How Not to Advertise Your Alma Mater

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<p>A friend had a similar experience, only with a small yappy dog who kept coming up trying to provoke her rather large dog (it was nighttime). She told the neighbor about the leash law, and he was a complete jerk in response.</p>

<p>True story…she let a month go by with at least 3 more confrontations, and then she took matters into her own hands. She wrote a “Dear Neighbors” letter crying the blues about her “small dog” that had been mauled to death by another dog earlier that week, and when she tried to get animal control to help her do something about that other dog she was told, sorry, the other dog was on leash, yours was not. (which is actually true in a court of law, and according to animal control here) She ‘sobbed’ in the letter that she didn’t want to see anyone else in the neighborhood lose their ‘precious family member’! She mailed 10 copies to the immediate neighbors of the jerk so if he chatted with others they got it too. It cost her $5. Guess what, she says jerk keeps his yappy pest on leash now.</p>

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<p>Busdriver: T-shirt guy also allows his same middle-school kids to drive their ATV fast up-and-down our narrow house-lined road, violating two more laws: unlicensed/undersized vehicle on road, and unlicensed/underage driver. There’s more. So he views kids as old enough to drive ATV alone, but only “young children” when asked to get dog and mind leash law. Dad’s lesson here is one of entitlement, and not good-neighborliness.</p>

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<p>Some may want to argue pit bulls don’t exist, some may argue their temperament is fine, but some uncaring owners don’t teach them well. I believe the second argument may have a sliver of reality. But to argue either of those is deliberately leaving out a huge factor- the capability of injury. Any dog can bite, and any dog can hurt another animal or person. But rarely do we hear on the news about an adult being seriously hurt or killed after being mauled by a Pekingese or Basset Hound. This leads me to believe the breed plus the size makes a risky combination.</p>

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<p>That’s a good point Younghoss. There was a case here a couple of years ago in which two pitbulls got into the yard of an elderly man and actually ate him.</p>

<p>My Jack Russell is too small to do real damage, although he is very scary and LOUD. I like the fact that he is loud.</p>

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<p>Kluge, are you kidding me? At least don’t put wrong information about the test out there. It’s not a “ten minute walk.” Here’s the description of the test:</p>

<p>(Please don’t misinform people and dismiss the test based on misinformation)</p>

<p>"The ATTS Temperament Test consists of ten subtests divided into five subcategories:</p>

<p>Behavior Toward Strangers
Objective: To measure the dog’s reaction to strangers in a non-threatening situation.
Subtest 1: Neutral stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches the handler, shakes hands with the handler and engages the handler in a brief conversation, ignoring the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog’s reaction to passive socialization and the dog’s protective instinct.</p>

<p>Subtest 2: Friendly stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches happily and briskly, is very friendly to the dog and pets the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog’s active social skills.</p>

<p>Reaction to Auditory Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog’s reaction to auditory stimuli and the dog’s investigative behavior.
Subtest 3: Hidden Noise
The handler/dog team approaches a hidden assistant who rattles a metal bucket filled with rocks and sets this bucket in the path of the team. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the bucket only when asked to do so. The handler’s focus must be on the bucket, not on the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to test alertness and curiosity.</p>

<p>Subtest 4: Gunshots
The handler stops at a designated marker with his/her back towards a well hidden assistant. The assistant fires three shots using a .22 caliber starter pistol (SHOT-PAUSE-SHOT-SHOT).
The purpose of this subtest is to measure the dog’s recovery response to a sudden noise.</p>

<p>Reaction to Visual Stimulus
Objective: To measure the dog’s reaction to a sudden visual stimulus.
Subtest 5: Umbrella
The handler/dog team approaches an assistant sitting in a chair holding a closed umbrella parallel to the ground at a 90 degree angle to the approaching team. When the dog is five feet from the assistant, the umbrella is opened. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the umbrella only when asked to do so. The handler’s focus must be on the umbrella, not on the dog.</p>

<p>Tactile Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog’s reaction to unusual footing.
Subtest 6: Plastic Footing
Both the handler and the dog walk the entire length of a 15-foot by 6-foot clear plastic strip.</p>

