| Re: Schutzhund?
Mick, by uneven defensive drives I mean, I've seen Pits that were seemingly impossible to put into avoidance but then if the handler gave a strong correction for the dog to out, the dog wouldn't re-engage and actually went into avoidance. Ok just so that we are on the same page when defining terms etc this is what I would defione as "handler sensativity" or "handler hardness" and shows a dog that is handler soft and on the whole Pits definatly fit into this catagory. I find them out of drive to be extremely handler soft. Once again this is a product of what they were bred for. Again though from a defination point of veiw I would not gauge this as anything to do with defensive drive, defensive aggression etc this is sensativity to handler. Once again many Pit owners who work a dog at this level will have to be aware of this.
I think pits are not as reactive defensively as they are offensively. Again I simply bring this up from a defintion point of view. This is what I wouyld define either as "active aggression", "Fight drive" or my favourite "non classical aggression". It is basically aggression that does not fit into the classic model of "predatory aggression", Defensive aggression" and "Dominance aggression" that is used in dog behavior terms. It is a dog that is aggressive without the appearance or perception of threat. Now this type of aggression is sought in any serious style working dog person including people who seek a truly strong sport dog. In a GSD, Rott, Mal etc this type of aggression is shown towards a helper etc. The dog engages in and fights the helper. It seeks the fight and enjoys it, lives for it if you like. This is the same way a breed would seek a good fighting Pit but instead of towards humans it would be towards dogs.
BUT as a companion and house pet, to me nothing beats a good Rottie. Amen to that.
Mick.  |