Pit Bulls

[phrehdd]

I'll take ANY pitbull over most chihuahuas/small dogs.
mom adopted this small 15 lbs turd with fur that strikes at anything that he doesn't like (except mom of course), little dog syndrome is real.

Interesting, I took care of (late in its life) a very frustrating 17lb dog that was friendly and when you pet him, he would turn and draw blood from you with a serious bite. After working with the dog it became clear he was never socialized correctly. After period of time, he became very gentle and affectionate. I also had a 9lb dog that had a miserable life as a puppy mill breeder and she too needed work to help gain confidence. It seems your 15lb biter had issues that someone simply failed to address properly. BTW, I have dogs in the 80lb range so I am not merely advocating for small dogs but pointing out your biter dog could have been addressed most likely but wasn't and that is not little dog syndrome when the dog prefers one person and attacks others. Indeed, no one knew how to deal with your mom's dog.
[doublepost=1516070480][/doublepost]Anyone who has seen Our Gang comedies/Little Rascals will remember Petey their dog who was a "Pit Bull" breed. These breeds used to be called family dogs and it appears there are many things going on with these Pit Bull breeds that should be addressed (in my opinion).

All of these breeds should be neutered/spayed/sterilized in the USA unless a proper breeder who takes the time to do both physical and behavioral research on the parent lines. These breeders should be licensed and in turn, those that wish to have some of the more "dangerous" breeds of dogs should be required to take a knowledge test, have a background check of ability to properly care for the dogs. Laws should be stronger where animal abuse is concerned and especially for dog such as these that have a very different behavioral response from other dogs leading into fight behavior.

In short, these breeds need to be "reworked" to get them back into their original spec size/form and behavior. After years of being bred for aggressiveness and a bit "broken," it is time to fix them so there are future issues as only rarities. Every Pit Bull breed individual dogs I have met were truly outstanding loving pets. However, I have also seen from afar, owners who keep them as "macho" extensions of their small peckers be more than cruel to their dogs. These are the types of owners that make the dogs react badly after an amount of time or fully withdraw.

Perhaps less drama and more constructive action is needed at this time to fix these breeds, get rid of bad owners and abuse venues (dog fights) etc.

As for me - I am more involved with the Spitz breeds which include everything from the Pomeranian up to the Malamute.

 

[AustinIllini]

That’s fallacy, any dog can bite, any dog can get agitated or spooked...

Then learn how to behave. That's a you problem. Dogs don't go out trying to hurt you.

 

[RedKite]

What frightens me, is when the owner physically is incapable of restraining a dog - I've had the dubious life experience of seeing a couple of bullmastiffs in person - they seemed very placid, but Jesus tap-dancing Christ they were scary. If one had gone for you, you would have been a goner.

The sad thing is most dogs are difficult to restrain if they see red. I own a small dog now, gentle and timid. But when I wrestle with him he occasionally goes too far (never to the point of drawing blood of course) but even he is difficult to pin down and calm down.

It’s sad and scary to see any one just buying a dog and thinking they can control it. They require so much knowledge and strength. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just being silly.

 

[Falhófnir]

The sad thing is most dogs are difficult to restrain if they see red. I own a small dog now, gentle and timid. But when I wrestle with him he occasionally goes too far (never to the point of drawing blood of course) but even he is difficult to pin down and calm down.

It’s sad and scary to see any one just buying a dog and thinking they can control it. They require so much knowledge and strength. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just being silly.

My thoughts too, I don't necessarily feel that dogs are 'ticking time bombs' or anything, but I think people often fail to realise that anything could set them off into fright/ anger, even if it's the happiest most placid animal on the face of the planet normally, and they can do an awful lot of damage in that state. Breeds like pit bulls, alsatians or any really large dog make it worse just by virtue of how powerful they are.

 

[belvdr]

Then learn how to behave. That's a you problem. Dogs don't go out trying to hurt you.

My cousin got a Great Dane once who tried to bite me and I never had met the dog before. It’s obvious that I reminded that dog of someone but it certainly wasn’t my fault.

