Pets Discussions

Since I wrote the topic, I guess I get to comment first.

I cannot believe that some people that some breeds are naturally dangerous. There is absolutely no logic to that. I have seen Dobermans, Boxers & Rottweillers who are loving, loyal & playful with children. In Great Britian Pit Bulls - which there include different kinds of terriers like the Staffordshire - are known as Nanny Dogs because they are so good with children.

I have seen a few "family friendly" or "child friendly" breeds that snap and bite.

Insurance companies raise your rates if you own certain breeds whether or not they have ever bitten anyone.

I firmly believe when it comes to dogs it's Nurture not Nature.

I do believe ALL dogs can turn on you at any time, but in my experience it's a lot of times the Pit Bulls and such that have the nature to turn on you faster.  I have a friend with 4 pit bulls and any one of them can go from playful and nice to mean and scary in seconds depending on who is around.  They keep the dogs locked away when people come over because they don't know what they will do.

*oh, and I just remembered they also have to keep 2 of the dogs separate from the other 2 at all times b/c they fight.  Once 2 of the dogs got at it so bad that they were bleeding and needed stitches.  My friend couldn't get them apart and had to throw things at them. They have kids in the house, what if the toddler lets the dogs together and then gets in the middle of their fight?  Not a good situation if you ask me.

The truth is, while a dog may be perfect to you and your family, it may react completely differently to a stranger that comes into it's house.  I think the laws are not to protect the family that owns the dog, but instead to protect visitors and strangers who may come across the dog.  

All in all, I am scared of certain types of dogs more than others.  When I see them snap or growl, which my dog never did, it does give you cause to be worried.  It may just be my experience but certain dogs do seem to have the nature to want to attack where others don't.

Now should they be killing them on site?  I don't think so.  But I won't be getting on nor allowing my children to play with them.

I do not believe dogs are born dangerous. It's how they're raised, how they are treated that can make them dangerous. Sometimes perhaps an illness can cause them to change also.

I used to be wary of certain dogs because of the breed. I must admit watching many episodes of the "The Dog Whisperer" changed my mind.  Listening to Cesar on this very topic and watching him with all the different kinds of dogs has been enlightening.

 

My Vet used to say "nutty dog, nutty owner".  But having said that, some dog breeds are indeed more aggressive or passive than others.  Part of it is their innate behavior and part of it is the result of selective breeding to encourage the traits desired in the breed.

 The most beautiful, sweet, black pitbull stray literally ran into my arms and wouldn't leave my side the other day.  You could tell she was raised by a thoughtful owner and that dog sat with me in my garden until my husband and a neighbor took her back to what they thought was her home.

We have 2 lab mixes already - and one extremely protective.  When our male lab mix saw that pit lovin' on me, my dog got very agitated.    That's my only experience close up and I wish she'd come visit me again, only while Jacky boy is inside the house and not at the gate. 

Another very different experience we had - there were two strays running around loose recently (a pit and a rott I think) and we had our dogs in the truck in their crates, bound for the river.  A lady and her baby were walking in the area and we literally had to put the mom & baby in the back of our pickup and take them home safely.  We called animal control and don't know what happened after that.  The mom seemed to be clueless to the strays.  I'm just glad we got them home safe.   Our pups have never gotten loose, so maybe the owners of the loose dogs secured their yard further.  Let's hope so. 

I also don't believe they were born dangerous, but precautions have to be taken with strays.

I think any dog can be trained to behave itself. But, some breeds have a natural inclination to act a little more aggressive than others. Pit Bulls are one of them. They can change moods quickly and are more likely to turn against someone. Still, I don't agree with the idea that any stray pit bull should be put down. They should at least be given a chance to prove themselves by allowing a family to adopt.

Dogs are bred for certain charactaristics. Dobermans, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, they are naturally protective. The level to which depends on training. You can train any dog to attack people, but some do have that tendency naturally. When I wanted a hunting dog, I got a Brittany. Now I want a companion dog, so I got a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel when the Brit passed. Just like I wouldn't get a Samoyed to hunt, you wouldn't get a Greyhound to patrol your property.

