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
Our Wendy (120lbs of working Kangal) has been educational for me confirming to me animal and human aggression are not the same traits. She was bred in Turkey by shepherds who live in communal villages. Their dogs must be trusted loose in the village with their children. Human aggression is not tolerated at all; any sign of it is lethal for the dog. This means human aggression has been selectively bred out of these dogs (dead dogs are not bred). When we approach Wendy she automatically lays flat on the ground submissively; she does so without any signs of fear or anxiety. We did not train her to do this; it must be genetic since she was imported as a very young pup.
I have no qualms about her around any humans. However, I do not trust her with other dogs and I don't trust her with some of our dogs (some of our females). Her job is to protect our sheep and other canines can be viewed as threats. I have no doubts she would kill other animals; she has proven it. She is a living example of selectively breeding against human aggression while retaining animal aggression.
This was likely the case for fighting dogs where the handlers had to be able to separate dogs without being attacked themselves. However, these people tested each dog for animal and human aggression before breeding. Without testing for these genetically controlled traits dogs with these genes are being bred. --It is no different than breeding without testing for genetically controlled diseases; you don't know what is being passed on.-- Until these offspring are subjected to the triggering stimuli for these traits owners have no idea how their dogs (who carry these aggression traits) will respond. What these breeds were (when being tested for these traits) may no longer be representative of what the dogs are today. There will be individuals that are not human aggressive and some that are.
I have no qualms about her around any humans. However, I do not trust her with other dogs and I don't trust her with some of our dogs (some of our females). Her job is to protect our sheep and other canines can be viewed as threats. I have no doubts she would kill other animals; she has proven it. She is a living example of selectively breeding against human aggression while retaining animal aggression.
This was likely the case for fighting dogs where the handlers had to be able to separate dogs without being attacked themselves. However, these people tested each dog for animal and human aggression before breeding. Without testing for these genetically controlled traits dogs with these genes are being bred. --It is no different than breeding without testing for genetically controlled diseases; you don't know what is being passed on.-- Until these offspring are subjected to the triggering stimuli for these traits owners have no idea how their dogs (who carry these aggression traits) will respond. What these breeds were (when being tested for these traits) may no longer be representative of what the dogs are today. There will be individuals that are not human aggressive and some that are.
