Definitions / FAQ...
...Parents Against Canine Killers
Companion Articles:
Predator Dogs - A Dog As a Loaded Gun
FAQ AND DEFINITIONS:
DEFINITIONS
Dogs can be TEMPERAMENT TESTED at a fairly young age to spot signs that could lead to fear biting or unprovoked aggression. To assess a young dog for temperament, as much information as possible should be included in the assessment.
Start with the history of the dog.
- Breed History: If the breed of the dog is known, you can gather knowledge from the original intent and purpose for which the dog breed was developed, as well as the recent purposes for which the breed is currently being used. What traits in the parents were repeatedly selected to produce what was considered the ideal offspring? In other words, what elements of the temperament have been selected and deliberately reproduced for the last 50 to 500 years or more.
- The dog’s parental temperament and socialization can give further information. Were the parents family dogs? Guard dogs? The nature of the parents can be noted, particularly the mother. She can pass her attitude toward people to the pups.
Temperament testing is done most reliably by judging the puppy or dog’s reaction to specific repeatable stimuli under repeatable conditions by a person with experience and training in the area.
- Breeder History: Knowledge about the breeder and the intent of the breeding operation can be important. For example: A breeder in our general vicinity, known for producing aggressive guard dogs thought that the mother was making the pups too friendly and causing them to be less aggressive than he wanted. So he took them from the mother to have the father raise the pups, in an attempt to create the “perfect attack dog.” It didn’t work out because the father punctured the puppies’ skulls and they all died from brain abscesses. The point is that if a person knew their dog had been produced by a breeding operation whose intent was to create a super killer, it could impact a decision on keeping the dog in a household with small children. Read more: Microchipping
- Socialization history
- Training history
After the history, including any knowledge available on early socialization and training is examined; the dog can then be assessed for basic temperament characteristics.
- Is he trusting or wary? Submissive or dominant? If your roll him over onto his back with his belly up, will be stay there trustingly with minimal help? Will he stay if a child approaches, with the chaotic motions and noises that a child tends to make? Your veterinary professional can assist or refer you regarding matters of temperament testing.
By the strictest definition, the fear biter bites when he is cornered and sees no other way out.
He will also bite if he feels the person is behaving aggressively toward him or trying to catch him. A dog that is very fearful may perceive reaching out toward him as an assault and will lash out with seemingly unwarranted aggression.
“Hands in the pockets, fingers curled”; this is one of the many useful bits of information we learned at MSU College of veterinary medicine for use when approached by an unfamiliar dog on a farm. “You’ll need those fingers for surgery,” the clinician flippantly added. “Let the dog assess you and approach you in his good time.”
Try to explain that to a toddler who is all reach and grab and tug and pull….? Better yet, just keep them separated until the child is old enough for you to explain the signals a doggy gives when he doesn’t want to be petted, how to approach and gently handle a dog that is friendly and familiar, and not to approach unfamiliar dogs.
The dog offers vulnerable areas of the body and waits for a response. The vulnerable areas are those areas on would instinctively protect while under attack. The belly and underside of the neck most noticeably.
To do this, he lies on his back, belly side up. He may stick his head up in the air offering an unprotected neck. To other dogs, the submissive dog may also offer his hind quarters for inspection before the other dog does.
The dominant dog simply does the opposite of the submissive dog, he faces the dog, not allowing his vulnerable parts to be exposed at first. He may literally put himself over the submissive dog, by standing with his head over the other dog’s back. In no uncertain terms saying” I’m above you.”
When challenging authority, he will stand with his weight forward in his stance, ears forward, alert, unwavering eye contact, and he may raise his hackles.
A "Canine Killer" is a dog that through a combination of training and/or abuse, and
instinct, has developed the propensity for aggressive behavior towards innocent people. This dog is essentially a loaded gun.
Natural selection refers to survival of the fittest.
Unnatural selection refers to human interference in the animal kingdom breeding and survival programs.
Humans choose qualities in the animals that they want to reproduce. Then they choose the offspring that most closely represent their ideal and breed them, and repeat over and over.
