Staffs are they all vicious???

[cyber-sibes]

Put it down to the fact all dogs have different temperaments and require different handling, but all are most definitely not born to kill.

I hope no one takes this wrong, but of course they are born to kill, as is every meat-eating animal on the planet! That's why they have long sharp teeth.

I read a a great article on prey-drive on a husky site. The author described how different breeds were adapted by man to stop their instinctive natural hunting cycle at different points-- example: a pointer will indicate the prey, but not attack it. A retriever will carry prey back, but not bite it & eat it. Other breeds will drive prey into a corner and hold it there. In the case of huskies & other high-prey drive northern breeds, the hunting cycle was never interferred with, so these dogs will hunt, kill, and devore their prey. And they do. I wouldn't label them "viciouss", they are being good hunters. I know if I said "drop it", they'll look at me like "Are you nuts?"

Look at this from the dog's perspective - it saw an easy opportunity to hunt & bring down a large tasty bird, and it's prey drive kicked in. You label it "viciousness", because you see the swan as "innocent". Another dog might think "nicely done!"

I don't know much about pitties, except that they are loving devoted guardians. Who knows? Maybe it saw the bird as invading its territory?

To answer your original question - yes, some breeds have a higher prey drive than others. Individual dogs vary in their aggressiveness & submissivness. It is unfortunate that some breeds suffer because of their natural tendencies. ALL dogs need obedience training & a responsible owner.

[Miss Z]

I hope no one takes this wrong, but of course they are born to kill, as is every meat-eating animal on the planet! That's why they have long sharp teeth.

Whoops, I guess I forgot to re-read the meaning of my post! What I meant to say was that no matter what the reputation is, any dog's mind is not consantly occupied by the drive of catching and killing. I suppose that's what you get for trying to write posts at nearly midnight after a long school day.

FYI, no, I don't believe that I did know conclusively that you are a female.

What on earth does that have to do with anything? I read through both of yours and Kym's posts and really, it's a little childish bringing such matters down to bantering between our genders.

As for the whole situation of pit bulls and the likewise breeds here in the UK, as far as I'm aware it's illegal to breed and sell pit bulls and staffies etc, but not illegal to buy or own one. I'm not entirely sure if that's true or not so someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

I do, however, believe this thread has gone way off topic and it's a real shame to see fracturelines appearing once again in PT's general friendly nature. I think perhaps it would be a good idea if we go and cool down, hug a pet, then come back and think about how nasty posts may affect our fellow Pet Talkers.

[gwen]

Thanks Miss Z, I really didnt realise what a can of worms I was opening. It seems a really touchy subject. Som people seem really hardcore in their opinions but some have been kind and rational, especially you, thanks again.

[borzoimom]

gwen- The fact is- each dog was bred for a purpose- a sighthound will chase, a doberman is personal protection and a pit will fight a bull 1/10th its size- then other dogs-...
You can NOT shut of the driven instincts of a breed- its in there- just like prego commercials- its in there...
I fault the club that refuses to say this is what you need to do for good ownership of a breed... My club does- but most others do not... I knew when my first borzoi came into the house- that was it for cats- and I need to make sure they do not run in a open field or they willl get too far- too quick to hear me call them back..
Each breed has a " form to function" to consider... and people that really could less about the breed breeding whatever to whatever- is part of the problem- the other half of the problem- THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THAT DO NOT REALIZE THAT THE DOG had a FUNCTION to start with...

[caseysmom]

The few here that are constantly bashing pit bulls. I think we all know what your opinions are, honesty why must you state those opinions over and over and over?

I am sincerely wondering why???

[borzoimom]

gwen- The fact is- each dog was bred for a purpose- a sighthound will chase, a doberman is personal protection and a pit will fight a bull 1/10th its size- then other dogs-...
You can NOT shut of the driven instincts of a breed- its in there- just like prego commercials- its in there...
I fault the club that refuses to say this is what you need to do for good ownership of a breed... My club does- but most others do not... I knew when my first borzoi came into the house- that was it for cats- and I need to make sure they do not run in a open field or they willl get too far- too quick to hear me call them back..
Each breed has a " form to function" to consider... and people that really could less about the breed breeding whatever to whatever- is part of the problem- the other half of the problem- THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THAT DO NOT REALIZE THAT THE DOG had a FUNCTION to start with...

People do not understand why the breed was created- and WE did it... without this knowledge- people do not understand just WHAT they are getting into... Whatever the breed- the breeds were made for a function... Its up to the breed clubs to set a standard of ownership- my breed club does- and others do also- time for the staffy club to do the same...

[caseysmom]

Us humans all had things in our past...that is not what we are today, we no longer hunt or forage for the most part, you just can't evaluate us based on ancient history. Same with dogs.

The pitties at the shelter I volunteer at are hands down the best behaved dogs in the place.

[borzoimom]

But the same drive in humans is there- to survive- to live- and to get enough... Same traits...

[Husky15]

What amazes me is that Gwen just asked a simple question that someone with great knowledge on the breed could have answered - instead of everyone getting into yet another debate on staffies and pitties.

No one knows whether this thread was made to create waves or not, but like I said, someone could have just answered her question and saved all this fighting and childishness.

I think that there has been enough threads like this now that everyone should be able to control themself and act maturely.

[Love That Collie]

Quote Miss Z:from Originally Posted by Love That Collie

FYI, no, I don't believe that I did know conclusively that you are a female.

What on earth does that have to do with anything? I read through both of yours and Kym's posts and really, it's a little childish bringing such matters down to bantering between our genders:End Quote......................................


Maybe you better go back and re-read again.

[areias]

I agree with Kay...prey drive is totally different from aggression, or "viciousness". And dog aggressive does not automatically translate to human aggressive. I should know, I have a dog that is aggressive towards strange dogs! And he has NO aggressive tendencies towards people-we have kids that mess with him all the time.

I totally forget the sources, but I have read before that if someone had a Pittie back in the day to fight, and it bit a person, it would be destroyed. You cannot have a dog in a fighting ring that bites people...just bringing it to the ring could be dangerous, especially if the dog bit someone in the crowd. They would be culled.

People say pits turn on people. There is a trigger, something is not right...no dog "turns" (unless there is a medical reason). What I wonder about is the people that get a pit, and use it as a guard dog...then the dog either escapes, or someone "rescues" it, and it gets put in a new home...and then it has a tendency to bite. And I don't know what posessed people to get pits as guard dogs in the first place...that wasn't their intended purpose.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I have been bitten by a lab, a bichon, and a bull terrier. Agressively by the lab and bichon, and playfully chomped down on by the bull terrier.

I don't want to drag this in here, but I will. And I expect to get bashed for it. Anyone who is 100% against pits, is racist against that breed. You can say the SAME thing for the races of people. Definately not getting into a racist argument, and not trying to offend anyone, but it is said that when black people move into a neighborhood, crime goes up, the neighborhood value goes down...etc etc. Not that I believe in this, but that is what is said. Not every black person steals, and not every white person is an angel. It's the same exact thing with breeds of dog.
I saw a bumper sticker once...it was awesome..it said "STOP RACIAL PROFILING" with a picture of a black man, white man, asian woman, and a pit bull.

[Karen]

I am closing this thread. Enough has been said, and the original question has been answered. No further bickering need happen.