Terrier saves 5 children from pit bull attack

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
I have yet to encounter (including a lot of rescue work) an aggressive dog of any breed whose agression did not reflect training, treatment or the home environment.

I can't see how you can simply diregard the possibility of naturally mad dogs because their brain doesn't work as it should.
Of course, much more often it will be either freaky dog-owners or dog-owners who forgoteducate the animal, showing it its place in the hierarchy, but an all-environment approach is too simple.

From my personal experience:
The Golden Retriever of my 2nd degree aunt was a complete normal dog, no problems over several years. And then there was the day the dog decided to run amok and bite a visiting cousin so badly that he had to stay in hospital for a few weeks.
You never know.


But beside that, I am much like Solver: I suffer from a certain cynophobia, although mine is limited to dogs I don't know - mostly because I don't know their dog owners.

I think those potentially dangerous species should either be banned completely or at least strictly licensed, making the owner fully responsible for its actions.

In my town, it's not unusual to see Doberman or even Pitbull run freely through the parks - or ocasionally even on the playground in the park. I hate those situations because I'm completely powerless, I can't even argue with the owner for fear of the animal.

[Ecthy]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
I think that last post sums it up

The children might even be better off had that silly dog not intervened in his own selfish interest.

[Arrian]

Weak, Ecthelion. Weak.

-Arrian

[Ecthy]

Why, because I oppose the ppular opinion that that dog is a saint? You're the one who's being weak.

[Arrian]

Is that the best you can do?

-Arrian

[MightyTiny]

Originally posted by Ecthy
Do you guys honestly believe he did it to save the kids?

Most likely, yes.

Dogs are pack animals, and their wild ancestors would have had instincts to protect the cubs of the pack.

Further, thousands of years of domestication has certainly had it's effect on a dog - if you breed for courage and for a protective nature, you get those things. A dog that is attached to humans will act to protect those humans. Nothing particularly strange or unbelievable about that.

Oh, and George

[Ecthy]

Those kids weren't dogs.

[Dis]

In my town, it's not unusual to see Doberman or even Pitbull run freely through the parks - or ocasionally even on the playground in the park. I hate those situations because I'm completely powerless, I can't even argue with the owner for fear of the animal.

I'm the same way. it's why I dont' like walking my dog anymore. I'll either take her up to the mountains or the dog run. But if there's other dogs in the dog run, I don't like to.

I just don't trust people, and their dogs.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Ecthy
Those kids weren't dogs.

the dog doesn't think of them as non dogs. They think of them as part of the pack. Why do you think dogs are so loyal? They think of their owners as their parents. They don't stick around just for the food.

[Ecthy]

Spoken like a true dog fanatic. Do you also own pit bull fighter dogs?

[Dis]

Originally posted by Ecthy
Spoken like a true dog fanatic. Do you also own pit bull fighter dogs?

see my posts above.

The type of dog a person has says a lot about the person.

Anti social and violent people own violent and anti social dogs.

my dog is a mutt. Friendly, and almost never barks. I like quiet dogs.

[Solver]

My dog is a labrador retriever - considered to be a nice, friendly breed. And they are. Mine, however, is a crazy sonofa***** because his first owner ****ed him up.

Wow, kudos to you for managing to be the owner of such a dog.

In my town, it's not unusual to see Doberman or even Pitbull run freely through the parks - or ocasionally even on the playground in the park. I hate those situations because I'm completely powerless, I can't even argue with the owner for fear of the animal.

Same here . The law actually requires all dogs to be on a lead (leash?) and muzzled in public places. You occasionally see leads... muzzles are seen very, very rarely.

I live near a park, and there's a dedicated area for walking dogs nearby - across the road, in fact. It's fenced off, so it's definitely safe to go near it, and the area has all those things dogs like for their agility exercises. The problem? 10% of dog-owners use the dedicated area, the other 90% prefer to walk their dogs in the park - usually letting them run free. Moreover, there's a kid's playground in the park, and I've seen kids being scared by dogs running towards them numerous time. Obviously even a small dog is enough to terrify a 2-year old.

Gee. Sometimes cynophobia is an annoying thing to live with. I'd rather be scared of, dunno, bees, at least you don't see much of them.

[Ecthy]

Dis

One thing I generally don't like is barking dogs.

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by Solver

Gee. Sometimes cynophobia is an annoying thing to live with. I'd rather be scared of, dunno, bees, at least you don't see much of them.

Personally, I have Sphaksophobia (fear of wasps) on my phobia list. I like my Cynophobia better because I'm able to control it (which prolly means I'm not phobic but just somewhat anxious).
But when a wasp comes close, I' simply elbow everything/-one out of my way to open an escape corridor. It's great fun to have outdoor dinner with me in summer.

[Solver]

I guess I'd take that over cynophobia. You only really see wasps in the summer, and not too often even then, unless you go camping or such often.

These days, I often try myself to force not to react as I usually do with small/medium-small dogs nearby... I've definitely gotten better lately, but it's still damn annoying.

Reminds me, outside the city (or the city center), there are these streets of private houses... and most are guarded by dogs. So as you walk down the street, there are dogs barking at you from both sides... those places really freak me out, despite the fences.