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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: MechAg94 on March 09, 2015, 04:16:49 PM

Title: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: MechAg94 on March 09, 2015, 04:16:49 PM
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/03/09/man-killed-by-pit-bull-while-trying-to-help-dogs-ill-owner/
This is the meat of the article. 
Quote
Lt. Phil Redford says police believe the dog’s owner suffered a heart attack. The other man was attacked by the dog as he tried to resuscitate the owner.
A police department news release says both people were pronounced dead at a local hospital. Their names haven’t been released.

Maybe the downside of an overly protective dog.  Sad outcome.  I sort of wonder if the dog gave any indication of hostility before it attacked or if it showed up after CPR was in progress. 
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Ben on March 09, 2015, 04:21:58 PM
That's really sad. It makes perfect sense that the dog would see performing CPR as an "attack" against its owner. An otherwise reasonable reaction by the dog that led to two deaths. If I walked into that situation, harsh as it sounds, I think I would stand off and just call 911 unless I had help or some way of distracting or removing the dog.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 09, 2015, 04:28:53 PM
It's a scenario I have thought about at work. Over the years it's gotten to the point that while I don't own them, most the Anatolians are positive that they own me, and they protect what is theirs.
And I have been in a few situations where things got ugly because of this. It's really fun being in the middle of the dog fight because one dog decided the other dog was being to pushy with THEIR person. :o

Protective dogs can be a double edged sword at times.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: MechAg94 on March 09, 2015, 05:11:21 PM
Another question:  Are pitt bulls in the news so much because they are so common or because they cause problems? 
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: vaskidmark on March 09, 2015, 05:28:36 PM
Another question:  Are pitt bulls in the news so much because they are so common or because they cause problems? 

IMHO it's because they are so scary.  Made that way by gangbangers who abuse individual animals as well as hold dog fights.

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-study-which-dogs-bite-gershman-1991.php

The study is of dog bite fatalities, not all dog bites.

Quote
Dogs predominantly of chihuahua, golden retriever, labrador retriever, poodle, Scottish terrier, and Shetland sheepdog breeds were more common among nonbiting than among the biting dogs. None of the cases and only one control dog was a pit bull terrier.

Dogs predominantly of German shepherd, chow chow, collie and akita breeds were substantially more frequent among biting than nonbiting dogs. The total numbers of dogs mainly collie (n=9) and akita (n=5) breeds were small compared to the total numbers of German shepherd (n=47) and chow chows (n=40).

There are other studies that put golden retrievers and poodles/labradoodles among the fatal biters.  The small numbers of such as Dogo Argentinio and related breeds being kept as pets probably accounts for them not making the list.

Chihuahuas (the origin of the term "ankle biter") being marked as non-biters in spite of being the probable origin of the term "ankle biter".  Also missing from the roster of biters (although not fatally) are any of the herding dogs.

stay safe.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: zxcvbob on March 09, 2015, 05:39:02 PM
If a dog kills someone, it retroactively becomes a "pitbull".   ;/  (it's a news thing)

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi117.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo68%2FLonelyGoatherd%2FJournalistDogs.jpg&hash=d12c3659588237680d9fa4dee40352b637319cb9)

I don't like Cocker Spaniels and would never have one around children. 
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Balog on March 09, 2015, 06:40:49 PM
Another question:  Are pitt bulls in the news so much because they are so common or because they cause problems?  

I've seen dog attacks initially reported as "pit bulls" where the actual dog was everything from a labrador retriever to a german shepherd. Idiot journos use "pit bull" like they use "assault weapon" because the glock has a "hi capacity murder clip!!!!"

eta:also, unless they do genetic testing then there's no real way of telling what actual breeds the dog is.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 09, 2015, 07:00:15 PM
In addition to the fact that journalist identify the breed in the same method that they identify a Glock and idiot gang bangers like to make them mean, pit bulls can be scary

They are a fighting breed. Physically, they are capable of doing a lot of damage and mentally, they can be capable of doing a lot of damage.
It's one of those breeds where, yes, the owner and training has a lot to do with how they behave, HOWEVER (big however) the breed itself requires a level of training and socialization that is more than others. Many Staffordshire Bull Terrier lines have managed to breed out a lot of the sharper temperament, and there are plenty of shelter pits who wouldn't hurt a fly. The rest, well, I like them, but I don't generally trust them. Any mishandling can result in a truly dangerous dog, and due to the popularity of the breed, their are a lot of mishandled pits.

