Well, when I say "dangerous" of course I mean "adorable". XD
Anyway. On account of all this stuff flying around here in the UK about "dangerous" dogs, and the government thinking up this dangerous dogs amnesty (basically another name for Pitbull slaughter) and after having my Lurcher described as a "killing machine" by someone who will remain unnamed, I want to make a video about the dogs. Mostly because I'm an artistic type XD and I need a way to vent my frustration, and this is the only way I can right now. I mean I know it isn't going to change what's happening at all, but maybe at least if I can show it to a few people at college it might change a few minds, no?
I have a few of my own photos to use, but I need help from some other dog owners. After I've finished (it'll take me ages hopefully) I'll post it here! Yay! If anyone feels like letting me use photos/short videos of their dog, please post them here. I may not be able to use every photo (assuming I get any).
Here's the kind of stuff I'm hoping for: -Rotties, Pitbulls, Staffies etc or any breed of dog you have that you think is wrongly stereotyped as dangerous. Especially photos with kids, dogs or other animals. Or just being their cute selves. - Lurchers, particularly with small dogs. -I also want to include some shots of neglected or abandoned "dangerous" dogs, so if anyone knows where I can get some uncopyrighted, that would help.
Oh, and if you'd like your name mentioned in the credits, you can post that too. ^^ Thanks!
I don't know if an Akita is considered dangerous enough, but I have a photo or two of mine with kids, a kitten, with a group of dogs at a dog park,with a pug, etc. I know that it is frustrating to have people stereo-type our pets. I've worked hard to get my dog social. However, there is a reason for the sterio-types. I can't help but feel a little bad in obedience class when the instructor will let all the other dogs off leash, but mine has to stay on at first. (My dog is less of a threat than the schnauzer in my class!) I do understand where they are coming from, though.
If you would like to look at any of my photos, let me know...
I bet you I can dig up soe picture of Lady the "wolf" (stupid people don't know an alaskan malamute from a wolf) I'm sure I have some pictures of some yorkies and pom poms being useful instead of stuck in a purse.
I'll ask around my family for their dogs.
OH and I'll find that picture of Buster aka butter.. the pit bull guarding my neightbors baby, and the rotti dallas cowaring away from my ferrets
Personally, I do not subscribe to the "dangerous breed" theory. It is just that these breeds attract irresponsible owners and those seeking "vicious" dogs. The same breed in the hands of someone responsible who knows what they are doing is perfectly safe.
oshwyn5: While I think that it is a powerful picture, it's really pretty cool actually, I would hesitate to promote the idea of allowing interaction between these two species. Yes, in a controlled, supervised situation dogs with a high prey or chase drive, or wolf hybrids, can get along with smaller animals. But I have found, to my great remorse , that it is very unwise to do so. These dogs, or wolf hybrids, are not generally vicious from a human standpoint, however smaller animals are in great peril. Again, please don't misunderstand me, I do not wish to berate you, I'm sure that your wolf hybrid is wonderful with the kittens. I just don't want others trying to mix their prey sensitive dog with small animals without understanding what could happen.
We have to remember that these breeds got their stereo-type for a reason. Although members of a certain breed can be made tolerant of small animals, people, other dogs, etc. they still have inherent characteristics that we have to be cautious of. Akita's are know to be very dog-aggressive. I have worked hard to get mine to get along with other dogs. She has done very well. However, I am still not totally comfortable leaving her unsupervised with other dogs. I love my breed and I don't want everyone to think they are vicious, but I am aware of their problems and I will not defend it and pretend it doesn't exist. In my eyes, that would be more damaging to the breed. You then end up with un-knowing dog owners trying to deal with a dominant, aggressive dog. If an accident happens, the breed ends up with more bad publicity.
I don't think we should do away with "aggressive" breeds, but we have to acknowledge the problems and not pretend they don't exist.
Originally posted by shaiya1: We have to remember that these breeds got their stereo-type for a reason. Although members of a certain breed can be made tolerant of small animals, people, other dogs, etc. they still have inherent characteristics that we have to be cautious of. Akita's are know to be very dog-aggressive. I have worked hard to get mine to get along with other dogs. She has done very well. However, I am still not totally comfortable leaving her unsupervised with other dogs. I love my breed and I don't want everyone to think they are vicious, but I am aware of their problems and I will not defend it and pretend it doesn't exist. In my eyes, that would be more damaging to the breed. You then end up with un-knowing dog owners trying to deal with a dominant, aggressive dog. If an accident happens, the breed ends up with more bad publicity.
I don't think we should do away with "aggressive" breeds, but we have to acknowledge the problems and not pretend they don't exist.
