I do not want to sound discouraging or negative but if it is a inherited trait which it seems to possibly be, even though she may be a great rabbit dog, you may want to consider having her neutered. Manshy dogs often throw manshy puppies. It can be overcome but it is a trait that doesn't need to be passed on.
I am offering this in friendship and it is only my opinion.
Man shy dog
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
Whoa there Bunny Runner!
You're giving some good advice, but I had to step in here to dispell a few old wives tales.
I was raised w/ pit bulls & have had my own kennel of APBTs (American Pit Bull Terriers) for almost a decade now. APBTs are NOT bred to guard nor are they prone to be human aggressive. In fact, the whole time I've had APBTs I've had to have guard dogs for my pit bulls! Trust me, a well bred pit bull is NOT a good guard dog!
In fact, the APBT achived a passing rate of 83.9% in the 2004 American Temperament Testing Society. (Just for GWI the beagle had a passing rate of 78.2%)
APBTs are direct desendants of dogs created for dog-on-dog combat. For this a people friendly temperament was required. When dogs are matched they must be washed by the opponent to ensure there is no poison on the dog's fur. The dog is rinsed, washed & rinsed again. Sometimes he is washed in milk as well & sometimes the opponent will even taste the dog's fur afterward! Do you think this could be done if the APBT was bred for guarding/human aggression? Not hardly! Go try to wash my Doberman, let alone taste her fur! I can assure you your experince won't be a pleasant one! Yet this was done to APBTs on a routine basis.
Once the dogs are doing there thing there are 2 handlers & a ref in the pit w/ them. If a dog turns the dogs are separated. If one of the dogs gets fanged (his tooth caught in his own lip) the dogs are separated & someone will unfang the dog. Afterward the dogs are tended to by their owners, the opponent or a vet. Do you think they could be safely handled by strangers in the pit as well during their after care if they were bred for guarding/ human aggresion? The answer is a simple no. Try doing it to a Tosa or Akita & see where it gets you. I'd bet the answer would be the ER!
Also, pit bulls were often farmed out to others, meaning the owner gave the dog to a friend for conditioning, matching or breeding. If APBTs were human aggressive, this could not be done.
Because there is so much handling of the dogs by the owner, the opponent & others a human friendly temperament is an absolute must. In fact, only until recently APBTs who displayed human aggressive behaviour were almost always put down. Now are there mean pit bulls out there? Sure. But they are almost always made that way. Human aggressiveness is not a trait inherent in the breed, nor is guarding behaviour.
Just wanted to clarify that. As a fancier of the APBT I hate to see negative misinformation presented as fact. There are already too many awful rumors going around about these sweet dogs.
If you want a guard dog, get a Doberman. If you want a human aggressive dog, get a Chow. The APBT is not your dog for either endevour.
Link below - the love of a pit bull ...
http://www.workingpitbull.com/images/butchiejan.jpg
(Oh, BTW the info I imparted above about matching dogs was NOT gleaned by personal experince!)
You're giving some good advice, but I had to step in here to dispell a few old wives tales.
I was raised w/ pit bulls & have had my own kennel of APBTs (American Pit Bull Terriers) for almost a decade now. APBTs are NOT bred to guard nor are they prone to be human aggressive. In fact, the whole time I've had APBTs I've had to have guard dogs for my pit bulls! Trust me, a well bred pit bull is NOT a good guard dog!

APBTs are direct desendants of dogs created for dog-on-dog combat. For this a people friendly temperament was required. When dogs are matched they must be washed by the opponent to ensure there is no poison on the dog's fur. The dog is rinsed, washed & rinsed again. Sometimes he is washed in milk as well & sometimes the opponent will even taste the dog's fur afterward! Do you think this could be done if the APBT was bred for guarding/human aggression? Not hardly! Go try to wash my Doberman, let alone taste her fur! I can assure you your experince won't be a pleasant one! Yet this was done to APBTs on a routine basis.
Once the dogs are doing there thing there are 2 handlers & a ref in the pit w/ them. If a dog turns the dogs are separated. If one of the dogs gets fanged (his tooth caught in his own lip) the dogs are separated & someone will unfang the dog. Afterward the dogs are tended to by their owners, the opponent or a vet. Do you think they could be safely handled by strangers in the pit as well during their after care if they were bred for guarding/ human aggresion? The answer is a simple no. Try doing it to a Tosa or Akita & see where it gets you. I'd bet the answer would be the ER!
Also, pit bulls were often farmed out to others, meaning the owner gave the dog to a friend for conditioning, matching or breeding. If APBTs were human aggressive, this could not be done.
Because there is so much handling of the dogs by the owner, the opponent & others a human friendly temperament is an absolute must. In fact, only until recently APBTs who displayed human aggressive behaviour were almost always put down. Now are there mean pit bulls out there? Sure. But they are almost always made that way. Human aggressiveness is not a trait inherent in the breed, nor is guarding behaviour.
Just wanted to clarify that. As a fancier of the APBT I hate to see negative misinformation presented as fact. There are already too many awful rumors going around about these sweet dogs.

