Pit Bull Perception

[DryCreek]

I've never understood why people think that the American Pit Bull Terrier is any more aggressive or unstable than any other breed. It's a dog like any other that can be raised/trained to be an excellent, reliable family companion. No dog just snaps for no reason. (Barring a medical reason)
There are signs far in advance of any incident that signals a behavior problem but many people do not understand (or care) enough about canine behavior to notice them.

There are many breeds that are considered combative, just like people assume all Pit Bulls are.

This page rates the combativeness level in many different breeds from 1 (friendly with other dogs) to 5 (very dog aggressive)

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/combativeness.htm

How does everyone's breed rate?

 

[Renee750il]

I agree with the trigger .... but I feel some breed's trigger is a little more sensitive .

Of course it is, Grammy . . . why do you think I'm so adamant about making sure Kharma gets plenty of exposure to being around people and all sorts of situations?

You've got to be aware of your dog and your dog's heritage as a breed and as an individual.

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

My last pittie foster went to a home with 2 children. One is over a year (was 11 months when she got him), the other is a 7 year old. His new mom says that the year old will sit next to Jet & Jet will just lick her and wag his tail.

I believe a dog is how you make it. No breed of dogs are the same and yes you do have to be aware of any special needs of the breed, but an unstable pit is in the MINORITY, and should be euthanized if it is aggressive, just like any other aggressive dog. The problem becomes why punish the good pit bull owners?? Every pit bull owner I know is wonderful and absolutely treats their dogs like we do.

I went to my friends house. She has 3 dogs. One is a small breed mix, this dog is crazy and has threatened to bite many, many people. SHe will come up to you wanting to be pet then will get "crazy eyes" and snap-it is due to her background we assume. The other dog is a pittie mix. She is "the best dog" according to everyone who comes over. Sweet as pie.

I have heard Dalmatians are aggressive, I have actually had "dog people" cringe when I told them I had Dals and they say "those are nasty dogs arent they?" or kind of make a face and say "oh...you have a dalmatian?". I have yet to hear one person tell a positive Dalmatian story, but it seems like everyone has a negative one. However, my two are really sweet.

Pits are actually beaten quite frequently to make them mean. I can honestly say that at least around here they are the MOST abused dogs. It is horrible how awful peopel are to them. They throw them off of bridges, cut their ears with scissors, tie them up and have another dog attack them. They are starved, chained, given no attention and I have seen these dogs at the shelter, and they are the sweetest dogs you have met. They just want a home and a warm bed to sleep in. Other breeds dont fair as well.

 

[RD]

Of course it is, Grammy . . . why do you think I'm so adamant about making sure Kharma gets plenty of exposure to being around people and all sorts of situations?

You've got to be aware of your dog and your dog's heritage as a breed and as an individual.

Precisely.

Border Collies scored a 4 on that list. Interesting.

 

[~Jessie~]

Great pics

I agree, Renee, as well.

By the way, I adopted out my foster chi last year to a woman who also has an american pit bull terrier... they get along great. All dogs have the potential to be aggressive, no matter what the breed is. I was rushed to the ER when I was 3 because I was bitten by a lab.

According to that list, Chihuahuas scored a 4 out of 5.

 

[Whisper]

^ It is interesting that BCs scored a 4.

 

[BostonBanker]

You have to do this with every breed, it doesn't mean it's bad, but all breeds (and individual dogs) have notable characteristics that require vigilance on the part of the owner to control - whether it is a tendency towards aggression, prey drive, poor reliability off-lead, fear, nuisance barking.. Whatever. I think it's fine if people don't want to own Pit types, it's their choice. My problem lies with the people who don't think anyone should own them.

:hail: Genius:hail: . Pretty much what I wanted to say, just a bit clearer than I would have been.

I have yet to have a negative interaction with a pit, but I have had them with other breeds. A friend sustained a pretty nasty puncture today from a Border Collie. Not from overt aggression, per se, but he's got pretty intense herding drive and triggers on movement. Unfortunately, it was her hand that he triggered on.

The two punctures I have had were from a Rat Terrier and a Golden Retriever. The Rat was very difficult with strangers; I was housesitting and was luring the dog out of it's crate by dropping roast beef onto the ground. I thought it was getting comfortable, so I tried to hand it a piece. The dog ignore the beef and grabbed my hand. The Golden was tearing into another dog (a Bernese) and a friend and I tried to break up the fight. I got bit by the Golden, she got bit by the Berner.

I don't mind if people don't want to own pitbulls; they aren't right for everyone. Even people who aren't making an "educated" decision are probably right that they shouldn't own the breed. But don't tell others they can't own their dog of choice.

 

[BostonBanker]

Oh, and Mountain Curs are a three on the list; probably right where I would put Meg.

 

[SisMorphine]

Athena is a 2 and Wally is a 1. I believe it.

