[QUOTE=Auventera Two;3825148]
Well Kyzteke - I strongly disagree with you. All this nut job hysteria is unwarranted thanks to an uneducated media just trying to get a story. They did it to other powerful breed dogs as well.
You knowingly and willingly bred and sold dogs that were showing aggression at 5 weeks of age. That’s not my definition of a responsible breeder.
. Pit Bulls are NO more likely to bite a human than any other animal in the same situation. People who are terrified want to justify their fear and throw it all back on the dogs.
.[/QUOTE]
What Kyzteke is describing is very like hyena behaviour. hyenas often have twins. Even before they open their eyes, they will attack each other and the dominant one will kill the subordinate ones. If they happen to be different sex-then there is a chance that both will survive-hyenas live in a matriarchy.
Even though hyenas are like this-they are one of the most social creatures in the African plains. They can live together in clans of upto 90 members with a very established hierarchy. They do enjoy bonding and are social-but at puppies-that is just their way. Wondering if Pits are the same-hyenas are kinda like pits-they have strong jaws and will latch on and hold on with evrything they have-that is their only way to bring down prey.
I am wondering if pit puppy behaviour is the same??
Pits may bite the same as other breeds-but look at the hardware. If a cheetah attacks a good size unarmed adult with everything it has-you can fight it off. They are not that powerful and you may have serious damage-but there is a moderate to good chance you can survive. If an African lion throws everything it has at you-you are dead. Same thing here-different breeds. They may be great-but the hardware they possess and the ability to inflict damage is great. they are powerful and strong and need people who can acknowledge that and what they were essentially bred for…It is a choice to own them, which is a different issue-but I think the danger comes from people who don’t recognize its potential capacity if it were to snap. If you do, you would handle it different.
Compare the testing results of APBTs compared to other dogs with similar testing numbers. There is nothing in broad temperment testing that even remotely suggests these dogs are any more or any less likely than any other breed to “act aggressively.”
According the american insurance institute the mass majority of serious injuries caused by dogs are by pits…the top 3 listed are intact male pits, intact male pit crosses and neutured or spayed pits. Those 3 groups combined are more than the next 10 breeds combined for causing serious insurance claims due to injuries.
Provide resources please. I have not seen this bit of information, and a search didn’t turn it up.
Keep in mind that there are over 10 breeds that are called “pit bulls” when in fact - they’re not. Many of the dog bite statistics out there refer to the dogs as “pit bull types” or “pit bull crosses.” Some of the stories in the media as “pit bull attacks” show photos that are questionable at best, and at worst completely false.
Now cocker spaniels may bite more often but they’re not likely to hospitalize anyone. Goldens may be more numerous and do make that top ten list but nowhere near the amount of serious injuries caused by pit and pit crosses.
First - many dog bites are never reported. Poopsie Q Foo Foo dog nips little Johnny and he needs a band aid - what’s the chance its going to be reported? But have a pit bull nip Johnny and he needs a band aid and the parent goes running and screaming for an attorney.
ANY dog - and any animal with teeth can bite and/or hospitalize humans. I’ve been bitten (hard enough to require medical attention), by a domestic show rabbit, a horse, and a cat. Should these be outlawed too for being criminals? I have permanent nerve damage in my left forearm from a 9 pound Rex rabbit. The ER doctor didn’t know if he should quarantine the animal for rabies, or laugh at the absurd nature of the injujry. :lol:
And the insurance institute gets their information directly from both the hospital and the vets who take possession of the dogs who’ve sent people to the hospital. Vets are able to tell if it’s a pit/pit cross or an American Bulldog or Boxer or other semi-popular breeds that are sometimes mistaken for pits.
You sure about that? I’m not. The vet couldn’t think of the kind of dog my Weimaraner is. He was stumbling and was like - um, um, that’s a greyhound? No, German pointer of something. I said “Weimaraner” and laughed. He was like, oh yeah, that’s it! And again, I’d like your resources on this.
In this country finding some of the breeds on the silly “find the pitbull” website is like trying to find a unicorn. It’s just not possible that we have enough Dogo Argentinos, Thai Ridgebacks, Boerboels or Ca De Bous to be mistaken for pits thus giving pits a bad rep.
I agree with you that some of these other breeds are so rare that turning up in your backyard is not likely. However, there are more popular bully breeds such as Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, American Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and even Bernese Mountain Dogs, or Labs that are misidentified as “pit bulls.”