I do not agree with breed banning laws. I don't agree with killing a dog that has done nothing wrong. But yes, some breeds are naturally more aggressive/protective.

I think that there are some breeds that are predisposed to violence, HOWEVER I will stress that like with humans,

hate and violence are something that is learned, not given/born with

I believe no dog is born dangerous at all.  It is all on how they are raised by their owners.  I have been around alot of dogs and will walk up to just about any dog with respect.  If you are afraid of a dog they are more apt to protect them and who they love because of your fear.  I work around alot of dogs and get a kick out of owners when their dogs come up to me and start kissing and cuddling and the owners say the attacks anyone they see.  9 times out of 10 it's because they are afraid or the owners have trained them to be like that. 

I disagree with these new laws about certain types of dogs being put down just because of their breeds.  I have two dogs one is a rot/pit bull mix and she is the most loving dog ever and I have a lab/chow who is also that way but gets very protective when someone comes in that is scared of dogs.  Because of the way we are.

I don't believe in alot of the things this government wants to do with dogs like if they bite once put them down.  They need to know what the reason was for the bite.  As I told the newspaper in our area that if they want to put dogs down for protecting their home than all these people that killed someone why are we protecting them.  They did what they did on purpose. But we keep forgiving them.  I dont believe in killing any of gods creatures animal or human.  And animals only if it's better for them in the long run where they are untreatable and if that's the case it's from how they are raised.

PUNISH THE DEED; NOT THE BREED. If you believe all "pits" are dangerous, that's like saying that because you cousin robbed a bank you will too. that is ludacris. There are a lot of good American Pit Bull Terriers in this world and owners as well. do some research. Several reputable animal organizations are against Breed bans and have posted their postion statement on there websites. Check out some and get a little knowledge. www.aspca.org., www.avma.org, www.understand-a-bull.com, www.badrap.org, www.ukcdogs.com( which was created to register "pit Bulls" in 1898. ), www.pbrc.net. Also some of the dogs in the Michael Vick Case have sense been certified Therapy and Service dogs. Can you say you have accomplished something that great???? Do some reading about the breed before you cast stones. DEED, NOT BREED!!!!!!

Different dogs have different temperaments regardless of breed. In general, purerbreds are a bit more high strung than mutts but there are no hard rules. That law is stupid and inhumane. Shows you how weak lawmakers can be that they gave in to a lobbying group. I'm sure it stemmed from a series of "incidences" but come on. Killing the animal for no reason is a terrible "solution".

Where is PETA on this?

Hey diamondstate, you make an excellent point! Why did people go out of their way to get foster homes and rehabilitate dogs from Michael Vick's dogfighting ring? Those dogs were abused and trained to fight. But if someone's pet dog (esp. "bully" breeds) bites it's put it down no matter what.

That makes no sense.

RAF- PETA is against humans owning animals as pets AT ALL... their reasoning is ridiculous... and it's not a "cool" animal cause, anyway.

There are some dogs that simply will be aggressive, unpredictable, etc. and they are found in ALL breeds.  In fact, I think the small ankle-biter kind of dogs are in general less predictable than the larger dogs, but people think it is "cute" or "harmless" when they bite or snap at someone. 

Pit bulls have a high prey drive, so I wouldn't recommend them to people who own cats, birds, etc., but they are not intrinsically human-aggressive. 

You also have to consider that some breeds are bred to enhance their aggressiveness.  Just as you can breed dogs to produce favorable colors you can breed dogs to accentuate certain behavior characteristics.

I believe how they are raised has a LOT to do with it.  Any dog could be dangerous, just like any human could be dangerous...but not all are dangerous. 

Genetics do play a role and combined with how raised can make a good (breed) dog bad.


