I know this thread is old, but very useful info.
I would say I used to be more lax with Jackson. He's very well socialized because of it however after witnessing some nasty fights at the dog park or otherwise through the years, I have really picked up on dog body language. I also work at a daycare and am able to tell when a dog fight is about to occur. A particularly nasty one between a pit mix and a Cane Corso frightened me to death.
I am not a helicopter pet parent with Jackson. He's allowed to be a dog and I don't like to carry him around or pick him up in moments of fear as it just makes him worse and feel the need to protect himself. Learned that the hard way too. An aggressive Lab charged us in my dads neighborhood and I whipped Jackson up by his harness. All that did was have me with a flailing dog in my arms trying to attack back and a Lab jumping up on me. Thankfully I had my stepmom with me who was able to get the Lab to go back home.
I do not have a problem with pit bulls and as a whole they are generally very people friendly; however I do NOT trust them with other dogs. I just don't. I've seen TOO many fights start because of bully breeds (OR if it's another dogs fault, the pit is will do more harm). And I think this 'it's all how they're raised' mantra has done nothing but bad things to the breed because then well meaning people adopt them who have no business owning a powerful dog aggressive terrier. |