Dog breeds insurance companies don't like:

[undeterred]

I work at an insurance co and I know they have a "dangerous dog" clause in their homeowners insurance. I have no idea what they base it on, but it seems kind of crazy. Many dogs are mixed breeds and the owners have no idea what they are. And the breed of a dog is not the only predictor of agression... in fact its a weak predictor.

These are the dogs on a typical insurance company list:

Akita: A powerful dog that was originally cross-bred in Japan to hunt bears; it is now mostly used as a guard dog with police departments.

Alaskan Malamute: This dog is fierce and strong; its puppies start training sled racing as young as three to five months.

Chow Chow: This is a Chinese breed from ancient times that remains popular in China and the rest of the world today. These dogs hunt, herd, pull and protect. The puppies of this breed usually become powerful and independent dogs at a young age, so it’s best to have an experienced owner take them on.

Doberman Pinscher: Dobermans are massive dogs with quick-thinking skills that help them respond to danger quickly. These are loyal and reliable animals.

German Shepherd: Long used as escorts for police, Shepherds are known for their courage, and loyalty. They aren’t quick to quit and their sharp senses serve them well.

Pit Bull: Pit Bulls have a reputation, unfair or not, of being fighting dogs. They have a history of being selectively bred to fight other dogs and press reports of Pit Bulls attacking humans don’t help their reputation either.

Presa Canario: These animals have a powerful shape and low deep bark. Many people praise them as protective and they make excellent guard dogs.

Rottweiler: Beautiful dogs, with black coats speckled with rust-colored markings, these medium to large animals are energetic and powerful.

Siberian Husky: Actually, these are outgoing and pleasant dogs who like to run and jump and explore. Therefore, they need an owner who can stay on top of them with a fenced yard and plenty of property.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier: This is a strong-willed and powerful dog. Its immense jawline and fierce temperament means that the owner needs to be in control and experienced.

Wolf Hybrid: This is an unpredictable breed. Wolf Hybrids are dangerous, often carry rabies and are also illegal in some states.

http://www.billsavings.com/insurance/homeowners/do-certain-dog-breeds-raise-your-homeowners-insurance.asp

[virgogal]

1. My son has a female Rottie that thinks it's a Toy Poodle.

[undeterred]

3. Dobes, Rotties, Huskys, Malamutes, German Shepherds...

good grief, that's half the dogs I know. Never had trouble with any of them.

[BrklynLiberal]

23. Same here. I have a GSD right now next to me laying on the floor as I t ype.

He is my baby boy and sleeps on my bed every night...and gives way to the three cats that sleep there too.

[Dappleganger]

31. Your kitty has a pet I see.

Those pics are adorable!

[BrklynLiberal]

35. EXACTLY! My cats own my dog!!! LOLOLOLOL

[Jazzgirl]

137. Many years ago I had a Siamese cat and the Huskie.

It was the same thing. They groomed each other and slept together and kept each other warm. They played and had a good time together. It was great.

[protect our future]

37. BrklynLib, your pics are completely adorable.

And you have what I consider menagerie utopia: a couple of snuggly kitties and one big, beautiful, tolerant German Shepherd. You are fortunate!

[BrklynLiberal]

39. Thank you protect our future And you are right..I am VERY lucky...

[Fire1]

38. So sweet! They're both adorable. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

40. Thank you...

:hi:

[undeterred]

51. You hijacked my thread with CUTE!

aaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :hi: :P

[BrklynLiberal]

56. So sorry.....

not intentionally...:pals:

[elleng]

54. Great pics, Bklyn!

HUGS to all!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

57. Thanks.

You know this is how they all are....right?

[elleng]

74. Yup, happy tangles of furrbabies!

[ChicagoSuz219]

88. Too cute!

How do I post a pic of my own vicious beast? LOL

Btw, nice sheets!

[BrklynLiberal]

127. Thks.

To post a pic you have on your PC, first upload it to a hosting site like www.photobucket.com

After it is uploaded you then copy the image address and paste that into the message you post.


The pic will show up.

If it is a picture that is already on the internet, you right click on the pic.
In the window that opens up, you click on properties and then hilight and copy the location.
That is what you then paste into your post.

[ChicagoSuz219]

143. What's if it's on facebook? n/t

[pipi_k]

91. Awwww...they're so sweet!!!

Here are my own little devil dog girls...

[roguevalley]

111. awww. your black, is she shepherd or that flemish dog (I think its

flemish) that looks like one? THey are awesomely beautiful.

[pipi_k]

123. Thank you :) They're full sisters, actually...pure GSD

Got them a year ago from a breeder whose owner had died only a few weeks before. Her daughter said they were her mom's special dogs and she didn't know whether to sell them or not.

I think the mom was intending to use them mainly for breeding purposes. They've been spayed, though, and are living the lives of pampered pets now.

:)

[BrklynLiberal]

129. Lucky little girls to have ended up with you...

[BrklynLiberal]

138. I believe the dog you mean is a Belgian Breed...

One of several varieties of "Belgian Shepherds".

I believe this is the one you meant

http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Belgian_Groenendael/>

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/belgiangroenendael.htm


Here are the others.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Shepherd_Dog_%28Tervuren%29



This one is used for police work very frequently
www.justdogbreeds.com/belgian-malinois.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Shepherd_Dog_%28Malinois%29


This one is the least seen.
www.puppydogweb.com/gallery/laekenois/e.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Shepherd_Dog_%28Laekenois%29

[BrklynLiberal]

128. They are ADORABLE!!!!!!

Have you had them with you since they were itty bitty? It must be so much fun having those two around.
They obviously adore each other.

I have always had two dogs...This is the first time in about 30 years that I have only one dog..but I am hoping that the cats help to assuage his pack instincts.

[pipi_k]

149. Thank you...no, we got them last March

when they were 10 months old. So we missed out on their puppy years, which I'm sorry about because, living in a kennel the way they were, they were not properly socialized.

Not that they're mean or anything, they just weren't exposed to a lot of experiences as puppies, and they're still somewhat wary of people other than ourselves. We're here 24/7 with them, so in spite of what people said about adopting siblings who hadn't spent much time with humans, they are as close to us as any other dogs we've ever had.

I love them so much...they're my little fur-babies...

this is actually a better photo of them...

[roguevalley]

110. awesome twosome. lovely

We have had dobies, rotties, pitties and bloodhounds, basset hounds, dachsies.

We even had an awesome Australia Cooley.

Dogs are as good as their owners understanding of how they work. Simple enough.

LONG LIVE DOGS and the CATS THAT OWN THEM!

[BrklynLiberal]

130. LOL . thanks .

Dogs and cats are wonderful together...as long as the dog understands who is the boss... LOL

[Libby2]

156. Beautiful animals, thank you for sharing.

[Jazzgirl]

135. Best dog I ever had was a Siberian Huskie.

Loving and extremely protective. Smartest dog I ever had.

