Are pitbull mixes safer?

[Anonymous]

We breed and train German Shepherds. I love all dogs! I think pitties are adorable. Every single one I’ve interacted with has been friendly and gentle. They are big goof balls. Most bully breeds are - right up until they are not. No amount of socializing or training will ever overcome bad breeding. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been the victim of generations of irresponsible breeding. It’s not the dogs’ fault. It’s just reality. They have been specifically bred for aggression, pain tolerance, prey drive, and strength for many, many years. That type of breeding doesn’t just disappear.

When we decide to breed, our dogs are carefully selected for temperament and health. They come from a long, documented line of balanced, stable, healthy dogs. Unfortunately, the American Pit Bull Terrier doesn’t have that lineage anywhere anymore. It’s time to allow the breed to die, sadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My next dog will absolutely be a pit mix. I love them.

Yay! Let's be friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We breed and train German Shepherds. I love all dogs! I think pitties are adorable. Every single one I’ve interacted with has been friendly and gentle. They are big goof balls. Most bully breeds are - right up until they are not. No amount of socializing or training will ever overcome bad breeding. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been the victim of generations of irresponsible breeding. It’s not the dogs’ fault. It’s just reality. They have been specifically bred for aggression, pain tolerance, prey drive, and strength for many, many years. That type of breeding doesn’t just disappear.

When we decide to breed, our dogs are carefully selected for temperament and health. They come from a long, documented line of balanced, stable, healthy dogs. Unfortunately, the American Pit Bull Terrier doesn’t have that lineage anywhere anymore. It’s time to allow the breed to die, sadly.

Thank you for your perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We breed and train German Shepherds. I love all dogs! I think pitties are adorable. Every single one I’ve interacted with has been friendly and gentle. They are big goof balls. Most bully breeds are - right up until they are not. No amount of socializing or training will ever overcome bad breeding. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been the victim of generations of irresponsible breeding. It’s not the dogs’ fault. It’s just reality. They have been specifically bred for aggression, pain tolerance, prey drive, and strength for many, many years. That type of breeding doesn’t just disappear.

When we decide to breed, our dogs are carefully selected for temperament and health. They come from a long, documented line of balanced, stable, healthy dogs. Unfortunately, the American Pit Bull Terrier doesn’t have that lineage anywhere anymore. It’s time to allow the breed to die, sadly.

Don't mean to thread hijack, but can you state where you're located? I'm the OP of the thread looking for a GSD breeder, for a family dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We breed and train German Shepherds. I love all dogs! I think pitties are adorable. Every single one I’ve interacted with has been friendly and gentle. They are big goof balls. Most bully breeds are - right up until they are not. No amount of socializing or training will ever overcome bad breeding. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been the victim of generations of irresponsible breeding. It’s not the dogs’ fault. It’s just reality. They have been specifically bred for aggression, pain tolerance, prey drive, and strength for many, many years. That type of breeding doesn’t just disappear.

When we decide to breed, our dogs are carefully selected for temperament and health. They come from a long, documented line of balanced, stable, healthy dogs. Unfortunately, the American Pit Bull Terrier doesn’t have that lineage anywhere anymore. It’s time to allow the breed to die, sadly.

Don't mean to thread hijack, but can you state where you're located? I'm the OP of the thread looking for a GSD breeder, for a family dog.

We won’t have any litters any time soon. We are in DC for 18 months and need to wait until we are back home before we go through the process again. But I can tell you what to look for! If you want a good family pet, look for large, old fashioned, straight back German Shepherds. Ask about Hip and Elbow Dysplasia certification through OFA. You should be able to meet the mama. The pups should be treated like family pets. A good breeder will insist on keeping the pups until they are at least 8 weeks. I keep ours for 10-12. The breeder should be able to give you information about the specific line. And she should provide you with limited AKC papers. Meaning, you can’t breed and/or sell puppies. Start socializing the puppy as soon as vaccines are complete. Expose him to different people, places, noises, etc. Training is important, especially if this is your first GSD.

Also, they are the best dogs ever!

[Anonymous]

Mixes are unpredictable. You could get the pitbull side at any point, or the whatever-mix at another. Mixing breeds by a few generations does not mean there's not a pitbull inside the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We breed and train German Shepherds. I love all dogs! I think pitties are adorable. Every single one I’ve interacted with has been friendly and gentle. They are big goof balls. Most bully breeds are - right up until they are not. No amount of socializing or training will ever overcome bad breeding. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been the victim of generations of irresponsible breeding. It’s not the dogs’ fault. It’s just reality. They have been specifically bred for aggression, pain tolerance, prey drive, and strength for many, many years. That type of breeding doesn’t just disappear.

