Back after a bad start

[rabbitsncavyluv]

There's nothing wrong with bully breeds provided they are raised right. Maybe you should do some research. If you look at stats, most dog bites are from smaller dogs rather than big dogs like that.

 

[Nymphae]

I know this is a site about Guinea Pigs however as the conversation lead to Pit Bulls. These dogs are not all aggressive. Its the way they are Bred and Brought up. A Dog isnt born aggressive. Pit Bulls can easily be kept as pets as long as they are born into a loving family who will do it no harm. The same goes for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. I agree with what you are saying about petstores though. I stay well away.

I'm sorry, but did you even read my post? I just told someone that there were plenty of cases where Pit Bulls being brought up in a good environment, and they still suddenly snapped and bit people. The same thing happens with dogs like German Shepards, just less frequent. These animals were bred as guard dogs and in the case of Pit Bulls, even as fighting dogs! They just have more tendency towards agression than most dogs have. I'm honestly not making this stuff up. It just doesn't seem a wise decission to me to take a dog like that into a home with young children.. Which I think, is part of the reason Pit Bulls aren't getting adopted, or at least shouldn't get adopted.. not as a family pet.

I'm just saying, you can't compare a dog like a Pit Bull with a Cavy.. those are just opposites. These dogs have the reputation to be mean, while guinea pigs are known to make excellent pets.

To Rabbitsncavyluv:
Just saying.. Pitbulls weren't banned in the Netherlands for nothing. And personally.. I've never had problems with small dogs, I did with German Shepards though. (My own dog, which is a small one, was attacked 2 times out of the blue.)

 

[guineapigluver1]

Nymphae, can I just say that we have a neighbor who has a pit bull (a family with 6 boys, mind you), and he is very sweet, sweeter then another neighbors lab.

 

[Nymphae]

Nymphae, can I just say that we have a neighbor who has a pit bull (a family with 6 boys, mind you), and he is very sweet, sweeter then another neighbors lab.

Oh I believe you, I personally know about one German Shepard who is actually very sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly. But there are so many others I know about who are mean, that a nice one seems to be the exception on the rule. I can't help it, I just don't trust those dogs. Especially Pit Bulls, it's just something about those wide muscled jaws that gives me the creeps.

 

[Christa]

Congrates to you,a lot people d'ont know anything aboat dogs but the press make evrything worse.The human is responsible if animals are reacting *wrong*.They have better caracters then certain men and women,it depends how you treat animals.It is to easy to say some dogs have a bad behavier.We all can do something, be nice to men and animals and give them love and education and the world will be better,Christa

 

[lmarieaa]

I don't think it's fair to put the blame on the breeders. The breeders I personally know go to extreme lenghts to ensure all their animals go to good homes and with people who know how to care for their guinea pigs. Besides, people can think for themselves right? Just who in the right mind wouldn't look up some information before buying a pet? That's the first thing an owner should do.

I do not mean to argue but, Lots of people in their right mind mosey on down to Petco or Petsmart or Petland Discounts or whatever chain is rampant in your area, and buy guinea pigs. Not knowing a single thing about them. They buy them on impulse or for thier children because "they look so cute" or "why the heck not, theyre small?". Sometimes some of theses people google "guinea pigs" a few days after they bought it and a few of them end up here on this forum. There are countless post of "Just bought a guinea pig, didnt realize the work involved!", or "Guinea pig from petco, I don't know where to start! Got the Petco Starter Kit" And those are just the few who make it here. I can't even begin to image all of the lonely guinea pigs living in their small cages with no hay or veggies tucked into the corner of the room whose only inteeraction with anything is when the big hand opens the cage and fills the bowl every few days.
The same thing goes for all of the reptiles, hermit crabs, betta fish, and other small animals. Alot of them are bought on implusse by someone who has absolutely no idea how to care for them, thinking that, "they'll learn as they go."
And the fact is that most breeders just do not care where the offsprig go. They do not have the time to be going to everyones house, or asking a bunch of questions or whatever. Also, people lie and there is even less time to figure out what intentions the potential adopter really has for the animal. They care about getting the "adoption fee" for them, what happens to them after that is not really of concern.
As for the pit bulls, I agree that it is how they are raised. Last night I saw someone standing with one outside of the grocery store. She kept yelling "sit down!" and kicking it (hard) in the belly to get it to sit. I thought to myself, "I am going to see this dog on the news someday." Poor dog. It is the reason why there are as many dog attacks here where I live than there should be, people believe that if you hit and punch the dog, he will listen to you and see you as dominant. They are mistaking fear for dominance.

