I have for many years been very anti-pit bull, for many reasons - I think they’re terrifically ugly to begin with, but their statistical propensity to be involved in disfiguring and lethal attacks on other animals and humans is of course the number one reason. For the same reasons I am no fan of Rottweilers, Cane Corsos and other muscular dogs whose primary purpose over many generations of breeding was fighting other dogs/animals. I am very experienced with dogs and very knowledgeable about them, so unlike many other people I don’t hold onto fantasies that you can love the breeding out of them or that dogs are people in fur suits.

A responsible dog owner is one who knows that a dog of ANY breed should never be around small children unsupervised - by that I mean children under 10 in general, although some older children are still too immature and a very few children under 10 might be okay with some dogs. All of these calculations take a lot more responsibility and maturity than most humans are willing to devote, however. A year or two ago I saw a story about a young boy (4-6?) who was outside playing with his young puppy (6-8 months?) and was strangled to death by the dog when it grabbed his trailing scarf and wouldn’t let go. Mom was busy inside doing whatever was more important than watching her very young child play with his very young dog (Labrador if I recall, definitely not a breed that is traditionally associated with high lethality) and while I obviously sympathize with her loss of her son, I also feel a lot of anger that the boy and dog both died (they euthanized it despite what happened being entirely an accident on the puppy’s part) because of her stupidity, negligence and/or general selfishness.

All dogs are capable of killing children, even small yappy ankle biters can fatally would a very young child. Far too many humans think of dogs as cartoon characters or toys, they fail entirely to respect the heritage of dogs and the instinctive behaviors they ALL share regardless of breed or size. An infant left on a bed sofa or floor next to a chihuahua can easily end up dead - human infants cry and squeal just like baby rabbits do, and those sounds and behaviors trigger instincts deep inside a dog, ANY DOG, and just one bite to the throat can very quickly end an infant’s life. Biting the throat is of course a very very instinctive behavior in ALL DOGS - descended as they are from wild canids who catch, shake and kill their prey generally by grabbing them at the throat.

When dogs kill or maim humans it is always, always, always the fault of some other human. Sometimes the victim is the author of their own tragedy, sometimes another human is at fault - in my decade plus of studying dog bites I have seen several cases where people were innocently going about their business and seriously or fatally attacked by loose dogs belonging to neighbors. There are neighborhoods in my own city where I would hesitate to walk because there is a high population of bully breed dogs, and whenever I walk anywhere I carry mace more for dogs than humans.

All that said when it comes to pit bull breeds I have had to reevaluate my thinking of late. A couple of years ago I adopted a rescue dog I found online through Petfinder - a dog listed as a border collie mix. I went that route because the shelters near me were all populated almost entirely by bully breeds and bully breed mixes. This lovely little border collie mix has been the sweetest smartest most affectionate of all the dogs I’ve owned in my life, and I have benefitted from several wonderful dogs over the years. For my birthday in November I decided to treat myself to a canine DNA test for my dog, and the results were a bit of a shock. Yes she is 27.5% border collie, but she is also 30.9% American pit bull terrier! Her other half is a mix of Labrador retriever, Rottweiler, Walker coonhound and German Shepard. I’m glad she is a mutt of several breeds, it bodes well for her longevity and health. I see a lot of border collie in her trait behaviors, but this DNA result has made me look at her with fresh eyes. Certainly I now understand a little bit better where she got the ferocity of spirit to confront and run off a coyote from our yard just a few months after she came to live with us - APBT, GSD and Rottie means a very strong instinct to guard and protect.

I’ve watched this dog closely for over two years now and I have no concerns whatsoever that she will suddenly attack me out of nowhere with no provocation. I am 100% comfortable leaving her in the care of my 12 year old niece. But I also understand that any dog can bite and all dogs are unpredictable- when they are hurt or sick they are very good at masking symptoms it’s the self preservation instinct - but biting when hurt or sick is a very real possibility. Dogs should never be underestimated or overestimated, but most people do both and the results can be very tragic.

If I was OP I would not allow my children to play at the neighbors house if the kids are going to be left unsupervised for even 10 minutes with a newly acquired rescue dog - pit bull terrier or otherwise, ANY new dog is an unknown quantity and should be approached as such. Sadly the great majority of dog owners are idiotic about all such safety concerns and we see the results all the time in tragic news stories about maimed and killed children.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]The same people who get pit bulls are the same people who don’t believe in vaccinations, think Dog the Bounty hunter is real, have excessive tattoos, and used to date abusive drug addicts. [/b]They don’t get that a pitbull is genetically a ticking time bomb. I’ve known nice pit bulls, but that doesn’t mean they won’t snap in a second and rip your fking arm off.

