When your own dog bites you

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not with people, therefore not all pits are.
They came from terriers bred to be fearless ratting, cattle and hog dogs. Unfortunetly, the prey drive lead to fighting due to the intense breeding of fierce prey drives in the breed. Any bully dog that showed aggression toward humans was put down back in the day because the selective drive was not meant towards the people as prey. Hunting, guarding livestock and all around ranch and farm dog was the first intention of this breed and like a lot of breeds , the drive and intent was ruined in many due to backyard breeders who were stupid or clueless. In world war 1 the breed was a national icon. the breed has earned a place in American history for sure.
I know I am biased but I will be the first to admit any gamey dog, aggressive lines should be eliminated as it was not intended as the true breed standard, nor is it a sustainable or logical trait to enable and continue breeding. There is nothing natural about a dog who fights to the death of another of it's species. This is unbalanced and unnatural and should be elimimated...period. There are thousands of pet quality, breed worthy pittys in shelters waiting to be adopted. Granted they all might not be for all the average dog owners who don't really possess the time and energy to handle them but , there is hope this breed can be as great as they can be, and the ones with hope can be with the help of the right owner to nuture and breed them back to original intentions. Many are already breed back to docility in manner but still seen as child and other dog maulers regardless.
I realize I'm probably preaching to the choir on this one but just needed to say it for all the sweet pittys out there...I truly love the breed; and even though since they have been screwed up a bit espically since they were brought here back in the 1800's..They are a great American breed , not perfect but like my own heritage..a bit of this and that..a bit of wild and tame from land afar to native to mix it up.
Anyone want a guarantee and easy, get a goldfish..or a boarder collie..haahaa!

Hooch thanks fro the history lesson and I do understand what your saying. I don't totally agree with it but do have more info on it now thanks to your knowledge. And more to consider.
 
when I volunteered at the animal control for 2 years we had a overwhelming influx of pittys and pitt crosses. Out of hundred of them I handled, 2 were put down due to their temperments and history. Unfortunetly, I was the bridge to their trust building and easy handling for the dirty deed to their end. They were human and dog train wrecks upon confiscation by the sheriff dept. They were fearfull of both human and other dogs and needed likely months of rehab to regain normal doggie mindsets from where they came from. The animal control where I volunteered didn't have the staff or money to facilitate this type of rehab for them and anyone who did was full.
It was hard to bridge the barriers with them in quarantine to know it was likely to be able to facilitate a person to handle them to a easy euthanisa for them..but ..for them..it was a kinder death to walk to thinking that they were going for a ride or walk to a vet they already had some contact with to be put down unknowingly without too much stress. I guess that was my gift to them against the ills of humanity already bestowed onto them...
they were beauties too..both greys with some white on the chest, both around 100 pounds. probably some mastiff in them too..
 
when I volunteered at the animal control for 2 years we had a overwhelming influx of pittys and pitt crosses. Out of hundred of them I handled, 2 were put down due to their temperments and history. Unfortunetly, I was the bridge to their trust building and easy handling for the dirty deed to their end. They were human and dog train wrecks upon confiscation by the sheriff dept. They were fearfull of both human and other dogs and needed likely months of rehab to regain normal doggie mindsets from where they came from. The animal control where I volunteered didn't have the staff or money to facilitate this type of rehab for them and anyone who did was full.
It was hard to bridge the barriers with them in quarantine to know it was likely to be able to facilitate a person to handle them to a easy euthanisa for them..but ..for them..it was a kinder death to walk to thinking that they were going for a ride or walk to a vet they already had some contact with to be put down unknowingly without too much stress. I guess that was my gift to them against the ills of humanity already bestowed onto them...
they were beauties too..both greys with some white on the chest, both around 100 pounds. probably some mastiff in them too..

What a shame and sorry you had to go through this with those poor dogs. I love all animals domestic or wild and hate to know anything suffers like that. You seem like a nice caring person Hooch. :huggs:
 
Why did you choose Presa Canarios? This is what I found relative to the breed: "Temperament: Suspicious, Strong Willed, Gentle, Dominant, Calm. The Perro de Presa Canario, a.k.a. the Canary Mastiff, is a rare large Molosser-type dog breed originally bred for working livestock. The name of the breed is Spanish, means "Canarian catch dog", and is often shortened to "Presa Canario" or simply "Presa". Wikipedia"

Are others in your family safe around them?

