Why do people always blame the owner?

Question

It seems that no matter what a dog does, it is always the owner to blame, why is that? Has anyone ever heard of genetic problems? Do you know that no amount of training will cover up most of them? Why can people accept the fact that sometimes it is the dogs fault?

Ok, one more time. If a dog is born with a problem it inherited from it's parents, it is called a GENETIC problem, you did not put it there, that is like blaming the owner for bad hips. If the dog has a temperament problem, it is NOT the owners fault. Physical control and responsibility is, but, the way the dog acts, GENETICALLY is not. You cannot kill a huge amount of hunt drive, nor can you install one that is not there, it is GENETIC.

Answer 1

Many dogs that have temperament problems have them because the owners failed to train and properly socialize the dog they chose. Genetics do play a role but ultimately it is the fault/responsibility of the owner if they fail to control and supervise the dog or put down a dog if need be.

Answer 2

You have to honestly question yourself as to why you're really asking this question....Dogs are dogs. If you 'own' the animal that is not tame, then you are at fault. If you 'own' the animal that has 'genetic' problems, again, it is you who are at fault should something go wrong, i.e. the dog bites someone.

I can understand someone loving a dog unconditionally that has problems and you can take it to the level of a mother and her child. Ironically though, when a child gets in trouble at school- who is called to handle the situation? The parents are- the parents are responsible for their child just as a dog owner is responsible for the actions of his or her dog.

If you are unable to handle the dog in certain situations- say the park, on a walk- then the dog obviously does not need to be in this atmosphere. It needs to be in a place where the 'genetic' problem can be addressed. You don't stick a kid with learning disabilities in an advanced learning school; instead you place him or her where they are most comfortable and able to be themselves, in a school for children with learning disabilities.

Either way; the parent/ owner, what have you, is responsible for making sure the child or dog is in a proper environment so they can learn and grow to their best abilities- not to match the abilities of every other child and dog. It is the owners responsibility therefore to assure the safety OF the dog by keeping him out of harms way- may that harm come from the dog itself due to a genetic problem or whatever- the dog knows nothing more than what he is taught. It is the owners job to teach, and to provide a safe environment for that dog. If that owner can't handle the dog or it's problems it doesn't' mean that it's the 'end' for the dog. Perhaps a new owner with a better ability to deal wtih these problems would be a more fit 'parent' to give this dog a home.

Otherwise, the dog's owner is at fault for not providing a fit living environment for his or het pet.

Answer 3

I agree that sometimes it can be genetic for a dog to be animal aggressive. And Sometimes there is a bad seed that is just naturally human aggressive. And sometimes it really does come out of no where, but really, this is rare. When there is an aggressive dog that gets loose, this is the owners fault. They should have kept their dog confined. NO dog, no matter how friendly should ever be able to run loose. Dogs like greyhounds that are known to have a high prey drive, that were Bred to chase and kill small animals should never be left unattended with small animals. If a greyhound, or another animal with a high prey drive, mauls a small animal, it is the owners fault. When you get a specific breed you need to do a lot of research on it. I wanted to rescue a racing greyhound. BUT I can't, I have two cats, I do not want anything to happen to my cats. When an owner disobeys leash laws and the dog bites a person or another dog, this is the owners fault. Leash laws are here for a reason, even if your dog is friendly all dogs and people, not all other dogs and people will be friendly back.

And in other cases it is the owners fault for training a dog to be aggressive, abusing it, neglecting it, Not socializing it at all with other dog, then wonders why it doesn't like other dogs. And also neglecting the fact that a dog IS aggressive. I was attacked by a golden retriever who nearly took the right side of my face off. Me being stupid and assuming that ALL goldens are perfect dogs, I never thought he'd bite. But he did. After he attacked me, the owner said, oh, yeah, he has done that before. And She STILL neglects to take him to obedience, or keep him leashed at all times. THis is a BAD owner, NOT a bad dog. Another case, my brother has a dachshund. She ACTS aggressive to everyone and everything. He stupidly thought that since she is small, it wouldn't do any damage. His friend came over with his small child. My brother, thinking this dog is all bark and no bite, wasn't worried. Well, the dog bit the girl on the lip, and made her bleed. And he, like a lot of owners, is STILL making excuses for her. "Well, the girl was teasing the dog." NO, the dog is aggressive, you need to address it, no matter how big your dog it.

