tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836626531069245520.post8384986408601054979..comments2023-10-28T03:41:51.901-07:00Comments on pit bull nm: Six of One, Half Dozen of Another.Pit bull NMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10551956059438050867noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836626531069245520.post-32556962082201546132009-01-27T17:49:00.000-08:002009-01-27T17:49:00.000-08:00Brent, Emily, thanks for bringing your thoughtful ...Brent, Emily, thanks for bringing your thoughtful and informed comments to my little corner of the blogosphere. I hope you're finding my comments as respectful and honest as I am finding yours.Pit bull NMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10551956059438050867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836626531069245520.post-22959009612670089012009-01-26T21:23:00.000-08:002009-01-26T21:23:00.000-08:00I agree with Brent. Any dog abused in such horrif...I agree with Brent. Any dog abused in such horrific conditions deserves a chance, but if they're pit bulls they rarely get it. We like to romanticize that a "real" pit bull ("his courage is proverbial" as the AST standard reads) would never become so fearful and shy, but the truth is proving otherwise. Were/are they "unsound"? Certainly there was only one that was human aggressive; I think it's asking too much to expect dogs so badly abused not to show mental scars. <BR/><BR/>Yes, it's only because of Vick's money that his dogs were able to be saved (Pat Patrick's similarly shy dogs were killed), and yes, I mistrust how Best Friends is exploiting them. But OTOH, the dogs are teaching THEM.. and the public.. some of the truth about the breed. It's a unique case. I do think we owe it to the dogs to let them become what they will become. You may be right, though, that we're not hearing about dogs that remain fearful or that are fear-aggressive as opposed to just shy. Certainly we're only hearing routinely about 20 or so of the dogs, not all 50.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836626531069245520.post-83976858418866003482009-01-18T14:35:00.000-08:002009-01-18T14:35:00.000-08:00I guess I have more trust in the people who did th...I guess I have more trust in the people who did the initial evaluations than you do. The dogs were initially evaluated based on their "soundness" and the believed ability to be rehabbed. I think that obviously unsound dogs should be put down, for their own good and the good of the general public. I know that "sound" is a very ambiguous term -- that would be different for every set of evaluators. <BR/><BR/>That said, in the particular case you mention, I trust the judgment of the people who did the evaluations, and the success of the dogs (from the ones I know about) seems to back up that their judgment was right on. But I do confess that if the message isn't about "sound" dogs being rehabbed, I understand the dangers if less experienced/trustworthy people made the evaluatioins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836626531069245520.post-26540287699462194712009-01-18T13:31:00.000-08:002009-01-18T13:31:00.000-08:00Brent, you make fair arguments about the resilienc...Brent, you make fair arguments about the resiliency of dogs. Although, it seems that you may have more faith than I do in the "it's all in how you raise'em" mantra. Genetics are a hell of a thing, and I tend to believe a dog when they show me who they are. <BR/><BR/>All in all, the point that I'm wanting to make with this post is that we're at a point in dog ownership where those that take in un-sound dogs (physically or mentally) are celebrated for their "compassion" and efforts; a message that is likely to keep a lot of un-sound dogs alive. And some of the images and descriptions that have come out of the press surrounding Vick's dogs carry this message.<BR/><BR/>Could it be that the dogs (not just Vick's dogs but in general) are being done a dis-service because of this push to keep stressed/disfigured dogs alive?<BR/><BR/>As for how Vick's dogs are doing today, honestly, I have no clue. I'm only privy to what makes it to the internet/press. That said, I have a strong suspicion that the politics of the whole ordeal may cloud how and what is being reported. <BR/><BR/>Nonetheless, I try to promote these dog as mostly a good thing for positive pit bull press, and voice my concerns in a respectful manner. <BR/><BR/>That said, regardless of how well this group of dogs have assimilated into their new lives (and believe me, I hope they're doing GREAT) the message that I take issue with is being broadcast in a big way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836626531069245520.post-11158456837294048302009-01-17T15:37:00.000-08:002009-01-17T15:37:00.000-08:00I don't think any of those dogs are currently in t...I don't think any of those dogs are currently in the state you mention of crawling on their belly (correct me if I'm wrong). I think most are now functioning rather nicely as dogs. <BR/><BR/>Certainly dogs that come from traumatic situations tend to be more or less shut down when they first get into a more normal situation. But over time, the vast majority adapt rather well with time and training. <BR/><BR/>I think it is one of the wonderful things about the canine species -- they're WONDERFULLY adaptable to whatever situation, even really crappy ones, we humans throw in front of them.<BR/><BR/>With the number of dogs out there in shelters, it definitely isn't practical to take some of these harder cases and and spend the time necessary to rehabilitate them when that time could be spent finding dozens homes. However, I think the progress these dogs made is a wonderful testiment to the ability of these dogs to adapt, and the power of good nurturing in determining temperament (which also shows that the reverse is also true, that bad temperament is also largely driven by nurture). <BR/><BR/>And if we can continue to make progress in the no-kill movement, soon we will be in a situation where we WILL be able to use the resources to rehab these dogs -- might as well have shelters in the mindset it can be done by the time we get there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com