AH! If only all breed enthusiasts could be so forthright about their breed's characteristics we wouldn't have near the problems we have!
Don't forget to include a video of a senior citizen crashing headfirst to the ground after a tiny, yappy dog runs underfoot, or one of a small terrier attacking a "dangerous" dog, while the "dangerous" dog is wiggling all over from head to tail.
There are other scenarios you could use for comparison too such as a small dog chasing a frightened child on a bike or skates as the child crashes into a tree....
Any dog can be dangerous in the right circumstance.
I have a song recommendation if you need background music.
Savin Me by Nickleback
It really describes the situation that pitbulls and other "dangerous" breeds are in. The chorus goes something like "Show me what it's like, to be the last one standing. Teach me wrong from right, and I'll show you what I can be. Say it for me say it to me, and I'll leave this life behind me, say it if it's worth saving me." It fits perfectly.
Let me begin by stating that no animal deserves to be hurt like that - ever! That trully sickens me...I've seen abused animals on Animal Planet, on the News and at our local shelters and I can't tell you how I hope whoever treated those animals that way gets what they deserve.
Good video angeeleeta. It is compelling and definitely makes a point but the neighborhood child molester was "such a nice guy".
But fair is fair, now find one that shows the child being mauled by the family pet. And the parents quoting "he was such a sweet dog - we just turned around for a minute...we don't know what happened" (true story...it was a family PB.) Or an elderly person being mauled by a dog that got out of a house. Or the smaller dog being ripped to threads right in front of their owners. There are breeds of dogs that do not do well with children, elderly, smaller animals, etc. And, yes, there are exceptions to every rule. But, initally these certain dogs were bred for a purpose and the killer instinct (though it lies in all dogs) is prominent in certain breeds and has not been successfully bred out of them yet. That is why back-yard breeders should be outlawed.
And yes, these breeds mostly fall into the hands of irresponsible and uneducated owners that should not own this breed (let alone any dog). I have a neighbor who was a BY Breeder of PB's. The neighborhood put a stop to it after one broke out of the house and mauled another dog that was being walked on a leash. I've seen the children being "walked by their dogs". Should they attack, they do not have the strength to control them. So when they bring them out, I brought mine in (how neighborly.)
Show me a video of PB's as seeing eye dogs or rescue dogs. And Labs are not vicious by nature...again I agree it is the owner's fault by not socializing the dog. I am sure there are reputable breeder who are working hard trying to breed these dogs correctly, but there are too many others that are not. That does not give me a comfortable feeling.
However, as for me, until they earn the award for trustworthiness and gentleness...I do not feel confortable with them. It is sad that they have earned this reputation, but there is some truth to the rumors.
Maybe this will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling...I bet their families would love that video... (http://www.dogexpert.com/FatalDogAttacks/Criminal%20prosecutions/Top%20page.html)
Below are a representative sample of cases in which felony prosecutions were made. In these cases, most charges and subsequent convictions have been for manslaughter. The only two murder convictions to date in the United States, both upheld on appeal, happened in Ohio in 1994 and in Kansas in 1997. There are only two cases to date in which the defendant was acquitted of manslaughter charges: South Carolina (2000) and Pennsylvania (2004).
State v. Munn (Florida, 1947). Pit bull breeder convicted of manslaugher for mauling death of women who was attacked by eight of his dogs.
State v. Turnispeed (Georgia, 1988). Defendant convicted of involuntary manslaughter due to mauling death of 4 year boy by defendant's pit bulls who escaped from defendant's property.
State v. Smith. (Arkansas, 1993). Defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges and was sentenced to 3 years in prison for the 1991 mauiling death of a 50 year old lady by his roaming pit bulls.
State v. Powell (North Carolina, 1993). Defendant convicted of involuntary manslaughter when his two Rottweilers killed a jogger.
State v. Mann (Ohio, 1994) - Defendant convicted of first degree murder when he ordered his attack trained pit bull to attack his girlfriend.
State v. Davidson (Kansas, 1997). Defendant convicted of second degree murder when her Rottweiler dogs escaped from her property and mauled to death a child waiting at a school bus stop.
People v. Speagle. (South Carolina, 2000) - Defendant acquitted of manslaughter by jury verdict. Case involved pack of dogs, some of which - the prosecution believed - were the defendants. Dogs mauled to death a middle age man walking in the early morning hours in a rural neighborhood to a 7-eleven store.
