Dogs

[lonewolf]

As you can see from my avatar, we have a cute little puppy. Actually, he's 3-1/2 months old now and not so little, but still cute. We were told he was a lab, pointer, boxer mix and saw his "parents" when we picked him up. The daddy dog looked black lab and pointer and the mother looked yellow lab and boxer. He was cute, the parents looked friendly and nice, so we took him. He's a sweetheart.

The problem? He looks just like a Pit Bull now (I'll have to update my avatar.) One of my SIL's is scared of him and insists he's a PB and is warning us to get rid of him. When we have him out for walks people are starting to ask if he's a PB. When he was little, everyone thought he was a black lab. One mom told her daughter to stay away, because "those kinds of dogs are mean". He's sweet and loving and might kill a child with kisses and tail-wagging, but wouldn't try to actually hurt anyone.

I'm so uneducated on dogs, but I've read that PB's can be mean, unpredictable and dangerous, but then I've read that those are myths and have more to do with training and breeding for specific traits. Anyone on here know anything?

[almostnrn]

I am far from a dog expert, but I have to tell you that I believe that dogs behave different ways because of 2 things. First, disposition and it sounds like he is anything but fierce. Second, how he is raised. If you raise him with love and train him I wouldn't think there is any reason to believe he would be a mean dog. Mean dogs are trained to be just that way. The kinds of comments are as rediculous as saying every German Sheppard is mean because they are guard dogs a lot of the time. Treat that sweet little thing with love and I believe that is what you get in return!

[AndreaB]

I'm not an expert but agree with the previous poster. Bloodlines, disposition and the way they are handled/raised make a difference. I once was helping with puppies that my old 4h leader was breeding and raising (bull mastiffs). The mother of this pup was known to be mean primarily because she was trying to protect her master from the man of the house (my friend had the dog in her custody after this). She didn't like men because of that. Her puppy I had with me for awhile and was the sweetest thing. I later learned that he had turned mean but don't know the circumstances of the house he went into. I also am thinking it was just the show ring that was the problem but I really don't remember. I have also known a bull mastiff that was trained for swat team use by the owner who worked/trained swat teams.

Most dogs can be mean, just like anything else, including people. Keep on eye on him but don't be overly concerned. I believe your avatar says gluten free puppy. That should help if he would have normally had tendacies towards meanness. That's going off of people being moody on gluten.

[linds]

I am also am not an expert on dogs but I believe that how a dog is raised has a lot to do with its personality. My old neighbors had the cutest little puppy that they had got from the shelter. They were told that it was a black lab since that is what it looked like. As it grew it began to look like a pit bull. The vet ended up telling them that the puppy was at least half pit bull. that worried them since they have a little kid. However 2 years later and he is the sweetest dog i know a bit of a little chicken but being raised by a kind family kept that sweet dog.

I would just keep that puppy and raise him with love.

[TinkerbellSwt]

I unfortunatly have heard the opposite. I have heard of pit bulls that are so kind and gentle, supposedly not raised in any type of hostile environment (this cannot be proven though, she was gotten as a puppy just as the mother stopped feeding them) and the dog would turn on anyone she didnt know. It became a hardship just to walk the dog. She would go after anyone on the street. They eventually had to get rid of her, I dont know if this is an isolated circumstance, but I just wanted to let you know.

I do believe that a dog brought up in a loving environment will be a loving dog. Obviously a dog that was abused can turn out to be a bit over zealous.

Your pup is a beauty. I would think just love and care for her and she will do the same to you

[jmengert]

I saw this topic and had to respond because we were in the same situation. My boyfriend and I adopted a dog 1.5 years ago and were told he was a boxer mix--no pit bull in him at all. As he's gotten older, everyone thinks he's a part pit bull, and we have several friends who are vets who think the same. However, I know our close friends who happen to be vets all say that pit bulls are not always aggressive dogs. They are just the ones you hear about most in the media. Our dog is the sweetest thing in the world, and we've had him for awhile now, and he wouldn't hurt a fly. Try to not let people scare you; there are A LOT of stereotypes out there about pit bulls, and not all of them are founded. If your dog is loved and taken care of, you should be fine.

[2kids4me]

Many valid points made. I am an Animal Health Technologist. I have been charged agrressively by all different breeds ......... small ones, big ones.

Nature plays a role but the way a dog is raised has lot to do with their disposition. That said..ANY dog is capable of biting. Most of the time is is not an attack - kids pulling at the dogs tail, feet ears - its pain response. Fear aggression happens when a dog feels cornered or kids are teasing the dog - frustration from the dogs point of view = aggression much of the time.