[happyslug]

59. Poodles are considered one of best Water Hunting doors ever

The Germans when they bread the Poodle wanted a Smart dog (The Poodle is the second smartest dog, second only to the Border Collie), with very good water instincts. Its coat does NOT shed like most dogs, thus needs to cut every so often, The French took this characteristic and made a good German Working dog into a French poof.


The Poodle's inability to shed makes them idea dogs for people "allergic to dogs". Most such allergies are tied in with the dog shedding its coat, the Poodle does NOT shed (or more accurately shed very little) is thus the ideal dog for people with such allergies. It was suggested to Obama for his children for both of them are allergic to dogs, but it shows his tendency to play it safe when it opt for a breed much like the Poodle but is NOT called a Poodle.

Bo, Obama's Dog:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_(dog)

Portuguese Water Dog:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Water_Dog

[elleng]

68. I agree with what you say about Poodles, and love them.

I disagree with what you said about Prez O. I suspect he ended up with one of the other no-shed dogs because Senator Kennedy persuaded him to do so.

Here's ANOTHER of the no-sheds! Probably related to MY Bedlington!

[Donnachaidh]

100. rotties are such big beautiful babies

My neighbor had one that used to scare the heck out of me till we were formally introduced. Then he tried to climb into DH's lap and we were both won over.

[tonysam]

2. My sister has a wolf hybrid.

It was her ex-husband's. She is a beautiful dog, but when she was younger, you had to watch her with other dogs.

She is 13 now.

[alphafemale]

33. A wolf is really not much like a dog

A dog looks adoringly into your eyes. If a wolf is looking into your eyes they are ready to take you down.

[Shell Beau]

43. That isn't always true. I know a couple who have

2 wolves. They are as cuddly as my dogs are. They were abandoned wild pups when they were found. Maybe they are the exception.

[Bigmack]

49. Dogs and wolves... same species.

Dogs are a subspecies of wolf.

Canis Lupis = wolf

Canis Lupis Familiaris = dog

[alphafemale]

62. Yeah. But

I still say that the modern dog evolved from the lines of the African hunting Dogs. Not the wolf. Show me a dog that mates for life and I may begin to believe they are kin to wolf.

[happyslug]

83. Recent DNA studies indicate a 100,000 years difference.

Now, like most such research it is based on the slight differences in the DNA of both dogs and Wolves AND presumptions on how long such variations would developed (But this is based on known changes in other species). It is more an educated guess then a true findings complicated by the fact that wolves and dogs have interbreed to a large degree during that time period. The 100,000 (actual guess as 76,000-124,000 years ago, the mean being 100,000 years ago) difference was a shock for the fossil record indicate only a 14,000 years of dogs living with people. The difference may be error but more likely the dogs and man slowly working together, first as competitors that found it better to work together then against each other, and then as a team. The 14,000 date may just be when man first decided to take in the wolf as a member of his band instead of another creature hunting at the same time as man was hunting (i.e. man found the hunting easier with the wolf also hunting nearby at the same time). Over a long period of time the wolves who lived with man and hunted at the same time as man learned to work closely with man. Man did the same with the Wolf. About 14,000 years ago, after Millennia (as short as 60,000 years or as long as 120,000 years) of working together but as separate teams, some tribe took in the wolf as a full fledge member of the tribe's team. This was found to make hunting even easier AND provided another type of security for the camp (i.e. what man could not see, the wolf could hear or smell, together it was an unbeatable team (Please note I am using "man" as a Human Being, thus the term Man includes both men and women). Once the dog was in the tribe, it stayed and has stayed till this day.

The 100,000 years difference was a shocker, Some other DNA studies showed the Wolf was closer to the Dog then the Jackal (DNA difference between Wolves and dog was 1.8%, Between dogs and Jackals 4%). The Jackal has long been proposed as the true father of the Dog for several reasons. First Wolves have slanted eyes, a scent gland on their tale and are larger then most dogs today. Jackals have rounded dog like eyes, no scent gland on their tales, just like dogs and are about the same size as most dogs. Further, when dogs turn wild they tend to turn to something like the Jackal (i.e the Australian Dingo) then the larger wolf. Thus several people have proposed the Jackal as the direct ancestor of the dog instead of the Wolf (Jackals are believed to separate from the Main Wolf breed about 200,000 years ago). The recent DNA studies seemed to have killed this idea, but not completely.

Some articles on domestication of the Dog:
http://newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org/Tidbits/OriginOfTheDog.pdf

Papers on DNA showing the 100,000 year split:
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/276/5319/1687
http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/90/1/71.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schwartz-dog.html

Paper on Wolf Coyote Split of about 1 million years ago (The Wolf actually is only 700,000 years old, at which point it separated from the much larger Dire Wolf, it is from the Dire wolf the much smaller Coyote separated from 1 million years ago):
http://crandalllab.byu.edu/wolfME99.pdf

[roguevalley]

114. the oldest dog form can still be seen: long legs, lean body,

long neck, nice head and big ears and a long skinny tail. Check mutts. they tend to trend to that basic old form.

[happyslug]

118. The best part of the 100,000 year estimate is that is when Homo Sapiens first appears.

Thus it is possible that the first true humans (Homo Sapiens) were interacting with the direct ancestors of the Modern Dog as soon as modern man appear in the fossil record. Gives some support to the old Native American story of creation. The Great Spirit came down to earth (After making the earth, sky plants and animals) with a dog on his side. On seeing man, the Great Spirit found he needed help and turned to his dog and told him to stay with the human race. The Dog obeyed the Great Spirit and has been with us every since. A sub-concept of this story is that the Native Americans could NOT even image anyone being without a dog, even the Great Spirit.

My guess as to what happen is that Modern Man appeared. Found a wolf with Jackal like characteristics (No scent gland in its tail, round eyes etc) but was still a wolf NOT a Jackal (Through the difference between Wolves and Jackals is only 4% as opposed to dogs and Wolf's 1.8 % difference in DNA). This wolf learned to live near man (And man learned to live near this wolf). Both found it to their benefit for both gain something, the wolf man's fire, ability to use tools (i.e. weapons) and higher intelligence, Man, the wolf's superior speed, smell and hearing. The two cooperated together. Those wolves who learned how better to interact survived better (i.e. dogs know what a person is doing when a person points at something, a concept even Chimpanzee do NOT have). Humans who learned wolves manners learned how to better interact with them (Even young children know when a dog wants to play, through young human males often push play on dogs and thus young human males are much more likely to get bitten then young human females). Sometime before 14,000 years ago the two species STOPPED living apart and became one integrated team. This is not that large a step for both species already acted as a team within their own packs (Unlike herd animals who just heard together. the exceptions being the Musk Ox that set up a perimeter, the only creature that does).

