thank you. i meant to say isn't. lol.
i see it as a safety device for my pet and others. not as a torture device lol. typing to fast sorry again.

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The difference between gameness and agression is this. Agression gets you into fights, Gamness will keep you going to win the fight. Ban the pitbull ban. keep fighting!

I took Buster out tonight with Che and the dog he attacked.

All were very well behaved on the whole.

The lady and her dog walked by the wall, Che was in the middle and Buster on the outside.

Buster tried to cross in front of me to get at the dog but i pulled him back to my side and he was excellent. Even when the other dog was trying to jump on him and was being silly. Che was very good (as always) and shot me a few withered looks

We're going to keep going with this, hopefully soon both dogs will be calm enough to let them sniff.

But for now- Baby Steps.

Hey =)
What a situation! But I understand completely. My greyhound (and the thousands of others out there) was never socialised when he was racing, he only ever knew other greyhounds, which are all big dogs, and I think that's where his dislike of small dogs and puppies comes from (not racing and the hare).
We muzzled him at first on the recommendation of the kennels (they tell everyone to until you are sure of your dog) and it quickly became apparent that while he 1) didn't like small dogs puppies, and 2) got over excited whenever he met a dog, he would never hurt a dog. This was confirmed when a bichon frise came rocketing towards him out of nowhere. it scared the life out of me and freaked toby out. He snarled and growled and saliva went everywhere and all I could think was 'Oh crap he's killed it' but the bichon had rolled over in submisson and was just laying there. Slightly slobbery but otherwise fine. I pulled Tobs away and the little dog ran back to it's owners who came over and apologised profusley. I apologised too (obviously) but he said it was his fault because the dog was off the lead and not (for want of a better phrase) under control.

So that got me thinking, Toby doesn't like the dogs but he wouldn't ever hurt them. So now I keep him on a lead whenever dogs are around and only usually let him meet older dogs.

However, I also have a JRT. And some experiences we've had with her have made my mind up on the matter. If a dog will BITE, MUZZLE it.
We were in the park and Annie had gone trotting off along the path sniffing and weeing, as dogs do. Tobs had gone to to the loo so we were behind her clearing up the mess. We came around the corner and on the path was an airedale. Annie, also walking along the path has gone up to it, not run or jumped of barked, just walked up to it. Next thing we know, Annie's squeaking in terror as the airedale lifted her up by her cheek and swung her around. We went crazy and ran up to her, I honestly thought it would kill her, but the dog either let her dog or had lost it's grip and annie's flown through the air and landed with a bump.

Luckily the dog hadn't even broken her skin and annie was just severely shaken. We talked to the lady walking the dog (it wasn't hers she was just walking it) and apparently the owners knew full well that she would attack small dogs.

And that made my mind up. The dog could have done her serious damage both mentally and physically. It should have been muzzled. Two alsations have also gone for her when she has done nothing but walk past them.

Dog's should be kept under control but there will always be the possiblility of any dog runnign to meet another and I firmly believe that if a dog is known to be a biter than the owner has no excuse.

That's just my experience and opinon and if you could be bothered to read it all (there's an awful lot of it I know, sorry =p) then I hope it helped a bit =D
Catharine x

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~ 'Dogs are not your whole life, but they make your life whole' ~

Sorry, not sure I that clear in my post, I keep Toby on the lead but not muzzled around other dogs.

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~ 'Dogs are not your whole life, but they make your life whole' ~

I think that's a great post... there's lots of ifs or buts about muzzles - but if your dog poses a threat to others and has a history of biting, you have to do it. No excuses not to really - that dog and its actions are your responsibility.

The only issue is after putting the muzzle on, is how you work alongside the issue. The muzzle in itself won't solve the issue, the onus is on the owner to deal with the training side of it.

The problem may be medical, it may be something that's totally irreversible and ingrained in them, or it may be able to be sorted through training... that can only be discovered through persistance and maybe a little help from a professional...

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Indy - Old Tyme Bulldog x Bull Terrier, born 26th August 08

I agree, there isnt just the physical injury side when a dog is attacked, it suffers psychologicaly and animas cant have counselling after a traumatic event like we can.

A previously happy dog may become terrified of other dogs or even turn into an attacker itself, attack or be attacked as the case may be as well as developing beahviour problems, i wouldnt want to be responsible for my dog doing that to another even if my dog was on the lead and the other dog ran over.

My collie has been dog agressive from 8 weeks old and despite taining snd socialisation its just got worse, i wont walk him without a muzzle even down the street in case soemone passes with a dog on th lead as he tends to lunge.

Its just not worth taking the chance, if you love your dog and its agressive there really is no excuse for not muzzling, it could save your dogs life.

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Tiggy, 13 yr old Collie x Alsation, Lucy 11 yr old epileptic cross breed, Kara, collie x whippet

I agree totally with you pampered_pets and r_neupert. If a dog bites then it must be muzzled and then you can work to train it out / get to the root of the problem in a safe and controlled enviroment whilst protecting other dogs, and your own, from harm.
We have been very lucky with annie but the attitude of some owners is appalling. The owner of one dog apparently said (I wasn't there) 'Oh dear that was a close one' when her GSD almost got her. I mean, how stupid can you get ? Not only could she have killed our dog but hers would have been put down as well. Why not save the pain and heartache and just buy a muzzle?

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~ 'Dogs are not your whole life, but they make your life whole' ~