Does the following hold true for so called bad dogs?

'There are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking.' That is what Father Edward Flanagan, founder of Boy's Town said in 1917.

Is it possible to say; 'There are no bad dogs. There is only bad environment...?

A lot depends on who you ask about bad dogs. Also, on how you define bad dogs. For some, bad dogs are those who bark when the postman arrives. For others, bad dogs are those who bite or threaten humans. The truth may be somewhere in the middle when it comes to bad dogs.

One that may top the list of bad dogs was a Yellow Labrador Retriever named Marley, the companion of John Grogan's family. Marley destroyed much of the Grogan family home: stereo speakers, drywall, couch cushions, linoleum, furniture, a home pregnancy test ... you name it. He barked incessantly. He was rambunctious. You name it, Marley did it; certainly a pro amongst bad dogs.

Grogan, a newspaper reporter, instead of getting rid of Marley worked with him. His efforts -- and much more -- are detailed in a new best selling book called 'Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog'. (Actually, this is not a book about bad dogs; it's about how a family grew together.)

At the other end of the spectrum of bad dogs is the growing use of the Internet to warn the public about really bad dogs.

Seminole County, Florida maintains a web page with mug shots of bad dogs. These are dogs that have bitten or threatened to attack humans. This rogue's gallery of bad dogs includes pictures of the dogs, the name and address of their owners. If you click on these bad dogs, up pops a map of their locations. Other municipalities are studying similar 'least wanted' lists of bad dogs.

Finally, insurance companies are increasingly concerned about what they consider bad dogs. In fact, they are using the presence of certain breeds to deny homeowner's insurance to people, or to charge extra because they say bad dogs are bad risks.

In fact, some entire breeds have been blacklisted by insurance companies for producing bad dogs. These breeds include:

• Akita
• Alaskan Malamute
• Chow Chow
• Doberman Pinscher
• German Shepherd Dog
• Pit Bull
• Rottweiler
• Siberian Husky
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Wolf/Dog breeds

The American Kennel Club objects to what it considers 'breed discrimination'. Some states agree and are considering legislation outlawing the practice.

So, when it comes to your dog or its breed, do you agree, 'There are no bad dogs. There is only bad environment...?