Keith_Landry's Blog

kill it, kill it, kill it, kill it!!!!!!!

Oh sorry, I thought this was another pit bull attack cause it seems whenever these dog attack stories come up everyone wants to say it is always pitbulls that do this.

Just thought I could jump on the bandwagon first this time.

Even though Chow dogs are known to be very protective of their owners, it's hard to say what could have happened as I believe we are missing some of the story. If the child and dog have been getting along fine, then I wonder if the child instigated the attack. The age was not mentioned, so if the child is young, I would recommend all families to keep younger children away from any type of dogs as children have a tendency to torment animals. Whose to say the child was wasn't relentlessly pulling on the dog's tail or any part of the body? With the many recent stories in the news about dog attacks within families, it seems this is becoming an increased problem. So Keith, maybe when you get a moment, you can fill us in on the details a little more.

Ok - take this from a person who grew up on a farm with 'dangerous dogs.'

Farm dogs, usually retrievers and spaniels with the occaisional terrier mix, kill for a living.

Which brings us to point (a). If you think it's "cool" to watch your dog run down and kill an armadillo, keep in mind that, in the dog's mind, that is just a small, quick animal, no different from a small dog, a cat, or a small child.

Dogs attack what they are either dominant over, what they need to impress their dominance over, and when they're threatened.

Which brings us to point (b). Children shouldn't take a second seat to the dog. Dogs don't understand 'fair,' 'nice' or whose turn it is. If the child wants up on the couch and the dog is there, the child makes the dog move. This establishes the dog under the child in the pecking order. If the dog feels that it is above the child, it is IN THE NATURE OF THE DOG to nip the child as a reminder as to who is who.

It is important that the dog bond with the children and establish the 'pack.' Rough play such a tug of war and fetch and wrestling are essential, and the child should win almost every time. Again, the dog doesn't understand 'cheating.' If the child can't win the tug-of-war, then help the child and you will get the same effect. If the child can't overcome the dog wrestling, cooperate with the child and defeat the dog. This establishes the pecking order.

If the dog bites, beat it and force it into a submissive posture. That's the mistake that most people will make. A dog bites because it believes it has earned the righ

OBVIOUSLY KEITH, every situation is different.

I've had quite afew dogs over my lifetime, and also experienced many belonging to other people of all lifestyles.

AS A RULE. if the dog is in the house before the child is born, there is always this LITTLE BIT OF HIDDEN anomocity within the dog. If the dog is of a smaller breed, or medium size, this is not something that cannot be handled thoughout life. BUT if it's a dog like a Chow, or Rottie, or Pitt, then you have to realize that this dog CAN NEVER be trusted alone with the child. Because the dog is STILL an animal. And dogs have a memory, and also have feelings.

Equal attention should always be shown to the dog, and child never forgetting though to keep the dog ever mindful that YOU are the master. And the dog will not want to disappoint you. Many times these accidents ocurr because the owners get lazy about their position with the animal. When children are involved you can NEVER let down your command guard with a dog. IN THE END, he will prove only that HE IS WHAT HE IS. An animal.

Dogs will be dogs and all dogs bite.
Parents need to be parents and keep an eye on their kids.

More like what did the kid do wrong to the dog to have it turn on him like that?

I have a chocolate lab, a boxer/collie mix, and a boxer puppy. The most aggresive? The Lab. She is very protective.

Dogs must be supervised, period. Children must be even more so supervised. When the dog owner leaves the room, everyone is potentially at risk, regardless of the breed.

I agree with everything wizard said...except..beating the dog to submission.
To get dog into submissive state would have been a better analogy. in other words pin it down by the neck, as mama would have done as a pup.
My dog knows when i raise my voice...I'm done and he better behave, I do not have to beat him ever, even my female pit, i have never had to beat her, she gets submissive the min my octave raises a tad.
Another tool i use is a rolled up paper....since a pup..he knew this wasnt a good thing, so again , training is a key, and being leader of the pack is another VITAL key.

I have had many, many dogs in my life, ranging from Rottweilers to Dobermans to Bloodhounds, Rat Terriers, various Hound breeds, German Shepherds, the list goes on. I currently have 17 dogs. In the past, one of the most aggressive dogs I ever owned was the smallest; a 45lb Rat Terrier who thought he was a Pitbull. (no insult intended to Pit owners) Currently, one of my most aggressive is my Bloodhound, Bubba. He actually came from Tomoka State Prison. They had to get rid of him, because every time he caught an escapee, he bit them! It just depends on the circumstances, how they're raised, and how they've been treated. Who knows, maybe the boy did nothing, or maybe he sat on the dog, startled it, or smacked him with a toy. Once a dog bites a child, I believe it needs to be removed from THAT home.

Twizlled - if you don't hit your dog, especially the larger and more dominant breeds, then your dog will not 'get' that there is an Alpha.

I'm not saying whip it with a chain. I'm saying smack the dog and establish dominance. This is how it works im the pack - I can hurt you because I am dominant, but you can't hurt me.

Now, at the same time, I own a Neapolitan Mastiff, and that's an agressive beast whose nature it is to take control of her surroundings. She has an extremely high threshold for pain and could care less if you hit her. When she wrestles my pit/mastiff mix, he'll bite her face and drag her across the floor, and that's all part of the fun.

To dominate her, you smack her, and then you shame her, meaning that I don't let her sit at my feet or be in the same room as I am. THAT is torture for her - she'll do anything to get back to her position at my feet.

However, it is the physical act that establishes the dominance, even when it isn't sufficient on its own and has to be backed up with the action of shaming.