Yes I was missing the point but see what you are saying now.

So why do we advise people see the parents? I always think if the parents are snappy etc the pup may well be so have this time looked for friendly mum and dad when we chose our latest.

Hi

I feel that you can't demonise a dog,its the ownersthat are at fault andthey are aware of what they are doing to a noble breed.On one of these rescue programmes,a dog had been reportedby neigbours,the Inspector knocked in the door anda young man answered,she asked to see the dog,but he said he was just off to work,and a relative was taking care,he asked why,the inspector told him,he replied its a "japanese corgi" very laidback,the Inspector told him she would return tomorrow,she was puzzled about the breed but thought it might be a 1st cross.Anyway she returned, and was introduced to a rather large Akita it definately had no corgi in it and this shows that most people are aware of the breeds and what they represent, At the moment it is fashionable to have a dog that they can use to make themselves macho.crystalgirl

Interesting point - I think if I was going to buy a dog from a breeder I would want to know he/she was an ethical breeder i.e the dogs were in good health and not kept in poor conditions.

My neighbour's dog had two litters of sprockers - the most gorgeous little things, first litter was 13 (!!!) and the second was 5. I can honestly say hand on heart each of those little 18 puppies are completely different to each other, the majority were rehomed locally so I see them frequently.

Sadly two died in the first two years of life with respiratory problems. The others that survived had such different temperaments, some very good with people and/or dogs some not so good, given that they all shared the same genetic background I can only put it down to the enviroment in which they eventually grew up in.

These dogs seem to be so fashionable at the moment with young (and dare I say inexperienced) couples. I was in a busy high street about two weeks ago and a young couple were dragging their malamute dog along the road with one of those halties, the dog was too young to exercise self-control and it looked thoroughly miserable and extremely anxious - why on earth would they take this dog to a busy high street.

A young girl I was used to work with also had one - it was left at home all day in a flat. My heart ached for that poor creature.

Hi

I agree with all points,but as others have said,if you make a dog become something it isn't,many years ago a film 101 Dalmations came out,some breeders thought they had hit the jackpot,and were not taken care of the breed,people got deaf dogs, real poor specimens,these mistakes dont go away,they are perpeterated year after year as those poor specimens have litters of their own.The same as the staffie type,one day I was in a park,and saw one of these dogs,the owner was training it,not sit but was putting it on to the tyre in the childrens playground,they do have a very strong jaw,my dog couldnt grip the tyre let alone hang from it,every dog is bred for a specific purpose, i.e Alaskan Malamute,working dogs as bright as a border collie,people are finding real problems as they dont deal with central heating and some get skin problems as they our outside dogs,and they are not really pets they are working dogs,if people make enquiries they can join a sled group,and would see for themselves how differant their dogs behaviour would change,mixing dogs isnt good especially with dogs like cocker spaniels,they are lovely dogs,but you do have to research as there was a programme,where the dogs temperment suddenly changed for no apparent reason,it went for its owner and no one knew why,but after, it was back to being a loving pet. I still feel it isnt the dogs fault its taken out of its comfort zone by well meaning people,asked to do things,which it would gladly do,as dogs only want to please us,and then bang it finds itself out on its ear,ina noisy scary place confused,wondering did I do something,it then becomes a problem and difficult to home.crystalgirl

Hi - rather than post another thread I thought I'd just rant on an older one. I noticed this on the BBC website this morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23578561

I see they have yet again rolled out the old picture of a muzzled staffie type and used the hysterical headline "Killer dogs ...." What annoys me so much about this article is that the dog looks like my dog - who doesn't know how to bite a human.

I am not sure of what breeds have attacked and killed people over the last ten years or so, but I don't think staffies are in the lead (poor choice of words). Any type of dog can attack and kill in the wrong hands under the wrong conditions.

I don't know maybe I'm just over sensitive and maybe these types of dogs really are more dangerous than any other.

Then I think you have a lot to learn about dogs to be honest.

Why is it important to see the parents of your puppy. why do you think that message is at the top of the list when going to see a puppy.

The parents temperament is vital for the upbringing of a puppy.

Nature is 100% important, nature AND nurture play a huge part in the dog said pup will become.

MOST cases of aggression will be due to a flawed character in the dog, i.e a dog that is nervous , strong confident dogs are rarely aggressive, dogs are fight /flight animals, the dog /pup with a nervous character will either flee if it can or fight if it cant, this set a patten that teaches them to fight off any threat.......... hence you end up with a dog aggressive dog.

Nurture also plays a part, a bad start for a dog is also going to set his character, but even then a confident dog should turn around easier than one with a flawed basic character

A puppies temperament comes from its parents, that is why you should NEVER breed from a dog that is anything less than 100% of sound temperament, because as with looks , size , colour, they also pass on their temperament.

When I hear the old " its always the owners fault" I have to smile, because the truth of it is, if only it was that simple

Hi Jackbox - the thread has actually moved on from the nature / nurture debate that this thread dissolved into when first posted - I reposted on this thread today because once again the BBC are using an old pictue of a staffie to illustrate the "dangerous dogs" hysterical headline once again.


"Hi - rather than post another thread I thought I'd just rant on an older one. I noticed this on the BBC website this morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23578561

I see they have yet again rolled out the old picture of a muzzled staffie type and used the hysterical headline "Killer dogs ...." What annoys me so much about this article is that the dog looks like my dog - who doesn't know how to bite a human.

I am not sure of what breeds have attacked and killed people over the last ten years or so, but I don't think staffies are in the lead (poor choice of words). Any type of dog can attack and kill in the wrong hands under the wrong conditions.

I don't know maybe I'm just over sensitive and maybe these types of dogs really are more dangerous than any other."

How did you find out the dog is sneezing and the photo is alamy stock