Top Myths of Dog Aggression Part II

Dog aggression is a common problem, just like aggression in people.  It doesn’t matter what nationality you are and it doesn’t matter what breed the dog is.  Aggressive tendencies are linked mainly to social environment, upbringing, and training in both people and dogs.  Here are some myths associated with aggression as it relates to dogs. Awareness is key to understanding how to train your dog and teaches us how to deal with other dogs on a daily basis.  So what is all the fear about anyway?

MYTH #2:  AGGRESSION IS BREED-SPECIFIC
Let’s re-invent segregation and discrimination against dogs because of what they look like. We can call it breed specific legislation. Government agencies, landlords, insurance companies have found a new way to create a virtual holocaust of canine victims. Proponents would like you to believe that only pit bulls, German Shepherd Dogs, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Chows, etc. are aggressive dogs and that Labs, Goldens, Beagles, and other “nice” dog breeds would never bite.  This is inherently and patently false. Socialization history, the ability of the owner to manage the dog, how well the dog has been taught bite inhibition, and the dog’s life experiences are far more likely to determine his bite risk than his breed.  Don’t believe everything you read. Punish the Deed not the Breed.

There are pit bulls functioning as service dogs.  German Shepherd Dogs are famous for their work with law enforcement, as are Rottweilers, Dobermans, Belgian Malinois, etc.  There are also Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Basset Hounds who have sent folks to the hospital for bite treatment.  Dogs of any breed can and will bite.  Some dogs may do more damage than others, some dogs may be more tolerant of the precursors for aggression (see above), some dogs may be more genetically predisposed to having soft mouths, etc., but all dogs can and will bite in a “perfect storm” situation.

MYTH #3:  SMALL DOGS ARE HARMLESS AND SAFE AROUND CHILDREN!
People laugh when a small dog growls and bites.  Oh, a Chihuahua?  Biting? It won’t hurt. Small dogs are better around children because they are virtually harmless.  Wrong!  All domestic dogs are equipped with teeth made for biting and tearing prey.  Though a larger dog may have a more powerful bite, small dogs are often times more likely to attack mainly because owners often don’t see a potential threat and fail to properly train them.  It is also easier for a small dog to bite more delicate areas of the body, and attack a child that is more at its level.

Small dogs are picked up and carried around a lot.  This only makes aggression worse! Owners do this to for a number of reasons – they may want to make the dog feel safe or see it as a way of protecting their guests and other dogs from those tiny but razor-sharp teeth.  Little dogs are generally more insecure and imbalanced as a result – think of it as the Napolean complex. If a dog feels insecure, it will bark, growl, and bite in response to its own fears.  Small dogs are often products of puppy mills and inbreeding and poor puppyhood social experience, which makes it even more important to train these dogs and avoid treating them like a child.

Stay tuned for Part III on Dog Aggression Myths coming in a few days….

Information in this post is based on original content that can be found here

Contents are the property of animal lover and proud pit bull owner Angela Bratrud. Reposts and retweets are welcome! Subscribe to my blog feed for great information on dogs, bully breeds, training and especially our beloved pitbull terriers.