Remember the story of the lady in Canada whose purebred/registered Black Lab was seized for euthanasia for being a Pit Bull??? BSL bans the breed in Ontario and someone turned her in as owning a banned breed. The dog was seized. Photos of the animal CLEARLY showed it was a Labrador - looking NOTHING like a Pit except maybe a blocky head. It wasn’t until she produced breed papers that the dog was given back. People cannot think clearly when they’re hysterical. They see a big dog with a square head - and oh my god its a killer.
I also wouldn’t base an entire opinion on having owned 2 of a single breed…there are plenty of people who deal with dogs on a much larger scale and come across, own, train or breed many, many more pits and have a more educated grasp on what the breed is capable of.
You’re right, and I don’t. I base my opinion not only on my own dogs but the vast amount of publicly available information, statistics, and reseources. I aslo base it on the Pits I’ve been in contact with in real life and have known and have been wonderful superb dogs.
How many Pits do you own, or have you owned? I’m just curious.
So Pit Bull puppies are now likened to wild hyennas??? Good grief. And people wonder why this wonderful breed has such a bad rap. :no:
GOOD breeders cull aggressivness. Just like GOOD breeders cull weak hips, disqualifying characteristics, or anything else undesirable. All puppies tumble and play and act tough. But puppies that are latching onto each other with aggression and can’t be pulled apart have a real problem and shouldn’t be propogated.
Pits may bite the same as other breeds-but look at the hardware. If a cheetah attacks a good size unarmed adult with everything it has-you can fight it off. They are not that powerful and you may have serious damage-but there is a moderate to good chance you can survive. If an African lion throws everything it has at you-you are dead. Same thing here-different breeds. They may be great-but the hardware they possess and the ability to inflict damage is great. they are powerful and strong and need people who can acknowledge that and what they were essentially bred for…It is a choice to own them, which is a different issue-but I think the danger comes from people who don’t recognize its potential capacity if it were to snap. If you do, you would handle it different.
Pit Bulls are not cheetas or african lions or monsters in dog suits, or satan with teeth. They are medium sized dogs. The teeth are no different than a Labrador, Viszla, Collie, and so forth. My 70 pound Weimaraner has larger and longer teeth than my 100 pound Pit cross. They plug tug with a rope bone, and the Weim ALWAYS wins. She can out-shake him, and out-clench him any day of the week.
If I’m not mistaken, I did cite my sources…the american insurance institute. They help all insurance companies make their policies. Including what dogs they will and will not insure. I don’t know if they have the information via website…but if you write them and ask for the statistics they will provide them. I got the information through my own insurance company. I found out about it through my sister who works for a large insurance company here in CT…we’re kinda inundated with insurance companies here in CT. I don’t bother believing half the stuff I read online, especially since much of it is posted with extreme bias. The “pro-pit” info comes from pro-pit websites. Not surprisingly.
I do think the media gets overexcited about anything canine and labels it “pit” incorrectly, I also don’t think all pits are “bad dogs.”
I don’t work with dogs but with wildlife. I have gotten ridiculously numerous calls about problem dogs though…and those turn out to be 95% pits or pit crosses. And yes, I know the differences in the breeds. By choice…I’m safer with a call on a problem coyote (which I do handle) than I am with a call on a problem pit. Coyotes I can handle…albeit carefully. Pits I won’t handle if I can help it, not if they’re problem dogs. Coyotes are far more predictable. I’ve worked with canids for over a couple decades…canine behavior I know like the back of my hand. I have been chased and bothered by countless pits answering calls from people who wanted animal control and called wildlife instead. Not a single one was a “gang dog”…my area isn’t conducive to gangs unless you count the FFA as a gang. :winkgrin: These were all private pets that just weren’t handled right or bred with a screw loose because finding a good pit breeder is tough as hell.
It isn’t complete garbage…it just doesn’t fit in well with your argument position.
If you want true and accurate information…please consider starting to learn from sources other than the internet. I can do a search and come up with pros and cons on eberything and then choose which one I want to believe without taking into consideration the source of the information. Call your insurance company and ask them to send you written, documented information on problem dogs. This is researched and documented without bias…they don’t care what breeds are issues in any way other than what they have to cover in expenses. If the top dog came out to be a Greyhound or Pit Bull doesn;t matter to them.
Generic breed testing doesn’t mean squat when they’re testing dogs already proven to be “good” citizens.
