Could be the dogs sensing something. upon reflection, Jessie has done that before. When we first got him I had him in front of a convenience store waiting for my wife. half a dozen people or so walked out, and he paid no attention. a few of them stopped to pet him, he loved the attention. Guy #10 came out of the store and he began snarling and lunging for him. After he left another half dozen people walked by without a problem.
He never fully trusted or liked my wifes step brother, with good reason. The man was a repeated sexual offender who is now in prison.
Trick is teaching him that we can't just kill or maim everything and everyone we distrust.
As I've always understood it, Pits were originally used for bull baiting (the (sport?) of hanging from a steer until it flopped to the ground)
After bull baiting was made illegal they were used for dog fighting, hence the ocassional PB agressiveness towards other animals.
After dog fighting was made illegal they were largely used as farm and ranch dogs. (hence Jessie's protectiveness of the front yard?) hmmm....
At no time were they ever bred to be vicious towards people. I really don't think a Pit is more violent than any other dog, but due to thier speed, strength, and determination, they DO happen to be pretty darn good at violence when they decide to be violent. I do view them as largely misunderstood as a breed. (perhaps even by those who love them)
I won't judge my dog as a breed, but as an individual creature.
Sometimes pain does make animals act agressively. My parents had a Newfoundland with hip displaysia that hadn't progressed very far yet. (that anyone knew of) I caught him digging in a garbage can out in the yard and gave him a light swat in the butt and a firm "no!" He slowly backed his head out of the can, looked at me, growled, and lunged for my throat. I spent the better part of a minute (a very, very, very long minute) fighting a 200 pound dog off my throat and testicles. I staggered him a time or two, but never knocked him out. he stopped attacking for a moment while I circled into the house. He sat at the door step growling and waiting for me to come back out for ten minutes. After that, it was like nothing had ever happened as far as he was concerned. I was incidentally his favorite person because of the time I spent with him. Sometimes animals snap I guess.... (he was put to sleep the next morning)
The incident out front was strange. The more I consider it, the stranger it was. Jessie DID NOT make a dedicated attack. There are few men who could have survived if he had. He kept jumping up and grabbing the guys forearm. no throat, no leg or anything else, just that arm. When the guy made a kinda weak (but apparently effective enough) attempt to fight back Jessie ran out of range and then charged back in. After three rounds and much screaming, yelling, and trying to stop him on my part he just ran back into the house where he cowered in the corner of the living room, cause he knew I was p!ssed. He was also growling, which did indicate a percieved threat. He also didn't retreat until the guy was about half way out of the yard. Even the attack itself was very un pitbull like. From what I've seen in the past, Pits usually grab something, and hang on for dear life in one dedicated attack, not feint, retreat, charge, bite, etc. Very unusual.
If everything goes the way I'd like we will:
have a physical assessment conducted
Have a mental assessment conducted
make a determination whether he stays, goes, or dies.
If he stays we will consult every source out there, and take every measure possible to train him not to have any future repeats.
If he has to go, I may even list him here- In any case I'd be very, very, very picky about his next owner and make sure they know his history.
If he dies. well.....It'll take a long time to heal.
Leatherface; I've always seen you as one of the good guys. That's never changed.
thanks again all for the input.