[Virosponna]

I very much believe it is 95% a case of nature and nurture.

Do I believe there are genetically unsound dogs beyond help? Of course I do. I also believe there are genetically unsound people beyond help. It happens. But it is quite rare. It is definitly not the norm.

I think sometimes when people say "it's all in how you raise them" or "there are no bad dogs there are only bad owners"...we get all wound up somehow assuming that they are not aware of the 5% (or less) outliers...when it would make just as much sense to assume they are referring to the 95% majority...in which case...there is actually imo quite a bit of accuracy to the statements.

A reasonably stable, well trained dog will act appropriate in public and elsewhere. Well trained dogs generally do not get that way on their own or through osmosis...people have to actually take the time to teach them and interact with them on a regular basis.

I think those 2 phrases oftentimes are ways of communicating compliments to owners of well trained dogs that..."hey, you're doing a good job. I acknowledge the time and effort you are putting into your dog's care and well being".

I really don't think they are referring to the presence of DA; but maybe perhaps to the dog being given opportunity to act on the DA. I have met plenty of non-bully breed owners who freely talk about other breeds being just as DA as pit bulls. Yes, other breeds lack the ability to do as much damage if they got to act on it and maybe they're not game so they'd quit; but the propensity and desire is still there. "There are no bad dogs" can simply mean "good owners manage their dogs and do not provide the dog an opportunity to act on their nature/desire when it will cause harm elsewhere". Ergo pit bull eats a poodle at the dog park...who's fault is it? I would go with the owner; shame on you if you don't know what your own dog has the capacity to do in a certain situation...and yet you knowlingly brought your dog there.

In terms of HA, I think the media has portrayed bully breeds to be these out of control HA killing machines. Thus when someone unfamiliar with the breed meets one they are quite underwhelmed. Instead of a mythical canine monster, they are confronted with ...just a boring old dog. Which can prompt the comment of "Good dogs/bad owners; all in how you raise them"; as they struggle to make sense of the dichotomy between what they are seeing before them and all those snarling faces they saw on the cover of magazines. And frankly in my opinion; many, many instances of news stories related to HA are not imo genuine HA at all...they are unfortunate instances involving untrained, undersocialized, dogs that owners have failed to properly supervise and contain...so yeah - in these instances which I feel make up the majority...not bad dogs at all...shitty owners.

In short; yes there are stupid people (and also stupid dogs btw); but in general, I think we allow ourselves to get too wound up and read too much into what we think people are saying when they use these shorthand ways of communicating, "Hey good work; you're a responsible owner" or "hey dumbass control your dog or go home".