[QUOTE=Auventera Two;3826285]
So Pit Bull puppies are now likened to wild hyennas??? Good grief. And people wonder why this wonderful breed has such a bad rap. :no:
GOOD breeders cull aggressivness. Just like GOOD breeders cull weak hips, disqualifying characteristics, or anything else undesirable. All puppies tumble and play and act tough. But puppies that are latching onto each other with aggression and can’t be pulled apart have a real problem and shouldn’t be propogated.
Pit Bulls are not cheetas or african lions or monsters in dog suits, or satan with teeth. They are medium sized dogs. The teeth are no different than a Labrador, Viszla, Collie, and so forth. My 70 pound Weimaraner has larger and longer teeth than my 100 pound Pit cross. They plug tug with a rope bone, and the Weim ALWAYS wins. She can out-shake him, and out-clench him any day of the week.
The fact is, every dog is an individual.[/QUOTE]
And that is my question. Hyenas do that. Nothing bad happens tot hem. They kill their siblings and most probably eat them and then grow up to be well adjusted members of hyena society. The dog was bred as the name indicates as a pit fighter. So my question is curioisty-since I do not know how pit bull puppies behave-I ask aperson who is more knowledgable than me and see if that is indeed how they are. Is it a problem or a breed trait-unless you are a breeder with knowledge-how do you know-if it is a breed trait or not???
Lost in translation ? Not comparing a pit bull to cheetahs and lions. Am comparing say a cocker spaniel to a cheetah and a pit bull to a lion. So when the two attack-lets say with the same ferocity-the same drive and the same intensity-the result is going to be very different. Even if the pit(or in the comparision the lion) only puts in half the effort.
Lost in translation ? Not comparing a pit bull to cheetahs and lions. Am comparing say a cocker spaniel.[/QUOTE]
Actually the chances of being bitten by a cocker spanial are higher. Statistics show they are the number one biting dog.
But if I had to be bitten by a cocker spanial or a pit bull I would choose the cocker spanial.
Only once did I have a pit bull on the sleeve and I could really feel the power in him. Even the rotty wasn’t as solid in his bit or the dead weight on my arm.
I was under the impression there was a slight difference in jaw build on different dogs… due ot their different jobs. Bird dogs, herding dogs… snappers, not lockers… rotties, pits, I don’t think G. Shepards… I know there are one or two more that I believe have that square head to provide max jaw power… like a crock… bite and don’t got?
Is that correct?
(I like them all… I’m not bias I seem to recall reading that at some point in my life)
[QUOTE=tkhawk;3826658]
And that is my question. Hyenas do that. Nothing bad happens tot hem. They kill their siblings and most probably eat them and then grow up to be well adjusted members of hyena society. The dog was bred as the name indicates as a pit fighter. So my question is curioisty-since I do not know how pit bull puppies behave-I ask aperson who is more knowledgable than me and see if that is indeed how they are. Is it a problem or a breed trait-unless you are a breeder with knowledge-how do you know-if it is a breed trait or not???
Lost in translation ? Not comparing a pit bull to cheetahs and lions. Am comparing say a cocker spaniel to a cheetah and a pit bull to a lion. So when the two attack-lets say with the same ferocity-the same drive and the same intensity-the result is going to be very different. Even if the pit(or in the comparision the lion) only puts in half the effort.[/QUOTE]
First of all, the breed I was referring to was NOT a “pit bull” but a Bull Terrier. TOTALLY different breed, although it’s origin was as a pit fighter against other dogs. Some of you may remember afew years ago there was a beer company that had a white BT they called “Spuds MacKenzie” as a mascot in their commericials. They are the ones with the sort of egg-shaped head. Some people think they look like pigs. General Patton had one. Cool dogs.
Way back when, when dog fighting was considered a “gentleman’s sport” they were the fighting dogs of the aristoctracy. They were called “The White Calvaliers.” But, like most terriers and especially the ones who were bred originally for the pit, they can be extremely independent and can get very focused on something. And when they get going, it can be VERY tough to turn this drive off.
ALL PUPPIES in ALL LITTERS wrestle and play-fight for dominance, and their future role in doggie society. Same as wolves, and (I would think) most canine species. But with pits/ bullies, etc. you can have enough self-confident “alpha” types that what started as play would escalate into something more serious, because nobody wanted to back down.
This characteristic of grit/heart/determination, etc. was highly prized back in the fighting days, but it can be a problem if these dogs aren’t properly handled from day one.
