roguequilter

i agree w everything you say. especially about cats. but my agressive kitty was rescued and brought to me when he was only a few hours old. he attacked dogs that attacked my dog, he didn't like men..tho he loved my ex, he attacked a couple of our male friends & while dating my second husband, Chaucer would force himself between us on the couch. hubby still tells the story even tho it was over 35 yrs ago

you nearly brought me to tears w your telling of your pit mix. i had a high content wolfdog for 11 short years. lost her to cancer 2 yrs ago. i read all i could find on the internet, and borrowed books fr friend from whom i was to acquire my choice or "pick of the litter". i wanted to learn how to raise, train & love my expected new arrival. i read about wolfdogs unreliable, don't trust them - they can be playing w you one minute then attack you in the next. don't allow around small children & animals. keisha had babies ..every abandoned kitten i fostered & finally kept. her favorite, Sherman, she would pull over to her, wrap her long wolfy neck around him & give him hugs. i had had her spayed before she had first heat (wolves only go into heat twice a year) and i have wondered if her kitties were her "forever" puppies. she adored my two grdaughters. was hugged, crawled over and snuggled by the oldest from the time she was born. grbaby would start her wolf howls as soon as they topped the ridge and she saw the valley where we live spread out below. that was before she learned to speak - human --but wolf she had down. and both girls loved Keisha.

not all the scary intimidating "facts" relating to what to expect from some breeds can be believed. it is the human & canine/feline relationship during formative youth of the animal that determines the peraonality of the pet.

cizzors

Every few years a different dog hits the top of the 'vicious' dog list. A few yrs ago it was the Rottie. Before that I believe it was the German Shepard. Every dog can be dangerous. I would worry about cats that like to cuddle-they've been known to smother a baby from time to time.

linda faye

I want to thank all of my QB buddies for their responses. The video was so good to watch. I will have to believe that a 'good' dog is the product of good owners and the good training they give to the pup. You have helped to ease my anxiety over my kids choice of pups......now to make the trip to meet the newest member of our family.

Edie

I do not like to hear a dog called a pit bull - that is a term used for pit fighting. I call the owners of the dogs pit bulls - the dogs are Staffordshire Terriers or other mix breed of terrier. We have a neighbor who has a Terrier, sweetest dog. When my husband had surgery, a guy brought a terrier into the waiting room. The dog laid on his back and was so comforting to the people who were waiting for their loved ones. And by the same - I have also seen "people" walking their terriers with heavy chains wrapped around the dog's body to "strengthen" them. Bull-loney!!!!!!!! The owners are the pit bulls - not the dog. I really take exception to a dog being called a pit bull. It is an insult to the dog. In my humble opinion. Edie

nwm50

I've been babysitting one while looking for a new owner as previous owner died...this puppy who's gigantic now is really good, practically deaf and will bark at stranger (mostly men) but seems to be a very good watch dog. I do believe it's the way they're raised to determine their outcome, any dogs in my opinion . He's now with two ladies with a little girl and all seems good.

Sandygirl

I am with you! Pits are gorgeous dogs but I don't want to take a chance with that jaw strength. I don't want others to be afraid of my dogs either. Yes, dogs can do damage esp if not properly trained and socialized. I used to live next door to the sweetest Rotty on one side of me and two sweet German Shepherds on the other. Those breeds KILLED my house sale! The prospective buyer backed out of the deal . She gave a lame excuse but the reality was that she feared all dogs! My subdivision had a dog or two at each house. No prob, my house quickly sold again the next day.

Socialize the heck out that new puppy. Start..NOW! expose him/her to new people every day !


sandy

ps: i have a corgi. They can be snarky, stubborn, and aggressive too! My female (deceased) had major behavior issues. I adopted her at 3 or 4. She kept ripping into my male corgi. I should have re-homed her as the only dog. A week before Christmas (2010) my sweet docile male had enough!!! We buried HER that day. He must have bit into a neck artery. It will always be a day that I will never forget. I learned some important lessons in dog ownership with her. Pretty tragic when you realize that one of the dogs will DIE in a dog fight and you start praying to God which one to let go. Sadly, it was her that I prayed would pass. I still cry when I allow myself to revisit that day in my mind. Which is not often. Yes, even the "cute" breeds can do damage.

sewnsewer2

I believe it's all how they are raised. My brother had a pit and she was the sweetest thing! My 3 yr old (at the time) got lots of loving from peanut. Never hurt him.

damaquilts

There are a lot of "fear" stories out there right now. Here is a link that might help
http://einhorninsurance.com/californ...perament-test/

There are other studies that show pretty much the same thing.
Find a POSITIVE trainer. Please Please Please. The domination theory has been disproven time and time again and most animal behaviorists recommend the positive training way. It may take longer but it is better for the dog , and longer lasting.
Here is a link for free downloads ... http://www.mybestbuddydogtraining.com/free-downloads/

Look up Ian Dunbar and Dr Sophia Yin..

None of these are mine or have anything to do with me.
I did rescue for 8 yrs mostly puppies. By 9 weeks my puppies were potty trained enough to whine for me to take them out,I didn't always move fast enough, and learned to sit on command. I never never tried to dominate the puppies or rolled them on their backs . I also never had a foster returned Good luck with your new family member . Puppies are fun , and a lot of work but the love they return is all worth it.

MarthaT

I was at the vet once when someone came in with a little pit bull puppy that was very snarly at everyone but the owner. The vet came out (into the waiting room!) and gave them a lecture about getting their puppy around other people and training it better or they would need to put it down. I've never seen him so upset with a client in public. It seemed a bit unprofessional, but I think he was just very serious about getting the point across. I think it has a lot to do with training and teaching any dog that other people are okay.

Sewnoma

It really, really does. We have a lab mix right now that is absolutely a nightmare on a leash, and it's totally our fault. We tried to socialize her as a pup but she got attacked by other dogs twice while on the leash and it put her into a bad place, and we weren't knowledgeable enough to bring her out of that on our own and we never got professional help. OUR FAULT.

Off the leash she is the SWEETEST thing - loving and calm. Fine around other dogs, kids, cats, men, strangers, loud noises, even strange workmen coming into the house...she just wants to stick her big head into everybody's business and collect scritches from everyone.

Put her on a leash and she becomes a MONSTER if she sees another dog. She will snarl and snap and yank at the leash, rear up, bite at the leash, even snap at me. It's horrible, and it's NOT HER FAULT.

We tried training it out of her on our own but we failed. We should have hired help but we did not realize that for far too long. Now she's an old lady so we are just dealing with her as an un-leashable dog and learning from our mistakes. Our other dogs are great on the leash in all sorts of situations - we learned. Thankfully we have a nice yard so she doesn't NEED to go on walks. Big lesson we learned at her expense, and something I will regret for a very long time. Fortunately she is very obedient off-leash, so when we need to take her to the vet or to be boarded she will tag along right at our side. Not ideal, though, due to leash laws and unleashed dogs making OTHER people nervous. Not a mistake I will repeat.