pitbulls

[tigerkat]

pit bulls are the best dogs.
i will never go a day without any of mine!!!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

In the proper hands they are wonderful dogs

[Suki Wingy]

Moesha, you should try and convince them to get the irresponsible owners to pay the vet. It's their fault the dogs were running off leash. It's idiots like that that can ruin any breed.

[lute]

In the proper hands they are wonderful dogs

I'm am not bashing your comment at all. For some reason when I read it, it struck me funny. When talking about pit bulls this comments comes up a lot. I've even said it myself. BUT if you think about it, like I just happened to, wouldn't this go for ALL breeds? Not just the bully breeds? Any dog can be made aggressive. IMHO this comment can hinder the connection we try to make with Pit Bulls becomming good companions for normal every day people who think these dogs should be exterminated. It makes the dog sound like it IS a danger and you have to know how to "control the beast" in order for it to be a good dog. This couldn't be further from the truth. Infact the way to have a good level headed Pit Bull as a loving companion is good socialization as a puppy and a firm but not too firm owner. The same goes with any breed. There is nothing good socialization and training can't do.

I guess maybe I put too much thought into this small saying. For some reason or another it just struck me tonight.

[Suki Wingy]

I've always thought the same. My dog's been attacked once, and lunged at twice, I can assure you, it was the owner's faults.

[leansnslobbers]

I don't see anything wrong with what Brody's Mom said. There are some dogs that are well known for not being "beginner" breeds, and the pit bull would typically fall into that classification. That doesn't mean that they are bad dogs, it just means it takes someone who understands the breed and knows what they entail.

For the average dog, there is a small scale of forgiveness for novice ownership. Not for pit bulls. If you make a mistake with a pit bull, the whole breed suffers.

So yes, in the right hands, they make superb pets. In the wrong hands, they'll end up just another statistic.

Just my two cents.

[Spicy_Bulldog]

I'm am not bashing your comment at all. For some reason when I read it, it struck me funny. When talking about pit bulls this comments comes up a lot. I've even said it myself. BUT if you think about it, like I just happened to, wouldn't this go for ALL breeds? Not just the bully breeds? Any dog can be made aggressive. IMHO this comment can hinder the connection we try to make with Pit Bulls becomming good companions for normal every day people who think these dogs should be exterminated. It makes the dog sound like it IS a danger and you have to know how to "control the beast" in order for it to be a good dog. This couldn't be further from the truth. Infact the way to have a good level headed Pit Bull as a loving companion is good socialization as a puppy and a firm but not too firm owner. The same goes with any breed. There is nothing good socialization and training can't do.

I guess maybe I put too much thought into this small saying. For some reason or another it just struck me tonight.

Yes it is true of all breeds, but we are talking of Pits not all breeds. So that is why they are saying in the right hands they make wonderful dogs. It doesn't at all sound like controlling the beast. It sounds like you need to be a responsible owner with them, they are blaming bad owners for the bad dogs and know that in the right hands Pit Bulls are wonderful.

Training and socialization doesn't remedy everything, it can help and control somethings. A lot of people also do not offer training or socialization that is why they said in the right hands, in the hands that will train and socialize instead of owners who will not do those things.

Pit Bulls are a wonderful breed in general and only take a responsible, sensible owner, the problem is those seem to be in short order lately. So I think that is why they were saying it, not because Pit Bulls are dangerous beast or anything. Pit Bulls can have a horrid life and be excellent dogs, just sweethearts who only need a little training. They have been bred to be friendly, forgiving and trusting.

[Blackrose]

Yes it is true of all breeds, but we are talking of Pits not all breeds. So that is why they are saying in the right hands they make wonderful dogs. It doesn't at all sound like controlling the beast. It sounds like you need to be a responsible owner with them, they are blaming bad owners for the bad dogs and know that in the right hands Pit Bulls are wonderful.

Training and socialization doesn't remedy everything, it can help and control somethings. A lot of people also do not offer training or socialization that is why they said in the right hands, in the hands that will train and socialize instead of owners who will not do those things.

Pit Bulls are a wonderful breed in general and only take a responsible, sensible owner, the problem is those seem to be in short order lately. So I think that is why they were saying it, not because Pit Bulls are dangerous beast or anything. Pit Bulls can have a horrid life and be excellent dogs, just sweethearts who only need a little training. They have been bred to be friendly, forgiving and trusting.

So true. But I do understand what Lute is saying.
I recentally read of a Cairn/Poodle mix that attacked an infant while it was asleep. Long story short (and lots of questions about the mom's competancy) the infant lived but needed reconstructive surgery and the pup was put down.
Now. Let's say I posted that article online on a dog forum (I actually did). How many replies do you think it would get that said all Cairnoodles ( ) are inherintally aggressive, they should be liscensed like we liscense guns, they would never trust them, that groomers, doggy daycares, parks, and other places as such have the right to discriminate against them, and that insurance policies shouldn't cover them.
Funny, because a Pittie attacked a boy and the boy needed reconstructive surgery and those were the exact words that were coming out of people's mouths. It was the dog's fault. And yet, when I posted about the Cairn/poodle mauling, everyone was blaming the mother - not the dog. There were no sayings of "in the right hands this dog can be a wonderful mix". Nope, and BSL wasn't brought up at all.

Go figure.

I think the problem today is that is the Pitties turn in the "limelight". It was the Rotties, Dobermans, Chows, and GSDs. Those breeds were once the "pitbulls" of today. I'm just waiting for the focus to shift off of Pitties and onto another breed of dog...I'm just afriad of what it is going to be.