to not understand why people have these types of dogs in their homes

[FunnysInLaJardin]

I've heard the arguments for and against keeping pit bull/mastiff type dogs and just don't understand at all why anyone would keep a powerful muscular dog as a pet in a family home. Yet another sad news story today in a village just down the road from my home village.

This isn't a AIBU really, just a 'why do they do it'. Is a pet really worth the risk? There are so many other dog types to chose from. I don't understand at all.

It's like those people who talk about wanting their animal "to have the experience of motherhood". Makes me soooooo angry!

Why is it wrong on so many levels?

He came from a friend of the family, who had both his mum and dad, from about a mile away. Did you not read that I was UNABLE to find a dog from a rescue as my dc were considered too young.

I have a Labrador who is the softest most gentle placid dog in the world BUT I would never fully trust him. If children are around him I keep near and have a close eye and make sure any children playing with him know the boundaries and tell them to leave him alone if needs be.

As I have young children he spends most of his days outside while the kids are inside and only comes in when they go to bed. This was mainly due to the fact my daughter would try to cuddle, play with him and I didn't want it to get too much. If he was inside and someone came round with children he would automatically get put outside. He is also terrified of fireworks and as such the children are not allowed near him if he's looking spooked.

I know so many people with all sorts of breeds who don't take proper precautions BUT I would never have a mastiff/staffs type breed. The main reason being that like everyone has said you can never trust ANY dog even if you have brought them up all their lives and think you know them inside out. By choosing a Labrador I have a dog which is bred to have a 'soft mouth' so if he did bite he would cause a lot less damage than a mastiff that has hugely powerful and muscular jaws and is breed to hold on, not let go and bring their opponent down.

Where did I post I wanted my dog to experience fatherhood?

I don't, but I would like one of his puppies. Why is that wrong on so many levels?

What would happen to the rest of the puppies baskingseals?

I'd love a pup from my bitch, but not enough to risk her life or that of the pups I was unable to keep, so it won't be happening, she's had her "baby bits" taken out, as the DC put it.

i would like one of his puppies

What about the mum? Are you going to help find homes for all the other puppies?
Contribute for any intervention if the mum needs surgery? Will you help check he homes of potential owners?

Or will you just take the stud fees?

All dogs are just dogs, you be nice to them, they have big hearts. If you mistreat them, they'll be mean.

We have an old rottweiler and a staffie cross. Lovely dogs

This could have been us. We took on two labs from a 'reputable' rescue who did all the home checks on us. Knowing what I have learned since, those dogs should never have been allowed home with us.

Within days it was clear that both dogs had been abused, one was already aggressive and the other was traumatised and unpredictable. The rescue must have known this. They deliberately deceived us and I do not say that lightly. So not all rescue organisations are as responsible as some people here make out.

I think our set ups are different.
I see my dog's siblings on a fairly regular basis, most if not all the puppies in his litter were homed locally. I would expect the same thing to happen if my dog was the father of a litter, I would like to emphasise that I have and WOULD not actively seek out a mate, but if the situation ever arose I would give it serious consideration, but that is not to say that I would do it with no thought to the fate of the other puppies.

Giles, no I would not take a stud fee. My motives are not pecuniary.

Baskingseals - let's say you breed your dog. Can you absolutely guarantee that not one dog resulting in that mating will ever end up in rescue? Say the mating results in 8 puppies. And one of those 8 goes on to have 8 puppies. And one of those 8......and so on and so on.

However far down the line you go, it's almost inevitable that at some point AT LEAST one - and probably far more - of the dogs that YOUR dog brought into being will end up being destroyed. Even if JUST ONE ends up in rescue, it will be taking up a rescue space that will probably result in some other dog being destroyed.

I just couldn't have that on my conscience.

And yes my dog - and her mum who we brought home as well as we fell in love with her and it was her last litter - were from a breeder. I had no idea back then. Knowing more now, I can't imagine ever buying from a breeder again and would certainly NEVER breed from mine.

