by Justin Cox

Created on: April 22, 2008   Last Updated: January 08, 2009

I am by no means a dog expert, dog whisperer, or authority on dog behavior but I have had opportunity to have lived and worked with various dog breeds over the years. I am inclined to want to side with the group of thought that says there are no bad breeds only bad owners, but I have seen firsthand the differences in temperaments exhibited by certain breeds of dogs. Let me give you a brief account of fist hand experiences.

English pointers
I grew up around this breed. They are very active, energetic and have a strong drive to hunt. I think in ten years of living with them I might have heard ONE growl at anyone. They do not seem dangerous around children or other pets.

Hounds (Blue Ticks, Black and Tans, Red-bone)
I also was fortunate enough to have grown up with hounds. Although you might occasionally run into a mean one, as a rule they are gentle with people and other pets. Like the pointer they come right out of the box with a strong hunting drive.

Beagles
Had several years experience with beagles. Never heard one growl at a person. Strong drive to chase and hunt.

Bassett Hound
I had a Bassett hound for over ten years that basically proved to me that the breed is incapable of showing aggression towards people. Strong hunting drive, but a nice mannered dog. I did not include it with the other hounds as it is in a league of it's own.

English Mastiff
We were fortunate enough to have owned two of these beautiful animals most recently. They are as gentle and dignified a dog breed as I have ever seen. They can be a bit territorial about their yard, but only bark and act tough. The breed is trustworthy and stable, good thing...

Pit-bulls
As I stated earlier, I would have been inclined to side with the folks that say there are no bad dog breeds until I began working with a few pit-bulls. You will read that the pit-bull breed has 'game'. This is a trait that has been bred into them in exactly the same way that the instinct to be good hunters or have large physical size is bred into other breeds. Those of you that subscribe to the 'all dogs are the same' theory need to spend some time with various dog breeds. You don't have to spend long around pit-bulls, Akita's, doorman's, etc. to learn that there truly are differences in temperaments and reactions to people by the breeds.

A dog is said to have 'game' if it has a higher prey drive than others. Pit bulls have been bred to react to certain situations with aggression and to fight. Comparing puppies to people by saying that there are no bad dogs only bad breeders or trainers, then saying there are no bad kids only bad parents is a bad comparison. As a rule, certain breeds of dogs do act predictable due to the way they have been selectively bred over hundreds of years. I have seen pointer pups just a few weeks old stand on point as pretty as a picture over a partridge wing. They were never taught that, they knew it from birth. Animals come into this world with propensities and established mannerisms.

Certain breeds of dogs are more inclined to be dangerous than others, just the same as certain breeds of dogs are better at running or hunting. It's real and it's a careless person that puts their children in a situation where there kids are endangered by a dog with an inclination to inflict damage.

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