Lions hunt in prides but Lions (I should say lionesses) tend to go after a kill individually and only when a pray creature is stopped does the other member of the pride step in. Wolves, on the other hand, can run sophisticated operations. One time I saw a film showing this. Two wolves started a hear of caribou to run, after a mile or so two other wolves took up the drive (The first two falling back do to being tired). This kept the Caribou running to the pack leader charged the herd from the front and side (Crossing the herd, but attacking from the front). The pack leader headed straight for one Caribou and no others stopped it till the other pack members could join in for the kill. Sounds simple, but you have to realized this was something designed and executed by the wolves themselves, dogs with Human planning can do even more sophisticated operations.

Anyway back to what I started to write, People and Dogs seems to have evolved together over the last 100,000 years, thus Dogs are not so much domesticated by man but man and dog have become one.

[roguevalley]

121. some scientists believe we learned our family/pack structure from

them. I love them, all forms of them, all of them. I had an Australian Cooley. That dog is the wildest breed I ever owned and it was awesome.

[roguevalley]

113. We have them up here and they will take them away if you have

them. If a wolf is gray, they are pure. If a wolf is black, they have dog in them or so I was told. I love all dogs.

[pipi_k]

124. the problem with wolf/dog hybrids is

that they tend to embody the not so positive traits of each, which can make them dangerous, or hard to handle, at the very least.

They're both pack animals, but wolves are much more friendly with their own kind than they are with people, even when they've been "tamed" as babies.

Dogs are more attuned to humans and less so with other dogs. Not a whole lot, but just enough.

When the two are mixed, you very often get an animal that isn't entirely safe around other dogs or human beings. A lot of them end up being destroyed. In fact, I recently "adopted" a wolf/dog hybrid at a wolf sanctuary. His owner had to give him up when he became hard to handle.

"Bear", my adopted wolf hybrid

http://www.wolfhollowipswich.org/wolves.htm

:)

[Holly_Hobby]

79. DNA-wise, dogs are nearly identical to wolves

Dogs and the gray wolf differ by only 0.2%

Dr. Robert K Wayne, Canid Evolutionary Biologist and Geneticist at UC-Davis:

"The domestic dog is an extremely close relative of the gray wolf, differing from it by at most 0.2% of mtDNA sequence15,22,23.

In comparison, the gray wolf differs from its closest wild relative, the coyote, by about 4% of mitochondrial DNA sequence14. Therefore, the molecular genetic evidence does not support theories that domestic dogs arose from jackal ancestors. Dogs are gray wolves, despite their diversity in size and proportion; the wide variation in their adult morphology probably results from simple changes in developmental rate and timing." From The Molecular Evolution of the Dog Family by Robert K Wayne

"At the molecular level not much changed at all: The DNA makeup of wolves and dogs is almost identical." National Geographics

http://mypetcarnivore.com/dog-wolf.html

[roguevalley]

115. a chihuahua is still a wolf in its dna. :) little dogs also have a spot or

two of lion. At least that is what my dachsies tell me. :P

[tnlefty]

65. A guy who does some work on our pool has a hybrid....

I didn't realize that they have different layers of fur - cork screwed layers and smooth layers. She's gorgeous and everytime that I'm around her I get her tongue in my mouth...a combination of talking to her and her wanting to lick me. She doesn't appreciate being barked at by the dogs next door. She looks and gets a posture, but she doesn't growl.

Her current owner has scars from trying to establish who would get the dominate role. She was rescued from a shelter and confined to a laundry room by a woman who knew that in this state she would be put down. The woman confined her to a laundry room, which just about drove the hybrid nuts. Now she has 120+ fenced in acres to run on, and she's obedient. I wouldn't want to be responsible for her though.

[a la izquierda]

67. A friend of mine had one. The dog knew me very well...

and I have never, ever been afraid of any dog. But I was always uncomfortable with the way the wolf-dog looked at people. It gave me the heebie jeebies.

[roguevalley]

116. Cesar Milan helped people who had two of them. He said he had never

been scrutinized by any canine the way the two wolf hybrids did with him then. The white one was ENORMOUS but gentle. The gray one was quiet and scary.

[a la izquierda]

117. It was very, very unnerving

I love wolves. They're probably my favorite wild animal and I support a variety of causes that protect them. But I'm very leery of them when they're interbred with dogs. Just because something is possible (wolf hybrids) doesn't make it a great idea.
Thanks for that info, though. I like Cesar, I'll have to find a clip of that episode!

[pipi_k]

150. Hello fellow wolf-lover!!!!

:hi:



They're also my very favorite wild animal, even from a very young age.


They are beautiful creatures


Did you ever see (or read about) Farley Mowat's ("Never Cry Wolf") experiences among the Arctic wolves?

[a la izquierda]

153. I haven't but I'll check it out this summer...

I'm a grad student, so reading for fun is not possible now.
I read Dr. Michael Fox's book on wolves as a little girl and was hooked. My husband adopted me one for valentine's day, which I thought was probably the most thoughtful, sweet gift he's ever given me.

I think that's part of the reason I so rabidly hate Sarah Palin.

[hunter]

87. My sister had a coyote hybrid. Worst dog in the world.

There wasn't an ounce of "man's best friend" in that creature. It was only tolerating you until you died and then it would eat you. That dog was scary when it stared at you. You felt like food.

It used to shit in my dad's shoes, not once, but any time it could. It killed and ate chickens. It couldn't be fed with the family dogs because it would fight. It terrified our cats. They lived on the roof and in the trees and on top of high cabinets while we had it.

The only thing it was good for was killing rodents and ground squirrels. My dad said my sister had to get rid of it. He gave it to a neighboring rancher who admired it at arm's length and let it handle the vermin and overpopulation of feral cats in his outbuildings. It was a pretty animal but essentially wild.

When the creature got old and slow it was killed by a horse who rejected its very bad manners. Don't ever get on the bad side of a horse.

[Coventina]

89. Hmm, just goes to show the infinite variety of individual personalities

A co-worker of mine just buried her coyote hybrid. She said it was the most loving dog she'd ever owned. It loved everybody, and never threatened people in any way. Everyone in the neighborhood loved her. Stuck to my co-worker and her husband like glue.

She said losing her on Tuesday night was the biggest loss they've ever experienced as a couple.

[hunter]

97. I didn't mean to slander them.

:)

Dogs are very much like people: there are some who are easy to live with and some who are very difficult to live with.

I know someone who has a coyote mix who is a sweetie but she is an escape artist and master of coyote invisibility. Her owner has never found her once she's escaped -- it's always been a matter of her coming back when she is ready. She simply disappears and then appears, sometimes hours later, and a few times days later.

I don't think wild dog mixes make good pets and it's a huge problem when people acquire wolf mixes to show how macho they are. But there's a similar problem with other sorts of dogs like pit bulls or rottweilers.

Most of all a confused dog is a dangerous dog. A dog owner has to be consistent in their expectations of their dog while respecting the dog's personality. Wild dog hybrids, not surprisingly, tend to have personalities that are less domestic.

[Coventina]

108. I agree with everything you said, and I'd probably choose not to own one

myself. Unless maybe I knew the dog well beforehand.

