Danny,

I read this and it bothers me. I think it is sad what happened to that pony. When I was nine years old we lived in Whitehall, MT on our cattle ranch. We had five Newfoundland dogs. The most loyal and gentle dogs we ever had. When we traveled in the pickup my brothers and I would sleep on them in the back. Well one day we saw them running the cattle and attacking them. Long story short, if I wouldn't have seen it myself, then I don't know if I would have believed it. They had to be put down. Was not easy to do, but had to be done. IMO.

I have a close friend I grew up with. Her and her boyfriend had a pit bull that they had raised from a puppy. She had gotten home from work (boyfriend still at work) and walked in the house and the pit attacked her. It took her to the ground and she yelled and screamed at the pit at loud as she could, using her arms and hands to protect herself. The neighbor heard her screams and came in the front door with his 9mm (great neighbors and friends). He had to shoot the pit twice at point blank range, killing the pit and saving Patty. She had to go to the hospital. Her arms and hands were shredded. She fully recovered, yet with horrible scars physically, as well as mentally and emotionally. They said they never saw any indication of why this happened and don't know what caused it.

I believe any dog has the potential, after what I saw our Newfoundland's do to our cattle. I will say that is with cattle. I don't believe they would have ever have attacked us, however I can NOT say that with 100% certainty.

I am always cautious around certain breeds, especially pit's and chow's. I believe certain breeds have a greater potential. I also believe that how they are bred (I lived in TN for eight years and I know that would "inbreed" dogs for fighting purposes) and how they are raised is a factor.

I have heard it said that there are no bad dogs...just bad owners. I also believe it is not right to let dogs run loose. I am NOT talking about hunting, working or on your own property. JMO.

Again...I say it is sad what happened. Did the owner of the dogs know (intentionally) that his pit and sheperd were running loose? Just a thought.

Thanks for your article. God bless and happy trails. Swampfox

Was a phone man for 34 years, had lots of encounters. Had a dalmation bite me on my right butt cheek as I was standing there talking to the homeowner. I puller a pair of 9 inch pliers out of my tool pouch and cracked him on the nose so he would let go. I was mad and I asked the guy why he let his dog come up and bite me and his reply was he doesn't like people with beards.

When I was younger riding a dirt bike I had a St. Bernard go through a screen door of a house and run out and put his mouth around my thigh and jerk me off the bike. The homeowner yelled and stopped the dog before it got ugly.

Zero experience with Dalmatians , but I've heard they can be very unpredictable .

I was bitten on the leg by a German Sheppard while riding my bike, I was about ten years old. The dog ran up behind me and latched onto my leg. The owner paid for the doctor bill.

Most of the dog problems are directly traced back to the owners.


Here's a bit of advice if you ever find yourself a victim of a dog attack.
1 get your hand under the collar and twist - no air = no more fight. They let up really fast and submit.

2 a good fist to the nose will really slow them down also.

3 stand your ground, don't show them any fear. Make them rethink their decision to attack.

Do you think these things would work on a pit when they attack?

1-pull pistol

2-(This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) hammer

3-pull trigger

Wouldn't from what I've seen.

I've watched a few of the malinois we use get punched, kicked, hit with objects and continue to bite and latch on...none of their jaws actually lock. Besides lethal force the most effective tool for dog owners to carry on them is The breaker or something similar. The induced gag reflex will allow the owner to regain control and allow the dog to be pulled away. Unleashed dogs that attack ...that's all she wrote.

No air..... no fight. They all go down fast with a quick twist of the collar.

If you can react fast enough a swift kick or strike will remind them of their place. If a full blown attack is on then a side arm is the best solution. If not available, shove your hand as far down their mouth as you can and wrap them up so they can't shake.

If they are free to fight, they will, take as much of that away from them that you can.

That's great if they have a collar.

I've seen a number of rottweilers in the news the last few days for killing children. I think it was Oklahoma, Texas and California.

If tapping a wild canine on the nose works so well why doesn't it work equally as well on domestics?

Think about this very sad true story. There was a mom of a sweet 3 year old little boy. The boy wanted a Popsicle on a warm summer day. It was dripping on the floor so mom sent him out on the back step to finish it. When she went to get him just minutes later the neighbors two pit bulls had him torn limb from limb all over his back yard. They "never would hurt anyone", "never showed any aggression before" " they are always on their heavy chains, never get away" etc... .

For all you who would own/defend them, I truly hope yours never "snap" (or revert to their breeding) and kill a child.

Christ on a bike, pat. Look at that dog I posted. Axel. You're not cutting off his air supply.

Have you tried this firsthand or do you just think it will work. Because if you get your hand twisted up in an attacking pits collar you will just have a broken mangled hand. That will work about as well as throwing your books at a school shooter

As far as I'm concerned the thought that ur going stop an attack of a pit with any of those methods when the dog is is in attack mode shows their ignorance of what a dog like a pit can do. As far as tapping one on the nose just think about how hard it is to do with a k-9 in a trap. With a dog attack u have about 2 tenths of a second from the time hes close enough until hes on u. Then u have hit right on the nose also. Not good odds.

Ask Ceasar the dog whisperer on TV!! He handles a lot of salty dogs. On one episode a yellow lab went berserk and nearly took his arm off multiple surgery and nerve damage loss of motion. Caesar said in subsequent episode review of the attack it was the worst he had ever experienced. If he had not fought back as hard as he did he would have been toast. The dog whisperer talked the family into letting him take the dog as it could not be trusted. It lives as part of Caesar's "pack". This dog was a family pet.

They aren't in a trap . Not restrained.