Anonymous wrote:

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.

These are facts. There is a PDF within the link below that lists dog bites doing bodily harm between 1982 - 2014 in north america - 3397 were attacks by bit bulls 1355 of those they bit were children, 295 were deaths and 2110 of the 3397 caused permanent physical damage. The next dog to do the most damage were rottweilers with 535 attacks. If you don't see the dangerous difference there you are just being purposely obtuse.
http://dogs.petbreeds.com/stories/4046/dog-breeds-attack

Oh and those viscous little fluff ball pomeranians and poodles combined had 5 bites among them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Trainer again: because the vast majority of dog bites/attacks are from family pets. If you choose to own a dog, you should know how to communicate with it. If you choose to interact with other people's dogs, you should know how to read them. There aren't zillions of dog attacks reported from people sitting on their decks and dogs running loose in the neighborhood attacking them. People are choosing to interact with these dogs. It's a safety issue.

It literally would take 5 minutes to learn dog stress signals. You've all probably spent longer complaining about vicious dogs on this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Trainer again: because the vast majority of dog bites/attacks are from family pets. If you choose to own a dog, you should know how to communicate with it. If you choose to interact with other people's dogs, you should know how to read them. There aren't zillions of dog attacks reported from people sitting on their decks and dogs running loose in the neighborhood attacking them. People are choosing to interact with these dogs. It's a safety issue.

It literally would take 5 minutes to learn dog stress signals. You've all probably spent longer complaining about vicious dogs on this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

Poor people live in more dangerous neighborhoods where they keep pits for protection against robbery. Pits are also gang dogs and gangs live in poorer neighborhoods.

Among poor hispanics in california (gang or not) a pitbull is a machisimo status symbol..

Yes. Especially when it's still "intact" and wasn't neutered. Which just causes overpopulation.

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.

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 wrote:

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.

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

Poor people live in more dangerous neighborhoods where they keep pits for protection against robbery. Pits are also gang dogs and gangs live in poorer neighborhoods.

Anonymous wrote:

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

Poor people live in more dangerous neighborhoods where they keep pits for protection against robbery. Pits are also gang dogs and gangs live in poorer neighborhoods.

Among poor hispanics in california (gang or not) a pitbull is a machisimo status symbol..

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

Poor people live in more dangerous neighborhoods where they keep pits for protection against robbery. Pits are also gang dogs and gangs live in poorer neighborhoods.

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.

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.

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 wrote:

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 wrote:

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.