Equally not all breeders are responsible Auriga, taking on a dog, from any source without doing a serious amount of homework first, is a risk.

A lot of breeders think it is good idea to put their dog with their mates/neighbours/random dog in the park with no forethought on either dogs medical history or suitability for each other and with no intention of further improving the breed both medically and behaviorally. This could just as easily lead to be behavior problems in the future as taking a dog from a rescue could and quite often does lead to serious health issues and expensive vet bills.

If you want to take on a dog, it is imperative to do your homework and ask the right questions and will it remain that way until the regulations on the breeding, sale and handling of dogs and other animals are more tightly controlled.

There are no guarantees calamitykate.

I doubt I will breed him. But I would be very tempted to, and yes I would be actively involved in homing the puppies in a responsible way.

I would hope that my next dog is from a rescue, but frankly, they are not exactly inspiring confidence at the moment.

All dogs are NOT just dogs. That's like saying all people are just people.

Genetics play their part. There are certain innate drives and traits that are innate. A dog can be trained to control them, and early socialisation is critical but a naturally easily spooked puppy will probably always be more wary of new things than a naturally more confident and curious one.

They aren't blank slates. Of course nurture plays a huge part but to completely ignore nature is a mistake. It's a lovely idea - that all you need is love and kindness but it is NOT the whole story and it can be downright dangerous.

Yes. There are guarantees.
Not breeding from your dog ABSOLUTELY guarantees that none of his offspring, or their offspring, will end up unwanted.

I agree, it's like saying that if a young adult misbehaves/ is violent it MUST be their parents fault. often it is as love, respect, socialisation are taught from parents but 2 people can be parented the same and have very different natures. Same for dogs.
They are all varients of wolves though and were originally meant to live in packs in the wild, not cooped up in small flats. OK a spaniel is very unwolf like, but the dogs that tend to attract children are more wolf like.
Just get a fish tank.

baskingseals - do you realise how expensive the health tests are for a Labrador?

More than buying a puppy from a good breeder.

Calamitykate, I think you are preaching to the choir.

I am fortunate to live in an environment where I can walk my dog off lead for miles and not meet another dog or human. My dog does not need to be castrated. I would consider breeding from him WITHIN this particular environment. I would probably not consider owning a dog if I did not live where I do now, in fact one of the major reasons and advantages of living in the sticks, from my point of view is to be able to provide my dog with a fairly ok life, as far as dogs lives go.

I donate regularly to the Dogs Trust, and I agree with you and doin about indiscriminate breeding.

Tabular, I DID not buy my dog from a breeder.
He is from an old family friend who shoots a lot, and is involved on big shoots. He had both parents.

baskin you cannot ever 100% garuntee your dog won't encounter another dog. Takes one person passing through. One new resident to the area.

Whether or not you breed, whether or not you know you won't encounter another dog, it's attitudes like yours that are part of the problem. People think that they can stop it happening. Til that one day where it's too late.

Thinking about my dog training classes, all the dogs are 6-9 months old, all different breeds, all similar-ish owners (ahem, middle class) and all the dogs are are very variable in temperament.

Some of them are very interested in the other dogs, some not, some are boisterous, and a few I would give a very wide berth. Funnily enough, it's the West Highland terrier that looks the meanest. Snarling at other dogs and people and the owner is a very nice woman looking totally stressed.

So I think that it is ridiculous to claim that the owners somehow make the dog. A good and committed owner can train a dog into acceptable ways, but some dogs are mad, or jumpy, or bad tempered and no amount of training will make these traits disappear altogether.

I worked in a vets. Took calls all the time for "morning after pills" watched neutering a of pregnant dogs and cats.

Accidents happen

Giles, you don't get a lot of people passing through these parts.

Would also like to add that if my dog was disobedient, I would consider having him neutered, but he isn't. He has clear access out of here, he is lying on my feet as I type.

Well, a big dog certainly can do more damage than a small one. But having prejudice against certain breeds is just nonsense.