Dog bites Man! Again!

ThatRobGuy said:

What's odd is that while German Shepherds can be trained to be "attack dogs", they're very trainable in other ways.
(they're not like Pit Bulls...which why anyone owns those things as pets is beyond me)

Some interesting stats:

For recent years:
Pit Bull attacks: 3,397
German Shepherd Attacks: 113

So they're normally not hugely dangerous dogs compared to some others.

However, the interesting way to put this in perspective. Biden's dog (with 11 bite attacks), literally is responsible for 10% of all German Shepherd bite attacks over the past few years.


I think the most likely case is that the Biden home just isn't a good fit for a GSD. Based on some things I'm reading (and I'm not a pet owner, so this is just what I'm reading...I could be reading a biased source). A good home for a GSD is one where they can get outside for a lot of exercise, be stimulated with tasks, and where members of the family unit are around a lot, and they're not exactly the most recommended dog for elderly people.

Life in white house with an elderly president (who's on the road a lot) and probably not getting the dog out for recommended bonding & exercise to release some pent up energy likely isn't a great fit for a GSD.

This dog seems more his speed
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I owned pit bulls my whole life and never had one bite anyone. It’s all in the way they are raised. But most people shouldn’t own one. In the wrong hands they’re dangerous.

BPPLEE said:

I owned pit bulls my whole life and never had one bite anyone. It’s all in the way they are raised. But most people shouldn’t own one. In the wrong hands they’re dangerous.

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I know we agree on quite a bit here on CF...but the pit bull thing is one where I think we'll disagree lol



The stats alone indicate that there's something different about that particular breed.

Despite being only 6% of the dog population, they’re responsible for 70% of dog attacks and 55% of dog-related deaths since 1980. (and that's in terms of people... in terms of attacks and kills against other people dogs, they're make up 80%)

The fact that you can be a lousy Golden Retriever owner, and it's still less likely to attack than it's "well kept" Pit Bull counterpart says something.

The fact that you're saying "in the wrong hands, they're dangerous" is an acknowledgment that there's something different about that breed.

Nobody has to give that kind of disclaimer for Irish Setters or Chocolate Labs.


Pit Bulls were literally originally bred for attacking bulls, bears, and other large animals by locking onto the head and neck.

Per the ASPCA:
Today’s pit bull is a descendant of the original English bull-baiting dog—a dog that was bred to bite and hold bulls, bears and other large animals around the face and head. When baiting large animals was outlawed, people turned instead to fighting their dogs against each other. These larger, slower bull-baiting dogs were crossed with smaller, quicker terriers to produce a more agile and athletic dog for fighting other dogs.

The notion that you're going to "un-do" multiple generations of selective breeding favoring aggressiveness (on a widespread scale) in a matter of 80 years is wishful thinking.

Glad you've had good luck with the ones you've owned, but there's a lot of people who haven't been so fortunate.

ThatRobGuy said:

I know we agree on quite a bit here on CF...but the pit bull thing is one where I think we'll disagree lol

View attachment 336887

The stats alone indicate that there's something different about that particular breed.

Despite being only 6% of the dog population, they’re responsible for 70% of dog attacks and 55% of dog-related deaths since 1980. (and that's in terms of people... in terms of attacks and kills against other people dogs, they're make up 80%)

The fact that you can be a lousy Golden Retriever owner, and it's still less likely to attack than it's "well kept" Pit Bull counterpart says something.

The fact that you're saying "in the wrong hands, they're dangerous" is an acknowledgment that there's something different about that breed.

Nobody has to give that kind of disclaimer for Irish Setters or Chocolate Labs.


Pit Bulls were literally originally bred for attacking bulls, bears, and other large animals by locking onto the head and neck.

Per the ASPCA:
Today’s pit bull is a descendant of the original English bull-baiting dog—a dog that was bred to bite and hold bulls, bears and other large animals around the face and head. When baiting large animals was outlawed, people turned instead to fighting their dogs against each other. These larger, slower bull-baiting dogs were crossed with smaller, quicker terriers to produce a more agile and athletic dog for fighting other dogs.

