dogs, as both a weapon and a tool.....

reply to post by g146541


hey cool, i'm obviously wrong about the jaws. also obviously not the only one or it wouldn't be a myth.
appreciate the link, i should have added 'myth' to google search, never even crossed my mind.
i sure don't mind someone contradicting me. surely not, in ways i like being proven wrong.
the attitude i could have done without, but it's quite prevalent on this board and will eventually get used to it.

I think any breed can be used as a weapon or a tool (per OP). Properly trained and raised can really help get full use out of your dog. Just be cautious. Criminals have ways to bypass your security dog:

- tasers (they really freak out dogs)
- poison
- raw meat
- gun

If a determined criminal wants what you have, you can bet they will go after you with a plan. And, if you have a dog, you can bet with will find a way to get rid of your dog.

reply to post by rubbertramp


You may have a point about pits aggressiveness for those who aren't fixed. But I still believe upbringing and environment determines how any breed would behave or misbehave.

I theorize that a large majority of those pit attacks are result of owners who use this breed as a macho status symbol. Those are people who are just dumbarses who should never own a dog nor have kids of their own. They raise pits to be aggressive, constantly abuse them, and encourage fighting.

I've met a lot of pit owners who treat their dogs with love and care and have no problems. Then, I hear horror stories about the bad owners:

- have the pit jump up then punch it mid-air in the muzzle with full force
- starve pits until they get ravenous
- constantly poking with sticks so pits stay angry

Its just horrible.

For those interested, here is a list of 11 breeds that your home owners insurance will not cover due to their reputation:

Uninsured Dog Breeds

Akita
The Akita is a powerfully built dog originally developed to hunt bears in Japan, where it now is primarily used as a guard dog and police dog. The Japanese view the animal as a symbol of good health; upon a baby's birth, its parents often receive an Akita statuette to signify the giver's wish for the child's long and happy life. Helen Keller is credited with bringing Akitas to the United States and the breed was first registered by the American Kennel Club in 1972. It is a member of the club's working group.

Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamutes are among the oldest Arctic sled dogs. They were named after the native Inuit tribe called Mahlemuts, who settled in the upper western part of Alaska and who are thought to have developed the dogs to serve as a pack animal. The Malamute is an incredibly strong breed and puppies begin sled training as young as three to five months. The American Kennel Club first registered the Alaskan Malamute in 1935 and it is a member of the club's working group.

Chow Chow
The Chow Chow lineage dates back more than 2000 years. The ancient Chinese bred these dogs to hunt, herd, pull freight and protect homes, but today the Chow is primarily a companion dog. Owners extol the animal's intelligence, dignity and loyalty. Even non-dog folks know this breed because of its distinctive blue-black tongue. Fuzzy Chow puppies become powerful and independent dogs in just a few months, so it is a breed best suited to an experienced owner. First recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1903, the Chow is member of the club's non-sporting group.

Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinschers combine a graceful appearance with a sharp intelligence. They are strong, quick-thinking dogs with an ability to respond immediately to danger, making them one of the most reliable of all dogs. While the canine is easy to teach, breed specialists warn that owners who do not have time to properly train a Doberman should consider a different pet. First recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908, the Doberman is a member of the working group.

German Shepherd
This breed is known for its courage, steadfastness and keen senses. German Shepherds have proved to be canine companions that delight in joining their owners on long drives, fishing trips, swimming or hiking. The breed generally exhibits a self-confidence and aloofness that doesn't lend itself to immediate friendships. However, say owners, once a Shepherd gets to know you, it is a wonderful addition to any family. The American Kennel Club, which first recognized this breed in 1908, places the German Shepherd in its herding group.

Pit Bull
Commonly called the American Pit Bull, these dogs are loved by their intensely loyal owners but feared by many who know them mainly as fighting animals. The dogs share some characteristics of the American Kennel Club-recognized Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeds. The Pit Bull makes the hard-to-insure list in part because of what some owners cite as its history of being selectively bred specifically to create the ultimate canine gladiator.

