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http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/video ... 7_0839.flv

my thoughts to the famliy at this very sad and tragic story:-1

i can't get the vid to load but read the text clip at the side of the map thing... wow I want to know how does a 1 year old and a rottie get that close to each other?

minks;749730 wrote: i can't get the vid to load but read the text clip at the side of the map thing... wow I want to know how does a 1 year old and a rottie get that close to each other?


Irresponsible owners.

a seven year old carried the baby into the garden where the rottweiler was.

lemon_and_mint;749805 wrote: a seven year old carried the baby into the garden where the rottweiler was.


The youngster was found with serious injuries by paramedics and police officers who found him in the back yard of the house where he was spending the Christmas holidays.

Police said the toddler was being carried by a seven-year-old child to the kitchen door, which leads to the back yard where his grandparents' pet dog was kept.

The seven-year-old intended to stroke the dog but after the door was opened, the dog snatched the one-year-old from the youngster and carried him into the yard.

Clearly distressed, the child then alerted his 16-year-old aunt, who was upstairs at the time.

The teenager attempted to recover the child but the dog would not let go of the child and she went back inside the house to call the emergency services, who arrived and took him to Pinderfields General Hospital.

Detective Superintendent Steve Payne, who is leading the investigation, said: "Clearly our thoughts go out to the family at this tragic time.

"The circumstances of the incident are still unfolding and we are speaking to the children that were present at the scene.

"What we know at this time is that the dog was a family pet, a two and a half year old female Rottweiller, which the family had owned for about six months.

"Although the dog lived in the yard of the premises, it had interacted with members of the family including children, and another dog and cat at the house, and had showed no previous signs of any aggression.

"Armed officers who the scene found the Rottweiller in an agitated state and clearly representing a potential danger to others, and a decision was made to destroy the animal."

Rottweiler attacks are rare but when they do happen the injuries are significant, Chris Window from the Rottweiler Club said.

"All breeds of dogs are animals. They do revert to animal instincts. If a dog is confronted with a situation they are not used to, they can react unexpectedly," he said.

He added: "If a dog is brought up in a household where there are no children you have got to be extra careful where children are present."

Two more lifes wasted due to irresponsibility......Makes me mad.....Poor boy didnt stand a chance, the poor dog for whatever reason was agitated and responded in the way animals only know how. That animal should never of been left around small children.

My little doggie as much I love and trust him, id never dream of leaving him unattended around children.......

Now that breed of dog is under fire yet again when it should be the owners of the dogs.......Some people should not own pets. Innocent babies/children killed time and time again, its not right.

There is a theory that te mewling and crying done by babies can trigger instincts in dogs in the way of dying prey. Whatever the cause, it shows how ignorant people still are both in leaving a kid unattended with an animal and in their "only choice" to kill the dog. That is done out of revenge and ignorance and that's all I have to say to that. Like the dog would now have bloodlust. Please.

This is very very sad. I don't think the breed should be blamed. It's the upbringing and training (owners) that are at fault

If they decide to ban rotties in the UK, what happens to the existing pets. I was in the UK when they banned pit bulls - I just can't remember if they made people destroy them :-1 or just stopped breeding and importing until they no longer existed in the UK.

Here's another sad day for the rottweiler.. This time in Australia

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 02,00.html

Chezzie;749842 wrote: The youngster was found with serious injuries by paramedics and police officers who found him in the back yard of the house where he was spending the Christmas holidays.

Police said the toddler was being carried by a seven-year-old child to the kitchen door, which leads to the back yard where his grandparents' pet dog was kept.

The seven-year-old intended to stroke the dog but after the door was opened, the dog snatched the one-year-old from the youngster and carried him into the yard.

Clearly distressed, the child then alerted his 16-year-old aunt, who was upstairs at the time.

The teenager attempted to recover the child but the dog would not let go of the child and she went back inside the house to call the emergency services, who arrived and took him to Pinderfields General Hospital.

Detective Superintendent Steve Payne, who is leading the investigation, said: "Clearly our thoughts go out to the family at this tragic time.

"The circumstances of the incident are still unfolding and we are speaking to the children that were present at the scene.

"What we know at this time is that the dog was a family pet, a two and a half year old female Rottweiller, which the family had owned for about six months.

"Although the dog lived in the yard of the premises, it had interacted with members of the family including children, and another dog and cat at the house, and had showed no previous signs of any aggression.

"Armed officers who the scene found the Rottweiller in an agitated state and clearly representing a potential danger to others, and a decision was made to destroy the animal."

