I agree with Ron.
Different dog breeds came about because they were used for different purposes.
The ones with the desirable traits whether retrievers, herders, racers, fighters, etc., were kept. Those that didn't measure up weren't.
That's
why there are different breeds.
If I want to hunt ducks, I'm taking a Lab or a Golden.
If it's pheasant I'm after, it's a Weimaraner or an English setter.
Herding? Border collie, Shepard.
And so on and so on.
The bottom line here, dogs that were bred for aggression tend to be innately more aggressive.
Can they be docile? Of course they can, but how can you tell how they'll turn out?
And no. It's not (always) the owner. I've always had, and always will have, dogs.
I obedience train them, and they are always loved and never abused.
Here's a list of the dogs I've had:
Bree, Giant Schnauzer/Lab; My and my wife's first dog. And our best.Extremely intelligent, instinctively protective of her family. An intimidating dog to those she didn't know, but very obedient so it was never a problem. Had her for thirteen years
Bucky, just a mutt (looked to be a beagle/greyhound, but I can't say for sure). He was a stray that my wife didn't have the heart to call the pound on, so he became ours. Dug holes in my yard (that I stepped in and sprained my ankle
), but he killed mice and pigeons
. Had him for fourteen years.
Belle, saved her from the pound.
German Shepard/Lab/Pit Bull. A very intelligent dog that loved to play volleyball with balloons over the back of my couch.
But Belle was aggressive, and became more so as she got older. When she was three she snarled and snapped at one of my nieces who was
not bothering her. She (Belle) had been showing other signs of aggression too.
Belle was three when she died (humanely, and it broke my heart).
Skylar, a Beagle. What a pain in the rear. But she was a love. We lost her last year to kidney failure.
Star, our current Golden Retriever. Seven years old. I think I'll stick with Goldens from here out.
Oh, and so it's not a hijack:
Vick? Drag him behind a truck.
