Rottweiler Reality Check (Tucson, AZ)

[Rene Allegrini]

Good article about owners taking responsibility for their dogs actions.


Rottweiler Reality Check

By Som Lisaius, KOLD News 13

Too often when we hear about dog attacks, the breed in question is either a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull. Nobody is disputing the fact these dogs can be vicious and can certainly be a threat to people. But what we can't lose sight of is that these breeds are not alone. Any dog is capable of attacking anybody. It's ultimately up to the owner to make sure that doesn't happen.

Considering the mauling death of a two year old boy Monday and the incident Thursday that led to a TPD officer shooting and killing a full-grown Rott, it wasn't exactly a good week for man's best friend or for the Rottweiler breed in particular.

"I don't think it's a breed thing. I think any dog can do it. Things happen--dogs are dogs."

Debra Hollander's been a Rottweiler owner for five years. And she and her husband enjoy "Nico" so much, they adopted a second Rott to keep him company. Not once has either dog been aggressive of threatening to people in any way, they say. But then again, they don't let their dogs get into a position to do so.

"We trust them to the point that we're very careful with them," says Debra's husband Greg Mason, who's also a volunteer with the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. That means keeping them contained in the backyard when they're home or on a leash whenever they're in public. But even then, in some people's eyes, that's not enough.

Says Greg, petting his 120-pound friend, Nico, "I see it when we walk down the street and if someone's walking on the same side of the street as we are...they'll say 'oh, those are Rotts' and they'll cross the street to avoid us."
In both tragic cases this week, the dogs' owners admittedly left a door or gate open and that led to bad things. By nature, some breeds are more aggressive than others. And for years, Rotts were bred to protect. But that doesn't mean they're any more likely to attack.

Statistically, in fact, Cocker Spaniels bite people three times more often than any other breed. Only difference is very seldom is their bite fatal... Which is why larger dogs like Rottweilers and Pit Bulls get all the bad press.
"We understand that he doesn't have a thought process like a human," Greg says. "There's no way he can rationalize most of the things that we can...and they're just gonna be dogs..and they're just gonna do things that dogs do."

All week we've been talking to behaviorists and animal control experts about what to do and what not do--if confronted by an aggressive dog. Remaining calm, not looking the dog in the eye and placing something between yourself and the dog--all still apply. But these safety tips apply to all dogs--not just Rottweilers.

Rottweiler Reality Check

[smileygirl]

It's wonderful when a responsible rottweiler owners stands up and is heard! Tina

[Dugganmom]

YAA!! lets hope people read this...and listen. It is nice to see good press on rotties!! Esp. after the last few weeks( actually years )