Quote:
Originally Posted by
EarthRootsStarSoul 
There are always warning signs before a dog attack. The problem is people don't recognize or ignore the dog's red-flag behaviors. The red flags can be present for years before a bite happens.
This post seems to be saying that i should be able to recognize behavior indicative of a dog attack (I know that this particular poster agreed that I, not a dog owner, should not be required to know these behavioral warnings - dog owners SHOULD).
Quote:
Originally Posted by
PoppyMama I would be super peeved about the noisy, waking up kid stuff and I would talk to the people about that and how long the dog was staying. I would also want to know if the dog had been temperament tested and how that went and what work were they doing with the dog to make sure it was socialized to children...in case it ever did get out.
I have two rescue pits who are five years old. My male I've had since he was 10 months old and my female I've only had for 2 months. The male had been in a home, was fixed early and knew basic commands. The female was loose in San Antonio and emaciated nursing her umpteenth litter. She knew no commands at all and it seems she may have always been a stray or maybe yard dog. It's possible she was used as a breeding dog by someone who didn't treat her as a pet. They are both very sweet and people oriented. My male is used to treats and being handed and has that soft mouth common to bird dogs. The female bit the crap out of my hand when I was handing out meat the other day. She doesn't know how to take a treat...so I will be working in that. The whole line that it's all about the owner doesn't fly for me. Pits are incredibly resilient and can withstand horrible abuse without losing their love of people. They are also breed incredibly irresponsibly now and you can have one that everything was right for and they are wired wrong and unfixable. They are one of the friendlier (to people not other dogs) breeds but if they are people aggressive (unacceptable breed trait and the dog should be put down IMO) or have a strong prey drive and aren't socialized to children they are very dangerous. Their jaws don't lock but they are very muscular and it may take a break stick (like a broom handle) to get them to let go. I would NEVER adopt from a breeder and I really think there should not be any breeding for a long time. There are way too many pits and they are being breed for looks vs temperament now a lot of the time. A pit should not ever ever weigh 90+ pounds.
I think all dogs should be temperament tested and landlords should only allow dogs that do well. It's also important to note that they reach adulthood later than small breeds and can change significantly between 2 and 3. My male never raised his leg until almost 3 and was great at the dog park until a little after 2. I would never take him now as he may be dominate aggressive with other dogs. They become senior sometime 8-10 and can become senile and have behavior changes. I would give any pit the same cautiousness I have for any animal that could kill me. Lots of dogs have the ability to kill me and I am cautious of all of them.
You said that she BIT THE CRAP OUT OF YOUR HAND. Your words, not mine. If I was giving a dog food, and they BIT THE CRAP OUT OF my hand, yes, they would be put down. What if it had been your CHILD giving food to the dog? And your childs hand had gotten the CRAP bitten out of it? Again, the dog wouldn't live another day. You also said that you have 2 dogs, and the male cannot go to the dog park because he is dominant aggressive with other dogs - so why do you have another? And if he's aggressive with other dogs, he could become aggressive with people. This is why I don't like pit bulls - their owners seem to think that THEIR babies are the exception to the rule. "My dog would NEVER bite a person! He's GREAT with kids! But he can't go to the dog park because he's aggressive towards other dogs, so I got him a friend to keep at home! It's all good, hopefully my kids never get in the middle of them! :)"
Then again, I am not a dog owner for a reason. I don't want to deal with animals that bite. I'm not interested.
As for temperment testing, I highly doubt your dog would have done well.
Unless the suspicion was negatively affecting someone's life (like she wouldn't leave her house for fear of running into a Pit Bull or Rottweiler or whatever), I really don't see this as a problem and actually think some good could come of it.
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