What about some of these dogs that roam and attack randomly? Those dogs are certainly trying to hurt someone.

 

[AustinIllini]

What about some of these dogs that roam and attack randomly? Those dogs are certainly trying to hurt someone.

What dogs that roam around and attack randomly? You need to know better. You're a human. You can take care of yourself. Dogs don't spontaneously attack people. You intimidate them because you're big and human. They'll give all sorts of obvious signs of anxiety.

You're the more developed animal. Use your developed brain to understand what a dog is feeling.

 

[belvdr]

What dogs that roam around and attack randomly? You need to know better. You're a human. You can take care of yourself. Dogs don't spontaneously attack people. You intimidate them because you're big and human. They'll give all sorts of obvious signs of anxiety.

You're the more developed animal. Use your developed brain to understand what a dog is feeling.

At least one dog attacked a young girl walking home, for no reason that was found. Yeah she should know better for walking home from school.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

What dogs that roam around and attack randomly? You need to know better. You're a human. You can take care of yourself. Dogs don't spontaneously attack people. You intimidate them because you're big and human. They'll give all sorts of obvious signs of anxiety.

You're the more developed animal. Use your developed brain to understand what a dog is feeling.

I’ve known dogs turn and bite people without provocation. My aunts dog bit the back of her leg giving her 12 stitches because she got up to answer the phone one evening and up until that point had been very placid. I’m not saying every dog would do that but it does happen. She had no choice but to have the dog put down after that because the trust is gone.

 

[eyoungren]

What dogs that roam around and attack randomly? You need to know better. You're a human. You can take care of yourself. Dogs don't spontaneously attack people. You intimidate them because you're big and human. They'll give all sorts of obvious signs of anxiety.

You're the more developed animal. Use your developed brain to understand what a dog is feeling.

Any dog of any breed that attacks me or my family for any reason I may or may not "feel", that dog is going to be feeling a whole lot of nothing when I'm done with it.

I grew up rural. A flat head shovel is a VERY effective tool when a dog attacks.

Some may think this is abuse, and sorry can't help that. I see it as protection.

 

[oldhifi]

Then learn how to behave. That's a you problem. Dogs don't go out trying to hurt you.

Did you read the articles, they were just out walking..

 

[oldhifi]

So now we have attack dogs on planes:


http://www.ajc.com/travel/delta-pas...-escape-says-attorney/nYtlgO1rGbVMv68XekCWUL/

 

[AustinIllini]

So now we have attack dogs on planes:


http://www.ajc.com/travel/delta-pas...-escape-says-attorney/nYtlgO1rGbVMv68XekCWUL/

This is a very different problem and one that makes me very angry. There needs to be a certification for comfort/therapy dogs. People are buying harnesses so they can put a dog on a plane.

My dog is a therapy dog and it takes a lot of work and practice. She goes to schools, courthouses, and hospitals being a companion for adults and children everywhere.

 

[ZapNZs]

This is a very different problem and one that makes me very angry. There needs to be a certification for comfort/therapy dogs. People are buying harnesses so they can put a dog on a plane.

My dog is a therapy dog and it takes a lot of work and practice. She goes to schools, courthouses, and hospitals being a companion for adults and children everywhere.

Agreed. Also, websites like these don't help...
https://www.emotionalpetsupport.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInP6YqYDl2AIViABpCh3hlApPEAAYAyAAEgL8E_D_BwE

 

[oldhifi]

Banning some dog breeds:

http://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article208324329.html

 

[ThunderSkunk]

One of my closest friends was a total pit bull advocate for about twenty years, always quick to shift the blame from the fighting dog to some failure of its owner to perfectly control their barely domesticated killing machine. For 20 years we all heard about how their dogs are sweet and loving family dogs who would never blah blah blah, while everyone not in their family could see the chains yank tight whenever we'd visit. Three kids later with no problems, they now have a four year old with extensive plastic surgery, and no pit bulls. Still keeps a gun room full of loaded weapons though. ...with four kids under 10yo. But they've all been told that's daddy's room, so, no problem.