Pups taken from the mom prior to 8 weeks of age are often fear biters /timid / have separation anxeity issues. This is because crucial socialization occurs during the first 8 weeks. A pup that is not exposed during the first 8 weeks to kids, cars ....ect - have higher anxiety when confronting this scenarios. I hate seeing ads that advertise 5 or 6 week old pups ready to go to new home.

The personality of the mom impacts the pups response . Aggressive mom = problem pups sometimes.

Then there are the dominant or submissive natures of dogs - they are born that way and it affects how they see the world and people.

I do not believe in judging breeds, banning breeds etc. In a nationwide study of dog bites - studied by breed and the tendencey to bite - pitbulls were 4th.......from the bottom. Labs and cocker spaniels are statisically more likely to bite. I can vouch for that.

Judge the individual animal.

How does the dog respond to children, new situations, being left alone, loud noises, food dish being moved when dog is eating, car rides, dogs walking by the house?

All of those scenarios evoke relaxed response or no response at all in the "centered, self confident, calm dog"

Hope this helps.

Boxer crosses, esp with lab and pointer in there would give the dogs head a "pitbull like" shape

Hope this helps

[jmengert]

That's very interesting--my vet friends also told me that cocker spaniels and labs bite more, statistically, than any other dogs.

Very interesting points!

[mouse]

When I lived in Illinois, we had a neighbor who's daughter got a pit bull as a puppy. This girl was a vet and was certainly not scared to have a pit bull. I still talk to my old neighbor's and they tell me that the dog is now 7 years old and still a sweetheart. I also think it has to do (in most cases) with the owner and how the puppy was raised. Yes, there is some genetics involved, but you saw both parents and so I would not be overly concerned.

[2kids4me]

This video is heartwrenching but worth watching - it deal with the so called "pit bull problem" and shows the good and the bad .......of the people that own dogs and the diffrence the right owner can make to a dog

Open Original Shared Link

[linds]

Thats was a wonderful video on that link!

[Adelle]

Just had to throw my 2 cents in here....

I LOOOOVE pitbulls!! Why on earth would u not want one? IF you raise it w love and make sure it knows it's sit/stay/don't jump on her, ur dog will grow up to be lovely, regardless of breeding. But I love pit bulls cause they are by nature sweet, protective of the house hold, and goooofey! My mom and sis have 2 pits. They are the most lovely dogs! Tanya (sister) was alone with my neice katie (at the time 3ys old). Tanya had a restraining order on her ex boyf. Long story. Anyway one day he shows up and is staring at her from across the stret (they live on a dead end dirt road there is no one around for a good mile or two). The dogs woke my sister and kaitlynn and did not leave the kid's side while tanya called 911. He could have gotten in the house w no ptoblems had it not been for those dogs. They have NEVER even groweled at katie. But we also teach her to be nice to them. Don't pull their hair, hit them etc. Many parents don't and that's why kids get bitten.

I'm also a dog massage therapist (In my spare time lol). Never had a problem with pit bulls, rotweilers, or german shepards. I was bit at by a lab once. That wasn't on the job tho. IMHO it's all abt love. U seem to love him, he'll be okay whatever breed.

[lonewolf]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Interesting to know that a boxer/lab/pointer could have a Pit Bull shaped head. That might be what we're seeing. We saw the two "parent" dogs, but as everyone knows, a female dog can have puppies with several different "fathers", so we can't know for sure that the male dog we saw was really the father.

We're planning to take him to puppy obedience training, since he's way too smart for us and we need a bit of help. He's getting a bit spoiled because he's so darned cute and sweet!

[Guest nini]

he is so darned cute, and I also believe that how you treat a dog and raise it plays a much bigger role in a dogs temperment than simple breeding. My mom has two chow dogs that were rescued from a puppy mill, chows are notoriously dangerous, they are extremely protective of their family. Anyway, those two dogs are two of the sweetest dogs you've ever seen and when my daughter and my neice and nephew were babies, the dogs were so protective of them. (My mom still wouldn't leave them alone with the dogs but still...) like was said before, judge the dog, not the breed. And mixed breed dogs can be some of the sweetest dogs you've ever had. I have a pug/chihuahua mix... she is the most loving little dog I've ever had.

[Cheri A]

Hi Liz...just wanted to chime in here..

My brother and SIL have a bunch of dogs. Most of them are chihuauas (sp?) but one is a pit bull they fell in love with at the pound. She is the sweetest dog and thinks she is about 7lbs like the others!! It's pretty funny! I am leary of PBs, but this one is great! I think I have a picture of her. Will have to go check!

Sounds like a good idea to go to obedience training with him.