Behavior is part genetic (what they were born with) and part environmental (anything that happens after birth). So the genetic component of behavior can be influenced through the intent of the breeding program over a large enough period of time, usually hundreds of years. Thus, it is incorrect to say that any breed of dog is equally suitable as a pet for a family with children. Your small animal veterinarian is a valuable resource in this matter.
INVISIBLE HEIRARCHY: PACK HEIRARCHY
As we are superimposing our movie dog image upon our dog, he is superimposing his image of the pack dominance hierarchy upon our family. In this hierarchy, involving the dog and the human family, there are usually one or more dominant entities above the dog. The dominant individual is usually one, or possibly more, adult members of the family, who have established clear dominance over the dog.
The dog shows all the signs of subordination to that person above him:
- Licking
- Smiling
- Obedience
- Submissive posturing
He has another side for those either: below him on the pack hierarchy when they cross him, or outside the pack.
- Growling
- Snarling
- Aggression
- Dominant posturing
Prey is the object of the predator’s attack. Prey in the historic pack of dogs was its meal. Prey is fearful, prey runs; prey is small or weakened in some way such as by age. Read More: 74 year old in Brevard county Florida, killed by her own 2 dogs: golden lab mix and Austrian Shepherd. It is no coincidence that most dog maulings of humans involve children and seniors. Article has been archived, no link available.
Whether you are observing a dingo, lion pride, or dog pack, choosing its prey, they will choose the young, the old, the weak, maimed or sick. They prefer the easier prey. Over history, they have learned which prey to select to get their meal with greater certainty, ensuring their survival.
They prefer prey that is not a hazard to them. If the potential prey presents too great a hazard, other prey may be selected. With increasing hunger, or pent up aggression, more risky prey may be selected.
- dog of a breed that was selected for aggressive traits,
- poor socialization early in life which puppy mills exacerbate,
- poor, absence of, or aggressive training and life experiences,
- multiple large dogs together,
- and intact male hormonal dominance.
- Chronic pain and frustration such as that caused by chaining, or health problems can also contribute to aggression. Read More: April 28, 2008, 23 month baby boy toddled over to chained Husky mix that was eating, fatal mauling.
My child has played with the neighbor dogs many times and has never had any problems. Why should I be worried?
Answer: As in the 2008 Readers Digest Article Heroes “A good neighbor” article, pg.35.
“He’d played many times with the 2 neighborhood dogs in their yard, and there was never a problem”. In numerous other situations, there had not been a sign of a problem until it was too late. Fortunately, this young boy was saved before probable death.
A dog, especially multiple large dogs together, left unsupervised with a child, can be a disaster. Interaction between the dogs, or even between the dogs and another dog that passes, could lead to displaced aggression that could be redirected toward the child. Dogs who have been historically bred for aggression, whether the intent of this last particular breeding was to produce an attack or guard dog, should be treated with extra caution around children, especially when more than one dog is involved. Read more: Babysitter leaves children playing with family dogs for a moment. Dog grabbed girl by the throat, broke her neck and left her brain dead. Family waits for dad to get back from Iraq to take her off life support.
I have a pit-bull of a fawn or light color, not the brindle or black color. The breeder told me that this color pit-bull was family friendly and safe to have with children. Is that true?
Answer: If the breed was historically created and reproduced many, many times to be aggressive protection dogs, the final relatively few breedings will not reverse the genetic pool that it was drawn from. Supervision is paramount, though not always preventative. As in the case of the toddler standing in front to the pit-bull with a cookie, though the father was there and able to save the child’s life, it was not until after the child was severely bitten in the face. The father ruefully proclaimed himself to be a liar in his prior defense of the breed. He said that the dog “had not been bred to be aggressive and had shown no signs of trouble prior to the incident.” The individual doesn’t have to be bred for aggression when it is from a breed that has been created to be aggressive. That has quite literally been done for you. The real issues: early socialization, training, exposure to violence or abuse, whether he has been neutered, and bite history are important in determining safety.
Our pit bull is great with the kids, I think pit bulls just get blamed for everything.
An individual dog from a breed considered to be dangerous that has a submissive temperament (nice to the core), from a mother who transmitted love towards people, socialized lovingly from an early age onward, trained toward respect and kindness, and whose life experiences were controlled to avoid pain and cruelty, is kept in good health and relatively free of physical discomfort, and is neutered, ---can be a wonderful pet of a responsible pet owner. Indeed, there are individuals who spend what some may deem an inordinate amount of time in ambassadorship of breeds such as the American Pit Bull. They take precautions with their dogs around children even though it seems inconceivable that their pet could hurt anyone.
