Can these dogs REALLY be rehabilitated?

opcorn:

 

Thorough first hand observation and years of experience. Everyone should see ten Pit Bull fights involving other breeds before they get a Pit Bull ...then no one except dog fighters would want one.

They aren't naturally aggressive, and that's what makes them popular. They are usually friendly and sociable. The trouble comes when they get it in their head they are going to kill something ...once that switch has been flipped, its almost impossible to turn off. They suddenly become psycho dead-enders.

There are several news stories per day that could be prevented with that advice.

 

We had a pit/boxer mutt growing up...by far the best dog we've ever had.

And I learned this the hard way...but my kid and the dog wasn't unattended. I was right there; not 3 feet from them. No dog can be trusted, in my mind. You have to teach a child to respect the dog for what it is.

 

Same here Koo, you wouldn't think a Sheltie could bite very hard, but she left a nasty bruise on DS's hand. I never turned my back on them again. EVER. And DS wasn't doing anything at all to provoke her, we always taught him to be gentle with her.

Some friends of ours had a cocker spaniel that bit their daughter on the face, very near her eye and took several stitches to close, they were in the same room with them too. It just takes a fraction of a second, unfortunately. Little kids and dogs, sometimes it's just not good, period.

 

The only dog that has ever tried to bite me was a Cocker Spaniel. I had a friend when I was a kid whose Cocker bit her right through the lip. It was not the same one that tried to bite me either. Personally, I wouldn't have a Cocker Spaniel if I had small children. That said, I really don't trust ANY dogs with little kids. IMO, dogs are kinda like knives... they need to be handled with care, and all young children should be supervised when around with them.

 

And Chow's are mean? Yeah right.

I don't like little ankle biters anyways :mrgreen:

 

Yep, that's one breed I won't own either. That dog I was talking about was meaner than a snake, always had been. We had one for a while growing up, gorgeous blond one. He was awful too. You couldn't even sit next to my mom on the couch or he'd try to get you. Had to be muzzeled to be groomed. Nowadays, I guess you'd have to call Cesar! He got hit by a car though, after he slipped out of the house. My mom was devastated