I especially like what you say about how dogs are like people - each one is a unique personality, some are easily likeable, others are not...

[knitter4democracy]

131. I went to a wolf ranch in AK once that was mostly wolf hybrids.

Definitely not dogs in their behavior, but there was one I would've taken home if I could have. Lovely animal, kind, and very sweet. I think they're sort of like cats, though--they pick their humans and don't always share well.

[dana_b]

132. my ex had a wolf mix too

she was half wolf and half german shepherd. Smartest dog I've ever known and devoutly loyal. She would sleep with me and even "guard" us. One time I was in bed and she was laying at the end of the bed. My ex came in the room and she growled at him. I was shocked but he knew how to handle her and she backed down. I was never scared of her but I can see how she would intimidate others.

[provis99]

4. probably based on the amount of damage they do, not aggression.

all of the breeds mentioned are medium-large to large dogs. Toy poodles are yippy and bite a lot, but they don't do much damage.

Insurance pays based on the damage done.

[undeterred]

5. A dog bite is a dog bite...

If someone is suing a homeowner over a bite, I can't imagine they sue more for a rottweiler than a poodle.

[TexasObserver]

9. Severity of the bite matters.

The insurer is concerned about the likelihood that a bite will inflict enough damage to make insuring the dog's owner against liability for dog bites unwise. Insurers know that some people who buy bigger, stronger dogs don't have good pet owner practices. Because some owners of such animals put having a powerful dog far above having good sense, insurers take that into account.

Simply put, bad owners are more likely to have big dogs, because having a big dog makes them feel like a big dog.

[depakid]

17. They'll end up paying policy limits on some of these cases.

Saw this bit last year on the aggregate liability costs. Definitely a "growth industry."

Man’s best friend is sinking its teeth into homeowners insurance costs. Dog bites account for one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims, costing $387.20 million in 2008, up 8.70 percent from 2007, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

An analysis of homeowners insurance data by the I.I.I. found that the average cost of dog bite claims was $24,461 in 2008 (the most recent figures available) down slightly from $24,511 in 2007. Since 2003, however, the cost of these claims has risen nearly 28 percent. Additionally, the number of claims has increased 8.89 percent to 15,823 in 2008 from 14,531 in 2007.

“The rise in dog bite claims over the course of the past five years can be attributable to the increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments and jury awards which have risen well above inflation in recent years,” said Loretta Worters, vice president of the I.I.I.

More than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs annually, and nearly 900,000 of those—half of them children—require medical care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 31,000 Americans needed reconstructive surgery after dogs attacked them in 2006, center figures show. With more than 50 percent of bites occurring on the dog owner’s property, the issue is a major source of concern for insurers.

More: http://www.iii.org/Press_Releases/Avoid-Being-Bitten-With-a-Lawsuit-by-Being-a-Responsible-Dog-Owner.html

[TexasObserver]

48. Yes, and they don't like to pay policy limits.

Big dogs mean big claims.

[TwilightGardener]

12. There's biting, and then there's mauling.

I'm certainly much more likely to sue over having my face or hand ripped off than over a small nip or bite. Some of these breeds are capable of doing maximum damage, in the rare event that they do bite.

[951-Riverside]

19. Put your face in the jaws of a pitbull then report back. n/t

[undeterred]

53. There are some really nice pitbulls out there.

[Toots]

90. I am sure there are people that think Cheney is nice also or Bin Ladin.

Some people like those two.....:shrug:

[dana_b]

134. yes there are

and people who make asanine comparisons between these dogs and war criminals don't know wtf they are talking about.

[Shell Beau]

72. Who is going to put their face in the jaws of any dog?

[pipi_k]

92. My dippy sister, for one...

She lets dogs lick her face and stick their tongues in her mouth.

One day when we were still on speaking terms she was at my house trying to stick her face into Amy's crate (the fear aggressive Black Lab) where she usually ran and hid when people came over. I kept telling my sister NOT to do it, but she's a bit of a dope.

Luckily Amy didn't lurch forward and bite my sister's face off.


I was so afraid that even though Amy was in her "bed" and my sister had been told not to go near her, if Amy had bitten her, my sister would have claimed she was a "vicious" dog and demanded to have her destroyed.

I don't want idiots in my house messing with my dogs.

[OhioChick]

6. LOL...

I have 2 on the list and they're sissies.

[GoCubsGo]

7. I used to dog-sit a dobie and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Two of the sweetest dogs ever. So is my friend's Rottie. I have noticed that many apartment complexes do not allow these breeds, either. Having lived in apartments and other rental units, I have seen far more damage done to the property and residents by college students and children than I have all the animals I have ever known put together.

[elfin]

8. My westie was nearly killed by a Rottie

My dog was being walked by a neighbor while I was away. Leashed, and along with my neighbor's dog, they headed around the block. The Rottie came barreling out of a yard and chomped on my Westiie's head. My neighbor screamed and fortunately the owner called the attacker and it let go before it could deliver a death shake.

Yes, I know any dog can attack, but this was truly scary and sadly, stereotypical.

My neighbor said the my dog had done NOTHING to provoke -- not even looking at the Rottie.

I had to report them to the authorities, because it could have been a toddler just as well as a small dog.

[BrklynLiberal]

26. Irresponsible owner....dog should have been leashed, fenced in, trained...

[HBravo]

10. Another reason to raise rates. nt

[pipi_k]

11. Dog breeds...bah!!!

When I had my three "old girls", I had two German Shepherds and a Black Lab. The Lab, because of her very early upbringing, would have bitten someone more quickly than either of the two Shepherds. She was very fear-aggressive.

Then there was the little Mini Schnauzer who had...shall we say...mental problems. He actually jumped up and bit me in the ass when Mr P and I were just dating. We became good friends very soon, though... :)

Now I have two young German Shepherds...sisters. They weren't properly socialized at the kennel where they grew up, but the most biting they've ever done was more the play "flea nipping" kind, and even that has slacked off. They're sweet girls.

All in all, though, I would not trust ANY dog not to bite. I don't care if it's last on the list of dogs likely to bite based on breed.

Any dog can bite at any time, for any reason. I think that's one thing people just don't want to admit, or believe. "Oh, MY dog would NEVER bite!!!" That's so wrong, and it causes so many tragic accidents.

[Doremus]

80. lol, I know what you mean about mini schnauzers.

We have 2. One is a rescue that escaped from god-knows-what and was saved before he suicided himself on the freeway. He has some, ahem, issues ... but we've come to know his triggers and avoid them.

We're all quirky in our own ways. We love our two impish terriers and wouldn't give them up for the world.

[pipi_k]

93. Issues...hahahhaha

Jiggsy was a real character. He would growl at us all the time. And he would make noises like the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character...rrrrrr...rubba rubba rubba....rowl rowl....grrrrrr


His issues were probably due to having been born almost dead. Mr Pip had to give him mouth-to-snout resuscitation to get him breathing again, and we suspect that certain areas of his poor little brain had been damaged.

