Replies

I agree with you completely. It is as I like to say - "No stupid dogs, just stupid owners." I too have a German Shepherd and a Dalmatian and neither have ever been mean or tried to bite anyone and they HAVE had protection and advanced behavior training. A few nights ago, some friends came over and brought all of their dogs. Of all of the dogs here including both of my BIG dogs, the meanest one who kept snapping at and biting the other dogs as well as other people was a tiny little chihuahua! Like so many other things, responsibility is the key and in our society today RESPONSIBILITY is not a PC word.
I take full responsibility for my pets just as I do for everything else I am responsible for. We have had a professional trainer work with them for a year and continue training and playing with them every single day. THAT is the key - to be smart and to be responsible.
Again, NO STUPID OR MEAN DOGS - JUST STUPID OR MEAN OWNERS.

I agree, mostly. Responsible dog owners do the following:
1) know and understand the breed of dog they have, both good points and bad
2) know and understand their own individual dogs, both good points and bad.
3) Train their dogs and properly socialize them.
4) Keep their dogs under control at all times, even when they are not physically present.
5) Never leave their dog alone with strangers or children
6) Know and understand the "pack mentality" of a group of dogs together, and make adjustments in their care and control for that.
7) Know and understand the part that genetics plays in temperament, and be very careful about this when selecting a dog.

Personally, I would not own a dog of one of the more aggressive breeds as I don't want the additional worry (or the subsequent rise in premiums or cancellation of my home insurance), but I do believe these dogs can be kept successfully and without harm if the owners are responsible and have a clue.

Unfortunately, there are too many idiot owners, of all breeds, out there that should never even be allowed to have a goldfish, much less a 100 lb animal who can rip the leg off a sheep with it's teeth.

Once in a while you come across a really incorrigible dog, but usually that's because of what the idiot humans did to him, not from pure natural temperament.

I have a Lab who is a big baby and loves children, but I would NEVER let her out unsupervised or leave her with my nephews without either me or my husband present.
And she is a different dog when she's in a group of other dogs - not mean at all, but she's much more "doglike" when among her own kind. Alone with us she's close to being a hairy little human ::grin::

LQ