When we decide to breed, our dogs are carefully selected for temperament and health. They come from a long, documented line of balanced, stable, healthy dogs. Unfortunately, the American Pit Bull Terrier doesn’t have that lineage anywhere anymore. It’s time to allow the breed to die, sadly.

Thank you for your perspective.

It's time for breeding to die too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We breed and train German Shepherds. I love all dogs! I think pitties are adorable. Every single one I’ve interacted with has been friendly and gentle. They are big goof balls. Most bully breeds are - right up until they are not. No amount of socializing or training will ever overcome bad breeding. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been the victim of generations of irresponsible breeding. It’s not the dogs’ fault. It’s just reality. They have been specifically bred for aggression, pain tolerance, prey drive, and strength for many, many years. That type of breeding doesn’t just disappear.

When we decide to breed, our dogs are carefully selected for temperament and health. They come from a long, documented line of balanced, stable, healthy dogs. Unfortunately, the American Pit Bull Terrier doesn’t have that lineage anywhere anymore. It’s time to allow the breed to die, sadly.

Don't mean to thread hijack, but can you state where you're located? I'm the OP of the thread looking for a GSD breeder, for a family dog.

We won’t have any litters any time soon. We are in DC for 18 months and need to wait until we are back home before we go through the process again. But I can tell you what to look for! If you want a good family pet, look for large, old fashioned, straight back German Shepherds. Ask about Hip and Elbow Dysplasia certification through OFA. You should be able to meet the mama. The pups should be treated like family pets. A good breeder will insist on keeping the pups until they are at least 8 weeks. I keep ours for 10-12. The breeder should be able to give you information about the specific line. And she should provide you with limited AKC papers. Meaning, you can’t breed and/or sell puppies. Start socializing the puppy as soon as vaccines are complete. Expose him to different people, places, noises, etc. Training is important, especially if this is your first GSD.

Also, they are the best dogs ever!

PP here, thanks, so helpful! We've had one GSD before. One more question--I see that some breeders are touting they are recognized by the Gooddog website. Is this an important certification of sorts for breeders?

[Anonymous]

Back to the original thread, probably most dogs at shelters have some pit in their background. This as I understand it is a result of accidental pregnancies or backyard breeding, but the latter is rarely for fighting. It's more people want puppies and then they realize they can't sell them or give them away or they have to care for them and don't want vet bills. (Or as previously mentioned, irresponsible accidental pregnancies because people don't spay and neuter).

So how should shelters determine which dogs to euthanize, as one PP recommended. Do Wisdom panel on every single shelter dog, and if a dog has, what 1% Pitbull or more, then euthanize? 2%? Who is going to pay for all these tests? Just euthanize all shelter dogs to be safe? Do you just do it by looks? Then you might miss a dog that looks like a lab but is really 1/2 pit. Where does it end?

Do you also put down Dobermans mixes because they look scary and were bred to be guard dogs? Where does it end?

I get what everyone is saying. Being bitten by a teacup poodle is not the same as being bitten by a Cane Corso or Rottweiler. Or Pit. But I don't think it is as easy as, "Exterminate all the pits."

[Anonymous]

Both my cousin and a friend were suddenly attacked by their own pitbulls- (my friends was a pit-boxer mix). These dogs were sweet gentle family dogs until they snapped. My beautiful cousin has a large scar that runs across her cheek. Getting a dog is a huge commitment so be careful in what you choose.

[Anonymous]

Kill the bear!

/s

[Anonymous]

I think owners should be criminally prosecuted when their dogs attack others. It would work better than a breed ban to encourage people to put more thought into getting a pet, what kind of pet they can truly handle, and encourage more responsible pet ownership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think owners should be criminally prosecuted when their dogs attack others. It would work better than a breed ban to encourage people to put more thought into getting a pet, what kind of pet they can truly handle, and encourage more responsible pet ownership.

I think owners should be substantially fined if they abandon dogs or if their dogs produce puppies that they cannot place with homes. Provide free fix/spay to anyone that wants it. It’s ridiculous that people are allowed to just put all these unwanted animals out there into the world. Take a genetic sample when you get a license and charge the owner. I donate thousands a year to dog rescue but would much rather donate to a sane system for making sure every dog is wanted.
We got out very sweet golden retriever from a breeder. My & year old can pry open his jaws to look at his teeth if she wants. He’s cool with it. I lost my key once and had to break in through a window while he was sound asleep in the middle of the night. He was cool with that too. Not an aggressive bone in his fluffy body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think owners should be criminally prosecuted when their dogs attack others. It would work better than a breed ban to encourage people to put more thought into getting a pet, what kind of pet they can truly handle, and encourage more responsible pet ownership.

