Do you keep a dog you can't trust with your kid?

[Stephanie739]

I'd like the name of that gene form the dog genome project-

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/?term=canis%20lupus%20familiaris

http://www.genenames.org/useful/genome-databases-and-browsers

Then we could screen baby (humans or dogs or cats) to see if they have the 'aggression gene marker' and take appropriate actions...

All Terriers are smart, active, suborn, and breed to be people pleasing - the need jobs and structure- socialization.

Each was bred for a specific job and that job has changed over time, like greyhounds were not bred for tracks originally - they were bred to see and weary prey.

---

Anyway I do not allow children under a reasonable age, (depends on the child) around any animal (depends on animal) unsupervised ever- that particular dog I would keep on a leash around any strangers then I control the dog and can also control the intensity of the meeting, I'd have the dog create trained and create if the dog is to excited.

And sadly pits jobs have been in dog fighting for a long time. Its not ironic that of all serious and fatal dog attacks, most are from pit bulls. Perhaps I should have said traits rather than genes? Most any breeder knows the importance of breeding with specific traits in mind. There are too many irresponsible and clueless people getting pits without any idea the extra caution and training they need. I am pretty set in my opinion about pits, but I won't object to your right to own one. You can have a tiger for all I care, but that too would require special care as well as consequences for lack of responsibility. But this post is about a jack russell mix....moving on.

 

[Appylover]

Actually the pit bull started out in this country as a fighting, drover, guard dog and pet. Any human aggression was culled out as who in their right mind would reach into a couple of dogs with bare hands while fighting. If a handler was bitten then they and their siblings, and parents were culled. It was not until recently that the breed became a problem. People with less than good intentions bred the dogs not careing if the animal growled and snapped as a puppy. This was considered a good trait for a guard/fighting dogs in gang bangers and idiots that had not clue. The main word on the pit bull breeds name is TERRIER. You can not expect a type of dog bred for thousands of years to not have a prey drive. Most terriers were bred to kill something. Many are still used today for killing pests. Its not the breed its idiots with no common sense that have no buisness owning a strong high prey drive dog thats the problem. They are people dogs they need training, love and companionship. Well bred, well trained, well loved, healthy dogs owned by people that know what they are doing rarely attack. As for the "turning" on people. Well I would like an exam done on all dogs that "turn". I would bet a high majority have a health problem. Be it cancer or seizers. And most of the attacks you hear of are from dogs that are A: left on a chain all day, B: left in the yard all the time, c: no training or D: left to pack up and run free. I have been around pit bulls for most of my life. And only ONE was ever the typical news pit. He was bred by my aunt and had been beaten to almost dead. She got him back and he attacked her son. The dog was found to have a dead part in his brain from the beatings. Just a note the worst bite I ever recieved was from a lab.

As for the dog in question well he is after all made of two very HYPER high prey drive breeds. He needs to be trained, handled, and loved. Not thrown in the yard where his chances are nil of ever coming out of this. Personally I would put him down because he has nipped at children and he is really too hyper for just any joe blow off the street. Im now going to go check on my kids and my pit who last I seen were asleep in the bedroom floor.

 

[Stephanie739]

People always get so defensive when I talk about pits. You can have your pit bulls, and I will keep my opinion. They aren't worth the risk to me. I'm really glad my neighbors don't like them either.

My sister's lhasa apsa was ripped apart by the neighbors pit (in her own yard) a few years back. Most recently (a month or two ago) my neighbors grandson (age 7) had his face ripped up by his neighbor's pit bull right in front of the owner. Thankfully, the dog was in the car and the window was only partly down.

I recently read in a local paper that a pit bull jumped out of the 2nd story window to attack a girl and the dog she was walking... http://chesterfield.nbc12.com/news/news/79676-pit-bull-jumps-2nd-story-window-and-attacks-lab

 

[punk-a-doodle]

People aren't getting defensive from what I see, they are trying to point out why comments such as having an "aggressive gene" are inaccurate and not scientifically sound. I'm not even sure which breed you are referring to, or if you could correctly identify various breeds and mixes commonly falling under the label of "pit bull", as most Americans can not. I have trouble doing so myself, though I have yet to mistake a lab as any sort of pit bull...unfortunately I can't say the same about other people I've known.

http://www.inquisitr.com/205846/stray-pit-pull-saves-mother-and-child-from-knife-wielding-attacker/. Does this mean any individual of a bully breed is a fuzzy savior? Of course not. People seem to be trying to guide this thread in general away from sensationalism, and towards a more level headed approach. You of course can choose to cling to whatever opinion you have for any topic, but your statements may continue to be discussed as those statements were made on a public forum where replies may be directed beyond you personally and to readers in general.

 

[Appylover]

The reason we get defensive is our dogs are at a HUGE risk of being removed from us because of idiot owners. I can show you for every pit bull attack another breed of dog attack. Just recently huskies have been in the news. And one attack that stands out in my mind is a border collie jumped through an open window and attacked a child nearly tearing off his leg. While I agree when a pit bull or heck ANY large breed dog goes bad its useally REALLY bad. But look at the math between 3,600,000 and 6,912,000 Pit Bull type breed dogs in the United States. I say type because there are only two TRUE pit bulls. The APBT and the AKC Amstaff which started out as the APBT. Although the amstaff is getting far away from what the APBT really should look like.Of that only a few a year attack. While when it happens it IS horrific. They grab and hold and tear. I am not asking you to go get one. But doing a bit of real research not just what the newspapers tell you might help.