Rottweiler attacks are rare but when they do happen the injuries are significant, Chris Window from the Rottweiler Club said.

"All breeds of dogs are animals. They do revert to animal instincts. If a dog is confronted with a situation they are not used to, they can react unexpectedly," he said.

He added: "If a dog is brought up in a household where there are no children you have got to be extra careful where children are present."

Two more lifes wasted due to irresponsibility......Makes me mad.....Poor boy didnt stand a chance, the poor dog for whatever reason was agitated and responded in the way animals only know how. That animal should never of been left around small children.

My little doggie as much I love and trust him, id never dream of leaving him unattended around children.......

Now that breed of dog is under fire yet again when it should be the owners of the dogs.......Some people should not own pets. Innocent babies/children killed time and time again, its not right.


I couldn't read all of that, cos it was making me feel sick, but i did see something about it on the news today.

I can't ever imagine my rottie turning on anyone, my kids use her as a stepping stone and climb on her back and she doesn't even flinch.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22980651-2,00.html



Newborn baby girl mauled to death by rottweiler

By Mike Hedge and Michelle Draper

December 28, 2007 03:55pm

Article from: AAP

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A NEWBORN baby girl has been mauled to death by the family's pet rottweiler who attacked her in her cot in her Melbourne bedroom.

The nine-week-old baby suffered bites to her upper body and could not be saved despite paramedics trying for more than 90 minutes to revive her, a Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS) spokesman said.

Neighbours said the little girl was being cared for by her grandparents while her mother went next door when the dog attacked.

Paramedics who rushed to the home in Stocks Green, Pakenham, in Melbourne's southeastern outskirts, about 1.30pm (AEDT) found the little girl's heart had stopped and she was not breathing.

An ambulance rescue helicopter had arrived to transport the baby to the Royal Children's Hospital, but the spokesman said the girl suffered a cardiac arrest and died at the scene.

"When paramedics got there she was in a critical condition and was not breathing and without a heartbeat," MAS spokesman James Howe said.

"They worked on her for just over 90 minutes ... but unfortunately before they could transport her she died."

The dog was seized by council officers and taken to the pound where it would remain while police investigated the death and prepared a report for the coroner, Senior Sergeant Alan McCarthy of Pakenham police said.

It is expected the dog will be destroyed.

Snr Sgt McCarthy said the family had asked for the dog not be returned.

"The family are understandably distraught," Snr Sgt McCarthy said.

"We don't like attending incidents involving a child, it's distressing.

"We ask people to take as much care around children as possible, particularly those with pets.

"Dogs can be unpredictable and incidents like this are distressing for all concerned.

"If we can avoid them in future it would make for a happier time of year."

Neighbours said the little girl's death was doubly painful for the family, with her father having been in hospital for several months with a brain tumour.

They also described the rottweiler as "scary" and aggressive.

One neighbour, Pam Bartlett, said whenever she walked past the home, the dog would hurl itself at the fence and bark wildly.

"It's quite scary," Ms Bartlett said.

Another neighbour, Simone Thorpe, said the dog regularly frightened her when she walked past the house.

"It would jump at the fence and bark like mad," Ms Thorpe said.

"It seemed quite aggressive, it was frightening at times."

Ms Bartlett said she was unaware the family had a baby until today.

She said neighbours had gathered in the street when the police and ambulance crews arrived.

"It was her only child," she said.

"Once we knew the baby died, there were tears.

"I just break up, it's just sad."

The paramedic who attempted to revive the baby was distraught long after the incident.

"It's absolutely harrowing, it's tragic," David Kervin said.

"It's absolutely terrible for the family.

"They're gutted."

It's not necessary to "get rid of" the animal, just use caution and common sense! And for God's sake, don't do stuff like let your kid ride it like a horse or pull its ears or otherwise disrespect it. I hear that stuff all the time, you know it's not cute! It's wrong and it creates incidents just like this one when the dog or cat has had enough.

its always the bloody grandmas dog or the uncles dog though isnt it, and they had only had the dog 6mths. It was already an adult when they got it.

Ive had dogs and babies and as long as the dog knows its place, its fine. Dogs are pack animals and if they know theyre at the bottom of the pack and you MAKE SURE they know it, not only do you have a happier more secure dog, but you have less trouble with aggression and incidents like this wouldnt happen.

This baby was in the dogs house. It wasnt a family/pack member as far as the dog was concerned. It should NEVER have been left alone with kids. Even the seven year old FFS, let alone a one year old baby.

