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Trig Feb 12, 2019 at 08:08 AM
  #1
Anyone who has had dog trauma could possibly be triggered.. just an FYI...

Is it a media thing? I hear many pitbull owners say its all a media thing that you only hear the bad things about pitbulls. They say that little dogs are actually the worst. I do not read about little dogs killing their owners though. There was this woman around here that was wonderful and had the sweetest pitbulls, friendly and everything.
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Personally I am scared of them but I was attacked and "locked down" when I was playing with one when I was ten.
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but didn't bite down but it scared the crap out of me and I have been afraid ever since. What do you all think? I think a lot of it can be irresponsible ownership too. Oftentimes you will hear that a yard was not secure or the pitbull wasnt on a leash or got away from the owner but still... they are scary dogs and they are one of the few breeds that seem to
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My dad had two pitbulls and 3 cats. All grew up together and loved each other. The cats didnt take any crap from them and ran the house. He came home one day
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and he had no idea why.
What are your thoughts?

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Last edited by bluekoi; Feb 14, 2019 at 09:13 PM.. Reason: Add triggger icon. Apply trigger codes.
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Default Feb 14, 2019 at 08:59 PM
  #2
Irresponsible people lead to different breeds being branded as "bad." At one point Dobermans had a bad rep. Then Rottweilers. Now it's pit bulls. Part of it is indiscriminate breeding of the dogs. Part of it is people who mistreat the animals to make them big and bad.

The breed was created for "bull baiting" in Britain. The dogs were put in a ring (pit) with a bull to harass it for hours on end. Pits are a terrier breed. Terriers by their nature are tenacious. Today there are dogs labeled as pit bulls, when in reality they are a mishmash of all sorts of breeds.

My BG (Big Goof) was labeled a pit bull by animal control when I adopted him. My vet and I think he is part pit, part bull dog, part boxer, part Dalmatian and part some kind of hound. He is a big old goof with people. He is afraid of my cats after Mikey (cat) smacked him in the face. On the flip side, he loves to chase lizards and snakes. He's killed several snakes. Killed a skunk. Kills rats in the barn. He is obsessed with the gopher tortoises on the property. I trust him with people, but not other animals because of this.

My answer to your question about whether it's media hype or actual bad behavior by some of the dogs is that I believe it is some of both. I know some absolutely sweet, loving and lovable pits. And stories about dogs killing people sells newspapers.

For another interested in the truth about the breed, I recommend the book "Lost Dogs." It's the story of the dogs Michael Vick had on his property. Of the 52 dogs rescued only two had to be destroyed. One was a female who was bred so many times her health was so badly damaged the kind thing was to put her down. The other was a male who fought so many times he'd been made vicious. The others went on to be pets, therapy dogs, or live out their lives at Best Friends rescue.
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Default Feb 14, 2019 at 09:30 PM
  #3
I have owned and fostered many pit bulls and they are always the sweetest, most laid back dogs...far less likely to bite than my border collie.

There are many reasons why dogs attack. You do hear more about pit bulls because of media hype. Statistically speaking, if you look up actual reported statistics of dog bites, it's smaller dogs that have a greater incidence of biting. Of course a larger dog will do more damage. That's just anatomy.

Many of the dogs that are labeled as pits are not even pits. Many of them have been cross bred with other breeds and then not raised in accordance with that breed's characteristics. Pitbulls are actually medium sized to small dogs. Often we see "pits" that have actually been cross bred with labs or often mastiffs, making them seem like large, ferocious dogs.

Having volunteered in animal rescue for a long time and fostered many a pit bull, I've more often been growled at and snapped at by a small breed dog than a pit. The pits tend to be big babies that just want to cuddle.

That said, most often the reports you see of dogs biting children were unsupervised children playing with a dog when the dog gave MANY warnings, but the adult humans were just too stupid to notice it. Every day I see ppl sharing "cute" videos on Facebook of babies and children crawling all over the family dog, while the family dog stress pants, licks its lips, shows whale eyes, and tries to even get away. And yet no one does anything to relieve the dog's stress. So when the dog finally "corrects" the child by nipping at it (which is how dogs correct each other) the poor family dog that gave LOTS of warning gets put down.

This is human error, not dog error.

Yes, some dogs are too damaged to rescue. It happens. But that's actually pretty rare.

Bottom line, you should never be leaving your dog unsupervised with your child.

