Pitbulls Used to Be Considered the Perfect "Nanny Dogs" for Children --

[Honeycombe8]

203. Oh, how horrible. He got out of his yard into yours? How horrible. Your poor dog...

and your poor family. And the poor guy whose pit it was, since the pit had never behaved that way before (which I don't believe, really, BTW....he may not have done that precise thing, but I would bet money that there was some form of aggression in the dog before, and the owner played it down or refused to see it for what it was - a growl here, a growl there, a challenging stance with other dogs, etc.; we all tend to do that).

But I have read that when some dogs are aggressive, they can suddenly become aggressive, seemingly without warning. Of course, there is always warning....humans just don't know how to recognize it. The position of the ears, the stance, the gaze. Subtle, but the dog is about to strike.

One of my dogs, a Jack Russell Terrier mix (which is a feisty breed....they fight with other dogs more than pit bulls), growls at strangers if they look at her in the eyes. She also growls at the vet (smart dog). So I am ever vigilant with her. I doubt she would ever hurt anyone, or another dog (she likes other dogs)...but still, I have to accept that she has shown aggression and has to be handled accordingly. She's spoiled rotten and doesn't know she's treated differently...but I never let her get w/in arm's reach of any child, she's never off leash except in our back yard, and she's never in the back yard w/o me being home, and she's never out there for very long (except once when I fell asleep!). She's also pretty well trained. Once she hopped with joy when she and my other dog discovered the back gate was open, and off they ran through, excited to go on an excursion. But I saw them go through and ran out and shouted, "No...come back come back!" And they immediately turned around and came back! I was surprised. She also knows STOP, FORWARD, QUIET, COME, SIT, LIE DOWN, DROP IT, STAY. Stop is one of the most helpful commands. She'll stop in her tracks.

I also take my dogs for walks. Walking does dogs a lot of good. It's natural for them to walk in a pack, so off we go, the three of us, and walk the neighborhood. They love it. It's exercise, and it's stimulating mentally for them, as well as works off energy and excitement. They love to smell and see the neighborhood and other dogs. Happy, tired dogs are not apt to get into fights.