Pit bulls in my coop!!

[Jennsbirds]

Pit Bulls have been made into these terrible dogs,when it honestly has to do with the owner. My brother has a pit that is the sweetest thing. But my brother's ''friend'' has a pit that has been made crazy and mean due to bad owner ship. Most people don't even know the pit bulls true name-The American Terrier

The National Canine Research Council says the biting thing is a myth and all 'bad' dogs are due to owners , not the dogs themselves. They warn that the dog easily pick up habits and cues from you, so don't be a jerk.

 

[bugglesmommy]

The National Canine Research Council says the biting thing is a myth and all 'bad' dogs are due to owners , not the dogs themselves. They warn that the dog easily pick up habits and cues from you, so don't be a jerk.

I agree and disagree. Bad breeding does play a role in aggression. I'm not saying that all pit bulls are bred with aggressive natures or anything, aggresive tendencies can be bred into any dog of any breed or size. Training can certainly help with naturally aggressive dogs, but sometimes things happen beyond even a good owners control.

Pit bulls can be outstanding people dogs and make the best friend a small child ever had. They can be loving goofballs. That same dog by nature may hate other pets. Animal aggression can be more of a breed problem than people aggression.

I will say the dangerous pet mauler in my neighborhood is his owners dog true to the bone. The man that owns him is a bully and will shoot pets for fun. Last year he had to pay 5,000 dollars when he was seen shooting an elderly man with cancers rat terrier. That dog may not be responsible for his attitude but he's dangerous all the same. If that dog goes from mauling mateses to biting a child, the news report wont read " Dog Taught to Attack by Bad Owner". It will say "Killer Pit Bull Mauls Child". It is a shame that a beautiful dog has been made into a monster by a monster.

 

[Megan Amber]

A agree with everything bugglesmommy said. I know that pit bull's can be really great dog's but once someone has mistreated them they can be dangerous. It is very sad.

 

[HazelCMAS]

Screws pulled out of wood, still attached to siding.


siding torn off and hole in hardware cloth under the chicken ramp


chewed up siding



Above pic is of the dogs, one at the door of the coop, the other in the back under the roosts. We were waiting for animal control when Hubs took this shot of them.
l
I think they jumped thru this to get in.




Blood on outside of coop belongs to dogs, the hardware cloth chewed them up pretty good before they jumped thru the other side.

 

[Megan Amber]

Jee Wiz They were determined. I am so sorry that happened. I might would install an electric fence ,too.

 

[Shellz]

Just seeing that makes me so angry! Feels like getting hit in the stomach. So awful! You have my sympathies.

 

[Jennsbirds]

I agree and disagree. Bad breeding does play a role in aggression. I'm not saying that all pit bulls are bred with aggressive natures or anything, aggresive tendencies can be bred into any dog of any breed or size. Training can certainly help with naturally aggressive dogs, but sometimes things happen beyond even a good owners control.

Pit bulls can be outstanding people dogs and make the best friend a small child ever had. They can be loving goofballs. That same dog by nature may hate other pets. Animal aggression can be more of a breed problem than people aggression.

I will say the dangerous pet mauler in my neighborhood is his owners dog true to the bone. The man that owns him is a bully and will shoot pets for fun. Last year he had to pay 5,000 dollars when he was seen shooting an elderly man with cancers rat terrier. That dog may not be responsible for his attitude but he's dangerous all the same. If that dog goes from mauling mateses to biting a child, the news report wont read " Dog Taught to Attack by Bad Owner". It will say "Killer Pit Bull Mauls Child". It is a shame that a beautiful dog has been made into a monster by a monster.

As I said, one of the highest scientific authorities on dogs did not say aggression was a breed problem for pits when I looked it up. They didn't mention adopting other animals, but two documentaries on dog myths-especially myths about agresive dogs and dog agression--mentiined it, as well as Pitts having almost 0% of their aggression being due to the breed and due to their natural habit to be loyal to the point of desperation. Their one of he most easily rehabilitable breeds, often wit basic care and training.
I have yet to find a credible source that says pits are naturally agresive, actually

 

[bugglesmommy]

I'm not saying Pitt bulls as an all around breed are naturally aggressive - just that poor breeding of any dogs can make more aggressive dogs by nature. This is for any breed from mastiffs to Chihuahuas. There are plenty of loving, passive, gentle Pitt bulls bred by people who care and bred using physically and temperament sound dogs. There are also many careless breeders who want to make a quick buck on their poorly bred dogs that do not care about the negative image and impact they are having on the breed. I find it heartbreaking that instead of trying harder to control the breeding and training of these dogs, many areas are just out-lawing them causing good family dogs to be taken and put down for fear alone.

 

[HazelCMAS]

Yanno, It's been a week since the dog attack and at this point, I am really uninterested in the virtues or lack there of, of pit bulls. I did not start this thread to begin a debate about the breed of dog. Just to inform John Q Chickenperson about how destructive dogs can be to chickens and even fairly well built coops, and maybe get a little empathy for my sadness and frustration. The fact is that one of the dogs was pit, the other was a pit mix, they will be euthanized. Had it been a Chihuahua attacking my chickens I would have been just as devastated. If there is any further worthy discussion, IMHO it would be about responsible dog ownership and not breed personalities/traits. Maybe even a discussion about how to build a dog proof coop after using all the recommended hardware cloth as opposed to chicken wire having failed.

I am not a pit bull hater, though I would never own one on purpose. I own Standard Poodles and have for 14 years. I do not allow them to run the street and terrorize my neighbors animals. My dogs live inside my house, not chained to a tree like the dogs who broke into my coop. I do these things for not only my protection, but the protection of my dogs whom I love as family members. I can't wrap my head around anyone who would treat a dog otherwise. I cannot say the owners of the offending dogs are bad people...I can say that they are not protecting their dogs, their neighbors, or themselves from consequences. My fear is that whether it be ignorance or blatant mistreatment of their animals, it will only perpetuate when they acquire more dogs to replace the ones they surrendered.

Thanks to all who posted sympathies. I appreciate that they were sincere, since anyone who keeps chickens has lost one to a predator at one time or another. I hope it is a long time before anyone here, including myself, loses another.

 

[Sprinkles212]

Our 8 year old pit bull is the most mild and gentle dog I've ever known. She is sweet as can be, but she looks awfully scary. We have small children and she is wonderful with them. She is also great with our chickens. She roams the property while they peck around and forage freely. The chickens sometimes chase her off from treats! The only thing she does not like and will show aggressive behavior towards are strangers on the property with a "weapon". She will lower her head and growl, sometimes bark. Any adult walking with a stick, yard tool or even a UPS package! She gets between the stranger and the kids every time. I see this as positive behavior, not negative.

We have a lot of strays in our town with no leash law. We occasionally have a stray come on our property, but thankfully have not lost a chicken yet. I would SSS the next time you see an aggressive animal on your property!