addition: Before the pit lovers around here try to jump me for what I've said. Yes, they are not the only breed that requires extra care. In fact, they are far from the only breed that requires extra care. Nor are they the only breed that gets in trouble for this kind of stuff.
IMHO, it is an owners responsibility to be fully aware of what their dog is capable of, without blinders or "oh, but that's my sweet baby."
Pearl (my profile pic) is my sweet Pearlie girl and my baby. She also can be very dog aggressive and sharp with strangers. I love her dearly, but I also don't let her "romp" in dog parks.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 09, 2015, 07:02:05 PM
I've seen dog attacks initially reported as "pit bulls" where the actual dog was everything from a labrador retriever to a german shepherd. Idiot journos use "pit bull" like they use "assault weapon" because the glock has a "hi capacity murder clip!!!!"

eta:also, unless they do genetic testing then there's no real way of telling what actual breeds the dog is.

Um, no, plenty of people can spot the difference between a pit and a lab.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Balog on March 09, 2015, 07:05:46 PM
Um, no, plenty of people can spot the difference between a pit and a lab.


Plenty of "zomg pit bulls!!!!" have been genetically tested and id'ed as mutts with no pit ancestry whatsoever.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 09, 2015, 07:22:52 PM
Plenty of "zomg pit bulls!!!!" have been genetically tested and id'ed as mutts with no pit ancestry whatsoever.

and plenty of "black labs" have come to where I work that were not labs, at all.

I've also come to the conclusion that most people are *expletive deleted*it at identifying dog breeds and characteristics.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: vaskidmark on March 09, 2015, 08:56:51 PM

I've also come to the conclusion that most people are *expletive deleted*it at identifying dog breeds and characteristics.

Oh, please!  As a trained observer I can differentiate between a pit bull and a gecko with 90% certainty most days, if the sun is not too bright or it is not too cloudy.

stay safe.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Calumus on March 10, 2015, 01:36:13 AM
One big problem with people humanizing dogs, is that they're surprised when a dog actually acts like one. I feel bad for the guy; but how was the dog supposed to know he was trying to help the owner? The dog was probably already distressed from seeing his owner drop, then a stranger appears (to the dog) to attack him. Pretty much any breed is going to have some defensive drive, this one just had the capability to do some damage. I'm not "making excuses" for the dog, but if I ever have to perform cpr or the heimlich in the future, I'll make sure to secure any dogs first.
 
As far as Pitbulls in the news goes, they're the EBR of the dog world. They make good headlines, so when there's a Pitbull bite it gets reported. When you look at the number of bites annually, you have to consider the number of the dogs that there actually are. About 3 million dogs are put down in shelters every year. A low estimate is that about a third of them are Pit/ Pit mixes, or just wrongly identified. So if around a million Pits are put down in shelters every year, what percentage of Pits end up in shelters? If its 10% that means there are 10 million Pits in the U.S.  I have a hard time believing that 10% of any breed ends up in a shelter. Dogsbite.org is a hardcore anti bull breed site. Think million mom march of the dog world.
   
  Unfortunately, Bull breeds are the current status symbol dog. In the 70's it was the GSD, then it was the Doberman, then the Rottweiller. In the early 90's Bullys got the nod, and they've had it longer then any other breed. Recently there's been some movement to athletic breed mastiffs, the Cane Corso, Presa Canario, etc. Same type of look; but even bigger and flashier. The only reason they haven't taken the crown faster is the higher price of admission. That's changing as more are making their way into petstores and turned into puppy mills. People unfortunately don't put any thought into what the breed of dog they think is cool looking, or cute, was actually created to do. Sally gets upset when her Jack Russell tears a cat to shreds, Bob gets annoyed when his Border Collie keeps nipping at his kids while herding them somewhere. We spent a couple hundred years hardwiring dogs to do specific things, if there's not a concentrated effort to breed those instincts out, they stay.