Presa Canario
The American Kennel Club does not officially register the Perro de Presa Canario, but the breed has been accepted for recording in the AKC's Foundation Stock Service. A medium sized, well-built dog, the breed originated in the Canary Islands. Fans of the breed say its powerful shape and low deep bark make it a natural guard dog, but that is also is a loyal, eager-to-please pet who is quiet and subdued in his own home.

Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is an intelligent, steady friend, but is rather aloof, which contributes to its strong guarding instinct. The breed's actual origin is not documented, but it is believed Rottweilers are descended from one of the drover dogs indigenous to ancient Rome. It is a medium-large, robust and powerful dog, with a black coat defined with rust markings. The breed loves exercise and thrills to the challenges of any outdoor sports. A member of the American Kennel Club's working group, Rottweilers were first recognized by the AKC in 1931.

Siberian Husky
As its name denotes, this breed is native to Siberia, with the first North American Huskies brought to Alaska in 1909. They are outgoing, fun-loving dogs with a nature to roam as their Arctic ancestors did. That means the breed needs an alert owner who stays in control -- and who has a fenced yard. The Husky resembles the Alaskan Malamute, but is lighter in build and also less bold. The Siberian Husky was first registered by the American Kennel Club in 1930 and is a member of the club's working group.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a highly-intelligent dog, looks forward to daily exercise to maintain his characteristic lean-muscled look. The breed generally is a sweet-tempered and affectionate, but its tenacity and strength, including powerful jaws that demand heavy-duty chew toys, require an experienced owner. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1974 and is a member of the terrier group.

Wolf hybrid
Owners of these canines prefer the term Wolfdog, noting that dogs were reclassified in 1993 as a subspecies of wolf so wolves and dogs are the same species. Critics of the breed, which is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, argue that the animals are unpredictable, dangerous, make poor pets and are impossible to inoculate against rabies. Fans say the Wolfdog is a good companion and helps educate the public about wolves. Ownership of the animals is illegal in some areas.

reply to post by guppy


yes, we seem to agree on the temperament of certain breeds.
i completely agree with the thought on neutered males. if the owner is careful enough to not get into situations where dogs get into fights, the majority of the chance of that dog wanting to fight is low.
like i've repeated, once an un-neutered male gets into it, they tend to get into it later also.
this isn't just pits.

There is a book called Merles door. Where a man mostly lets his dog think for its self. The dog in the book turned out to be a great elk hunting companion. A good dog like that would be very good assest not just when the SHTF but all the time. I highly recommend the book.

reply to post by rakkasansct


strange seeing this thread reappear from wherever it is that dead threads go.
there mush be some sort of vortex or something.

i read merles door, very good book. it's always so sad when they pass though.

I believe that I owned the best dog God ever saw fit to put on the earth(Now this is just my opinion)
He was a red Doberman named Loki
My exwife and I were driving down the road one day and drove by a new pet store and decided to stop. When we went in I noticed him right away in his kennel and asked if I could get him out. They let me and the turd bolted toward the open door and I freaked a little and started to chase him and the lady said not to bother...He went out and peed and came back in...at 9 weeks he was already potty trained. The lady said he was been like that from the start. We bought him

Well shortly after this I move to germany and he was like a freakin moviestar there. He had grown to just over 90lbs and was tall and muscular. Dobies are few and far between in the region I lived in. I spent 3 years shutzhund training him before I came back home.

I laugh now writing this...When my wife became pregnant she was like his puppy or something. No one could get near her...he would get between them and her and sit down and wouldnt move. God forbid if you moved to fast toward her...the teeth would come out..lol She took him to the vet and someone got to close to the car with the wife in it and he broke the windshield trying to get them.
Then my daughter comes along and this monster of a beast with gnashing teeth turns into the biggest wuss hehehe...she cries he howls. She needs a bottle and we dont hear her immediately he is in my bedroom pulling me out of bed by the sleeve of my pj's. He slept next to her crib from day one and never left her side.

