Greyhounds wear muzles because most tend to be retired raceing animals and as such are trained to chase smaller animal looking lures, for which they are rewarded to make them chase harder. They have a short racing life and if they are to be offered as pets there has to be some safeguard should they be off the lead. the majority are euthanised of course, at only a few years old. there are a number of female greyhounds producing litters of pups every year, only very few get to training,
err, i wonder what happens to all those others! still, dont want to get in the way of someone making a buck on the dogs do we!
Of course that is not what this thread is about, its about people owning dogs that they percieve compliments them, their image, their lifestyle etc and those doge often dont play along with the owners imagination.
there are people that want to own big dogs, danes etc, because they like them and probably also the conversation and interest they generate. there are people that like little dogs with flat round faces apparently because they remind them of children, and they often treat them as such! and there are all the sizes in between that cause no problem because they are just pets and are part of a family.
however, there are people who want to be seen with a dog that says," my dog is so tough it will beat your dog if they fight " my dog is so gentle, but its ancestry is directly linked to fighting breeds, you wont get into my yard cause iv'e got a tough dog!
Thats part of the problem of course, fighting breeds, destined to live a life alone, never to breed and yet very often still with their bollocks!!! Why!! they arnt going to use them, they only serve to keep the dog in a state of aggression and an innate desire to drive other dogs (or subordinate pack members) into submission.
Pit bulls, and all the bullterrier crosses, you know the dog I mean, are so very often there to serve as an accessory to their owners.
And before you get all indignant and go on about how gentle they are etc etc, there are exceptions to every rule !
BUT.
If i meet a fighting/ guarding type breed in the local park or in the street, straining against its lead (cause "my dogs so strong") why is it that 9 times out of ten the owner is so similar to the dog, both the owner and dog are supposed to convey the image that "we are tough and wont be messed with" The sort of owner that would say " I wouldnt have him nutured, its not fair. he would never hurt my kids, he loves them. hed kill someone if he came in my garden" and as someone already said, probably has a big, big fence, that also says the same thing.
exceptions to every rule of course, but,
according to records here, in the USA (where the loonys live) and the UK,
the majority of dog attacks (seriouse)are carried by dogs that know who they are attacking, members of their pack, or friends of. the majority are fighting/guarding breeds.
and I bet, I absolutly bet, that the majority are owned by stupid redreck types that want the dog as a status symbol.
I think someone has already said, there are no bad dogs, only bad owners!!
for those that I may have upset I should say,
I own two wirehaired pointers, but dont use them for shooting, (whats the point of that! I guess I think they convey an outdoorsy image when we go to the forest each weekend, or something stupid like that. both are nutured and the male will chase smaller dogs if they run, which frightens the owners of course, and he gets whacked. he will fight with no dog, will runaway if they have a go at him and im happy with that. He barks at intruders or people passing at the gate and thats good.
Children, I am fully aware of the pack mentality, of the pecking order, dog eat dog wasnt coined fo nothing !! so no dog should be totally trusted.
Live and let live, but there is a time when we should be saying " exactly why do you want that breed and you will have it nutured".
