Pit Bulls and the HOA

[Anonymous]

8:24, a friend of mine lost a finger (finger bitten clean off, right at the middle knuckle) trying to separate his dog from the pit bull that was attacking it. (Sweetest dog! Wouldn't hurt a fly! Until the day it did, that is.)

So, for anyone else who finds themselves in this situation, do not try to pry the pit's jaws off your dog. I've heard of throwing water on both dogs (though a pit might ignore it), or better, poking it in the ass with a stick. Apparently a stick up the rectum will release the jaws. Sort of like a christmas nutcracker, I guess.

[Anonymous]

OP here. No, no...I am not trying to stick it to them. If when I speak with them, they say no, that's the end of the story. My friend would like to stick it to them, and if she tries, I will be very upset. I understand her point of view, but I also understand the point of view from people who fear pit bulls. I want to respect my community. However if we are allowed to have pit bull visitors, then I would like for my friend to be able to bring him. I am still not sure I would have my DC at home when she brings him (we usually hang out during the day because of her crazy schedule)...but would like for him to be able to run in our fenced in yard if he can. Now that I am writing this out, I guess it would make just as much sense to take him to a dog park! I love my friend, but she can be very hard headed sometimes and when she gets on a roll, there is not stopping her. I love her dog too and want him to be able to come play, but not at the expense of me getting in trouble for it.

This is ludicrous. Your friend just wants to make a point by bringing her dog over.

If you "understand the point of view of people who fear pit bulls" and you "want to respect your community," why on earth would you invite this dog over? Your friend sounds like one of those weirdos who thinks her dog is a person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My neighbors have a pit bull mix and she is a really, really sweet, friendly dog. She's always curious about my young daughter, not aggressive toward her. Not all pits are bad. But I get the impression you are trying to stick it to the HOA by inviting over your friend with her dog. Just go to her house, or a dog park.

OP here. No, no...I am not trying to stick it to them. If when I speak with them, they say no, that's the end of the story. My friend would like to stick it to them, and if she tries, I will be very upset. I understand her point of view, but I also understand the point of view from people who fear pit bulls. I want to respect my community. However if we are allowed to have pit bull visitors, then I would like for my friend to be able to bring him. I am still not sure I would have my DC at home when she brings him (we usually hang out during the day because of her crazy schedule)...but would like for him to be able to run in our fenced in yard if he can. Now that I am writing this out, I guess it would make just as much sense to take him to a dog park! I love my friend, but she can be very hard headed sometimes and when she gets on a roll, there is not stopping her. I love her dog too and want him to be able to come play, but not at the expense of me getting in trouble for it.

OP, if you're not comfortable having your DC at home when your friend's dog visits, then I'm kind of surprised you feel comfortable having your friend bring her dog to your home in general. Why not just stick to the dog park when your friend wants to visit with her dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here. No, no...I am not trying to stick it to them. If when I speak with them, they say no, that's the end of the story. My friend would like to stick it to them, and if she tries, I will be very upset. I understand her point of view, but I also understand the point of view from people who fear pit bulls. I want to respect my community. However if we are allowed to have pit bull visitors, then I would like for my friend to be able to bring him. I am still not sure I would have my DC at home when she brings him (we usually hang out during the day because of her crazy schedule)...but would like for him to be able to run in our fenced in yard if he can. Now that I am writing this out, I guess it would make just as much sense to take him to a dog park! I love my friend, but she can be very hard headed sometimes and when she gets on a roll, there is not stopping her. I love her dog too and want him to be able to come play, but not at the expense of me getting in trouble for it.

This is ludicrous. Your friend just wants to make a point by bringing her dog over.

If you "understand the point of view of people who fear pit bulls" and you "want to respect your community," why on earth would you invite this dog over? Your friend sounds like one of those weirdos who thinks her dog is a person.

OP here. That is a good point. Thank you for stating it like that. This is the kind of thing I was hoping for when I posted this thread. This place can be helpful sometimes!

[Anonymous]

I think it's weird that people think its a bad idea to have this dog in OPs backyard, where presumably it will have access to only the OP and her friend, but it's a good idea to go to a dog park where the dog will interact with other dogs and their owners. If you think the dog is so dangerous this doesn't make sense to me. (for the record, I think they are dangerous too, I'd just rather let it run around in OPs fenced in yard than an open field with other dogs).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My neighbors have a pit bull mix and she is a really, really sweet, friendly dog. She's always curious about my young daughter, not aggressive toward her. Not all pits are bad. But I get the impression you are trying to stick it to the HOA by inviting over your friend with her dog. Just go to her house, or a dog park.

OP here. No, no...I am not trying to stick it to them. If when I speak with them, they say no, that's the end of the story. My friend would like to stick it to them, and if she tries, I will be very upset. I understand her point of view, but I also understand the point of view from people who fear pit bulls. I want to respect my community. However if we are allowed to have pit bull visitors, then I would like for my friend to be able to bring him. I am still not sure I would have my DC at home when she brings him (we usually hang out during the day because of her crazy schedule)...but would like for him to be able to run in our fenced in yard if he can. Now that I am writing this out, I guess it would make just as much sense to take him to a dog park! I love my friend, but she can be very hard headed sometimes and when she gets on a roll, there is not stopping her. I love her dog too and want him to be able to come play, but not at the expense of me getting in trouble for it.

OP, if you're not comfortable having your DC at home when your friend's dog visits, then I'm kind of surprised you feel comfortable having your friend bring her dog to your home in general. Why not just stick to the dog park when your friend wants to visit with her dog?

OP here, another valid point. I like to think that I would let DC around her dog, but I don't think I could.

