Dangerous Dogs

 Is there such a thing as dangerous dogs?

Some dogs are prone to bite. At least, thats what many in the media would have your believe. The top 3 breeds that seem to not only get bad publicity but also are involved in being classified as dangerous dogs andbiting are the Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers and German Shepherd Dogs.

Now on the surface, this may seem to many to suggest that these three dog breeds are dangerous. At least, this is what the media would like you to believe. While theres no denying that these breeds have been known to bite, the sensationalism and hype by the media has sometimes generated almost hysteria like fervor in the general public against these breeds.

While the media prefers to focus on the fact that a dog has bitten someone, they neglect to develop other important aspects of a dog biting story. For example:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document that a chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than an unchained dog.

Or how about this:

25% of all fatal attacks were inflicted by chained dogs

At issue here is the knee-jerk cry from the politicians and some of the public that these dogs are well secured in their own yard. As you can see by the two facts above, this demand actually can INCREASE the risk of a dog bite.

The problem here is that politicians need to be viewed as "doing something" especially on those issues where the media has whipped up public hysteria. This isnt to say that a dog bite shouldnt be taken seriously. But doing something and doing the right thing are often times two different things.

At issue here is not a specific dog breed the owner who has neglected to properly or adequately socialize the animal. Lack of socialization can make a dog, fearful of new situations and exhibit aggressive behavior. Dogs that arent socialized with children, will often see them as a threat. This helps explain why 79% of all dog bite related fatalities are children under the age of 12.

The Rottweiler and German Shepherd are large dogs that are used in many working situations. There's a reason why the majority of police officer K-9 units use German shepherds. This fact alone should indicate that biting is not a breed specific problem. You would also feel extraordinarily secure in the presence of a Rottweiler trained to the schutzhund 3 level of protection training.

Let's not condemn a breed of dog, and classify all members of the breed as dangerous dogs, for the lack of proper training and etiquette they received from their owners. While the media may continue their hype, and politicians overreact, lets remember that many of our large dog breeds are a benefit to their owners and society.

Abigail Franks and her family love dogs. For more information on a great way to train your puppy or dog visit her site for crate training and other dog training ideas.

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