Have you ever heard the saying “No bad dogs, only bad owners?” Is that true for all dog breeds? Dog breeds like Pit Bulls and German Shepherds have always had a reputation for being naturally violent when, in reality, it could be how they are raised and treated. So I ask, is it the dog breed or the owner?
How did these dogs get a reputation? If we look at what these canines have been bred and trained for in the past, German Shepherds have been used as a scare tactic for decades, and Pit Bulls were used for bull baiting and dog fights. While those dogs may have been seen as aggressive, they were trained to be that way. Studies have shown that dogs project learned behavior just like human children. That means that dog owners should be socializing their pets and correcting biting and other behavioral issues as a puppy. Although, a problem that could arise from addressing behavioral problems is how dog owners go about correcting their pet’s behavior. Physical punishment and aversive-based training methods like shock collars only add to dogs’ aggression. Physical pain is used to stop a dog from doing something one may not like. For example, when a dog is barking or growling, shocking them will only cause them to think that they are not in a safe place to express themselves. This can lead to a dog deciding that they are tired of being ignored, and they start to take more drastic measures to be heard. The CVMA, California Veterinary Medical Association, has said that aversive equipment is more traumatizing for a dog and makes them more reactive. Some of these products are so damaging that veterinarians have found flesh wounds and even brain damage in some cases.
Learned aggression and aversive-based training isn’t always the case though. Dogs can also have behavior issues because they are in pain or feel unsafe. They often start acting differently when there is an underlying medical issue as a way to protect themselves from further damage. If the dog feels unsafe, they will try barking or growling to get humans to understand their discomfort or fear, but many times, humans will ignore the signs their animal is giving them, and then the pet will take extreme measures to be heard.
The perceived aggression from these dogs has gotten so bad that recently, in the United Kingdom, certain dog breeds have been banned. This new law makes it illegal to have one without an exemption license. The banned dogs include Pit Bulls, the Japanese Tosa, and the XL Bully dog. The ban came after a man was attacked by two dogs. British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said in an interview with ITV News Central that those dogs are “a danger to the community.” Many owners in the UK are upset about the ban and say that good training is what dogs need; while others argue that those dog breeds are aggressive by nature.
While some dogs were bred to be aggressive, it all comes down to training. A dog’s behavior is based on what they were taught. So if one gets a dog proper training without causing them physical pain or psychological trauma and also takes the time to recognize their signs of pain or discomfort, dogs would have no reason to attack because there are no bad dogs, just bad owners.