[Anonymous]

My friend would like to stick it to them, and if she tries, I will be very upset. I understand her point of view, but I also understand the point of view from people who fear pit bulls. I want to respect my community

I don't think the rules are only driven by people's fears. Insurance rates are higher when a greater statistical risk of more expensive damages is present. A pit bull bite is very damaging and would cost major $$$.

It doesn't matter if your friend's dog has been trained and socialized properly. The insurance company can't charge a higher rate only when pit bulls from owners who do not raise them well enter the building.

[Anonymous]

Pit bulls are unpredictable. Those posters that talk about how sweet they are, how they would never hurt anyone etc. speak from ignorance. I hope for your sake you never have to wise up fast.

[Anonymous]

I think it's weird that people think its a bad idea to have this dog in OPs backyard, where presumably it will have access to only the OP and her friend, but it's a good idea to go to a dog park where the dog will interact with other dogs and their owners. If you think the dog is so dangerous this doesn't make sense to me. (for the record, I think they are dangerous too, I'd just rather let it run around in OPs fenced in yard than an open field with other dogs).

No, it's not weird at all.

If I live in a neighborhood where my HOA prohibits pit bulls, guess what I expect. I expect there will be NO pit bulls in my neighborhood, even in someone's yard!
If I go to a dog park, what do you think I expect to find there? Lots of dogs of all breeds, perhaps?

(Yes, I'd expect people to be able to control their dogs at the dog park, but c'mon, we're talking about the world's sweetest pit bull here - he's so sweet, in fact, that the OP is uncomfortable having the dog near her child so plans to invite him over when her child isn't home.)

[Anonymous]

http://journals.lww.com/amjforensicmedicine/Abstract/2009/09000/Dog_Bite_Related_Fatalities__A_15_Year_Review_of.2.aspx

"Pit bull-type dogs, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds constitute the majority of canines implicated in these fatalities."

[Anonymous]

All of the idiotic people who think that pitbulls are dangerous are a bunch of neurotic morons.

Also since you guys have no better judgment or actual facts about that certain breed, it is fair to call all of you a bunch of snobs that have Ivy League education but are the dumbest people when it comes to common sense and educating yourselves to think before typing.

Lastly, I see that those Ivy League educations didn't have time to teach you how to do proper research in finding out facts about certain things (such as a Pitt-bull, in which is not actually called a pitbull) instead going on a few stories.

[Anonymous]

11:00, I see that it took you over 8 minutes to compose your short message. If you thought and typed faster, you would have seen the cite from the peer-reviewed journal just above your post. Funny how dog ownership becomes a class warfare issue-- you, a pit bull lover, seem resentful of people who pursued higher education, I suppose because you did not go that route yourself. I wonder what other socio-economic conclusions we can draw from all this?

[Anonymous]

11:04, I actually did look at that journal article and it states that they are more likely than most to attack not that they all attack. I actually have obtain an Ivy League education, but I'm not a snob. Most Ivy League educated people think they are better than most because of there education and how much money they make. However, if you put aside the amount of money you make and your education what would you have left?

I own two pitbulls and I raised them since they were 6 weeks old. They have never and I mean NEVER attacked, bit, or harmed anyone. My cousins always come over and are more afraid of the Chihuahua that lives next door than my dogs. I do understand why some might be afraid of them (I used to be one of those people) but when you raise them at 6 weeks old and see them grow and train them the proper way then you might see things differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:04, I actually did look at that journal article and it states that they are more likely than most to attack not that they all attack. I actually have obtain an Ivy League education, but I'm not a snob. Most Ivy League educated people think they are better than most because of there education and how much money they make. However, if you put aside the amount of money you make and your education what would you have left?

I own two pitbulls and I raised them since they were 6 weeks old. They have never and I mean NEVER attacked, bit, or harmed anyone. My cousins always come over and are more afraid of the Chihuahua that lives next door than my dogs. I do understand why some might be afraid of them (I used to be one of those people) but when you raise them at 6 weeks old and see them grow and train them the proper way then you might see things differently.

I really doubt you have an ivy league education. but besides that, how you raise the dogs doesn't change their jaw strength, tenacity and it certainly doesn't change the instinctive bred-in characteristics of the breed. my german shepherd has never been near a sheep, but if I took her to a herd she would instinctively know how to round them up ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pit bulls are unpredictable. Those posters that talk about how sweet they are, how they would never hurt anyone etc. speak from ignorance. I hope for your sake you never have to wise up fast.

This opinion is ridiculously stupid - as are HOA rules such as what you describe. As is the constant ongoing "debate" on this board about these dogs. And, it reeks of ignorance about the breed. (No, I don't have one but have worked rescue for years and know many people who have a pit, including my mother). I would guess this poster has never had such a dog or spent any significant time around one, esp one that has been raised in a responsible family.

I'm not going to rehash ever pro/con about his breed again. If people are inclined to hold this opinion there is nothing I'm going to say to change it. It's much easier to retreat into your ignorant bubble and stay there.
I will say a couple of things:
1) these dogs were FAMILY dogs until about 20 years when the media -and abusive dog owners- took hold to cast them in the light currently portrayed by some of the posters here (i.e., it is a myth that their jaws lock. yes they are strong but that is not the same thing).
2) The reason many of these dogs go on to be what some of you think they are is because of the people who own them. Who hype up and play up the aggressive dog image. Any dog, esp very large/strong dogs, MUST BE TRAINED. Not b/c they are aggressive but for control. Most any dog has the capacity to nip if they are pissed (I was bit on the face by a poodle as a child) but the results are worse with a dog that is large.
3) Pits and other larger dogs are some of the most horribly, terribly abused of any dog breeds. That's a fact. Those dogs end up being aggressive.

Please educate yourselves.
And, this has nothing to do w/ "dogs before people" and the two things are not mutually exclusive. You can correct ignorant opinions and still value humans. Those of you who say otherwise are just deflecting from the facts.