Pit bulls: Vicious animals or misunderstood?

[luvofallhorses]

dog_pug,

have you ever met a pit bull? If not, you should meet one. They are VERY sweet, depending on who owns them..I hope to have one someday after I do my research of course.

[dog_pug123]

dog_pug,

have you ever met a pit bull? If not, you should meet one. They are VERY sweet, depending on who owns them..I hope to have one someday after I do my research of course.

I have never. And I have to admit, I do have a bit against the breed. I have seen two loose ones... in Oregon at my cabin, and I didn't see them for long. They started coming toward me and I screamed and ran into my cabin. I really don't like being around them... they kind of scare me. At the hotel in California (just... about 3 days ago) I saw two being walked by the owner and one growled at me and the other was jumping all over. I think I just don't give them a chance. But my heart just starts beating really hard and I get red and really scared. I don't know why. Maybe because of all of the reports I've seen and read. But I think I really need to give them a chance, but it's hard. Maybe if I met one and my parents made me pet one I'd be better.

[Shaylee]

I've heard that their senses of sight and hearing tend to go as they get older and so can get confused as to who is near them at times.

[Ravette]

ah this debat is as old as time it seems.

A lot of people can not tell the difference between an actual pitbull and many of the bully breeds. So when people do get bitten or attacked they might claim its was a pitbull but a lot of that comes from the fact that that is the breed that gets in the paper so the person assumes that thats what bit them.

I own two pitbull mixes well I own one the other belongs to my dad. Guess what my dad's is very child leary. He(Charlie LabXPit) actually has biten several children and yes most of the time the child was doing nothing at all. I personally chalk it up to the fact that he was never socilized with children and my dad lets him get away with it. Yeah he yells and puts him out on the back porch but to me this is and never will be enough.

Callie - PitbullXLab - Dog that became mine because my step-brother got a girlfriend and his dog was no longer important. Callie is the most submissive thing you have ever seen. She likes to worm her way out of my windows of my car to follow me to a building. When I turn around she instantly throws herself on her back. She was very afraid of children when she was about 6/7months old but after I put her on a leash and correct everytime she barked or lunged away from a child it went away. She now acts like they don't exsist unless they have her toys then she is more then willing to play.

Jared - pure Golden Retriever- My beloved Jared gets very jealous when I pet strange dogs that he will actually growl at them sometimes. We are working on this and hes getting MUCH better.

I think its all on the owner.

NO BAD DOGS JUST BAD OWNERS! maybe not even bad owners but ones that don't understand a dogs needs/responses ect ect.

"There are no killer dogs!

Dogs are not born killers nor do they choose to be killers. What we are seeing in the news with the recent rash of canine violence, is the tragic outcome of humans who own dogs, but do not know how to properly fullfill the needs of man's best friend.

We can prevent dog attacks by understanding dog psychology. Dog owners, the public and especially the professionals charged with issues of public safety can live harmoniously with canines through proper care and communication with the animals. "


- Cesar Millan

[CathyBogart]

Pit bulls were bred for hundreds of years for aggression towards other dogs and docility towards humans. Check out "Monser Myths" from a local Pit BUll rescue, BAD RAP.

Also, http://www.atts.org/ is worth taking a look at....temperament testing done on lots of breeds of dogs...the Pit Bull is one of the high scoring breeds on this test. 83.3% of them passed, as opposed to 65.6% of Scottish terriers, 64.8% of Schnauzers, etc.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Pit bulls were bred for hundreds of years for aggression towards other dogs and docility towards humans. Check out "Monser Myths" from a local Pit BUll rescue, BAD RAP.

Also, http://www.atts.org/ is worth taking a look at....temperament testing done on lots of breeds of dogs...the Pit Bull is one of the high scoring breeds on this test. 83.3% of them passed, as opposed to 65.6% of Scottish terriers, 64.8% of Schnauzers, etc.

Those are interesting websites...I have to admit the ATTS test seems a bit tough, though. Mainly just the gunshot part- I would be terrified! I think my dogs would probably be okay with that though, my husband is always trying out different sounds on them to get them interested, so they mainly ignore it. I think my dogs would pass but I'm not sure how they would react to an aggressive stranger since that's never happened before.

rupert, I can understand your hesitation around pitbulls if you were attacked, that must have been awful. But I agree with the others, it is the owner's fault, not the dog's.

[Jessika]

Pit bulls were bred for hundreds of years for aggression towards other dogs and docility towards humans. Check out "Monser Myths" from a local Pit BUll rescue, BAD RAP.

Thats what I have always said. Even pits who were trained and bred to fight aren't aggressive towards humans. In fact, they have to be docile towards humans because if they get hurt or injured in the fighting ring, their owner has to come get them out, and they can't attack them. You know?? So yes, thats another BIG myth.

[Toby's my baby]

I love pits, and like everyone has said, dont blame the breed. . ..

My dog, Boo boo, is on the "dangerous dogs" list at our local police station for attacking someone. If he attacks anybody else, they are going to seize him, and have him put down. . . he is a PEKINESE/ POODLE. . .