Salukifan

Just starting this one up to help educate people about breed characteristics. Not meant to cause offence but to educate people about common behavioural traits in breeds. Feel free to discuss yours (or not) These are general comments only. They may apply to most dogs of the breed, but not all. What can I say about Whippets? Few are effusive about meeting strange people. They should not be shy or timid, they just really don't care that much about you. Once you are declared a friend, often after a treat or a pat, its a whole new story! Those long pointy noses get shoved where ever they will fit - you have been warned! Their play style is fast! They love chasing games in big circles with you at the centre. If they start zooming, stand still! They will usually miss you on the fly by. If you have smaller dogs, beware the running Whippet. If they have been socialised with small dogs, they are usually fine after a meet and greet but they do love to chase and small dogs and puppies can be frightened by this style of play. Don't let your small dog offlead with strange running Whippets. Talk to the owner first. If your dog is inclined to scream when frightened, this is probably not the breed to play with offlead. However they are usually quite gentle with the tinies onlead and will often lie down for games of bitey face with babies. With larger dogs, don't be offended if Whippet owners aren't keen for their dogs to play. Whilst they are not frail, they don't generally enjoy being T-Boned or jumped on by larger dogs and snapping jaws (even in play) may tear delicate Whippet skin. That said, they seem to enjoy being Road Runner to any other dogs' Coyote and like chasing games if the end of the chase isn't too rough. Whippets are not commonly dog aggressive but the usual precautions should be taken with entire males meeting for the first time and always ask before assuming the dog is safe. Whippets can generally run themselves out of trouble and for some reason, mine do enjoy games with herding breeds. Oh and resist any jokes about them needing a feed. Trust me, the owners will have heard them before.

Sadly, not the first incidence I've heard of people dropping off their dog to amuse itself.

Good to see a reference to fact there is rigorous peer-reviewed research on canine aggression. With interesting findings in one particular study, concerning breed differences & canine aggression. Looking at tendency to be aggressive with owners, or strangers, or other dogs. So specifically targeting other dogs was covered. Counter-intuitive outcome on the 2 breeds found to exhibit greatest aggressive tendency towards both strangers & other dogs. People can read it themselves, because it's posted in the DOL forum listing significant studies (p 7). You posted it, SG & a good thing, too. In same DOL forum, is another study that picked up the issue of breed typical behaviours & the relationship with historical use of that breed. Significant finding was the influence of more recent times, of the use for showing when contrasted with those used for original purpose. . Appears that has strongly influenced breed characteristics, because there's difference in what's been selected for. You also posted this research, SG, in the same DOL forum. Beating me to it. People can read it... post 87, p6. So how does this research translate to answering the OP's question? How does owner reported behaviour about dogs that will snap at strangers or owners assist someone trying to keep their puppy safe from other dogs?

As long as I live I will not understand how it is "offensive" or "racist" to expect a higher incidence of a particular trait in a breed selectively bred for it. I would hardly be offended if a person suggested I not let my Whippets near their chickens, pet cat, rabbit or rat. They were bred for prey drive, triggered by small running animals and they have it in spades.

The problem for small dog owners its that its not just the owners risk. The risk to the dog IF it meets the wrong dog is significant. Its a risk I'm simply not prepared to take. I know that most times it would probably be OK but my dogs don't particularly enjoy the company of strange dogs and they're older now. Best to seek exercise elsewhere or wait for quieter times. Dog parks are an artificial situation that's not natural for a territorial pack animal and the combination of sizes can see the equivalent of a toddler being let loose in the middle of a rugby game. Add clueless owners of some dogs and it's an accident waiting to happen IMO.

Yes. In an onlead event, you're unlikely to get prey driven chasing (which I think you experienced) or pack formation. People should have more control over their dogs. A leash stops a lot of undesirable behaviour if people stay out of leash distance from one another.

I didn't see that survey. Perhaps you could point me to it; it would be good to read. Frankly, I would love to take my dogs to an off leash park simply for their enjoyment and enrichment. To race around, smelling other doggy smells is the joy of most dogs' lives. And, although I haven't done a survey, I would be happy to bet that most people take their dogs to parks for those reasons. The last time I took one of my dogs to an off leash park was when I was waiting for my car to be repaired. It was a small park and in the middle of a working day, so not many people. We spent about and hour there and I don't she lifted her head once. I was worried her nose might fall off - she had the best time. What part of that statement requires survey results to back it up.? I didn't give a number of dogs that fell into that category and I made it based on anecdote and observation. Some dogs simply have no trained recall. Others pull like trains. I'm sure you've met a few in each category. They're hardly rare. I see it for myself walking past the fenced dog parks at the lakes here. There are plenty of leash free spaces around here that are not fenced dog parks. Perhaps I'm lucky. I know my dogs prefer to exercise without interference from other dogs. With Whippets, its safer for both them and other dogs to avoid high speed collisions.

I think you're wrong. And so do most knowledgeable SBT people I know. No one has suggested every single SBT is dog aggressive though. Just as no one sensible would suggest there is no breed incapable of aggression.

Only other thing i could think of was IMHA but I assume they've checked his red cell count? PCV is OK?

It's only an issue when it is neither acknowledged nor managed by the dog's owner.