I've never known anyone attracted to pit bulls that didn't have some pretty screwed up power/aggression problems. Out of hundreds of breeds of dogs available and countless mutts, to choose the most dangerous of them all raises an obvious question of why.

 

[BernyMac]

I have a Ridgeback/Catahoula Hound mixed breed dog. Everyone who does not know the lineage always wrongly say he is a pitbull. Ignorance is sad. Even the most vicious pitbull is better than a lot of humans. At least you know that a "may" hurt you.

 

[eyoungren]

One of my closest friends was a total pit bull advocate for about twenty years, always quick to shift the blame from the fighting dog to some failure of its owner to perfectly control their barely domesticated killing machine. For 20 years we all heard about how their dogs are sweet and loving family dogs who would never blah blah blah, while everyone not in their family could see the chains yank tight whenever we'd visit. Three kids later with no problems, they now have a four year old with extensive plastic surgery, and no pit bulls. Still keeps a gun room full of loaded weapons though. ...with four kids under 10yo. But they've all been told that's daddy's room, so, no problem.

I've never known anyone attracted to pit bulls that didn't have some pretty screwed up power/aggression problems. Out of hundreds of breeds of dogs available and countless mutts, to choose the most dangerous of them all raises an obvious question of why.

I work with someone who has two Pit Bulls at home and she makes a lot of the same claims.

I have only one observation. She routinely comes to work with scrapes, scratches and bite marks all over her arms that only became a thing once she adopted these two dogs.

Now that can happen with any large dog, but she specifically mentions that these are Pit Bulls when she talks about them.

In any case, another reason I'm not really interested in owning ANY breed of large dog.

 

[AustinIllini]

Banning some dog breeds:

http://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article208324329.html

Honestly, this shouldn't be legal. If I can buy a firearm for protection, I should be able to responsibly raise a Doberman.

And German Shepherds? Seriously? Those are great dogs.

Great Danes? They're (huge) apartment dogs.

I would absolutely sue if I owned property in that neighborhood.

 

[Huntn]

Banning some dog breeds:

http://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article208324329.html

Not sure how I feel about this. Although the article said this was not a Home Association issue, I don't see a reason an ordinance would pass that effects just this area? Although I don’t see this happening, would a city be able to ban all dogs or all cats, or would there be a Constitutional challenge which I don’t really see.

One of my closest friends was a total pit bull advocate for about twenty years, always quick to shift the blame from the fighting dog to some failure of its owner to perfectly control their barely domesticated killing machine. For 20 years we all heard about how their dogs are sweet and loving family dogs who would never blah blah blah, while everyone not in their family could see the chains yank tight whenever we'd visit. Three kids later with no problems, they now have a four year old with extensive plastic surgery, and no pit bulls. Still keeps a gun room full of loaded weapons though. ...with four kids under 10yo. But they've all been told that's daddy's room, so, no problem.

I've never known anyone attracted to pit bulls that didn't have some pretty screwed up power/aggression problems. Out of hundreds of breeds of dogs available and countless mutts, to choose the most dangerous of them all raises an obvious question of why.

I think in many cases, owning a pit bull is about owning a bad ass dog or maybe a cobra to show how tough you are.

I work with someone who has two Pit Bulls at home and she makes a lot of the same claims.

I have only one observation. She routinely comes to work with scrapes, scratches and bite marks all over her arms that only became a thing once she adopted these two dogs.

Now that can happen with any large dog, but she specifically mentions that these are Pit Bulls when she talks about them.

In any case, another reason I'm not really interested in owning ANY breed of large dog.

We (wife and I) owned several Great Danes over the years, large peaceful dogs, never got bit. Great pets other than the giant turds they left in the yard.

