[piscator]

It seems there is always some breed of "guard-dog" that comes into fashion, becomes vilified (with some justification) and eventually falls off the radar, when the breed goes out of fashion among "tough-guys and gals" and the emphasis on protection disappears.

In my dad's time it was boxers and shepherds. In my younger days, gals were buying Dobies and Rottweillers as symbols of... I'm not sure what. I well remember each of these breeds being widely regarded as sheer killing machines, with hair triggers.

Today, at the dog parks we visit with our labrador, nobody gives a second glance to the several boxers mixing it up with their canine friends. Few seem to have any concern over the many shepherds in play. The doberman, with ears un-clipped, frolics about, virtually unnoticed.

Still, I have had dobermans at my throat. Back in the early 80's when I was painting houses and dobies were the "protector du-jour." Right now, as a volunteer at our local animal shelter, I see many ill-used and consequently aggressive pits. Is it the breed or the owners? It's both. But it's predominantly the dog's training.

A very savvy 12 year old girl from an agricultural family once said to me, "the dogs that love you the most, will protect you the most." Trainers have confirmed to me that the physically capable breeds that exhibit high loyalty are easiest to "turn" to aggression.

So anyway, unless you guys decide to eradicate all the breeds that "love you most," I suspect that eventually, I'll be seeing pitbulls at the dog parks that nobody pays any mind to.

p