He was a good boy, though.

Lived to be almost 15 years old.

[unabelladonna]

13. whew! i have an italian greyhound

i guess i'm in the clear. the dobies, rotties and german shepherds are REAL dogs....my boy? not too sure.

[flvegan]

14. That list is hilarious.

Misinformed hacks, basing rates on 40 years of news media hype.

[undeterred]

58. I really have no idea what its based on.

The company I work for has only 5 breeds on its list. Almost everything insurance companies do is based on some kind of actual data... but I doubt this is.

[dana_b]

136. thank you!

completely agree.

[Shell Beau]

15. I did have a chow mix. He was very difficult to train.

Very difficult. He started out as a little butthead. He got the nickname "Tuffy" at the rescue place because of his demeanor,and he was only 9 weeks old. He was the boss of all of the dogs. It took time and patience, but he turned into the most loving and precious dog. RIP Hutch!

[SoCalDem]

16. Poodles probably bite MORE, but the damage is probably not as significant

but then poodles are not that popular anymore..and so many people seem to want the "bad-ass" breeds to show how tough THEY are:)

[Shell Beau]

18. Cocker Spaniels can be biters too.

They are one of those breeds that also take time and patience.

[UTUSN]

21. Besides being totally loving and lovable, playful with retrievable objects, and SWIMMERS!1

I've had two over my lifetime and can attest to all the traits I cited. But the pic below shows the angry type you cite, which was in the newspaper at the humane society, probably was abused, but sure looks like it was angry at being locked up in "jail," beneath its dignity.

Plus, the chow chows can be LETHAL with small children.

And, yes, when I called my insurance co. about my Llasa Apso being accused of biting a meter reader, the woman asked the name of the dog, "Molly," and replied, "Good, at least it's not 'Cujo,' and the breed?" Replied to "Llasa" "Good, at least not a Rottweiler." She was relieved on all counts.

[Shell Beau]

30. I love ALL dogs.You won't find a dog that I don't love.

I think Cocker Spaniels are beautiful dogs. They can have a tendency to bite though. Not all, but if we go by the studies done on dogs, they are one of the top biters along with chows, etc.

As far as chows go (and any dog for that matter), I think it depends on the individual dog and the dog owner. My dog is no longer with me. He got run over when he was getting in my husband's truck but all of the sudden jumped out and ran across the street. Or tried to run across the street. Anyway, his problem wasn't kids.He loved loved loved kids. His problem was other dogs, but we overcame that. He was one of three dogs that I had. Now I have 2 and a 17 month old, and it is all good.

[Coventina]

42. IIRC, as far as number of bites go, they top the list. n/t

[elleng]

60. Our cocker attacked my brother when both were 'kids.'

I think billy tripped over leash or something; did some damage to his face. (Not permanent.) Folks said we'd get rid of dog, and I slammed door after Dad made the serious mistake to ask: 'Would you rather get of the DOG or your BROTHER?' Dad's 96 (brother 60 tomorrow) and that's the dopiest thing I've EVER heard Dad say!!!!

:rofl:

[undeterred]

70. I know of a cocker spaniel who bit a 2 year old

which resulted in 18 stitches for the baby and euthanasia for the dog. The dog was old, and they'd never had any problems with it. But as dogs grow older, they can have personality changes. That's true of any breed.

[Shell Beau]

71. Very true. And in my experiences with small and large dogs,

small dogs tend to be more likely to do that. Strictly just my experiences, certainly not scientific, but that has most always been the case. Big dogs tend to be gentle giants, and little dogs tend to be more high strung. I like both personalities. I have a mini pin and a 115 lb Golden/Australian shepherd mix.

[undeterred]

73. I have a 2 year old aussie mix

and he's a wild thing. 65lbs, he loves other dogs and people. I can't imagine him growling or biting, but I suppose its posssible. Golden/aussie must be wonderful!

[Shell Beau]

75. It should be a breed on its own with all these crazy mixes these days.

My 17 month old baby girl loves him. She lays on him, sits on his back, feeds him half of her food, tries to dress him up, puts her dolls on his back... But he is the most gentle dog I have ever had, and I have had pure Goldens and Labs before. He is the most laid back dog on the planet. He loves my baby just as much as she loves him. He sleeps by her crib every night. I feel even safer with him by her side.

[undeterred]

76. Thats sweet.

Some of the giant breeds are extremely gentle too.

[Shell Beau]

77. He's definitely a giant. My little one

is more distant with my baby.I never thought she'd welcome a child at all. It took her some time, and I still keep a more watchful eye on her with my baby than with my big boy, but she came along. She tolerates the giant toddler.

[tnlefty]

78. We had a cocker before cockers were no longer on the

list of family pets. She was a wonderful dog, especially around my kids when they were young.

I remember telling a salesman when I opened the door and was holding my youngest at the time, he was aprox. 5 months old, to not even try to touch the baby and to only address me or hand anything to me. He stated to me that my dog was friendly on the rare occasions that she was out and met them. I tried to explain that it was different when she was in the house, and again stressed to not try to touch the baby...

She was sitting on my feet and when the dumbshit tried to touch the baby she jumped straight up, latched onto his hand and was starting the shaking, luckily she didn't break the skin as I had to put the baby down in the floor and told her a very firm NO, grabbed her by the chest, and continued the NO. She let go and when I put her down, she sat between me and the baby, and she was on alert.

She wasn't prone to bite, and it would've been nice back in the day if this guy had listened because I had to watch her after that as she didn't trust him anymore.

[LisaM]

20. Both pit bulls and presa canario have killed at our dog park

We walked in a few months ago and saw this sign:

http://www.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/10/05/three-pit-bulls-walk-into-magnuson-park&view=comments

and a year or so ago, there was another heart wrenching story about a woman with a couple of presa canario dogs who killed a little dog who was in the small/shy dog area.

I cannot agree these dogs are as safe as, say, a Yorkie. All dogs (and cats) can do damage, but they are still safer.

[BrklynLiberal]

28. The owners of the "dangerous" dogs should be put down.

[LisaM]

46. Yeah, except that in both cases they took off

So what do you propose? In the meantime, some pet owners lost their sweet friends at what should have been a fun outing.

When I saw those signs, it brought tears to my eyes. I can't imagine seeing that happen to my dog right in front of my eyes.

[BrklynLiberal]

50. First..the dog owners should be tracked down and prosecuted..and sent to jail

like the owners of those dogs that killed the woman in San Francisco.

These were obviously stupid and arrogant people who were looking for trouble to begin with.
They used the dogs to make up for their own inadequacies...and fulfil their sick fantasies.
That is not the fault of the dogs....that is the fault of the owners themselves, and the breeders
who sold them the dogs.

People who do that, could do it with almost any breed.

None of this is meant to minimize the horror, pain and tragic aspect of the situation.