The notion that you're going to "un-do" multiple generations of selective breeding favoring aggressiveness (on a widespread scale) in a matter of 80 years is wishful thinking.

Glad you've had good luck with the ones you've owned, but there's a lot of people who haven't been so fortunate.

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One of the problems is what you call a pit bull. How many bite statistics can you find for registered Staffordshire Terriers? I can tell you that you won’t find any. And once a dog bites someone if it looks like a bulldog it’s going to be called a pit bull. That’s the problem with your statistics anything and everything is called a pit bull, especially if it causes a problem.
AKC did not have a breed called Pit Bull the last time I checked. The American Dog Breeders Association and UKC recognize that breed but AKC does not unless they have recently changed. And these dogs are not for everyone but if they are raised right and properly trained and socialized they make great companions. Maybe there should be requirements for ownership but I can just about guarantee that you can’t find a bite by a registered Staffordshire Terrier. My dogs weren’t registered but they were properly raised and trained and I never had a problem
It was English Bulldogs that were bred for bull baiting because they have a recessed nose that enables them to breathe while biting down and holding the bull. Are you concerned that English Bulldogs are also dangerous because of their breeding?
Pit Bulls are commonly used for catching wild hogs and were not originally bred for bull baiting

ThatRobGuy said:

What's odd is that while German Shepherds can be trained to be "attack dogs", they're very trainable in other ways.
(they're not like Pit Bulls...which why anyone owns those things as pets is beyond me)

Some interesting stats:

For recent years:
Pit Bull attacks: 3,397
German Shepherd Attacks: 113

So they're normally not hugely dangerous dogs compared to some others.

However, the interesting way to put this in perspective. Biden's dog (with 11 bite attacks), literally is responsible for 10% of all German Shepherd bite attacks over the past few years.


I think the most likely case is that the Biden home just isn't a good fit for a GSD. Based on some things I'm reading (and I'm not a pet owner, so this is just what I'm reading...I could be reading a biased source). A good home for a GSD is one where they can get outside for a lot of exercise, be stimulated with tasks, and where members of the family unit are around a lot, and they're not exactly the most recommended dog for elderly people.

Life in white house with an elderly president (who's on the road a lot) and probably not getting the dog out for recommended bonding & exercise to release some pent up energy likely isn't a great fit for a GSD.

This dog seems more his speed
View attachment 336882

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I don't think german shepherds are a dangerous breed in general. But this one is dangerous. To me it's not the breed per se, but the size of the animal. This one is big enough to have literally sent a grown man to the hospital. That probably wouldn't have happened if it was a poodle or a chihuahua.

ThatRobGuy said:

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, a GSD isn't a good fit for an elderly couple that's on the road a lot.

They're saying the dog was a gift from a family member, why a high-energy breed that needs a lot of stimulation and 2 hours of daily exercise and strong family bond was the first choice for an 80 year old couple that lives in a highly controlled environment and are on the road most of the time seems like particularly poor planning.

As I noted earlier, I'm not a pet person...and that's a good thing. I acknowledge that different dog breeds have different needs...which is why I know I don't want to have one.

Far too many people get a particular breed of dog because "it looks cool" without realizing that life with one dog breed (if you want to do it right) is very different than life with a different breed.

I know people who've gotten a Husky because "their eyes look cool" without any regard for the idiosyncrasies of the breed itself.

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I owned four Huskies over the years they’re great dogs

RoBo1988 said:

More breaking news...

Experts Unsure Where President's Dog Learned To Bite

WASHINGTON, DC — After yet another biting incident involving the Presidential pooch Commander, members of the White House staff and canine experts are at a loss as to how the dog learned such aggressive behavior in the first place.

babylonbee.com

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Sad thing is that I was thinking this was a real article until I got to the Biden quotes. It could have been.