question about camping with a pittbull
The wife and I just bought a camper and want to get back into camping. This time around we have two dogs. Both are rescue "mutts" and one is part Pitt. First campground I called to make a reservation ...
Forum Discussion
The end result was not the same; the pig appeared to be able to herd because the sheep did not behave like normal sheep. Just because and actor that plays a doctor on TV looks like a doctor under very specific (contrived) conditions does not mean that actor could diagnose and treat anyone.
Training does play a role; however, it is a lot less than most people are willing to accept or understand.
Breed bans (which I do not support) are/will be ineffective because genetically controlled behaviors are not linked to appearance (the basis of all modern concepts of what makes a breed). These are different sets of genes. This is why there is a distinction between bench and field bred dogs. Breeding for appearance does not guarantee the behavioral genes are retained. Worse still, in breeding for appearance the behavioral traits are not even assessed.
Since the behavioral genes are not assessed; dogs of a breed (with a particular appearance) may or may not have all of the behaviors for which a breed/type was initially developed. Some of these functions required the right mix of a complex set of behaviors to be useful for the function. This is why not all dogs purposely bred for a function will become useful for that function even with appropriate training.
Pet owners (and researchers studying breed behaviors like aggression) look at dogs (based upon appearance) and believe they will have the behaviors of a particular breed when no one has ever tested the breeding pairs or the offspring for these behaviors. They have no idea what behaviors these dog will have when they are exposed to the situations that elicit these genetically controlled behaviors. Some of these reactions can never be consistently controlled with training; they are as basic as flight-or-fight.
Not testing for the genes controlling behavior is no different than not testing for genetic diseases; you have no idea what your dog has or what you are passing onto the next generation.
Thinking any dog can be trained to behave a particular way despite the behavioral genes of that individual dog is a recipe for disaster. Thinking every dog that has the same appearance (modern definition of a breed) will also have the same behavior genes is naïve.
Training does play a role; however, it is a lot less than most people are willing to accept or understand.
Breed bans (which I do not support) are/will be ineffective because genetically controlled behaviors are not linked to appearance (the basis of all modern concepts of what makes a breed). These are different sets of genes. This is why there is a distinction between bench and field bred dogs. Breeding for appearance does not guarantee the behavioral genes are retained. Worse still, in breeding for appearance the behavioral traits are not even assessed.
Since the behavioral genes are not assessed; dogs of a breed (with a particular appearance) may or may not have all of the behaviors for which a breed/type was initially developed. Some of these functions required the right mix of a complex set of behaviors to be useful for the function. This is why not all dogs purposely bred for a function will become useful for that function even with appropriate training.
Pet owners (and researchers studying breed behaviors like aggression) look at dogs (based upon appearance) and believe they will have the behaviors of a particular breed when no one has ever tested the breeding pairs or the offspring for these behaviors. They have no idea what behaviors these dog will have when they are exposed to the situations that elicit these genetically controlled behaviors. Some of these reactions can never be consistently controlled with training; they are as basic as flight-or-fight.
Not testing for the genes controlling behavior is no different than not testing for genetic diseases; you have no idea what your dog has or what you are passing onto the next generation.
Thinking any dog can be trained to behave a particular way despite the behavioral genes of that individual dog is a recipe for disaster. Thinking every dog that has the same appearance (modern definition of a breed) will also have the same behavior genes is naïve.