So when the brawl would break out, the bitch (mother) would cleverly jump on the bed where the little gremlins couldn’t bother her and look at me, like, “hey, YOU take care of it.” And I would wade in and start to do MY imitation of an alpha bitch, which apparently was pretty impressive, because it was always enough to stop the conflict. But I will never forget one time when I picked up the one I THOUGHT was the bad guy (or gal) in the group and 4 more puppies came up as well – all attached to each other!!
By the time the pups were sold to their new homes at 12 weeks they had settled down alot and I never heard a bad report from any of the owners. They were all family dogs and I had taken care (irresponsible breeder than I am…) to make sure only people familiar with the breed bought them.
But when this drive is frustrated and the owner has never bothered to really take control of the animal, this is when things can go sour, because the pits breeds ARE DIFFERENT when it comes to the focus, the drive and damage they can do when they get started. Many of these dogs (especially unneutered males) are VERY strong, VERY driven and almost immune to pain when the adrenaline gets pumped. Not everyone of them, naturally, but many – enough to make it a problem with many of the breed, as statistics show.
But AV2 has two whole pits and reads alot of stuff on the Net, so she knows better. Don’t try to confuse her with the facts.
Geeze A2 – don’t you even read your own article? Direct quote from the article in YOUR signature line:
****Perhaps that’s why for decades pit bulls were considered great family dogs and in England were known as “nanny dogs” for their care of children. Petey in The Little Rascals was a pit bull, as was Stubby, a World War I hero for his actions with the 102nd Infantry in Europe, such as locating wounded U.S. soldiers and a German spy. Most dog experts will attest that a pit bull properly trained and socialized from a young age is a great pet.
Still, pit bulls historically have been bred for aggression against other dogs, and if they’re put in uncontrolled situations, some of them will fight, and if they’re not properly socialized or have been abused, they can become aggressive toward people. It doesn’t mean that all pit bulls are instinctively inclined to fight, but there is that potential.
“A pit bull is like a Porsche. It’s a finely tuned, highly muscled athlete,” says Zawistowski. “And just like you wouldn’t give a Porsche to a 16-year-old, you don’t want just anyone to own a pit bull. It should be someone who has experience with dogs and is willing to spend the time, because with training and proper socialization you will get the most out of them as pets.”*****
Isn’t that pretty much exactly what I said? As for “all of Vicks dogs live with families,” not true, at least according to YOUR article.
Again I quote:
In the end, 47 of the 51 Vick dogs were saved. (Two died while in the shelters; one was destroyed because it was too violent; and another was euthanized for medical reasons.) Twenty-two dogs went to Best Friends, where McMillan and his staff chart their emotional state daily; (which is a professionally-run shelter, NOT private homes – my note) almost all show steady improvement in categories such as calmness, sociability and happiness. McMillan believes 17 of the dogs will eventually be adopted, and applicants are being screened for the first of those. The other 25 have been spread around the country; the biggest group, 10, went to California with BAD RAP. Fourteen of the 25 have been placed in permanent homes, and the rest are in foster care.*
Your own article is basically telling you what me and several other posters are trying to tell you – the breed IS different and NOT for everyone. Are you always this stubborn or did you just never read the dang article?
YES, I have read all the articles I posted, word for word. Some of them I’ve read and quoted and linked to MANY times in different places - here and elsewhere.
Misty - Where did you get this insurance information? THat’s what I was asking. Searching online didn’t turn up the resource that you cited.
People who place Pits (or ANY powerful breed) HAVE to cover their ass in this litigious society. Its far better for rescue groups to put Pits and crosses in the hands of people who actually have a clue about dogs than some joe blow whose animal experience is a parakeet.
The same way that a newbie green horse owner probably shouldn’t import a high powered Akhal Teke breeding stallion and attempt to stand him at stud. They’re probably better off buying an older quarter horse gelding, or similar, and taking riding lessons first. It’s just common sense. It doesn’t mean there’s something inherently wrong with the animal, or the breed.
Would you rope a wild mustang stallion off the range and give him to a 6 year old child for a birthday present??? Does this mean that all mustangs are wild and wicked killers that would be executed en mass??? NO. It means that an untrained, unsocialized, intact male horse is probably NOT a good pet for a little child for her first horse.
Further - would you let this stallion run loose on your property and just HOPE that the neighborhood kids don’t decide to try to pet him??? Do you keep him behind a flimsy single wire fence??? No.