I mention this not as any kind of a defense of large dogs, but as part of my interesting past. In college, my parents saved a 100lb, Great Pyrenees from the pound, which was given up by friends because they did not trust it around their newborn child. Extremely protective, it was an aggressive dog towards other dogs and strangers, but never bit anyone it knew. When I came home from college, I had to make friends with it, which consisted of it jumping up with it’s front paws on my chest and barking in my face, and grabbing my hand in it’s mouth, but not biting me. When it got a chance infrequently to dominate other dogs, it did not try to kill them, but who knows if they had fought back? Exposing their bellys was good enough for him. It never bit any guests, but we never gave it the chance, nor suggested they go through the friend making process. Torus just got locked up in the basement when friends came to visit where he produced epic barking storms.

His departure from our family was precipitated, the day he was unhappy being left alone in the house, proceeded to tear down every drape in the house before going through the screen of an open bathroom window, a high window to run about the neighborhood. He ended up quite happily, living on a farm in Southern Maryland with a woman who raised Great Pyrenees.

Honestly, this shouldn't be legal. If I can buy a firearm for protection, I should be able to responsibly raise a Doberman.

And German Shepherds? Seriously? Those are great dogs.

Great Danes? They're (huge) apartment dogs.

I would absolutely sue if I owned property in that neighborhood.

See my first comment. Municipalities have been known to ban certain dangerous animals, like tigers or certain exotic animals. I’ve never been a pit bull fan, but think the process and large list of dogs that someone chose to ban in this case (not sure who), deserves to be scrutinized. By virtue of pit bulls being at the top of the owner killing or attacking list, a ban of this particular breed seems to be defensible, but I acknowledge the slippery slope bans can represent, so I’m not a fan of those either.

 

[AustinIllini]

See my first comment. Municipalities have been known to ban certain dangerous animals, like tigers or certain exotic animals. I’ve never been a pit bull fan, but think the process and large list of dogs that someone chose to ban in this case (not sure who), deserves to be scrutinized. By virtue of pit bulls being at the top of the owner killing or attacking list, a ban of this particular breed seems to be defensible, but I acknowledge the slippery slope bans can represent, so I’m not a fan of those either.

Maybe I'm just spoiled because that crap would never happen here. The dog population is just so crazy out of control right now.

 

[oldhifi]

Now there on the subways:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/04/2...iders-foot-after-alleged-fight-over-seat.html

 

[oldhifi]

https://nypost.com/2018/09/05/woman-mauled-to-death-by-pit-bull-she-just-adopted/

yep great dogs, when will people ever learn?

 

[phrehdd]

https://nypost.com/2018/09/05/woman-mauled-to-death-by-pit-bull-she-just-adopted/

yep great dogs, when will people ever learn?

Yes, the thing to learn is that bully breeds found in shelters and the like might have a history of bad care and abuse and thus require more effort to rehab. Indecently, a police officer sadly put down his own K9 partner who turned on him. This is a dog that was highly trained, a German Shepherd that was well bred. - Any dog that has had any level of actively being aggressive takes more work to ensure non-aggressive behavior/reaction moving forward in a person's care.

If it makes you feel any better - I would like a ban on breeding any bully breed except for quality/ethical breeders who are about the welfare of the breed and not profit. They breed for body spec, genetic health and *disposition.* The cost of pups from an ethical breeder will be higher. Those that breed outside of this group will have their dogs taken, face fines and possibly jail time. Those that breed for fights, will have their property seized. Time to clean up this mess in a more realistic fashion.

 

[jkcerda]

rescued this one at 1 am in the morning, hence my great "Attire", that's an ankle support btw

MY dogs were going crazy, this adorable pup was trying to get in and barking up a storm, he would NOT leave so I took a chance and went out, he was pretty mellow once he settled down. he looked mean, acted mean and was nothing but love when I grabbed him.

 

[phrehdd]

rescued this one at 1 am in the morning, hence my great "Attire", that's an ankle support btw

MY dogs were going crazy, this adorable pup was trying to get in and barking up a storm, he would NOT leave so I took a chance and went out, he was pretty mellow once he settled down. he looked mean, acted mean and was nothing but love when I grabbed him.

In my many dog years experience, I have only met up with one bully (mix) that was a true threat to all. The dog was not put down but rather, went through training with additional support of Rx medication. The dog not only had a bad life growing up but appeared to have legitimate mental issues.