PIT BULLS - not so nice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Growing up I had a mini poodle. Three times in its 12 years it got into the garbage and freaked out and bit me when I tried to clean it up. Otherwise it was perfectly fine. Then we got a hound that was amazing and everyone loved, but freaked out and growled twice when he got some rawhide. This is why I don't let my kids near pits. You never know when a perfectly fine dog is going to freak out, and if it has jaws of steel meant to crush bone, that's a problem for me.

Yep my daughter was bitten by her friend's little fluffy dog but our Rotty mix and our pit mix have been absolute lovers. It depends on the dog and the owner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:guys, the dog in that picture is literally doing nothing wrong. if you are terrified and tensing up, then you do not know dogs.

basing your fear on what that dog looks like, and nothing more, is called being prejudiced.

Okay then I am prejudiced against pitbulls because that thing is nightmare inducing and I'd rather not have my face gnawed off by it.

Here is one "smiling" - still scary.

That dog looks sweet to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a dog trainer, 99% of dog bites/attacks could be prevented if people knew anything about dog behavior and signals. Dogs very rarely (VERY rarely) attack with no warning. People just ignore/punish the dog's signals.

So yeah, joe blow dog owner who is going to yell at a dog for growling and alpha roll a dog for jumping is going to create a disaster of whatever breed they choose to do that to. Unfortunately, Cesar Milan and the like have speed some really dangerous ideas to the average pet owner.

And for goodness sake, teach your child to let the dog approach them, not to approach a dog. No hugging, running, squealing, etc around dogs! My 2 year old knows when he meets a new dog to sit down, put his hand out, and look the other way while the dog sniffs it. Only then does he pet the dog, and only while within his reach. If the dog moves, he cannot follow it. It's not that hard to teach.

Yes it doesn't matter what breed the dog is. I would never let my toddler walk up and hug a dog, especially one that is at face level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Certain breeds are more high energy and some have jaws built to hang on and crush tissue and bone.
It is not the same thing as saying that certain breeds are inherently vicious.
No breed is inherently vicious.
You need to stay away from aggressive people and other animals.

Not all pit bulls attack, but most of the attacks in the US requiring hospitalization are by pit bulls.

Is this FACT or is this YOUR opinion? Please provide a link to your 'facts'. YES, Pit Bull attacks are highly publicized - but plenty of breeds attack and at times those attacks can cause hospitalization. I have owned many 'vicious' breeds (Pits, German Shepherds, Huskies, etc). I have found Pits to be the most loving dog if raised correctly. High energy, but loving. Last one I had lived for 14 years - she would lick you to death before she ever bit you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Certain breeds are more high energy and some have jaws built to hang on and crush tissue and bone.
It is not the same thing as saying that certain breeds are inherently vicious.
No breed is inherently vicious.
You need to stay away from aggressive people and other animals.

Not all pit bulls attack, but most of the attacks in the US requiring hospitalization are by pit bulls.

Is this FACT or is this YOUR opinion? Please provide a link to your 'facts'. YES, Pit Bull attacks are highly publicized - but plenty of breeds attack and at times those attacks can cause hospitalization. I have owned many 'vicious' breeds (Pits, German Shepherds, Huskies, etc). I have found Pits to be the most loving dog if raised correctly. High energy, but loving. Last one I had lived for 14 years - she would lick you to death before she ever bit you.

And the licking is supposed to be appealing? Gross.

[Anonymous]

I have a Chow mix and a pit mix. If anyone wants to mess with me while I'm out walking them in my tough neighborhood, I know that the chow mix will start something (she's always first to bark at passers-by) and then the pit mix will finish it - because she is not naturally suspicious of people but I wouldn't want to make her mad. She is a loving, adoring, and cuddly dog but it's true that she would be a formidable opponent if someone attacked me.

When the neighborhood kids ask to pet the dogs, I won't let them pet the chow mix because I've known her to suddenly snap at children. But I do let them pet the pit mix because she adores people. But I would never let a kid get down and hug her or any dog I've ever owned. Btw, we switched from a pronged collar to a gentle leader and it works beautifully.

[Anonymous]

I just don't understand why we're still allowing the breeding of pit bulls. If you want a lovable dog, there are plenty that don't bite (labs, golden retrievers, etc). If you want a guard dog there are others who are easier to train and have more stable personalities (German Shepherds). Pits were bred to fight. It's hard to overcome that through breeding since that characteristic was bred for for so many years.

