An interesting article, and not what you would think...

Click~Here

I believe it, I'm always more careful around small dogs than large ones. I've never met a nice Daschund and one of my neighbors small malti-poos was just mauled by a Jack Russell

Yep, our vet is always joking that if chihauhuas grew to the size of German Shepards he would quit.

I think it doesn't get senstionalized as much because they're smaller and generally end up doing less damage than a large breed. Not to say it doesn't hurt and that they can't do some serious damage. Guess that's why I'll stick to my big boy.

It didnt come up for me. My mom had the sweetest weeny dog. Sometimes cocker spaniels are really mean.

I wasn't surprised about the chihuahua. I think they try to make up for their size with aggression.

The only weiner dog I ever knew personally was so dumb, he had a hard time figuring out which leg to hike. I assumed they weren't all that way.

In that article, I saw this in comments. Which dog is a pit bull? There seems to be alot of confusion over this.

find the pitbull

I have a Chihuahua that is 11 years old and she wouldnt hurt a fly and I know she is NOT the norm! We have 2 Pugs that are to stupid to bite and a Boxer that is scared of his own shadow! BUT the ONLY dog that ever bit me was a Chihuahua when I was a child it bit my rear! I still have the darn scar! lol

I was attacked by some little ankle-biter when coming home from school in grade 1. My dad came and rescued me... from a 10 pound dog Feels kinda dumb now because I didn't even get hurt but when you're only 4 feet tall they seem a lot bigger... really!

Storm has never lunged at or bitten anyone, she's growled at 2 people but I was quick to correct her both times. Both people said "Oh it's OK, don't worry about it" and I said right back "No it is NOT OK. She's not the boss." They thought I was being mean but my personal belief is that if you start letting your dog growl at people it doesn't know that can be the beginning of bigger problems, so I correct her.

I saw the most impressive young man at the park the other day. Chad and I were walking Storm on all of the nature trails and a little boy rode by on his bike with his mom. They stopped for a water break and as we rounded the corner he asked very politely if he could pet my dog. I had to compliment both him and his mother on how smart it was to ask before trying to pet her. I wish every parent would teach their children this basic piece of dog safety. He also knew to approach from the front, offer his hand for sniffing and then to gently pet her. I don't think all aggressive dog attacks could be prevented this way but I am willing to bet quite a few could. I've seen so many dogs, especially small ones snap at someone when startled. I think it would be great if this kind of stuff was taught at the same time as road safety. We teach our children not to run onto the street from age 3 and up, why not teach them how to properly handle meeting dogs and other animals?

There is a wiener dog that lives down the street that has bitten a few people. The idiot owner still walks him off leash.....grrrrrr
That is part of the reason why I do not walk my dogs anymore. Who do you think would get the blame if a fight happened, my 100+lb. Akita(on leash) or a little wiener dog?

Kitana my female Akita with Sammie. BTW at no point in time was Sammie my QP in danger.

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This totally makes sense. Lots of little dogs werebred to be ratters. Also as they can't cause as much damage, their temperament has never been much of a concern to breeders. I much prefer big dogs, especially the furry ones. Especially german shepherds, I have a soft spot for them.

I have never liked daschunds. My mother told me a story about when she was young(9years old). She had two cats that had kittens. One day it was raining and she had to rush home to get their boxes off the porch but they got wet before she got there. She took them over to her big sister's place and as it was sunny she put them out in her backyard so they could dry off. She went in to have lunch and about half an hour later she went out to chck on them. She found a neighbour's sausage dog mawling them. It had killed about 16 kittens in less than half an hour.

I like dog's, but I'm not crazy about them. After Hazel went to 60 acre farm. She is doing what she loves she is working! He said she loves riding checking on the cows evening ang nights. At first she was afraid of the cows. I don't know why I love cats, birds more. When I was younger I was all about dog's!

Thanks for sharing~!

I got it! But i love "bully" breeds and am friends with an extremely high reputable breeder. (a good portion of her dogs lines get sold across seas for showing/pets) so I knew what to look for.

Interesting article thanks for sharing it

very interesting..

I'd take my lab any day.. i trust him more then i do my moms two small shih szu's... I also agree its the way they are socialized.. our big dog has been taught manners is only allowed to lay down when he plays "tug o war" with the little ones for obvious resons however.. my parents REFUSE to teach their dog to not get aggressive around simon when he sniffs them or whatever with the statement that "she's small and needs to be able to defend herself" ... its unfortunate that their defense is ususlly to leap for poor Simons face.....

