Deseret News | Reader comments: Sandy may change dog laws

Reader comments
Sandy may change dog laws

Rich | 12:10 a.m. July 10, 2008

Don't forget St. Bernards. Before pit bulls became so popular St. Bernards killed more people in the U.S. than did any other breed. Chesapeake Bay retrievers also tend to have a higher incidence of attacks than most breeds. And can we get rid of those pesky little nipping and constantly barking schnauzers?

Simple solution | 12:51 a.m. July 10, 2008

There is a simple solution: dog owners, keep your dog on a leash always. No exceptions. No excuses. No rationalizing that your dog is one of the nice ones, no reasoning that if you don't see anyone around it's okay to let your dog run free. If your dog needs to run, get some jogging shoes and run with the dog. We already have a county-wide law that is almost totally ignored. Let's pay attention to it and maybe we can cut back on these senseless and preventable injuries. In the interest of full disclosure, I've been attacked by a dog as I rode a bike, and I have no compassion for those who ignore the rules.

Juan Figuroa | 4:28 a.m. July 10, 2008

Ah, balony about the St. Bernards. I hate dogs, myself, and particularly dislike smelly, drooly, clumsy, oafish, lazy, stupid, shedding St. Bernards.

But that stat above regarding St. Bernards as killers is simply untrue. No they're not. I wish they were, so I could justify calling for their banishment, but the big smelly beasts are famously gentle and good natured, and have no history of being killers. Cujo was good fiction, but it ain't true.

Darn it.

Comments continue below

Regulate | 4:36 a.m. July 10, 2008

I'm in favor of tougher regulations. Dog news stories seem to follow the same pattern. Bad dog, irresponsible owner, other owners saying a few bad owners give all a bad name. Dog owners, it's YOU. Unless you are 100% compliant, it's you. And the rest of us who love dogs have to accept responsibility for policing ourselves or we deserve more regulation. Pass tougher laws and make it hard for scofflaws to own animals.

Myra | 4:40 a.m. July 10, 2008

Unbelieveable, the nonsense reporters will print.
Information on dog attacks from an attorney's website!
And Wyoming a leader in fatal dog attacks?? According to the National Canine Research Council, Wyoming has only had three fatal dog attacks over the past 40 years!
No wonder Pit bulls get blamed for everything, reporters print such garbage, using misinformation, outright inaccuracies and attorney websites for their information!

Little self esteem, big ego | 6:48 a.m. July 10, 2008

Its amazing to me that people are still owning pit bulls. The stigma and clichï¿½s are so accurate of their owners. Can you say Napoleon's complex?!?!

A Vet Tech | 7:00 a.m. July 10, 2008

I've worked in a Vets office for years. I love dogs and that includes all dogs. Most pit bulls, and others of their type pedigree, that come to our practice have wonderful owners and have been raised right. However, the sad truth is that there are two factors that determine a dogs personality. Nature and Nurture. No one can guarantee that a dog will not bite. Fighting breeds were bred to use their mouths aggressively and you won't eliminate that instinctual behavior by simply training them. There will be situations that will provoke them at some point in their lives. Sadly the damage done by a fighting breed is so much greater due to the musculature, size and strength of their jaws. My mini-poodle in her old age bit a caregiver. The puncture wounds were small and the damage minimal, had that been a pitbull the damage would have probably required medical attention. I want a dog that does not require the jaws of life to get it's teeth out of my neighbors kid. If you think you will never have a problem with your fighting breed, at any time in it's life, you are only fooling yourself.

Leashes are not enough | 7:20 a.m. July 10, 2008

I have a wheaten terrier. We have gone through many training classes, including agility. I work with my dog all the time. Trainers tell me to never let my terrier off her leash. Terriers are bred to run after small game. It's in their DNA and you can never trust a terrier off leash should they see something to chase. In an unfamilier environment we may never get her back. If a terrier cannot be trained not to chase, why would someone be arrogant enough to assume they can change a fighting dog not to fight? A guard dog not to guard? We have breed dogs for specific purposes for thousands of years and we are very good at it. Some breeds have no place in social setting where there are children, elderly, non-dog people that a fighting dog might view as a target. Every pit bull I've ever seen up close was a great dog. I fell it love with them, but I'd never have them around my kids. Sorry folks, your dogs need their own space. My killer maltease gets flipped upside down if he even growls. It's years before he growls again. Try that with your fighter.

