Need dog advice

If ANY loose dog lunges at me, I will do the same.
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I would support your right to do that, but anything other than pits and the larger molosser breeds I would just punch in the head, or into the snout. The latter will get just about all dogs' attentions.
 
I understand, I've laid out many a pooch that attacked me (I've let many sniff me to find out what was going on, some I gave a treat on the road, others I just kept on walking). I laid them out with a walking stick, a good crack on the head makes them rethink their attack. But, as a true born and bred dog lover, I'll do what I have to do if they attack, same as people.
 
Are we impressed with individual cases?

Are we going to fawn and make up our minds over an entire breed due to individual incidents, positive or negative?

OK!
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Pit bull makes grade as therapist

By Nicole T. Lesson | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted July 14, 2003

Amber, a year-old pit bull, has her work cut out for her.

The newest pet therapy dog with the Humane Society of Broward County, she is the first purebred American Staffordshire terrier, commonly known as the American pit bull, to be selected for the program.

Pit bulls have a reputation for being vicious, but Amber's owner is trying to change that.

"Amber absolutely loves people," said Sunrise resident Wendy Hendricks. "She knows no race, young, old, handicapped, rich or poor."

As a pet therapy dog, she will visit adults in hospitals, nursing homes and retirement communities who are in need of comfort. And, in a few weeks, she will be tested to determine whether she will be allowed to visit children.

Hendricks, a volunteer like all of the other dog owners enrolled in the program, is eager to change people's minds about pit bulls.

"I am so excited. This is a huge step in the right direction to start working on people's perceptions and help people feel better," said Hendricks, who adopted Amber from the Humane Society in December. "I can't wait to share Amber with everyone else."

Marni Bellavia, the education partnership coordinator for the Humane Society, also can't wait to get Amber started in the program.

"Amber epitomizes the breed, and she will be a great ambassador in the community," said Bellavia, who runs the pet therapy program. "We want to educate people on pit bulls in general -- they get such a bad rap. We also don't want to sugarcoat it but show the other side and help change the perception."

After passing a pet therapy test this week, the 60-pound, fawn-colored pit bull was given a photo identification badge along with a green-and-white cape embroidered with "Pet Therapy Dog" and "I love working for hugs and kisses" on each side. Amber pranced around and wagged her tail in excitement, almost as if she knew what she had accomplished.

Hendricks said she thinks she and Amber will be a successful pet therapy team.

"I have read stories, heard and seen firsthand how pet therapy can make someone's day brighter or even make someone overcome an obstacle," Hendricks said. "I hope that Amber and I together can educate people, change people's overall perception of the pit bull and, hopefully, make someone's day brighter by reaching out to them and sharing with them Amber's joy of living and loving."

To qualify for the program, pets must pass evaluations on temperament, touch, obedience, interaction with people and behavior around medical equipment.

During the test at the Humane Society in Dania Beach, Bellavia was in frequent close contact with Amber's face, put her hands in the dog's mouth, pinched her body to see if she had discomfort anywhere and hugged the dog to see how long it would take for Amber to pull away.

The therapy program, in its 17th year, includes a wide range of dog breeds, including one pit bull mix. The 140 dogs range in size from 3 pounds to 128 pounds. There also are two cats in the program. The therapy animals visit 71 hospitals, nursing homes and other sites.

"We are always looking for more therapy dogs. We have 60 facilities on a waiting list," said Bellavia.

Nicole T. Lesson is a reporter for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, a Tribune Publishing newspaper.
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Petunia visits area classrooms with the Greenbelt-based Partnership for Animal Welfare's Responsible Pet Owner (RPO) program. "Petunia waited while 40 children petted her," said Towson parent Karen Sindall. "I've never seen a more warm, loving and patient dog." Yet Petunia is a pit bull, a name applied to several breeds originally bred for strength, agility, dog-fighting and -- worth noting -- absence of aggression toward humans, because handlers had to work closely with the dogs. Today, bull breeds score high on temperament tests, and the majority are family pets.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/petunia.html
 
The story of search & Rescue Pits

As I unload my dog, one of the Sheriff's deputies says, "Hey, is that a Pit Bull?" "Yes Sir it is," I proudly say with a smile (this happens every time). "I didn't know they can be search dogs?" he said. I tell him that they are perfect for search work. They are strong and athletic which helps them get through the roughest terrain. They have very good drive which keeps them focused on what they are doing. They can work for hours, and they LOVE people. Search & Rescue .

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/sarpits.html
 
Alaska's First Certified Hearing Dog--a Pitbull Terrier .

I first met RCA when she was first in training and living with her trainer, John. I was captivated by her charm and obedience. Later, when I got my first Sheltie and I would bring him over to John's to visit, she was incredibly tolerant to this rambunctious puppy and would bring him toys to play with. Of course, her favorite toy was a tug toy and she always won.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/rca.html
 
A really heart warming story:

Dave and Spike the pitbull:

Spike is my service dog and significant other of 12 years. I have been a quadriplegic for 12 years and Spike was given to me right after my accident. Actually Spike was the property of a, not very reputable, breeder and was going the be raised and trained for a, not legal, activity. Then Spike became a trading commodity in an illegal substance transaction and when all was said and done Spike inherited me and I inherited Spike.

