Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Originally Posted By: dlundblad
I tend to blame the owners personally regardless of the breed. In this specific situation we have a pack of German Shepherds dangerously running free. They are protective by nature. Most good dogs are. Any breed would act this way if they weren't tied up, pinned up, disciplined etc.
Once again.. It's the owners fault. Banning breeds won't stop the poor owners behavior. As a gun enthusiast, I'm surprised the OP doesn't comprehend this.
I was really kinda poking fun at the overzealous pit bull people. It doesn't take much to get them riled up.
Kidding aside, though, you can't say breed has nothing to do with aggression in a dog. Certain breeds (Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Chows, Dobermans, Shepherds, for example) have had aggression bred into them over decades or even centuries. There's a reason that the breeds I just mentioned account for the vast majority of attacks.
While it is true that a good, conscientious owner who initiates an obedience training program can and most often does make a huge difference, nurture can never fully overcome nature. Along those same lines, no animal can ever be fully trusted.
I say all of this as a life-long dog owner and dog lover.
I can honestly say I have never heard of aggression being breed into a dog. Maybe if the dog was born in a puppy mill or something of the sort to be sold to a pet store? Those are never good choices when wanting to pick out a pet. I could call those genetic disorders.
It is very hard to blame a specific breed on aggression. All dogs can be aggressive.. some just cause more damage than others because of their size, jaw strength etc. Those are the attacks people hear about. Would you have posted this issue to BIGOG if a pack of Chihuahuas chased you? Maybe to be humorous, but it wouldn't have upset you like this did.
Just as an example, the first dog to ever bit my girlfriend at her vet job was a pug. Go figure. 2 years ago when I visited her for lunch, I had the privilege of meeting a recused pit bull mutt named Tank. The PO used to keep him in a mobile home with broken windows and only feed him a few times a week.. He was an absolute baby and would put his head under my hand so he could get more attention. The list of examples can go on.