The Falacy that is Pack Theory.

[Laura]

I know this wont apply to most of you but this was written by somebody with 25 years of Stafford/Bull Terrier experience and I hope it goes some way in explaining why these dogs can be as they are:


True Stafforshire bull terriers do not recognise the pack mentality which is the trait of so many other dog breeds. In a sense they are a law unto themsleves, "Other than completely breaking their spirit most will never accept, "Willingly", strange dogs more so if they are of the same kind. They should NEVER see themselves as on a equal footing with the human-being, this can only lead to power struggles and The Staffordshire bull terrier, "Like other breeds has no voice other than his mouth/teeth" Like it or not they were bred specifically for canine combat, "Hence their affinity with their human handler, which for the most part still exists in our present day lines" NEVER permit a dog/bitch to think it is any humans equal for in their mind they are superior to ALL canines, hence why it is folly if your Staffordshire bull terrier starts to think along human lines.

[John Thomson]

??????????

I'll look at this with a clear head in the morning.........seems to fly in the face of what I understand..........but I have no close personnel experience with bull breeds..........sorry I missed you tonight Laura.

With 2 GSD intact males in our house pack order is rigidly enforced in our household.......otherwise a timebomb waiting to go off!
_________________
John Thomson
www.cumbernaulddogtraining.co.uk

[Laura]

Yes sorry I missed you John I cant believe Kyle didnt invite you in.

Anyhow, this was a post from a bull breed forum and was specific to bull breeds. Basically they do not have pack mentality, they were bred to win or eliminate the competition and even tough it has been many years since this went on I still feel that it applies to them. I had hoped the post would help understand maybe the fear some have. Whilst many will get along for years together the basic pack theory that dogs live in packs does not apply to bull breeds, or certain bull breeds.

As I said some do get on well with others and will live together with no issues, however, having tried to keep more than one at a time I realise they think in another way to most dogs. I have kept other breeds in the past and we lived in harmony however the dogs we have had that were bred predominantly for fighing dont apply. They were bred for one purpose and I have found to personal cost that at some point or other that instinct usually kicks in and when it does unlike other dogs who have a scrap there is no turning back. They dont relate to a pack theory because they were bred to eliminate one or the other, I have had discussions with other trainers who dont believe this to be the case however I feel after several years of being around them it most definitley is.


Staffords or those types do far better in one dog households.

[kendal]

i completely believe you although would never have thought about it before. i think it makes perfect seance that the way a breed is bred would affect how they see themselves and other dogs, and how they relate to the pack theory.

[Cassandra]

My mate said that Staffies have to be rehomed earlier as puppies otherwise they start tearing chunks off their litter mates!
She knows of a litter that sustained severe injuries (missing bits of ear and blindness) because the owner waited till they were 8 weeks old to send them off to their new homes. I think one had to be put to sleep because of the injuries too

Staffies weren't bred to like other dogs, it makes perfect sense that they got no sense of pack order. Its just dog and human plain and simple!

[Janice]

Did anyone read Carol Price's article in 'Your Dog' May I think about dominance theory?
She seems to be quite good writing about BC but don't know what anyone else thinks of her.
I'm beginning to think that there are as many ideas about dogs as there are about teaching children Maybe the answer's the same too. No perfect way to deal with every child or dog. They're all individuals and that's what makes life interesting
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Janice and Dale

[Cassandra]

I got Barbara Sykes books on BC's they came reccommended to me by half a dozen sources.

[kendal]

[Janice]

Cassandra

I found Barbra Sykes helpful too. It was interesting to read what she said about diet, but that's another post.
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Janice and Dale

[Eleanor]

Kendal

as you are aware all breeds have a different level of intelligence for learning commands/obedience

so I would say that Inca possibly has more cocker in her make up than poodle and Gypsy is the other way around........as the poodle is just behind the border collie in getting right first time

interesting hmm!

Eleanor

[kendal]

it is very interesting.
i agree with you about the cocker thing as she reminds us of our old cocker, ditsy and a little slow but still lovable. but saying that gypsy reminds us of our other cocker who was the runt of the litter but very intelligent.

[Laura]