Originally Posted by speeder (Post 10317462)

Troll.

Originally Posted by speeder (Post 10316890)

It's a mix of nature and nurture but genetics are VERY important. We are who we are.

Originally Posted by speeder (Post 10316796)

It's ALL in the breeding. You can adjust behavior somewhat w socializing and training but if the genetics are fked up, forget it. :(

Originally Posted by javadog (Post 10317526)

I think the point here is that some things (large dogs, guns, 600hp cars, any Mustang) need a little more care in ownership than others and many people don't give them the extra care that is necessary and, when bad things happen, the incidents make the news quickly, as our media is prone to sensationalizing certain news.

"Pit bull eats baby"
"Assault rifle shoots school kids"
"Mustang runs over 30 people leaving Cars and Coffee event!"

Back to your specific needs, if you wish to have a dog tag along with you semi-supervised wherever you go, and you wish to be able to bring it over to the GF's house and get along with the 2 Mexican ankle killers, you're probably better off with a pretty low-key dog. A large dog, or a dog with the energy level of a pit bull, is probably not a good choice. They can be quite safe to own but they require more of the owner in the way of supervision and control.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 10317051)

<snip>
In sharp contrast to our ongoing efforts with our domestic animals, I'm unaware of anyone having purpose bred humans for any specific characteristics. No one is breeding faster sprinters, bigger football players, more intelligent scientists, or anything at all like that. Unless I've somehow missed all of that.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 10317051)

Amazing. So, in your world, one who argues that breeding plays a role in canine behavior must also be a racist. I quite honestly would not have made that connection. That's simply brilliant.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 10317051)

By the way, if you really want to go down the path of trotting out James Watson in a discussion about dog breeding, you may want to review what is widely acknowledged as one of the definitive studies on human intelligence. If you are really lucky, maybe you can find something these guys have published concerning canine intelligence and behavior. At least that way it might be relevant to this discussion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bell_Curve

Originally Posted by KC911 (Post 10317523)

Do not allow the two chi-devils to ever be alone with a PBJ ....I know sammiches ;)

PBJezebel :(

I've loved 17 of 'em since they were weeks old... Get the lab puppy... never look back.

Originally Posted by trader220 (Post 10317557)

Makes sense.... appreciate your input.

My father owns a 65 Mustang. My mother and I bought it for him when he retired a few years ago. On occasion he and I will take our cars to Car and Coffee. He's 78 and I guess its time I keep a closer eye on the Mustang. I'd hate to have it get away from him.

Originally Posted by javadog (Post 10317592)

He's probably fine with the Mustang. A '65 doesn't make much power and a 78 year-old is probably pretty responsible.

One thing you might do is test drive the dog you choose and take it for a visit to the GF''s house to see how it gets on with the other two dogs and how they react to having a large furry stranger invade their house.