[LisaM]

106. I really don't think you could do it with three Yorkies

Granted, that type of person probably wouldn't get Yorkies, but some breeds can be dangerous and people need to accept it.

[BrklynLiberal]

22. They should have clauses about dangerous dog owners, not dangerous dogs!!!!

[Coventina]

45. +1

ETA: I think that just like you get a discount on auto insurance by taking driving lessons, you should get a discount for successfully passing professional dog training.

[s-cubed]

24. When I moved to the DC area I had 2 dogs and had to call the

insurance company to get a new policy. One was half Rottie and half German Shepherd: she was absolutely the biggest lover around. Big dogs, little dogs, people, kids, etc., she loved everybody but groundhogs. She was hell on ground hogs. One grab and a quick shake and the hog was a gonner. The other was a mutt from a shelter. In constrast to the first dog, she was mostly white, so I called them my ying and yang dogs. She definitely had some pit bull, and had never been properly socialized. I learned never to let her off leash. She only bit 2 dogs and one mail man.

So, I'm talking to the insurance lady. As soon as I mention the half Rottie, half shepherd, I hear a gasp. I quickly backed up and said she was elderly, 13, and very gentle. Then it came to the second dog. I'd learned: I said she looked a little like a white lab, No problem after that.
Now I have a dog that is a rare breed from the American south, a Black mouth cur, so they don't care. It's not on their list. I didn't tell them the breed is used for hunting wild boar and bear.

[AlienGirl]

25. Wolf hybrids don't carry rabies! They get rabies shots like any other dog

Among high-wolf-percentage wolfdogs, there are a few minor physiologic differences, like receptivity to anesthesia and frequent grain intolerance, but it's the same level of difference you see between breeds all the time. Wolfdogs are tetchy about anesthesia, dalmatians have a high incidence of deafness, French bulldogs need C-sections.

A wolf or wolfdog who has been raised responsibly, kept in good conditions with opportunity to exercise and with enough intellectual stimulation, and given proper obedience training is like any other large working-breed dog kept under the same conditions.

Anyway, unless an owner discloses the breed, how's anyone going to know the dog isn't just a generic mutt?

Tucker

[BrklynLiberal]

29. Ignorance of dogs and the danger presented by ignorant owners is everywhere

[undeterred]

66. Most dogs are mixed breed

and relatively few people have done genetic testing. The people I know who have got some very surprising results- like 5 different breeds in one dog, and it looked like one or two of them.

[comrade snarky]

85. I'm on the fence with the wolf hybrids...

I'm a dog fan. Love em' all. The big goofy mastiffs, frog faced rotties and super smart collies all the way to to tiny little mutts. One of the sweetest creatures I've ever known was what some would call a dangerous pit bull.

That said the hybrids can be a different story. There's a difference between a domesticated dog and a wild animal like a wolf. I speak from some experience here as we had one when I was a kid. She was what we'd call a rescue dog today but back in the 70s it was just a friend of my dad's who had a stray dog go under his house and have puppies so he took her in and found them homes. We always thought she was of no specific breed until we saw a stuffed Texas red wolf at a museum. It was her in a different color. Face, chest, skinny legs, small feet, hips and tail. All wolf. Even the fur was identical except for coloration. I don't know if she was half wolf or 1/4 but I'd bet any amount it was no less.

We raised her well, probably would have taken more care to be alpha earlier if I'd known she was a hybrid. As a kid, when she was a puppy, we played together like litter mates. That was a mistake in hindsight and made for some struggle later but overall she was a great dog.

There was always something wild in her though. Much more so than any other dog I've ever known. Looking back, she was dangerous. Even though she was socialized the wolf was never far away.

I'm not sure wolf\dog hybrids should be sold as pets.

[AlienGirl]

105. My friend's 50-50 timber wolf/German shepherd was the sweetest dog ever

He outweighed me by at least ten pounds and was way stronger than me. We used to roughhouse and wrestle around, play chase, even sleep curled up in an improvided "den" I made with the top of a papasan chair and a blanket. All the kids in our community of friends, including mine when I had them, could climb on him, tug on his ears, even grab his tail and paws (which no one else, even his alpha, was allowed to do without getting The Look).

That was the only canine I'd ever have left my preschool-age kids unsupervised with for a minute, and that's saying a lot.

Dang, do I miss him, and I hope that if there is an afterlife I am greeted by him jumping up, putting his huge wolf-paws on my shoulders, and licking me.

Tucker

[mitchtv]

109. I had a wolfX St Dane ,absoultely gorgeous

lived 14+ yrs , and got regular vaccinations. She was a hellion as a pup insisted on being top dog, but eventually calmed down, very very smart , but not easy to train, very bossy,great watchdog, and wonderful mouser, She loved to dig up field mouse dens , and pop those hairless, baby mice like bonbons. I think the cross with a st bernard great dane was a smart move, as they are both fairly gentle breeds.I never let her off the leash outside my fence until she was over ten y/o. didn't like dogs very much.

[comrade snarky]

139. They do hunt don't they?

My girl got a little portly when she hit about 12 and slowed down so we put her on a diet. She hated that diet food.

All of a sudden the gophers disappeared from the yard and she wasn't eating much dog food. When I found a bird leg in the middle of a bunch of feathers, that's when we decided to mix the diet food with regular.

Seemed kinder to all concerned.


:Antoher dman tpyo!

[comrade snarky]

133. That sounds like a wonderful dog

And stories like that are why I'm on the fence.

My dog was well socialized but I'd never have let neighborhood kids play with her. Family? Sure, but anyone outside of the family (pack to be honest) she never trusted. The possibility she'd have gotten spooked and bitten would have been way too high. Your dog could be the far end of the curve or mine could be, I just don't know.

The real difference between a wild animal and a domesticated one strikes me as a dangerous line to cross. You don't know what you're going to get until you've got it.

I still miss her though and I agree with you, any heaven that wont take a dog is no place I'd want to spend time. I'll just mosey down the road a piece.

(That damn Twilight Zone makes me tear up every single time)

:edited for tpyo

[Liberal_in_LA]

27. Stafford Bull Terrier... scary looking dog with short legs. lol

[BrklynLiberal]

32. Here's another one..pretty famous one

www.bulliebuddieslv.org/famouspits.htm

[Liberal_in_LA]

34. That one looks less ferocious some how... head smaller, body not as strong

[Shell Beau]

36. I think that is an absolutely beautiful dog.

[LibertyLover]

41. My 11 year old Siberian Husky was a handful when we first adopted him

He was 11 months old and a typical teenager - thought he knew everything and could run roughshod over us. The first time he growled at my husband, husband calmly held the dog down on the floor while telling him that he wasn't allowed to do that. A couple days later he tried it with me. I had a harder time keeping him on the floor, but managed. He was pretty good after that with a few exceptions and those exceptions were because he was sick. And he has been an absolutely wonderful dog with our daughter. She met him for the first time when she was 16 months old. He was about 4 at the time. He was smitten from day one and has been her shadow from the get-go. Siberians are not known for their protective instincts, but I have never worried about her playing in the yard if Bragi is out with her. 11 is a good age for a Siberian and he has had a couple of medical issues. He is slowing down and I doubt if he'll be with us more than a year or so. I'll miss him desperately when he's gone. We are already talking about whether to get another Siberian and right now my vote is yes - insurance or no.