Good comment, Vet Tech | 7:31 a.m. July 10, 2008

And sadly, the most dangerous breeds of dogs are often owned by the most irresponsible owners. I can find NO justification for owning a pit bull unless you are into dog fighting, which is illegal in most areas of the country.

German shepherds, while they can be lovely dogs, can also be dangerous because they are very protective by nature. My husband was bitten by one, while in a home on business, and with the owner standing within 2 feet of the dog. I was with him, and the attack was entirely unprovoked by any movement on my husband's part. I was once bitten by one while in the presence of the whole owner's family's . We were all laughing and visiting, and I hugged the owner's daughter. Next think I knew, the German shepherd was hanging from my elbow with his teeth. Dog was well-intentioned, but I was still injured.
I hate to see animals kenneled or chained 24-7--I think it helps make dogs crazy. SO let's do some serious thinking about why and even whether we should keep dogs and what kind.
Unfortunately, the worst dog owners are too stubborn to do anything but what suits them.

Anonymous | 7:32 a.m. July 10, 2008

Grandmas don't buy muscle cars and people who want nice dogs don't buy pit bulls.
I walk to work and back and have encountered many restrained pit bulls. None of them have acted like they wanted me to come pet them. All have acted like they were trying to jump the fence or break the chain they were on so they could come tear into me.

Pibble | 8:24 a.m. July 10, 2008

Simple Solution is bang on.Leashes!
Juan, St Bernards have killed
From Pit Bull PLacebo by Karen Delise(Pg 51)
[quote]The St Bernard presents a rather unique case of very sporadic episodes of severe/fatal aggression...Attacks are found around the turn of the century,then the Breed disappears from severe/fatal attack episodes,only reappearing in the 1970`s,in which a spate of fatal attacks are found.[/quote]

Anonymous | 8:33 a.m. July 10, 2008

Pit bulls are the latest macho dog fad. it used to be doberman pinschers, and before that German Shepherds.

Its not the dog, people! It's the people.

A dog that bites people should not be allowed to live - period. I am no apologist for vicious dogs.

But after 20 years in Animal Welfare, it is incredibly clear that the breed is not the problem - the owner (or lack of owner) is.

and for this "reporter" to use stats from the website of an attorney who makes his living prosecuting homeowners for dog bites is simply irresponsible.

Why not use the CDC dog bite stats, huh?

No wonder this paper is collapsing. The whole state of journalism has collapsed.

Pibble | 8:33 a.m. July 10, 2008

"Pit Bulls" are
K9`s are Narcotics & Detection Dogs- See LawDogsUSA
SAR Dogs- See Forpitssake
Therapy Dogs with Kids and Seniors-See Forpitssake
Therapy Dogs
(Former Vick Fight Bust Dog now a certified Therapy Dog with Cancer Patients and Youth)
National Champions-See Wallacethepitbull-2007 Purina IDC Champ
Titled Pit Bulls-TDI,ATTS,CGC,Agility-See BadRap
For factual info on "Pit Bulls" please go to Animalfarmfoundation
Another Excellent site by a well respected Canine Researcher is National Canine Research Council

Lottery | 8:34 a.m. July 10, 2008

I hear of nice pit bulls once in a while. I also hear of lottery winners once in a while. Your odds of having a nice pit bull or rott seem about as good as your chances of winning a lotto.

What about.... | 8:45 a.m. July 10, 2008

Weiner dogs?

Anonymous | 8:46 a.m. July 10, 2008

"Pit Bulls" are
What their owners want them to be.
Most of the owners of pit bulls seem to want them to be aggressive little monsters. If they wanted a nice dog they would have bought an Irish Setter.

Catherine | 9:14 a.m. July 10, 2008

Another classic case of misunderstanding animals. EVERY dog can bite/attack. Yes, even poodles and golden retrievers.

A dog that has been well-socialized from puppyhood, trained, well-cared for, well-exercised will more than likely be a wonderful dog, no matter the breed. A dog who has been kept in a cage, muzzled and not allowed to socialize normally with other dogs, mistreated, provoked, and even abused, will more than likely be a horrible problem. Sadly, it is usually the pit bulls, german shepherds, etc. who have these types of owners because that is what these owners WANT from their dog- an aggressive, fighting animal. Punish and regulate the humans, NOT the dogs.

