Attack dog could be fixated on tyres

A pitbull that attacked three cars in Rotorua may have been accidentally taught to do so by its owners.

An expert in domestic animal behaviour, Kevin Stafford of Massey University, said dog owners often taught their dogs bad habits without realising it.

The dog may have been encouraged to play with tyres as a puppy and had progressed to attacking cars, he said.

The dog attacked three cars earlier this week, including a vehicle with a terrified woman inside.

The woman's car was shaken with the force of the animal's jaws on its bumper.

Professor Stafford said attacks on cars were not often reported in the city, but farm dogs would often chase cars down rural driveways and sometimes bite at them.

Without knowing more details it was difficult to determine why Boris the pitbull attacked the three cars the way he did.

He said three things influenced behaviour; the genetic makeup of a dog, its experience and the location of the attack.

Prof. Stafford said if the attacks were outside the property where the dog lived, it could have been acting in a territorial way. However, there was the possibility it was acting as a predator.

Also, if the dog had attacked cars before, it may have had a bad experience with a car as a puppy.

Animal control staff had said the pitbull was mainly placid to deal with.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)