<p>Subtest 7: Wire Footing
Only the dog will walk the entire length of a 12-foot by 3-foot unfolded exercise pen.</p>

<p>The purpose of these subtests is to measure the dog’s sensitivity to unusual footing, its ability to recover from the fear of unusual footing and to measure its investigative behavior to the unusual footing.</p>

<p>Self Protective/Aggressive Behavior
Objective: These tests collectively evaluate the dog’s capacity to recognize an unusual situation, its threshold to provocation, its protective instincts, and its propensity to realize when the situation becomes a threat.
Subtest 8: Non-Threatening
The handler/dog team stops at the designated marker. A weirdly-dressed stranger crosses the path 38 feet in front of the team.
The purpose of this subtest is to test the dog’s alertness to an unusual situation.</p>

<p>Subtest 9: Threatening
The weird stranger advances 10 feet towards the stationary handler in a threatening manner.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog’s ability to recognize when an unusual situation turns into a provocation.</p>

<p>Subtest 10: Aggression
The weird stranger advances to within 18 feet of the stationary handler in an aggressive manner.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog’s protective instincts.</p>

<p>The stranger is never closer than 10 feet from the dog. The handler’s 2 foot arm and the 6′ lead is added in for a total of 18 feet. Aggression here is checked against the breed standard and the dog’s training. A schutzhund trained dog lunging at the stranger is allowed, but if an untrained Siberian husky does the same, it may fail.</p>

<p>At the conclusion of the test, the handler will receive a critique about the dog’s performance. Certificate will be mailed within 90 days of the test.</p>

<p>This copyrighted test (registration no. TXu000563600 / 1993-04-19) may not be used in whole or part without the express written consent of the American Temperament Test Society."</p>

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<p>Yes, any large dog can (and has) cause injury, although dogs cause at most somewhere around 30 deaths a year. Why don’t we start concerning ourselves more with all the things that cause more than 30 deaths a year first, like fast food, or… I don’t know… vending machines tipping over.
But look at what kinds of people adopt many of the pit bull type dogs, and look at what they get them for. Then, look at how many more pit bull type dogs there are (if you take all the different variations of all the breeds that could potentially look like one) than other type breeds - don’t quote me on this, but I believe something like 50%, or some other disproportionate amount, of dogs in the shelters are pit bull type dogs. Then, factor in that since there is a huge mass hysteria going on about the breed right now, a story about a pit bull is a lot more likely to make national news. Put it all together, and maybe that will help you understand why you hear more about pit bulls than any other large breed.</p>

<p>And to barrons, who feels there is no need for anyone to own one, I will give you a reason, although I doubt that you will understand or care or are even capable of understanding. Many of these sweet, wonderful dogs are mistreated, abused, and dumped at the pound, where, in most places, they will have about a week before they are killed. My dog had a day. The day I took him out another dog was given her last meal.</p>

<p>You may see a threat, but here’s what I see. I have the kindest-hearted dog I ever met. Period. My guinea pigs are on the floor with no cage or cover, just a space enclosed from the sides, and he has never even tried to put his head in. He doesn’t hurt ANYTHING, not street animals, not pigeons, not squirells, and not rats. He stays in an unfamiliar house with a 6-year-old, whose parents, with long experience in pet-sitting, say he is the sweetest dog they had in a long time. They are actually excited to have him when I go away.</p>

<p>Most importantly, he is kind, and gentle, and very sensitive, and really, really loving. And all he wants is some kindness and affection. He is a better soul than many people out there. And the world would be a worse place if he was killed.</p>

<p>So you know what? You can think what you want. I know these dogs. And I know other big dogs too. I grew up with a Rottweiler. And will never, ever stop fighting for them and for their simple right to live. And honestly, it’s pretty sad that some people feel themselves so superior to animals that they are OK to go around and talk about how no one needs to get a pit bull, essentially saying that the MILLIONS, yes, millions of dogs in the system should be killed. What sad, sad human beings.</p>

