Dogs as trainers?

[OakLeaf]

I've said this before - I used to have a pit mix (departed now ). She was animal aggressive. We should have socialized her better, but didn't realize the problem until it was too late - she was friendly with puppies and with our other dogs that she grew up with. But the point is, that I could - and a couple of times, had to - put my hand in her mouth, with complete safety, to pull her off another dog. The other dogs (never another pit/mix) bit me, you bet. (These were off-leash dogs that approached her when she was at the end of our leash. Not something we could avoid except by never walking her.)

That's a classic pit personality (even though she was a real Heinz 57 and the PB genes were less than half her makeup), and it's what they were originally bred for - to be aggressive with bulls and other dogs, but 100% docile and controllable with humans.

I probably get chased more by herding breeds (Aussie cattle dogs in particular) than by any other dogs. A lab mix followed our club ride for a good two miles a couple of weeks ago.

And no dog should chase anything/anyone on the road, regardless of breed.

[MommyBird]

[QUOTE=tiva;517944]Wrong--check the CDC again. I'm a scientist, and a cursory look at the CDC data actually suggests exactly the opposite. They are underrepresented in the population of dog bites (ie, nearly half the dogs in American shelters are now pit or pit mixes, and less than a third of dog bites are by pit/pit mixes.)


My cursory check of the CDC for fatalities tells quite a different story.

My question is if these are such desirable dogs, why are they so overrepresented in the shelter population?

Shelter numbers are not a good measure for the overall PB population.
The bite stats need to be compared to the non-shelter population to be meaningful.

I am not worried about the ones locked up.

I'm not a scientist. I just facilitate a debate club.

We all have different experiences and opinions. I feel confident in my research and do not feel compelled to change my position.

I have not asked that anyone outlaw a particular breed or euthanize any innocent animals. I just feel it is in my best interest to avoid exposure to PBs. And feel it is my right to not care for that type of dog.

You have every right to hate Jack Russells. I will not be offended.

One thing you should know. As a multiple JRT owner I always advise anyone with small children not to get one. There have been too many high profile bite cases. All four of mine have never bitten but better safe than sorry with the safety of others.

[PamNY]

You have every right to hate Jack Russells. I will not be offended.

Yikes. This sentence chills me to the bone.

Your dogs are not accessories.