Pitbulls attack mother, kills child(4 years old)

[ballinouttacntrol]

To be honest I skimmed your post because it's more then I want to spend my time reading. Your dog is snapping at people without knowing if they're a threat is where I started skimming. So essentially there's a possibility of it biting someone if you're not there but you're okay with the defensive behavior because you're choosing to view it as vetting a stranger? I would've broke the habit of needing a 5 minute window personally.

 

[davenmandy]

To be honest I skimmed your post because it's more then I want to spend my time reading. Your dog is snapping at people without knowing if they're a threat is where I started skimming. So essentially there's a possibility of it biting someone if you're not there but you're okay with the defensive behavior because you're choosing to view it as vetting a stranger?

Snapping in the air is different than biting at someone. The only time it would happen is if the person put their hand where she is snapping at the air, and the snapping behavior only happens like 1/5 times and those times are when someone wants to be the hero and try to pet her face when she is clearly not having it. The brunt of the matter is when there is a knock at the door or the doorbell (or a doorbell on TV lol) she runs to the door and barks. If it is a stranger she will continue to bark and very cautiously smell them and growl a bit, all the while not being able to help wagging her tail a bit because she does quite like company.

And no possibility of her doing anything when I am not there because when I am not at my home no one else is... If someone is at the door and I tell her to stay in the living room she stays, but I see that as further adding to the problem, so I let her go and do her thing because I know 100% of the time she has been fine, and if I make a deal out of it and cause her anxiety by staying when she wants to go to what's natural then that won't help the defensiveness will it? Personally I am happy with the defensive behavior actually, and since I know I can trust her I still don't see an issue.

Who raised your dogs out of curiosity? I'm just curious because a child calling it "their" dog is a bit different when the parents put the work into it or pay to have the bad habits taken care of. Not trying to dig at you, I just know that majority of times people like to claim their dog is perfect as if it is some testament to how well they can train a dog when that isn't reality.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

Snapping in the air is different than biting at someone. The only time it would happen is if the person put their hand where she is snapping at the air, and the snapping behavior only happens like 1/5 times and those times are when someone wants to be the hero and try to pet her face when she is clearly not having it. The brunt of the matter is when there is a knock at the door or the doorbell (or a doorbell on TV lol) she runs to the door and barks. If it is a stranger she will continue to bark and very cautiously smell them and growl a bit, all the while not being able to help wagging her tail a bit because she does quite like company.

And no possibility of her doing anything when I am not there because when I am not at my home no one else is... If someone is at the door and I tell her to stay in the living room she stays, but I see that as further adding to the problem, so I let her go and do her thing because I know 100% of the time she has been fine, and if I make a deal out of it and cause her anxiety by staying when she wants to go to what's natural then that won't help the defensiveness will it? Personally I am happy with the defensive behavior actually, and since I know I can trust her I still don't see an issue.

Who raised your dogs out of curiosity? I'm just curious because a child calling it "their" dog is a bit different when the parents put the work into it or pay to have the bad habits taken care of. Not trying to dig at you, I just know that majority of times people like to claim their dog is perfect as if it is some testament to how well they can train a dog when that isn't reality.

Me. im strict like you with other people wanting to do their own thing so I can relate to your stories. The Internet has made dog training easy to find different techniques and ways to break habits in comparison to the word of mouth, hearsay and gossips of the yesteryears

 

[TankDempsey]

Dog to dog aggression is a breed characteristic that can't be denied, dog to human aggression isn't a breed characteristic of the APBT. Any responsible APBT owner wouldn't allow unsupervised interaction with a unfamiliar dog.

I think part of the problem is many peoples experience with APBT is limited to a 20/20 special they saw or some other media headline.

I think dog to dog aggression isn't as interbred as we think. My Labrador in my profile pic is absolutely aggressive to other strange dogs, but is a gentle giant to literally every person he's met.

 

[skjl47]

if you go to pet her she will snap in the air (never at anyone, never bit anyone, pure defensive posturing).

If you want to pet her over the fence or through a car window... absolutely no chance,

"she is a friendly dog but please don't pay attention to her for the first 5 minutes, and please do not stick your hand out to pet her because she will snap in the air".

if I warned the person, and the person got their hand too close to the dogs mouth while she air-snapped, I am liable, period. If the wrong pizza delivery driver wants to be a hero, my dog breaks skin, and now (God forbid) they want the dog to be put down,

Hello; To me these are some of the reasons that I agree with the statement you are "playing with fire"

know there are things I can do to help work on that behavior (I don't overly feel the need to yet),

Hello; Will it not be too late to try after the dog actually bite a person and not the air?