  I read recently (I can't remember where; but I'll try to find it) that it takes 7 generations of targeted breeding to lock in, or remove a drive in a dog. With actual breeds that have entered the show world, that effort has been going on for a while. I have a show line Staffordshire Bull Terrier. No one in his pedigree from the late 30's on was used as anything other then a show dog/pet; but before that it was 100+ generations of gladiators. He's always happy, loves everyone he sees to an almost embarrassing degree, and is eager to meet every dog he sees. He's been gone after by Pugs, Shih Tzus, Corgis, Labs, a seeing eye dog, and last week a Basset Hound. Doesn't even occur to him that maybe he should do something about it. However, he is big dog reactive. He had a 140# Bull Mastiff/Ridgeback go after him, and it was the only time he's responded. I got into this breed knowing full well the possible downsides to it. I socialized the crap out of him when he was young; but knew that at some point after he hit adulthood I'd find out what his adult tolerance of other dogs was. My Corso was easy, he got into his first scrap when he was 9 months old. After that I knew he was reactive. He'd never start anything; but wouldn't hesitate a second if teeth were bared. I took care of it by just being aware of other dogs' body language and avoiding them if they were likely to start trouble.  With my Stafford it was tougher, he made it to almost 3 before I got to know for sure if he'd react to anything. It was actually a relief finally finding out what I had to watch for. That's the thing with any breed, knowing what to watch for. A juvenile Aussie could sever a toddler's achilles like nothing just trying to herd, pretty much any terrier can be nippy, Labs don't socialize and train themselves. I've had more issues with Labs then any other breed.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Regolith on March 10, 2015, 03:27:39 AM
<snip>

Paragraphs, dude, paragraphs.  :police:
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BryanP on March 10, 2015, 09:07:59 AM
and plenty of "black labs" have come to where I work that were not labs, at all.

I've also come to the conclusion that most people are *expletive deleted*it at identifying dog breeds and characteristics.

True enough.  I used to have a dog who was the result of a midnight tryst at a breeder. He was 1/2 Springer Spaniel, 1/2 Rottweiler.  He looked like a stocky black lab with jowls.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: MechAg94 on March 10, 2015, 09:15:36 AM
Calumus comments are why I was curious if the dog was giving any warning signs when the good Samaritan arrived.  I guess unless there were other winesses or video, we won't know. 
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Calumus on March 10, 2015, 11:13:08 AM
Paragraphs, dude, paragraphs.  :police:

 :lol: Sorry about that. Ended up rambling while I was trying to stay awake and finish setting up someone's new laptop.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on March 10, 2015, 11:14:01 AM
Humanizing dogs

God that was a good post. We started beginner dog training class last night with a 5 month lab shepherd cross(best guess) and a 7 year old trainer. There was a a irish setter a chihuahua a pit/shepherd pup and a gorgeous  7 month old gsd thats already 70 pounds.
I had a hard time with watching some of the people. Some of these dogs are screwed.
The nice lady with the chi gave her dog about twice what it needs for total daily food intake. And that was just in treats in one hour.
With the couples there there was typically one person who was really a dog person and the other should get a stuffed dog.
Sadly one of the worst offenders was my wife. But my 7 year old dog trainer kicked her mom into line pretty quick.
I was reminded why i got outa the dig training game. And it was not the dogs
I am by nature competitive but the latino couple with the big gsd is gonna be tough to beat. The guys english is rough but i could not believe how focused and well behaved his pup was. Hes probably not beginner class material but his wife might be.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Firethorn on March 10, 2015, 03:14:02 PM
Dad had a rescue dog genetic tested, he was 0/3 on guessing what he was a crossbreed of.

Once you start dealing with 'mixed', accuracy goes way down.
Title: Re:
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on March 10, 2015, 03:52:54 PM
Yeah it is easier when it's only 2 or 3 breeds
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 10, 2015, 04:21:04 PM
a cross is 2 breeds. most crosses are easy enough to tell at least one parent, especially as the more common breeds are the most likely culprits, based on simple population.

a mix or a mutt is when crosses and mutts get mixed up. Then it gets tricky.

and, then, of course, you have the "pure bred" labradoodles and goldadoodles and idiotdoodles, which are even easier since the owners won't freeking shut up about it.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: zxcvbob on March 10, 2015, 04:30:52 PM

and, then, of course, you have the "pure bred" labradoodles and goldadoodles and idiotdoodles, which are even easier since the owners won't freeking shut up about it.