[jmowreader]

44. I can understand why those dogs are on a list like that

I will grant you that 99 percent of all the dogs in each breed on that list are gentle, cuddly, warm, loving souls that wouldn't hurt a fly. They love children and kittens and are honest, upstanding members of the community...

IF...

you will grant that the other 1 percent of those dogs are large, powerful animals with strong jaws, and when things go wrong with those dogs they go very wrong, very fast.

[EC]

47. I have an Akita

and he is the most loyal and loving dog...he's like my shadow...and by the way he's really a big baby. My daughter has a Staffordshire and he is also a baby...I've been around many of these breeds and it depends on where they are raised...

[BrklynLiberal]

55. Where, how and by whom they raised makes all the difference in the world.

[elleng]

63. Right, and those who doubt should watch Dog Whisperer a few times!

[BrklynLiberal]

69. THAT is the truth!!! Daddy was a Pit Bull and so is Junior....

there were numerous dogs, including some of the Michael Vick dogs that he was able to rehabilitate...as did Best Friends.

[CBR]

94. I didn't know Daddy died until I read your post. :( sad news. nt

[BrklynLiberal]

119. It is sad. The family was devastated, even tho they knew he was getting older..as we would all be.

http://www.peoplepets.com/news/celebrities/exclusive-video-cesar-millan-lit-500-candles-in-dog-daddy-s-honor/1

http://www.cesarsway.com/news/daddy-memoriam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWmYrHU3ivE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uo0gJ2p6nM&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmNtI6oLXSQ&feature=related

[dana_b]

140. and the other truth is that no matter how wonderful

both Daddy and Junior are (or were), neither one would be accepted in most rentals. :(

[hollowdweller]

52. All of those dogs mentioned have a higher rate of aggression

My wife works for the Health Dept and Pits, Rotts and Chows are the top animals around here for bites.

I have lost 1 cat, 1 baby goat to Rotts. My wife was bit by one and the hospital bill was $200. Two difft ones attacked two difft border collies of mine and one time it was $200 and the other $1200 to get patched up.

My wife has also been bit by a pit bull but it just left a bad bruise.

There are a lot of sweet dogs in those breeds but statistics are what insurance companies go by and those dogs bite more often than others. It's in their genes. Ever own any fighting cocks? Some are mellow but most kick ass no matter how you raise them.

[notesdev]

61. It's about the danger threshold

When someone's Cocker Spaniel bites someone (and they do quite often, I hear), the damage done is mild in nearly all cases. When someone's German Shepherd bites someone, the damage level is severe.

What all those dogs on that list have in common is that they do a LOT of damage when they go bad, and that is the kind of thing an insurance company is in the business of being concerned about.

[pipi_k]

81. Then they should have included

Black Labs as well, because if it's not really about propensity to bite, but potential damage if they do, a Black Lab the size of the one I had would have done a world of damage if she had ever bitten a person.

So many times I saw her just rip through a rawhide bone in minutes, or crunch huge meaty bones (way thicker than a human's arm). She always finished her rawhides and bones way before the two Shepherds did because her jaws and teeth were so powerful.

The damage she could have inflicted on a child was frightening.

[flvegan]

86. Please don't use logic in threads like this.

I've got a great dane. He could easily do more damage than just about any dog I've put through my rescue (which specializes in the breeds on the list).

I failed to see the Neopolitan Mastiff on the list. I don't think I know of a breed that could potentially do more damage, if the dog chose to, than that breed. Except the Caucasian Ovcharka, but they're not stateside at this point in any number.

[pipi_k]

95. The only time I was ever afraid of a Great Dane was in doggy obedience school

last summer.

An older couple had a Great Dane that I don't think they knew how to handle. They....or, I should say, the wife...almost consistently refused to follow the trainer's instructions.

so this one day the dog goes off for some reason and lunges at me and Mr P and one of our Shepherds. By God, that dog could have eaten all three of us in two bites and then looked around for more. I'm not afraid of dogs, but I was that day.

When the classes ended after six weeks, I couldn't see any improvement at all in that dog, and I felt sort of badly that the poor thing, because of bad handling, might have to suffer for its owners' refusal to train it properly.

[Dr.Phool]

101. My Fudd, RIP, was a Lab-Golden mix.

At one point, he weighed in at 130 pounds. He was the biggest, most lovable lunk you could ever find. But, he had jaws like an alligator. He loved people, but hated raccoons. He killed every coon he ever ran across.

Now, we have a 6 month old Lab-Springer mix. We got her at a rescue in Tampa.


Sara, with the wife.


Got dirt?

[pipi_k]

125. What a lovely young lady!!

I have a friend who absolutely adores Yellow Labs. She's had three of them in the 20 years I've known her.

Her most recent one she got soon after her second one died from cancer three years ago. This one's name is Marley. So far he's not the imp the "Marley" of book and movie was...

It's interesting how they can come in various sizes and weights. I've seen some small ones, and some very large ones...

[Egalitariat]

64. I can't believe the dog killed that child!?!

"She was the sweetest dog. Always so lovable. Great with kids. It's really hard to believe."

That's the quote that always accompanies the "Pit Bull Mauls Child to Death" headline.

[jtuck004]

82. 3 dogs were killed here with strychnine-laced meatballs thrown

into their yard or left on the street where they walk.

Got any policies about humans your insurance co doesn't like? Cause humans kill a whole hell of a lot more people than dogs do.

[laughingliberal]

84. Oh noes! I had a Siberian Husky/Wolf

Guess it's a good thing my insurance company never asked me about my dogs. He was a little incorrigible when we first rescued him but he turned out to be very sweet after a while.

[Wizard777]

96. I have 2 Pit Bulls and 2 Tibetan Mastiffs.

The pit bulls are quick and agile. But the Mastiffs have brute force. They are monstrously big dogs. I have the Tsang Khyi variety AKA Temple Dog. They are the biggest of the big. The Tsang Khyi will go after a tiger like other dogs go after an alley cat. They usually win what is one of the most ferocious battles you will ever see. I've found that the Tsang Khyi shares many traits with the pit bull. They have an intense loyalty to their master. They have a natural instinct to guard their territory. They are ferocious fighters that will battle to the death. That makes them ideal guard dogs. Not ideal pets. My Pit bulls are professionally trained guard dogs that are retiring. The Tibetan Mastiffs are their replacements. They too are being professionally trained as guard dogs. They are doing quite well I might add. That's another trait they share with the pit bull. They are highly intelligent.