Sorry for the rant but people definitely should reliase small dogs need to be trained the same as larger dogs for their place in the pack etc to have an obediant and pleasent member of the household

I read the article and was shocked. I have owned dachshunds for almost 30 years. I now have 5 and there are 4 more in my family, all sweet and the best little house dogs. We also had a litter of 5 girls 2 years ago and I stay in touch with their families all who have no problems and love them. We know of a breeder that we bought 3 of our dogs from, we have been to his place twice, he has probobally 60+ dogs and you can stick your hand in and pet any one of them. Also the Momma"s with pups all would allow you to pick up any of the babies. I was so impressed by how friendly they all were. So I guess when they say most aggressive it must mean if they are threatened or feel in danger. I really think it depends on the situation with any dog. Sorry to ramble on but I LOVE my dachshunds! Not sure these will post I do not have much luck with pics but here are a few of my doxies. Julie
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Well one posted twice but they did post!!

I'm confused! (I know I know, it doesn't take much! )

But when I read the article, I read it as a joke... but I could be entirely wrong...


The author states that it's just her theory even though there is some evidence to back her up, it's still just her theory and nothing was experimentally determined.

I do agree with the Jack Russel one though, boy those guys can be vicious! Definitely one breed of dog that I would never own! I'm sure there some nice ones out there too!

I don't know, that's just the way I read it ... kind of like showing how generalizations about certain breeds are made. (And to me it looks like her generalizations worked as she now has all of her readers against these three breeds!) Since she is a pitbull advocate she obviously doesn't like the comments that get made about them, so IMHO she's just trying to show how easy it is to get a certain breed of dog singled out with
some simple generalizations.

I could be entirely wrong, so if I am just ignore me!

Actually, this article is based on a study which was conducted recently and posted in a London newspaper. It doesn't give specific details on how the study was conducted, only to say that academics studied the behavior of thousands of dogs. So it isn't the writer's theory that those dogs are the top three aggressive dogs, but the results of the study done.

I think when he speaks of his theory, he speaks of his opinion regarding how little dogs tend to act more aggressive because they are so much smaller then most of the other mammals around them.

Anyways, I just loved the basis behind it. I've known lots of little dogs and lots of big dogs and I truly think a lot of it has to do with the way the dog was raised. Every dog has the potential to bite someone though, just as every bird does. I think of it as comparing a budgie bite to a cockatoo bite. While they both have the same potential to bite, obviously a budgie bite isn't going to cause any where near the damage a cockatoo bite would.

That was what I was thinking in regard to the size of the bite and damage but I didnt want to post it. My mom had chihuhuas when I was growing up as adorable as they are they can be very protective of their owners. I remember one of ours getting out and going after the mailman who covered the dog with a plastic container to stop from getting a chomp. I also remember for as much of a pain that dog could be he also earned his keep he would catch and kill rattlesnakes that came in our yard. Not that this is relevant to the article lol I am rambling.

However the article got me thinking about the pecking order and sizes etc and that was something I have been pondering all day. Perhaps the little ones have to be tougher to survive in the world?

interesting article. i remember growing up thinking that poodles were the breed with the most bites to their name. followed closely by cocker spaniels.

i think how a dog acts has to do with the owners. little dog = little damage. little dog = cutsie cutsie. it's the mindset of the owner, imo, that is the problem. much like parents who don't correct destructive behavior in their toddlers. aww lookie at the wittle baby tearing up that newspaper - how cute! aww lookie at the wittle doggie protecting his master. to me, it's the same issue just with different species.

i like how jamie puts it: correct it or the animal will think it's the boss. and my daughter is one of those impulsive ones who absolutely LOVES all dogs. i think (hope) she's finally got it that she needs to ask before approaching a strange dog. i know she does when i'm with her. but that didn't come easy for her.

i've long maintained that breed specific bans are a bad idea. it's the irresponsible owners who are to blame and should be held accountable unless the dog was provoked.

kris

I understand all that I guess I didnt specify enough to explain what I meant I was refering to events in nature not as trained animals. Last week I saw a crow trying to take baby birds out of a robins nest and the robins who were much smaller were attacking the crow and not giving in to protect their babies. In the end the crow gave up even tho he really could of killed both of his attackers quite easily due to the size of his body and beak being much bigger.

