american staffordshire terrier - dangerous?, page-46

Hi Sierra,
your post,

''When I took him walking with no leash attached, and we came upon another large dog around a corner with little warning with no owner, I would tell him to "drop".''

Dogs need to grow up being able to interact socially with other dogs and people. The dogs under strict control are often the ones that cause problems because they are in a pack situation with the owner and defensive.
That applies to dogs from good homes not the idiots who treat their dogs badly and then let them loose in thew local park to wreak havoc.
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The incident above walking my dog was about 24 years ago in Cairns.It was a like a little country town back then, when you could walk your dog in CBD.But you still had people walking around shopping.

The other dog was a German Sheppard with no owner.

My dog would not start a fight, but I had no idea what this dog would do.

For every one concern, including the public I removed the threat of a dog fight, by getting my dog to "drop".

I can't get your point,

"The dogs under strict control are often the ones that cause problems because they are in a pack situation with the owner and defensive."

My dog would not feel the need to defend me.

In most cases dogs won't fight if they can see a way out.

It's only when they feel they have no options and their ego demands they fight.

cheers,

sypaladin