I guess I have an alpha mentality so when I did my research this breed jumped out at me. The description you posted is accurate. Today most breeds don't possess the original abilities of their ancestors. This is not a blanket statement just a general one. But back to why I picked Presas I wanted a dog that would meet any challenge or die trying. My dogs are trained in personal protection, have passed burglary and car jacking scenario. Also please understand my dogs are members of my family everyone in my family are members of the same pack. The dogs are very protective of the little ones and have never done anything negative towards them. My female treated the little ones like they were her puppies when they were babies.
I'm not a breeder but did have a litter a few years ago the pups went to family even Granny has a Presa.
 
What a shame and sorry you had to go through this with those poor dogs. I love all animals domestic or wild and hate to know anything suffers like that. You seem like a nice caring person Hooch. :huggs:
I've no regrets...it is a gift I offered freely to ease their suffering ultimately..I can live with that ..better than what they came from and what the end of their lives would have been in hindsight...bittersweet I suppose... :)
 
sigh...it seems another case of a owner not in a state of mind to own a pitty or any dominant breed. That it came running out the door is a indication that the owner had no control of the situation or stimulation for that dog to begin with.
A red zone dog is a challenge ..more so for a owner. A dog out of control and aggressive can be dangerous. A pitty out of control is twice as dangerous. Pittys and bully breed are a temperament of their own. I love the pittys because when they give you their loyalty , they give it their all. 100% of their being , trust and loyalty is it. This is just not my experience from my own but from the fosters and volunteer work Ive had with the breed and mixed breed I worked with. With the right energy, they are a great companion dog. Not a great guard dog though..
however, some lines have been breed to be "gamey" but with other dogs . This is due to the breeding to fight after their hx to be a farm and family dog.
I adopted my pitty when he was rescused from a drug house over 9 years ago. he was already 1 to 3 years estimated old at the time of adoption. and had already spent a year in doggy jail just for being a drug dog.
He is the best dog I've had. Ive loved all my dogs deeply over the years but he is the smartest and most sensitive pooch I have owned. I took him to a professional trainer at the gate to make sure I wasn't screwing it up. The trainer had 3 0 years experience in military dog training to assess me and my new pooch. Hooch was the best in the class. the dog trainer said, He is so easy going and cool, he is easy to train because he wants to please and I have a handle on the energy level.
ok , so my point is ...the owner has to be dominant. Has to be in control, emotional steady and willing to lead. Confident in the role of leader ..mind , body and spirit. You can not bull_hit a animal. I don't care if it is a duck or a dog..if you are not in control and call the shots, you are not in control period.
When I had Hooch home for the fisrt few weeks , I had him on a leash tied to my hip once out of his outside kennel area. He was invited to my space..he was learned to respect my area on a lead controlled by me...in my space on lead. I took him outside to poop and pee on lead in my back yard on command the first two weeks night and day by my command and invitation. I made damb sure he knew he was in my area and by my command he had to first have permission to poop n pee in my area. His freedoms gained upon the first few weeks, and I will not admit he did not have issues.
He ate and chewed a pitty size hole through my back door the first 12 hour shift I left him. No kidding..the boy spent 12hours tearing my back door open the first 12 hour shift I had. After that if was a 12 hour size hole in a chainlink fence panel in his kennel. Yep..it seemed nothin much could hold a determined pitty back from known squaller to inside privilages.
Anyways, Hooch is easy. He is willing to please and likes other dogs mostly. He is not red zone. I have had a red zone female sher-pei once and she was a handful. I get the struggle. My advise to the owner is to find a trainer to help you and the dog. You both need training and that is not a bad disclosure. Not everyone is doggie savey..

