Quote Originally Posted by luvofallhorses View Post
First of all I am really sorry Sam got attacked and hope he will be OK.

The American Pit Bull Terrier was not to bred to kill rats, they were originally bred to bait bulls but in later years bred to fight other dogs. The APBT is naturally dog aggressive as they were bred to fight other dogs. Just like Labs were bred to retrieive and Border Collies were bred to herd sheep. You cannot train or love it out of them, it's what they are supposed to do.

I don't agree that they are more "inherently" likely to be aggressive. They certainly may have dominant behavior, because they are terrriers! It does not make them automatically aggressive. Heck I have met Jack Russells that are more pushy than an APBT. An APBT just wants to love you and please you.

These dogs should never be human aggressive, period. They should welcome all people who are strangers with licks and tail wags. Other dogs, not so much as they were bred to fight. They pass temperament tests a lot more than today's popular breeds according to the ATTS.org. Every APBT and mix I have met has been wonderful with people, but not so great with other dogs and other animals which is common.

I am not trying to ruin your thread as I feel for you and Sam, I really do; but I don't think it's fair to say they are more likely to be aggressive when they never should be with people.

From atts.org
American Pit Bull Terrier - 86.0% in passing temperament tests.

I sincerely hope Sam will be OK.
I didn't mean that they are inherently aggressive with everyone, I specifically meant to say with other animals. I know Pit Bulls can get along very well with other animals, but often they just don't.
I know they are supposed to get along with people, I have never personally met one that was aggressive with a human. They are sweet dogs.