Dog Bite...

[lucille]

"Aggression problems"... Its not a problem for breed purists just for people who want a lap dog.

I suppose it is not a problem for some, but it IS a problem for others.

Seems to me I have heard recent news stories about people actually jailed for owning dogs that mauled or killed people who were actually not threats.
So the jailed owner has problems, as does the bereaved families of murdered victims.

I think our new Rottweiler guy member Redyre had a memorable quote:

Should anyone threaten me, or invade my property when I am not present, they most CERTAINLY would defend me and bite if necessary, and I would expect them to. It's MY JOB to protect the dog from doing what it is genetically designed to do. It's MY JOB to socialize and train and confine that dog so that he understands what is and is not a threat, and so that he is always under my control, for his/her own safety.

You would never feel uncomfortable around my dogs in my home, or on the street, or at any dog show. They are just like any other dog, except if a threat arises, they have been well trained in what to do, and more importantly, what NOT to do.

Any fool can teach a dog to bite. It's teaching them when NOT to bite where the training comes in.

 

[BigDog2191]

About the 50% nurture and 50% nature... I don't really agree. But then again, I do.

If it's applied to humans, I do. Dogs, I'm not so sure.

In my experience with dogs, if they were poorly bred then they're more PRONE to turn to aggressive tendencies than a dog who was not. As in, they're more easily provoked. In instances with a dog who was poorly bred with bad bloodlines, you have to be VERY careful not to "break" a nerve which will instigate aggressiveness.

I don't think it's as cut and dry as 50/50 because SO many factors play into it. But in all honesty, I'd say it's 60 nurture and 40 nature.

 

[Amstaffer]

I think that the in the United States we no longer need killer dogs. Dogs will not stop a real criminal, if you want protection buy a gun and learn to use it. I think as cultures advance we should put behind us the brutal and outdated practice of using animals to defend us and fight for us.

Please trust me when I say Genetics gives us tendencies and then with life experience we learn how to act (behavior). If you think that in humans (which gives some people justification for racism) or dogs that genetics play more than a fairly small role then you just haven't read to studies.

I am through on this topic because I am just beating my head against a wall here.