Dog Community

I just heard the craziest thing

anne

Posted : 3/4/2006 3:00:42 PM

Okay so I was at the shelter yesterday bathing dogs & me and the guy who was helping me were talking about pit bulls. He said that sometimes they overheat in their brain and they will go "mad". He said that his vet told him this. I was just wondering if it were true. It seems a little far fetched to me. He told me that is why they some times attack for no reason. I told him that I thought it was because of irresponsible owners but he insisted that "overheating of the brain" was also common. This explination seems a little like when I heard Dalmatian's brains get too large for their head causing agression. (Which is NOT true, and common sense should tell you that.) He also has a pit bull mix so I dont know why he would go around that?

We both agreed though that the friendliest dogs at the shelter were pit bulls....It is very sad how many there are there and I think they are the first to be put down since most people believe everything they read...They took a whole lot of dogs to an adoption event (the shelter is HIGH kill) and neither time have I seen a pit bull go...

Maybe this should be in advocacy?

Trina

Posted : 3/4/2006 6:09:55 PM

I've never heard of that one before....
I agree, most people think there is something wrong with pit bulls. I think thats why Hope was there at the shelter so long...
I've had people on our walk pull their dogs away when they see us and say " i'm sorry, but she looks like a pit bull, and i just want to keep my dogs safe" [sm=eek.gif][sm=angry.gif] ( even tho you can hardly see the pit in her...)

Berner_girl

Posted : 3/4/2006 6:36:39 PM

My grandpa says that Doberman's are unstable because they have been bred for a long, thin skull and their brain hasn't had time to adapt to the casing. He's got undergraduate's degree in anthropology, he's sociology and history fanatic and he knows a lot about human psychology, but... I don't know, I guess it just sounds off to me.

If pitties were brachiocephalic, then that might make one shred of sense (brachiocephalic dogs - ones with pushed in faces like Pugs and Boxers - have a smaller nasal passage which limits the availability of nasal tissue that cools the brain and keeps it functioning, making these guys especially susceptible to heat stroke), but as it is it sounds like something that might *affect* a pitties mental functioning in a limited way, but to say that it is one sole cause of behavioral no-nos is stupid.

mrv

Posted : 3/4/2006 7:33:48 PM

All do respect to your grandfather, but that is nothing but an urban legend. Some dobermans may have had poor temperments that resulted in injuries. Dobermans of the earlier years (following WW II) were much sharper than today. There are generations of folks who have feared dogs based on the time frame in which they met the dogs. GSDs have been in that group of "feared" dogs, as have airdales (think that is spelled wrong). This is the case of one half baked idea, being presented as a theory, that became (to some people) truth. No way. If that was the case, how come we never hear about killer rough coated collies. Talk about skull changes.

Stef w

Posted : 3/4/2006 8:18:42 PM

I was taking Tux across the border once and the guard asked me "At what age does their brain get bigger than their skull? They turn on their owners when that happens." I shook my head and said "What?" I then calmly explained that it was an urban legend.

Made me laugh though...

jeano

Posted : 3/4/2006 8:29:27 PM

I have heard that before, but I always knew it was BS. It's amazing what people will believe.

Maybe I should go into the business of selling bridges....[sm=biggrin.gif]

sillysally

Posted : 3/4/2006 8:32:39 PM

How exactly does ones brain overheat in the first place?

Mollie

Posted : 3/4/2006 8:45:28 PM

Thats about like the old idea of feeding a dog gunpowder to make it mean. Yeah it would make me mean to if you fed me gunpowder, I am sure it tastes horrible![:'(] I am sure people mean well, but sometimes I wonder where these ideas come from.

Trish Pranger

Posted : 3/4/2006 9:49:39 PM

I have heard that myth before too. It is incredibly crazy for someone to even make that up in the first place! No, it's not true. Pit bulls are said to mature slower than other dogs, which is why they can experience a change in temperament around age 2, but it has nothing to do with a defect in their brains. They're just slow to mature.. must be why their so silly and if that's the case.. I'd rather my boy stay immature forever cuz' his silliness makes me fall in love with him all over again many different times a day!![

]

As far as how does ones brain overheat??? Hmmm.. good question.

lorib

Posted : 3/4/2006 10:01:19 PM

Oh, Lord, give me the patience to deal with the people who think this is true!!! I get people telling me all the time that Gypsy will turn on me when she is two or three to (insert age here)years old. I tell them that she's SIX and when is it going to happen?[sm=rotfl.gif]I NEVER underesitmate the stupidity of the American public since I deal with the public every day. Oy vey...

Katie M.

Posted : 3/4/2006 10:42:28 PM

Sorry, any time I see the word "Collie" pop up, I have to chime in.

The problem is poor temperament, often appearing while people are breeding for type (head, body, size, etc. -- all breeds) and disregarding temperament. It has nothing to do with the actual size of the skull or the dog's brain size relationship, but moreso the breeders' priorities as to what they feel is more important (looks or personality). Most often, looks will get you more money.[:'(]

And I do agree, the friendliest dogs in the shelter always seem to be the Pitties. I always have one or two in my obedience classes and they are always my star pupils. [

] But I guess I should watch my back, right? They're gonna turn on me any second, I just know it!!

He is The Boss

Posted : 3/4/2006 10:55:18 PM

And I should clarify by what I meant by change in temperament.... meaning that they can start showing DOG aggression around that time after being friendly with dogs their whole life.

Katie M.

Posted : 3/4/2006 11:06:38 PM

ORIGINAL: trishanne420

And I should clarify by what I meant by change in temperament.... meaning that they can start showing DOG aggression around that time after being friendly with dogs their whole life.

I was referring to PEOPLE aggression. Dog aggression is a different story and can often appear in mature dogs ... and in more than the bullies too.

meilani

Posted : 3/4/2006 11:46:59 PM

ORIGINAL: doggi2
If pitties were brachiocephalic, then that might make one shred of sense (brachiocephalic dogs - ones with pushed in faces like Pugs and Boxers - have a smaller nasal passage which limits the availability of nasal tissue that cools the brain and keeps it functioning, making these guys especially susceptible to heat stroke), but as it is it sounds like something that might *affect* a pitties mental functioning in a limited way, but to say that it is one sole cause of behavioral no-nos is stupid.

I own a brachycephalic breed, Boston Terriers, and while it's true that they are susceptible to overheating this does not affect their mental health to the point where they would snap out of the blue or make them aggressive. If a brachycephalic breed has behavioral issues or is aggressive, it's usually due to poor breeding and/or poor training.

Lexi

Posted : 3/5/2006 12:01:19 AM

ORIGINAL: sillysally

How exactly does ones brain overheat in the first place?

This just made me LAUGH. [8D]