Allow me to add one more thing. My guess is that you have a number of people who do not come back around because of the dog. If I go into someones home as a guest and their dog barks and snaps at me, I will not be back.
That you love the dog does not change the problems with the behavior. Your convoluted post indicates an awareness of the issues. Maybe a closer consideration of the liability you face.
Good luck

 

[pops]

as FYI , owner has been arrested for murder, among other things.

 

[davenmandy]

Hello; To me these are some of the reasons that I agree with the statement you are "playing with fire"



Hello; Will it not be too late to try after the dog actually bite a person and not the air?

Allow me to add one more thing. My guess is that you have a number of people who do not come back around because of the dog. If I go into someones home as a guest and their dog barks and snaps at me, I will not be back.
That you love the dog does not change the problems with the behavior. Your convoluted post indicates an awareness of the issues. Maybe a closer consideration of the liability you face.
Good luck

Maybe the way I described it seems worse than it is, the actual snapping is not a constant occurrence and it comes with the dog jumping back several feet, the defensive behaviour is most times. As for people not coming back, not an issue because the people that would be coming back are the people Brooke never stops bothering for pets and love about 5 minutes after they arrive. If anything to me that is the more annoying habit, her constant begging for affection even though she gets way more than enough. Anyway this wasn't the point I was trying to make, or maybe to you guys it is if you are thinking I will be liable for something in the end when I am quite sure I won't be. Owner is accountable, there may be a good way to train it out of her, but personally I see it as a minor issue and part of her general personality. One way or another not a pit bull.

I derailed the thread too much, my apologies, hope the charges against the guy stick.

P.s. Sk are you a dog owner? I didn't read the whole thread but the reason I ask because people that have dealt with animals with stranger anxiety know it's pure fear for the animal and the air snapping or showing of the teeth is a show of defence, the dog does not lunge towards anyone it retreats a bit, completely different atmosphere than aggression. Don't care to defend myself just trying to explain why I personally am not worried so I don't get lumped in with the murderer lol. The people that mostly come over arent strangers so Brooke won't even let them in the door she's so happy. She once bent a beer can completely in half with 1 tail swipe off the coffee table lol.

 

[pops]

the charge will stick, more a matter which murder rap he gets, seems these dogs where well known for being aggressive. at the least negligent homicide. most states that is 6 months to 10 years. lets hope for the 10.

 

[skjl47]

if you are thinking I will be liable for something in the end when I am quite sure I won't be. Owner is accountable, there may be a good way to train it out of her, but personally I see it as a minor issue and part of her general personality

Hello; Good luck with that.

Sk are you a dog owner?

Hello; No dogs at present. I do not have a good place for a dog right now. I have had dog's in the past.

Good to hear that the owner will face charges. Hope he/she gets the max.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

Maybe the way I described it seems worse than it is, the actual snapping is not a constant occurrence and it comes with the dog jumping back several feet, the defensive behaviour is most times. As for people not coming back, not an issue because the people that would be coming back are the people Brooke never stops bothering for pets and love about 5 minutes after they arrive. If anything to me that is the more annoying habit, her constant begging for affection even though she gets way more than enough. Anyway this wasn't the point I was trying to make, or maybe to you guys it is if you are thinking I will be liable for something in the end when I am quite sure I won't be. Owner is accountable, there may be a good way to train it out of her, but personally I see it as a minor issue and part of her general personality. One way or another not a pit bull.

I derailed the thread too much, my apologies, hope the charges against the guy stick.

P.s. Sk are you a dog owner? I didn't read the whole thread but the reason I ask because people that have dealt with animals with stranger anxiety know it's pure fear for the animal and the air snapping or showing of the teeth is a show of defence, the dog does not lunge towards anyone it retreats a bit, completely different atmosphere than aggression. Don't care to defend myself just trying to explain why I personally am not worried so I don't get lumped in with the murderer lol. The people that mostly come over arent strangers so Brooke won't even let them in the door she's so happy. She once bent a beer can completely in half with 1 tail swipe off the coffee table lol.

Think your originally wording made it sound worse then it really was. Snapping. I think most people have a pretty strong indication of what snapping at a stranger looks like. Then you go on to explain that your dog is biting at the air and it's not that bad. I don't tolerate any aggresive behavior toward other humans outside of our rough housing. I broke barking at the door habit with a spray bottle. Im not really sure what your dog is doing but it sounds like it's waiting to see that you're ok before allowing new people to get close. What happens if you don't warn someone? ever tried to let someone just go for it? see the full extent of what would happen?