It breaks my heart, but i agree that the dog needed to be put to sleep. I love dogs, but i dont have any sympathy for aggressive ones that attack children. At the end of the day its still just a dog and if a dog cant be trusted around people then it either needs to be shot, or go and work on a farm or something - its NOT a suitable pet.

Well.....I agree with most all you said there but I must disagree with it being "just a dog." It's a living, feeling, loving creature to me. They're never "just" animals in my eyes. Imagine if we'd said "it was just a baby."

I'm sorry but Rottweilers are not family pets, they are Guard dogs and anyone who would even contemplate having a baby and a Rottweiler in a situation where they could come into contact with each other are either extremely stupid or insane, its just crazy. I feel sorry for anyone who loses a child, but what in the name of god were they thinking? I wouldn't have a baby around my cocker spaniel, let alone a dangerous breed like a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull.

RedGlitter;750164 wrote: Imagine if we'd said "it was just a baby." Calling what happened an "incident" comes perilously close!

Magenta, you having some sort of meltdown over there? You said "get rid of the dog." I am saying that's irresponsible (would you get rid of your kid when it becomes inconvenient too?) and being in rescue, I see it ALL THE TIME.

As for using common sense, no I wasn't addressing you but in general. As for your other remark, you watch yourself around me.

Galbally;750166 wrote: I'm sorry but Rottweilers are not family pets, they are Guard dogs and anyone who would even contemplate having a baby and a Rottweiler in a situation where they could come into contact with each other are either extremely stupid or insane, its just crazy. I feel sorry for anyone who loses a child, but what in the name of god were they thinking? I wouldn't have a baby around my cocker spaniel, let alone a dangerous breed like a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull.
i cannot believe you have posted that for god sake its people like you that set the trends in not giving this breed a good name,but what i do agree with that no and i mean no baby, child under the age of 8 should be lef with any dog

And i must say they are not GUARD DOGS its man that make them like that,maybe we should start putting humans to sleep for causing the probs with any breed of dogs.God we humans are so up are are own asses.

Rottweilers are herding dogs not Gaurd Dogs why should i made to feel to defend this breed

Morning Neffy:-4

Kathy Ellen;750189 wrote: Morning Neffy:-4


:wah: bless kathy i bloody love you hun you have just cheered me right up :-4:-4

There was a tiger shot in San Francisco last week, I have far more problems with that. There are too few tigers for the world to waste one.

spot;750194 wrote: There was a tiger shot in San Francisco last week, I have far more problems with that. There are too few tigers for the world to waste one.


would you beleive if i agreed with you on that one spot x

RedGlitter;750164 wrote: Well.....I agree with most all you said there but I must disagree with it being "just a dog." It's a living, feeling, loving creature to me. They're never "just" animals in my eyes. Imagine if we'd said "it was just a baby."


I know what you mean. They ARE living creatures, but before i had children, I felt like my dog was my baby. When my baby came along, the dog very much reverted to being "the dog" if you see what I mean.

In the grand scheme of things dogs have as much right to be here as humans, but as a domestic pet, if youve got a crazy dog that attacks babies, then shoot the f***er Im sorry but you cant just have animals like that in a domestic setting. its a liability and children are vulnerable and need protecting. If its a choice between my baby and a vicious dog, well its not much competition. Id want to shoot a person that killed my baby too, yet im all for human rights too! At least with animals we can do away with the nutters, and yes, dogs can be mentally ill too! Unless they start making doggy jails where they can incarcerate the crazy ones......

for the record, most of the rotties i have met have been big softies.

that still doesnt detract from the fact they are big powerful dogs and can cause a lot of damage if theyre not brought up right.

It makes me so cross - anyone can get a dog, and if they arent brought up and trained right then you may as well have a loaded gun set to go off at random.

As someone whos owned Rotts for years it saddens me to think they will one day be classed as Dangerous dogs . I don't know all the details about the lastest attack but for most of the ones i do remember nearly everyone had something to do with young kids being left unsupervised around the dog . :-5:-5:-5:-5

Any domesticated/trained animal is capable of turning if provoked or unsure.This is why people with animals should be on the lookout for changes in the environment (small children appearing, sudden noises) which might upset the animal.

Humans who keep animals as pest are ultimately responsible for he animals wellbeing, and those with children are responsible for the wellbeing of both.

suzycreamcheese;750227 wrote: for the record, most of the rotties i have met have been big softies.