They just get a kick out of saying "doodle"
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 10, 2015, 04:48:38 PM
They just get a kick out of saying "doodle"

I enjoy saying doodle as well. It doesn't change the fact that the majority of them are stupid, obnoxious dogs with crappy coat who are always owned by idiots who want them to be fluffy but have never heard of a thing called a comb.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: 230RN on March 10, 2015, 04:49:50 PM
"He'd never start anything; but wouldn't hesitate a second if teeth were bared."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dq3S1mqn1I

Not sure if she actually smiled, but it's likely.

To us a smile is happy.  To animals, a smile is aggressive.

Cosmetic surgery was necessary to repair her lip.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Calumus on March 10, 2015, 05:43:07 PM
To us a smile is happy.  To animals, a smile is aggressive.


Only applied to other dogs with my Corso, he was bomb proof with people.  He had his CGC, TDI and TT by the time he was 13 months old. The dog in the vid however was showing signs of stress from the first second. The constant licking of lips on top of his handler having his collar locked tight while a stranger man-handles his face. On top of that, she's got her face right up to a dog she's never met before. This is a canine equivalent of an ND. That bite was just a warning shot and would have been completely avoidable, if only the "handler" or the reporter had any dog sense.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: TommyGunn on March 10, 2015, 07:26:08 PM
a cross is 2 breeds. most crosses are easy enough to tell at least one parent, especially as the more common breeds are the most likely culprits, based on simple population.

a mix or a mutt is when crosses and mutts get mixed up. Then it gets tricky.

and, then, of course, you have the "pure bred" labradoodles and goldadoodles and idiotdoodles, which are even easier since the owners won't freeking shut up about it.

"Idiotdoodle" made me laugh.     
My mother had a black dog, sorta wiry black hair, purpley blue mottled tongue.  He was a great "watchdog" as he'd bark when people came by but he was NOT an attack dog.  He first showed up with a nasty open wound on his side; my mother took him to a vet who said he thought he'd been tossed out of a moving vehicle.
He was hardly an "idiotdoodle" but he was smart and the vet thought he had a little poodle in him.  She gave him a good home and a good life though, which was more than could be said for the ***** who owned him before she did.
But we never were able to figure out exactly what his heritage was.
Just that he was a great "mutt."  ;)
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: MechAg94 on March 10, 2015, 09:20:22 PM
"Idiotdoodle" made me laugh.     
My mother had a black dog, sorta wiry black hair, purpley blue mottled tongue.  He was a great "watchdog" as he'd bark when people came by but he was NOT an attack dog.  He first showed up with a nasty open wound on his side; my mother took him to a vet who said he thought he'd been tossed out of a moving vehicle.
He was hardly an "idiotdoodle" but he was smart and the vet thought he had a little poodle in him.  She gave him a good home and a good life though, which was more than could be said for the ***** who owned him before she did.
But we never were able to figure out exactly what his heritage was.
Just that he was a great "mutt."  ;)
Did he eat any more little poodles after that?     =)
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 10, 2015, 09:39:21 PM
"Idiotdoodle" made me laugh.     
My mother had a black dog, sorta wiry black hair, purpley blue mottled tongue.  He was a great "watchdog" as he'd bark when people came by but he was NOT an attack dog.  He first showed up with a nasty open wound on his side; my mother took him to a vet who said he thought he'd been tossed out of a moving vehicle.
He was hardly an "idiotdoodle" but he was smart and the vet thought he had a little poodle in him.  She gave him a good home and a good life though, which was more than could be said for the ***** who owned him before she did.
But we never were able to figure out exactly what his heritage was.
Just that he was a great "mutt."  ;)

I love standard poodles. They are really great dogs.
Temperament wise, the doodles are pretty mild and easy going, not as smart, but similar in temperament.

I've never met a sharp one. My real issue is the owners, who generally are the idiots. They spend oodles of money on puppy mill dogs and rave about how their dogs are " healthier" and better than other dogs, never mind that the breeders are using stock from the bottom of the barrel and the dogs are, if anything, less healthy that a purebred from a reputable breeder.
Plus, like I said, 9 times out of ten, nasty coat. It's hard to work with, and few of the owners understand combing out the dogs, which, because of the poodle in them, HAS to be done. Plus, thanks to the non poodle genes, they do shed and are not "hypoallergenic".