I too believe in responsible pet ownership but I am more radical in my thoughts on it I promote spay and neuter because I work in a shelter and see the end result of over population with animals of all breeds even birds which is the department I volunteer in on Fridays. What I do is a band aid solution to a growing problem. The thing I see the most is that its the few that ruin it for the many and I dont really see any solution that will make everyone happy. Its not an issue of just those that are bad pet owners it becomes a community problem. It costs us lots of money even tho we dont often see it. We hear a blurb on the news etc..I just recently helped transport birds that were court ordered into foster until they decide if they go up for adoption or go back to the current owner who was a pet hoarder she had 22 cats cant remember how many dogs and birds and all of them were in bad condition. Hopefully after she has her day in court they will go up for adoption and she will be fined but this isnt an isolated case it happens all the time. It will cost alot of taxpayer money in one way or another to decide the fate of the birds dogs cats and all the hoop jumping is crazy. There are other reasons for giving up animals like when people lose their homes and have no place for their beloved pets but these are not the people I am talking about. I just wonder if there is a better solution than what is on the books now. I mean leash laws are in place yet you see dogs running about in every community. How much time should be spent policing all these irresponsible people and is there a solution that works?

I was suprised to learn from a dog trainer that poodles originally were used as great hunting dogs and some people still use them for hunting today.

Sorry I went off on tangents...pet ownership isnt a right..its a privelege...thats at least how I see it...I will shut up now...

ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN!!!

If I could offer my "2 Cents Here"... I am a professional dog trainer. That title is really a misnomer since I FEEL THAT I AM A PROFESSIONAL "DOG OWNER TRAINER"!

There are NO BAD DOGS, just bad human owners and breeders...!!!

There is NO NATURAL AGGRESSIVENESS built into any puppy! Just a natural instinct to "perform" a job because of it's intended purpose and breeding.

If you want a dog that will "HERD" your toddlers get a Herding Breed dog... (just kidding! ).
If you want a loyal protector of your toddlers get a Working Dog. Terriers are unique and need to have PATIENT owners because of their high energy and tenaciousness.
Most Hounds make great mellow pets and have more of a tendacy to be couch potatoes.... although they are always ready to have fun! Non-Sporting Dogs like the highly intelligent poodles make great companions and are hypo-allergenic! Toy breeds like Chihuahuas tend to have a BIG DOG attitude compared to their size in order to keep from being EATEN BY THE BIG BOYS! That "attitude" is probably not the best combo with children.....

My favorite small family dogs are.... Papillon, French Bulldog, King Charles Spaniels, Toy Poodle, Beagle, Miniature Poodle. Generally smart and mellow.... up to to 25lbs.
Medium sized breeds some with higher energy..... Whippet and WELL BRED Cocker Spaniels.
Larger Breeds.... Greyhound (please rescue one!), Golden Retriever, most Labradors, Standard Poodle (elegant and VERY SMART!).

I recommended only TWO Sporting Dogs.... the Golden Retriever and Labradors.
No Working, No Herding and No Terrier Breeds! Hmmmm?
My reason is that YOU BETTER KNOW what you are getting into with these breeds!

They were bred to serve a specific purpose and to DO WORK ALL DAY LONG!!! If they are BORED and not working, then they will find destructive mischief!!!! Remember that a tired dog is a good dog.....
New QP Dad

I have two big dogs and one chihuahua that thinks he is the bigger of the three and does not mind jumping on the two bigs ones to put them in there place. I also agree that most dogs are not aggressive unless they are brought up that way or unless something happens to them to make them that way. My chihuahua is not allowed out though when there are small children around due to the fact that one startled him one time and he snapped at her. He never bit her, but he has had a problem with small children ever since, and that is not a chance I would ever be willing to take.

I completely agree... our yellow lab NEEDS work.. even if its just teaching him new tricks lol.. for him work is anything from a brand new bone to different variations on fetch etc etc.. if he isnt made busy by us he will find things to keep himself busy with.....

Unfortunately this will do little to combat the perceived image of pit bulls and bully breeds as "mean" or the perceived image of small dogs as cute and harmless. I volunteer at the shelter and it makes me so sad and angry to hear the things some people say about pit bulls, who are often some of the best dogs in the shelter. I do my best to educate (a pit bull on his back, tongue hanging out of smiling mouth as he gets his belly rubbed does wonders for some people) but its never enough. :'(

I got it ...but then again I have had a pit bull...and an amaerican bulldog.I think they are GREAT dogs!

