Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
It's beyond me how people think owning a pitbull as a family pet is a good idea...
- Thread starter tzhu07
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
But precisely because they 'are more lethal when raised by idiots' the owner of a pit bull has, to my mind, a somewhat higher duty of care to ensure that the dog, (or dogs) is, or are, under control when they are around children, irrespective of whether the children are his/her own or come from another family.
I don't dispute that at all.
And yes, leaving children unsupervised with a powerful animal of any kind is a little silly and also a parenting failure.
But my point is that I don't think the Pitbull is the problem. The problem is the owner who has failed at a dog parent, and the parents of the kid failing at parental supervision. The dog is just a product of its environment.
All dogs are products of their environments, but the specific and pronounced characteristics that they have been bred for are not identical, and how they react to specific triggers will differ dramatically, not just depending on the owner, but sometimes depending on the breed, and indeed, depending on the actual character and success of the socialisation of the individual dog in question.
Therefore, while I see your point, mine is that while the pit bull 'may not be the problem', the characteristics that the dog has been bred for do suggest that a greater degree of caution and responsibility and a higher degree of care are required when the dog owner is the owner of a pit bull, rather than the owner of a number of other breeds, if that dog owner and that dog are going to be near, or around, children.
We don't have pit bulls in the UK, but as far as I can tell they're bigger stronger versions of bull breeds we do have (or equivalent of), like staffs (which have got a bad rep here).
I think a lot of it boils down to lockjaws and they way they throw things about when they maul, and children have been attacked by staffs here and make it into the news.... But I've known plenty of staffs who are lovely natured, mega patient dogs, and amazing with kids.... Its all about the upbringing.
I think a lot of it boils down to lockjaws and they way they throw things about when they maul, and children have been attacked by staffs here and make it into the news.... But I've known plenty of staffs who are lovely natured, mega patient dogs, and amazing with kids.... Its all about the upbringing.
Statistics speak for themselves and they have been consistent: 2014 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics from dogbite.org. It's like letting your kids swim with the friendly sharks. Admittedly an exaggeration. 
There have been cases where individuals of these breeds previously gentle, were triggered into an attack.
There have been cases where individuals of these breeds previously gentle, were triggered into an attack.
Last edited:
I don't like having any pitbulls around my kids. My best friend has two and they are sweet dogs, but as a parent you always have the thought in the back of your mind of, "what would I do if they suddenly attacked."
Even around the sweet ones you have the feeling of a grenade with the pin pulled. Just never now how long the fuse is.
Another reason I personally would never own them, I don't think they are good looking dogs.
Even around the sweet ones you have the feeling of a grenade with the pin pulled. Just never now how long the fuse is.
Another reason I personally would never own them, I don't think they are good looking dogs.
Dogs and small children are indeed a disaster waiting to happen. Also, automobiles and small children are a disaster waiting to happen. Swimming pools and small children? Certain death. Cleaning fluids and small children? Don't get me started. Stairs and small children? Tomorrow's headline news. Kitchen utensils and small children? Are you fricking kidding me?
The common thread here is clear: small children are indeed a bad idea.
The common thread here is clear: small children are indeed a bad idea.
Break it's neck, stick it with knife, punch it in it's eyes what ever it takes removes the threat. I like dogs a bunch but I like my daughter more.
Well, yes, oh dear: Leaving aside the distasteful noun, dripping with not even masked contempt, this does beg the question of why young men with certain predilections or from certain backgrounds may be more inclined to choose this breed of dog rather than another?
Ridiculous? No. Seeking refuge in a strange sort of denial? Perhaps.
Now, I have no quarrel with the argument that intelligent and responsible and caring owners are better than the alternative, for every possible breed of dog, and for the humans with whom these dogs interact.
However, I remain surprised that many on this thread seem to have difficulty with the idea that owning a dog that has been bred to fight (and has been bred to have a ferocious bite) does seem to imply a greeter degree of responsibility and duty of care to try to ensure that this dog is not a menace or threat to anybody else.
Now, I have no quarrel with the argument that intelligent and responsible and caring owners are better than the alternative, for every possible breed of dog, and for the humans with whom these dogs interact.
However, I remain surprised that many on this thread seem to have difficulty with the idea that owning a dog that has been bred to fight (and has been bred to have a ferocious bite) does seem to imply a greeter degree of responsibility and duty of care to try to ensure that this dog is not a menace or threat to anybody else.
Last edited:
I completely disagree.
While it can come down to raising and training, it also comes down to the temperament of the dog. My wife's Yellow Lab was the gentlest, most caring dog I have ever seen, outside of the miniature schnauzer I had when I was a child. Both were completely protective, to the point of mothering. But I have a picture of my son at 2 or 3 months old, laying down next to our yellow lab, in front of them staring at each other, and her grinning happily as he is in front of her.
The telling lack: the yellow lab is my wife's guide dog.
So while it does come down to raising, training, and the dog's temperament in their breed, the statement that dogs are not suited for small children is completely asinine.
BL.
Honestly, I think his lyrics celebrate alcohol and sexual themes far too much for children…
I read this, then thought, 'What the smeg are you talking about?!!?'...
then I read it again, and got it.. Touche!
BL.
So much of it is a dog by dog basis, really. German Shepherds and Rottweilers quite aggressive at times and Dalmatians are really mean. I have a Rottweiler/Pitt mix and he's great with kids. Pitt Bulls are such a wide array of dogs that are heavily crossbred with other breeds that most of them now don't carry over the fighting traits.
My vote is for Great Pyrenees. We have a Pyrenees/German shepherd mix. She is the sweetest animal I have ever met. Found her out on the side of the road in rural Texas. Pyrenees are extremely protective (bred to protect sheep) but extremely chill and generally quite friendly.
Yeah they shed, but that's the reality with a number of dogs.
This little (big. like 85 lbs) one is daddy's favorite
If they are rated the same as Golden Retrievers for aggressiveness you would think the kill rate would be similar between the two dogs, but it's not even close. Heck it's been years since a death was attributed to a Golden Retriever.
If you feel a Pitbull is the best choice for you and your family that's your business. I'll just stick with a Goldendoodle and feel very safe letting my nieces, nephews and visitors interact with him.
Every year, 25 times as many children are killed by cribs as by pit bulls.
Where is the "It's beyond me how people think using a crib as a bed for children is a good idea" thread?
Every year, 800 times as many children are abused by adults than are by pit bulls.
Wake up, people. Pit Bulls and dogs are not very dangerous.
However, 1.5 million pit bulls are killed in shelters every year. A pit bull is half a million times more likely to be killed by a human than the other way around.
And if anyone here owns a firearm, they need to delete every comment they have posted.