Ranting about stupid dog ownership

[sarahspins]

Honestly.. a BC mix could be a lot for a new dog owner to handle... I wouldn't blame her for taking the dog back, regardless of what the vet told her.

[OakLeaf]

My pit mix was animal-aggressive. We did our best to socialize her, taking her to obedience classes and walks around the neighborhood. Didn't help. She was very maternal and got on fine with puppies, and with our other dogs whom she met as pups. I think with more work she could have been better socialized, but we did what we could as two working people. I could add that she spent her first six months with less responsible owners, but I'm 100% positive they never trained her to be aggressive.

That said, she was the most gentle and sweet animal you could imagine, around humans of any age. Loved babies, children and adults, never so much as growled at a human.

A couple of times she did get into fights - either because she escaped, before we learned what an escape artist she was - or because she was approached by an unleashed dog that wouldn't back down from her growling. The best way to break up a fight, we learned, was to simply put your hand in her mouth and pull her off the other animal. We might (and did) get bitten by the other dog, but never by the pit mix. Human flesh = no bite, simple as that.

I've read that both traits - animal aggressivity and an extreme aversion to hurting humans - were bred into pits. From my limited experience, I think that's credible.

[tulip]

Dogmama, maybe your friend should volunteer at a shelter instead of taking on a dog when she's not ready to.

[badger]

Having volunteered at the spca hospital now for 10 years, I see plenty of loser owners who should never be allowed to have pets.

Just last week, a German Shepherd was picked up as a "stray". The owner was contacted through a tattoo and she said "oh, just keep him for now, I'm camping".

As for pit bulls, my heart breaks for that breed. I can't tell you how many idiots I see out there who gets them as some sort of "threat accessory". Crop their ears and not train them properly and you get one frightening looking thing.

I've come across so many pit/pit crosses that are such sweethearts it really makes me angry that people just lump them all under a bad label. Even a co-worker said to me that if I got a pit bull I'm not welcome at her house She's not the only one who's expressed the same sentiments when I told them I might get a pit bull.

There are plenty of people out there who shouldn't be animal guardians. Like others have said, it's probably better for Joey to have been returned to have another chance at a proper home.