Pitbulls in the news

[Athe]

Ok FIRST OF ALL pitbulls were bred to be people friendly. Pitbulls were bred to NOT attack humans.

All good breeders breed for dogs that don't attack humans I hear this so much and for myself I just can't stand behind such a comment. It's a weak defense. All dogs can and will bite, I have seen the worst bites from the best bred APBT's...
The biggest thing you have to keep in mind is when this particular dog decides to bite...how much damage will it inflict. I would be less worried about a Golden Retriever biting me than a Rottweiler or AST, APBT.

 

[Renee750il]

Exactly, Athe. One real problem that has to be factored in is the irresponsible breeding - not just by backyard breeders, but by organizations like the AKC that push conformation, conformation, conformation, warping and twisting it over the years and leaving behind too many behavioural and temperamental considerations in the quest for a certain look that is winning shows at any given time.

Pits were very selectively bred to specifically have extreme bite inhibition toward humans. Drovers should have kill inhibitions; drover/guardians should be able to differentiate between what is a threat and what is not and use some discretion as to how to deal with the threat. If these breeds had not had these qualities when they were needed as working dogs they would have been useless and would likely not have survived - at least not in a form we would recognize today.

Education is precisely what is needed. Not only for owners and breeders, but a bit of common sense in the general population would go a long way as well. I keep harping on it: Dogs don't bite without a reason, and there is almost always a human behind that reason - not necessarily the one who gets bitten, but somewhere in the equation there's a human factor!

 

[Athe]

Not only for owners and breeders, but a bit of common sense in the general population would go a long way as well. I keep harping on it: Dogs don't bite without a reason, and there is almost always a human behind that reason - not necessarily the one who gets bitten, but somewhere in the equation there's a human factor!

I would agree with that on one level...but until you have seen a well socialized dog which is friendly and owned by a great owner go into predatory drift and attack because a person's voice is too high pitched...this is not the fault of the owner...it is due to the enhanced drive of that particular dog. I suppose we could blame it on the breed clubs pushing for enhanced drives and full series of predatory drives that normal dogs do not possess. It's very easy to breed for enhanced drives just as easy as it is to deselect some motor patterns.

 

[Debi]

I've read most of this thread..but became exhausted. A story in our news this week...condensed version..'dog loose..police pull up, see it's a pitbull, shoot 4 times' NOW..PALEEEEESE...if that doesn't just want to make you cry, you're not human. The poor owner was in tears..the pit was 14 yrs old and so very tame. Ignorance won again...and believe me, I emailed that station and spit out a piece of my mind for even running the story. We've all had our dogs run off for a moment..the very thought that ignorance would lead to your dog being shot on the spot is pathetic. I personally am more frightened of my neighbor's chis that will bite you repeatedly soon as look at you. Don't play with me.....they could absolutely kill a child. (don't send me hate mail chi owners...I'm not bashing them, just making a point) I can't imagine when the madness will end regarding pitbulls. I HATE the media's fixation for them....it's the same to me as picking out certain people and deciding their 'bad'. It's CRAP.

 

[BigDog2191]

I just read through this whole thread.

It's absolutely ludicrous what I've been reading. Pit bulls were meant to hunt wild game; bears, wild boars, etc.

Basically, they were bred to be as animal-aggressive as possible but to also be as HUMAN-FRIENDLY as possible.

Every pit bull I've ever met was extremely nice. They've got such a bad rap because of the media and a lot of it is true, sure. But it's the result of irresponsible breeding and irresponsible ownership. People who have deep insecurities about themselves need to get a "bad ass pit bull" to make them seem tough.

Then, as soon as it pees on the floor or tears up a bed--they give 'em to a shelter or just abandon him.

There is nothing wrong with a pitbull. It's the people. It's in their GENETICS to love people. The only that can change that is, guess what? PEOPLE.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I hate when people say that pits are bad with children, they should never be around them. It's irresponsible to leave a young child alone with or without a dog, no matter what the breed. I wouldn't leave my nephew alone at all, with or without one of my dogs, unless he was taking a nap or something.

 

[BigDog2191]

Absolutely. Leaving ANY dog alone with a child is stupid. I heard about a recent-- I think it was an Alaskan Malamute left alone with a child and the Malamute wanted to play and accidentally killed the child.

Not a pit bull--but leaving a CHILD alone with ANY dog is stupid. I think they should only be left alone with the dog if they're 11 or older.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

It really is just stupid to leave a small child alone with any animal. Little kids don't know how to read body language, and they don't know how to respect animals. I am lucky to have an animal-loving family that has taught me to appreciate and respect animals, when we first got Colby I was pretty young, and I was taught to respect her and not to push her to her limits. I have learned how to read their body language, and if I see that they seem unhappy about something, I try to get them out of that situation ASAP.

 

[Rose's Gal]

I would be less worried about a Golden Retriever biting me than a Rottweiler or AST, APBT.

