Letter — Owners of aggressive dog breeds should take training
LETTER — Hi there. I recently read your article on Pit Bulls at dog parks. I have had my Pit Bull for a year and he is two. Although I strongly disagree with how you described this breed (it’s evident you do not have a lot of knowledge on these breeds) I think you are right.
Also I should point out I had this view myself before I owned mine. However you failed to address the issue. When I first got my dog I was tempted to bring him to the dog park but decided against it because at times he seems aggressive towards other dogs. I thought, “that would be stupid of me, why was I even considering it.”
However Rottis, Jack Russel’s, Dobbermine’s etc etc are also known for being aggressive with other dogs. Yet you see some there. Also there is cross breeds that are known for being aggressive.
So how do we know who should be there or not? Well, it’s simple, we need to mandate that dog owners that register aggressive breeds take training. At the end of the training a professional can delegate a set of rules that the owner must adhere to. The proceeds should go to the SPCA (this would ensure that residents do not feel taken advantage of).
Is this easy? No, it’s not. But neither is owning an aggressive dog. The point is a simple one, if you do not want to put in the work then you have no business with a Pit Bull or German Sheapard. Why should you and your little buddy be made uncomfortable and threatened because an inexperienced individual wants to test his dog’s temperament?
These breeds of dogs require an owner who is both responsible and dominate. Special mandatory training not only educated owners but allows law enforcement to bypass the classic excuses (“he was provoked,” “my dog would never bite anyone,” “I didn’t know I could not bring him here”).
I’m sorry you had a negative experience with a careless pit bull owner that gives the rest of us a bad name. Let me know if you ever want to have a positive one and I will introduce you to my dog Gauge. Take care.
CODY DANIS
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Should owners of aggressive dog breeds take training?
I agree because bad owners grow bad dogs.
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Hi,
I’m a first time dog owner, who decided to rescue a 2-3yr old female pitbull as my first dog. Honestly, I never fully knew the extent to how this breed is perceived until I started walking my dog down the street. As I started reading more articles and books on training and socializing pitbulls, fear started to take over. The fear of how I am perceived for having a pitbull, the fear of my pitbull attacking anybody, fear of punishment of owning a pitbull. It’s a lot to take in, but at times almost made me feel like I should be a prisoner. Like I should not walk my dog or take my dog to the dog park all for fear. At first I was afraid of my dog meeting other dogs.
Well fast forward 4yrs later with plenty of training, now I’m confident my dog has good social behaviors. I take her to the dog park at least once a week with no problems. At the park, she keeps to herself, plays with dogs she WANTS to play with, and let’s other dogs know she means business if she wants her space and doesn’t want to play. My dog has never attacked another dog. Why is that? There was once where one dog tried to pin my pitbull down, all she did was bark and growl and moved away. I didn’t have to say anything, she just knew what to do.
To a certain degree, I agree with what is being said. Training helps. But aggressive breeds aren’t always the ones causing problems. I have seen plenty of pitbulls at dog parks, 90% behave just like every other dog breed. When a pitbull is involved, it usually is the victim, yet people still shame the pitbull and the owner. That’s from what I have seen at dog parks, so take it for what it’s worth.
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I agree about dog owners and their dogs. Any dog can be aggressive and certain breeds are at higher risk of having problems. I have a Jack Russell and a Retriever x. The dog I most worry about is my Retriever. Why? Because she has anxieties. She is not aggressive. I have two high needs dogs.
Dog owners need to do research into the breeds that they want to own before they get a puppy because they are cute. Jack Russell make the cutest puppies. Are they the best dog for first time pet owners? No. Are pit bulls? No. Is my Retriever? No. Every breed and dog is unique just like children. Don’t generalize dogs because they all look the same. You shouldn’t do that with people either. Do your work before you decide to own a dog, train them properly and love them unconditionally. And find something to keep them active and busy. That is all you need to do.
If you have a dog with aggression issues with people or other dogs, don’t bring them to the dog park. Take them to a trainer who will work with you and your dog to teach both of you how to work through these issues. It is never just the dog’s problem. It is also yours. That is part of the pact you signed up for when you decided to bring this animal into your life.
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