If you want a doodle for the supposed hypoallergenic benefits and no shedding, just get a standard poodle. Worried about image? Just remember, the Standard Poodle is a water bird dog originating in Germany. Das Puddlehund. So, not foofoo at all, really.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: MechAg94 on March 10, 2015, 09:45:43 PM
Standard poodles are also decent sized dogs if I remember the few I've seen.  A neighbor in college had a couple poodles.  They looked more like this:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lakelandhuntingpoodles.com%2FA%2520very%2520pleased%2520and%2520proud%2520hunter%2520showing%2520off%2520what%2520two%2520poodles%2C%2520if%2520given%2520the%2520chance%2C%2520can%2520do.jpg&hash=27a2fd263e4585079d80c81acaeb5d1bd4a39d06)
My mother had a couple Keehonds when I was a kid that she took to dog shows for a couple years.  She was constantly brushing and combing them.  The fur will get matted badly if you don't.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: bedlamite on March 10, 2015, 09:53:49 PM
idiotdoodles

ROFL

Saved for future use.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 10, 2015, 10:10:29 PM
Standard poodles are also decent sized dogs if I remember the few I've seen.  A neighbor in college had a couple poodles.  They looked more like this:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lakelandhuntingpoodles.com%2FA%2520very%2520pleased%2520and%2520proud%2520hunter%2520showing%2520off%2520what%2520two%2520poodles%2C%2520if%2520given%2520the%2520chance%2C%2520can%2520do.jpg&hash=27a2fd263e4585079d80c81acaeb5d1bd4a39d06)
My mother had a couple Keehonds when I was a kid that she took to dog shows for a couple years.  She was constantly brushing and combing them.  The fur will get matted badly if you don't.

I love it.

There are a few breeders left that still breed poodles for hunting.

Like I said, great dogs. And they are on the tall side. Not heavy dogs, but all legs. They are just really fun dogs. Active and very playful. The only reason I'd shy away from owning them is the grooming. Even with keeping it basic, like the dogs in this picture, it's either expensive or time consuming. Plus, I'd want mine to at least have a nice poodle top knot and ears, and I love a good hand scissored kennel clip, which I think looks snazzy.

eta: correction, apparently it's called a mouton cut, but clean feet, clean face, short body, hand scissored legs and long top knot and ears.
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi266.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii249%2Fbluestarlizzard%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2542044.jpg&hash=0740cac184b8cbad704e51c68638706c9f160106) (http://s266.photobucket.com/user/bluestarlizzard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2542044.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: roo_ster on March 11, 2015, 03:13:47 AM
1. Yeah, not likely to do CPR on a person if their large dog is uncontained.

2. Especially if the large dog is a bully breed.  I like the bully breeds, even the old-school pits bred for hunting hogs and such, but they were bred to be no-bull (heh) killers and a rather large proportion of them are really good at it.  Seen it up close a few times.  They also enjoy it.

3. Standard poodles can be some terrific dogs.  Would have no qualms about having one and would keep the poodle in ( a very short and low maint) trim.

4. The bitty poodles are generally not worth a darn, not even as a small dog.  And as was stated, I never met a smart *-doodle dog either.  Some were sweet and loyal as a dog can be, but could be outwitted by a box of hammers.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Headless Thompson Gunner on March 11, 2015, 09:39:42 AM
Another question:  Are pitt bulls in the news so much because they are so common or because they cause problems?  
Both.  It's becoming more and more popular to own a big, aggressive dog.  The results are as expected.  
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: erictank on March 11, 2015, 10:28:35 AM
If a dog kills someone, it retroactively becomes a "pitbull".   ;/  (it's a news thing)

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi117.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo68%2FLonelyGoatherd%2FJournalistDogs.jpg&hash=d12c3659588237680d9fa4dee40352b637319cb9)

I don't like Cocker Spaniels and would never have one around children. 

My family had a couple of Cocker Spaniels while I was a kid, as did my Grandma's neighbor. That one - Pepper? - bit me, because I was playing rough (I don't even remember it, I was like 3. Bit me on the chin, I was told). The one we had (Flurry) when I lived in TX as a child and teen was absolutely trouble-free, gentle and loving. She was very old and in poor health when I was about to go to Navy boot camp in 1991, and we put her to sleep that spring, like a month before I left.  :'(

We had a St. Bernard while I was learning to walk, according to Dad she basically taught me how to walk (by letting me pull myself up by grabbing her hair and walking with her), and I vaguely remember Max the German Shepherd that Dad had after the St. Bernard. Grammy (Dad's mom; Mom's mother was Grandma) had a small poodle, lapdog sized.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: 41magsnub on March 11, 2015, 10:40:02 AM
My aunt is dog-sitting this poodle (and its ridiculous haircut) for a week for a friend.  It's a horrible dog, but she doesn't think that is the dog's fault.  It is completely untrained and barks incessantly because its lonely.  