I don't know...from what I know, Pitties grab and hold on. I'd rather be bit by a PitBull that just grabs my arm and refuses to let go, than a Labrador, or a GSD, or something that will rip and tear. But then, that is just MO.

 

[Debi]

I suppose it will never cease to amaze me how the media will run to a story involving a pitbull....because that's just another thing I'm not stupid about...dog bites happen all the time, with all breeds. For a dozen reasons...but I blame the media for the hype, as it hypes so many things for the 'story'....let's just be over dramatic when we can. I swear...if you would have even seen the reporter on the story I mentioned...OMG..give the guy an Oscar right now. I have little respect for the media....even less (none) when it comes to their pathetic renditions of 'pitbull attacks'. Sadly, that's what the general public sees........I gotta wonder about all people who believe everything they see in the 'news'.....stopping now....gets me tooooooooooooo angry.

and I totally agree.........leaving any child alone....DUH...let alone with an animal is the stupidity of a negligent parent.

 

[Richie12345]

I love pitbulls, wish I could own one (my mom is afraid of them), but just because GO calls a pitbull a loaded gun doesn't mean I am going to give it my all to insult her and prove her wrong. Everybody as been mislead by the media, I know I have. Just type down "Pitbull attacks" on google, and someone that's not educated in dogs will get convinced that pitbulls are a dangerous breed, I used to be. Everybody is proud about being a "family" and defending the pitbull. I am dissapointed in you guys... I am fine with defending the pitbull, but just don't call someone close-minded, ignorant, and stupid. What happend to manners, if someone goes talking bad about a breed or someone else don't stoop down to her level.

 

[juliefurry]

Well they are close-minded when they do not listen to what other people have to say. When all they can see is their point and won't even listen to what others have to say they are being close-minded. There are lots of pitbull owners -lovers on this site and I (being an owner) am not going to sit around and let my dog be bad mouthed by someone who just thinks there own way and will not even listen to what others say about the breed. If they are going to open a discussion like they did they should expect to get this kind of additude from people, especially when they are not willing to listen or consider what others are saying.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

Richie -

Most of us here have heard this one too many times. Someone IS ignorant and close-minded when they don't so much as read what other people have to say.

 

[Renee750il]

That's admirable of you to want to defend someone, Richie, but before GO got the short end she was given the chance and the wherewithal to introduce herself to valid information that didn't agree with her agenda. Refusing to entertain any sources that disagree with what you wish to believe removes one from the realm of being ignorant, which is nothing shameful, to being willfully ignorant, which is reprehensible.

And it's pretty difficult to do any kind of reading on Chazhound without figuring out that we are a very pro-Pit/anti-BSL bunch here. I think GO was just trying to stir up ill feelings and really doesn't deserve your concern.

Now, if GO decides to do a little homework and open her mind a bit, she's welcome and we'll be more than happy to have a rational exchange of ideas.

However, posting with a bad case of diarrhea of the mouth and constipation of the brain just doesn't cut it

 

[bubbatd]

Amen, Renee ......I notice she's gone ????

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I doubt she'll come back - she doesn't have a good argument.

 

[Love4Pits]

I don't think I was in the wrong at all and i still stick by everything i said. My pitbulls are my life at this point and add such a freshness to my normal days because lets face it their nothing like s Sibe, Chin, or Mal lol but their just as sweet. I will defend my pits with my life and obviousely have before im still healing from that incident. I won't go back on anything i said because GO is closed minded and ignorent and i was litterally in tears actualy TEARS when replying the first time to this post. Because i love my dogs so much and THAT PERSON was calling them monsters and saying they were a loaded gun! I won't go back and I won't apologize or agree to disagree GO steped over a major line with me and I will never forgive that person I'll take that back I may forgive but I will NEVER forget!

To me GO is just like those boys who threw rocks at me and my dogs in town!


Sorry had to rant again

 

[Debi]

Pits...that pic of Babe is to die for..OMG..SAWEEEEET! LOL I don't think anyone here bashes people for opinions at all. But, it does depend on the post how reponses are given. A blatant 'bash' will get someone flak....sorry, it's just ignorant. We've had many discussions of breeds....that's always a good thing. Someone just coming to this forum to post such a flaming opinion will get just what they asked for. Anyone intending on 'bashing' a breed better come with a really good argument, and massive education, and facts.....TRUE facts to present their case.

 

[Richie12345]

Well they are close-minded when they do not listen to what other people have to say. When all they can see is their point and won't even listen to what others have to say they are being close-minded.

If they are close-minded and only see their point, why waste energy? No matter how hard you try they are going to have the same opinion. We shouldn't yell at them and call them stupid, because they are just going to get madder and talk bad about the breed. For something like this, just ignore it, don't stoop down to her level.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

We stated our opinions and gave her information on the breed. She chose not to listen.