I am actually suprised to tee the dacshund as the most aggressive, a friend of mine has 3 of the sweetest little weiner dogs.
My mother had a chihuahua growing up and the little snot bit everybody but her and dad I sure hated that dog.......
I think Ill stick with my sweet big ol' bear of a retriever

I personally have owned and been friends of people who have both pits and rottwilers. The SWEETEST dogs I have ever met. We have a corgi/jack russle mix who things he is a huge dog. He will chew on our lap/german shepard's ears...I personally HATE the breed specific laws. If I had a pit when the law was passed I would just keep mine inside and in a fenced yard. They are wonderful dogs.

I've lived around and owned dogs all my life.
The only times I've been bitten were by a min. Poodle and a ******zu.
Both times unprovoked and for no apparent reason.
I've found that little dogs tend to suffer from LDS. Little dog syndrome.
Alot of them apparently have to make up for their small size by being overly aggressive.
I was walking my female german Shepherd a couple of years ago when she was ATTACKED by a pair of unleashed ******zu's!
The owners stood there and laughed and thought it was funny for cripes sake!
My pair of German Shepherds on the other hand have never bitten anyone.(well no one that wasn't wearing the proper bite suit/equipment anyways)

Just to chime in again I have owned dachshunds for almost 30 years and presently own 5, and have never experienced any aggression. My family also owns 5 dachshunds from a breeder who has a beautiful kennel of over 60 dogs not counting the puppies and you can pet any one of them. We have reached into many of the runs and crates with the Moms and pups, while visiting this kennel only to receive overwhelming kisses! My dachshunds all have different personalities but none are in the least bit aggreesive. Here is a pic on our way home from the breeder with my son and wire 5 yrs ago.
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Keep in mind this person isn't saying *all* little dogs or *all* Dashies bite... that would be like saying all pitbulls bite.

However people are a lot more likely to not train a Dashie well vs. a Rottweiler. Why? Because small dogs can't create nearly the amount of havoc as a poorly trained large dog. People generally insist that large dogs walk nicely on a leash, be good with children, not be protective of their food etc whereas many dog owners will let their little dogs get away with being snappy and protective of things. PLUS, small dogs can (and often are) a popular choice for "first dog" families who may not understand the ins and outs of how to get a well behaved dog. Add to this the volume of small dog and small puppy impulse purchases and you have a recipe for disaster. Certain celebrities certainly don't help with this at all by perpetuating the image of the small dog that rides in a purse and lives in the lap of luxury. Nobody hears about how these same celebrities hire professional dog trainers or just get rid of the dog when Fluffy goes on a raid of the Jimmy Choo shoe closet.

You can wind up with good dogs in ANY breed provided you have the experience and patience to work with them.

Very well said Jamie!
I couldn't agree more.

I agree with the statement that there is no bad dog just bad dog owners. So 6 yrs ago my husband and I started a relationship with no pets. Our first pet was a bombay cat. A year after we got her we brought home a 4 week old pit bull. I have always loved the big dogs. My children were 2 and 3 at the time. And we have added Tiki about 5 weeks ago. My pit bull is my biggest baby. She stays at my side and very much enjoys the other animals she meets. Now we do think that sense we got her so young and because her mom died at birth that she is alittle confussed as to when she is supost to use crtain things. Like her growl. She only growls at people when she wants to play. She thinks its funny to go get her pully rope and walk up behind people and grumble and growl. When said person turns around all you see is this pit bull with a tail that is wagging so hard it could hurt someone. When we started teaching her tricks one that we taught her was "speak" and instead of barking she quivers her chin and growls. She is now 4 yrs old and has never bit anyone or anything and sense we brought Tiki home she very much enjoys being Tiki's horse. Not to mention she gets free ear cleaning for her services as a bird cab.

So do I feel that dogs are born mean and aggressive? NO!! Do I feel they can go aggressive with lack of attention and care?? YES!! So like was said there is no bad dog only bad dog owners.

I completely disagree.

There are dog owners who ARE experienced and skilled that still wind up with dogs that are unsuitable as pets. Temperment is, at least partially bred into animals. You can see it in lots of different species including horses and people.

While nurture certainly plays a role you cannot outright deny that certain dogs are born with certain temperments. What other explanation is there for a litters of puppies where some are sociable and others are nervous when they come from the same parents/breeder? There are personality traits that make dogs unsuitable as pets just like there are personality traits in people that make them unsuitable as comediens. It's not fair to expect a dog to fundamentally change it's personality to fit your family, no matter how "good" of an owner you are. Being unsuccessful does not automatically make people "bad" owners.

Snugglbutt is a good example here on the forum... she has more dog experience than I can even imagine and even she encounters dogs that she KNOWS won't ever make good pets. Not because the owners or the dog are "bad" but because the dog has a personality that is not condusive to family or companion life.

