Anonymous
12/20/2017 00:02
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
When we moved into our neighborhood with our two spoiled rotten and very docile big dogs, we immediately spent $6000 on a sturdy privacy fence for our large yard. A few weeks later we went to a neighborhood get together and everyone was going around introducing themselves because there were several new families there. When we introduced ourselves and said where we lived, someone immediately popped up and said, "Oh - YOU GUYS have PIT BULLS." You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone looked at us with huge, frightened eyes and mothers held their children close.
Here are our dogs:
Both are mutts. Both are rescued dogs. Both have been spayed/neutered since they were 9 months old. They are both completely worthless as guard dogs because they are so spoiled that they cannot IMAGINE anything bad happening to them (we got them both when they were less than 6 weeks old).
The black dog is, according to our vet, a lab/pit bull mix - not sure of the ratios. She is absolutely wonderful with kids - she has never even growled at man or beast. I am not sure she even knows how to growl! She will, however, lick you to pieces, and she is capable of knocking someone down with her exuberance. She loves nothing better than to have kids roll all over her. She weighs 75 pounds and due to her extremely LOVING nature, I don't ever leave her alone with kids. For that matter, I don't leave any kids alone with either of my dogs, even though the other dog has no features or evidence of pit bull lineage.
But our neighbors still think we have pit bulls. They would tell the media in an instant "They have pit bulls over there" if asked. They have asked us off and on if our fence is secure, and when we assure them that it is, they always say, "Oh good - because we wouldn't want your pit bulls to get out."
Sheeze!
The issue with pit bull and pit bull/mastiff mixed breed dogs is that they are so often sought out by BAD OWNERS - owners who neglect them, leave them chained in a yard, or ignored outside for days at a time. They often don't neuter them either, or allow them to interact with the family much if at all. They encourage "tough behavior" from these dogs.
I used to have a boxer. Not a pit bull - a full bred boxer. We were clearly told by the breeder as well as in books we read, that we should not encourage tugging sorts of games with a boxer, because they can get carried away and clamp down with their jaw - it's instinct.
I know it's an old line, but there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.
Here are our dogs:
Both are mutts. Both are rescued dogs. Both have been spayed/neutered since they were 9 months old. They are both completely worthless as guard dogs because they are so spoiled that they cannot IMAGINE anything bad happening to them (we got them both when they were less than 6 weeks old).
The black dog is, according to our vet, a lab/pit bull mix - not sure of the ratios. She is absolutely wonderful with kids - she has never even growled at man or beast. I am not sure she even knows how to growl! She will, however, lick you to pieces, and she is capable of knocking someone down with her exuberance. She loves nothing better than to have kids roll all over her. She weighs 75 pounds and due to her extremely LOVING nature, I don't ever leave her alone with kids. For that matter, I don't leave any kids alone with either of my dogs, even though the other dog has no features or evidence of pit bull lineage.
But our neighbors still think we have pit bulls. They would tell the media in an instant "They have pit bulls over there" if asked. They have asked us off and on if our fence is secure, and when we assure them that it is, they always say, "Oh good - because we wouldn't want your pit bulls to get out."
Sheeze!
The issue with pit bull and pit bull/mastiff mixed breed dogs is that they are so often sought out by BAD OWNERS - owners who neglect them, leave them chained in a yard, or ignored outside for days at a time. They often don't neuter them either, or allow them to interact with the family much if at all. They encourage "tough behavior" from these dogs.
I used to have a boxer. Not a pit bull - a full bred boxer. We were clearly told by the breeder as well as in books we read, that we should not encourage tugging sorts of games with a boxer, because they can get carried away and clamp down with their jaw - it's instinct.
I know it's an old line, but there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 23:53
Subject: Re:S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
We have one. I mean, I guess she falls under the pit bull umbrella, turns out she's a Staffordshire terrier? She was listed as a lab mix on the shelter website. She's 55 lbs of sweetness and submission. The percentage of dogs that have some bull terrier in them who are in shelters is astronomical.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 23:23
Subject: Re:S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
Anonymous wrote:My son's best friend has one named Buck. He's huge. And he loves people. He was abused by someone and my son's friend stole him from them. Anyway, he's the sweetest thing. He's afraid of cats. LOL. He covers his eyes when he sees one.
My niece raises them. They are the best dogs. They get a bad rap because black people fight them. Michael Vic.
No, they get a bad rap because of sensationalist news stories where they are found eating the ribcage of their owner, where they kill a baby in a baby swing, etc.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 23:19
Subject: Re:S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
My son's best friend has one named Buck. He's huge. And he loves people. He was abused by someone and my son's friend stole him from them. Anyway, he's the sweetest thing. He's afraid of cats. LOL. He covers his eyes when he sees one.
My niece raises them. They are the best dogs. They get a bad rap because black people fight them. Michael Vic.
My niece raises them. They are the best dogs. They get a bad rap because black people fight them. Michael Vic.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 23:11
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
All dogs are individuals.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 23:09
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There's a family in our neighborhood with a pitbull. I pet her once and she seemed fine but I have to say...I plan my route around their house so I don't have to pass by when walking with my 15 pound greyhound or my little kids. She just has this look in her eyes and it kind of scares me. Maybe that's judgmental...I don't care.
It's not judgmental - it's smart. I get uneasy when I see them out in public (not true of any other dog), and with good reason - the story out of goochland this week just serves as further proof. She had raised those dogs since they were puppies, and EVERYONE they talked to described them as sweet, loving, gentle, affectionate...they never would have suspected this could happen. That's the scary thing - they are "sweet lovebabies" until suddenly they SNAP. How anyone could feel that's worth the risk is beyond me
Right. Don’t these people read the news articles? Nobody ever says, “yeah my pit bull has always been super aggressive, so I’m not surprised he bit a child at the park.” No. They say all the same things the people in this thread are saying.
