The problem is that animals are inherently unpredictable -- ask Roy Horn, who certainly didn't lack for expertise before he was almost killed. Pit bulls, Rottweilers and some other breeds have the physical capacity to crush a child's skull in their jaws. Regardless of how kind, and well-tempered, and well-trained they are, they could have dire consequences if they go nuts. Keeping one is like having a sweet, well-tempered, well-controlled and carefully monitored bomb that couldn't possibly go off in the trunk of your car.
When I was a kid, my family had a Yorkshire terrier. When she had an eye problem, she understandably reacted badly to the vet prodding around her eye, so she started snapping. My solution was to reach into her mouth, holding her head still while she bit down between my thumb and forefinger. She didn't have the jaw strength to break the skin. My personal policy is that I don't want a pet I can't wrestle to submission if I have to, but that's not a rule I'd impose on everyone.
I'm not a big fan of breed bans, because they're too slippery -- how much pit bull ancestry is too much? And what about dogs like Dobermans and Shepherds, which are also powerful predators but rarely attack humans?
But the message should be clear: If you choose to own a pit bull or a rottweiler in proximity to other people or pets, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have sturdy fences and strong leashes, that you train the animal well and maintain control.
If you introduce the animal into a dangerous situation and lose control, resulting in harm to people or pets, there should be stiff civil penalties. If you intentionally, through abuse or training or drugs, take steps to enhance the aggressive nature of these animals, there should be stiff criminal penalties.
That is not specific to breed; if someone has a vicious attack chihuahua, and it bites a child hard enough to require medical attention, the owner is on the hook for the bill. If they intentionally trained or drugged the chihuahua to make it vicious, that's a crime. But the more dangerous the animal, the greater the responsibility, whether it's a wild creature, a powerful dog, a bull or a rattlesnake.
What a BS analogy...dogs have been around humans, helping them, hunting for them, protecting them, since man discovered fire. Lions and tigers in circuses and shows only go back to the 19th Century.
Pit bulls, Rottweilers and some other breeds have the physical capacity to crush a child's skull in their jaws. Regardless of how kind, and well-tempered, and well-trained they are, they could have dire consequences if they go nuts.
However, Einstein, the qualifier is "IF" and they don't if well-trained and well-socialized. I would trust my dogs around my grandson before I would trust my grandson around my locked-up firearms.
Keeping one is like having a sweet, well-tempered, well-controlled and carefully monitored bomb that couldn't possibly go off in the trunk of your car.
Keeping one is gaining the best friend you'll ever have!
“The problem is that animals are inherently unpredictable — ask Roy Horn,”
True but so are people. By training dogs and regimenting soldiers, we attempt to control their behavior patterns and funnel their strengths for effective and productive use. But the unpredictability factor can be overcome to a very great degree by learning the body language of animals and never forgetting that they are still basically unpredictable - which to a degree lends to their fascination. A screwdriver always acts like a screwdriver -pretty boring unless you are driving screws.
“ask Roy Horn,”
Was that the guy with the tiger? I have worked with dangerous animals - poisonous reptiles and crocodilians and there is a world of difference between the way dangerous animals are managed in zoos and tigers and are handled in public displays. There is a very high degree of risk in what those people do and they accept it. Risks in a zoo environment are minimal as long as you don’t allow familiarity to breed contempt.
“Pit bulls, Rottweilers and some other breeds have the physical capacity to crush a child’s skull in their jaws.”
Unfortunately, these animals need a handler who knows what he is doing, a person who can project an “alpha” image and also train the animal so it does no react aggressively towards other people when he/she is not personally present. Not an easy task. So they are not dogs for the casual owner. Personally, I don’t like the aggressive breeds like the foregoing. The only one I do like is the German Shepherd. They can be aggressive, but if well trained and from a good bloodline, they are far more stable than the “Bully Breeds” and a lot more intelligent. I prefer them and setters, hounds, etc.
“Regardless of how kind, and well-tempered, and well-trained they are, they could have dire consequences if they go nuts. “
The same can be said of people e.g. that monster at Va Tech.
“Keeping one is like having a sweet, well-tempered, well-controlled and carefully monitored bomb that couldn’t possibly go off in the trunk of your car. “
Again, it depends on the bloodline and the owner. In most cases, problem dogs are due to problem owners. Besides, unless you live in a very rural area or are an ace trainer, dogs should NEVER be off lead in a public situation and NEVER be unaccompanied by a handler - that’s simply stupid. With the “Bully breeds” it IS like leaving a loaded gun in a public square.
“My personal policy is that I don’t want a pet I can’t wrestle to submission if I have to, but that’s not a rule I’d impose on everyone.”
Well, the secret to handling powerful animals is to out think them, not out muscle them. That’s what we rose to the top of the biological heap. There is no way I could out-muscle a large croc. Give me a push broom and room to manoeuver and I can handle a very large croc indeed.
“I’m not a big fan of breed bans, because they’re too slippery — how much pit bull ancestry is too much? And what about dogs like Dobermans and Shepherds, which are also powerful predators but rarely attack humans? “
I agree with you here. Laws create more problems than they solve. The solution is to punish irresponsible owners - just like with guns. The gun was never invented which could fire itself. And I believe there are MORE bites per year from German Shepherds and Dobermans than from pit bulls, but that may be due to the fact that Shepherds and Dobermans are more common (seriously - pit bulls are dog-ugly. Shepherds and Dobermans are esthetically pleasing to look at - besides being a lot brighter animals.)
“But the message should be clear: If you choose to own a pit bull or a rottweiler in proximity to other people or pets, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have sturdy fences and strong leashes, that you train the animal well and maintain control. “
ABSOLUTELY!!!
“If you introduce the animal into a dangerous situation and lose control, resulting in harm to people or pets, there should be stiff civil penalties. If you intentionally, through abuse or training or drugs, take steps to enhance the aggressive nature of these animals, there should be stiff criminal penalties. “
Precisely. In the final analysis, the problem is the owner. People who buy these bully breeds and don’t control them should be banned from owning dogs in the future in addition to civil and criminal penalties as the situation requires.
“But the more dangerous the animal, the greater the responsibility, whether it’s a wild creature, a powerful dog, a bull or a rattlesnake.”
Again, no argument here. Having maintained venomous snakes as well as still keeping non-venomous snakes which for some weird reason can cause certain people to become overcome with fear, you have a responsibility to the public and to the animal to make sure that threatening situations NEVER occur. Always remember - familiarity can breed contempt and you should NEVER let your guard down.
I loved watching the Crococile Hunter, loved the guy and mourn his loss the loss to his family. But believe me - he took chances no one should ever take with dangerous reptiles, regardless of his explanations to the contrary.