I have to say that's one thing that really gets me about people that abuse Pit Bulls. In doing that they deprive themselves of what would be one of the most loving and loyal friends they could ever have. I love my Pits and I know they love me.

[BrklynLiberal]

120. Do you have pics of your furbabies? er..Is it ok if I call them that?

;-)

[Wizard777]

122. That's okay. I do baby them. I don't have pictures.

They're pups and they are currently at a facility being trained. They are required to live in until the end of the program. Then the trainer will come to my home to make sure they integrate into our pack well. They are the same people that trained my Pits. Right now they are just going through obedience training or basic training as they call it. They won't begin their guard dog training until they are just a little older. That will be at the same facility.

[BrklynLiberal]

126. Well..if you ever get pics..pls post them.

http://www.kesangcamp.com/index_files/page0005.htm
\\
WOW!! Cool looking dogs. It says they are hyperallergenic!!

[Wizard777]

144. They are awesome dogs. I don't worry about the breed being abused.

They cost a pretty penny. In fact the worlds record for the most paid for a dog was a Tsang Khyi bought for 600,000.00. Both my babies came from Tibet. Both their parents are actual Temple Dogs. In my world travels I have managed to befriend the monks of a couple different monasteries in Tibet. The monks have bred Tsang Khyi for hundreds of years to protect the temple and it's monks from tigers. The bloodlines of their dogs are hundreds of years old. The trainers were worried about me getting Tibetan Mastiffs. They have a reputation for being difficult to impossible to train. That can be true of some Tsang Khyi and especially the smaller Do Khyi. But my babies came from a bloodline that has been domesticated for hundreds of years. The trainer was amazed at how easy it has been to train them. That's another thing they have in common with pit bulls. You have to make sure you get a dog from a good bloodline. Marko Polo probably saw the ancestors of my babies. They should grow to a minimum of 36 inches. Their father could stand on his haunches and put his paws on my shoulders. I'm 6' 11". Their father is slightly smaller than a Great Dane. But they don't have the Danes spindly legs. They're packed with muscle like a Pit Bull. They look like a cross between a Rotweiler and a St. Bernard in the face.

[Wizard777]

147. One other thing.

Because they get that mane. It can at times look like a spiked top mullet. I'm seriously considering naming one of them Joe Dirt.

:rofl:

My Pit Bulls are named Sweet and Heart. If a salesman comes to the door and I yell, O' Sweetheart! It's not the lady of the house that comes running. LMAO

[BrklynLiberal]

154. LOL..Sweet Heart... I saw a pic of one with the mane. It is fantastic.

At first I thought it was the arm of the person next to the dog.

[wyldwolf]

98. I've raised wolf hybrids (wolf dogs are a better term) for 20 years

Insanely intelligent, excellent with children. Only problems ever have been with other male dogs.

[mitchtv]

112. my female liked smaller male dogs

and people

[wyldwolf]

142. the two females I've had (still have one) have been exceptionally gentle...

... with people and other dogs. Even cats.

My male (who lived to be two months shy of 16 years old) was very territorial with other male dogs. Females were fine, of course. :)

[Neecy]

99. Whew! I'm glad I have Pomeranians

The only thing they attack is their supper.

[guitar man]

102. "pit bull"

Well, they lost any credibility with that one. "Pit Bull" or "pitbull" is NOT a breed, it is a blanket description for "scary" looking dogs that may include the AKC breeds of Staffordshire Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier as well as the UKC breed American Pit Bull Terrier as well as any mix thereof. "pitbull" may also be used to describe dogs that don't have any of those bloodlines, just a big head and muscular build. I've seen "boxadors" (boxer/lab mix) mis-identified as "pitbulls" among others.

I wish people would stop using this incorrect, blanket, media created term to identify a dog's "breed" and endeavor to find out what a dog actually is before labeling it a villian.

[Wizard777]

145. That kinda threw me when they differentiated between "Pit Bull" and Staffordshire Terrier.

To me the term is synonymous with Staffordshire Terrier. Both of my Pits are Staffordshire's. As far I'm concerned if it's not Staffordshire. It's not a pit and you're just full of bull. People just hate hearing their Pit from a "Champion Bloodline" is just a mongrel. Since the AKC doesn't register Pit Bulls. If it's from a "Champion Bloodline." Then they bought it from someone that breeds fighting dogs. So it's probably an inbred mongrel. I ask them, so when do you think the dog will snap and try to kill you? Tic Toc. I would name that dog Timebomb to make sure I didn't forget about that.

[guitar man]

148. Yeah that is a bit odd

It's usually just "pit bull" and they include anything that even remotely resembles a staffie in the characterazation.

I'm not sure of the bloodlines of my dog butt best guess is she's a Colby APBT mixed with a German Short Haired Pointer. Best dog I've ever had, I rescued her from the pound 10 years ago and she's been good as gold.

[mainer]

103. But don't these breeds also make your house safer from burglars?

Seems to me they may actually be a plus for some insurance policies

[pipi_k]

151. Actually, any type of dog can be protection against burglars...

as long as there are neighbors nearby to actually hear the dog barking.

That's the key. Burglars want to get in without anyone noticing them, and a barking dog (even if it's a Chihuahua) is going to make their "job" harder.


And it's funny, really, when I remember that years ago I did have a Chihuahua, that there were some people who were afraid of him, small as he was.

One time I was out in front of the house with him on a leash when a big ol' Doberman came over and Tiger (my Chihuahua) barked like hell at him and chased him off. :7

[CBR]

155. This is true. My boxer barks like crazy and seems intimidating staring

out my window. If a burglar came in he would probably just wiggle and look for lovin' but he scares them off.

[TexasObserver]

104. I hate big dogs that smoke cigars and breast feed their circumcised babies in public.

Yes! I hit for the cycle!

[MissMarple]

107. Bad or clueless owners and irresponsible breeders have done a lot of damage in the dog world.

[verdalaven]

141. We have a rottie who just turned a year old.

He is huge, and a total sweety who loves everyone! He does have an insatiable hunger for furniture, however. Can't wait for that to stop.

I have met smaller dogs were were mean to the core. Maybe that list should be revised to include toy breeds? LOL!

[BlueIris]

146. The only breed I don't understand the rationale for is the Chow. Every Chow I've ever known

has been highly sensitive, docile and almost...well, boring. Don't understand how any insurance provider could find them a potential property threat.

[ensho]

152. Akitas were not cross-bred. they are a hunting dog

wild boar, bear, monkey (Japan has a monkey that lives in the mountains. has long thick hair for winter.)

I used to exchange info with a Japanese breeder and have pics of his Akita's catches.

Akitas will attack other dogs.

and usually all an Akita has to do is look a stranger in the eye and the stranger backs off.
in 20 yrs. of breeding, training, showing Akitas never had one bite someone or even lift their lips in a growl. all that was needed was a look from them.

BUT the owner must be the leader of the pack and the Akita trained for basic obedience. or they will become the leader.

Akitas also like swamps, and watery places.

they were my best friends.