Control your dog -- that's the key. Train your dog well, and deaths probably won't happen. If the pup goes berzerk, then the owner should be smart enough to know that it's time to put it to sleep. I know a family whose beloved dog bit the baby, and the pooch isn't around anymore. People are more important than canines -- that's the bottom line.

Whether governmental policies ought to be involved is a different question completely ...

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

Thank you so much for an actual FACTUAL article on bull and terrier breeds. I have a 4 year old American Staffordshire Terrier. My family adopted him from a rescue when he was one. He is hyper and playful and active and loving and well-mannered. He has never met a stranger, and everyone who meets him and is initially leery of him due to media stereotypes leaves with their minds completely changed due to his true nature.

Your dog is what YOU make it. Every dog attack can be traced directly back to an IRRESPONSIBLE OWNER that either taught their dog to be mean, or allowed their dog to run loose unsupervised. Every dog bite involving a child can be traced directly back to an irresponsible PARENT and/or OWNER, sometimes both the same person, who allowed their child and/or dog to play unsupervised. Until legislators get that through their heads and focus on irresponsible owners, there will always be problems with dogs (ANY type) being aggressive.

I agree that training has a huge impact on how any dog behaves.

That said, how much do you think instinct plays a role in any breed of dog being aggressive?

Dogs are protective by nature of "their humans", their yards, their toys, etc.

I think larger dog breeds are scary to me because if they give in to instinct its 200 lbs., not 45 lbs or 5 lbs., of dog to handle. Their strength makes large dog breeds intimidating and risky.

I don't think dog breeds should be banned, but with all of the dog attacks lately, it's clear that owners of large dogs need to be aware of that difference. 

We can't kid ourselves about the logistics. Large dogs have the potential to do more damage. That doesn't mean they will. Owners of such powerful animals need to be dilligent in training and monitoring their dog's behavior and exposure to other people.

Thank you Lori and Mathias for your comments. It is nice to see "sane" discussion on this very touchy subject. Being as how I grew up with dogs my whole life (from Old English Sheepdogs to Pugs) this is a hot button subject for me.

Yes - training and socialization are the key. Let the dog know where he stands in his "pack" and all is well. However, to answer Mathias - YES city and township governments should be involved however slightly. For instance, Prior Lake has a "dangerous dog" ordinance that spells out that if a dog attacks a human and it is an unprovoked attack, the owner is responsible (fined, conditions put on the dog remaining in the community etc). The ordinance is a smart one because it is not breed dependant. I've been around mean Toy Poodles. Size does not matter....damage can still be done! Basing the ordinance on individual means that the responsible Bull Terrier owners can still have their dogs and the irresponsible owners are put on notice that THEY are the ones responsible for their dogs.

Cindy