Oh please. Lets not use the word "racism" with regard to dogs. We don't selectively breed our own species for particular traits. The comparison is ridiculous. Next you'll be suggesting that all breeds are basically alike - just cosmetically different.

Vestibular incident/attack? Is he nauseous or been given anti nausea medication?

its poor breeding that gives you a dog that aggresses against any dog and every dog (and dogs attacking bitches).. and poor socialisation and control. Not what a quality bull breed should be at all. Personally I don't rate them for novice dog owners unless they are prepared to learn and learn fast. And the first thing they need to learn is that taking their young bull breed down to the dog park to be roughed up and learn to play rough should be an absolute no no.

He probably did too. An alarming percentage of bull breed owners, so called enthusiasts and even breeders have absolutely no clue about what their dogs are and what they were originally bred for. The whole nanny dog myth is dangerous to start with, you do not want to put that idea into anyones head really. I mean, nanny dog... That to me translates as a dog that was bred to take care of kids, a dog that can be left alone with kiddos with not a single worry in the world. Very very dangerous thinking there.Bull type dogs are prone to dog aggression due to their genetic background and decades of selective breeding. However that does not mean that they will be dog aggressive. My entire male tolerates all small dogs, even the yappy and aggressive ones. He loves females and so far hasn't had trouble with any desexed males either. Really only other entire, medium to large sized males are a no go. I think most are quite good at reading challenges and dismissive of anything that's not serious. I recall Wreckit Whippet's entire SBT boy ignoring a silly adolescent Whippet pup bouncing off him due to Dodger's ability to walk a straight line on lead. If he could have rolled his eyes, he would have. One year on and I don''t think Bretty would be wearing that so willingly. I like SBTs. Don't want to own one but they are great characters and well managed, easy to be around (apart from the wombat charges into your legs). They are what they are and I only wish more owners knew what they were bred to be.

What breed is she?

My guess is it soon will be.

Yes you should. But in reality this is a real risk of parks. Half the reason some dogs are there is because their owners can't walk them or catch them outside fencing. Either stick to the ones with a big dog and a small dog section or go when they are deserted. That's life for a small dog owner who values their dog's safety. Count your blessings. if the dog had really meant business, Saxon's outcome would have been far worse. Has he seen a vet?

Do you have a blanket over the crate?

The problem is that tweaking the combinations in a breed can lead to unexpected and unwanted results. An SBT with less nerve might suddenly be less stoic - more HA for example. I have read somewhere that "pet" breeders trying to breed a less high energy Golden Retriever had issues with lower bite inhibition..

People need to understand the potential drives and thresholds in any purebred dog they are thinking of owning. They have been selectively bred for a particular set of drives, a bite threshold and a level of reactivity. Or maybe not Cosmolo because you'd have a lot less work.

Are you serious? The type started bull baiting and when that was banned they went into the fighting pits against one another. The courage and tenacity prized by breed fanciers today was selectively bred to make them better fighters. Any human aggression was rigorously culled because such a dog was unmanageable in a fighting pit. Go ask any reputable SBT breeder about the breed's tendency for dog aggression and you'll get a far more realistic answer that isn't "they are no more dog aggressive than any other breed". I was told by a pedigree stafford breeder years ago that they were originally bred to be nanny dogs? . They are wonderful family dogs because of their lack of human aggression and their high pain thresholds - byproducts of their origins in fighting pits. Great family dogs but not what they were originally bred to be.

Are you serious? The type started bull baiting and when that was banned they went into the fighting pits against one another. The courage and tenacity prized by breed fanciers today was selectively bred to make them better fighters. Any human aggression was rigorously culled because such a dog was unmanageable in a fighting pit. Go ask any reputable SBT breeder about the breed's tendency for dog aggression and you'll get a far more realistic answer that isn't "they are no more dog aggressive than any other breed".

You miss the entire point of selective breeding. Its to ensure that some characteristics are more common in that breed than in the wider dog population. You judging all Bullbreeds by the behaviour of your dog is hardly a legitimate sample, especially when your dog is not of a breed or type bred for high levels of dog aggression. You also have a breed selectively bred for territorial aggression. Are you suggesting all Maremma tolerate strangers and dogs on their turf too? In my experience, most SBTs, Amstaffs etc are fine playing if its by their rules. They play hard and they like to be the big kid in the playground. They tend to be quite tolerant of smaller, submissive dogs. Challenge those rules and lots of things can happen. Owners who fail to acknowledge what any breed has been selected to be tend to be owners who can have rude surprises. I know cat safe sighthounds. I make no such assumption about all of them. Socialisation may modify breed characteristics to some degree but hardwiring can and does kick in.

i think it relates to dogs ability to read each other and preferred play styles. The more different the dog, the more challenging it is for your dog to 'read' it. Look at Boxers - they tend to spark a lot of reaction from other dogs. I think its because their expression tends to look challenging when its just their head and eye shape.

That sounds like the best option really, best be safe. That doesn't necessarily mean total avoidance but it does mean learning about dog behaviour and controlling initial interactions with the consent and cooperation of the other owner. Multiple dogs meeting yours should be similarly controlled. I introduce one dog at a time so the other dog doesn't get overwhelmed and I don't let all of mine free until I'm certain we've got a stable situation. Join a dog training club. Not only will you profit from the training but you'll meet plenty of potential playmates for your pup.