> 0n (04 Feb 06) WAYNE CHIRNSIDE wrote to Cindy
 > Haglund...

 >-> ->  Oh just say OPEN!  Or offer a real treat?

 >->  WC> Nope just the nasty tasting pill.

 >->  You'd think they would flavor it.

 >->  WC> It a part of my training regime as if you don't maintain
pack leader
 >->  WC> status you've no business owning a Pit Bull!

 >->  Exactly! You know Wayne I told you I was scared of Pit bulls and
 >-> other known to be agressive breeds? But you know if I see a dog in
 >-> need, who has been obviously mistreated all my fear goes away.
 >-> Instantly. And I want to help them. I know I'm good at calming an
 >-> animal down. They're so easy to calm once they know you're not afraid,
 >-> and or win your trust.

 >  WC> I'm beginning to hate pit bulls.

 >  No. Don't hate the dog. It's people's attitudes that
 > are asssinine.
 >  :( The animal can't help his nature, only we can-
 > help our own and a
 > proplery trained pit bull as you have said, is not
 > going to be a
 > problem. Or shouldn't be.

 > Of cousre there's no telling how much or little it
 > might take to provoke
 > ANY animal into agression. Including people.
 >
 >  WC> Mine's a perfect citizen due to my training but the vast majority
 >  WC> are freaking dangerous due to lousy owners :-(

 >  Exactly. It's the people who are at fault, not the
 > dog.

 >  It drives me up a wall when I read how people ask, is
 > that dog good
 > with children? How about 'are the kids good with dogs?

 > Breeders of small dogs are loathe to adopt out their
 > babies to people
 > with small children. Small children can't help but
 > regard the little
 > dog as a toy to be played with as though it were
 > indeed a toy. Parents
 > who don't bother to teach their children how to
 > respect the needs of
 > the dog, are doing the dog more harm then the dog ever
 > will their kids.

 > A dog has no say when tossed into a pool or down the
 > stairs... if he
 > is injured the coomon deal is to blame the dog his
 > inablity to be a
 > good enough dog! Sigh.

One of the biggest problems is adults' failure to supervise toddlers, who
want to pick up and hug a hapless kitten or puppy to them with a crushing
grip, to the animal's obvious distress.  Children this age should never be
allowed to play with animals smaller than they are.

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