| Training Tips by Glenda Herrin (Part #3: Aggressive breeds) |
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| Written by Glenda Herrin | |
| Wednesday, 29 October 2008 | |
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This article is being republished response to this El Paso Times article: EDITOR'S NOTE: We feel it is important to get the story about these stray and aggresive dogs out there. Our best wishes and condolences go out to the victims of these attacks and we hope they recover quickly. But in my opinion this story seems to continue feeding the hysteria about Pit Bulls. They use the words "Pit Bull" loosely when the breed itself has no relation to the attack. They use it over and over. 5 times in such a short story. Here's the truth. It could have been any breed of dog. The other day I was walking a Yellow Lab for a client of mine and we were charged at by a Chihuahua. Chihuahuas rank higher in temperment than Pit Bulls. An attack can happen by any breed if the dog is not socialized or raised properly. If a dog is abused and thinks of humans and other dogs as a threat it will protect it's pack, territory, and if a dog is abandoned and left out to survive on itself it will resort to it's primal wolf insticts which include stalking & hunting. From this person's account they were protecting their territory in my opinion. Not trying to "eat her alive". Perhaps they were used as fighting dogs before and left there to die. Lots of Pit Bulls are put through this abuse because they are easy to train and are so loyal to their owners. They believe fighting other dogs makes their owners happy, so they do it for the love of their owners. Sometimes when those dogs have been injured or become too much to handle they are left for dead. Once they're on their own they must survive, and that means you get these types of attacks. Please continue reading below for more information regarding the misinformation about specific breeds. Every few weeks Glenda Herrin will offer advice regarding dog training and behavior. Please visit her website for consulting and services. (www.heelinghounds.com) I’m Just A Sheep In Wolf’s Clothing—Honest! Despite the prevalence of the currently popular label "aggressive breed," there is actually no such thing as an aggressive breed of dog—there are only powerful breeds.
Dogs experience a range of feelings and moods just like we do, meaning that on any given day, they may be feeling happy, content, cranky, aggressive, loving, standoffish, submissive, playful, or a combination of the above! As with humans, it doesn’t mean they feel one particular way all the time—they react instinctively based on the situation at hand, and there is no emotion or logic behind instinct. Neither do dogs sit and brood and plan ahead and plot their revenge against us if we’ve made a decision they’re not happy with—they’re not cats. Labelling a particular breed as “aggressive” is as prejudicial and illogical as stereotyping people from various nations: we’ve all heard variations on, “All Dutchmen wear clogs.” Scotsmen are heavy drinkers.” “French people are snobs.” Rude and fallacious assumptions, right? Here’s something that may open your mind when assuming that certain breeds of dogs are “typically aggressive:” think Pit Bulls are vicious? Rottweilers? Doberman Pinschers? You may be surprised to learn that a recent study published in a journal called Applied Animal Behaviour Science revealed the results of a survey conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania who questioned 6,000 dog owners as to aggressive tendencies. Guess which three dogs came out on top as being the most aggressive and likely to bite. (Here are some hints: Oscar Meier, Yo quiero Taco Bell, and Frasier!) Take a look at this link and just remember that the breed a dog “wears” is just his nationality— no stereotyping allowed! http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2008/07/the_most_aggressive_dog_breeds.html For more please visit Glenda Herrin's website, www.heelinghounds.com |