 

[Nymphae]

Let's just say you've all got your opinions, and I've got mine. You're obviously putting earplugs in at the 'were raised in a good home, but went mean anyway'-part. But that's okay, if you don't want to hear it and you are of those lucky few that haven't gotten bad experiences with dogs then count yourself lucky and go be happy.

 

[AnimalHouse36]

I have been put in many bad situations with dogs.

A jack russel terrier when I was young, ripped me by my hair. It was his owners fault. I may have cared for him when his owners were away and given him all the love I could when they threw him outside for days at a time, but it wasn't enough.

A bichon freesh(sp?) tore open my lip while I was petting him. Once again, it wasn't the dogs fault. I was stupidly hovering and to anyone else it would have looked like the dog just "snapped".

And a Cairin Terrier who's belly I was scratching bit me.

All of these dogs were under 40 pounds. I have been bit by my lab. And I have been licked by my dog.

I have never been bit my a pit bull. Not when I pulled their ears (when I was younger) or their tail. Not when I yanked to hard on the leash and not when I played rough with them.

Any GOOD trainer could go and be bit by a family dog and find them selves at fault..or passed experiences. Maybe the dog didn't like hats. You were not there nor are you a dog trainer.

This IS the breeders fault and the owners. The dogs are not at fault here. That just like racism in my opinion.

I think that you are the one putting earplugs in. We have given you the facts yet you still beleive that they are at fault.

 

[guineapigluver1]

A bichon freesh(sp?)

It's bichon frise (pronounced Be'-shon free-zay') .

 

[blackarrow]

(I'm sorry for the multiple colors to indicate what is my text - I can't seem to figure out how to use the quote/multi quote function on this site - is there a guide somewhere?)

I don't think it's fair to put the blame on the breeders. The breeders I personally know go to extreme lenghts to ensure all their animals go to good homes and with people who know how to care for their guinea pigs. Besides, people can think for themselves right? Just who in the right mind wouldn't look up some information before buying a pet? That's the first thing an owner should do.

The first thing any breeder - or rescuer, for that matter - should do before placing any animal is find out if the prospective buyer is educated about the needs of that animal! If a breeder doesn't know that much, they're not being responsible.

And about the Pit Bulls. There aren't any in the Netherlands simply because the breed is too agressive and people kept getting attacked by them. Forgive me if I don't shed a tear about those animals getting euthanized. And don't throw the; 'people made them mean' at me, 'cause there have been numerous cases of these dogs being kept as a family pet.. always well cared for and then suddenly snapping and biting someone. These dogs aren't suitable as pets. And if people breed them.. well, I suspect they're letting them fight and are trying to breed stronger and meaner dogs.

OK, I do dog rescue, and know that's just not the case about properly raised and cared for pit bulls "snapping" and biting people. People tend to assume that anyone bitten must have been bitten by a pit, and it just isn't so. The #1 breed of dog responsible for bites? The lowly Dachshund, and no one's saying they "aren't suitable as pets."

Pits are not bred to be aggressive to people, even by people using them for illegal dog fighting operations. Please don't perpetuate unfair stereotypes.

 

[blackarrow]

These animals were bred as guard dogs and in the case of Pit Bulls, even as fighting dogs! They just have more tendency towards agression than most dogs have. I'm honestly not making this stuff up. quote]

While I don't think you're making stuff up, it's clear to me that you are not speaking as a person who is educated on the subject. I happen to be a dog trainer and rescuer. Pit bulls have been bred to have a tendency toward aggression - toward other DOGS. They have NOT been bred to be aggressive toward, or fight, PEOPLE. It's not the same thing.

 

[guineapigluver1]

To use the multi-quote button, you click the MQ button (beside the Quote button) on every post you want to quote. Then click "Post Reply." It will have every post you want to quote.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

I don't see how you can pass judgement unless you personally know all these dogs and every detail of the cases.

They were able to rehab most of Vick's dogs. Some were even the most friendly and docile dogs when first rescued. Many were 'terrible fighters'.

Let's just say you've all got your opinions, and I've got mine. You're obviously putting earplugs in at the 'were raised in a good home, but went mean anyway'-part. But that's okay, if you don't want to hear it and you are of those lucky few that haven't gotten bad experiences with dogs then count yourself lucky and go be happy.

 

[walleandeva]

Nymphae,

Its probably not your fault but you are another one of the ignorant people in this world who believe all the stereotypical rubbish you read in the news. I have a bull terrier and I have a 3 year old son. These two are the best of friends. I have never in my life met an aggressive bull terrier or pit bull. (24 years of experience with bull terriers). I have however been attacked by Jack Russels and Yorkshire Terriers on many occassions. Before you comment on something you obviously know nothing about please do your homework.

