Snoopy21

When talking about the interplay of environment and genetics I am talking about epigenetics NOT about the immediate environment. You can't say "bred bad will bite" or "bred well safe dog" because within either category there are genetic extremes and the experiences a dog has can change its dna (turn genes on or off). On top of that there is training, socialisation and management. Then bring in the immediate environmental factors and look at the situation knowing ALL the factors involved. Then you can come to me and tell me that a dog's breed is what caused an attack.

And it is quite insulting that you seem to assume that I am a terrible parent who puts her children at risk by having these sorts of dogs in her home. You are insinuating that that is the case for all people who have both children and large dogs, bull breed dogs, mastiffs, cross breed dogs of any description or dogs from 'dodgy' breeders. Unless of course they train dogs for bitework in which case it is ok to have those dogs around their kids.

So much cute all in one place!

So my apparent lack of understanding is why this little boy was attacked? That doesn't even make sense. There is not enough evidence in the article linked to explain why this child was attacked and you know that. We all know that the media prints few reliable facts in stories like this - the breed of the dogs changed once already. I find it extraordinary that you believe that no one except you can understand dog aggression and so the rest of us are causing children to be attacked by dogs. I suppose I've just dodged a bullet given that my big girl is now 6 and still hasn't bitten any kids..... (I'm not claiming to be an expert on dog behaviour or aggression. I don't work with dogs and I don't train them for performance. I do my best to understand my own dogs, and work with them to shape their behaviour. I do have some basic understanding of how gene expression is impacted by environment - something which you seem to have overlooked.)

Well I might as well euthanize my dogs right now. They are obviously killers just waiting to snap. They are both strong, boofheaded, bull breed crosses who were bred by dodgy, backyard breeders with obviously inferior genetics. They growl at each other in play, and the younger will growl while tugging. I suppose I should never have gotten them at all since it was only to make me look scarier. This thread has crossed over into the ridiculous. I hope the poor little boy in question heals mentally and physically.

Much love being sent to you as you pass this anniversary Cazstaff. I think of Buddy often. I hope he feels this outpouring of warmth and thought as he waits for you over the bridge.

She looks like a Lumpy Space Princess to me. She could be 'Lumps' for short. Fans of Adventure Time will get it....

I love the book "what Faust saw" too! I'd be tempted to go with Freddy after Freddy Mercury, but Fritz is cool.

Hmmm....it's a hard one. willow has been microchipped twice and it still doesn't scan. She wears her council registration tags and an ID tag just to make sure. I would be devastated if she were adopted to someone else because her chips didn't scan, because I have tried my best to do the right thing.

Yay!

It could have been an accident. Why would they leave their dog home all weekend with no one to check on her if they were away?

Ok. So last night I had the opportunity to watch another scrap from a distance. I was walking the pup about 7m behind by OH who had Willow. We were on a wide bush track. A smaller dog came into view, coming towards us on a flexi-lead. It was straining and over-excited/anxious once it saw our dogs. My OH told Willow to leave it, and moved over as far left as he could with himself between Willow and the oncoming dog. The young guy didn't even lock his flexi so of course the little dog rushed over towards Willow. She had been showing normal relaxed but interested body language looking from OH to the oncoming dog and back. The little dog suddenly made a final rush with barking and growling. My OH said its teeth were bared also. Willow immediately stepped forward and across in front of OH and snapped into a much more tense posture. The little dog leaped at her and it was on. I'm wondering if Willow is actually being overly defensive of us (her people) and now our other dog? I still can't see it in her body language, but maybe it is subtle? Willow was unhurt, and walked calmly past two terriers about 10 minutes later. The other owner got quite the shock I think. Hopefully it will make him reassess his choice/use of equipment and encourage him to be more careful. It sure does make it hard to go out and do things with your dogs..... Thanks to everyone for their ideas so far. We live in Tassie so have very limited options daycare and dog park wise. A private dog park would be ideal, but there isn't one here.

Great post Alpha Bet - thanks so much for taking the time to type it out. Lots of people tell me their dogs hate big dogs or black dogs or whatever, so maybe there is something in that. I normally view it as a bit of an excuse My standard response is "maybe you should keep them on lead then?" Willow definitely has the up on toes style you are talking about, and a black face, so maybe she is hard to read. Rebanne - it varies. One lady comes to the park with her baby in a pram and two large dogs. Her male is the one that will fly at us immediately. She said nothing, but waited until someone broke up the fight, grabbed her dogs and left. She did the same the second time. I haven't entered the park with them there again. The owner of the small dog made excuses, like "he's a bulldog at heart" and " he'll take on anything". I pointed out to her that Willow could easily kill her dog ( ) and I haven't seen her at the park again. I feel bad, but her dog is nasty and i have seen him growl, roll, bite, snap and rush many dogs there. She had a pup too but this dog terrorised it until she gave it away. Another owner who was too busy on his phone to watch, grabbed his dog and apologised, but then just let it go again and got back on his phone. We left.

