The danger next door

[unhappycamper]

Pit bulls, like this one, are banned on some bases


The danger next door
By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 8, 2007 7:32:20 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Amy Gaston didn’t think twice about letting her 9-year-old daughter pedal her bicycle down the road to a friend’s house.

After all, the family lived in base housing, well within the confines of Camp Lejeune, N.C. It’s a place where youngsters still ride bikes to school with little fear of drug dealers or predators, and neighbors generally look out for each other.

But news from one of the neighborhood kids who came running up to her house on a late March afternoon in 2005 changed Gaston’s perception of base housing — and changed her family’s life.

The message was short: Ashley’s hurt. She was bitten by a dog. She needs to go to the hospital.

Ashley had stopped at a friend’s house to see if he could come out and play. Before she reached the door, the family’s Rottweiler escaped from its poorly secured fence, grabbed Ashley’s head in its powerful jaws and began to attack.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/12/marine_devil_dogs_071208w/

[glowing]

1. While I don't believe any dog should be bread for complete attack

mentality.. I do believe the "dog" incidences being reported on the news are going to be the next "ban", so that people will not be able to have "protective" animals to defend their homes... Its easier for the police to come on in when they don't have an animal that would protect you around.

I have a boxer-rottie and a mix mutt. They are friendly, love the neighbors, smelled down the area. The boxer knows every car that should come by that is "neighborly" on our street (we've lived there now for a month and 1/2... If someone drives by that doesn't "belong", he will bark to alert me). He is protective that in that way... I'm sure if I were to be physically attacked, he would become violent.. but, otherwise he's just one big ball of happy, energy.. a 5 yr. old puppy.... The mix is the one I have to watch.. If someone is around that she doesn't trust, she could get snippy with them. I call her my sense dog... If someone is hurt or injured she knows exactly where the wound is, if you are blue, she comes and wants to console... very sensitive to people (that's why I know my father-in-law's newest girlfriend is a gold-digger).

Anyway, at night the boxer-rottie (Hurricane) sleeps next to my bed to protect his mommy (we got him at 5 weeks and he thinks he's part human- swear to God, he still tries to get his 70-80lb body up on my lap. And my Sugar dog (the mix) sleeps in my son's room next to his bed.. she feels like she's his momma.. licks him when he falls and stuff..

I would hate a ban on my dogs just because of the breed.

[Breeze54]

2. I agree! - It's not the breed. - It's the owner and the training.

I had a male Rottweiler, named Thor, when I lived near Camp Pendleton, CA. and his mate was a Doberman Pinscher, named 'Pepsi'.
.
That dog, Thor, guarded me with his life! He was a very gentle and loving dog to me but didn't let anybody
get near me that he perceived as a threat but he wasn't trained that way, except to protect 'only on command'.
He was just a naturally protective dog though and cleared sidewalks! :P My female Dobie was also a great
friend and a personal guard dog to me but wasn't formally trained although she was instinctively protective.

I think it's all in how you handle them and how they are treated that makes the difference.

[glowing]

3. Yes, it is. Mine have not been trained to attack.. They have been trained

to bark, and sit, and do the regular doggie stuff.. I do know that if someone else had my Hurricane, they could have turned him into a killer. Also, if there is a fenced in yard, and you know there are dogs around, don't go in the gate... Its their instinct to protect and defend.. and as sad as it is about the child, the dog was doing what he should when someone enters into his domain and he is unfamiliar to them.. We've even trained my 3 yr old since he was very little to not run up to dogs he doesn't know and not enter into yards with dogs without an owner's permission.. Having a brain would help... And who these days lets their 8 yr old ride around on their bike with no supervision.. He could have been abducted, run over by a car, and unfortunately attacked by a dog.

Nice animals by the way.. That rottie looks strong..

[Breeze54]

4. I didn't want to

mislead you. Those aren't pics of my dogs but they looked like them so much! So, I borrowed the pics to illustrate what they looked like. Sorry about that. I miss them. I wish I still had the pics. The only training my dogs had, was if I felt like I was in an unsafe situation, I could say; "On Guard" in a whispered voice and the Rott would literally get between me and the 'threat' and push his body back on me and growl and show teeth. I only had to do it one time while walking to the store and was confronted by three inebriated marines who were being wise asses and harassing me and getting way to close to me. Thor scared the hell out of them and they decided to leave me alone and move on down the road. ;) Nobody got hurt. But that scared me! I was really glad I had the dog with me that time. I agree that an 8 yr. old shouldn't be out on the street unsupervised too. Way to young for that. BTW? Your dogs sound like they're really smart and sweet!

[glowing]

5. Actually, my husband and I are stuck between keeping and giving

away... We are so busy and I feel like we aren't there for them enough.. Also, as sweet as my baby Hurricane is, he's a pain in the butt.. too smart for his own good.. He gets into stuff and figures out how to the most unique things.. but its things that he shouldn't do. Somedays... We just bought a house and need to finish the fencing in the yard.. I think it will help them so they can go out without a leash all the time.. but then I'll have to fence off my veggie garden, because he'll eat everything in it and Sugar will dig everything out...