My Dog and her Gifts

[martha]

For your consideration, Master, and others. I have a sixty five pound mixed breed. One day while walking across the street from a house, the lady came out with her Rottweiler. She was taking him to the backyard, only about ten feet away. He saw me and Hunter and broke free from her grip. He was about 140 lbs. of pure muscle running at us and went into total kill mode. I was screaming and finally the husband came running and literally body slammed his Rotty. This was the first time, I forgave it and they paid the vet bills. I avoided the area for quite some time, but due to my problem with walking long distances due to a physical ailment, I went back again past their house some time later. This next time I was passing in front of their house and this same Rotty broke through the door of the backyard fence and attacked Hunter. Their response to the incident was quicker this time, so thankfully Hunter didn't sustain severe injury like the first time. This Rottweiler has not been raised to be aggressive. He is a family dog , raised by them since it was a puppy. There are two very small dogs that also live with them. The lady did confess that their Rotty almost killed another very small dog from the neighborhood, a while ago. Needless to say, since I have a car now, I drive Hunter to our place to walk. I will never go past that house again with my dog.

Why would a dog that is not raised to be aggressive, attack my dog, unless it is in the genes? For a moment, I thought that it might be something in my dogs look, so to speak, that spurred this dog to attack. Frankly though I don't see it. I mean we were across the street minding our own business for heaven's sake. I have to conclude that there is a certain trait, perhaps bred into some animals that leads to agressive behavior, with some exceptions to the rule. I don't know for sure, but as for me, I will avoid certain breeds of animal, just to be on the safe side. I love all creatures, great and small and I don't wish to malign any creature, but I prefer to err on the side of caution in future.

 

[Master Vigil]

It could have been anything martha. Dogs are very competitive animals, it could have just been that your dog was there. In the other dogs territory. If that was an odd occurrence for the other dog, (being that they weren't too quick to respond the first time) means that the dog isn't regularly aggressive. If the dog was really aggressive because of his genes, he would attack every dog. Or atleast alot of dogs. Not just yours.

 

[Druidus]

Master is right on that one. It could have been a myriad of causes.

My dog is not aggressive, usually, but if she sees another female dog, bang, it's all I can do to keep them apart.

I must disagree that all dogs are as likely to be aggressive as the next. There are factors in the genes that make it different for each dog. Environment plays the largest role, but genetics does play a part.

 

[kreeden]

MV , it did attack others dogs , or so Martha said . All animals are aggessive by nature , to some degree and at the right times . Have you ever seen Rabbits during mating season ? Yea , cute little bunny rabbits tearing each other apart . Sorry . Not a pretty picture , and they don't usually kill one another , but they sure do get aggessive .

BTW dogs are inbreed mutants ... and I love dogs , but the truth is they have been breed for our pleasure and yes , some were breed for aggression .

 

[Master Vigil]

I know they can be aggressive. But from what I've studied (and I suppose I'm wrong, and thats ok. ) is that they weren't bred for aggression, but simply for the physical features that would allow its natural aggression to be better utilized. Like, why a martial artist trains for endurance, and muscle build, it makes a better fighter. But we don't train to make ourselves aggressive, we just train ourselves so that our natural aggressiveness can be better utilized. Does that make sense? Or am I completely wrong?

 

[kreeden]

Don't know MV , never met a martial artist dog ?

However , you say that dogs aren't genically aggressive , but then say that they were breed simply for the physical features that would allow its natural aggression to be better utilized ? Now , if you are talking about Pitbulls , they were breed using two types of dogs that already were breed as fighting dogs . So it seems like a bit of spin doctoring going on there MV ???