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<p>Not necessarily. An unleashed dog of about the size of the abovenamed dog breeds ran up and bit me viciously on my leg when I was 8 in the lobby of my then apartment building. Still have the scars more than 20+ years later. </p>

<p>Owner was in the midst of getting mail from his mailbox when this happened and immediately came up, apologized, and gave me his apartment number and told me to mail him all the medical bills from rabies testing and the bite. Being the responsible owner that he was, he paid those bills in full as promised. </p>

<p>While I know dangerous dogs come in all shapes and sizes due to personality traits/training, that experience is one reason why I am actually more afraid of being around smaller dogs and feel very comfortable with larger ones. </p>

<p>In fact, I’d feel very comfortable being around a German Shepard and yet, be extremely wary of being around a Pekingese or a Chihuahua. Heck, I enjoyed taking a friend’s large German Shepard out for a long walk while housesitting for his parents a few times in high school/summer weekends during undergrad.</p>

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<p>Acollegestudent, If you are going to quote statistics about dog bites, you should quote the entire statistic. You mentioned there being only around 30 fatalities per year from dog bites. Looking more specifically at that statement I found:</p>

<p>Taken from 2011 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities:
31 U.S. fatal dog bites occured in 2011. Despite being regulated in US military housing areas and over 650 U.S. cities, pit bulls led these attacks accounting for 71% (22). Pit bulls make up less than 5% of the total U.S. dog population.</p>

<p>Of the 8 total instances in which a family dog inflicted fatal injury to its primary caretaker, the dog’s owner, 88% (7) involved pet pit bulls.</p>

<p>Together put bulls and Rottweilers accounted for 84% of all fatal dog attacks in 2011. In the seven year period of 2005-2011 that same combination accounted for 74% of the total recorded deaths.</p>

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<p>Really, I am not advocating killing dogs.</p>

<p>I’m just looking for owners to have their dogs on a leash when they are out with the public.</p>

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<p>Ashley, if your BROTHER ran out and bit me I’d want the police to take him away from you.</p>

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<p>True story: I know someone who lives across the street from two dog owners-- one owns two dachsunds, the other a pit bull-- or rather, they DID have a pitbull. The dachsunds chewed through the screen door, dug under the fence, and killed the pitbull. Vicious, unsupervised, uncontained dogs are dangerous no matter what kind they are. Even the tiny ones.</p>

<p>I had a conversation recently with a member of an HOA in a subdivision we were considering moving to-- I’d decided not to because they prohibit the construction of fences. He wanted to know why I wasn’t okay with just putting in an electric fence if it’s our dogs we’re worried about. I told him that even if I have the most well mannered and even tempered dog in the world, all that could mean nothing if a child wandered into my yard, cornered my dog, and pulled his tail all while my back was turned-- or if another dog came into my yard and started a fight. Issues like this are why I am blown away that so many subdivisions here don’t allow fences. I’ve been wondering what kind of sane dog owner would move into one of these subdivisions, but I guess they’re probably the same ones that let their dogs off leash in the subdivision anyway.</p>

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From the ATTS website description of the test:

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<p>Acollegestudent, there is a major flaw in your argument. It’s called the jumping to conclusions.</p>

<p>You are trying to say that anyone who doesn’t like pitbulls should believe a million dogs should be killed today. Nobody on here is saying that. It is incorrect to think that is what anyone means. I am not advocating that nor is anyone else advocating the mass killing of dogs.</p>

<p>As others have said, we want them on leashes and we want them fenced and secured. Not running around loose to terrorize random strangers on the street.</p>

<p>The other thing you should know is in my county, there is no requirement to kill a vicous animal. It is an owner’s decision to do that. The county requires that animal that has sufficient history of random attacks either be put down, or be taken out of the county. The owner can choose to find a new home, outside of the county, or can choose to put the animal down. It’s the owner’s choice.</p>

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<p>In California there has been a ban on breed-specific legislation for decades. But a few years back an exception was made to allow local jurisdictions the option of requiring that all pit bulls be neutered - before breeding. I think San Francisco enacted such an ordinance, I’m not sure about other counties.</p>