They do spend a lot of money on grooming though.

This aunt has a "goldendoodle" that is turning into a alright dog, if a bit high maintenance in the hair department.  The dog seems like the poodle and golden retriever parts were from field lines.  The dog might actually be a decent bird dog if she was inclined to train it that way.

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi238.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fff299%2Ftrebligb%2FIMG_1351_zpsujbzg5f7.jpg&hash=1872d02447e4d5d36d0a5ab3b30afd4aee463bcf)
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Balog on March 11, 2015, 01:56:38 PM
Both.  It's becoming more and more popular to own a big, aggressive dog.  The results are as expected.  

The classic fighting pits rarely exceeded 50lbs pit weight. Larger than that and either it's mixed with something else or it's been selectively bred away from fighting stock.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 11, 2015, 04:12:34 PM
My family had a couple of Cocker Spaniels while I was a kid, as did my Grandma's neighbor. That one - Pepper? - bit me, because I was playing rough (I don't even remember it, I was like 3. Bit me on the chin, I was told). The one we had (Flurry) when I lived in TX as a child and teen was absolutely trouble-free, gentle and loving. She was very old and in poor health when I was about to go to Navy boot camp in 1991, and we put her to sleep that spring, like a month before I left.  :'(

We had a St. Bernard while I was learning to walk, according to Dad she basically taught me how to walk (by letting me pull myself up by grabbing her hair and walking with her), and I vaguely remember Max the German Shepherd that Dad had after the St. Bernard. Grammy (Dad's mom; Mom's mother was Grandma) had a small poodle, lapdog sized.

A lot of sporting breeds are prone to Rage Syndrome. Cockers can have it.

I hate American Cocker Spaniels. There is one I adore and a few that I don't mind. The rest are all stupid, gross and obnoxious. I think that breed has probably *expletive deleted*it on me more often than all other breeds combined (they get upset in the tub and, bam, *expletive deleted*it everywhere) Not to mention the ears are almost always so foul it makes you want to throw up.

And then there was Casey. I swear, when I see black and white cockers, I get the shakes. That nasty bastard was flat out lethal.

In all honesty, the dog breeds most likely to bite someone are the smaller terriers and the toys. Plus, the little guys tend to have funky teeth, so infection is a bigger risk with them. It's just that, under most circumstances, it's the big dogs that can do the most damage when they decide to maul someone.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Headless Thompson Gunner on March 11, 2015, 04:33:35 PM
The classic fighting pits rarely exceeded 50lbs pit weight. Larger than that and either it's mixed with something else or it's been selectively bred away from fighting stock.
I'll keep that in mind the next time one attacks me.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Balog on March 11, 2015, 05:18:55 PM
I'll keep that in mind the next time one attacks me.

 ;/
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: MechAg94 on March 11, 2015, 05:24:25 PM
I'll keep that in mind the next time one attacks me.
:laugh:  Yeah, 50 lbs is not small by any stretch.  Not a monster, but not small.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Balog on March 11, 2015, 05:59:51 PM
:laugh:  Yeah, 50 lbs is not small by any stretch.  Not a monster, but not small.

Ya'll are both missing the point.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: zxcvbob on March 11, 2015, 06:05:05 PM
Ya'll are both missing the point.

Doncha think that's sometimes intentional here?  :lol:
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: MechAg94 on March 11, 2015, 06:44:29 PM
"Isn't it obvious?"  == Famous last words.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 11, 2015, 07:10:21 PM
yeah, well, the lab standard calls for short stocky dogs that weigh no more than 80 pounds, yet I've met enough tall, leggy 100 pound monsters to know that a breed standard and what idiots will breed are two very different things.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Headless Thompson Gunner on March 12, 2015, 11:24:00 AM
never mind
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: roo_ster on March 12, 2015, 01:38:13 PM
What does more damage to a breed?
1. Breeding to AKC standard.
2. Puppy mills.
3. Breeding to some knucklehead standard for size or whatnot (like monster pits, jumbo labs, teacup chihuahuas, etc.)