Breeders used to euthanize dogs that had poor personalities as puppies, in order to pass on (hopefully) only positive personality and genetic traits. However with this new view that "Every dog deserves a loving home", breeders who are very selective and used to euthanize unsuitable dogs in the past are now considered heartless. As a result you see them relegated to "pet" or "companion" status, neutered then placed into a home that pays a considerable amount of money for a dog that, by all rights, may not be a good pet. Does this make the owners bad owners? No, it does not. Does this make the dog a bad dog? No, it does not. All it means is that the owners were unfortunate enough to be sold a dog that was mis-represented as a good candidate for pet status.

Sorry, I have always hated the phrase "there are no bad dogs, only bad owners" because it implies that no matter how much work an owner puts in that they are a failure if the dog doesn't click with their family. This just isn't true... every dog has it's individual personality and it's not fair to dogs or owners to assume that every dog will fit with every family or that a dog will fit in with any family period. Sure there are lots of owners who don't try and don't put effort into their dogs but there are a lot who drag themselves through the wringer and try EVERYTHING to help their dog fit with their family and it still just doesn't work. How many great parrot owners have we seen that wind up with parrots that pluck? Is it fair to say that "Well if they had been a good owner their parrot wouldn't have a behavioral problem"?

Tarpan - Are you in Florida? I live in Hollywood, FL. Broward County... between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale and I am currently a professional dog trainer. I too volunteer at two different Humane Society shelters... N. Miami Beach and Broward County.
Pit Bulls are illegal to own in Miami-Dade County... why? Because of dog fighting rings. When one of the fighters gets loose... they can easily kill a toddler or often times a family pet!

So you have to ask yourself... Hmmm? Who is BAD here? The Pit Bull, American Bull Dog or Rottweiler??? I don't think so! It's the sub-Human Morons that would purposely make these dogs aggressive for their twisted entertainment!!!!

Funny... I have been bitten by a dog only once! I was working for a Vet during the summer while in High School. Was it the Manchester Terrier? Nope! The nervous Miniture Pinscher? Nope! I reached in to retrieve LASSIE and got bitten!!! My fault because I assumed!!!! and didn't read his body language!

Two things I would like to point out here:

1. Humane Societies take in pets that for many reasons were tearfully given up by their owners.... an elderly owners death, home foreclosure, unemployment and sadly can't afford proper care... on and on! So please folks PLEASE consider an adoption of a "generally" well behaved pet and loving dog / cat.... including Pit Bulls!

2. If I could be DICTATOR for a day..... I would make all PUPPY MILLS illegal... I would also strictly control "Puppy Chain Stores" and pet shops selling puppies! All dog breeders would be licensed with the county for ispection and would if a kennel breeding pure breds would have to be AKC registered!!!

Much of the behavior problems in dogs result from TWO ISSUES... 1. Line Breeding (breeding to cousins... that can reveal negative behavior or health issues) and 2. First Fear Impinting!

Since we are QP owners.... ask yourself why they live 25-30 years? They have larger brains, a close family structure and MOST IMPORTANTLY a strong sense of Self Preservation!!! I discovered that my QP is easily frightened by the un-familiar... noise, new toy in the cage or his new play pen!

Relating that back to dogs... The reason I ONLY deal with breeders is that they care about the reputation, quality and health of their chosen breed AND will make sure that a potential new puppy owner knows the commitment ahead! All reputable breeders SHOULD tell you when you leave, "IF FOR ANY REASON THIS PUPPY ISN'T A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU, DO NOT GIVE IT UP TO A SHELTER, RETURN IT TO ME FOR A FULL REFUND!"

Sorry, I digressed...
There are 3 CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL PERIODS early in a puppies life:
1. First Fear Imprint - 6-10 weeks... This should be while still at the breeder with it's litter mates and mother. This is the reason many dogs are afraid of thunder or firecrackers!
2. Optimum Bonding Period beginning at 7 weeks and for a lifetime - Sound familiar? Like hand feeding our QP's! Again, No SCARY or REALLY Frightening experiences... lots of exploring and FUN new experiences.... exercise and play!
3. General Socialization - 7 - 16 weeks... CRITICAL PERIOD! Here is where a dog might grow up to bite kids, adults, dogs, cats... OH! and QP's!!! JUDGE the puppies comfort level... Introduce him to gentle children, adults at a shooping center, NON AGRESSIVE Gentle DOGS, friendly cats and QP's! If you sense a discomfort DO NOT force the issue! Remove the puppy from the situation and try again another time! Great time for starting basic obedience.

