Pit Bulls

[Stelth]

Last week, there was another pit bull attack, this time less than a mile from my house. This time, a pit bull attacked an eight-year-old boy in a local park, and bit off his ear, and bit his cheek and arm. There were actually two pit bulls running loose in the park at the time, but it's not clear to me if both were involved in the attack. One of the pit bulls was captured and turned over to Animal Control, and one was euthanized on the spot with a couple of loads of buckshot when it charged a police officer.

I love dogs, but I sure wouldn't own a pit bull.

 

[Donald]

From what I hear, some Pit Bulls are aggressive with other dogs but usually are not aggressive with people.

I have had Rottweilers, Shepards, Dobermans and Mastiffs and all are very gentle with people. They do play rough with each other at times. But then sleep next to each other.

 

[LeakySeals]

Humans want to believe that you can train any dog like a human, form the behavior into what a human wants it to be. One problem with that arrogant naive mindset. Its a dog bred to kill, you can't train that out of them. Something will trigger what the dog is bred for. Ticking time bomb.

 

[DrDusty86]

My Pit Bull was AWESOME! He was great around people. Even small children that used to hang on him or ride him. Other animals that he wasn't raised around he had issues with.
He never even thought about going after people EVER. They get a bad rap. If they are raised wrong then ANY dog will have issues, not just Pit Bulls.

 

[SatinSilver]

They need to have a temperment test done to them to see how they react. Like one the aspca does. Crying baby doll, old people with canes, and putting a fake hand on a broomstick by their food bowl when their eating. There's other tests but afterwards you know what you're dealing with. And whether the dog is adoptable or not.

 

[antiqueshell]

The breed should be made illegal to own except in areas that are sparsely populated agricultural zoned areas.

At least that way the number of potential victims of these very strong, unpredictably aggressive animals can create is pretty small in number.

THE MAIN PROBLEM ARE THE OWNERS. That are arrogant in thinking that "my dog would never hurt anyone" and refuse to be diligent owners that take all needed precautions so that NO INJURIES WILL EVER HAPPEN.

I love watching these belligerent owners on Judge Judy denying THEIR responsibility the entire time, and then having JJ ruling for the plaintiff in the max amount of 5000$ for damages.

Usually she adds the comment about the owners being thick and that they should keep this hearing on video so that when one of their own family members are seriously injured by their dogs they can't say they weren't warned.

 

[SatinSilver]

Over breeding and muddy bloodlines helps create an unpredictable animal. Combined with bad owners is a recipe for disaster. Clean lines,a good owner and healthy can equal an excellent dog.

 

[DrDusty86]

I told people that would be around the house for gatherings and be around my dog to not be affraid. If he even growled at someone I would have shot him. He used to sleep that the foot of my bed, place with small children, watch out for our other animals.
The truck was off limits to ANYONE but me and him when we would travel.

I miss him

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: satinsilver
Over breeding and muddy bloodlines helps create an unpredictable animal. Combined with bad owners is a recipe for disaster. Clean lines,a good owner and healthy can equal an excellent dog.

I think the purebreds/inbreds are the problem, they are the only dogs of any breed I've had trouble with. The good old mutt has always been the best family dogs. Mutts like us humans.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Stelth
Last week, there was another pit bull attack, this time less than a mile from my house. This time, a pit bull attacked an eight-year-old boy in a local park, and bit off his ear, and bit his cheek and arm. There were actually two pit bulls running loose in the park at the time, but it's not clear to me if both were involved in the attack. One of the pit bulls was captured and turned over to Animal Control, and one was euthanized on the spot with a couple of loads of buckshot when it charged a police officer.

I love dogs, but I sure wouldn't own a pit bull.


Locally there was just a similar incident, except the article was titled "dog attack". Besides biting some people, the dogs killed a bunch of sheep (like, a bunch of them!). Buried somewhere down in the article was a mention that the dogs were a "Labrador-type dog". Point being, breed only seems to be mentioned front and center when a pit bull-type dog is involved. The problem isn't "pit bulls" it's "two dogs running loose". If any dog is "running loose" in a public area where leashes are required, then you already know you know you're dealing with animals owned by an irresponsible owner. Lots of folks who own dogs have no business owning them.

Of course, that won't stop the litany of factually untrue nonsense being spewed, such as "pit bulls are trained to attack". Truth is, human aggression in the breed is not a breed trait, unlike many of the large "protection" type dogs. They're actually pretty lousy guardians. The 10 lb mutt I took in is way more protective of the house than my 8 yr old pit bull.

 

[mcrn]

I have several pitts and they are great with humans! Very gentle with kids. Loving lap dogs. It really is the owner.

 

[needsducktape]

Dogs reflect their owners no matter what breed.

Pit bulls have a bad wrap because HUMANS scum bags train them so they can fight them.
But to be clear, its on an individual basis NOT the BREED as a whole.
Take a Pit Bull at birth and treat/train him with kindness and he will be a well tempered kind dog.


Lassie could have been a killer if trained...

 

[OldSparks]

I have mixed feelings on the pit bull ban here in Ontario. I think much of the problem had to do with certain types of owners more so than the breed itself.

With responsible owners, pitties aren't likely to be a problem. However, the statistics for pitbull attacks are telling.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: needsducktape
Dogs reflect their owners no matter what breed.

Pit bulls have a bad wrap because HUMANS scum bags train them so they can fight them.
But to be clear, its on an individual basis NOT the BREED as a whole.
Take a Pit Bull at birth and treat/train him with kindness and he will be a well tempered kind dog.


Lassie could have been a killer if trained...



You're right to an extent, but you can't train genetics out of the dog. If one owns a Pit Bull, or ANY dog, you have to be aware of this fact and act accordingly. PB's have been historically bred to be aggressive towards other dogs, and no amount of training is going to change that. The key is honestly assessing your own dog's temperament and acting accordingly. A dog that's dog-aggressive isn't a "bad dog", you just need to manage him around other dogs. And not all PB's are dog aggressive. They range from super-friendly to highly aggressive, with a big bell-curve in the middle.

This has nothing to do with human aggression, and those who say stupid stuff like "well, I don't trust a dog to be smart enough to discern between a baby and another dog" don't really understand much about animal behavior. Salmon don't return home because they have a better sense of direction than humans... Instinct is a powerful thing.

 

[xBa380]

My aunt has four of them... sweetest dogs... its all on how they are raised and the owners.

 

[Roadkingnc]

I have 2 labs, a bloodhound and a pit mix. I would fear the 100 lb chocolate lab over the pit mix. The pit mix loves everybody, the lab not so much. The pits get a bad rap from the unknowing public. Having been around many many dogs for the past 50 years the only ones I keep an eye are shepherds, they will attack on their own.

 

[LeakySeals]

Thats what you always hear. Even after they bite somebody you get the "not my kid" reply.

 

[LeakySeals]

The pit is a mutt, the danger factor is diluted, not a fair comparison.

 

[shDK]

I don,t very much about pitt bulls myself (in our family we are crazy with great danes)

But here Denmark pitbulls are elegal. Both to own import and breed.

 

[danthaman1980]

Originally Posted By: Donald
From what I hear, some Pit Bulls are aggressive with other dogs but usually are not aggressive with people.

I have had Rottweilers, Shepards, Dobermans and Mastiffs and all are very gentle with people. They do play rough with each other at times. But then sleep next to each other.


Pit bulls CAN be good with people but IMO it starts with raising them from a puppy away from aggressive dogs. Males would have to be fixed early on. And in the end it also just depends on the dog.

Agree, I've had a Doberman and a Rottweiler and they're fine with people.