I would suggest the above order from more to less.  (No hard quantitative data, just experience with the various breed and inquiries into purchase & such.)

For instance, I can more easily find, at a reasonable price, a healthy pit bull dog of moderate size and temperament by heading out into rural parts than I can a German Shepherd dog anywhere.  Same thing with ordinary Chihuahuas(1).  Decent examples of both still abound outside the cities.  A healthy GSD OTOH, seems like a freaking pilgrimage to Lourdes and about as expensive.

FTR, I am not impressed with either the breed-to-AKC-standard sort or the breed-for-galoot-size sort.


(1) A healthy non-mis-bred chihuahua is a decent dog.  Not my cup of tea (heh) doggy-wise, but not ankle-biting freaks.  More like regular dogs, but on a smaller scale.
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: Calumus on March 12, 2015, 02:19:08 PM
Breeding to the Standard isn't a bad thing unless they've changed the Standard recently to account for modern aesthetic tastes. Form follows function. There's a reason that herding dogs from all over the world have similar shapes. When the breeds were being created and standardized 100+ years ago, most of them were being made for specific jobs. The physical attributes that allowed them to do those jobs most effectively were reenforced by only breeding the best worker to the best worker. Since most dogs don't actually have jobs any more, people breed for things they just find visually appealing. Breeding to tastes is what causes issues in the purebred world.
 
 Slope backed GSDs are crippled by 3, Bulldogs can't even hop on a couch any more, let alone swing from an enraged bull's nose. My previous breed, the Cane Corso was used for centuries for guarding; but also hunting. They had to be able to run down a deer, as well as pin a bear. Once they became popular here, they went from a top weight of 115# to 140+. Sure, they look cool; but they can't run worth a damn anymore. My Corso in his prime was only a few paces slower then the Greyhound he used to play with. I'm a firm believer that any of the dogs from the "working" years would live quite a bit longer, healthier lives then modern dogs with modern vetrinary care and nutrition.
   
   https://dogbehaviorscience.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/100-years-of-breed-improvement/
This gives you an idea on just how much breeds have changed because of the show only crowd. This is the reason why there's been a resurgence of working trials for some breeds over the last few years. Friends of mine are big Vizsla people. Every show dog they breed or put out to stud has at least 3 different working titles on them. They're actively trying to improve their breed and it shows. The dogs they produce tend to stay healthy and active to a very old age. If more people would do that instead of just breeding for the ring, things would turn around fairly quickly. It can be a little challenging for breeds who were created for unsavory types of work; but you can substitute. Most fighting breeds were also used as ratters. There's now a sport called Barn Hunting that lets you test their instinct and abilities, as well as having a fun day out with your dog.

   Puppy mills are just a whole different story. They're just factories that produce dogs. They don't do any health testing, and they breed females back to back to back until they literally fall apart. Sometimes they'll buy a Champion dog so they can say their dogs have "Champion lines". All that means is that somewhere in the family tree there was one Champion. Every dog since can be garbage, but they can still make the claim. I have a friend who brags on Facebook all the time about her English Mastiff who comes from Champion lines. She has no idea what that means, it just makes her feel impressive saying it. The dog has a muzzle like a GSD, and a concave back that looks like a really fat person's been riding him for a while. Doesn't matter because he's from Champion lines...
Title: Re: Man Killed By Pit Bull While Trying To Help Dog’s Ill Owner
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on March 12, 2015, 05:08:12 PM
Breeding to standards isn't a bad thing. More of those standards have physical requirements that are signs of health and proper structure than "just for looks".

Breeders who are members of their breeds club are required to commit to a code of ethics. Some clubs are better at enforcing these things than others. Breeders who stress activities beyond confirmation showing usually have the better dogs. Mind you, make sure the activity is one that is appropriate for the breed.
Puppy mills have no code of ethics and no standards beyond make as much money as possible as fast as possible. You get what you get and your on your own after that. Basically, it's a crap shoot in terms of health and temperament. You could get a good dog. You could get a sick monster.
Backyard breeders just generally don't know what the hell they are doing and don't care. Again, it depends on the individual in terms of what you get and what the dog is actually worth.

The people I work for breed working dogs. They take pride in showing these dogs for what they truly are.