In the vast majority of dog bite/attack incidents, it is human error that overwhelmingly plays a part. Either by the owner who has failed to properly take care of/socialize/restrain their animal, or of the person who unknowingly contributed to the attack by not picking up on the dog's body language and signals that it was going to bite/attack.

Frustratingly, most well-intentioned humans are not educated about the dogs they keep as pets. It is a huge responsibility to have a dog (any breed) and should not be entered into lightly.

Pleae no | 9:32 a.m. July 10, 2008

Please do not ban or restrict pit bulls. Doing so will just have one of two effects:

1-Make these animals even more desirable to the very kind of owner who has no business with any dog; OR,

2-Cause the bad owners to destroy the reputation of some other breed as they jump on that band wagon.

Am I the only one to remember how popular (and dangerous) Doberman dogs were a couple decades ago when a matched pair were a regular feature of "Magnum P.I."? And what about the times when German Shepherds were all the rage? Or Chows? Vizslas are getting popular as are "Labrapoodles" (Lab / poodle mixes). The one's I've met are sweet enough. But in the wrong hands...?

I have no doubt that certain breeds present a higher risk than others. But ANY dog (and especially any mid to large sized dog) can be very dangerous and in my experience the key factor is how the dog is raised, treated, and handled. Irresponsible dog owners will be irresponsible with any breed.

Figure out some way to target bad owners, rather than focusing on breeds of dogs.

If its got teeth... | 9:34 a.m. July 10, 2008

I volunteered at the Zoo here for several years. I used to walk around with various animals and let kids get up close to take a better look. I remember in our training we were taught. If a child asks if a particular pet bites??... Always answer. "If it has teeth it can bite."
All dogs bite even the nicest and most gentle of dogs. If a dog gets in a bad situation or some particular thing sets it off. It can and will bite. The problem is that owners buy these dogs with massive jaw power and don't take the responsibility of watching over them and making sure they are kept in yards, homes or on leashes.
Tougher laws need to be passed. And neglectful owners who have large aggressive dogs that attack need to be punished. And the fines need to be massive.
This little girl is lucky, she will ONLY have scars on her face. This dog could have killed her. Now she just gets to suffer through hours of surgery and possible scars for life. This child will have long term affects because of this OWNER. Where is the justice for her?

Stewart | 9:46 a.m. July 10, 2008

My son was attacked when he was 7 years old. His face still shows the scars 23 years later. Those who feel the need to own one of these dangerous breeds needs to be required to have a special license and at least $50,000-$100,000 of liability insurance beyond their home owners insurance.

Some would say, why should I have to pay for this, my German Shepard is harmless? We'll I am a very safe driver, and haven't had an accident in over 45 years, but they still make me buy liability insurance anyway. The insurance companies can assess the danger and charge a premium accordingly, safe dog low premium, bad dog high premium. Those who just have to have one of these breeds need to be responsible not only for the dog but to the neighbors. "I am sorry my dog tore half of your face off," isn't good enough.

Seriously? | 10:01 a.m. July 10, 2008

Please don't stereotype the owners of pit bulls as egotistical idiots.

I have some good friends that have a pit bull, her name is Bella. Bella is one of the sweetest dogs I have met. She's very playful and friendly and honestly, I think the ONLY reason she would ever attack someone is either they were attacking her owners, or someone was viscously attacking her. Otherwise the only issue with her is maybe an accidental nip (no worse than a kitten scratch) once in a while during play.

Punish the owners, not the breed.

Why | 10:29 a.m. July 10, 2008

Why do most people buy pit bulls? Because they want a mean agressive dog. So they raise it to be a mean agressive dog. I am sure Pit Bulls can be great dogs, however the people who are buying these already agressive dogs are doing nothing to prevent it. Restrict ownership, and require insurance policies! If you put up more financial barriers you will have more responsible owners.

Jamisen | 10:39 a.m. July 10, 2008

I would agree with seriously, My friends own 2 pitbulls they are soo cute and would never hurt a fly. So what i mean is punish the owners not the breed!
I have recintly been attacked by two different black labs who have attacked my little jack russel many times. It has torn bit of her ear twice, has given her stiches and cut her neck. They still havent done anything about that. And what was stupid was after the animal control talked to them one of my good friends got attacked by the same dog it put him in the hospital and the dog is still there!

Jamisen | 10:45 a.m. July 10, 2008

This is Jamisen again and the moral of my story is its not just pitbuls that are aggresive ITS THE OWNERS!!!