They have gone to great lengths and, by their very existence, are an argument against breed bans.
Just remember, especially if you have any doubt about the dog’s socialization or life history, be very careful if kids are anywhere in the picture. It takes a special person and circumstance to responsibly keep a dog of a fighting breed type.
- There are a few breeds that bear close resemblance to the pit bull. And there are times when the pit bull is unjustly accused. Microchipping all large dogs would give a true reported bite and attack rate for any given breed. Read more: Why dogs attack and Microchipping.
I hear pit-bulls are dangerous with children, but little dogs are ok aren’t they?
Answer: Fatal attacks and severe maulings of infants and small children include dogs as small as Daschunds, Chihuahuas and Pomeranians. To the adult human, these dogs are tiny, but relative to the size and strength of the baby or toddler, they are huge. The neck and face of the little human is easily accessible and the usual sites of attack.
Because of their small size, the small dog may feel more threatened by a child. Hopefully, the dog will run away if threatened rather than seeking confrontation. However, many factors can be involved in triggering an attack, including BABY JEALOUSY, TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION, the child hurting the dog (painful stimulus), and poor SOCIALIZATION.
We’ve taken precaution introducing the new baby to our dog and he really loves the baby. Now that they’ve bonded, we shouldn’t have to worry, right?
Answer: He may have accepted the baby as a part of you at this stage and under these conditions and especially, when you are present. But don’t leave them alone together.
If he has accepted the baby as part of you in your presence, the trouble can come when the baby becomes mobile as a toddler. Now he is a separate entity. And now he is able to get to the dog’s food dish or toys and activate feelings of jealous possessiveness, and territorial behavior over objects and places.
The baby could accidentally startle the dog while resting. Even the very best of dogs has been known to attack and cause serious injury when started from a deep sleep by a toddler or child toddler playfully or accidentally grabbing him or falling over him.
Story of the retired police officer: When the police officer was a boy of 8 years, another boy pushed him backwards, causing him to trip over a sleeping Labrador Retriever. The dog, previously friendly, attacked him and detached most of the scalp from his head. He was hospitalized for his injuries. He didn’t hold the dog at fault, since he knew he had startled a sleeping dog that was otherwise friendly. Yet he developed a profound fear of dogs. Many years later, he was ridiculed on public news broadcasts for shooting a boxer type dog that attacked him while he was in the line of duty.
I have been told since my husband died that I need a dog for protection. What kind of dog do you suggest?
Answer: A good SECURITY SYSTEM and a dog for companionship and to make noise. Even with a dog intended as a companion, be careful with children. Whether he’s a small or large dog, you might consider having him temperament tested.
Take precautions when grandchildren are visiting.
When children come to visit, he should be supervised closely and possibly confined to another area, if any uncertainty exists. The area should be secured from entrance by youngsters or anyone who does not clearly understand that the dog is under confinement, and is able to follow through. An enclosure specifically designed for the purpose is ideal.
So that the dog does not perceive his placement there as punishment, it should be linked to special treats, praise, food, toys and rewards...whatever it takes to make it a good thing when children arrive, and lessen any possible resentment at being placed there.
If he really wants to be with children, then decipher why. Does he want to run up to the little people gleefully wagging his tail, laying down when the child approaches, offering his belly in a submissive gesture, begging for tickles and cuddles on the underside, not the least bit phased by anything the children do, such as quick movements, loud noises, gruff attention, tail and ear pulls?
Is the dog smiling as if to say I’ll take any attention you have to offer, good or bad, I think it’s all good! This is a wonderful type of dog for children to play with under supervision. You want to keep it that way; supervision also protects the dog from the children, who may accidentally do something to hurt him.
On the other hand, does he bark at the children, running up and retreating while barking, grabbing favorite toys and placing them here and there possessively, DOMINANT POSTURING, and facing the children warily? You could have the threat of DOMINANCE AGGRESSION or of a FEAR BITER. He is telling you that caution is warranted.