Spike learned basic obedience through a couple of years of Shutzhund training and he picked up most of his service training by just growing up with me.

We are still living in a nursing facility and Spike has become a part of the facility. Over the past year he has gained about 8 pounds. Residents and staff keep dog cookies in their rooms and as we go down the hall he has to visit everybody. The Pit is sure a mean and vicious animal :-)

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/spike.html
 
Waterloo, Ontario -- NORTON, a five-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier cross breed was the only one to hear Ann Mathews collapse after a severe reaction to a spider bite. Norton managed to rouse Ann's husband Barrie, still asleep in bed, and lead him to the main floor of the house where Ann was losing consciousness. Barrie called 911, and as ambulance attendants arrived she stopped breathing. Ann was revived at the hospital and spent several days recovering.


Norton Hero Pitbull dog:
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/norton.html
 
"Taylor, a 4-year old pit bull mix, shows a real knack for his job. In his first two years on the job, he has sniffed out more than $30 million worth of narcotics... .

Out of more than 100 dogs in the San Diego [CA, USA] district K-9 unit, Taylor ranks as a top performer."

The Pit Bull who Fights Drugs
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/taylor.html
 
Periodically, over a month's time, sixty-five pound Weela crossed the flooded river to bring food to seventeen dogs and puppies and one cat, all stranded on an island. Each trip she pulled thirty to fifty pounds of dog food that had been loaded into a harnessed backpack.

The animals were finally evacuated on Valentine's Day. Weela, Ken-L Ration's Dog Hero of the Year (1993)
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/weela.html
 
Put in a wheelchair by a 1996 horseback riding accident, Morrison is now assisted in her daily activities by Panda, a pit bull mix she found wandering the streets and trained to switch on lights, retrieve dropped objects and pull her wheelchair. "I needed a dog and she needed a person," said Morrison.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/panda.html
 
Blueberry Hero Dog

Text and photos from the CNN story.

A Pitbull named Blueberry is credited with saving her owner from two armed attackers. Authorities in Indiana, say the dog pounced on the intruders as they opened fire, Blueberrys legs and jaw were broken but she kept up the attack. The intruders fled and at last word, were still on the loose.

Veterinarians at Perdue University were able to patch up Blueberry. They also say her unborn puppies are going to be ok.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/blueberry.html
 
ANother Pitbull saves people from another fire:

Dog helps youngster to safety

By BETH IPSEN, Staff Writer

A 3-year-old black and white pit bull resembling Pete the Pup from the 1940s "Little Rascals" shows grabbed the back of a girl's jacket and helped her out of a burning home Thursday night.

After 6-year-old Autumn Marley alerted her mother that the Nordale Road home where they were staying was on fire, the dog--also named Marley, by coincidence--grabbed the girl as she struggled to get out the back door of the burning house and helped her to safety, said the dog's owner, Jennifer Ingram.

"She's always been an awesome dog, but I didn't know she was capable to doing this," Ingram said of Marley, who she raised from a pup.

Thanks to Autumn's alert and Marley, no one was injured in the fire. However, the trailer with several additions was a total loss, Ingram said


Ingram wasn't home at the time, but said her temporary roommate, Julie Marley, was cooking dinner for herself and her two daughters when Autumn noticed the entryway was on fire. The three couldn't go out the front door and Julie Marley had to force open a seldom used back door to escape from the burning building.

After Julie Marley stumbled out the back door, she turned around to see Marley the dog had grabbed her youngest daughter by the jacket and was pulling her out the opening, Ingram said.

North Star Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dave Tyler said Julie Marley flagged down a motorist who called 911 shortly before 6 p.m. By the time firefighters arrived at the house near the Freeman Road intersection, the building was fully engulfed by fire.

Ingram, 22, was shopping with her boyfriend, Daniel Martin, when Marley called her to tell her the house was on fire. By the time she got to the home, there were firefighters and lights everywhere. Marley the dog had been running loose during the chaos.

"I'm going to take her to the vet tomorrow," Ingram said. "Her feet are frostbit."

Tyler said the fire went up into the ceiling and Autumn Marley discovered the fire before smoke alarms sounded. Tyler said the cause of the fire is unknown, but it started in the entryway.

What flames didn't reach in the house, heat and smoke seemed to touch, Tyler said.

An initial estimate of the damage was $20,000, the fire department said.

Ingram was at the house Friday with generators and flashlights her boss, John Keys, had loaned her while she and friends searched through the charred rubble in 25-below-zero temperatures for anything salvageable.

"We're trying to salvage everything thing we can, but it's not really looking good," Ingram said.

The American Red Cross has supplied Julie Marley and her children with clothes and Ingram with a pair of boots. The Red Cross set up a place to stay for the Marleys. Ingram is staying with a friend.

"I just thank God that nobody was hurt," Ingram said.

Reporter Beth Ipsen can be reached at bipsen@newsminer.com or 459-7545.
 