Link below - the love of a pit bull ...
http://www.workingpitbull.com/images/butchiejan.jpg
(Oh, BTW the info I imparted above about matching dogs was NOT gleaned by personal experince!)
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:4-5
- Bart Caudill
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 1:10 pm
- Location: Harold, KY
MSU Dawg,
I agree. I used to own 3 ADBA Registered Pit Bulls, and anyone in the world could walk up at anytime and pet or play with them. They were out of champion bloodlines. I went to Mississippi to purchase them. They were very energetic, and fun to play with. I have never fought dogs or anything else, just liked having them for pets. They also seemed very smart.
People that haven't owned them, don't understand what a great pet they really are. Most of their opinions are from what they see on TV, rather than personal experience. I have had personal experience with Pit Bulls, and that is why I am posting this. No offense Bunny Runner or anyone else.
Bart
I agree. I used to own 3 ADBA Registered Pit Bulls, and anyone in the world could walk up at anytime and pet or play with them. They were out of champion bloodlines. I went to Mississippi to purchase them. They were very energetic, and fun to play with. I have never fought dogs or anything else, just liked having them for pets. They also seemed very smart.
People that haven't owned them, don't understand what a great pet they really are. Most of their opinions are from what they see on TV, rather than personal experience. I have had personal experience with Pit Bulls, and that is why I am posting this. No offense Bunny Runner or anyone else.
Bart
Caudill's Crankin Kennel
Always breed a proven sire to a proven dam.(proven in the field)
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
Always breed a proven sire to a proven dam.(proven in the field)
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
Oh no, I meant no disrespect to Bunny Runner either. I just wanted to dispell some inaccuracies.
That's been the problem w/ my APBTs. Anyone can walk up to them & handle them! The majority of pit bulls are lovebugs who would never hurt a human. I've got some that are so bad that they won't even bark at a stranger & forget about them alerting you to a knock on the door. A lot of ppl don't believe this is how the majority of APBTs are, but it is.
Sadly, I am getting out of the APBTs due to all the legal pressure. That's what got me into beagles.
Where did you get your APBTs from? I am located in Mississippi myself. I may know the breeder of your bullies.
That's been the problem w/ my APBTs. Anyone can walk up to them & handle them! The majority of pit bulls are lovebugs who would never hurt a human. I've got some that are so bad that they won't even bark at a stranger & forget about them alerting you to a knock on the door. A lot of ppl don't believe this is how the majority of APBTs are, but it is.
Sadly, I am getting out of the APBTs due to all the legal pressure. That's what got me into beagles.
Where did you get your APBTs from? I am located in Mississippi myself. I may know the breeder of your bullies.
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:4-5
-
- Posts: 664
- Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2003 12:47 pm
- Location: Maryland
It has been my experience that man shyness is a result of the lack of handling pups between 3-6 weeks of age. Pups need to bond to humans by the 4th week or they will turn out man shy. Years ago we owned one that was a heck of a nice rabbit dog but couldn't be caught. Several weeks later, I was standing on a hill overlooking a creek and she came up stood beside me with one foot on my shoe. I never had a problem catching her after that but you couldn't catch her. I didn't mind that, you were certain NO one was ever going to steal her while she was running.
Handling can overcome natural shyness and a natural bold puppy can quickly be made shy by being mishandled. But, if natural shyness is a trait in line, it is best to stay away from those genes. Trust me, I know. There is nothing worse that having a potential pup buyer coming to buy one of your pups and they all run and hide when folks come to look at them. It makes for a bad situation. No one wants shy dogs.
I have had shy dogs that made good to great rabbit dogs. But, I don't breed those these days. Too many heartbreaks.
I have had shy dogs that made good to great rabbit dogs. But, I don't breed those these days. Too many heartbreaks.
Shyness can be genetic. I once had a German Shepherd who was shy. With lots of time & patience he overcame his shyness & turned out to be a pretty good dog, although I was the only one who could handle him. When I looked into his background I found out his mother was shy & he himself threw shy pups. 

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:4-5
- SouthernBeagles
- Posts: 417
- Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2002 1:41 pm