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Bully Breeds Argue . . . “Reduced Defense” |
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Written by Martin Lieberman
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Thursday, 06 December 2007 |
Three breeds have fallen under attack in the United States. They are the American Pit Bull Terrier and its variants, the German Shepherd Dog and the Rottweiler. This writing will take a detailed look at the Bully breeds and analyze two basic canine drives. We will compare these drives with the GSD, The Rottweiler and for the purpose of contrast with stock guardian breeds.
The GSD and the Rotti have strong prey drive and strong defensive drive. They have the near perfect balance for guard or personal protection work. The Pit Bull and it's germane breeds were deliberately bred to have pronounced prey drive with limited or no defense.
Stock guardian breeds conversely are bred to just have defense and little or zero prey drive. The point is a dog with strong defense and almost zero prey drive will remain with the flock or herd. A dog of this nature will not chase rabbits or other critters and will only engage a predator if it is close to the flock or herd.
The temperament on stock guardian dogs is diametrically in contrast to a bully dog. A stranger would not enjoy administering medications, dressing a wound or cutting the nails on a stock guardian breed as they do not enjoy handling the way a Stafford would. One would not want to steal a stock guardian dog. However, an American Pit Bull Terrier will go with little or no resistance. In addition, issues like obedience training for stock guardian breeds are compromised or treated selectively at best. In short, they are good at what they were bred for but are not an all around dog. Their work application is parochial at best and their fuse tends to be fast burning and short. A GSD is much more of an all around choice.
Reduced or zero defensive drive in the case of the Bull & Terrier breeds means they are less apt to bite when abused or handled. The lack of defense in the American Pit Bull Terrier and the closely related breeds is rarely addressed in debates. Perhaps it should be! The bully breeds unlike dogs with strong defense drives tend to be easy to steal. When it comes to training, the bully breeds are not German shepherd dogs. It is safe to say few breeds are. The bull and terrier family tend to lean toward physicality as opposed to cerebral endeavors. Training pressure will often cause a lack of concentration or avoidance. Similar pressure applied to a working lines GSD would be tolerated more easily.
My conclusions are predicated on fact and years of anecdotal observation. Dogs with pronounced defensive drive are more apt to attack when their territories are violated or when they are touched or handled. Conversely Bully breeds are emotionally needy by nature and love to be handled and are not naturally territorial. Exceptions to my assertion may occur resulting from cruelty or creative agitation. However, should one desire a reliable protection dog; it is much easier to simply buy a proper guard dog. A canid, whose emotional chemistry and physical type are appropriate for guard or personal protection.
The majority of Americans view (vouching for or) protecting the bully breeds reputation as heterodoxical or social heresy. They fail to realize excessive breed popularity will usually lead to more human bites. They fail to realize you can take the nicest child or puppy and in the wrong hands make it mean spirited. The Wolf and the bull & terrier genocides are similar in that they were & are both based on ignorance.
Dog owners, all dog owners must be responsible! If the current trend continues we could loose our right to own dogs. Sadly, we may have seen our last Beware of Dog sign! |