PUNISH THE OWNERS

vickie Stewart | 10:57 a.m. July 10, 2008

Enter comment some dogs are dangerous and some are not labeling dogs as dangerous simply because of their bread is not a good idea.

I have personaly delt with two dangerous dogs. one was a mixed breed who changed completely with a new home with different suroundings. the other was a challenge from an early age and after sever attemps at training and help form professionals we had to put her down for the safty of anyone who might visit us. She was a boarder Calli a breed that is supposed to be a really good choice for families with children.

Please think twice about condeming a dog just because of it's breed. some pit bulls are as sweet as they come while others i'm terrified of. And just about any dog no matter how sweet can be a danger if they have puppies they think they have to protect.

G-DOG | 11:07 a.m. July 10, 2008

ONLY UNEDUCATED AND IGNORANT PEOPLE THINK PITBULLS ARE BAD I OWN A COUPLE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM AND I DON'T RAISE THEM TO BE MEAN OR AGGRESSIVE BUT I DO RAISE THEM TO PROTECT MY HOME. MY BIGGEST REASON FOR DOING SO IS TO PROVE THAT IF YOU ARE A RESPONSIBLE OWNER YOUR "VICIOUS" DOG WILL NOT BE LABELED THAT AND TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON KNOWING THAT HOW YOU TEACH YOUR DOG TO BEHAVE IS HOW HE WILL BEHAVE. I'VE HAD THEM AT THE VETS AND ALWAYS RECEIVE POSITIVE COMMENTS ON HOW GOOD THEY ARE AND HOW PEOPLE ARE SUPRISED THAT THEY ARE SO GOOD. I THINK IF YOU'RE GOOD TO YOUR PET AND TRAIN THEM WITH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT THEY CAN BE GOOD PETS WETHER IT'S A POODLE,PUG, OR PIT. SO BEFORE YOU COMMENT YOU SHOULD BE EDUCATED BY BEING AROUND MORE THAN 1 PITBULL AND READING A COUPLE STORIES TO MAKE A COMMENT.

Dog Lover | 11:17 a.m. July 10, 2008

Despite being a dog lover, I'm disheartened about the "animal rights" movement. PEOPLE are inconsiderate no matter what the breed of dog. I'm sick of hearing about the need for dogs to "run free" for their proper socialization. Off leash dogs tear into each other all the time as well as biting people. Many owners refuse to admit that their dog is a problem and even blame the victim or it's "Precious has never done that before." We live in a valley with over 1 million people and how many dogs? Common courtesy and personal responsiblity has been lost when it comes to dogs. I know so many people who've been bitten! And so many violate ordinances regarding how many dogs are allowed.

Justin | 11:23 a.m. July 10, 2008

My cousin is a licensed dog trainer(15 years) and his favorite breed is the pitbull. He has said if a pitbull is raised correctly it is on of the most reliable dogs out there. I ended up getting one through him but I was a little nervous becuase of all you hear about them. Well I have had mine for a year and she is by far the best dog I've ever owned. she is the most people friendly dog I have ever seen. I studied dog behavior for about 6 months before I got her because I wanted to raise her properly and I didn't want to have any problems with neighbors because of her breed. Well now all my neighbors love her and 4 of my friends want one because they love her so much. I truly believe it is 100% the owner. If you are responsible and know what you are doing they make great dogs. People make them out to be crazy monsters but they are just a dog like any other dog. The problem is most people don't understand how to properly raise a dog.

Gun-Dog | 11:39 a.m. July 10, 2008

ONLY UNEDUCATED AND IGNORANT PEOPLE WRITE IN ALL-CAPS.

Seems that dogs are like guns. We ban auto-assault guns, why not ban the equivalent in dogs? My uzi has never shot anyone . . . I treat it with respect . . .

Steve-Re:Leashes are Not Enough | 12:41 p.m. July 10, 2008

Assuming you're not joking. You flip your dog upside down if it even so much as lets out a growl? There's two problems with that...

One, that's not the proper way to discourage any behavior.

Two, you shouldn't expect your dog to be silent at all times. Dogs should be allowed to vocalize (growl and/or bark) at times. So long as it's not disturbing anyone, let them do it.

Steve - Re: Anonymous @ 8:33 am | 1:04 p.m. July 10, 2008

I strongly disagree with you about all dogs who bite shouldn't be allowed to live. If your dog truly has a problem or you don't feel safe keeping it, killing it isn't the answer... instead give it to The Best Friends Animal Society who is a no kill sanctuary here in Utah and well known nationally, they will do their best to alter the dogs behavior and find it a new home... but if that doesn't work, then they'll keep the dog at their facility for the rest of it's life.

