" A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

Thank You! My star dog is shy, she wont piss on herself but she will easily become a 4 ft long dog when company comes over. You know, the type that stretch out so long just to peek around the corner to see who's sitting on the couch. I've had times where she wouldnt come in the house until the new people left, but her intensity is unmatched as of yet. She works extra hard to please and to do the tasks that she is asked. The turn on you thing is BS to be honest. JMO

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

A very shy dog might not turn on YOU, but make no mistake the possibility of fear biting someone else is there.

Not saying a shy dog needs to be put down, but the owner should work their asses off to help the dog overcome the problem, and if it can't overcome it they should be very careful when the dog is around people. Putting your faith in a shy dog not to ever bite is not a good idea.

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

I agree 100% Jane was a beatin' dog(shy & timid/scared), I got her put her on the chain every time i fed watered the dogs , in the dog house she ran!!

About a month later she was like every dog i ever had, loyal and full of courage and determination. and she is the most protective of me! It took watching the other dogs reacting to me to make her trust me!

Next to Boris, she's jealous when i go near the other dogs. But each dogs an individual, and most can be fixed if you spend the time!!

how many times you heard of a GREAT DOG FROM THE PAST , in a story being said that it was a quiet dog , or just wacko, or shy. but when in the [] out performed and competed with the best. now if your in to conformation shows and that, then you might not want a tail-ducker but , but hey work with the animal if thats your game JMO

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

if you want a dog to do what you want! Sometime's you have to trick them in to thinking your way!

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

Ain't that the truth! lol

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

I understand your point, I'm just debunking the statement that shy dogs are pathetic creatures. I know that's not the case.

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

I absolutely agree.

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

I would agree that the statement is a little broad, but unfortunately many extremely shy dogs are not only pathetic, but in the wrong hands and situation, potentially dangerous creatures as well.

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

Ever met dogs so shy they wouldn't even eat or drink for days because they was in a strange place or didn't have their usual bowls/food?

How about one that couldn't be touched or handled, even by the person who fed him for years.

How about dogs that start to tremble violently and snap the air when approached.

How about dogs you can't get into a car, and when you get them there can't be taken out again without a catch-pole and an assistant?

How about a dog so nervous he breaks out all of his teeth eating rocks, chewing his chain, or kennel wire if there was anything or anyone strange close by? Say, for instance you forget to take the lawn mower away after you're done, and you leave it where he can see it.

Now, I will admit that most of these dogs would be more accurately described as neurotic animals, not shy. However, I have met too many dogs like this over the years, and unfortunately not all of them were owned or handled by people who understood the risks until it was too late.
Many of them were described as "a little shy," or " sensitive" by breeders and taken in by well-meaning people who just knew they could cope with the needs and fears of these sweet, special dogs. Most were wrong.

These aren't the old days. More and more high-intensity dogs are ending up in the hands of people who don't need them and don't have the experience or temperament to handle the high intensity quirks, but have enough on their Visa cards. Bottom line is that despite what we may like to think, all shy dogs cannot be worked with, and the only reward comes with putting the animal out of its and your misery.

And hey, a shy, nervous dog does not have to fear-bite to be a danger. Getting caught up and dragged back and forth in the chain of a dog that's as strong as an ox and as nervous as sparrow as he tries to run away from your hat can ruin your day, and three vertebrae. Believe me. Convalescense gives one time to reflect and thank your maker that it was you and not your child that got too close to the chain that day.

I'm not going to pretend that extreme cases are the norm. But, seeing what I've seen, I can't sit back and read a bunch of feel-good "I brought that poor doggie around" anecdotes without letting people know what the other side of the coin can really be like. Perhaps our definitions of shy are just different, and I accept that. Like I said, I don't have a problem with shyness if you know what you're doing, and are willing to do the right thing should the situation become more than you can handle.

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

I think the reason so many people are having a difference of opinion here, is that there is a distinct difference between the following:

Shy Dogs
Fearful Dogs
Nervy Dogs

A shy dog to me is just aloof and wary of whats around it, not in a negative way, its just tentative at first, before it gets its head around the situation and assesses it properly and to its satisfaction.