I wanted to add that sometimes people think a dog bites out of no where, but it is out of self defense. There was a family that euthanized their dog after it bit their child 'out of no where' But after being euthanized, the technician found a pencil shoved all the way into the dog's ear drum. That would be unbearable pain. The dog doesn't have another defense. This is why dogs and kids should never be left alone unattended.

These are my feelings. I know sometimes there is just a bad seed. Everyonce in a while, Very rarely! Does a dog attack out of no where. But I'm sure it does happen. But with most dog attacks it is due to an irrisponsible owner who left their dog out to run, or knows the dog is aggressive.

Answer 4

I used to breed & train dogs & know that traits can be passed on from the parents to the puppies. I only breed from certain dogs that are highly intelligent because I need the pups to be clever too. Behaviours like spinning in circles, digging in water bowls, sucking blankets, good jumpers & bad temperments can all be passed on from the parents to some of the offspring. These behaviours were not learnt from the parents because the pups had never even met their father to copy a behaviour. When you own the parents & the owners of the pups stay in touch & tell you certain things that the pups do, you realise what good & bad traits they inherite. Thats why people only breed from dogs with good temperments. In the end you can't say that anything is the dogs fault. Maybe its the breeders fault!

Answer 5

Yes, there are some dogs out there that are simply screwed in the head and no amount of training can overcome it. But they are vastly outnumbered by the dogs who are the product of bad or clueless owners. So when you're looking at a problem dog, the most likely root cause is the owner, not genetics.

Answer 6

Spazzy
That unfortunately is absolutely NOT true.
The personality traits are just as varied in dogs are they are in people.
Temperament is the very first consideration when breeding quality dogs. If what you say were true, that would not be necessary.
There is a reason why "those people" pick the breeds that they do, and that reason should not be overlooked. Simply put, some dogs are "predisposed" to exhibit that type of behavior, no different than a Corgi being predisposed nip at your heels in an attempt to herd you over to it's food dish.

Are owners responsible when their dog bites someone???? Absolutely, it's the law. Are they responsible for their dog being predisposed to bite someone??? Absolutely, they picked the dog they wanted.

Answer 7

There are no bad dogs, just bad owners. With the correct leadership any dog (regardless of past history) can be perfect pets. They are born followers and that is why it is not their fault. If the owner cannot take responsibility and give correct guidance to their dog (which involves patience and time) then it is their fault in how the dog acts. You must teach your dog how you want him to behave and correct behavior that you do not like. Dogs live for today, to follow their leader, but they must have a strong leader to follow or no amount of training will make a difference.

Answer 8

99% of problems can be overcome with training. The only ones I can think of being a dog's fault- highstrungness (which can lead to biting out of nervousness). Behavior problems are NOT genetic. Temperment problems could be.

Anything else (chewing/ biting from a calmer dog, scratching, not leading correctly) all that would be from improper training whether from poor socialization as a puppy or poor training from the owner.

Answer 9

The little i understand approximately canines rules, and actually purely right here in my abode state, i do no longer think of the two of you're at fault, besides the undeniable fact that if i replaced into on your shoes i might furnish to pay any lifelike vet bill just to be on the risk-free area. Brittanies are an exciteable breed, yet a chew is unusual. sooner or later you will possibly turn around and bypass any incorrect way if a dogs runs as much as you. do no longer yank your dogs away, basically evenly turn around, get your canines interest on you and in line with danger bypass the line far off from the onrushing dogs.

Answer 10

Thats true but once the owner says they want to own a dog they are responsible. The owner's job it to train them and show them right from wrong. They blamed me and I know its not my dog's fault. Dogs don't know any better.