Quote:
Originally Posted by Boomer
It must be a blue moon or a cold day in hell because I am disagreeing with OBB.
May I ask, does that “Always” mean that you think there is no Nature to it and that it’s all about Nurture?
To extend my question — are our individual personalities as humans dependent completely on Nurture or are some things just our Nature? (I recognize that as humans our personality traits can be modified by Nurture — or the lack of Nurture — but, even so, I see our individual human Nature as being in us from the beginning.)
Boomer
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Domestic dog breeds are domestic, not wild. There is no "nature" in these breeds. It's all selective breeding (man-made) and training (nurture). Pits are not naturally "aggressive." They are naturally very active working animals and need handlers who will give them plenty of work - and activity. They ALSO need socialization, because they are not bred for socialization. Terriers are hunters; it's instinctual, it isn't their breeding. It is a natural trait in terriers to want to hunt.
If you neglect to give a pit bull enough work, activity, and socialization, it will create its own activity, work, and method of socialization. The end result will not necessarily be pleasant for humans. A pit bull is no different from any other terrier in that it needs to be kept busy within the context of its physical abilities. What makes it different is the physical composition of its jaws. When a wire-haired terrier bites, it draws blood, can damage your arm, but it won't hold onto your arm very long. When a pit bull terrier bites, it latches on and basically has a ratchet-grip on your arm - if you try to pull your arm away you could end up with a missing hand.