Michael Vicks Dogs - One Year Later

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'd love to have one of the big breeds- Rottweiler, bull mastiff, or a Staffordshire, I know I don't have the energy to give them the exercise they need. They're gorgeous, but I know I won't be fair to the dog if I have one. I'll stick to the basset hounds- they're more my speed.

I think it's horrible to "blame the victim" of a dog attack. The only time I would concede that is if someone is actively taunting a dog. Then you spank the human and work with the dog. But most of the time, when you hear about a dog attack, the humans have not been out of line. The owners of the dogs have been, but the victims have been minding their own business. If you own a dog that is likely to bite, whether that's a Chihuahua or a German Shepherd, you'd better make sure you have that dog under control every second.

That doesn't mean it has to be on a leash at your feet, just that you know where it is and what it's doing. Train the dog, socialize the dog, and be its pack leader so it knows it has to behave. Won't solve all problems, and this doesn't address the problem owners who *like* having a killer dog, but it will go a long way towards responsible dog ownership.