[Mtndog]

Hi Liz- Honestly, I've NEVER met a pit bull I didn't like! That video was heart wrenching but I think it's all true. Like they say, there are no bad dogs, only bad owners. My sister has a 4 year old, UNFIXED purebred doberman. When she walks him, people are afraid. Some will literally cross the street to avoid them.

But he's just a BIG baby! He thinks he's an 80 pound lap dog and he loves his children and his family and anyone else who shows him the tiniest bit of kindness. They did a year of obedience training with him and he is just a love. He walks right up to the baby and kisses her and rolls around on the floor with the three year old.

I think he would only attack if someone he loved were in serious danger. I had him Thanksgiving weekend two years ago (before I was gluten-free) and the day after Thanksgiving I was so sick (too much gluten!) and was lying on the floor in the hallway in the wee hours of the morning too weak and sick to call for my hubby. He stood over me for two hours while I slept on the floor. He woukd NOT leave my side. Actually, wish he had gone to wake up my hubby but he wouldn't leave me.

So, in his case, his bark is worse and there is no bite. I LOVE him.

[BRUMI1968]

Howdy. See my avatar and you see Emmett, my Staffordshire Bull Terrier (an ingredient in pit bulls). He is so sweet it is silly. And he's so silly that it's sweet.

All dogs that have been bred by humans were formed to be the best shape/size/etc. to do a job. The job pitbulls were bred to do was fight other dogs. This is also true of Chows, Akitas, and other dogs. A Blue Heeler was designed to herd sheep and cattle (which is why they bark and nip at ankles) and labs were designed to go fetch dead birds out of water and the like (watch them swim!)

I think responsible owners have an understanding of the design of their dog. Emmett's design is about killing dogs (huge strong jaws - which don't, by the way, "lock") and being able to maintain docility toward humans even in the throws of a fight. What this means to me is that I went out of my way to socialize Emmett to other dogs. (I also made sure he was exposed to everything I could think of: walkers, skateboards, wheelchairs, balloons, clowns, etc. This applies to all dogs.)

In the end, Emmett is great with other dogs...but not in a Laborador kind of way. He does not love all dogs. He loves some dogs, but he tolerates all dogs. I know his stress factors around other dogs, and I keep us out of those situatons to the best of my ability. When some other dog is lording over him or pressing his alpha onto Emmett, I tell the other owners that Emmett is likely going to woof at their dog (which he usually does), and that's that.

So you understand the design - the physical capabilities and tendencies of the dog - and you use those to build the best life for that dog that you can. If you get a border collie, you get them plenty of exercise and maybe even some sheep to herd; if you get a Lab, by george let them swim. And you also should use the design of a dog and match what works well for you. (it makes me nuts at the dog park watching people yell at their herding dogs for herding).

As for other people being afraid of your dog, I deal with that a lot. It is annoying, and sometimes I get pissy about it, though usually not to someone's face. I just deal with it, knowing that those folks are denying themselves knowing some of the greatest dogs around.

Update your avatar! I'm excited to see the little bugger.

[Nantzie]

My ex-bf and I had a part pitbull. She was the sweetest little thing. She stayed with my ex so I can't vouch for her later years though. Her mom was the dog of a friend of our's who was a common terrier of some sort. Her dad was one of their neighbor dogs who was a pit cross who was a total sweetie. Our dog never got bigger than 35 or 40 pounds. She was a great dog and very smart. I always wished that I would have been able to take her with me. I missed her more than I did my ex. But isn't that always the way...?

Nancy

[Guest Viola]

My two cents worth

Every dog, no matter what breed has the equipment necessary to inflict injury. Large dogs are a bit more (I really don't want to use the word dangerous here) but I can't think of another of the top of my head ... anyway, only because they not only have the equipment (teeth) but because they also have size and weight behind them. Therefore, can knock a child, or elderly person down, even if they are only playing. Unfortunately, children get scared, and elderly people break easily. Pit Bulls scare people because of their potential. Again they have the equipment (teeth), weight, and they are built very sturdy, so it is difficult to get them off and roll them over. They also have a jaw that can lock once the teeth are used. The big reason they scare people, is because idiots and criminals use these dogs and that hits the headlines of every newspaper and TV in the country.

