Quote:
Originally Posted by Veracity
In my opinion, there is a lot to be said about how nature (genes) and nurture (upbringing) interact to shape canine behavior. My experiences have taught me to understand and respect every dog’s breed (nature). If I buy/adopt a border collie, just like its ancestors, it will be genetically programmed to herd. It’s very unlikely that I will ever be able to completely train that dog NOT to display herding tendencies. If I don’t live on a farm, and I am very kind and loving to the dog, and I never teach it or expose it to herding (nurture), under certain circumstances, herding tendencies will still surface and the dog will naturally chase, circle, and nip at a moving object (nature). It’s not that the dog “snapped.” It’s just doing what it was bred for. Everyone seems to accept herding behavior from the entire category of breeds called ”collies.” Yet many people deny that the category of breeds called pit bulls, who were bred to fight but raised in a loving home, have the propensity to attack, regardless of how friendly they appear. Just as I will never drink and drive because I won’t jeopardize the safety of myself and others, I will never own a pit bull. If I were ever at fault in an accident that injured or killed another human being (child or adult) after consuming alcohol, I would not be able to live with myself. If I owned one of those sweet pit bulls who “out of nowhere” injured or killed a human or someone’s pet , I would have the same feelings. I cannot fathom any parent taking a pit bull into their home and then allowing their children to climb all over the dog, even into their bed (as described in an earlier post). Why would anyone take a chance of potentially putting their child in harm’s way? Is it me, or are they being totally irresponsible?
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The herding dog will NOT try and herd, which is their nature to do, if they are trained to NOT do that, and they are "on duty." If their current "job" is to stay home and hang out, and stay on their leash, and obey their owner who says "NO" when a group of people scatter in the park, then that is their job, and that is what they're trained to do, and that is what they will obey.
A herding dog WILL herd, if they are "off duty" or if they are not trained to not herd. My shepherd was a perfect example of that. She was an off-leash dog. She had the run of the neighborhood. And she loved herding joggers on the street. They all knew her and they'd let her run with them once they realized she had zero intention of biting anyone, she just enjoyed the chase because that's what herders DO.
But when she was on my lawn, hanging out with me, she was "on duty" and wouldn't take off chasing after joggers if I told her to stay. That's because that was how I trained her.
A fighting dog is bred AND TRAINED to fight. They can be trained to NOT fight instead. It takes more work to train them against their nature, but basically all dogs need a job. If the job is to sit there and NOT attack, then that is their job, and they'll do it if properly trained AND if their owner is properly trained in mastering their dog's behavior.
A properly trained pitbull will not suddenly attack for no reason. It just flat out won't happen. If it's attacking, then somewhere there's a failure. Either there WAS a good reason for the attack, OR the person training the dog failed in their own training by not properly training and commanding their dog.
This guy trains dogs off-leash, here he is with his cane corso in a shopping mall picking up a gift for his wife at Nordstrom's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-KB4Be3M48
Cane corso are primarily guard dogs. They're considered "giant" dogs (bigger than "large" dogs), have massive heads and jaws, can EASILY protect a henhouse from coyotes (ask me how I know), and fiercely guard their families. If not trained, socialized, and exercised properly, they can become terrifying aggressors. But a well-trained, socialized, and exercised cane corso is very likely to be just a really comfy, warm footrest when you're watching TV at night, or pillow if you've given him access to one end of the couch.