I think everyone knows my views on pit bulls, bulldogs, mastiffs, and the rest of those "bad breeds" . . . I'll never again NOT own one of these fun loving, people loving, fantastic dogs! My vicious bulldog/mastiff (Athena the Alapaha) that all of those quoted people claim they would never own because they are aggressive, is only a 2 on that list!! **** vicious bulldog/mastiff thing!

 

[squirtsmom]

Squirt is the best dog I have ever had. She is sweet and doesn't have a mean bone in her body. My daughers dachsund, has bitten the s**t out ofmy leg before.

 

[Sunnierhawk0]

Bullmastiff got a 4 , Rottweiler got a 4, and ACD got a 5 HAHA go figure.

 

[blue]

Verde is a mix and everybody who meets her cant beleave she is part pit, because of the media and how sweet she is.

 

[Doberluv]

Dobermans ranked a 5. (very dog aggressive)

And Chihuahuas ranked 4 (tends to be fairly dog aggressive)

My Chis yap at other dogs but don't really mind them that much....never attack or get snarky. My Doberman is quite snarky, but never has attacked a dog....like dogs that come wandering onto our property. One time two were very close to the house (people around here are unbelievable how they let their dogs roam) And Lyric barked a little and then continued playing with Toker....hardly paid any attention to them. LOL. But on leash with me....another story.

 

[RD]

My border collies are friendly with other dogs, and it takes a lot to push them to the point of aggression. Eve is passive and sweet, but Dakota won't back down if he's challenged. I trust Eve to always be polite, but I keep a close eye on Dakota if he's socializing with strange dogs.

Apparently mine are friendlier than most - I have seen a lot of BCs that are fine with other dogs until they invade their space. I don't think that makes them belligerent, though. They're usually just anti-social.

 

[Renee750il]

The Riot Grrrls are positively passive with other dogs. It's people they don't much care for

Bimmer, on the other hand, is a take-no-prisoners sorta guy, especially if the other dog looks at Kharma too closely . . . I keep a close eye on him when other dogs are around.

 

[showpug]

I just wanted to add that I am so sick of the plight of pitbulls. My heart breaks for the breed as a whole, it just makes me really sad. The general population has no clue about the truth regarding this breed. About a month ago my 8 year old niece was over with her parents and over dinner she proceeded to tell me how terrified she was to go over to her friends house because they just got a new pitbull puppy. I am sure I drove everyone nuts with my dinner long speech about the breed, but I couldn't take hearing it. People need to be educated and I couldn't bite my tongue any longer. My niece had developed and media driven fear to the point where she didn't want to go to her friends house. A 10 week old puppy was ALREADY being discriminated against before it was even given a chance. I am sure her whole ride home her parents told her to forget everything I said (they aren't dog people) but at least I tried...

 

[arishaun]

All I have to say when I hear this is, "Sheesh...here we go again.." It has been a rare thing for me to meet a pittie who has been outright aggressive. Usually when that happens, it's a dog that's been through some stuff that even I don't want to fathom. Even then, most of them have been the sweetest things ever. I'm actually thinking of adding one to my brood soon..

Having said that, the one time I've been bit by a dog, a Cocker Spaniel did the deed. Wonder what the pitbull-haters would have to say about that?

 

[mrose_s]

sophie is the dog i trust most to behave well in all situations. its the blue boyys i wouldn't trust with strangers.

i also believe some breeds DO have the tendancy to be more aggressive. but i also believe that this "instinct" can be socialised out of them if done by an expereince person. i include ACD's very highly in this list, also kelpies. aftre speaking with many other owners opf these breeds, it appears its very difficult to train a kelpie or ACD to enjoy the company of other dogs. and that ACD's are naturally not welcoming of strangers.

i myself, wouldnt take on a pit till i was confident i could make it a good example of the breed. this being said, i don't have any prejudice towards these breeds, i don't think OMG a cattle dog or OMG a pit RUN! but i am aware of their background. actually, the only dogs that have ever acted aggressivley towards me have been ACD's. but their still my favourite breed, i just resepct their heritage

 

[DryCreek]

A lot of breeds CAN have issues, but we, the owners, need to train the dog to do as it is taught and not just let things go. Sure, take into consideration that this or that breed tends to be a certain way, but dogs only do things or act a certain way if we allow it to happen.

At the very least, the good owners of the APBT realize that DA CAN be an issue and work at never allowing an indident to happen, while owners of other breeds that may tend to be DA may not realize this trend in their breed and end up having issues they don't understand.

I just get frustrated that people believe that these behavioral traits are APBT specific, that there is no other breed with the same issues. Yet many dogs, both large and small, can, if not trained/raised properly, have the same, or worse, issues than the "Pit Bull".

 

[noludoru]

I love all the pics.. especially Danno's last one, it's so beautiful. :hail:

Renee hit it right on the nose.

Bimmer, on the other hand, is a take-no-prisoners sorta guy, especially if the other dog looks at Kharma too closely . . . I keep a close eye on him when other dogs are around.

What exactly do you mean? And I keep meaning to ask you, how old are Kharma and Shiva now? *clueless*