not with people, therefore not all pits are.
They came from terriers bred to be fearless ratting, cattle and hog dogs. Unfortunetly, the prey drive lead to fighting due to the intense breeding of fierce prey drives in the breed. Any bully dog that showed aggression toward humans was put down back in the day because the selective drive was not meant towards the people as prey. Hunting, guarding livestock and all around ranch and farm dog was the first intention of this breed and like a lot of breeds , the drive and intent was ruined in many due to backyard breeders who were stupid or clueless. In world war 1 the breed was a national icon. the breed has earned a place in American history for sure.
I know I am biased but I will be the first to admit any gamey dog, aggressive lines should be eliminated as it was not intended as the true breed standard, nor is it a sustainable or logical trait to enable and continue breeding. There is nothing natural about a dog who fights to the death of another of it's species. This is unbalanced and unnatural and should be elimimated...period. There are thousands of pet quality, breed worthy pittys in shelters waiting to be adopted. Granted they all might not be for all the average dog owners who don't really possess the time and energy to handle them but , there is hope this breed can be as great as they can be, and the ones with hope can be with the help of the right owner to nuture and breed them back to original intentions. Many are already breed back to docility in manner but still seen as child and other dog maulers regardless.
I realize I'm probably preaching to the choir on this one but just needed to say it for all the sweet pittys out there...I truly love the breed; and even though since they have been screwed up a bit espically since they were brought here back in the 1800's..They are a great American breed , not perfect but like my own heritage..a bit of this and that..a bit of wild and tame from land afar to native to mix it up.
Anyone want a guarantee and easy, get a goldfish..or a boarder collie..haahaa!

Very well said!
 
12 years ago I adopted a Mastiff /Pitt mix puppy that was 9 weeks old. A month later I took in an Australian Cattle Dog pup that a family got and then realized that they didn’t have the time to train her. Matilda, the Mastiff /Pitt mix, turned 12 in April and Sunny, the Australian Cattle Dog, turns 12 this month. I have had no problem with them as I always make sure that all of my dogs KNOW that I am the Alpha dog. My grandkids adore them and Matilda will bug each one of the kids until she gets her “hug and a kiss”. They are not keen on men as I am a single retired women and don’t socialize with many men. If a repair man is here they are by my side and Matilda sits between my legs until they go. When I am sick or not feeling well she wants to be right beside me. If either one of my beloved pups ever bit me, any child or person I would have them euthanized. I would never be able to trust them again. 75% of all dogs in our area are pitties and over the years I’ve only reported one mean one but the owner was terrible and encouraged his bad behavior. I really think most of the time that dogs behavior is a reflection of their owners - just like the behavior of children.
 
not with people, therefore not all pits are.
They came from terriers bred to be fearless ratting, cattle and hog dogs. Unfortunetly, the prey drive lead to fighting due to the intense breeding of fierce prey drives in the breed. Any bully dog that showed aggression toward humans was put down back in the day because the selective drive was not meant towards the people as prey. Hunting, guarding livestock and all around ranch and farm dog was the first intention of this breed and like a lot of breeds , the drive and intent was ruined in many due to backyard breeders who were stupid or clueless. In world war 1 the breed was a national icon. the breed has earned a place in American history for sure.
I know I am biased but I will be the first to admit any gamey dog, aggressive lines should be eliminated as it was not intended as the true breed standard, nor is it a sustainable or logical trait to enable and continue breeding. There is nothing natural about a dog who fights to the death of another of it's species. This is unbalanced and unnatural and should be elimimated...period. There are thousands of pet quality, breed worthy pittys in shelters waiting to be adopted. Granted they all might not be for all the average dog owners who don't really possess the time and energy to handle them but , there is hope this breed can be as great as they can be, and the ones with hope can be with the help of the right owner to nuture and breed them back to original intentions. Many are already breed back to docility in manner but still seen as child and other dog maulers regardless.
I realize I'm probably preaching to the choir on this one but just needed to say it for all the sweet pittys out there...I truly love the breed; and even though since they have been screwed up a bit espically since they were brought here back in the 1800's..They are a great American breed , not perfect but like my own heritage..a bit of this and that..a bit of wild and tame from land afar to native to mix it up.
Anyone want a guarantee and easy, get a goldfish..or a boarder collie..haahaa!
I have a border collie ... they are not easy and not for everyone. High energy, high needs working dogs.
 
.
They are herding dogs. I have had people tell me that their herding dogs try to herd them.

We have a part Aussie sheppard 'spl' that is suppose to be a herding dog too. But she only got the high energy part. She is 11 now and not feeling good so I'm worried about this new calmness. Hoping it is all the Spring pollem in the air.
 
I have a border collie ... they are not easy and not for everyone. High energy, high needs working dogs.
Had a border collie when I was little. He wasn't particularly smart, hard working, or energetic. Actually he never did much except eat, sleep, bark at strange cars, and follow me around. He did bite me once, when I was three years old. According to the story, I watched my older brother ride a horse and then I tried to ride the dog...the dog didn't get in trouble because I was the one in the wrong, not him. I still have the scar under my chin. I still loved him though and he never attacked me or anyone else after that.
 