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Default Feb 14, 2019 at 09:42 PM
  #4
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Default Feb 22, 2019 at 04:20 PM
  #5
Maybe off-topic but I've been bitten once by a dog (I don't know the breed) and three times by humans--once bad enough to have stitches and I was only 9 days old at the time. Two other times by humans left teeth marks through clothing. Who really needs to be protected by whom? Kit

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Default Feb 22, 2019 at 05:45 PM
  #6
I don't feel safe with any dogs but if I had a choice I'd rather have one that has a weak bite and wasn't bred to fight and kill than one with increased jaw strength that has been bred for the purpose of being vicious (and is often kept by aggressive people as a status symbol and tool of intimidation and for use in dog fights). I agree that the owner has a huge responsibility too but it's like choosing to have a bear as a pet instead of a hamster, even if the owner treats the hamster badly and it gets vicious it can't do as much harm as the bear that only has to snap once and it can kill.
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Default Feb 22, 2019 at 06:04 PM
  #7
Just an FYI about Michael Vick- after he was released from prison for his dog fighting, he fessed up and said he would do it again if it were possible. No remorse whatsoever. And for what? The man was making millions, it's not like he needed money.
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Default Feb 23, 2019 at 06:14 AM
  #8
We have to take into account that so many people are bad dog parents and I was one of them not exercising my dogs enough. No biting, no horrible behavior. But still.
as posters here have stated, you have to take into account what they were bred for or in the case of mixes (and most pit bulls today are not true pits which are a smaller dog as posters have mentioned. Almost all the ones you see today are mixes, mostly mixed way back with stafforshire terriers, which makes them a medium sized dog). Pits can be dog aggressive or animal aggressive because they were bred to fight. I have seen news stories about pit mixes saving peoples lives too. If you want to adopt a pit mix, watch pit bulls and parolees a show about a pit mix rescue. Remember that the woman that runs the rescue in the reality series is a pit bull advocate. She herself was an animal trainer (tigers at one time) and always makes sure that the dogs go to a good home where the animal will have proper accommodations and treatment. She herself states that some of the beautiful gray ones were overbred so she sees more serious problems with them-a few of them, not all. Do research your breed or breeds. And dogs need to be walked if you don’t want bad behavior even if you have a yard.

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Default Feb 24, 2019 at 09:36 AM
  #9
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Originally Posted by riptide53 View Post
Just an FYI about Michael Vick- after he was released from prison for his dog fighting, he fessed up and said he would do it again if it were possible. No remorse whatsoever. And for what? The man was making millions, it's not like he needed money.
After being ordered by the court to never have another dog Vick got dogs again after his release from prison. His "rationale" was that it wasn't fair that his kids could not have a dog. The man is evil.

Should have put this in my other post - the first few chapters of "Lost Dogs" are disturbing and could be triggery. They discuss what some of the dogs went through on his property.
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Default Feb 26, 2019 at 04:14 PM
  #10
I have been around 2 pit bulls. One was being fostered and then was eventually adopted by my former next door neighbor. He was so aggressive they had to get a dog whisper involved. He would viscously attack the fence and try to get at my dog whenever they were in the yard at the same time. For some reason my stupid neighbor would always let her dog in the yard at the same time as mine despite her dog being aggressive towards mine.

Then the guy behind us has a pitbull who is also pretty aggressive. When the guy was talking to us one time the dog was yanking at the leash and growling at my mom and I and lunging towards us. The guy had good control on the leash so we didn’t feel threatened or anything. But that guy has to be careful with that dog.

I’ve heard they can be very good dogs, but I haven’t experienced that.

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Default Mar 02, 2019 at 10:48 PM
  #11
any dog can bite. any dog can be aggressive.

pit bulls were never called "nanny dogs" no dog breed goes from bull baiting and fighting to babysitting children as a breed tendency.

just as there are very nice pit bulls, there are some very aggressive uncontrollable ones out there. if a dog with a questionable background is not trained, neutered, and watched you are asking for trouble and placing others at risk.

it's jaws are powerful..they were designed for a purpose. just as other dogs have features designed for what they were bred for, that is what pits functions were.

again, from a good breeder, raised responsibly, trained, i'm sure the dog will be a better less risky pet, but still as with any dog, you need to watch them in situations that put others at risk.

much depends on the owner's behavior as well...everything being said, it is not a breed I would have (but there are plenty of other breeds on that list as well)
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Default Mar 03, 2019 at 02:01 AM
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Originally Posted by resurgam View Post
any dog can bite. any dog can be aggressive.

pit bulls were never called "nanny dogs" no dog breed goes from bull baiting and fighting to babysitting children as a breed tendency.

just as there are very nice pit bulls, there are some very aggressive uncontrollable ones out there. if a dog with a questionable background is not trained, neutered, and watched you are asking for trouble and placing others at risk.

it's jaws are powerful..they were designed for a purpose. just as other dogs have features designed for what they were bred for, that is what pits functions were.

again, from a good breeder, raised responsibly, trained, i'm sure the dog will be a better less risky pet, but still as with any dog, you need to watch them in situations that put others at risk.

much depends on the owner's behavior as well...everything being said, it is not a breed I would have (but there are plenty of other breeds on that list as well)
—-I think this is the most concise, complete and sensible post on this thread. Wish they would move it up in the thread. In fact, I wish that could be done for all best posts on each thread on the forum. Moderators could choose them but it would take a lot of work. Hugs!

