Owners or breed?
When i was younger my Grandmother breed Norwegian Elkhounds. They are a wonderful breed. However, growing up I was taught that there are two factors in a dangerous dog;
1)
Initial temperament of the specific animal. When the puppies would get to about 6 weeks my Grandmother would start temperament testing each pup individually (similar to the modern Volhard tests). Through years of experience and experimentation she had devised a system that would predict the temperament and, ultimately, the type of home the animal should go to. As a whole the Elkhound is a sweet and gentle dog but, like any other animal, there are individuals within the breed. She would, on occasion, put a puppy down early because it showed signs of being a biter. Not because it was an aggressive animal, but because it was a timid and scared one. She has always said that you need to worry far less about an aggressive dog then a fearful one.
2)
Owners! I take my dog to an off-leash dog park on a regular basis and, for the most part, the other owners are responsible people. There are however some pretty bad ones out there. In my experience ANY dog can be a nasty animal. I have seen many breeds who behaved poorly and it is usually the fault of the owner. First for not properly picking a breed that fits their lifestyle. Second, for not properly training and socializing the dog.
Dogs are a lot like kids. If you let them run roughshod and don't reign in them in, you are in for a LOT of trouble.
People, please pick your dog appropriately. They should compliment your lifestyle not be an accessory or a status symbol. Any breeder worth a damn knows this and will refuse to sell to you if you aren't a good fit. Unfortunately, this often isn't the case.
Just for fun