Most of them are .

that still doesnt detract from the fact they are big powerful dogs and can cause a lot of damage if theyre not brought up right.

It makes me so cross - anyone can get a dog, and if they arent brought up and trained right then you may as well have a loaded gun set to go off at random.


Who in their right mind would put the lead on a 12 stone dog and then give that lead to a child . :-5

I love Rotts, always have always will . I wouldn't have any other breed.

I'm sorry but Dogs don't just drag babies out of people's arms . There's more to this than we're seeing here.....i'm sure of it .

well its hard to say because it was being looked after by a seven year old which is incredibly stupid, but whatever happened, the dog mauled that baby to death.

Whether your dogs are nice or my dogs are nice is neither here nor there - THAT dog was not nice, it killed a baby. A 1 year old doesnt "ask for it"

suzycreamcheese;750261 wrote: well its hard to say because it was being looked after by a seven year old which is incredibly stupid, but whatever happened, the dog mauled that baby to death.

Whether your dogs are nice or my dogs are nice is neither here nor there - THAT dog was not nice, it killed a baby. A 1 year old doesnt "ask for it"


Of course not ... whether it was inexperienced owners or parents my guess is, it's not as simple as the Dog just attacking the baby ......there was more to it ...id bet my life on it .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 164698.stm

Here's the bbc news report.Is it just me or is there something rather creepy about writing about your dead baby in textspeak - ????

fuzzy butt;749955 wrote: I'm sorry I've got a real problem with people who have dogs established in their households and then have a baby . Get rid of the animal then have the baby . Introduce another when the child is a bit older other wise you are throwing a dice every single day of the animals life and your childs.

Very tragic story pam.


This is the second most ridiculous statement in this thread. Dogs that are established in the home, that have been properly trained and socialized are NOT the problem. There are millions of dogs in the U.S. and if everyone rehomed their dog whenever they had a baby - holy cow, the number of dogs that were euthanized would dramatically increase. All 3 of my children were born into a home with established dogs and not one of them have been bit or attacked by the family dog. And for the record - I don't lean toward little dogs. I had a lovely German Shepherd when my girls were born and a rottweiler when my son was born.

Galbally;750166 wrote: I'm sorry but Rottweilers are not family pets, they are Guard dogs and anyone who would even contemplate having a baby and a Rottweiler in a situation where they could come into contact with each other are either extremely stupid or insane, its just crazy. I feel sorry for anyone who loses a child, but what in the name of god were they thinking? I wouldn't have a baby around my cocker spaniel, let alone a dangerous breed like a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull.


THIS is the most ridiculous statement in this thread. I have spent many years with rottweilers and rottweiler owners and this statement makes me angry. My son spent time with my rottweiler every single day of the first 8 years of his life. He was devestated when she died. I can't tell you the number of mornings the two of them spent laying on the floor next to each other watching television. And she slept on the foot of his bed at night. I know at least 20 rottweiler people who, in the last few years have added a child to their family and they have not had a single problem. A couple of them have rescued pit bulls, and again, no problems. But then, these are people who believe in training and socialization and while their dogs might be spoiled, they are never treated like "furbabies".

The fact of the matter is this - ANY DOG OF ANY BREED is capable of attacking and killing. It is the owner's responsiblity to see that the dog in their care is properly trained, socialized, vetted and managed. If you look at 99% of dog attackes - you will find that this is NOT the case.

there are alot of very good comments posted on here,the goverment has said it will not be putting rottweilers on the ban list.I will always stand by the breed and no doubt will get another one in the next couple of years.

In the right hands and the right traning rotties can be very good pets ake it from me who has the most wonderful boys out and of course not forgetting my staffy:)

ours is a staffie cross. I dont know WHY some people think they are tough dogs. Shes a total wimp!

It was an adult dog they had had for six months - do they know the histpry of the dog before that, was it abused, was it used in dogfights?Anything could have caused that dog to react/.

lemon_and_mint;750322 wrote: It was an adult dog they had had for six months - do they know the histpry of the dog before that, was it abused, was it used in dogfights?Anything could have caused that dog to react/.


well this is always a question i ask lemon when anything like this happens

LilacDragon;750269 wrote: This is the second most ridiculous statement in this thread. Dogs that are established in the home, that have been properly trained and socialized are NOT the problem. There are millions of dogs in the U.S. and if everyone rehomed their dog whenever they had a baby - holy cow, the number of dogs that were euthanized would dramatically increase. All 3 of my children were born into a home with established dogs and not one of them have been bit or attacked by the family dog. And for the record - I don't lean toward little dogs. I had a lovely German Shepherd when my girls were born and a rottweiler when my son was born.