Just because a dog bites once doesn't mean it will again, especially if you take corrective measures.

You also have to look at the circumstances of the bite. Did it just "come out of the blue" or was the dog defending itself and/or it's owner? Or maybe someone teased and tormented the dog (just like a person, a dog can only take so much of that... the person doing the teasing is at fault, not the dog).

Cheryl from So/Cal | 1:18 p.m. July 10, 2008

watch "The Dog Whisperer". Cesar Millan's pit bull Daddy is the calmest most even tempered,calmest dog you have ever seen.It's the training not the breed.
By the way Border Collies are not always good for families with children because of the herding instinct. they have a tendency to chase running children and nip at their heels to "herd" them.

Laura G | 1:23 p.m. July 10, 2008

Some perspective is in order...

Severe and fatal dog attacks are vanishingly rare. In Utah, a person is more likely to be killed by lightening than by a dog. In the current five year period for which such data is available (1999-2003) only 10 people per year were hospitalized in all of Utah for dog bite injuries.

Children, sadly, are more likely to be injured or killed by their own parents than by a dog. In the past 43 years in Utah, there were only THREE dog-related fatalities (one every 14 years) while, in ONE YEAR, 2005, ten Utah children died of abuse or neglect ï¿½ more than ALL fatal dog attacks over the past 43 years. Meanwhile, in fiscal year 2007, there were 20,340 referrals to Utah's Child and Family Services.

Despite media and politican-generated hysteria, the number of reported dog bites have actually dropped dramatically in the past 30 years, thanks to anti-cruelty laws, leash laws and public education.

Communities in the US are already on the right track in reducing dog bites. Letï¿½s not let this success story get derailed by fear, sensationalism, and prejudice. Humane, responsible communities are safe communities. It really is that simple.

J | 2:13 p.m. July 10, 2008

Let me paint a picture, I'm 27 years old, I've only been married 2 years, I work full time, I'm going to Weber State for a Communications degree, I'm active in my church, AND I LOVE PITBULLS!!! Not all pitbull owners are trailer trash, gang members, and dog fighters. A dog will be what you raise it to be. It's not hard to train a dog to be nice and its not hard to train it to be mean. These losers are giving these dogs a bad name and its not the dogs fault. It's the people that shouldn't own a dog in the first place that ruin it for all the responsible dog owners like myself. I used to be scared of pitbulls until I got some experience around them and now I love them. I've owned a yorkshire terrier, miniture pinscher, weiner dog, and a lab thoughout my life and now I own a pitbull. Its the most loyal, obedient, and people loving dog I've ever owned. I would never want to own any other breed for the rest of my life. I wish they would regulate the owners not the dog.

ElleD | 2:18 p.m. July 10, 2008

Alpha rolling a maltese? Really??? Sorry, let me clean up the Diet Coke I just spit on my keyboard.

Can we please get over the outdated notion of the "alpha roll"?? Alpha rolling a dog for vocalizing is about on par with walking into a bar and punching someone in the face to make sure they don't come up to you later and start a fight.

Bad way to communicate with your dog. Great way to created a neurotic, damaged dog though.

Patricia McConnell's "The Other End of the Leash" is a great book for helping people get a better understanding of human-dog communication.

evensteven | 2:55 p.m. July 10, 2008

Dogs don't attack, maul and maim - only people do! Oh, wait, that's my 2nd Amendment argument. Even tho it sounds like most of the 'con' arguments here.

Sadly, laws are not written because owners are responsible and dogs are obedient. They are written to protect and deal with the lowest common denominator. Perhaps Sandy is guilty of profiling certain breeds, but they are wise to take a look at their ordinances to make sure they reflect good policy. Will everyone be happy? Definitely not. Then again, it just might be that a conversation with the little girl at the top of the story could bring some perspective to us all.

Rottie Owner | 3:25 p.m. July 10, 2008

I take issue with the characterization of Rottweilers. We adopted our Rottie because we liked her. In the first month of owning her, we had her tethered to our front porch step for an afternoon (no, she did not live there, she's a house dog. She was just enjoying some nice weather at the time.) A visitor to our house, who had never met the dog, actually had to step over her to get into our house. Our Rottie lifted her head, flicked her ear, and went back to snoozing in the sun. She has never, in all the years we've had her, made an aggressive move toward any human; be they friend or stranger.