So not true. I believe in vaccinations ( just got boosted) have zero tattoos, don't know dog the bounty hunter and never dated abusive drug addicts.

The pit lovers are more likely woke urban dwellers who believe no one, or no dog, could ever do harm if they do, it’s not their fault, it’s society’s. They have been vaxed and boosted and are sure to virtue signal every chance they get.

Yes, the pit bull lovers fit the liberal agenda more. The every dog/person is the same and they can do no harm. Lets not ban them it's not fair agenda.

I think the opposite especially as I lived in England. The people I saw with Pits were skin heads who were members of right wing parties that wanted to make the UK all white. Thinking about it, I've never seen a "minority" person with a Pit. I'm sure there must be one somewhere with a Pit but I've never met them.

You must not have spent much time in minority neighborhoods.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]The same people who get pit bulls are the same people who don’t believe in vaccinations, think Dog the Bounty hunter is real, have excessive tattoos, and used to date abusive drug addicts. [/b]They don’t get that a pitbull is genetically a ticking time bomb. I’ve known nice pit bulls, but that doesn’t mean they won’t snap in a second and rip your fking arm off.

So not true. I believe in vaccinations ( just got boosted) have zero tattoos, don't know dog the bounty hunter and never dated abusive drug addicts.

The pit lovers are more likely woke urban dwellers who believe no one, or no dog, could ever do harm if they do, it’s not their fault, it’s society’s. They have been vaxed and boosted and are sure to virtue signal every chance they get.

Yes, the pit bull lovers fit the liberal agenda more. The every dog/person is the same and they can do no harm. Lets not ban them it's not fair agenda.

I think the opposite especially as I lived in England. The people I saw with Pits were skin heads who were members of right wing parties that wanted to make the UK all white. Thinking about it, I've never seen a "minority" person with a Pit. I'm sure there must be one somewhere with a Pit but I've never met them.

I’d be upset too. Wouldn’t let my kids go to their house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]The same people who get pit bulls are the same people who don’t believe in vaccinations, think Dog the Bounty hunter is real, have excessive tattoos, and used to date abusive drug addicts. [/b]They don’t get that a pitbull is genetically a ticking time bomb. I’ve known nice pit bulls, but that doesn’t mean they won’t snap in a second and rip your fking arm off.

So not true. I believe in vaccinations ( just got boosted) have zero tattoos, don't know dog the bounty hunter and never dated abusive drug addicts.

The pit lovers are more likely woke urban dwellers who believe no one, or no dog, could ever do harm if they do, it’s not their fault, it’s society’s. They have been vaxed and boosted and are sure to virtue signal every chance they get.

Yes, the pit bull lovers fit the liberal agenda more. The every dog/person is the same and they can do no harm. Lets not ban them it's not fair agenda.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]The same people who get pit bulls are the same people who don’t believe in vaccinations, think Dog the Bounty hunter is real, have excessive tattoos, and used to date abusive drug addicts. [/b]They don’t get that a pitbull is genetically a ticking time bomb. I’ve known nice pit bulls, but that doesn’t mean they won’t snap in a second and rip your fking arm off.

So not true. I believe in vaccinations ( just got boosted) have zero tattoos, don't know dog the bounty hunter and never dated abusive drug addicts.

The pit lovers are more likely woke urban dwellers who believe no one, or no dog, could ever do harm if they do, it’s not their fault, it’s society’s. They have been vaxed and boosted and are sure to virtue signal every chance they get.

It's both. Pit bulls appeal to the two very far extremes of the political spectrum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]The same people who get pit bulls are the same people who don’t believe in vaccinations, think Dog the Bounty hunter is real, have excessive tattoos, and used to date abusive drug addicts. [/b]They don’t get that a pitbull is genetically a ticking time bomb. I’ve known nice pit bulls, but that doesn’t mean they won’t snap in a second and rip your fking arm off.

So not true. I believe in vaccinations ( just got boosted) have zero tattoos, don't know dog the bounty hunter and never dated abusive drug addicts.

The pit lovers are more likely woke urban dwellers who believe no one, or no dog, could ever do harm if they do, it’s not their fault, it’s society’s. They have been vaxed and boosted and are sure to virtue signal every chance they get.

