Sad day for a breed with a bad rap. Prayers please

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Maximo

All dog breeds were bred for a reason and we have to remember that the reasons were often related to killing and aggression: for hunting and for protecting herds and more. While these breeds have become family pets and are ideally bred to have "good temperaments," and we train them, they still have instincts. Our Yorkies have instincts that have not been bred out of them.

I believe it does a great disservice to any dog breed to portray them as harmless and perfectly sweet in the right hands. If this were true, then we would also have to believe that people choose a doberman over a shih tzu based only on looks. There are differences.

I'm not sure how to adequately convey what I am saying. People need to be held responsible for their pets, and respecting the inherent traits of these pets is vital to instilling that sense of responsibility. My family had an 85-pound airedale, well bred, professionally trained, excellent temperament, a big goof ball. However, we respected the fact that she was capable of "aggression" because that was part of her breed. We wouldn't let her run up to someone and sit back and laugh while saying, "oh, she's harmless!"

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Maximo

All dog breeds were bred for a reason and we have to remember that the reasons were often related to killing and aggression: for hunting and for protecting herds and more. While these breeds have become family pets and are ideally bred to have "good temperaments," and we train them, they still have instincts. Our Yorkies have instincts that have not been bred out of them.

I believe it does a great disservice to any dog breed to portray them as harmless and perfectly sweet in the right hands. If this were true, then we would also have to believe that people choose a doberman over a shih tzu based only on looks. There are differences.

I'm not sure how to adequately convey what I am saying. People need to be held responsible for their pets, and respecting the inherent traits of these pets is vital to instilling that sense of responsibility. My family had an 85-pound airedale, well bred, professionally trained, excellent temperament, a big goof ball. However, we respected the fact that she was capable of "aggression" because that was part of her breed. We wouldn't let her run up to someone and sit back and laugh while saying, "oh, she's harmless!"

Originally Posted by Maximo

So many dogs are in the "wrong hands" and therein lies the problem. Something needs to be done.

Very true.

[lovemy3babies]

I am sorry for the lady that was attacked. I hope she is okay.

I did have a question. Why are some pit bulls small boned and don't look very menacing at all, and some are large and bully looking with a very large head and cropped ears. They look scary to me.

Just wondering.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by lovemy3babies

I am sorry for the lady that was attacked. I hope she is okay.

I did have a question. Why are some pit bulls small boned and don't look very menacing at all, and some are large and bully looking with a very large head and cropped ears. They look scary to me.

Just wondering.

Because people are backyard breeders.... and don't breed to standard, LOL. Just like you see gigantic Yorkies (*ahem* Jackson...) and also have 'teacups' becoming such a fad, people think it's cool to breed these super gigantic monster looking dogs.

This is a properly bred APBT:
http://www.kodak.com/US/images/en/co...st-of-show.jpg

You are probably thinking of the Staffordshire Bull Terriers... they are built a lot different....

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images22...sFullGrown.jpg

[yorkietalkjilly]

Just variations in size and characteristics, I guess, as with Yorkies. There's everything to under 2 lbs. to 20 lbs. and maybe even greater variety. Some people breed for 150 lb. dogs whereas my neightbor's pitbull was in the 65 - 70 lb. range. From watching too much Animal Planet and Nat Geo, I've heard the bigger dog is not as good at fighting, etc., as the smaller more compact, faster dog. I used to take Dog Fancy Magazine and in the back of that magazine, there was at least one breeder that advertised 150 lb. Pitbulls!!!!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Britster

This is a properly bred APBT:
http://www.kodak.com/US/images/en/co...st-of-show.jpg

Wow! That dog is in amazing condition. Wish I had that kind of muscle definition.

[lovemy3babies]

Originally Posted by Britster

Because people are backyard breeders.... and don't breed to standard, LOL. Just like you see gigantic Yorkies (*ahem* Jackson...) and also have 'teacups' becoming such a fad, people think it's cool to breed these super gigantic monster looking dogs.

This is a properly bred APBT:
http://www.kodak.com/US/images/en/co...st-of-show.jpg

You are probably thinking of the Staffordshire Bull Terriers... they are built a lot different....

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images22...sFullGrown.jpg

Wow, I thought they were the same thing. Shows what I know..

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by lovemy3babies

Wow, I thought they were the same thing. Shows what I know..

you are not alone.
We have an American Staffordshire Terrier which is different from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Pitbull Terrier, HOWEVER, he gets called a pit bull often.

This is not Ernie, but what his breed looks like.