I am sick and tired of people while im out for a walk with my bull terrier and my son dragging their kids to the other side of the road just so they dont have to walk past my "aggressive dog". Its ridiculous do they really think i'll have an aggressive dog in the house with my 3 year old?

 

[Nymphae]

I have been put in many bad situations with dogs.

A jack russel terrier when I was young, ripped me by my hair. It was his owners fault. I may have cared for him when his owners were away and given him all the love I could when they threw him outside for days at a time, but it wasn't enough.

A bichon freesh(sp?) tore open my lip while I was petting him. Once again, it wasn't the dogs fault. I was stupidly hovering and to anyone else it would have looked like the dog just "snapped".

And a Cairin Terrier who's belly I was scratching bit me.

All of these dogs were under 40 pounds. I have been bit by my lab. And I have been licked by my dog.

I have never been bit my a pit bull. Not when I pulled their ears (when I was younger) or their tail. Not when I yanked to hard on the leash and not when I played rough with them.

Any GOOD trainer could go and be bit by a family dog and find them selves at fault..or passed experiences. Maybe the dog didn't like hats. You were not there nor are you a dog trainer.

This IS the breeders fault and the owners. The dogs are not at fault here. That just like racism in my opinion.

I think that you are the one putting earplugs in. We have given you the facts yet you still beleive that they are at fault.

If you start calling me a racist I don't want to hear any more from you. I'm done with this. You indeed gave me information, and I provided mine. You just choose to ignore mine and brand it as false. This discussion is over as far as I'm concerned.

 

[khptown]

Well since this thread is already way off topic. I just heard on Dogs 101 (the show in Animal Planet) that the Golden Retriever has a reputation to bite. I find that really odd since the golden retriever is known as a family dog. I do not have anything against the pit bull breed. All of the pit bulls I have known are nice. Some of them are quite crazy though. I blame the inexperienced breeder for that (It is just not pit bulls though.) But another reason some dogs are unstable (mine included) is because people coddle them, treat them as equals, and do not provide proper exercise. Dogs are supposed to be running and being a dog, not sleeping on a couch in a small house or apartment. But, unfortunately where I am from a lot of pit bulls have bad owners. Just people that do not care about their welfare and/or use them for fighting.

 

[Nymphae]

Once again, I'm not picking up the subject of Pitbulls and German Shepards anymore. What about the weather? Weather is a nice subject and no heated arguments ever came from it, so go weather!

Here's it's rocking between the 11 and 14 degrees Celcius. Some wind, light blue sky, a small cloud here and there. This morning it was terribly misty though! But the it's definately improving over here, maybe in a few weeks I can let my guinea pigs meet the sun. I don't think they've ever been outside before!

 

[Simonmaal]

I'm not going to join in the breeder melee here but I really want to correct this misconception about pit bulls:

These animals were bred as guard dogs and in the case of Pit Bulls, even as fighting dogs!

Bull terriers were not bred as fighting dogs! That is totally and utterly and completely wrong. They were bred to help farmers control their herds of cows (hence the clue to their origins is in their name: pit bull terriers).

Bull terriers are the cow farmer's equivalent of a sheep dog. Obviously the size of a cow compared with the size of a sheep meant that a stronger and more robust breed was needed, especially when a bull needed to be moved. Bulls have been known to kill and seriously injure people and the dog was the farmer's guardian. They were therefore especially bred to be loyal and protective towards people, not attack them! Pit bulls were so loyal to their owners that they would die protecting them.

Please please please stop believing the myth that pit bulls were bred as fighting dogs!

 

[walleandeva]

I'm not going to join in the breeder melee here but I really want to correct this misconception about pit bulls:



Bull terriers were not bred as fighting dogs! That is totally and utterly and completely wrong. They were bred to help farmers control their herds of cows (hence the clue to their origins is in their name: pit bull terriers).

Bull terriers are the cow farmer's equivalent of a sheep dog. Obviously the size of a cow compared with the size of a sheep meant that a stronger and more robust breed was needed, especially when a bull needed to be moved. Bulls have been known to kill and seriously injure people and the dog was the farmer's guardian. They were therefore especially bred to be loyal and protective towards people, not attack them! Pit bulls were so loyal to their owners that they would die protecting them.

Please please please stop believing the myth that pit bulls were bred as fighting dogs!

Thank you. someone who is knowledgeable.

 

[Nymphae]

I was talking about the here and now with the fightingdog training part. Which is very sad, and I know the dog isn't to blame in that but it does give more aggressive dogs.

Now, back to the weather?