler they had better research the lineage carefully.

[sageb1]

"The dogs need a lot of training simply because they were bred to work, pull carts etc..."

Maybe that's what the problem is - the canine unemployment rate.

[sfimom]

I agree on all points. I currently have a very large labrador and 6 very small children. (the biggest weighs 52 lbs and the dog weighs 98lbs) We adopted her form the humane society and she was COMPLETELY untrained and out of control (not mean just untrained) Fast forward 6 months...... she is now a fully trained autism assistance dog (google it if you haven't heard of this type of dog) for a 3 year old child that weighs about 30 lbs. At night she sleeps with a 9 month old infant (yes right next to her) the baby weighs about 15 lbs. I trust this dog with my kids lives (literally in the case of my 3 yo) BUT if this dog had continued to have no training she could and would have been just as dangerous as any other large breed of dog. They absolutley MUST know (and accept) who is boss (alpha). In our house I am the boss. The dog does not question this. My husband weighs a good 100lbs more than me and is a foot taller but the dog obeys ME without question. HOWEVER as a concientious owner if she EVER showed any agression to anyone (other than an intruder) I would retire her immediatley or put her down if need be. It is the OWNERS of ANY large breed dog that need to be looked at and regulated. Say perhaps an assesment of anyone that wants to own a dog larger than 50lbs. or mandatory insurance. ( I have a $50,000 liability policy for our dog )