General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Pitbulls Used to Be Considered the Perfect "Nanny Dogs" for Children -- [View all]Drahthaardogs
(6,843 posts)I am so sick and tired of everyone thinking they can "fix" every dog out there with just enough love and goo-goo eyes. Working dogs were bred for a reason and to think you can out socialize their genetics is stupid, stupid, stupid. There is a REASON top retriever guys pay $3,000 for a pup from champion parents just like there is a reason FCI German Shepherds only have an 8% incidence of hip dysplasia vs. over 40% for AKC dogs.
I have three German imported dogs right now that are in their kennels that will flat out have your lunch if you go in their kennels without me letting you in. I can assure you they have been trained to a level maybe, maybe, 1 in every 10,000 achieve and were socialized from the time they were puppies.
When I am around, they know who handles the situations. I am the boss and they let me deal with it. THAT is training and socialization. When left to their own devices, they meet a threat as they see fit, which is usually territorial aggression (a trait they have been bred to exhibit for over 200 years). THAT is GENETICS!
Genetics count. Get over it.