THIS is the most ridiculous statement in this thread. I have spent many years with rottweilers and rottweiler owners and this statement makes me angry. My son spent time with my rottweiler every single day of the first 8 years of his life. He was devestated when she died. I can't tell you the number of mornings the two of them spent laying on the floor next to each other watching television. And she slept on the foot of his bed at night. I know at least 20 rottweiler people who, in the last few years have added a child to their family and they have not had a single problem. A couple of them have rescued pit bulls, and again, no problems. But then, these are people who believe in training and socialization and while their dogs might be spoiled, they are never treated like "furbabies".

The fact of the matter is this - ANY DOG OF ANY BREED is capable of attacking and killing. It is the owner's responsiblity to see that the dog in their care is properly trained, socialized, vetted and managed. If you look at 99% of dog attackes - you will find that this is NOT the case.


Is that right? So explain to me what these dogs were originally bred for, why they make such excellent guard dogs, and why you feel so angry? To be honest I am amazed that you allowed your young boy to be around the dog like that, I don't care how safe anyone tried to convince me it was, I wouldn't do that, period. How many children have been ripped apart by Scots Terriers or Beagles? What I don't understand is people's need to anthropomorphize dogs that undoubtledly have the ability and on occasion the instinct to attack small children, and make out that there is no danger whatsoever in having such breeds around children, particularly in the light of recent attacks.

If you feel comfortable leaving your children unsupervised around breeds like Rottweilers then good luck to you, but I wouldn't even contemplate it. I also know people who have them, but they use them as guard dogs. I wouldn't leave a young child alone with any dog at all. Don't get me wrong dogs are great, but they are not humans and I wouldn't trust my child's life to a belief that any dog I had would never attack them, thats just extremely unwise, so take it whatever way you like.

You may have lots of friends that have Rottweilers that have never turned on their children, thats not the point, do you really think that's because they are not perfectly capable of doing so? Because whatever you might think or how much you love your own dog, I can assure you they perfectly capable of it, and they do on occasion, it may be relatively rare, but that's not much consolation once a child is dead. I have a dog, a Spaniel, and I love her but I wouldn't trust her around any young child. I think a lot of dog lovers are extremely naive about what dog's true natures are, and what they are capable of.

Rottweilers were originally bred as herding and carting dogs NOT guard dogs. It wasn't until WWI that they were used as guard dogs. A well bred rottweiler is eager to please it's owner and while aloof with strangers, never aggressive.

The reason that I was able to allow my dogs to spend time with my children is this - I TRAINED my dogs AND my children.

Rottweilers and "pit bulls" only make up about 1/3 of fatal attacks. The rest are other breeds. Like dachshunds, beagles, pomeranians, Scottish terriers - these are the ones that come to mind. If you like, I can dig out the statistics for you. The problem is that reporters don't know the difference between a "pit bull" and a lab mix and a pit bull attack sells more papers.

I had a cocker spaniel once. Put it to sleep when it attacked ME over a grilled cheese sandwich. Wouldn't have trusted it anywhere near a child.

I am well aware of the capabilities of not only my dogs, but dogs in general. I would never, ever leave a young child unattended, let alone unattended with a dog.

LilacDragon;750455 wrote: Rottweilers were originally bred as herding and carting dogs NOT guard dogs. It wasn't until WWI that they were used as guard dogs. A well bred rottweiler is eager to please it's owner and while aloof with strangers, never aggressive.

The reason that I was able to allow my dogs to spend time with my children is this - I TRAINED my dogs AND my children.

Rottweilers and "pit bulls" only make up about 1/3 of fatal attacks. The rest are other breeds. Like dachshunds, beagles, pomeranians, Scottish terriers - these are the ones that come to mind. If you like, I can dig out the statistics for you. The problem is that reporters don't know the difference between a "pit bull" and a lab mix and a pit bull attack sells more papers.

I had a cocker spaniel once. Put it to sleep when it attacked ME over a grilled cheese sandwich. Wouldn't have trusted it anywhere near a child.

I am well aware of the capabilities of not only my dogs, but dogs in general. I would never, ever leave a young child unattended, let alone unattended with a dog.


Yes, Spaniels are gun dogs that look pretty and have become pets, but they are cranky. Mine is generally OK, but she was attacked one day, by a Belgian Alsatian down the river that was off the lead and not muzzled (and whose owners assured me was perfectly docile, despite my pleading to put her on the lead) up until the moment she went for my dog and tried to rip her head off, that definetly had an effect on my mutt.