I think owners should be substantially fined if they abandon dogs or if their dogs produce puppies that they cannot place with homes. Provide free fix/spay to anyone that wants it. It’s ridiculous that people are allowed to just put all these unwanted animals out there into the world. Take a genetic sample when you get a license and charge the owner. I donate thousands a year to dog rescue but would much rather donate to a sane system for making sure every dog is wanted.
We got out very sweet golden retriever from a breeder. My & year old can pry open his jaws to look at his teeth if she wants. He’s cool with it. I lost my key once and had to break in through a window while he was sound asleep in the middle of the night. He was cool with that too. Not an aggressive bone in his fluffy body.

We could also pry open our pit mix's mouth, pull bones away from him, strangers who were staying with us could let themselves in, we could put our hands in his food, he never once growled at any human in his 12 years on this earth. He was happy, kind, calm, loving, goofy. Your fluffy bred dog is not special that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Conversely, my shelter dog who for 10 years I believed to be a 'pit bull' (not actually a breed) is actually a 75/25 boxer-bulldog mix. All dogs are individuals. I've met Goldens who would rather bite a stranger's hand off than be pet by them, it just depends on the dog's early exposures and current management in combination with their genetic temperament.

This is such a disingenuous argument, everyone knows what a person means by "pit bull", just like everyone knows what you mean by "chihuahua", or "Old English Sheep Dog" or "Collie". However, if you want to pick this term apart, you can refer to "Pit Bull Type" dogs, which typically refers to four very closely related dog breeds: the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bully. The APBT and the Staffi are so closely related, they can be dual registered as AmStaff with AKC and APBT with UKC. Your anecdotal evidence of knowing a couple Golden Retrievers that would bite someone's hand does not change the fact that "Pit Bull Type" dogs commit most of the severe dog maulings and fatal attacks in this country. It is highly dependent on the dog's genetic temperament, and love does not change this. Pit Bull Type dogs are genetically prone to aggression. All dogs are not simply individuals, they are members of a breed that has certain physical and behavior characteristics. That is why you cannot teach a blood hound to guard sheep, or a Boston Terrier to herd cows.

This whole argument is based on the premise that all dogs are intentionally bred, which for most mutts is just so obviously not true. And even if it were - if there were a massive underground operation breeding pit bull mixes to fill suburban shelters - do you know how many dogs a dog fighter has to produce to end up with a handful that can/will fight?! Hundreds! And that is a human being specifically trying to create the most 'dangerous' pit bulls. I'm not going to argue with you that bully-type dogs are very strong; that many have high prey drives; and that their prevalence in shelters means that many of them are problematically under-socialized. But those are correlative, not causative, and could apply to any large-breed dog. Many rescues across the country are seeing a resurgence in problematic German Shepherds as those have become the 'protection' dogs of choice; personally, I don't trust GSDs around children. But I also believe that should problems occur, it is the fault of the owner/handler.

NP. Kind, responsible people aren't out there breeding these dogs. Pits are intentionally bred to fight, and if a pit isn't game enough for fighting for sport, some chump will adopt it from the shelter and let it snuggle with the kiddos, because they don't believe in genetics. For every Golden who would rather bite a stranger's hand than pet them, there are 10 pit bulls that would rather just kill that Golden at the dog park, then rip the face off your toddler. Statistically, they are far, far more likely to kill and maim than any other breed, and not every pit owner is a bad person or bad pet owner; it's just the breed's nature.



https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2018/09/13/americas-most-dangerous-dog-breeds-infographic/?sh=1fb597f962f8

Again, you are predicating this opinion on the assumption on the idea that the average pit bull mix that landed in a shelter must have come from fighting stock, or someone who is intentionally breeding them for what you've classified as 'pit bull qualities'. This is simply not true or even likely. Mutts happen the way they have for thousands of years - two unfixed dogs get together and anywhere from 4-12 puppies result. In many places, most of the loose, unfixed dogs are part or all 'pit bull', so shelters and rescues end up with a preponderance of unwanted, unsocialized 'pit bulls'. In some communities, the most common shelter dog might be huskies or chihuahuas - both of which have their own issues that can make them problematic family dogs for the unprepared/uncareful. If you're not comfortable with the uncertainty of rescue dogs, I can understand that. And there are definitely rescues/shelters who don't do their due diligence when placing animals, which is dangerous. But it's just alarmist and uneducated to claim that dogs that look they belong to a loosely-defined "breed" are homogenous in temperament and suitability to be pets.