Is dog aggression a big deal?

[CKMILK]

if the dog was just dog aggresive i would try to correct it but if the dog was human aggresive i would pts. i was just attacked by my boxer. He went off at me without warning. he got my nose, arm, left leg, back right leg and butt. i got stitches in each place. i am just glad this was me and not my kids. he was put to sleep humanly. i just couldnt have him being so unpredictable. sad huh :(

[Smooshie]

sashagirl napisał(a):

Responsible pit bull owners DO NOT take their dogs to dog parks. :evil:

Agreed! and I think that goes for the owner of ANY dog aggressive dog. Why would you put your dog, yourself, or everyone else and their dogs at risk ??? Its just not responsible, especially if your dog has attacked other dogs at the park before.

My female Boxer has dominance issues and is very same sex aggressive, therefore I do not take her to the offleash park. For one, the dog park is supposed to be an enjoyable experience with your dog. How enjoyable can it be ,spending your time stressed about whether your dog is going to start a fight???

sugart20_99, please do yourself and your dog a favor....keep him on a leash or in your yard.Or if you MUST use the dog parks, go when there are no other dogs there. JMO :-?

[courtnek]

My Free is somewhat dog aggressive. By somewhat, I mean she will take literally NO crap from another dog. She has never started a fight, but has never backed down from one either. She will stand her ground, nape will come up, growl will come forth, and if the other dog doesnt back down she will snarl. She has never actually gotten in a fight with another dog. Most of the time, they back down from her. Once, she backed down on my command from a dog offleash who wouldnt back down from her, and I could see the beginnings of a nasty to-do in the offing. For that reason, she is not usually allowed off leash. I took her to a dog park with Laurel (who is so laid back she would back down from a strange cat) and kept her onleash while she checked out the area, and the other dogs. Laurel was running all over, and I did let Free go eventally because she showed no hostility to any other dog. She spent her time chasing Laurel around, like all other other dogs (Laurel is an x-hunter, foxhound, and runs like the wind. she would entice other dogs into chasing her, then outrun them for sheer sport) Free spent most of her time just trying to outrun Laurel.
that was GOOD day. A couple of other times I took them, and couldnt let Free go. Some dog set her off. I dont trust her to not fight, so she stayed leashed.

would I have her PTS? absolutely not. I love her immensely, and leashed she is no threat to another dog. Would I let someone unknowing about dogs adopt her? Absolutely not. She has a lot of weird quirks.

It all depends on the owner, and the dog, I think.

[imported_Cassie]

For some breeds of dogs, dog aggression is unacceptable. For example Newfoundland dogs, my friend who breeds Newf's will not and has never put up with any sort of aggression from any of her Newf's. If she found out one of her Newf's was dog aggressive she would be the first one dragging that dog out of the home and putting it to sleep. Newfoundland dogs are the gentle giants of the dog kingdom and "some" breeders intend to keep it that way.
From my Newfoundland dogs I do not expect nor want any offensive behavior from them towards other dogs.
From other breeds I expect some dog aggression, for instance my Rottweiler. She gets along fine with all Newfoundland dogs including all of my freinds Newf's...I can put her out with my friends 5 bitches with no problems and they play...but, with other breeds of dogs she is very offensive towards them. I find it exhausting and not much fun. I love her to peices, but, I can't take her places such as dog parks or nature trails unless its with dogs she is familiar with and I know she gets along with.

I would never choose a dog aggressive dog to live with. I don't find it much fun, I love interacting with other dog people and hiking with friends...but, Athena limits me in the people and dogs I can hang out with. A friend of mine who rescued an APBT is finding it to be lonely as well...his dog is VERY dog aggressive and the only dogs his dog can be around are my Newf's...he has no choice but to have me as his walking companion

I have owned many breeds of dogs over the years including Standard Poodles, Dobies, Husky's, German Shepherds, many Newf's, Dalmations etc. and I have never experienced dog aggression to the extreme like I deal with from Athena. I don't believe she should be euthanized...but, I also believe that only a knowledgeable owner should have dog aggressive dog..it can be dangerous...especially when they are dog aggressive and have a high prey drive...very scary.

I also wish people with dog aggressive dogs would let people who have to work with the dog know ahead of time :evil: I can't tell you how annoying it is to have a waiting room full of people with their dogs and cats and then have a customer walk in with a dog lunging at the other dogs and the owner barely has control :evil: I have asked these people to wait outside until I come to get them....they look at me as if I have grown 2 heads and then go and sit down beside another dog owner who abruptly gets up and walks outside. Some of these owners are rude, acting as if we are being prejudice against their dog because it is dog aggressive. I am only thinking of the other dogs safety. We already had a horrible accident happen a while ago where a women came in with her American Stafforshire Terrier; this dog had its CD and CDX obedience titles and its good citizenship title. The owner had the dog sitting beside her at the reception desk...another women came in with a small dog in her arms and came up to the counter. The Staff lunged at the owner with the small dog and grabbed the small dog by its legs. The owner of the Staff was the most surprised, and the owner of the small dog was shocked. The little dog required stitches in its legs....what a shame.

So, I do expect some dog aggression from some breeds. I believe they should be handled by "experienced" dog people who never let their guard down. Dog aggressive dog owners should also try to find other places to take their dogs rather than a dog park etc. I go out of my way to take Athena to remote areas for her runs. If its impossible to avoid taking a dog aggressive dog to the local parks (city dwellers) then pick times such as early in the morning and late at night when no one else has there dogs there...be responsible.