Not all Rotties are automatically aggressive.

On the other hand, I did have a miniature Dachshund actually attack the ankles of a visitor once. I didn't notice them on the list of dangerous dogs. HERE'S A THOUGHT: maybe individual dogs have different personalities, just like humans, and should be considered on an individual basis, just lie humans.

Novel concept, eh?

2 bits | 4:40 p.m. July 10, 2008

Rich | 12:10 a.m.
Give me a break. St. Bernards were the frequent Killer dogs before pitbulls came along? I've been around a long time and I've never heard of a St. Bernard attack. Are you also going to claim that Pitbulls were originally bread to develop the temperment needed to be rescue dogs?

evensteven | 2:55 p.m.
Nice mocking of 2nd ammendment believers, but last time I checked the bill of rights doesn't say anything about dog ownership rights shall not be enfringed, so that would be a pretty lame apples to oranges comparison to make.

Dogs are animals. They make great pets but their behavior isn't 100% predictable. I know well behaved dogs who have snapped when stressed or put in a bad situation. You always need to be carefull with them.

I have a nieghbor with 3 pitbulls who she thinks are pussy-cats. Around her they are, but sometimes they get out and don't behave the way they do at home and scare people.

Jay | 10:34 a.m. July 11, 2008

If they are considering this ordinance they need to look at any animal 60 pounds and above. Instead of punishing animal owners why don't they look at why the animal attacked. They may find the animal was defending itself from kids who tease and harrass these dogs. Why don't they fine parents and kids who are guilty of that. They act as if a dog bites for no reason. (Granted there are RARE occations where this may be the case.)Most animal owners are responsible. It only takes a few to make the rest look bad. Instead of worrying about a rottweiler or pitbull, why don't they concentrate on all the criminals in the city that should be locked up, fined and pay additional fees to live there? Could Sandy officials be walking through the city with blinders on to code violations, illegal activity and public nuisances while focusing on pitbulls and rottweilers? Or, is this a way to pay for the REAL soccor stadium?

Pit Lover | 11:24 a.m. July 11, 2008

To discriminate against breeds or owners of the breed is small minded. Sandy City needs an ordinance for dog owners who can not control or train any canine. I own a 2 yr old Pitbull that has been trained and is the most lovable dog I have ever owned. Do some solid research before jumping to conclusions about breeds or the people who own them please!

Steve - Re: Jay | 12:46 p.m. July 11, 2008

60 pound and above dogs aren't all that should be looked at, even small dogs can be very mean and do serious damage/bite. ANY dog can attack or bite.

Melanie Jones | 4:03 p.m. July 11, 2008

Wow. The amount of misinformation here is just staggering.

To those holding the popular opinion that only abusive, macho-types own pit bulls, you should really stop by the Sandy dog park some time. Observing the dogs and owners there will give you a great education about breeds and dog owners.

SPOILER ALERT: The dog owners who take their pets to off-leash dog parks are responsible enough to care about their dogs' exercise and socialization. Thus, the dogs you see at the Sandy dog park -- even the Pits and Rotties -- are well behaved! Unfortunately, it seems that the proposed ordinance will deprive these well-mannered dogs from their socialization.

I agree with those who suggest treating dogs as individuals instead of making blanket statements about breeds.

Flipping is good | 10:16 p.m. July 11, 2008

dog communication. Flipping a dog over when it becomes aggressive is the best non-aggressive method of communicating. It tells a dog his whole world will change if he persists. Growling, unlike barking, is a form of aggression. I am a groomer and have been for 25 years. When a small breed gets on my table and growls at me he is telling me he will bite me next. I quickly pick him up and flip him upside down, not roll him over on the table, so that he is surprised. He is so surprised that his personality totally changes and we have a great time. Folks, all breeds have bad owners and good owners. We minimize danger to society by keeping the size and power of the poorly owned dog to a minimum. A small mouthed, small muscled dog does far less damage to ankle or face when owned by a bad human. Think of the practical side of things. A massive jaw can kill when owned by a bad human. In the end, it is the dog!!! Bad owners should not have the choice to own these breeds.