My take on it is ... no matter what the breed is, you have to use some common sense. Keep it contained, preferably with a fence...I don't like tied dogs. Keep it on a leash ... even if you live in a small town. A good friends mother died because an off leash, happy, Labrador bounced up and knocked her down and broke her hip. Infection followed, and age, but it was a terrible thing to happen, all because a dog owner didn't have her dog leashed in a small town. Keep your dog well socialized with other people and dogs. Treat them only with kindness. And never, ever, leave them alone with a small child ... ever, no matter what breed. Small children don't know when they are hurting a dog by grabbing an ear etc. Obedience train, and train and train. If you leave it, even a well trained dog will get lazy and do as he/she pleases. Make the training fun, and you will both have a great time! Change the training, do the same thing in a different way, dogs get bored too

Temperament is both breeding (you can never be certain of a mixed breed) and enviorment. The only thing you can control on YOUR puppy is the way it is raised.

When people ask me if Sheba will bite, I always tell them, that she never has, but she has all the equipment necessary and to treat her kindly. Never guarantee that your dog won't bite, under certain circumstances almost all dogs will bite. When you start getting too over confident you get careless. And it is that more than anything else that causes accidents.

Love you dog! Play with it! Enjoy it! Never get careless with it, for it's own safety (traffic, dog haters etc) and for the safety of all around you.

[2kids4me]

Excellent points Shirley - all true. I will correct a misconception. Dogs cannot "lock their jaw". it is the short wide mouth breeds that - because of the physical structure of their jaw - have physics behind them - a boxer, mastiff, rottweiller, pit bull, Staffordshier - just to name few have powerful bite because of the shape of the jaw and can inflict serious bites without much effort. The long nose breeds - collie, chihuahua, etc are just as likely to bite but the teeth do not do as much damage because they dont have the same pounds per square inch force as the "square jaw".

and, a dog with NO teeth can cause injury - I was once "bitten" by a nasty chihuahua with no teeth left - he bruised my hand and forearm.

* I am an AHT and work in a vet clinic. Just wanted to agree : Any animal with teeth can and will bite under the right circumstance. Your dog may be the nicest dog ever -but give him a needle or trim his nails and they object using the only way they know - teeth.

[Guest Viola]

Excellent points Shirley - all true. I will correct a misconception. Dogs cannot "lock their jaw". it is the short wide mouth breeds that - because of the physical structure of their jaw - have physics behind them - a boxer, mastiff, rottweiller, pit bull, Staffordshier - just to name few have powerful bite because of the shape of the jaw and can inflict serious bites without much effort. The long nose breeds - collie, chihuahua, etc are just as likely to bite but the teeth do not do as much damage because they dont have the same pounds per square inch force as the "square jaw".

and, a dog with NO teeth can cause injury - I was once "bitten" by a nasty chihuahua with no teeth left - he bruised my hand and forearm.

* I am an AHT and work in a vet clinic. Just wanted to agree : Any animal with teeth can and will bite under the right circumstance. Your dog may be the nicest dog ever -but give him a needle or trim his nails and they object using the only way they know - teeth.

Thanks for this correction! That of course makes perfect sense Dogs are absolutely wonderful, and I could never be without one. I'm always careful when I have mine around people (especially children as she doesn't have any around for the most part (our grand children are 18 and 19). We do all kind of activities with Sheba...parades, breed education days in the local malls and SPCA walks etc. to help raise money for them. She frequently will surprise me with a "unexpected" reaction to something, or someone. One time she will run to get petted from a stranger, another she will refuse to go near. She's never boring to be sure.

[plantime]

I have a pup that I think is part pitbull, and I have researched the breed to see what I was up against. I learned that the jaws don't lock, the dogs are trained not to let go. They also have to be trained to be vicious and aggressive . My pup won't be trained that way, and I socialize him with other animals and people all the time. I hope that you will teach your pup to be a loving animal, she is already a sweet-looking thing!

My "vicious pitbull" pup is so fiercesome, my kittens drink out of his water dish.

[jerseyangel]

I My "vicious pitbull" pup is so fiercesome, my kittens drink out of his water dish.

That's so cute

Dessa--Is that the "baby" from your other avatar? He's adorable

[plantime]

Yes, that's the baby from my other avatar. I can't believe he is 1, and toddling around already. He just cut through his eighth tooth, and went through Wal Mart telling everyone "Hi."

[lonewolf]

My updated avatar didn't turn out as well as the original photo. Hopefully, you can still see that he's a cutie. We're still getting the, "Oh, is he a pit-bull?" comments, but I'm not so worried about it. I just tell people that he's a sweet dog and we're not concerned.

A funny doggy story - Yesterday, when the kids and I came home from school the TV was on and the dog was sitting on the couch in the family room watching "Arthur". I called my hubby, who had been home for lunch, and asked if everything was okay. He NEVER leaves the dog unattended in the family room - too many puppy accidents over the past few months. He said, "He seemed sad that I was leaving and I thought it would make him happy." Nothing like a puppy to bring out the soft side of people!