All dog breeds bite. How many dog breeds are involved in fatalities? At some point it isn't owners who don't pay attention. At some point it is the breed which is predisposed to fatal behavior.
News Article: When will "pit bull denial" stop?
- Thread starter banjeaux
- Start date
Controlled study detailing how Pit Bulls are not considered more dangerous than any other breed:
https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/B...of-Breed-in-Dog-Bite-Risk-and-Prevention.aspx
Of note:
https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/B...of-Breed-in-Dog-Bite-Risk-and-Prevention.aspx
Of note:
Another good article:
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liber...t-nanny-dogs-children-until-media-turned-them
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liber...t-nanny-dogs-children-until-media-turned-them
Very nicely written and I agree. People should take the choice of dog seriously and make educated decisions about it. But you have pretty much supported what I have been saying. Don't cast a wide blanket over an entire breed. Many outside factors play role.
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All I know is our dachshund murders stuffed animals like a serial killer & then likes to play with the dismembered corpses. Clearly a breed that deserves to be eyed carefully.
One of my aunts owns a pit bull and he's very nice around everyone. For years he's been exceptionally nice and patient around the younger relatives. The only time he's shown aggression was around another family members dog. I know this is just one pit bull, but I do believe it comes down to the owner(s) most of the time.
However some dogs are just violent. I personally know a chihuahua that has sent many stuffed animals to the afterlife, but he's never bit anyone since he was a pup and is no threat to any person.
However some dogs are just violent. I personally know a chihuahua that has sent many stuffed animals to the afterlife, but he's never bit anyone since he was a pup and is no threat to any person.
While I am of the opinion that dogs are like people with regard to diversity of personality, regardless of breed (or ethnicity), I freely acknowledge that specific breeds were developed with specific temperments as well as physical traits in mind. In the case of the American Pit Bull Terrier, the desired temperment was one that was suitable to baiting (attacking, harassing) bulls and bears. That likely includes, among other traits, aggression and fearlessness - at least towards bulls and bears. But do genetically desired predispositions necessarily manifest in an individual dog of a specific breed? This is the Nature vs Nurture debate all over again. Currently prevailing thought on that topic concerning the human species seems to be that it's both - nature and nurture - that produce the end result. Nature provides the predisposition. Nurture provides the catalyst for manifestation. And in the human species at least, in my opinion, personalities seem to be much more culturally driven than they are ethnically driven.
Good stuff. A very fair, well thought out and unbiased opinion.
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As part of my job I regularly review home liability claims and far too many of them are the result of a dog bite. I can tell you that the majority of our dog bites are from 'gentler' breeds - lots of lab, dalmation, and cocker spaniels who bite because of circumstances and/or the way they're treated. It's rare to see a bite claim from the more aggressive breeds but they sure seem to be the ones that garner all the media attention.
More often than not the common theme in these situations is carelessness and/or inattention on the part of the owner. Fences left in disrepair, dogs allowed to roam the neighborhood, kids unattended when a dog is around.
We had a little terrier mix who was territorial and would turn aggressive unexpectedly. Despite his small size we took no chances that he might bite someone. When we had company he was confined to an area away from people and when we walked him he was muzzled.
As with so many of today's issues it's about being a responsible human being more than anything else. Respect the potential dangers and take steps to prevent tragic incidents. Why that's so difficult for people I will never understand.
More often than not the common theme in these situations is carelessness and/or inattention on the part of the owner. Fences left in disrepair, dogs allowed to roam the neighborhood, kids unattended when a dog is around.
We had a little terrier mix who was territorial and would turn aggressive unexpectedly. Despite his small size we took no chances that he might bite someone. When we had company he was confined to an area away from people and when we walked him he was muzzled.
As with so many of today's issues it's about being a responsible human being more than anything else. Respect the potential dangers and take steps to prevent tragic incidents. Why that's so difficult for people I will never understand.
I once saw a toy poodle eat a whole Mexican family. Darndest thing I ever did see.
The real question is not just the number of bite claims but the severity of bite claims.