Sorry for lecturing....

To support Jamie and the Mechanics opinions.... check these two out!
This is "Lola" and "Miah" half wolf sisters from Ontario, Canada that visited in January....


When I first met them.... I was VERY leary and careful! They are large, heavy, athletic and imposing! As I discovered also WONDERFUL! So here again is another misconception that I HAD! Hybrid wolves can be BIG trouble!!!! Hmmm? So why do these two not fit the common notion? They were VERY WELL SOCIALIZED as puppies!!! Don't let me fool you.... if I were to make an agressive move toward Mom or Dad??? I wouldn't survive the response from these sisters!

Now get this.... My 25 lb. Jack charmed the panties off these two 140 lb. girls! When he first met them, it was tail tucked and head down as they nosed him and checked him out. So what does Jack do??? Completely submit to them by rolling over to expose his belly and throat!!! GOOD MOVE on my boys part when faced by OVERWHELMING force! It only took about 5 minutes, and 2 or 3 play bows to let them know his intentions! The girls were here for 3 weeks and became VERY PROTECTIVE of their Jack! Fascinating!


So... Almost forgot since this post is SO LONG! I don't believe Daschunds, Chihuahuas or Jack Russel Terrier are the THREE MOST AGGRESSIVE DOGS! They are what breeders and owners make them!
New QP Dad

Jamie -

You are so correct! Your post is straight to my point about "line breeding"!!!

Most kennels will, and SHOULD BOAST ABOUT THE TEMPERMENT of their dogs!!!

Now my dogs breeder Marie Shuart, (Teloca Beagles) told me that she had to breed out a recessive gene in her dogs 10 years ago that caused them to develop hip dysplasia at 7 - 8 yrs. of age! Not at all common for such small dogs. Breeding for temperment is NO DIFFERENT!

I was VERY FORTUNATE to purchase my champion 15" beagle from a woman with 40 yrs experience and former AKC show judge!

New QP Dad

as an owner of a rottweiler and a border collie i have to say i liked that article! my rottie is my 2year old daughters best friend and the softest lump ever!iout of my two dogs its my collie you have to watch as he protect me and my daughter by biting legs!! doesnt do it when my partners around!
it to me is all about good breeding and good consistent teaching whilst the dog is young! both my dogs know not to jump up to get attention and both sit right infront of whom they wish to pet them!and they both do loads of tricks and are very very obedient! all because i stuck to one word commands and never changed them! and i have always been very stern! if you bring up a dog right then it will repay you with good manners and excellent behviour!kinda like our kids really! well they are arent they haha!!
all dogs have the capability of being vicious! but with the right breeding and the right owners they can be fantastic dogs!

Ha I guessed before looking and got them all right. Then I added the Yorkshire Terrier and the stinking Bishon Frise, just for safe keeping. I have found that most dogs bites have come from smaller breeds because they feel they have to protect themselves. It's also the only way they can tell you NO! If a larger dog growls, it's gonna be known it means NO- when a smaller dog growls a lot of people think how cute, he's playing. (Not everyone thank god but kids do think little dogs are safer and they are more approachable to them)

OK I have to take back what I said. With the way you put things in a different perspective, I totally agree.

we have to face facts...all animals mean no harm,even spiders haha (i cant even kill them but i am sooo scared of them)
as long as we teach animals how we want them to behave and what is acceptable then the world will be a better place!! irresponsible dog owners should be put in the ring with the dogs or whatever animal they turned into monsters!!! it'll teach them!!

Just to jump on the bandwagon!...
I agree about the chihuahuas, I was bit on the stomach when I was 8 yrs old by one! The little bugger jumped up, unprovoked and bit me- HARD!!! I never been comfortable around them since! Also, my sister got bit through the lip by one when she was a kid...but she was stupid(!) and got down in the dog's face when it was eating.
I've got a beautiful German Shepherd now who's very intimidating looking, but he's the biggest baby! He has to sleep with his blanky at night! I had Border Collies and worked them with sheep up until my autistic daughter was born, but kept the love of my life until he died this past October. He too, was very protective of me and my oldest daughter and was known to nip at people if they were rough housing with us. He also liked to herd my son! I had 2 rotties in the 90's that were also big babies! The 130 pounder would sit on my daughter's lap when she was only 3 years old!!! All you'd see were her arms and legs flailing about and hear "Mommy!!! Get Skeeter off of me!"

Patty