Fatal dog attacks are rare thank god, and most owners are fairly responsible, but some are not, and some individual dogs and some breeds are potentially quite dangerous, thats just my own experience. My friends (who are perfectly respectable and responsible) actually had a sheep dog, which they thought was fine (though sheep dogs as you will know are working dogs and don't make great pets), but that dog attacked a baby in a buggy on the street and had to be put down, though previously the dog had shown no inclination to be unusually aggressive, but one day the dog just snapped and went for it, luckily the child was not badly injured, but that was down to luck. That doesn't mean that sheep dogs should be banned, but certainly people who take on the ownership of such dogs have to expect to be held fully responsible if something goes wrong.

My question is can some dogs, no matter the breed, just be born with a bad disposition? We had Border Collie, that had a litter of pups. All of the pups were friendly and easily found homes for them, except for one. This one pup would nip and bite at anyone except for me or my husband. We ended up having him put down.

even traditionally docile pets like cats or hamsters can be very very vicious if circumstances are right.

I have been very badly bitten and scratched by my cat when he was in a bad temper, and love him though i did, i would not have left him where an inquisitive small child might touch him and set him off.

lemon_and_mint;750475 wrote: even traditionally docile pets like cats or hamsters can be very very vicious if circumstances are right.

I have been very badly bitten and scratched by my cat when he was in a bad temper, and love him though i did, i would not have left him where an inquisitive small child might touch him and set him off.


Sure, but even the angriest, meanest domestic cat is going to have a hard time trying to kill a human, even a small one, while rogue hamsters would be fairly low on the list of potential killers, though perhaps with modern technology we may one day perfect the killer hamster.

Boils down to common sense really........You dont leave children (small-med) unattended around animals.

Galbally;750479 wrote: Sure, but even the angriest, meanest domestic cat is going to have a hard time trying to kill a human, even a small one, while rogue hamsters would be fairly low on the list of potential killers, though perhaps with modern technology we may one day perfect the killer hamster.


of course, I was merely making the point that any animal can turn, and there have been reports of elderly women being killed by their cats who punctured a vein in their legs by clawing.

I was thinking more of if the cat was biting and scratching and somehow was spooked by a crawling baby - i could see some nasty injuries, even if the attack was not fatal.

And a hamster can bite to the bone, setting up infection.

There are also people who have worked all their lives with tigers and suddenly they turn, what was the name of the las vegas performer who was attacked by the tiger he had trained since it was very young?

I currently have two "rescues" in my home. Neither of them will ever be left alone with children under the age of 15 who are not dog savvy. I got both of them past the age when socialization is vital and while I may be able to get them to a point where small children don't make them nervous, I doubt that my large dog will ever be comfortable with small children. (FYI - one is a Belgian Sheepdog and the other is a pomeranian.)

I have to say - it is very much a matter of knowing your dog and knowing how best to manage it. My rottweiler was "bomb proof". Nothing in the world phased her. She was my dog, but she adored children of all ages and was extremely gentle with them. (I have found this to be the case with many, many rottweilers - both those raised from young puppies in responsible homes and those who go through the rescue system.) But I knew how to "read" her and if she had ever, ever given any indication that she was uncomfortable or nervous, she would have been removed from the situation.

There is considerably more to responsible dog ownership than bringing home a puppy and teaching it not to **** on the floor. Until people realize that dogs aren't born like Lassie, dogs will continue to bite people.

Sheryl;750473 wrote: My question is can some dogs, no matter the breed, just be born with a bad disposition? We had Border Collie, that had a litter of pups. All of the pups were friendly and easily found homes for them, except for one. This one pup would nip and bite at anyone except for me or my husband. We ended up having him put down.


Of course they can! This is one of the reasons that knowing the lineage of dogs being bred is so very, very important. Breeding should be about breeding dogs that fit the breed standard - both physically and tempermentally - and will improve the breed and making sure that the dogs being bred and the puppies will be as genetically sound as possible.

Galbally;750479 wrote: Sure, but even the angriest, meanest domestic cat is going to have a hard time trying to kill a human, even a small one, while rogue hamsters would be fairly low on the list of potential killers, though perhaps with modern technology we may one day perfect the killer hamster.


Actually - the possiblity of a life threatening infection from a cat bite is very, very real. Cat bites are one of the nastiest bites out there and what may look like nothing can quickly turn into a major problem.