Dog park attendent | 1:16 a.m. July 12, 2008

I run a dog park. Only people truly concerned about their dogs socialization bring their dogs to day care. These dogs are loved and cared for in every wonderful way. But dogs do bite and fight when they get irritated. All our dogs are thoroughly screened for people and dog aggressiveness before we accept them. We only allow the most well socialized dog. This used to include Pit Bulls and other similar breeds. Finally after about 10 years we made a change. The only dogs we've ever had to expell for bad behavior, even after as much as two years of loving them several times a week, were pit bulls. To be expelled the dog had to be the agressor on more than one occasion or be especially agressive. After a labrador was nearly killed, we decided we could no longer risk that kind of harm coming to another client. Painfully, as much as we loved some of these dogs, we said no more. I have a dog/attendant ratio of 1-6. I've watched our yard videos to see who was the agressors and it was always the fighting breeds. Other dogs will fight, but not as aggressively. They quit sooner.

Dear Rottie owner | 3:55 a.m. July 12, 2008

Few dogs are more loveable than a rottie when they are good. When they bite, they stand their ground and maintain their dominance. I own a Rottie, but I would never leave her alone with a child. I keep my vigilance, as I would do with just about any dog actually. The difference is my Rottie can do some major damamge our neighbors pekanese (sp) cannot.

Steve - Re: Flipping is good | 1:28 p.m. July 14, 2008

I'm glad you're not my dog's groomer, at least I assume you aren't (unless you work at the Petco we take our dogs to). We already had to leave one groomer who took over for a lady named Bonnie (her name was Piper) as Bonnie was great, but as soon as they went to the new lady they had a fear of going to be groomed at her place. We don't need our dogs fearing the groomer.

Dog Flipping | 5:36 a.m. July 17, 2008

I can't believe the funny stuff I'm reading about dog flipping. We all do it. Usually as a means of snuggeling with our smaller breeds. If done as I suspect these two advocates are doing it is done as a way of re-orienting the dog so that it is surprised for just a second and then she/they snuggle with it. The dog groomer says they have a great time after that. I'm a dog trainer, and I have been for 18 years. I don't teach flipping in my classes per se, but we've discussed it especially as a means to change the balance of power in an ultimatly positive way. As far as the groomer not being competent- silly Steve. Groomers don't last if they are not good. If your dogs are afraid of a groomer she won't be around in a year or two. Some groomers are mean-they change jobs often. A groomer for 25 years probably has a large clientele and happy dogs. Dogs are hierarchial. They know dominance, submissiveness and of course kindness and cruelty. Not all dominant acts are cruel, by a long shot. Flipping as I've seen it practiced is surprise and snuggle, not bad.

Anonymous | 5:33 p.m. July 28, 2008

I'm sorry for all you pitbull haters.. I'm not giving up my dog. she is a therepy dog; a family dog; and I raised her as a responsible owner. I'm so sick and tired of hearing about these stupid stories about the famous pitbull mauling someone else. well guess what? pits arent bred to kill people. for all you irrasponsible owners: do research before you buy them. never leave a pit free unsupervised. if it shows any kind of aggressive behavior; take your dog to the vet to see what you can do and mostly GET THE DOG FIXED.

USADog | 9:34 p.m. Aug. 11, 2008

Ditto Anon...our daughter's Pit Bull of 10 years has saved her life more than once when she has fallen into seizers. He literally would get under her and lift her body off the ground so she would not swallow her tongue. When she would cry he would lick her face until she would laugh. So what about the loving, theraputic, service they provide? Not enough is said about the good of the pure bred, well trained dogs they are. They were once known as the All American Dog. Bad owners have made things messed up for Good owners! I could not live without our 2 beautiful AMSTAFF's ~ People with the most negative opinions are the least experienced.

Gus | 11:53 a.m. Oct. 3, 2008

Rescuing a Pit Bull Terrier made me want to be a good dog owner. I don't think another breed would've encouraged me to study up as much as I have, and am still doing. All I've read sends me the message that ALL dogs need to be watched over carefully, and when one is socialized well, trained well, loved in a family, spayed or neutered, and kept on a leash when out, and allowed to run in a safe enclosure, this dog is more likely than any other(regardless of breed) to perform well the entirety of it's life.
Our dog is so kind, and loves everyone. I run with her on leash almost every day. I'm training her from all the books I can find on the subject, and we are looking for a trainer to help us learn the best way to further train her. I am excited to go through the Canine good citizen classes at the Humane Society as well! We meet a lot of untethered dogs on the run. So many others are just in small dog runs, and only very infrequently let out-untethered. continued...

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