I’ve had dogs my whole life. None of them are 100% predictable. I’ve had dogs who have bitten family members. But they bit once - usually for a clear “reason” and backed off. Pit bulls don’t seem to back off.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:52
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There's a family in our neighborhood with a pitbull. I pet her once and she seemed fine but I have to say...I plan my route around their house so I don't have to pass by when walking with my 15 pound greyhound or my little kids. She just has this look in her eyes and it kind of scares me. Maybe that's judgmental...I don't care.
It's not judgmental - it's smart. I get uneasy when I see them out in public (not true of any other dog), and with good reason - the story out of goochland this week just serves as further proof. She had raised those dogs since they were puppies, and EVERYONE they talked to described them as sweet, loving, gentle, affectionate...they never would have suspected this could happen. That's the scary thing - they are "sweet lovebabies" until suddenly they SNAP. How anyone could feel that's worth the risk is beyond me
Today I read her friends said they were isolated, not around humans, and neglected, so not everyone.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:50
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
Anonymous wrote:There's a family in our neighborhood with a pitbull. I pet her once and she seemed fine but I have to say...I plan my route around their house so I don't have to pass by when walking with my 15 pound greyhound or my little kids. She just has this look in her eyes and it kind of scares me. Maybe that's judgmental...I don't care.
It's not judgmental - it's smart. I get uneasy when I see them out in public (not true of any other dog), and with good reason - the story out of goochland this week just serves as further proof. She had raised those dogs since they were puppies, and EVERYONE they talked to described them as sweet, loving, gentle, affectionate...they never would have suspected this could happen. That's the scary thing - they are "sweet lovebabies" until suddenly they SNAP. How anyone could feel that's worth the risk is beyond me
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:43
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
There's a family in our neighborhood with a pitbull. I pet her once and she seemed fine but I have to say...I plan my route around their house so I don't have to pass by when walking with my 15 pound greyhound or my little kids. She just has this look in her eyes and it kind of scares me. Maybe that's judgmental...I don't care.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:41
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why? Because, cuddly, funny, dopey, affectionate, sleepy. Great big cat-dogs. I've never, ever met a mean pittie, just a**holes who abuse them.
Sadly, I have. I met a cute, cuddly, funny, and affectionate pitt who spontaneously attacked two different people in a short period of time. This same sweet pitt also lunged at my toddler when my DC got to close to the pitt owner's child. I get it. The pitt was in protective mode and new toddlers make strange noises and are unpredictable. But given my experiences, I will never EVER allow my kids to be in a home with a pitt. You just can't compare them to other large dogs. A pitt is completely different than, say, a lab, great dane or bernese mountain dog. Suggesting otherwise is just silly and makes pitt owners seem foolish.
^This.
http://people.com/crime/virginia-woman-mauled-death-dogs-while-walking-woods/
+1
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:36
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
I'm 22:32. I remember when my mom was in a rehab facility after surgery, and a man came around with his therapy pit bull who had been rescued from a fighting ring. Her eyelids had been cut off. She was the sweetest dog, very affectionate, loved all people.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:32
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
My friend and her husband adopted a full pit bull from a shelter. They had a toddler at the time. He is great with all of them, and other humans. They recently had a baby, and he is great with the baby too. He is not, however, great with other dogs or animals.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:17
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why? Because, cuddly, funny, dopey, affectionate, sleepy. Great big cat-dogs. I've never, ever met a mean pittie, just a**holes who abuse them.
Sadly, I have. I met a cute, cuddly, funny, and affectionate pitt who spontaneously attacked two different people in a short period of time. This same sweet pitt also lunged at my toddler when my DC got to close to the pitt owner's child. I get it. The pitt was in protective mode and new toddlers make strange noises and are unpredictable. But given my experiences, I will never EVER allow my kids to be in a home with a pitt. You just can't compare them to other large dogs. A pitt is completely different than, say, a lab, great dane or bernese mountain dog. Suggesting otherwise is just silly and makes pitt owners seem foolish.
^This.
http://people.com/crime/virginia-woman-mauled-death-dogs-while-walking-woods/
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:17
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don't happen to own one, never have, but have encountered many that are very sweet that my dog plays with. I don't understand your attitude. There are many ways to tell a mean dog. Breed is not one.
NP. I've known a couple pits but would never have one. The problem seems to be that they are sweet, placid dogs up until they aren't.
This. I grew up on a farm, and also had many dogs over the years. Never have I seen an a dog or any animal lose it like a pitbull ( he saw a cat). Completely lost it, not that he ever had that "it". Seems like they were bred to not feel pain and go crazy like that, and now add their strength to the mix.
Anonymous
12/19/2017 22:03
Subject: S/O If you have a pit bull...why?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why? Because, cuddly, funny, dopey, affectionate, sleepy. Great big cat-dogs. I've never, ever met a mean pittie, just a**holes who abuse them.
Sadly, I have. I met a cute, cuddly, funny, and affectionate pitt who spontaneously attacked two different people in a short period of time. This same sweet pitt also lunged at my toddler when my DC got to close to the pitt owner's child. I get it. The pitt was in protective mode and new toddlers make strange noises and are unpredictable. But given my experiences, I will never EVER allow my kids to be in a home with a pitt. You just can't compare them to other large dogs. A pitt is completely different than, say, a lab, great dane or bernese mountain dog. Suggesting otherwise is just silly and makes pitt owners seem foolish.
^This.