Of course. The same type who think sex is “assigned” (rather than observed) at birth also think an animal that has been selectively bred for certain aggressive characteristics is just misunderstood. My pit bull identifies as a labradoodle thinking. But they probably have some sort of “believe in science” sign in the yard 🙄

I use the number of rescue pit bulls in my neighborhood as a bell weather to sell. When it reaches 6/7 its time to roll. (Means you’ve reached liberal peak)

I ask you: what other breed has liability insurance specifically designed for it?

https://www.xinsurance.com/blog/pit-bull-liability-insurance/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]The same people who get pit bulls are the same people who don’t believe in vaccinations, think Dog the Bounty hunter is real, have excessive tattoos, and used to date abusive drug addicts. [/b]They don’t get that a pitbull is genetically a ticking time bomb. I’ve known nice pit bulls, but that doesn’t mean they won’t snap in a second and rip your fking arm off.

So not true. I believe in vaccinations ( just got boosted) have zero tattoos, don't know dog the bounty hunter and never dated abusive drug addicts.

The pit lovers are more likely woke urban dwellers who believe no one, or no dog, could ever do harm if they do, it’s not their fault, it’s society’s. They have been vaxed and boosted and are sure to virtue signal every chance they get.

Hate, hate, hate pitbulls. They are horrible animals and most owners are aholes who don't have the expertise to train them properly.

Anonymous[b wrote:]The same people who get pit bulls are the same people who don’t believe in vaccinations, think Dog the Bounty hunter is real, have excessive tattoos, and used to date abusive drug addicts. [/b]They don’t get that a pitbull is genetically a ticking time bomb. I’ve known nice pit bulls, but that doesn’t mean they won’t snap in a second and rip your fking arm off.

So not true. I believe in vaccinations ( just got boosted) have zero tattoos, don't know dog the bounty hunter and never dated abusive drug addicts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends had a rescue pit bull that was “a total sweetheart” and “would never hurt anyone.” They came home one day and the dog had literally torn off their front door and molding from the inside.

Just need to note, in passing, that this behavior is separation anxiety, not aggression. All dogs that get anxious when lonely can do this. Dogs can chew through doors and couches when they really want to.

But I agree with everyone that pit bulls, because of the way their jaw is built, have an extremely strong, unrelenting bite relative to their size, and cannot be trusted because one bite can mean death or permanent disfigurement. It's not the dog's fault that they are built this way - it's the humans' fault for breeding them. Yet this is how it is. There should be a breeding ban on all aggressive breeds.

Again with the BS jaw assertion??
A pit bull has the same cranial physiology as every other breed of dog -- their jaws cannot lock.

Their jaw is unbelievably strong and large.
I have 2 rescue dogs - both mutts. One is 25 pound beagle plus some other breeds. The other is 60 pound lab/pit. His jaw is massive. If he wanted to do damage, he could. He is incredibly sweet. But, we don’t take chances. We keep him crated when guests are over.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the tragic stories in the news about pit bulls are about dogs who were "total sweeties" until the moment they weren't.

Sorry, OP. I would be really upset as well. The broken fence doesn't exactly scream Responsible Dog Owner, either.

Exactly this. There are so many dogs that need rescuing. Why a family with kids would seek out a breed that is known to be aggressive is bewildering.

Most dogs that need rescued have some degree of pit in them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, way to assume the worst. Pit bulls have a bad rap. I wouldn't get one myself, because that's not the type of dog I'm into, but I've known several and they've all been total sweeties who just want love and someone to play with them.

You don’t need to relax. You are not crazy. Pit bulls should never have been allowed as a breed. They bite down and don’t let go. They were used to bait bulls. The whole thing is annoying and stupid. Your neighbors are trashy as is anyone who gets a pit bull. Especially a rescue pit! No one needs a pit bull. Now you have to watch your kids 24/7 because this wild mutt could bite down and crush their hands or what not. I don’t care what anyone else here says. They are trashy and stupid too if they don’t agree.

Um wrong. But your histrionics are entertaining.

I had a coworker who had a "sweet" pit mix. She had that dog for 3 years and cared for it amazing well. One day the dog attacked her out of the blue. I'll spare you the gory details but the dog had to be put down later that day. I love dogs but I would never allow my kids around a pit or pit mix. Not supervised, not unsupervised. Those dogs are unpredictable. I'm sorry for all the truly gentle pits out there but I will never ever trust that breed.