“Really the question about your Petco story is “who are the dangerous owners”?”
YOU, dear one, are a very, *very* sharp and astute person!
Therein lies the key to *all* of it.
Case in point;
Two un-neutered males who are [well, were] full brothers [from a previous litter/same parents] of my European Dobe have already been euthanized for “aggression” by their owners by the age of 18 months.
[approximate onset age of puberty/territorial drive/’adult’ behavior]
The _excuse_ for the killing was, ironically, the mythical “Doberman brain syndrome”.
[even some vets are -that- stupid and ignorant]
They were both a terrible loss to the breed.
The Euro Dobe -is- a much “sharper”, more “driven” dog than its Americanized counterparts.
*My* boy is not only well behaved, dependable and solid, he is a joy to children everywhere [he adores them beyond all sanity] *and* is a support dog.
Though he can be extremely ‘hard mouthed’ when necessary, little children can safely feed him little tidbits with no fear because he switches to very, very ‘soft mouthed’ when taking treats from them, as he was -taught- to do.
*If* he even thinks he feels their little fingers pushed too near his teeth, he immediately goes slack-jawed and backs away so as not to accidentally injure.
The differential diagnoses?
The -owner-.
His brothers were bought on a whim by novices who had no clue how to redirect and focus their intense drive/need to “work” in a positive, responsible and beneficial fashion.
I’ve had high-drive Dobes for 37 years.
My dog started his intensive socialization process at the tender age of 6 weeks and has ‘refresher courses’ frequently via visits to pet stores, public events, etc where he is encouraged to interact with and charmingly dazzle one and all.
Rarely does the average Pit enjoy such necessary educational kindness.
Those who ‘backyard breed’ them care nothing for their future or the safety of their potential owners or other people the dog will undoubtedly encounter throughout life.
It’s all about either money or “reputation” for meanness.
[a “reputation” which is easy to gain if you do not properly socialize ALL pups from _day one_]
Your story made me laugh...my aunt had a savage teacup Chihuahua that was the bane of my mother’s existence.
The dog rarely walked.
My aunt carried it everywhere, held close to her shoulder.
-Every- time my aunt walked past my mom, the dog snaked out and nipped her.
She tried to snap me once but the “right stare” made her shrink back to my aunt’s shoulder.
The little hell-spawn and I became good friends, after that.
Bottom line is, and always has been, from monster mastiff to mini Poodle, there is a ‘wolf’ in your living room.
We may all forget that at our own peril.
“...there is a ‘wolf’ in your living room.”
Both of our dogs have been mutt rescue dogs and have been the sweetest things. But when the kids were young I was always a bit leery. One never knows when playing “dress up” with the dog will put it over the edge!