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<p>Wait, is this a joke? This really, seriously happened? How?</p>

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<p>Dachshunds can be terrible dogs, especially as they age. I knew some people who had one and told me to stay 10 feet away as the dog would bite me otherwise. If you looked at it, it was a mean, mean dog.</p>

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<p>fendrock, I completely agree about the leash laws. I only ever came on this thread because pit bull type dogs started being singled out and attacked as being vicious. I LOVE dogs, all dogs, but that doesn’t mean I disagree with the leash laws, so, really, my response is only to the people attacking pit bulls.</p>

<p>kluge, please quote the whole page, not just the top part. On the same page where you got your quote they break down the ten parts of the test, which DO put dogs in all sorts of stressful as well as every-day situations. My quote above is the rest of the information about what the test consists of.</p>

<p>eastcoascrazy, I know exactly where you got your information, the dogsbite website. I would highly recommend you use a less biased place. There are actual studies and statistics, but that website is one of the most slanted website I have ever seen. They are very extreme and anti certain breeds, like pit bulls and Rottweilers. You can even look at their tag line: “Some dogs don’t let go,” referring to the infamous “locking jaw” of the pit bull, which has actually been scientifically disproven (pit bulls don’t even have the strongest bite out of all the large breeds). They even compare pit bull bites to SHARK BITES (?!) - again, this is for a dog that has scientifically been proven to NOT have the strongest bite out there. At least don’t rely on website that’s literally the most biased one out there.</p>

<p>And I can give you an easy way that statistic can be arrived at - the 5% figure is not a figure for all pit bull type dogs, just the pure-breds, which is a small part of the pit-bull-type population. Dog attacks, however, count anything that remotely looks like a pit bull. How To Lie With Statistics - one of the best books I ever read. And please note where they even get the statistics: “By compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and 2011, Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, shows the breeds most responsible for serious injury and death.” - seriously, the MEDIA is where reliable studies get their info??</p>

<p>[Good</a> News for Pets > Pet World](<a href=“http://www.goodnewsforpets.com/petworld/archive/pitbulls.htm]Good”>http://www.goodnewsforpets.com/petworld/archive/pitbulls.htm)</p>

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<p>“You are trying to say that anyone who doesn’t like pitbulls should believe a million dogs should be killed today. Nobody on here is saying that. It is incorrect to think that is what anyone means. I am not advocating that nor is anyone else advocating the mass killing of dogs.”</p>

<p>No, what I AM saying is that someone who says that there is no reason for ANYONE to have them as a pet is saying that. Because guess what? A lot of us who have dogs that look like or are pit bull type dogs got them precisely for that reason - to prevent them from being killed. If you believe people shouldn’t adopt these dogs (not you personally, but that argument HAS been made by other posters), guess what’s going to happen to them? Most of them have a few weeks or month before they are put down. You do the math.</p>

<p>And the mass killing of dogs is already going on. Of the 2-3 million dogs killed every year, at least 1 million killed are the pit bulls (I will look for a citation on that, because I think it’s even higher than that). Sweet, loyal, highly sensitive dogs, often gassed to death. And after that people are wondering why anyone needs to have one as a pet?</p>

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<p>They tore him up. Nobody saw it so we don’t know exactly how it happened. But I have seen a lot of vicious little dogs in my years of working with dogs, and I owned one at one point unfortunately-- he was a good dog for a long time but got progressively more viscious as he aged until he died. I’m not trying to diminish the danger a viscious large dog poses, but I just find it a little laughable that we’re talking as if little dogs are perfectly fine. They can maul a child just as easily as a large dog if left unsupervised. Their teeth are razor sharp and many of those breeds are extremely tenacious, not to mention territorial, by nature.</p>

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<p>Wait a minute…you’re saying that 1 million pitbulls are killed and another 1-2 million non-pitbulls are killed.</p>

<p>Isn’t the problem unspayed and unfixed dogs rather than public perception? If twice as many non-pitbulls are killed than pitbulls, I think the problem is not enough people wanting to adopt pets rather than public perception.</p>