For over a decade I was on a special list in the SE... Most of the time retiring working dogs (usually shepherds) went to live with their handlers. Sometimes this didn't happen. Every couple of years one came to live with me, I have the scars to prove it. I gave them a new home... a life completely different from everything they had ever known... I loved doing it but at the same time it was heart breaking... When they came to me they had been worked to death. They were wonderful dogs... but trained to attack humans... They weren't like regular dogs...
 
It’s been my experience (sled dogs and herders) that most working dogs need to do some form of work, most would rather work than do anything else. You have to be careful not to let them work themselves to death. Our border won’t eat until she has worked.

Nearly all dogs need a defined place in the pack and some form of “work” to do, even, if it is just doing some tricks or a routine walk. There may be some individual dogs that are not like this or arguably a few breeds with the work bred out of them, but I think even the yappy little floor mops need to work.
 
I was being scarcastic when I mentioned a border collie.. (lol) They have a great willingness it seems to learn or be reminded of their natural herding ability and very willing to please..but good lawd...they never stop going. every one I've known never wants to just chill.. great if you have a huge herd I guess. I could never own one without it destroying my calm and a unused and untrained BC is a trainwreck..
I agree with you all that all dogs need to have a role in the pack..something...
 
I have been bit a few times by dogs but my dog good rest his soul bit me and severed a tendon in my finger I had to pry him off of me and then he got my thumb he was doing it because he was hurt and I was trying to move him we both healed up and then he was hit buy a truck doing 50+ in a 15mph zone it took me over a year to get the feeling back in my finger could not pick my nose because I was afraid I would hit my brain. Lol
 
Sad, but funny Bishop
Yeah the people I work with got a kick out of it the nurse at the hospital kept asking if he had his rabie shots I told her I don't no just got him a few weeks back but was told he did she left and I asked the other nurse if the had a Alka-Seltzer he ask me why I said the other nurse keeps asking me about rabies and if a Alka-Seltzer I will pop it in my mouth so would start phone will not make it look like I had rabies to see what she would do he said no but if he had one he would give it to me to see her face
 
Yeah the people I work with got a kick out of it the nurse at the hospital kept asking if he had his rabie shots I told her I don't no just got him a few weeks back but was told he did she left and I asked the other nurse if the had a Alka-Seltzer he ask me why I said the other nurse keeps asking me about rabies and if a Alka-Seltzer I will pop it in my mouth so would start phone will not make it look like I had rabies to see what she would do he said no but if he had one he would give it to me to see her face

Naughty patient!!:LOL:
 
Yeah the people I work with got a kick out of it the nurse at the hospital kept asking if he had his rabie shots I told her I don't no just got him a few weeks back but was told he did she left and I asked the other nurse if the had a Alka-Seltzer he ask me why I said the other nurse keeps asking me about rabies and if a Alka-Seltzer I will pop it in my mouth so would start phone will not make it look like I had rabies to see what she would do he said no but if he had one he would give it to me to see her face
LOL! Now we know a new member is a trickster!
 
Last week our spoiled little dog bit hubby. She is sickly so hubby spoiled her. I told him he should have bit her back really hard.
It worked on my donk Rosie. I grabbed her by the nose and bit the hell out of her after she bit me on my stomach. She never bit me again. I also stopped her from kicking when she was a colt. She ran by and kicked me while running on a steep hill. Her next run pas me I kicked her down that hill and she went tumbleing , it took her 3 years to kick me again. No hills here though so she got away with it. I sure as heck couldn't run her down. She only kicked me twice. She was mad because I put her lead line on our horse. She kept trying to take it off him.
 
As others have said ..All dogs need a pack leader and a pack, It can be as small as two. The owner with the pit obviously was not the leader and the dog will try to fill the void and will be the aggressive protector of his pack. I have been bitten by every dog I have owned ..But not in the aggressive attack manner, as soon as the dogs realized who they had bit there was an immediate cower and apology .
 
pitbulls are a banned breed over here.
I prefer terriers.
I love terriers! We have an Irish Terrier and a Fox Terrier in my neighborhood. They are such interesting dogs. Irish terriers are not common and not easy to find. There are just a few breeders in America, maybe 2 or 3.
irish-terrier-sitting.jpeg.jpg

Irish terrier
Wire-Fox-Terrier.3-400x267.jpg

Wire hair Fox terrier
 
not my sort of terrier, anyway they are a banned breed over here.
last terrier was a cairn terrier, she passed away 2 years ago.
 
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