She is less submissive than she was when she was younger. And I think it has gotten worse this year since the pup moved in. She is a lot less excitable than she used to be and we have worked quite hard on her leash manners and greeting behaviour. She used to rudely shove herself into other dog's faces. She is starting to look a bit older, greying a little, and has maybe lost a little weight. She is a large dog though, and can afford those couple of kgs. She has always been a target though. It is interesting. She was attacked by another dog in the ring at obedience when moving into place for a stay. The other owner was shocked and said her dog "never does that". I understand that Snook. Se is an active girl who needs exercise and stimulation. How do I do that when I can't even walk down the street? As I said, I'm trying to be responsible in every way I can. Its a balancing act. I might try and see if I can get some video. It is very likely that she is doing something I'm not seeing. Poodle mum - I can picture the looks on my own dogs faces if they came across your boy at the park.

Firstly - she isn't constantly attacked - it has happened maybe 6 times throughout the year. There are many awesome interactions and peaceful walks in between times which is why we keep going. My other dog is hardly little - he is a 23 kg kelpie/staffy type mix, and he has not been even growled at by the dogs in question which is why I noticed the difference. Of course he still behaves like a puppy and is quite submissive which helps. I would not allow her to be hurt and all scraps have been stopped within seconds. Walking other places isn't any better. We have been rushed and attacked several times in the streets around home too. Most recently in our own street by an offlead kelpie that would not back off even when i kicked it. If I go to the dog park at the same time of day I know most of the owners and dogs who are there. Often we have the park to ourselves. I was more interested in why it happens than how to stop it. Knowing which dogs are likely to have a go has been the key. Why would her being on lead make a difference to other dogs? What is going on with her body language or our relationship that makes it different to them? The park is not fenced, it is a large open oval with a walking track around the outside. We walk around the track, sometimes with other owners and dogs on lead, our other dogs off lead around us. The off lead dog runs on the grass or plays in the creek that runs along the side of the park. Willow will never be allowed offlead there, there are rabbits, cats, sheep, birds and geese around (and sometimes in) the park, and I know I could not call her off them. I'm trying to be responsible for her behaviour. If she killed someone's cat or chased a rabbit out onto the road....then what? We go to obedience club, we go to the beach, we go on quiet walks with both or either dog, we walk in the bush, we go to ovals etc. She isn't missing out on any exercise or socialisation. I'm certainly not sending her to day care when she seems to have a target on her for some reason.

Willow is a 6 year old great Dane cross that I adopted from a rescue at 5 months old. She is a sweet girl who loves her people and everyone in general. We adopted another pup in February this year, and Willow has adapted well to sharing her house and yard. We have been going to the dog park more often now that we have two dogs. Willow stays on lead always - her recall is not strong enough for my liking and I know if she got chasing something she would blow me off. Obviously she is often approached by off lead dogs at the park. She is fine with it. I give her plenty of lead length to circle and sniff the approaching dog etc. The problem is that she seems to be a target for attacks from other dogs. I can't see anything in her body language that invites it. She is generally relaxed, her ears may come forward if she is interested, her tail wags at a medium pace neither tense nor tucked. There are a couple of dogs that hate her - and will fly at her snarling and snapping from metres away. Another couple come over, sniff, circle, then snarl and snap. She will have a go back if they start it. She has many positive interactions at the park, and our little dog loves going. I know off lead parks aren't ideal and I can always choose not to go. I keep on driving if I pull up and the dogs I know are a problem are already there. I don't want her hurt. What I really want to know is why? Why do other dogs see her as a target? Is it because she is on lead? Or because she is big and black? Or is it her attitude/body language? What should I be looking for?

I agree Maddy. I can't see any of the councils in Tasmania being unreasonable about dog access to footpaths etc. I do stand by my comment about the lack of resources etc. though. We have had quite a few issues over the years, with no staff being available on weekends and so on. Recently my dad had his cat killed and was bitten himself in his own backyard by roaming dogs. He reported the event to the council (he was very traumatised), but it was a weekend. The ranger on call told dad he would come out looking for the roaming dogs; he not only failed to do so, but also did not write a report or leave a note for the ranger on during the week. Dad's vet happened to follow up on it and the regular ranger knew nothing. Making new legislation means nothing when the existing legislation is not enforced.

The fact is that very few of the current dog legislations are enforced Tassie. There are just not the staff to manage it all it seems. Adding more won't help.

Today? Sleep is overrated.

There seems to be a lot of American Bulldog types around also, which to most people could look like Bullmastiffs. I have noticed a lot of those around in the last few years, and this is in Tassie - so not pig hunting territory. They are another type that vary in appearance, and look.

I have crossbreed dogs from rescue, so I don't know what breeds they are. But everywhere you go with the dogs, people ask what breed mix they are, and aren't really satisfied with no answer. They usually go on to tell you what they think. Most people wouldn't be able to pick a bullmastiff out of a line of dogs, so it's fairly obvious that a lot of these dogs aren't pure bullmastiffs. But once a breed becomes prominent in the public consciousness it is hard to change the perception whether good or bad.

I'm so very sorry Persephone. What a gorgeous boy he was! Be gentle with yourself as you grieve your friend.

That is amazing!! Well done little healthy puggy. Looking gorgeous!!

I was very pleasantly surprised by Nature's Gift canned food and sometimes give it to my two as well. It looks and smells like actual food, and the dogs love it.

So many, many beautiful faces He's a very talented artist.