They range and typically depend on circumstance. I've seen liability limits exhausted (one such instance was from 2 dalmations who were allowed to run free in their neighborhood - attacked a woman who was walking her little dog. Killed the little dog, seriously injured her. By the time all was said and done it was upwards of a $400k claim.) and 'minor' bites that resulted in stitches, bandages, etc. They do tend to get costly because people like to sue after being bitten.
Dog bite frequency and severity is something we monitor very carefully and we've been back and forth many times over the years re: what breeds we allow policy holders to own, how tolerant we are of continuing a policy once a bite claim happens, etc. There's nothing I hate more than giving someone a choice between euthanizing their dog or losing their home insurance, especially when the situation was completely preventable. Frustrating and sad.
Until a couple of years ago we had pit bull, rottweiler, and presa canario called out as 'ineligible' breeds. Now we ask history of aggressive behavior/previous bite instead because we found narrowing to breed wasn't helping loss ratios. Incidentally, we don't uprate for history of dog related loss nor do we offer the option to exclude animal liability coverage. We prefer to simply decline the riskier business.
There are any number of dogs than can be dangerous if not raised properly. German Shepherds, Akitas, Rottweilers, etc. Yes, pit bulls can be overly aggressive, particularly if they are not raised properly. In a good home, they are wonderful pets--two of my best friends have one, and it is as sweet as can be--provided that you're not another dog acting aggressively.
An issue beyond the question of breed is the number of dogs involved--the OP article mentioned seven+ dogs, and at that point, pack mentality takes over. My sister in law has a habit of talking in strays, and at one point had 5 in her back yard, all of indeterminate breed. One day they got out and attacked and killed a neighbor's dog.
Yes, it's a terrible tragedy, but there's no reason to eliminate an entire breed. If the little girls had accidentally shot herself, would you be calling for the destruction of all handguns?
An issue beyond the question of breed is the number of dogs involved--the OP article mentioned seven+ dogs, and at that point, pack mentality takes over. My sister in law has a habit of talking in strays, and at one point had 5 in her back yard, all of indeterminate breed. One day they got out and attacked and killed a neighbor's dog.
Yes, it's a terrible tragedy, but there's no reason to eliminate an entire breed. If the little girls had accidentally shot herself, would you be calling for the destruction of all handguns?
Re: Autopsy results in toddler pit bull attack death expected Monday
You do realize that Pitbulls have been called "nannydogs" for a reason.
Funny thing here, when my son moved into his apartment this breed was on the banned list along with the bully breeds.
An aggressive daschund can do a LOT of damage to an apartment. They were bred to go into holes after badgers and drag them out, after all.
They just don't realize that they are small. We had a miniature dachshund when I was a kid; she once chased a full grown Great Dane out of the yard just by charging and barking her head off. Of course, she also once spent 30 minutes barking at a watermelon on the back porch because she thought it was invading her turf.*
*In her defense, my brother and were poking the watermelon with a broom handle so that it would roll towards her.
*In her defense, my brother and were poking the watermelon with a broom handle so that it would roll towards her.[/QUOTE]
We had one when I was growing up also and yes he would bark at anything. The air blowing up from the vent was one that would always get him.
We had one when I was growing up also and yes he would bark at anything. The air blowing up from the vent was one that would always get him.
First let me say that I don't mean to offend anyone. Now I would ask that everyone entertain the idea that any animal is just that an animal. We call dogs domesticated but what does that mean? Do we really ever domesticate a wild animal? I love horses and have ridden for years, I know you can train them to do a lot of things that make them seem intelligent and I have actually "felt" that I owned an smart one or two, but the truth is that they are animals and are not capable of the same type of feelings we are as humans. Animals are trained by one of two means. Either they are stressed to the point it is easier to do something than to deal with the stress or they are trying to earn a reward. It is never a good idea to forget they are animals. Even if they are somewhat predictable there are reactions programmed into them from long since that can take over at the odd moment. You can't expect animals to become human. I have at times gotten too comfortable with horses and usually gotten rewarded with bruises....
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