People v. Noel, Knoller. (California, 2002) - San Francisco Dog Mauling) - Both defendants guilty of manslaughter by jury verdict for mauling death of Diane Whipple by defendant's Preso canario dogs. One of the defendants was convicted of second degree murder. Subsequently, this controversial murder conviction was reversed on appeal by the trial judge.
People v. Schneider. (California, 2002) - Defendant guilty of manslaughter by jury verdict. In this case defendant's Rottweiler mixed dogs escaped through a fence that was in disrepair into the adjacent neighbor's yard and mauled an 8 y.o boy to death .
State v. Crawley (Ohio, 2004). Defendant, a physician, sentenced to six months in prison for 2003 mauling death of a 54 y.o women by his two rottweilers. Defendant's dogs were linked to the attack through DNA analysis.
State v. Hansen (Pennsylvania, 2004). The defendant's 3 y.o grandaughter was killed by two rottweilers who escaped from their pen. Defendant was aquitted of most serious charges stemming from this fatality, including involuntary manslaughter.
State v. McCuen (Colorado, 2004). In a high-profile case, a 33 y.o. mother was convicted of being in possession of a dangerous dog(s), resulting in death. McCuen was sentenced to 6 years in prison for an incident in which 3 pit bulls she owned with her estranged husband attack and killed a neighbor in a rural area outside Denver. The husband is awaiting trial on similiar charges.
State v. Large (Virginia, 2005). A high-profile case involving 3 pit bull which maulled and killed 82 y.o. Dorothy Sullivan. Sullivan was brutally attacked: Parts of her scalp were torn away, chunks of flesh were torn from her arm and thigh, and there were bites on Sullivan's ankle down to the bone. The case marks the first time in Virginia in which a person was convicted of manslaughter for the actions of their dog. At one point, Lthe defendant had 13 pit bulls living in her doublewide trailer. The defense argued that the defendant did not own all of the dogs involved in the attack on Sullivan and that she did not know her dogs were dangerous. An FBI expert testified that human hairs found in that dog's digestive tract had the same microscopic characteristics as hairs found on several of Sullivan's brushes and combs. The defendant, Deanna Large, was sentenced to 3ys. in jail.
What she is referencing here is the face that, all people see are the bad, when a well trained, well bred dog is the perfect bundle of cuddles regardless of breed.
Yes, there are inherent issues within a breed you need to always be aware of, but under the right circumstances, these dogs don't deserve the reputation they get.
People go after these breeds from different angles. Some want the most viscious animal they can find so they get the dog with the highest reputation for it. Some people see the breed and think "oh that's a violent animal" and they avoid it. Others, like our lovely rachel here, believe they can reform this "dangerous" animal and have successfully reformed a "dangerous" animal who has become a beloved pet. She is always aware of the danger as you can see from some of her pics the "dangerous" one has a muzzle on as a precaution.
You're preaching to the wrong choir in this case.
I knew a guy who owned a PB named Buster who I called butter because he was such a sweet lovable dog. I used to volunteer to walk him because he was such a joy. BUt the problem was, when he got bored he tore up a door. One day I was pet sitting him, and he went berserk!! I couldn't get him to stop going crazy... he knocked oover a 500 lb (I'm exhagerating but you get the point) recliner SOFA!! I finally sat in the floor and cried and he instantly changed back to the sweet dog I knew and ran to comfort me.
I didn't try to use force to bring him under control because I knew the damage he could do to me in his berserk state. Most people don't know what to do when the animals get in this state and do the wrong thing and get mauled, and BOOM we have a problem. Now I'm not discrediting the animals that just suddenly charged someone and attacked... but you can't try "normal" control methods when a dog is going crazy.
Let's take a lab, if 50 years ago, someone decided.. I'm going to make labs the meanest dog on the block, and then purposely bred them that way, then we'd all be fearing labradors. I mean it would have taken awhile and probably some steriods or something.. but any dog can be turned into a killing machine.
Rachel wants to point ou thte lighter side of these "violent" breeds.
Another dog, Dallas, a rotty, was a push over. A cat could come up to him and he'd back away freaking out. One day I pulled out one of my ferrets and just held it near him.. that poor dog started scooting away in a QUICK like hurry. I moved closer, he started whining. Finally I set my ferret on the ground (with a leash) and the ferret just took not even two steps and Dallas just start yelping and hollering and ran into the house.
We all laughed, but any other dog, I would not have tried this. Lady our giant Alaskan Malamute (that idiots thought was a wolf) would let the ferrets crawl all over her and she would let them ride on her back if they jumped up there. Ferrets like to play attack things, and if I didn't KNOW lady wouldn't do anything, I wouldn't have allowed it. Lady knew that my pet was her equal and if she hurt my pet it would hurt me. You can argue with me for hours that this wasn't the case and you'll never win it. You can't tell me any different. It was when lady started loosing her eyesight that she became dangerous to let small animals around her.