But the problem is - stupidowners get an intact male Pit Bull, tie him up to a dog house behind the garage, never expose him to children, or other dogs, and never socialize the animal. Then when the animal slips its collar and Suzie Q walking home from school and stops to pet the nice doggy, she gets bit, and the dog is then a monster and he and his kind should all be put to death.
The same stupid crap that humans do with Pit Bulls, they would never THINK of doing with an intact, untrained, unsocialized wild stallion. But they do it with dogs and the DOG is the one at fault. What is the problem here???
Most Pit bites and attacks by intact males who are not trained and not socialized. How many times have I said that now??? :lol: It’s NOT the breed. It’s a distinct sect of the breed thanks to stupid stupid owners who shouldn’t be allowed to own a goldfish, much less a Pit Bull. I remember a study that showed that something like 87% of all Pit attacks were intact males attacking small boys. And most of these attacks are ON the owner’s property. These are horribly handled and bred dogs owned by idiots using them for “protection.”
Google “stallion attacks” and check out all the links that come up. Does this mean that all stallions are vicious killers? Or that the breed to which they belong are? No. Sure, possibly more people are likely to be “attacked” by a stallion than a gelding or a mre, but again you’re dealing with intact male hormones, improper handling and training! NOT the animal’s fault.
Vick’s Dogs - I said that 47 of the 51 have been saved. All of the 47 that were saved lived with families. Further, I clarified that 1 dog of the 51 was euthanized for being too vicious to rehabilitate. Two died on their own, one was euthanized due to severe injuries. So yes, I read the article, but apparently you didn’t read what I had already written about the sitaution.
But anyway it’s clear that plenty of people would rather latch onto media hysterics then to actually become educated. So, more power to ya, :rolleyes:
Misty - Where did you get this insurance information? THat’s what I was asking. Searching online didn’t turn up the resource that you cited.
From previous post:
I don’t know if they have the information via website…but if you write them and ask for the statistics they will provide them. I got the information through my own insurance company. I found out about it through my sister who works for a large insurance company here in CT…we’re kinda inundated with insurance companies here in CT. I don’t bother believing half the stuff I read online, especially since much of it is posted with extreme bias. The “pro-pit” info comes from pro-pit websites. Not surprisingly.
But anyway it’s clear that plenty of people would rather latch onto media hysterics then to actually become educated. So, more power to ya, :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
No one is buying into “media hysterics.” In your attempts to “educate” us, you just won’t admit that certain kinds of dogs are simply not suitable for some situations. And pits aren’t the only ones. Border collies are wonderful companions – smart, fun, etc etc etc. But way too much energy for most owners’ lifestyles. And a lot them end up in shelters and foster care because their owners didn’t understand that a working breed needs to work or they can get very destructive.
FYI – as heartwarming as the SI story is, it clearly states that not all 47 surviving dogs are living “with a family.” Quite a few are still at the dog sanctuary in Utah, many are in special care situations, and not all will be adoptable.
Twenty-two dogs went to Best Friends … McMillan believes 17 of the dogs will eventually be adopted, and applicants are being screened for the first of those. The other 25 have been spread around the country; the biggest group, 10, went to California with BAD RAP. Fourteen of the 25 have been placed in permanent homes, and the rest are in foster care.
I congratulate the rescuers on what they’ve done. They really have made a positive change in the way people look at pit bulls.
And a lot them end up in shelters and foster care because their owners didn’t understand that a working breed needs to work or they can get very destructive.
So very true! I see it most commonly with JRTs…excessively high energy dogs with higher than average intelligence who desperately need jobs…although they’re not a working breed the only really good JRT is a tired JRT. :lol:
And northern breeds…Huskies and especially Malamutes thrive on work, heirarchy and discipline. Having a bored underworked and spoiled Malamute is a recipe for disaster.
Pet owners need to pick breeds based 100% on the human’s current normal lifestyle…not on the coolness factor, cuteness factor, toughness factor, etc. Apartment dwellers do not need sight/scent hounds and people who work all day and want to come home, let the dog out the back door to pee and then veg on the couch or go to the barn all night need to pick something other than a working dog. Picking the right type of dog means both human AND dog are a helluva lot happier.