The fact that animal shelters are filled mostly with pits (they're the #1 shelter dog) means that people just don't prefer them. Why are they still being bred?!?

[Anonymous]

This was on NPR yesterday.
I thought it was interesting in relation to this conversation.

http://www.npr.org/2016/05/10/477350069/friend-or-fiend-pit-bull-explores-the-history-of-americas-most-feared-dog

[Anonymous]

The fact that shelters are full of pits is most likely due to the fact that they are a preferred dog of poor people whose lives are more likely to be subject to the winds of fate and who can't maintain a dog for its whole life. We got our pit from a shelter because its previous owners were told by their landlord they couldn't keep it. We own our house so it's not an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was on NPR yesterday.
I thought it was interesting in relation to this conversation.

http://www.npr.org/2016/05/10/477350069/friend-or-fiend-pit-bull-explores-the-history-of-americas-most-feared-dog

This was a fascinating interview and not just because it was about pit bulls. The author talked about her father, author James Dickey, and her family life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that shelters are full of pits is most likely due to the fact that they are a preferred dog of poor people whose lives are more likely to be subject to the winds of fate and who can't maintain a dog for its whole life. We got our pit from a shelter because its previous owners were told by their landlord they couldn't keep it. We own our house so it's not an issue.

While this may be true, I have worked in shelters. When dogs come in that are in high demand (the doodles, labs, yorkies), they get snapped up very, very quickly. There will always be a need for a shelter for dogs (my last two dogs came from elderly that went to nursing homes without their dogs), but just eliminating pits would be a huge boon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that shelters are full of pits is most likely due to the fact that they are a preferred dog of poor people whose lives are more likely to be subject to the winds of fate and who can't maintain a dog for its whole life. We got our pit from a shelter because its previous owners were told by their landlord they couldn't keep it. We own our house so it's not an issue.

I've always wondered about this. Why are pits apparently preferred by poor people? I don't get it, but I've noticed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:guys, the dog in that picture is literally doing nothing wrong. if you are terrified and tensing up, then you do not know dogs.

basing your fear on what that dog looks like, and nothing more, is called being prejudiced.

Okay then I am prejudiced against pitbulls because that thing is nightmare inducing and I'd rather not have my face gnawed off by it.

Here is one "smiling" - still scary.

That dog looks sweet to me

That dog is owned by someone stupid enough to think cropping ears is ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact that shelters are full of pits is most likely due to the fact that they are a preferred dog of poor people whose lives are more likely to be subject to the winds of fate and who can't maintain a dog for its whole life. We got our pit from a shelter because its previous owners were told by their landlord they couldn't keep it. We own our house so it's not an issue.

While this may be true, I have worked in shelters. When dogs come in that are in high demand (the doodles, labs, yorkies), they get snapped up very, very quickly. There will always be a need for a shelter for dogs (my last two dogs came from elderly that went to nursing homes without their dogs), but just eliminating pits would be a huge boon.

So does that you mean you'd support shooting them? Or just that you wish they were all neutered and disappeared as a breed?

Actually here's my prediction: we got a pit because, as you say, the shelters are full of them. We didn't plan to get one but that was the kind of dog that was available. Since then I've seen a lot more middle class white people with pits. As the breed makes inroads with the middle class white population, the dog will become more accepted. Not saying that the breed doesn't have some issues but there's been a lot of over reaction and it doesn't help that the dog is a favorite of working class and poor communities. Part of the issue is class identification. I see that changing in my neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a dog trainer, 99% of dog bites/attacks could be prevented if people knew anything about dog behavior and signals. Dogs very rarely (VERY rarely) attack with no warning. People just ignore/punish the dog's signals.

So yeah, joe blow dog owner who is going to yell at a dog for growling and alpha roll a dog for jumping is going to create a disaster of whatever breed they choose to do that to. Unfortunately, Cesar Milan and the like have speed some really dangerous ideas to the average pet owner.

And for goodness sake, teach your child to let the dog approach them, not to approach a dog. No hugging, running, squealing, etc around dogs! My 2 year old knows when he meets a new dog to sit down, put his hand out, and look the other way while the dog sniffs it. Only then does he pet the dog, and only while within his reach. If the dog moves, he cannot follow it. It's not that hard to teach.

Why should I have to learn knowledge that's irrelevant to my life because someone ELSE chooses to own a dangerous dog?

This plus a million