Now I have revisited my friends memory...I say he was the best dog because he was trained and trained very well. BUT he also had personality and a helluva disposition. He would sit for hours while my daughter dressed him up in my shirts and put hats on him...poor dog...lol
On the other hand he could be an absolute monster! The handlers said he hit like a train when he attacked. It was amazing to watch him figure out problems and situations we put him in...He was truely a once in a lifetime dog.

So yes they can be weapons...yes they can be the shoulder you cry on when you get divorced and are living out of a VW bug... They can be hours of entertainment or worse case senario they could be used to feed your family...You could do a lot worse by not having a dog.

Kafer

(I know my dog wasn't the best dog...I'm not trying to take anything away from other people but man I wish you guys could of seen my guy)

p.s. I may have rambled a little above just thinking about him...thanks for starting this thread.

reply to post by guppy


"If a determined criminal wants what you have, you can bet they will go after you with a plan. And, if you have a dog, you can bet with will find a way to get rid of your dog."

This is why it is nice to keep a little yipper around along with your manstopper. Not all breeds will give warning (mastiff breeds in particular) but a chihuahua is small, fast, untrusting, hard to get your hands on and will ALWAYS bark, which in a shtf situation would immediately cause you to reach for your gun. Good luck tazing a 2 lb chihuahua raised around kids. They are faster than greased pigs and know better than to get caught

Dogs are pack animals and are ment to work together as a team.
if the team has humans on it, that can be good or bad...

I had a chocolate lab dog called Bailey. Bailey would:

Bark once instantly, deep and loud, on my "Speak!" command and bark constantly if i said "Speak Speak".

Sit down instantly whenever I clicked my fingers, no matter what he was doing beforehand.

Play dead for HOURS at the roll of a finger

STAY anywhere. Anytime. For days if i wanted to test him.

Find ANYTHING you wanted him to. whatever, if someone had hid something, especially in OUR house, he would just laugh at you and drop it at your feet, saying 'try again. you're wasting my time'

Retrieve anything, anywhere, in all weathers, he would have it in seconds, over rivers, fences, walls, scrub, nothing existed to him 'cept getting that thing.

I could even ride my mountain bike with him at full speeds thru town centres and busy urban areas, never once having to worry about him. he would find his own safe route even waiting at kerbs if he had to, ignoring everyone if they tried to stroke him or approach him, then suddenly catching me up minutes later, never once colliding with me or anyone else.

He would even try to climb impossibly angled trees if i asked him, and i did, and he climbed it. impossibly. i had to get up there myself to get him down cos the drop was at least 12 foot from the first branch. we were a team me and bailey, he was the best friend i ever had. he even liked a beer sometimes.

I fed him a fresh salmon everyday, tripe, kibble and bones, he was bigger than your average rotty dog and as fearless as any pit. I miss you Bails, may your dreams be joyful.

I got a shtzu now, or should i say the wife's got a shtzu. well, the best i can say is we dont need a doorbell anymore and if i want to never see something again, throw it and ask him to 'fetch'. he's a handbag tbh but he's still got character and i wouldnt be without him. i guess.

reply to post by kaferwerks


sounds like a good friend.
reminds me so much of my wolfdog. i had a store at the time, when the store was open, he was a sweetheart to everybody. kids would ride him, pull him around by his tail, stick thier arms down his throat, or finger up his.....
anyhow, women and children he was great with.
he copped a bit of a different attitude with men, not that he was mean, just on alert. nobody got out of line in my store. he's growl and back drunks or aggressive men right out the door.
when closing time came around, it's 'watch um', and he'd do his lap around the block, come back and sit out front for a couple hours, greeting the women and children and most men, and snarling at the drunks or others with a bad intention.
i always trusted his instincts of people, he never failed me, and even bit a few over the years that deserved it.
if i pulled over for a hitchhiker, and he growled, the dude wouldn't get in, if he wagged his tail, the dude got a ride.