The combination of these studies shows that through selection for "aggressive performance," breeders have in fact been selecting for specific abnormalities in the brain. In essence, instead of excluding abnormally aggressive dogs from their breeding stock, Semyonova points out that, "breeders focused on making lineages in which all the dogs would carry these genes (i.e., dogs which would reliably exhibit the desired impulsive aggressive behavior). They succeeded."
The concluding section discusses "form follows function." For example, it is by no mistake that dogs selected for "killing" (the pit bull, dogo Argentino and others) are characterized by exaggerated jaw muscles and the willingness to attack in the absence of species-specific signs. Additionally, the environments for which these behaviors were selected (the fighting pit and escaping slave) are so extreme that there is no appropriate context for them in normal life. "It’s also not realistic to pretend that impulsive aggression is not pathological. The environments (the fighting pit, the baited bull, the escaping slave) for which these behaviors were selected as an adaptive response are so extreme that in fact there is no appropriate context for these behaviors in normal life." - Semyonova
Excerpted. PDF at link. Re-uploaded on Dogsbite.org in June 2018
I didn’t study the article but got the obvious gist of it.
It is one of those things which all the facts say one thing and all the experts say the opposite.
The same thing is true of intelligence and humans.
I don’t need to read a ‘study’ to know about pit bull dogs.
I’ve lived in the ‘hood’.
Ever had a Jack Russell Terrier? Those little guys will run circles around all kinds of other dogs and animals. Their human better be healthy and active by taking the Jack’s out everyday to run and play because if they don’t; they get neurotic. They aren’t the only breed like that either.
I think the important takeaway on this subject is when people decide to get a pet for their home to be a family dog; they need to do their research to make an informed decision. Especially with purebreds. All of mine are rescues and none of them purebreds. Another thing that tends to calm dogs down, even the more athletic active ones, is age. I like to get rescues that are at least 3 years old. They have all that puppy behavior (chewing up shoes and stuff) out of their system and they still listen/learn well. Once they get to a certain age which varies by breed; the story about teaching old dogs new tricks is true. Hopefully their new human can accept them the way they are. Old dogs don’t usually want much anyway. Some attention and affection. Some treats and of course their food and fresh water.
People can post a million studies about this breed or that breed on FR till the cows come home. Nothing is accomplished and it has nothing to do with what this forum is all about but you know what they say about teaching old dogs new tricks...
Ahhh...”consensus”.
I see...
/s
Please remember, Norski, Free Republic is not a pitbull discussion forum.
From the Home Page, Posting Guidelines...
“Broadly stated, the goals of this site are to further conservatism, expose political corruption, and recover a truly constitutional form of government.”
Some people have rattlesnakes as pets. They do not sleep with them. When my wife is gone I let my dog sleep on my bed. He IS NOT a pit bull.
> Abnormally Aggressive Dog
I didn’t read the article. Can anyone tell me if it applies to Maxine Waters?