About the ROTTWEILER for SARALOU

I just wanted to add that i have had my Rottie,Ty for 8 years.He has never attacked anyone person or animal.We have cats,kids,other dogs,small and big and he had never been a problem. Unless you are dressed as a giant tennis ball you arent in any danger.He doesnt seem to have any prey drive at all.Is is well know in my neighbor hoos as being a very sweet and friendly boy.The elderly woman next door invites him over for treats.He is totally reliable off lead and listens to me very well in any situation.I couldnt ask for a better dog.
 

It is very scary to walk with a small breed or sometimes, even alone if a dog has gotten out. Add to that a violent, bloody attack.

 
I know the feeling since I too have Frenchies and loose large dogs owned by irresponsible people come in our space when out. Again, it is the owner, they could have the friendliest "family" dog in the world but when a dog is not in control of the owner distruction can and will happen.
No one is asking you not to share, I'm sure your avoidence tactics would be very helpfull to others with small dogs. I feel that the issue in this thread was that you were labeling the entire breed not a specific dog.
In my breed we promote "punish the deed, not the breed" to distinguish it isn't the breed of dog but the individual dog

It was a family dog with tiny kids in the family. Supposed to be friendly. That is the scary thing to me.

 
it was a family dog protecting its family. if you had come to its home and been properly introduced you may have found the dog to be alot more companionable. unfortunatly that wasnt the case. You knew that you and your dog were not a threat, the dog on the other hand did not. it saw a strange woman and dog walking by and since the dog was not properly restrained or supervised it only did what it was supposed to, protect its family.
 
yes rottweilers can be wonderful family dogs, yes they are large and powerful, but the rottweilers mindset is to protect its own. if you ever had a strange person come pound on your doors and windows you would love to have that family dog there to protect you.

No, that is the other wierd thing about that bad attack. Buffy and I were TWO blocks away or more.[&o] We were almost home. I was SO glad my husband was home from work early. We only had a few minutes to save her life. I couldn't have driven.
 
The only protection I want is dog barking with someone at the door. I would not want to run the chance of a lawsuit with an attack. I want to make sure others are not put through what I went through. My family members from out of town were calling when they found out. My poor g.mother and parents were so upset. I was so close to being hurt badly. The owner came or we would not be here. The owners were normal, nice people. They said this never happens.[:@] It is everything everyone keeps saying. Never happens.... I just know it sure did this time with a SWEET dog and I hope everyone with a small dog is vigilent. It felt like we were hit by a car when the dog came at us.      

As I read what happened to Sallya, I'm sure I'm not the only one who caught this but the Rottie went straight for her dog. As some of you know, there is a HUGE difference between dog aggression and human aggression. This Rottie may have been a "family dog" but he was dog aggressive. It's not uncommon to hear about total love bug to children dogs who would rip a dog up without a thought. That's something to keep in mind.

Thanks. I just hope we can go on. Sorry.

Did you walk past this neighbors home on your walk? I'm wondering if the dog saw you, prey drive kicked in and found a way out of the house through the yard or even by slamming the door to get out?
 
I had an APBT, my first one who would daily attack my blinds trying to get to the ceramic duck on my well in the front yard. One day she managed to break out the door and went straight to that duck attacking it.
 
Bad things can happen to good people, these owners included, maybe they were doing all the right things and something just went wrong that day.
Where is that dog now, do yu know?

I didn't take any legal action on it. I just made sure that dog was kept at the vet for 10 days to make sure rabies was not a problem. They said he had shots, but I am not going to trust anyone who's dog almost killed us. They had TWO so I wouldn't be able to know for sure. I am sure he would've been kept in quarantine any way. They paid the vet bills of course. They are very lucky my dog and I were not killed.
 
That was in Cal. We have moved since then. 

I'm glad you both are here with us!
 
 

Thank you.[]

sallya,
I didn't read all your posts, but, I can assure you that I understand your concern.  If you read my post I explain predatory drift which can be dangerous in a breed with the full series of motor patterns with enhanced drives.  Breeds like Rotties were bred to have the full series, other breed groups such as sheep herding dogs, non sporting,  sporting, retrievers have been selected and bred NOT to have the full series of motor patterns.  Their enhanced drives are different.

So, saying that it is not uncommon for some large breed dogs with enhanced eye stalk, chase, grab bite and kill bite, limited socialization to go after small breed dogs.  Plus, I have seen socialized Rotties display predatory drift as well towards small dogs.   It is dangerous...plus this can be directed towards small children, people who walk differently and old people.  This are the people who would be the object of predatory drift.  Most incidents that happen, like the little boy that was killed by 4 Rottweilers was due to predatory drift.  These dogs were sweet dogs & non human aggressive...but, just because a dog is deemed non human aggressive does not mean it may not show predatory drift towards a child or elderly or handicapped person. 

If you want  a good book to read pick up "dogs" by Raymond Coppinger.  He explains things well...and most behavior books explain predatory drift a bit.  I just ut the peices together and had a great dog for an example to show me how a sweet, loving, well trained Rottweiler can go into predatory drift over certain movements, size etc.

Predatory drift is the least talked about act of aggression...but, it probably accounts for 90% of all mauling deaths directed at humans.  Look at the people most often mauled to death or mauled badly but survived.  It's mainly children and elderly people or people who are fearful. 

Most incidents that happen, like the little boy that was killed by 4 Rottweilers was due to predatory drift. These dogs were sweet dogs & non human aggressive...

  I assume you are referring to the Butler county incident.

Just a clarification if so. The child was severely injured, but not killed.

I assume you are referring to the Butler county incident.

Just a clarification if so. The child was severely injured, but not killed.

No this was in my area, NB Canada.  The boy was mauled to death, even ambulance workers were having a hard time dealing with the mess and had to go for grief counselling afterward.  I met the dogs and dealt with them a few times, they were sweet dogs.  It was stated in the newspaper the female was in heat, but the Vet I work for confirmed the female was in fact not in heat.  She also explained it was due to predatory drift.

How awful.    

Yes RedyreRottweilers it was awful. 

I love the Rottweiler breed (btw, your dogs are lovely[]). 

I do believe that people should use caution when owning a breed with enhanced drives.  For the dogs orginal jobs the drives were well suited.  Having a working dog with tons of drive living in a household with insuffienct training and socialization IMO is an accident waiting to happen. 

Redyre, you wouldn't believe what I went through with my rescue Rottie.  She is lovely, sweet, good tempered...you can do anything with her...but, I know she has the potential to go into predatory drift towards other dogs especially small dogs, children...not cats as I was able to get her socialized with my cats  ...being a responsible owner I am aware of her potential and I take extreme care with her. 

This is why I am very willing to discuss this aspect of the breed.  It makes the world safer when people understand the behavioral conformation of the breed they choose.[]  Which I think is very important to share.