A fearful dog is the kind that can turn on ya, these are the kind of dogs that will bite when they get scared, show aggression when they get a fright etc.

A nervy dog, is the kind that chews through chains, busts out of doghouses, runs around in circles and is generally nuerotic under most circumstances.

I prefer confidant, and dominant dogs that take everything head on, but thats just personal preference, shy dogs aren't a bad thing necessarily, I've owned a fair few of them and never had a problem. Its the fearful and nervy dogs, that are unpredictable... they are easily put into fight or flight which can make for some interesting situations to say the least.

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

Good points.
And like I said, there are all different degrees and reasons for the conditions you describe. Some are more appropriate to certain owners, experience levels and situations than others. Thanks for clarifying.

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

one of the best dogs ive ever had started as an extremely shy pup, and ended up being an extremely outgoing boy. shy adult dogs may not be as mature as you think. 2-3 years old is when every shy dog ive ever had just sorta "grew out of it". someones definition of shy and mine might differ tho

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

I think alot has to do with being able to try to curve the problem.

People trying different things, different approaches to animal housing, Care and TREATMENT. all can play big parts in animal behavior.

A pack animal tied alone, chain chewers on chain's.

Winter born pups in a kennel in the spring for the first time will sometimes be scared and develops fretting when storms role threw,

or when some dogs just don't get off the chain much develop, pacing, chewing, and anxiety.

while others you wouldn't want off a chain cause they are just nutzs! I hear what your saying, HighCoastHiker.

I just think that a lot of "behavioral problems" are due to previous care or lack of fine tuning when growing"socializing", in different situations, don't want to eat out of "that" bowl, no problem, as long as its not a medical reason, eat it off the ground!


lot of situations and examples, but if you think you can't handle the animal , then it is better culled, not re-homed to newbies.

I just think that a lot of problems are what you make of them , Either its manageable, or impossible or maybe the persons exhausted there time already to much in to the animal in question.

"Lifes a garden just dig it!"

but i would take the word of an experienced Dogman before a breeder anyday!!!!!, don't thinks I'm soft cause of this , I'm just willing to try to see what that animal could be, and my yard is not exactly a no kill yard. i have no problem culling a deformed or plain no good dog, Hound or APBT, but if a good dogs, a good dog. Work with it a little!

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

Well put. I completely agree. As long as it ain't too crippled or crazy, it has a chance with me

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

A little patience goes a long way sometimes.

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

I have to say stupidity is what kills a dog here and having no use.

not behavioral problems is what I'm pulling teeth about i guess.

Damn if the dog had no teeth but, was a good dog before the crippled alteration, I'd feed it!, just like a shy, scared, nervous, or down right nuts dog (non- man biting tho) potential genes, but cross the line to man biting/stupid/or untrustworthy past the point of constant trying to meet terms with this beast, working with it (like really giving it a shot!) then that dogs gone, gone,gone!!

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

Not trying to be a wanker or nothing , seen a lot of GOOD dogs thrown away, not just APBT either, Human error is normally what sends a lot of good dogs to death!.

our area had ton's of APBT's , all mass murdered cause of human fear! (ontario)
For what?

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

its no safer of more dangerous to walk around these days then before! the real dog men still own dogs, life continues , and keep on trucking. Do what you can to make it all work!:o

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

Preach it Brother Owens. Human error/mishandling is normally what causes most of the behavior problems in the first place. You'd be amazed how many times I've heard "man, I don't know what to do with my dog, he's crazy as shit, just eats the skin off his feet all day then bounces off the walls and tears up the furniture when I let him out of the crate to do his business."

 

Re: " A shy Pit Bull is a pathetic creature indeed......"

my gyp is super outgoing and will sit on the couch with you stranger or not and lick ur face. She is shy when asked to do stuff like follow you through a door way or out of her kennel door. She was like that since day one. Its weird I think its a avoidance behavior. I can take her to a park and street fair and she has her tail wagging pancing like a princess. She got her AKC good citizen cert so I guess she is pretty solid.