STAR

the toy poodle we had when I was little was vicious!!

and I weigh 228 and I also BITE! LOL

STAR

I did write a paper for school a couple of years ago on dog bites and it was found that smaller dogs were more likely to bite as well as the german shepard and I can't remember the others.

The main problem is that the breed of the attacking dog is not always recorded correctly and any pit bull mix or regular mutt is recorded as a pit bull to get the headlines. the media is also swayed. you can read about the same pit bull attack story in several papers around the country but not the neighborhood lab bite or german shepard. its too bad and it won't change.

personally I think if I had so many bad experiences with dog attacks I wouldn't bother to own or be by ANY dog.

quiltluvr

I think the media is swayed in that the only thing that makes the news is the most shocking, vicious stories, be it animal or otherwise. Dogs are generalized in the media just as people or any other common, identifying info.

So therefore the breeds that are most generally identified as being aggressive make the headlines whenever an especially aggressive (provoked or unprovoked) incident occurs.

You're right Star, there are many animals that bite whose statistics never receive attention.

Just wanted to clarify your last comment in the above post. Was that directed at what I said in my post?

STAR

yeah quiltluvr, but not in a mean way, I would just be too scared. so you are brave!

quiltluvr

Thanks Star, that was nice :-).

I had my own pet give me a good bite once. I will never forget it. I can make the excuse that he was terminal at the time and I did something stupid and prior to that he was the most kindest, gentlest dog and not a breed or mix that makes the news. Even after that we kept him comfortable as best we could until the dreaded time.

The other incidents were with other peoples dogs that in all honesty could have been entirely preventable had the owner been more responsible. Unfortunately the breeds involved, german shepherd, pit bull, chow and husky mix, garner a lot of negative attention. I know not every single one of any breed is entirely out to make a bad name for their breed (as if they think that way, right? :-) ), so for me, they get a break until they prove me wrong, with safeguards in place. Even still, I haven't ever developed a fear however, I watch for obvious signs of behavioral changes and act accordingly, big or small.

And when you get a good match with a furry kid, there's nothing like it! (IMHO only.)

:)

STAR

how sad, but you did the best for him

it is good that you are aware of the obvious signs as alot of people aren't or choose to ignore them.

and you are absolutely right when you get a good one you never forget them!

Seanette

Even cats can bite hard. I have a scar on one thumb from a cat fang drilling in when I was in my teens (in fairness to the cat in question, she was apparently having some sort of seizure at the time), and DH actually needed medical attention for a bite from our current cat (we do think the cat had provocation, since we were giving him a bath at the time).

Bev

I had a pit bull when all my kids (4) were little. We got her as a six week old and raised her with love and tenderness from all of us. She turned out to be the sweetest dog we have ever had. Once when she was nursing pups, the kids came home with a very young, stray kitten. We were trying to bottle feed it, but our wonderful mama pit took it to her bosom, literally, and nursed that kitten along with her four pups. The pups were almost ready to be weaned, but the kitten continued for several weeks after the puppies stopped.
The point is, if you get a dog when it's young, before anyone has had a chance to treat it badly, it'll usually turn out fine whether it's a pit or not. My oldest daughter is all grown now and has had a pit bull for several years. He's a wonderful and very gentle dog. Of course nothing is 100%, and any dog could grow up to be mean, sometimes it's just in the genes.

lfw045

What a beautiful blue pit!! Our Moonshadow was a chocolate rednose. She loved the kids and the grandkids. It was so funny to see her obey a 2 year old......lol!

:D

BizyStitches

I'd be freaked..