jomar
Footballguy
some people prefer large dogs over the ankle-biting, non-stop barking of a smaller dog. I'm one of them.You seem defensive about being told that you seem defensive. I'm kidding of course, but no one was pissed or expressing any outrage about your decision to buy your dog from a breeder. But it does seem that most of your posts are about how everyone else is doing it wrong, and that everything you've done with respect to owning a breed that can kill is right.
That said, I'll admit that everything you've done would appear to drasticallly reduce the chance that your dog will kill someone:
1) Purchase from a reputable breeder (that breeds for temperament).
2) Properly train the dog.
3) Make sure the dog is socialized.
4) Don't mistreat the dog.
5) Make sure the dog is properly supervised and secured.
But what I don't get is why anyone would want to own a breed where such measures need to be taken to avoid catastrophe.
As for your concerns regarding disreputable breeders, what is your proposed solution? Do you recommend outlawing "backyard breeders" and sales of pets at pet stores? Should we shut down shelter adoptions as they may introduce questionable dogs into the public?
any large dog can kill. don't kid yourself into thinking an 80 lb lab is any safer than an 80 lb Doberman. I'd put the chances of a well trained, well socialized large breed dog killing somebody at about .00000001%. why take that chance? why own a dog at all? why do people do anything that has a minimal chance of killing them? why have a gun in your house? why put in a swimming pool where you have to take measures to ensure people don't get killed? why drive out for dinner and possibly get killed in a car accident when you can eat at home?
as far as me, I researched probably 50 breeds of dog before settling on a Rottweiler. I'd had one before along with shepherds and Dobermans and loved the laid back temperament. He doesn't shed as much as a shepherd/st bernard, not as skittish as a Doberman, doesn't bark much at all. a mastiff was too big. my second choice was a Swiss Mountain Dog but they can have issues with potty training. Rotties are incredibly smart dogs and easy to train.
and get this, Rottweilers are really good with kids, which was very important with 3 small boys and a neighborhood full of kids. I have kids over swimming on a weekly basis and they come in and out through my gate with my dog standing on the other side. he loves to hang out and be around people. he has never had a problem with another dog. he's almost the perfect dog if he wouldn't step on people's feet once in a while when trying to give them some lovin'. and the best part is that strangers aren't going to come near my house with him standing there. he has this look and that's all he needs.