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Default Mar 06, 2019 at 11:46 PM
  #13
My Aunt and Uncle have two pit bulls and two daughters under 12. Honestly those pit bulls are beyond well behaved when it comes to those girls; heck the dogs will let the girls walk them; obviously with parental supervision; but the dogs will walk beside the girls and don't drag or pull at the leash trying to hurt the girls.


Honestly German Shepard's; Doberman's; Chow Chow; Rots and many others have had the share of the 'bad dog' spotlight. Honesty the pits I know and spend time with are nice well behaved dogs that love my nieces more than anything; heck the dogs even sleep with the nieces and there has not been a problem with the dogs are the girls. The girls were taught to treat animals with respect and can both pick up on the cues of the dog. Not to mention these two dogs just want to be cuddled and loved.


I've never had a problem with dogs; I've grown up with small dogs and big dogs; and honestly the small dogs are more nippy than the big ones.

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Default Mar 08, 2019 at 01:03 AM
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pit bulls being dangerous, other dog breeds biting is a hot topic. I can show you stats saying pits are uber dangerous. you can in turn show me stats saying they are not. neither side is right. fact is they are a breed whose role was designed for bull or bear baiting & fighting. their jaw strength is very powerful. truth is a bite from a pit will more then likely be a bad one. however so can one be from other breeds as well given the situation. they are powerful dogs.

yes all breeds can & will bite.

this argument is like the one over dog food. I can tell you beneful is crap food. I can show you test scores showing it rates 0/100 every time but yet you can tell me it is the best food on the planet.

pets are arguments that will never end. they become passionate discussions.

all of this being said, i'm not ever going to own a pit. not even one from the best breeder on the planet & hand raised by the most gentle folks on the planet (but there are other breeds I wouldn't get either)

this argument will go on forever.
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Default Mar 08, 2019 at 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by resurgam View Post
pit bulls being dangerous, other dog breeds biting is a hot topic. I can show you stats saying pits are uber dangerous. you can in turn show me stats saying they are not. neither side is right. fact is they are a breed whose role was designed for bull or bear baiting & fighting. their jaw strength is very powerful. truth is a bite from a pit will more then likely be a bad one. however so can one be from other breeds as well given the situation. they are powerful dogs.

yes all breeds can & will bite.

this argument is like the one over dog food. I can tell you beneful is crap food. I can show you test scores showing it rates 0/100 every time but yet you can tell me it is the best food on the planet.

pets are arguments that will never end. they become passionate discussions.

all of this being said, i'm not ever going to own a pit. not even one from the best breeder on the planet & hand raised by the most gentle folks on the planet (but there are other breeds I wouldn't get either)

this argument will go on forever.
I don't think anyone is saying you should own one. Pitbulls are not inherently dangerous. Just like no other breed is inherently dangerous and like a gun is not inherently dangerous. The danger comes when you throw humans into the mix.

There are many breeds I will not own because they do not suit me or my lifestyle. I do not think this means the breed should cease to exist or that others should not own this breed.

I thought the question was "are pitbulls dangerous?" I will go down to the ruling by both the Air Carrier Access Act and the ADA, which both state that dogs should be evaluated on their individual behavior, not breed.

And if a pitbull isn't for you, then please do not get one! I advocate for the right dog for the right person. Get a dog that suits your lifestyle and your needs.

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Default Mar 08, 2019 at 08:02 PM
  #16
I think I answered the question completely...it is a "hot topic"....

the ADA will not designate a breed nor should it, that is not the purpose of the act, that is access, & accessibility. ADA has absolutely nothing to do with if the issue of pit bulls are dangerous. pit bulls as a BREED. pit bull as a specific dog who has caused issues & is a working dog, yes.

working dogs (valid ones) are based on the bond between the owner & dog and the skills the dog was able to master in order to provide assistance to help the owner. the breed can be anything from a tea cup chi to a st Bernard..BUT the ADA also specifies that the dog must be well behaved and not act out or show lack of discipline. same for therapy dogs. esa technically as well.

are pits dangerous? I answered that. do I want one no. but I also don't want other breeds. so I am more then able to make my own mind up, just as I am able to contribute to this discussion, as an owner of a certified therapy dog & esa. as well as someone who has been a dog owner for many decades , and who has been bitten by breeds OTHER then pit bulls.
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Default Mar 10, 2019 at 04:11 PM
  #17
Well, it's better safe than sorry. Leash, muzzle are required while walking out. And maybe don't let it close to children.
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