Last summer, someone walking by with a small child looked at me and said “your dog looks like he’s going to eat me”. I just smiled and replied that Herman might just do that, like someone would eat a popsicle, one lick at a time!  lol  🙂

Hallelujah!

My community has many pitbulls, and they are rarely a problem. I make a point of seeking out and talking to the animal control officers in my community. I’ve discovered that one of the officers owns a pitbull, and has raised pitbulls for many years. The officer explained to me that pitbulls are among the least likely to display innate human agression. Yes, pitbulls are powerful dogs, and yes those that abuse them are attracted to that power. Pitbulls are also, by nature, people friendly, affectionate, and loyal. The problem is the people who choose to exploit this loyalty for their own ends. When was the last time you heard the name of the pitbull owner (Besides Vick) in a media story about a pitbull attack? If a name was mentioned, do you still remember that name? Dog fighting and other misuses of pitbulls is a crime in all 50 states, yet the dogs most often bear the burden of condemnation. What about the humans who commited this crime? Study after study has shown the direct link between animal abuse and violence against people. To me, this shows that those who abuse and misuse pitbulls are the problem. Problems with pitbulls, or any dog, begin with people prone to violence to begin with. I’m not denying that, like any animal, rare instances of out of character behavior do occasionaly occur. When this does occur, that indiviual animal, not the breed, needs to be dealt with for the protection of the public.  

You seem like a very caring person. Your concern for this unfortunate animal’s life does you credit. Sounds to me like this Lab-Mix is unstable to say the least. The thugs who have abused this poor dog, and ultimately cost took the life of your beloved pet, need to answer for their crimes. Sad as it is, maybe calling the proper authorities is the best thing to do. I don’t know much about Great Britain’s legal system as it pertains to animals, much less any local laws in your area. As painful as it is for me to say this, your local animal control professionals might be the best option.

Ouch! That must have been scary. Thanks for the tip on the “Best Ball”. My Herman has scratched up the surface, but so far thats the worst of it. I will definitely be checking the inset plug everytime.

Herman is 3 years old, loves people, is good with kids, and is an enthusiastic kisser. I’m looking forward to hearing more about your lil’ one.

Herman can be a puller also, so I feel ya there. I used prong collars years ago, before I knew what they do. The real test for the prong collar is to put it on your neck, not the arm. I use the “Easy Walk” harness. Training is still necessary, but the “Easy Walk” does help. I speak only for myself, so take it for what it’s worth. Good luck.