Pit bull Debate

[Roxyluvsme13]

I am also a Pit Bull owner to a crazy dopey lovebug named Brennan .

He is an "Ambassabull" for the breed with a local rescue in the area.

I've had worse experiences with other breeds of dogs than that of Pit Bulls. Brennan has a slight bit of dog aggression towards dogs that are larger than him, but it's managed pretty well as long as they don't get up in his face. I walk him with a gentle leader and get a lot of prejudice and comments about that. People assume it's a muzzle and "It's good that I have my vicious dog muzzled" when he's sitting there wagging his tail looking happy and wanting people to pet him .

I'm highly against BSL, obviously. There's a town fairly close to here that's facing possible BSL right now, which is rather worrisome. Hopefully it doesn't expand, though there are several counties in TN that have already implemented BSL.

I couldn't imagine life without a Pit Bull now though. They are one of the best breeds of dogs I've ever owned and even though Brennan is about as bright as a burnt out light bulb and pretty crazy, I wouldn't trade him for the world .

[Karen]

I am happy I live in a state where the governor has recently signed a law outlawing all breed-specific legislation.

Suffice it to say, studies have shown such legislation never works anyway - the dog fighting people either move more underground, or switch to a different breed and keep going.

[Freedom]

Karen, did not know Mass. had that, that is great!

Several communities here in RI have BSL, and another one is currently considering it.

I should have ended my post with: So if I am glaring, it may not be aimed at you or your dog, it may be that one of mine (usually Tasha) took ages to come and get leashed up. Tasha loves to "dance" just outside my reach. This is anxiety provoking when I think there "may" be an issue looming.

[happylabs]

I have known 2 Pitbulls in my lifetime and they were both sweethearts. The gal who used to cut my hair had a PB and she was a doll. I would go in to get my hair cut and Zara would bring me her toys while Barb would cut my hair. She often laid in the middle of the beauty shop snoozing as people came and went.

My daughter's boyfriend has a boxer/pitbull mix. She is also a sweetheart. She and Zoey get kind of rough playing sometimes but I have never seen her break skin or do anything but wiggle her butt towards humans. She thinks she is a lap dog and tries to get into my lap when I am visiting there.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

I love pitties! I work as an RVT in a veterinary hospital, and I have yet to come across a pit bull that I didn't like. I have seen countless Chihuahuas and other small breeds who are just nasty, sadly. Even if I do come across an aggressive pittie (or any other breed for that matter), I definitely never blame the breed. I blame the owner. You can't group a breed as 'bad', not all of them are. It's individuals. Look at Labradors, everyone thinks they are just the friendliest breed out there. They are indeed friendly dogs, but believe it or not, I had an extremely aggressive Labrador! So, it's definitely NOT just pitties, Dobermans, Rottweilers, etc.

[Karen]

A veterinarian I know sees a lot of chihuahuas in her Florida practice, and refers to them as "lap gators." I don;t blame the breed, but the fact that owners thing these small dogs don;t need training and structure, so the dogs end up thinking they are in charge, which is never a good thing. Every dog, from the smallest chihuahua to the largest mastiff - they ALL need basic training at the very least. And with strong dogs like pitties, or large ones like Saint Bernards, for example, the earlier you do the training the better. It is easier to deal with an 8-pound puppy, than 50 pounds of muscle, or 125 pounds of enthusiasm when one is leash training a dog, and your shoulder socket will appreciate it, too!

[wolf_Q]

I have friends with pit bulls...I'm a groomer, we see plenty of pits, overall I think they are nice dogs. I do think they tend to end up with the wrong people though (people who want to get a dog so they look "tough" don't neuter them, leave them on a chain, etc. ) so they can become people aggressive when treated the wrong way, but so can any breed of dog. I do believe they have a higher tendency than your average breed (though there are plenty of other breeds that are like this is as well) to be dog aggressive. They were bred to fight dogs, what do you expect? Dog aggression doesn't usually show up until the are 2 or older btw so be cautious of that as your dog gets older. Of course not all will end up dog aggressive but I know several people who raised theirs since pups and did everything right and they still ended up dog aggressive (though they are good with dogs they know just not strange dogs). My husky, Skya, is not nice to most (some she's perfectly fine with?) strange dogs either and that didn't show up until she was older than two, she gets along excellently with dogs she knows though and once she gets to know a dog she's fine too. One of my friends with a dog aggressive pit bull gets along with dogs he meets as a puppy and he met Skya as a puppy so they get along (go figure, the most dog aggressive of mine gets along with the dog aggressive dog ) Overall every pit I can think of that I know is a total LOVE with people....like ridiculously lovey ha ha. My dog Killer is half pit bull half lab and he is a total love with people and he's not dog aggressive either. I think they can be awesome dogs and breed specific legislation is ridiculous, ban the idiots who shouldn't have dogs from having dogs, don't ban breeds of dogs.

I will say though I will avoid them when I'm walking my dogs (but I will avoid any dog while walking my dogs, big or small - but certain breeds with dog aggressive tendencies make me more nervous). My dogs don't take too well with loose dogs running up and getting in their faces for the most part I pretty much just hate it when any loose dog (friendly or not) gets into the middle of my leashed dogs. I had a lab run out and charge at me the other day and I had to yell and wave my arms at it so it wouldn't get to my dogs. If I have no dogs with me I wouldn't hesitate to say hi to a pit bull though.

[WILDCATS]

A veterinarian I know sees a lot of chihuahuas in her Florida practice, and refers to them as "lap gators." I don;t blame the breed, but the fact that owners thing these small dogs don;t need training and structure, so the dogs end up thinking they are in charge, which is never a good thing. Every dog, from the smallest chihuahua to the largest mastiff - they ALL need basic training at the very least. And with strong dogs like pitties, or large ones like Saint Bernards, for example, the earlier you do the training the better. It is easier to deal with an 8-pound puppy, than 50 pounds of muscle, or 125 pounds of enthusiasm when one is leash training a dog, and your shoulder socket will appreciate it, too!

I totally agree with you Karen, its not the breed it is the owners. as I live in the UK Pit-bulls are a banned breed but only because of stupid so called tough guys who use them for fighting or to show off as a [I'm a hard man] attitude. I would personally put these people to sleep. Sorry to butt in this attitude makes my blood boil. lol Also I have a 14 stone Newfoundland and like you say if he was not trained properly he would be a nightmare.

[SWHouston]

I agree with all the positive comments about Pities...
I've Fostered them, and have had only very pleasant experiences.
You raise them like any other Dog, and they'll act just like any other Dog.