[WorkinDogz]

I'm sorry I missed the Dateline story, but I'm very glad to hear that it was informative and well done CarolineS! (Actually; I find that ABC usually does a good job at presenting features.)

rlogle,

None of us are pleased that this breed gets so much bad press. The sad facts are that when a dog kills or mames a child; and it's reported (like it should be!) chances are you'll see a picture of a Rottie as the offending dog.

I'm sorry that the breed earned some of the titles that they have....but I'm NOT sorry that the public is made aware of very real power our dogs have....

I'm not in favor of "hiding the facts". This breed, so popular and powerful, had more than its fair share of people as owners that should NEVER own a Rottie.

Bad press can actually help a breed too. It can make someone who isnt' sure if they really want a Rottie reconsider GETTING one (I believe that NO ONE should aquire this breed unless 110% committed from the start.)

It can also prove to put pressure on the "less than responsible" people who currently own the breed. Their dog may not have been involved in an "incident" (yet) but...a street full of angry neighbors, who have already been *fed up* with seeing the dog roaming the neighborhood....or otherwise being permitted to make things unpleasant...can certainly rattle the cage and wake up a less than stellar owner.

This breed wasn't selected "Deadliest Breed" by pulling the name out of a hat rlogle.

Irresponsibly owned, irresponsibly bred dogs have tagged the breed. News stations just report the incidents.

I don't know of many "power breed" owners who haven't had a perfect stranger come up to them and say "Why would you want to own a horrible breed like that, that kills people!"

When it has happened to me...I respond with "You're absolutely right! Can you imagine owning a dog of ANY BREED that is a danger to your family or your neighbors??!! I sure wouldn't own one...that's why I would never just buy a dog from someone who happened to have a litter of puppies...and I spend a lot of time that I don't really have to make sure that ALL OF MY DOGS know who is running the show."

Defending the "breed" isn't my goal. I won't stand there and talk about how a Rottweiler is sugar and spice and everything nice! A Rottweiler is a powerful breed that requires a serious owner who willing to WORK VERY HARD and not sugar-coat the raw power they have at the end of the lead!

Ever hear of "kennel blind"? (the only "good dogs" come from a certain kennel) Well..don't be "breed blind"!!

I'm OFFENDED when I hear a fellow Rottie owner defend the breed when a child has lost their life at the hands of the breed!!