[Dejibo]

For the 5th time now Rachael Ray's dog Isaboo has bitten again. Once Rachael was bitten as she tried to break up the fight. This time husband was out walking the doggie, and as they passed another doggie, isaboo reached over, and ripped off its ear! They contacted the owners, and paid the vet bill in full to have the dogs ear reattached. RR is worried that this 5th attack will force the city to take her dog away.

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...a-dog/1?csp=34

Do you think pit bulls are dangerous, or lack of training from the handlers?

[Dejibo]

I am a huge doggie lover, but voted that I think all PB owners should be required to provide extra proof of training, and insurance in order to own one of these breeds. I think they can be one of the sweetest breeds, and extraordinarly loving, but I personally dont think we can deny their inbred genetics. They are a fighting breed. Its what they were bred for. Can we tame that? yeah, I think we can calm it, but I think to bring a fighting breed home should require extra care on the part of any owner.

[Kitty]

I agree with Dej. I've never owned a PB but I've had friends who do and every PB I've ever come into contact with has been a sweetheart. But, they've been pampered and loved and never, ever put into a position where they had to defend themselves or their owner.

[braingonebad]

There are a LOT of dogs with agressive genes - who is going to determine which ones will require special training, insurance, handling, fences, etc?

We can't screen each individual dog either- and any dog can be aggresive and dominant - which is another part of the problem. You CAN have a non agressive dog with dominance issues which will create dangerous situations.

All dogs require training, as far as I'm concerned, whether or not they seem large enough to cause serious damage to humans or other pets.

Take Chihuahuas and Pomeranians. Some of THE most agressive and dominant dogs. Nobody writes about them in the paper though. But yopu can be walking your shepard or PB down the street with no problem, and some little yapper snarls, and you have a fight - who is gonna get blamed? The big dog, and you know it.

ALL pets need to be under the owner's control at ALL times. And that means -
Never running loose, ever.

On leash, you should be able to keep that dog where you want him, not able to bite or jump on anyone, not even able to sniff anyone or pee on things he's not allowed to pee on.

If he is walking you, you have not trained him.

I don't so much believe we need to restrict one breed or the top three biting breeds - back a few years, most bites were from cocker Spaniels. Imagine needing insurance to own one of those.

I think what we need is for people to require training before the own a dog, and to be fined stiffly for violating leash laws.

I love all animals, but keep yours on your own lawn, keep him safe if you care about him.

Seriously, the reason I don't want my dogs to bite people is because I don;t want them to hurt anyone, but also, I don't want to lose my dogs. People are pretty stupid if they're not thinking their dog could do something like that.

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by braingonebad

Take Chihuahuas and Pomeranians. Some of THE most agressive and dominant dogs. Nobody writes about them in the paper though.

My Aunt had a little Chihuahua....her name was Cricket.....and she was the orneriest little thing. She thought nothing of attacking your ankles - and even drawing blood - if you happened to move and startled her. I did not like that dog!

[Blessings2You]

I don't know what the deal is where she lives, but where I live, a vicious dog wouldn't get four free passes. Oh wait, I guess it might be different for celebrities with big bucks. How very fair.

[Dejibo]

I think toy breeds can also get away with alot of bad behaviour. "oh, isnt he cute?!" or "he is so little, what harm can he do?" I have seen lazy laid back shepards, and I have seen spastic shepards.

I will admit that even my friends that have "tame" PBs making all the claims of how sweet their dog is, scare me! I have seen their doggie drag them down the street, or have them say "dont get near him when he has a treat." Really?! And then they let the 4 year old give the doggie a treat!

My DIL2b has a bull dog. Im sorry but he scares me! He snaps, and is mean! I know several owners of PB and Rotties, and im sorry...the breed scares me! well, maybe its the way the owners treat the breed. They seem to just dimiss the fact that this dog was bred to be a fighter. its in his nature. Like eating chocolate is in mine. I refuse to let DIL2B bring her "baby girl" to my home. It upsets my DS, but too bad! Till she gets a grip on that dog, it aint coming in.

[kicker]

I believe there is an aggressive fighting gene bred into some dogs AND it's poor control of some pet-owner. There are parents who can make a genetically unsound children worse and potentially great kids bad. No one tests or holds some parents completely responsible for some behaviors but understood some things you have no control over but some you do. When he was six some other parent made a comment about my kid " He says thank you!! Where is he from, Mars?" Her kid was not welcomed at my house.

[Jomar]

I think the main fact that they can lock their jaw and won't let go is a big issue.
most other dogs will release if you hit them a time or 2.

but for RR and family - Seems to me extra care and awareness would be needed if they take that problem dog off their own property.

If you are paying attention - and see another dog coming you make sure you have an extra tight hold on your own dog -and go to on the other side of the street or sidewalk.

[FaithS]

Originally Posted by Blessings2You

I don't know what the deal is where she lives, but where I live, a vicious dog wouldn't get four free passes. Oh wait, I guess it might be different for celebrities with big bucks. How very fair.

Agreed. Pit bulls are known to be dangerous. Don't like dobermans or similar breeds either. Used to have several of them living next door when I had toddlers and preschoolers. They didn't even want to play outdoors because those dogs barked so viciously.

~ Faith