Could Mike Vick make my puggle vicious?

Question

I have no interest in this. It is an academic question. I have a puggle that is very playful. She does aggressive play with other dogs, and cats, and little kids who play tug of war with her. She barks and growls at other dogs then when they come up to her she rolls on her back and licks them. My question is for real dog people (I am not, I just like my puggle but don't know much about dogs) or behaviour scientists. Is vicousness in dogs nature or nurture? Obviously certain breeds are used for fighting because of their physical power and strong jaws. But could Mike Vick and his cousins teach a harmless dog like mine to be vicious enough to engage in fights with other dogs her own size or is it all determined by breeding? Can we do rescues when we find kennels like the Bad Newz Kennel of Michael Vick? If it is all learned behaviour it should be unlearnable. If it is genetic behaviour then it is a much sadder story.

Answer 1

Caveat - my spell-check isn't working. Please excuse errors.

"Obviously certain breeds are used for fighting...." Boy you really don't know dogs!

OK. let's start with Dog 101. Despite the fact that there are over 100 breeds and countless mixes (your puggle, for example) in this world, they are all the same species - Canis lupis familiaris. That means, deep - or perhaps not so deep - in the heart of all dogs is both a Golden Retriever and a Pit Bull.

The way to make any dog vicious is the same with any dog. Pen it out in the back yard. Don't interact with it except in a negative way - threaten it, kick it, yell at it, etc. Keep it confined to a small space with no psycho-enrichment. Don't, above all, socialize it with people or other dogs except in a negative way.

I guarantee you that within 6 months of this kind of treatment, your lovable puggle will be so upset and worked up that he'll be vicous.

The same works in reverse. Take an unsocialized mean dog and carefully - VERY CAREFULLY - socialize it, welcome it into your home, treat it kindly, play with it, train in in obedience and care for it - all VERY CAREFULLY - and you can indeed, with time, turn a vicious dog into a gentle family pet.

The key is that you have to know what you're doing, be willing to put the time in and do it VERY CAREFULLY. It also takes much, much longer to rehabilitate a mean dog than it does to take a nice dog and make him mean.

Now then, what makes a Pit Bull dog so terrifying is that they are, as a breed, extremely willing to please. Originally they were bred to be strong, loyal, high pain tolerance and above all willing to please. Indeed, the classic Pit Bull was once the most popular dog in the country. Helen Keller and Laura Ingles Wilder owned Pit Bulls. The US was represented by the Pit Bull during WWI. The US Marines - who's motto is "always faithful" is represented by a Pit Bull. Pitties are indeed wonderful and noble dogs - whose reputation has been ruined by the likes of Vick and his evil ilk. Foul human beings are they!

Pit Bulls will do anything - ANYTHING - to please their pack leader. AND they're smart enough to learn by observation. That means, when they see the most agressive animals praised and handled, then they think that this is the way to behave. So they are indeed taught to be mean.

Yes, these dogs can be rehabilitated. The problem is that again, you have to know what you're doing and be willing to put in the time it takes - and assume the liability for a dog who doesn't know any better. Many people and organizations are quite successful at this but sadly there aren't enough of them for all the sad, abused pitties out there.

Answer 2

All dogs can be trained to be vicious. Remember all puppies need training not to bite, because they are descended from wolves, coyotes and other wild dogs, and without a firm hand and a proper training program any dog can become a problem.
Michael Vick did the opposite of a good owner, he trained the dogs to bite, attack, and generally be aggressive. Dogs trained in this way can be reformed, but it takes a long time, sometimes years, and a lot of money. Most rescue centres can't afford this and most people are unwilling to adopt a dog that has bitten someone before.
I used to work at a centre where we had a Pitt/Staffie cross who had previously been used as a guard dog, and it took 2 years before anyone but the experts could walk him.
Its a very sad state of affairs but most dogs in this position will have to be killed, simply because the money isn't there to rehabilitate.

Answer 3

Mike Vick is a jerk, an idiot, and he needs to have about 10 yrs in prison and 2 yrs of community service, and should be banned from ever owning a pet. he is the world's biggest jerk. i won't even ANSWER your actual question. and yes, you can become an Animal Control Officer and specialize in Dog Fighting Kennels.

Answer 4

No puppy is born to attack or kill people or other pets,but some breeds have agressive temperments.It is the owners that train these pets to be vicious.I'm afraid where Vick is possibly going he will have to train himself to be vicious in order to survive.

Answer 5

all it takes is a lil gunpowder in their food, and they go nuts! and no i havn't tried, only heard. So...yes, you can even make a puggle mean.

Answer 6

Well he is kinda ugly and he makes me snarl