Hitch…some of the square headed breeds have been so bastardized over time that they’re no longer square headed for the right reasons. Take English Bulldogs…awesome stout strong little loyal buggers…which showing has ruined by rewarding the flattest faces and squarest heads and stoutest bodies. Now they have such flat faces and large teeth that the tooth roots invade the sinuses, causing the wheezing and lack of stamina due to lack of adequate oxygen. Not to mention few females can do normal vaginal birth due to the pups’ head sizes. :no:
Oh, I know what has happened as these dogs became more popular as bench dogs.
But are those jaws more powerful than, say, a Shepherd’s? Are they more a “bite and don’t let go” type of breed, as opposed to a “bite, rip, and retreat to watch it bleed to death” type?
I know the JRT is s true “bite and shake to death”. They do. not. let. go. My Lab cross will bite, then toss. I see some interesting differences in bite technique just in my two dogs.
Biting techniques I think depend more on the personality and instinct bred into the dogs rather than their head shapes or jaw strengths.
Terriers and bulldogs are known for being tenacious…they tend to either bite hold and shake or bite and hold without shaking. Their willingness to grab and hold as opposed to bite and release is why certain ones were selectively bred into certain jobs, such as rodent control (doesn’t make sense to nip or bite a rat and leave it be) or dog fighting.
Hunting dogs are usually bred to be either non-biters so they have “soft” mouths if retrievers or so they don’t bite game when hunting. So those may have more of a "bite and retreat? instinct if scared or angry.
Herding dogs can be nippers…it’s what many do when herding although some herding nipping isn’t allowed in competition. So they’d be more likely to snap/nip at people if angry or scared rather than a big chomp and run or a hold and shake.
Working dogs are usually decent sized dogs and can be biters…they’ll tend to bite and retreat a bit but may come back for more biting. GSDs are taught to bite and hold when trained as police dogs…but a GSD not trained to bite and hold is usually more of a “fear biter” and will bite/snap and back off. But then many were bred with aggression by stupid breeders who assumed aggressive dogs make better guard/protection dogs when the exact opposite is true…so those bred badly for aggression could possibly be biters…they’d be more likely to bite repeatedly rather than grab and hold or shake. (they’re actually herding dogs but their size, personality and trainability also make well bred ones excellent military/police dogs) Other working dogs such as Malamutes are more likely to be fear biters and can easily progress into excitement biters since Mals have an extremely strong pack instinct…more so than other breeds and packs tend to get excited and get the Mob Mentality thing going on…so multiples of Mals can turn into a biting pack easier than say Goldens will.
I think the selective breeding for certain jobs causes the head shapes…bullies and terriers being more known for square heads that may add to jaw strength due to shorter, tighter, more well developed jaw muscles. But the biting style and type might have more to do with inherent personality that just tends to more often have square heads…and not more to do with actual jaw strength. Bullies are more prized if they tend to grab and hold…tenacity is a desirable trait. Same with American Bulldogs, Boxers, Mastiffs, etc. not desired for biting style but more for being true to their roots.
Pits are desired by scummy folks for a few reasons…many think it’s the tough dog look but it’s also their extra money making value. Betting on dog fights is extremely lucrative and the fighting dog owners want to make money off thier dogs. If a pit can bite and hang on they have less chance of being chewed up themselves and if it’s a throat hold if they don’t crush the throat or tear it out then the choke hold eventually suffocates the other dog. So biting tenacity is a desired trait. :no:
German Shepherds actually have been tested to have the most powerful jaw pressure per inch (or however they state it). But a GSD (not counting trained attack dogs) usually jumps in and bites and jumps back (and repeats!). Pit bull TYPES tend to hang on and shake very hard often readjusting their grip. In addition they have very strong prey drives. Anyone who does not recognize that some dogs have higher prey drives and are more physically “armed” than other dogs is protesting a bit too much. Whether the dog sees human as prey will depend on training, breeding, upbringing. But almost ALL dogs will see animals as prey whatever they are. Pit bull TYPES tend to jump at horses noses and front legs as much as anywhere. Could that be because they originated as catch dogs and baiting dogs? A distinct possibility!
Whatever this dog was it doesn’t change the fact that it attacked the horse does it???
OP get your horse a booster shot and he’ll be fine. That is the protocal for a vaccinated animal being bit by a rabid or unknown animal. Your vet might want to take a booster course in rabies while he/she is at it! 8-D Although I guess it is fair to say most vets are never going to see a rabies case in practice.
It’s just common sense. It doesn’t mean there’s something inherently wrong with the animal, or the breed.