[OwnedByJezebel]

IMO, it's not only about the owners, it goes all the way back to the breeders. There are some out there that breed for aggression. You can breed aggression into a dog by choosing aggressive parents.

And, you can breed it out. Someone here posted a link to the show that was on PBS, I think it was called "Decoding the Dog," or something like that. Part of the show discussed a Russian project where they tried to breed aggression out of wild foxes. They selectively bred the foxes that were the least afraid of humans, and by the third generation the foxes were friendly. They wagged their tails at humans and everything.

Three generations was all that it took. In the hands of the right breeders, the ABPT could be turned around, but as long as there of those out there that still want to breed for aggression, that won't happen.

I saw a couple of APBT pups at the dog park, the guys that had them there said that they were "Gottilines" and had all of the aggression bred out of them. They were probably about only 15 lbs, still pups, but they were very stocky and kind of slow and clumsy -- the other small dogs could run circles around them. I wondered what "Gottilines" adults looked like, and googled the term when I got home. To me they look like someone took the head of a Pitt Bull and put it on the body of an English Bulldog. Kind of strange looking: .:GOTTYLINE PITS / 21 BLACKJACK:.

I hope the woman that was attacked makes a good recovery.

[deonk1]

Wow, it's exam time and I've been away for a few days, I can't believe how many responses there have been to this... such a hot topic I guess.

Still no update on the woman or the community. I hope she's ok.

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by Britster

Because people are backyard breeders.... and don't breed to standard, LOL. Just like you see gigantic Yorkies (*ahem* Jackson...) and also have 'teacups' becoming such a fad, people think it's cool to breed these super gigantic monster looking dogs.

This is a properly bred APBT:
http://www.kodak.com/US/images/en/co...st-of-show.jpg

You are probably thinking of the Staffordshire Bull Terriers... they are built a lot different....

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images22...sFullGrown.jpg

And well most people confuse about 4 different breeds of bully dogs as being "pits" pit in fact are the smallest...well unless you get one from these breeders...http://www.muglestonspitbullfarm.com Someone DNA'd their dogs and they are closer to the Old English Bull Dog in characteristics than pits...go figure...

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

IMO, it's not only about the owners, it goes all the way back to the breeders. There are some out there that breed for aggression. You can breed aggression into a dog by choosing aggressive parents.

And, you can breed it out. Someone here posted a link to the show that was on PBS, I think it was called "Decoding the Dog," or something like that. Part of the show discussed a Russian project where they tried to breed aggression out of wild foxes. They selectively bred the foxes that were the least afraid of humans, and by the third generation the foxes were friendly. They wagged their tails at humans and everything.

Three generations was all that it took. In the hands of the right breeders, the ABPT could be turned around, but as long as there of those out there that still want to breed for aggression, that won't happen.

I saw a couple of APBT pups at the dog park, the guys that had them there said that they were "Gottilines" and had all of the aggression bred out of them. They were probably about only 15 lbs, still pups, but they were very stocky and kind of slow and clumsy -- the other small dogs could run circles around them. I wondered what "Gottilines" adults looked like, and googled the term when I got home. To me they look like someone took the head of a Pitt Bull and put it on the body of an English Bulldog. Kind of strange looking: .:GOTTYLINE PITS / 21 BLACKJACK:.

I hope the woman that was attacked makes a good recovery.

OMYorkies! I posted and then saw your post! Great minds read the same research and find the same lunicy out in the world huh?

Yes the ones "I swear it's not really Old English Bull Dog crossed" are mellower yet far more scary looking...hmmmmmm see anything AKC DNA on them...wonder why...

I'm a Staff girl personally gentle giants! Well with people not always other animal, their prey drive (chase) instinct is pretty darn strong...if you've ever been holding end of one's leash ya know, takes specific and competent training.

[Lil Sis]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

IMO, it's not only about the owners, it goes all the way back to the breeders. There are some out there that breed for aggression. You can breed aggression into a dog by choosing aggressive parents.

And, you can breed it out. Someone here posted a link to the show that was on PBS, I think it was called "Decoding the Dog," or something like that. Part of the show discussed a Russian project where they tried to breed aggression out of wild foxes. They selectively bred the foxes that were the least afraid of humans, and by the third generation the foxes were friendly. They wagged their tails at humans and everything.

Three generations was all that it took. In the hands of the right breeders, the ABPT could be turned around, but as long as there of those out there that still want to breed for aggression, that won't happen.



I hope the woman that was attacked makes a good recovery.

I watched that show.. the tame foxes were pets.. very very interesting!
My friend who raised dobbies said the same.