DOn't try to tell rachel she's stupid (which is what it looks like when you go on about how dangerous and visicous these dogs can be) for trying to reform dangerous animals, and don't try to lecture her ON the danger.. she knows all this and it's pointless.
I think that if you really want to help the reputation of these "dangerous" breeds, you may be going about it the wrong way. Of course there are pitbulls that are great with other dogs and Dobermans that are wonderful with strangers. BUT, by showing a video that only shows the "good" ones could be damaging. The last thing you want is for a family with young kids, cats and other dogs to see a video of a pitbull playing nicely with other dogs. The family decides that all those stereo-types were wrong and choses to get a pitbull. THEN, when the pitbull attacks their dog, their story is all over the news!!
You would be better off being realistic about the attributes of these breeds. It would be great to show this video, but along with it you must be honest. By educating people about the true potential of these breeds you will have far less unsuspecting owners getting them.
I understand what you're trying to do, and as a "dangerous" breed owner myself, I know how it feels when people steer clear of your dog. I can say that I have only recommended an Akita to maybe a couple people, EVER! I love the breed, but the last thing I want is for "just anyone" to get one. I would rather someone know the good, bad and the ugly about the breed than to get it because "the one on the video looked so nice".
Shaiya - I agree with you actually. It would be very damaging for people to think that ALL represtentatives of the breeds are perfect, just as it is in the opposite situation. But really I was intending to show that not all of these breeds a re angerous, rather than show that all of them are not. If that makes sense. Plus the fact that probably not many people will see it once I've finished. Your dog's gorgeous by the way!
Galaxygodess - thanks, you got it.
samdj - There are many examples of PBTs as rescue and therapy dogs, actually. And breeds like Rotties as therapy dogs.
Angeleeta - Nice video! Well, not nice, but very powerful.
galaxygoddess...sorry, dear, I didn't miss the boat, but I do think you have baked too long in the sun on your dingy. You definitely need anger management classes. A forum or thread or whatever you call it is to open up different view points so that we all can learn and educate one another. Not every one is as narrow minded as you, nor do they get angry because someone has a different opinion than theirs.
I understand that these dogs have gotten a bad rep, but pit bulls were bred to bring down bulls were they not? Mastiff, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, and even Boxers can all follow suite (BTW, I own a Boxer and get the scared look even though he is only 14 weeks old - they see the brindel color and think PB.) But think about the breed and what they were bred for? You cannot put a PB in the same catagory as a Lab or a poodle...comparing the too..other than the fact they are both dogs...is ludacris.
I did not disagree, but I also wanted to make a point...lets not be fooled and blinded by the fact that some dogs are not good around children and elderly people.
Bears, lions and even wolves are cute and they can be trained to co-exist with humans, but an animal is an animal and we have to be realistic about these things. Understanding the true nature of the beast...be it domestic or wild. If we truly educate ourselves then we would understand that not every dog is meant to be cute and cuddly...and not every person should own animals. Most people do not study the breed before bringing it home. Shaiya1 got it...why can't you? (shaiya1, great pictures - especially the party animal one )
BTW, I never said Rachel was stupid...YOU DID. As a matter of fact, she brought up a very good point. I just said that there is two sides to every coin and we cannot close our eyes to either one of them. It's called being open-minded...you should try it sometime...
I did...bottom line is until we get rid of BY breeders and those who do not know what they are doing when it comes to these dogs...this subject will never have a happy ending.
Some dog breeds do need a firmer hand than others, but firm does not mean cruel. It doesn't mean they are vicious, but it is based on their personality and breed traits. In other words, not everyone should own a Bull Matiff or a Dogue-DeBordeaux (they are sweet but a handful.)
I am a dog lover (I've also owed a rabbit, bird, cats, and worked with cattle) and there are too many good dogs in the world that get a bad rep from the bad ones and, yes, there are bad ones...just like people.
I constantly cite the age old debate of "nature v. nurture" it's not either or, it's both.. you can take a perfectly sweet innocent dog and turn it into a killing machine or a mean vicsious dog and turn it in a loyal cuddle bug. It's all in how you, the owner, handles and trains the dog.
It would be very damaging for people to think that ALL represtentatives of the breeds are perfect, just as it is in the opposite situation. But really I was intending to show that not all of these breeds a re angerous, rather than show that all of them are not. If that makes sense. Plus the fact that probably not many people will see it once I've finished. Your dog's gorgeous by the way!