LadyMagic said…

I do not believe dogs are born dangerous. It's how they're raised, how they are treated that can make them dangerous. Sometimes perhaps an illness can cause them to change also.

I used to be wary of certain dogs because of the breed. I must admit watching many episodes of the "The Dog Whisperer" changed my mind.  Listening to Cesar on this very topic and watching him with all the different kinds of dogs has been enlightening.

 

---

 

Well I guess I disagree with most. It's nature vs. nurture. Just like with kids. Are any kids born bad? Actually some experts believe 5 to 15% of children are born with bad temperments. It take a lot of nuturing to change them around and of course vice versa. I think due to breeding some dogs are born inherently dangerous. Can they be retaught? Yes just like kids - with enough training and love. Still I wouldn't want a pitbull anywhere near my Hanna!

I dislike the law that has been passed against Pit Bulls.  I believe that dogs are not born dangerous.  In all honesty I think it is dependant on the owner and the way the dog is raised.  I have petted Pit Bulls who are so entirely friendly and giving.  When I was in Bermuda, there was a Pit Bull who I petted and believe or not he was so friendly and downright nice.   I once owned a mixed wolf Shephard called Dixie and she was so great and very protective.  She was always tied onto a big chain.  The only time she became dangerous was when a couple of nasty kids were throwing rocks at her.  To make a long story short she broke the chain and ran after them.  She wasn't able to hurt them because my family managed to get her before she can get away from our home.  Today she has had little puppies and she is a great dog watcher owned by a man who runs a junk yard. 

My chihuahua was viciously attacked and killed on August 07, 2009 by a 5 year old rottweiler that was running at large.  The dog was not present when I began my walk with my chihuahua in the late afternoon, sometime during our walk that neighbors arrived home with their relatives rottweiler and allowed him to run free in the front yard of their townhouse.  Obviously, a townhome yard is very small and not enclosed, therefore the dog had the ability to go wherever he wanted to without restriction.

The owner was there during the attack, watching my dog [and myself] get attacked, severely hurt and ultimately die because of his lack of good judgement and control of a dangerous dog.

Any animal can be dangerous, no matter what the type of animal it is.  Dogs, cats, ferrets, snakes and even hamsters can cause painful bites but the larger the animal the more damage that it is capable of inflicting upon its victim.  I do believe that Rotts, Pits, and the like are sometimes naturally aggressive when born.......but it is up to the owners to train and control these characteristics so that the dog does hurt [and/or kill something].  If these "potentially dangerous animals" are kept controlled, perhaps muzzled and surrounded with positive training skills and love the dog should not have the desire to attack.

When these dogs are not trained, kept under direct control, etc. they will and can turn on you.....and perhaps even become vicious to the point of killing.  

www.JUSTICE4GIZMO.info

Hi Suzi.

I second your concern about these breeds of dogs, they can turn on you very quickly.  My chihuahua was viciously attacked and destroyed in August by a Rottweiler that was running at large because the owner was trying to impress his girlfriend.  His father even admitted to it in a police report, where he also admitted to the fact that he fled the scene of the attack, driving someone else's car to flee while driving without a license.  Even after all of these event, sworn to in police reports, the county and state will not charge him.  My dog is dead, and they are out enjoying themselves and harassing me because I am suing them in court because they are fighting paying me a dime.

www.JUSTICE4GIZM.info

Matt

Punish The Deed, Not The Breed? The perfect answer. I belong to another survey site where you can create polls and opinion topics I asked animal lovers what bumper sticker would best describe their feelings. One of the choices that I gave them was Punish The Deed, Not The Breed and that was the one with the most votes. (Although you'd be surprised at how popular Hide Your Beagle! Vick's An Eagle was.)

No matter how many times I tell people - and evidently so do you - that any breed can be dangerous and that any breed can be the best pet you ever had and that in England they are called "the nanny dog", they don't want to hear it. Their minds are made up.

People can turn on you faster than any dog and often they have guns!

Thanks for your support - it means a lot.