 

[FireTigeris]

But in the US people with loud opinions get legislative changes on what someone else can own on their property- Example: chickens



Quote: Moron anti-chicken people


My greyhound at 80 pounds can 'attack' three PEOPLE, drawing blood before she's a dangerous dog...

My 'Rescue-bull' (pit is a job, like 'retriever' or 'setter' or 'pointer') can never even cause an accidentally bruise to a human (this part is slightly exaggerated) w/o a chance of being killed... if her claws or teeth "break skin", she will very likely get an order of destruction (this part is not exaggerated at all).

Three weeks ago some kickit purebred 3 pound poorly mannered toy dog on an illegal retractable leash attacked my dogs, the greyhound...jumped backward and hid behind me, the pitbull stood up tall with her mouth closed (with the toy dog hanging off her left jowl) and backed up to a 'sit' (the toy had fallen of at that point) looked at me.

There were 20 or so witnesses on Amelia Island FL- they all stopped to watch to tell Animal Control that the little dog started it and bit flesh.

I called her (my dog) on ("forward") and the (Explitive) owner gave the toy dog more leash because 'it was cute' it attacked again at my ankles and she got between us taking another bite-(to her right forleg) other people were surrounding the (expletive) owner and someone pulled the leash of the toy dog (none to gently) and handed the dog back to the man.

I had now fewer then seven people come up to meet both dogs after that.

Besides any pendulous eared medium build dog with wide shoulders OR a deep chest is labeled a pit bull.

"Any individual dog may be a good, loving pet, even though its breed is considered to be potentially dangerous. A responsible owner can win the love and respect of a dog, no matter its breed. One cannot look at an individual dog, recognize its breed, and then state whether or not it is going to attack. " - pasted form an anti-pit bull site...

I have been attacked by a Chow-German Shepard... but that doesn't mean I'd say that all CHows or all German Sheppard were dangerous, GS are often use for detection, police work, rescue and service, military and assistance... OH and so are Pit bulls..


I like that, it follows that being vocal (biased) about good responsible dog owners is like being vocal (biased) about good responsible chicken owners...

irresponsible dog owners and chicken owners and both sets that do bad things with these animals should be punished according to the animals cruelty laws... but really...

The people that don't want us to be able to own chickens on our own property say:



Quote: Moron anti-chicken people
And I have also responsibly owned a colony of (male +1 castrated male) pet rats... gee the stupid comments I got.

 

[Stephanie739]

The reason we get defensive is our dogs are at a HUGE risk of being removed from us because of idiot owners. I can show you for every pit bull attack another breed of dog attack. Just recently huskies have been in the news. And one attack that stands out in my mind is a border collie jumped through an open window and attacked a child nearly tearing off his leg. While I agree when a pit bull or heck ANY large breed dog goes bad its useally REALLY bad. But look at the math between 3,600,000 and 6,912,000 Pit Bull type breed dogs in the United States. I say type because there are only two TRUE pit bulls. The APBT and the AKC Amstaff which started out as the APBT. Although the amstaff is getting far away from what the APBT really should look like.Of that only a few a year attack. While when it happens it IS horrific. They grab and hold and tear. I am not asking you to go get one. But doing a bit of real research not just what the newspapers tell you might help.

My sister told me about her dog, and I saw my neighbor's grandson's face. I do support property rights - your right to have 50 pits if that is what you want. I only post what I do about pit bulls BECAUSE of idiot owners who have no clue that they require extra training. The "grab and hold" tendency is the trait I was speaking of, a inherited trait to fight until the death. This is different than nipping/biting in fear. To say there is no scientific basis on genetic traits is nonsense. Anyone who denies it shouldn't be breeding animals.

 

[Stephanie739]

But in the US people with loud opinions get legislative changes on what someone else can own on their property- Example: chickens

Educating people about pit bulls is far different than pushing for legislation. My daughter was at a friend's house and her dad has an "aggressive" (the friend's word, not mine) 8 foot boa constrictor. I told my daughter to stay away from the snake and I will think twice about her visiting the home especially now realizing it sometimes hangs out freely in the enclosed porch. I told my daughter and her friend that I trust the snake as much as I would her pet lion. Do you think my extra cautious approach screams for legislation? To me it is just common sense. I want my daughter to know that her friend's pet can kill.

 

[Stephanie739]

And just to make sure I am clear, I would move away from a neighbor that had dogs (or snakes!) I didn't trust before pushing for legislation which invades their property rights. What I do ask for is responsible ownership and that does require honest discussion.

 

[FlaRocky]

Educating people about pit bulls is far different than pushing for legislation. My daughter was at a friend's house and her dad has an "aggressive" (the friend's word, not mine) 8 foot boa constrictor. I told my daughter to stay away from the snake and I will think twice about her visiting the home especially now realizing it sometimes hangs out freely in the enclosed porch. I told my daughter and her friend that I trust the snake as much as I would her pet lion. Do you think my extra cautious approach screams for legislation? To me it is just common sense. I want my daughter to know that her friend's pet can kill. 

 

Sorry be off subject but, I would not let my kids go to friends house with the snake EVER!!!!!

Down here in Florida we have a couple serving (mother and boyfriend) a long time in prison for her daughter getting killed by the python one night while she slept. They never heard the screams of the 2 year old.

Maye