The Official "Dogs of the DMF" Thread

[taun]

On the left, Worthy, Super Yellow Lab (see also: not particularly bright but cute as all hell).  On the right, Bruce, also known as Mr. Grumpy Bear (Chow Rott mix is what our vet tells us).

[Pip]

Yet another Desmo... DesmoPetey.




Blowing bubbles... no shit.

Oh thank God.

[oppet]

Heres Hinku the Bull and Fellini, dane. youngsters

[yamifixer]

We have two Olde English Bulldogges.

Here's my Isabela (Monster) and Ginger:



And a better shot of Ginger:



And this is Jaegermeister:

[hbliam]

He is 4 years old and he has never attacked anyone other than cats, possums, and basketballs.

I never really checked with mine when I got the Doberman and probably won't now for obvious reasons. I think it is really stupid. Spend two minutes around Greta and that whole "doberman's are viscious" stereotype will go right out the window. I am sure that is the same for those of you with Am Staff's, rotts, etc.
They should ban the owners; not the dogs.

You have absolutely no idea the amount of predjudice and discrimination there is with these "types" of dogs.

I'm an animal lover. Dogs, cats, whatever. I have a JRT and two cats. My dog goes to the dog park everyday for an hour to run and to the beach at least once a week. I pay someone to take her out for an hour a day when I'm at work. The animals see the DR. more then I do and all are well trained. All of them return on command, including the cats.

I agree for the most part that it's the owners that dicate what a dog will do. Different breeds do have different mannerisms though. You can't tell me that  a pit and a black lab with the same owner are going to behave the same way. I disagree that there is some unfounded predjudice against pit's and rott's. They are f'ing dangerous animals if not kept in control. They can do a lot of damage very quickly and do not descern between cats and 3 year old's when they go off. I have been witness to several dog fights at our local dog park and dog beach. The ones where an animal died ALL involved either a pit or a rottie. Yes, the idiot owners shouldn't be taking a pit they can't control to a public dog park or beach, BUT you have to agree there is a big differeance between a pissed off border collie and a pissed off pit.

For the guy with the dog that has never attacked anything but cats, possums, etc. The cat is more then likely someones pet. If a pit kills my cat, I'll put the pit down right then and there. It's gotten to the point locally, with irresponsible owners bringing these pets to public parks, that I take a gun with me for the day one of these dogs goes after a child. I hope it never happens but would kick myself for not being prepared if it did.

Just in the last three months at work I have responded to about four or five different loose dog calls. Two of the calls the dogs were black labs. Both of those calls the dogs got into the back of my patrol car and had no problem being transfered to the animal control truck. One call (last night), it was two shepards. They also had no issue getting into my partners car, being transfered to a holding cage behind our station, and then into the animal control truck.

A few weeks ago a ten month old or so pit was nice enough to select my front seat instead and I stood by and waited for animal control. He looked nice enough but I didn't want to chance it. He tried to bite the animal control officer when he was moving him but I truly think he was just scared. He calmed down when finally in the truck. In January we had a call with two loose rotties. Long story short, the 120 lb male went after me and my partner and it took three rounds to put him down. Both of us felt like crap and someone lost a pet. I call bullshit on anyone that thinks that dogs are dogs, and certain breeds have no unfair stigma. It's earned guys.

[sqweak]

Scott, I don't think anyone is disputing that the stigma is earned.  This is could quickly devolve into politics, but put in a human point of view: Do you ban all blacks/latinos/whites/asians/etc because of the actions of a few?  Not to take it to an extreme, but that's essentially what breed specific legislation/renters policies/insurers poliicies are: racial profiling.

Pits and Rotts have gained their reputation because of crappy owners.  In the late 80s and early 90s it became a status/fashion symbol amongst tough guys to have a tough dog.  They knew little about how to care for, train, properly socialize, etc the breed and as a result it led to incidents and deaths that got us to where we are today.  I'm not suprised that the only deaths have been at the hands of rotts and pitts, their instinct is to finish the fight and a improperly trained or prepared owner couldn't hope to break it up.

I understand you've been around the bad ones, but have you ever spent any time with the good ones?

[hbliam]

Scott, I don't think anyone is disputing that the stigma is earned.  This is could quickly devolve into politics, but put in a human point of view: Do you ban all blacks/latinos/whites/asians/etc because of the actions of a few?  Not to take it to an extreme, but that's essentially what breed specific legislation/renters policies/insurers poliicies are: racial profiling.

Pits and Rotts have gained their reputation because of crappy owners.  In the late 80s and early 90s it became a status/fashion symbol amongst tough guys to have a tough dog.  They knew little about how to care for, train, properly socialize, etc the breed and as a result it led to incidents and deaths that got us to where we are today.  I'm not suprised that the only deaths have been at the hands of rotts and pitts, their instinct is to finish the fight and a improperly trained or prepared owner couldn't hope to break it up.