Regarding bites:

Which breeds bite the most?

The Division of Animal Control and Humane Treatment maintains extensive records on all reported dog bites in Montgomery County, including records of the primary breed of the biting dog and the severity of the bite.

In 1998, there were 102 dog bites defined as being "major" meaning that the bite was severe enough that victim required stitches.

Following is the list of the top ten biting breeds in Montgomery County in 1998:

<DIR> <DIR>
Chow Chows -- 9 major bites

Labrador Retrievers -- 9 major bites

German Shepherds -- 7 major bites

Pit Bulls -- 7 major bites

Akitas -- 5 major bites

Dalmatians -- 5 major bites

Rottweilers -- 5 major bites

Beagles -- 4 major bites

English Springer Spaniels -- 4 major bites

Collies -- 3 major bites

Jack Russell Terriers -- 3 major bites (tied for 10th)

</DIR></DIR>
Many people are surprised by this list. Serious attacks inflicted by certain breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers tend to receive a lot of media publicity, while equally serious attacks by other breeds rarely, if ever, receive any media attention. As a result, many people to believe that pit bulls and Rottweilers inflict most, if not all, of the major bites in Montgomery County. The list above shows that other breeds inflict more major bites, but just don't receive the publicity.

This list should not be used as the final guide in judging whether an individual dog is a "good" dog or a "bad" dog based solely on its breed. Every dog, given the right circumstances, is capable of inflicting a bite. But, remember that most dogs of whatever breed will never inflict a bite in their entire lives. It is not fair to judge entire breeds because of the actions of a few members of that breed.
 
More regarding dog breeds and media and leftist hysteria and propganda:

After World War II, the "demon dog" was the German Shepherd. Then it was the Doberman Pinscher. Then it was the Great Dane and Chow Chow. Then it was the Shar Pei. Then it was the Pit Bull Terrier. Now it’s the Rottweiler. New breeds being added to the list are Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Akitas, German Shepherds (again), and Saint Bernards. Are any breeds safe from being banned? The fact is that when one breed gets too much notice for biting, people just switch to owning other breeds. Any breed can be wrecked. In any breed, there will be individuals that are vicious... that is just the way genetics works. That's why you should hold owners responsible for their dogs, and focus on dealing with dangerous dogs of any breed (by the way, mixed bred dogs also bite, and sometimes kill, people) instead of banning breeds. (Punish the deed, not the breed).
The most puzzling dogs on the list are the Huskies, Malamutes, and Pit Bull Terriers. Each of these dogs is genetically a people-friendly dog. You’d have to make these dogs either fearful of people, or cornered on their own territory, or in the case of the Pit Bull Terriers, see people as vermin, for these dogs to bite and seriously hurt people. The reason Pit Bull Terriers aren’t widely used in real man work (protection work), is because they are people friendly dogs that were designed to work as butcher’s dogs. I remember a story I heard of an American Bulldog (similar to a Pit Bull Terrier crossed with a Bullmastiff). The dog was sent on a building search for a suspect. When the dog located the suspect, the dog was grabbed by the suspect and was being strangled. The dog didn’t fight back until the police officer instructed the dog to bite the man, which he did on command. I also knew a man in Seattle that bred Pit Bull Terriers, and some drug guys broke into his house and stole some of his adult dogs. Why weren’t these people mauled by the dogs? He even caught one of them in his house with the dog present, and the dog didn’t attack the guy. Similarly, I had a client whose Dogo Argentino (like a Pit Bull Terrier crossed with a pointer) that was attacked by a shepherd mix. His dog fought off the other dog, but the owner was able to reach in and pry his dog off the attacking dog without being bitten by his Dogo. The Dogo is not a man working dog. They aren’t competitive in the Schutzhund sport, and they aren’t used as police dogs, because they can’t do the work. The only dogs you see doing man work are Airedales, Boxers, Belgian Shepherd breeds, German Shepherds, Giant Schnauzers, Dobermans, and Rottweilers.
There is going to be a terrible price to pay if we don’t start speaking out about responsible dog ownership, and educating the public why breed bans are not the way to deal with the problem.. I do it all the time. Imagine what we are going to have to do if the German Shepherd, for example, is banned like the Pit Bull Terrier? Impossible, you say? Well, some of the big insurance companies are refusing homeowner’s insurance to owners of German Shepherds. The mayor of New York, Rudolph Guiliani proposed a government ordinance that required a certain amount of insurance if you owned a "dangerous" breed of dog. I don’t know if the German Shepherd will be listed as one of those breeds, but we are well on our way to just such a result. The fact is, THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE that any breed has a higher proportion of vicious dogs than any other breed. Vicious is different than aggressive. A vicious dog is one that can't be trained and can't control its dangerous tendencies. All dogs are aggressive, to one degree or another. Aggression isn't abnormal. Aggression plays a major role in all aspects of behavior, in humans, wolves, dogs, horses, fish, etc. If the law requires the insurance, but the insurers refuse to issue the insurance, then it’s a breed ban all the same.
 
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