I understand you've been around the bad ones, but have you ever spent any time with the good ones?

Not really a legitimate analogy in my opinion. I also don't want this to go down the political path so I'll leave this portion of your post at that.

Regarding instinctual behavior by certain breeds. Of course some rotties, pits, etc. are great dogs. Of course they can be trained to a high level. That doesn't change natural behavior exhibited by certain breeds. My jack russell walking by squirrel holes for instance. She crawls into the holes looking for prey. She goes all the way to the point that I have to grab her tail to pull her out. She loves it. She loves being undergorund, in tunnels, etc. She caught one once. Looked at me and let it go. Loves her tennis ball to the point of insanity. But when another dog takes it she just follows them around until they drop it.

Ten years ago I had a black lab. It would swim out a hundred yards into the surfline with me. That's natural for a lab. My jack won't go out past her belly, that's not what jacks were bred to do.

Pits are naturally dominant and agressive. They are one of the most loyal breeds you can find. They will fight to the death to protect their owners or property. That's the differance. That's their natural instinct. That's how they will be if not trained NOT to do it. Most other dogs don't need to be trained not to attack strange dogs or people. 90%+ of dog owners don't train their dog's to the point that they have total control of them. I've trained mine everyday for over four years and she still sometimes trys to do her own thing. She still sometimes gets into a scuffle with another dog, even though that is just "not like her". I can deal with her though. Dealing with a 80+ lb pit or rott is a different thing.     

I'm fine with people that want to have a pit or rott at their home. I just don't believe there is a place for them in public settings. Have I been around "the good ones"? Not many. The majority of pit's I have encountered (other then the puppies) at the beach, park, or on duty has been somewhat to very agressive. I actually have had better luck with rotties, probably about 50% of the ones I have encountered were gentle.


Edit: And sorry for the threadjack..I'll post pics of my pup tomorrow.

[lucazuma]

That would be a Pitbull, or Staffordshire Terrier...pretty much the same thing.

...you mean an American Staffordshire Terrier 

nicest dogs 

[oppet]

I have heard from allmost everybody who dont know bullterriers, aah is that the killerdog? is it Pitbullterrier? Fighting dog? all the stupid things that you can think of. But not Once she has shown teeth to another dog, even if another one has. She just loves everybody, people or animal. that doesnt make her a good guarding dog eather.
I have been in dogparks starting from 2 months age to now 1 year old, behaves really good in there

[Rev. Millertime]

Spuds McKenzie.... with color   

[cyrus buelton]

I'm fine with people that want to have a pit or rott at their home. I just don't believe there is a place for them in public settings. Have I been around "the good ones"? Not many. The majority of pit's I have encountered (other then the puppies) at the beach, park, or on duty has been somewhat to very agressive. I actually have had better luck with rotties, probably about 50% of the ones I have encountered were gentle.

I have been around a lot of Rott's and have never met a mean one. Even a 110lbs intact male was gentle.

All about how your raise that dog.

[cyrus buelton]

Oh yeah, Doberman's should be banned from every public place.

They are such troublemakers!

[cyrus buelton]

[Triple J]

Pits are naturally dominant and agressive. They are one of the most loyal breeds you can find. They will fight to the death to protect their owners or property. That's the differance. That's their natural instinct. That's how they will be if not trained NOT to do it. Most other dogs don't need to be trained not to attack strange dogs or people.

Not true.  They actually make very POOR watch dogs.  You are correct in saying they are animal aggressive, but at the same time they are human submissive, and are known for being very good with children.  Just as animal aggression has been bred into them, human submissiveness has also been bred into them so they could be controlled (and trained).  Human aggression is caused by abuse...period.  A pitbull with a good home life DOES NOT have to be trained NOT to bite people...that's f'ing ridiculous! A human aggressive pitbull should be put down.  I'm talking real aggression, not just a scared dog (like the one in your patrol car).

They are very loyal and will protect their owners, as will most any dog.  To cite your black lab example, there was a story here recently where a black lab bit a guy who was trying to rape it's owner.  During the interview a couple days later the lab was acting like a goofy, silly black lab...friendly as can be.  Th point is almost ALL dogs will protect their owners...larger, more powerful ones just happen to be better at it then something like a JRT (although they're tough little bastards).

Anyway, I do agree that Pits take a special owner...and a good portion of their owners are douchebags that create aggressive dogs through abuse.

[Triple J]

I have been around a lot of Rott's and have never met a mean one. Even a 110lbs intact male was gentle.

All about how your raise that dog.

I've seen a couple mean Rotts. Fairly frightening.

...and it is all about the owner.