What are your opinion about pitbulls?

Answer 1

My own pit bull was absolutely the 'sweetest dog in the world', until he attacked and nearly killed my 3 year old daughter. (unprovoked)
My friend and neighbor's pit bull attacked her and mauled her leg, just because she told him "No, go lay down" when he was begging at the table.
My friend's pit bull attacked him while he was feeding him.
I work at a boarding/day care kennel. We have only 3 pit bull clients. None of them can be allowed to play with the other dogs, as they are always looking for a fight. These dogs are owned by the outstanding citizens of our town, who care enough to put them in day care while they work.
ALL of these were responsible owners, with well trained "sweet" pit bulls.
My friends run a pit bull rescue and show UKC p b's and poodles. They came home from a trip to the grocer's to find 3 poodles dead, and 1 wounded. The pit bulls were all bloody and happy.
Yes, many pit bulls are and stay wonderful pets. But many of them do not... I will never trust another.
Just look at the asker's questions for a couple of days. So many are about a dog aggressive pit bull, and how to make them not kill the other dogs, or tear the fence down trying to get at people and dogs, etc.

Answer 2

I have owned and babysat pitbulls, and I have never seen the aggressiveness toward people, but I have seen it toward other animals. I do not recommend these animals around small children, but i do not recommend any big dog around children unless they are supervised. Any dog can turn on anyone at any given time. I know pitbulls have a really bad reputation, and they have been in the news alot for attacking. I think the pitbull owners need to be more responsible and keep the dogs secured away from others, and there would be less of a problem if secure measures are taken. People know there are good dogs and bad dogs, but children do not know this. Children think all puppy dogs are good. They haven't been taught that there are bad animals out there and they haven't been taught there are bad people out there either.

Answer 3

Pit Bulls are generally inclined to be extremely friendly and trusting around people. This is usually true even with the dogs that have not been properly socialized around people. With this breed of dog human agressiveness is actually rare. It is a lot more common for Pit Bulls to be agressive towards other dogs. Owners should palce thier Pit Bull around other dogs at an early age for it to learn good social behavior. If owners do this they should palce their pet around lager dogs so they can both play roughly and not feel that they are threatened. The crucial time period for socializing a Pit Bull puppy is between 8 and 16 weeks. If an owner waits intill the dog is six months old, it will be to late to exposer her to other dogs. The owner will not be able to let the dog off a leash safely in public places

This is what the AKC says about the temperment of pit bulls.

Answer 4

First any dog can be mean. Last year a pekineses killed a a six week old baby. In this country last year there were 56 deaths caused by dog attacks. There were 53 breeds involved with pit bulls at the bottom of the list. This is from 2 studies one done by the CDC and one done by AKC. There is now one being done by the ASPCA and so far they have came up with the same facts. Pit bulls is a AKC registered breed as been one from1898. In areas were they have banned pits to bring down dog attacks there as been no change at all. On the most part pits that have attacked have been trained to fight, Abused or both. In rare case when a examination was done after the dog had been put down there was found a rare disorder known as k-9 rage, brain disorder that makes dogs attack for no reason.
My niece had to have her lab put down and it was found to have this. In a nation were 2000 children are killed every year by their parents and 40,000 are injured so badly it leaves them permanently disable may we should put our focus on that problem

Answer 5

As much as I feel sorry for the breed, I don't think I would have a purebred. I have a pitbull-chow mix, who I think was a much better option. She's more laid back, healthy, and a freakin' genius. You should go to a rescue agency who places the dogs in foster homes--this way you can talk to the person who's been the caregiver for the animal, and knows it well and can answer your questions like "Does it get along with other pets?" "Have you seen it around children?". It's a better idea than getting one who's been in a pen and nobody really knows it that well.

Answer 6

Petey" of the Lil Rascals was an American Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Terrier (during the brief period where the breed was one) and a movie star. I know an American (Pit) Bull Terrier who pulled her owner from under a tractor and lost her own leg in the process. I don't think everyone should run out and adopt a large tough dog. These dogs are a handful. They are full of life and energy and need adequate training. But the best weapon against fear is knowledge. Unfortunately, until dog bite actuarial tables are popular reading, dogs labeled Pit Bulls will have a difficult time finding responsible and caring owners and families will have trouble keeping their pets. Law enforcement agencies will find it difficult to keep irresponsible people from owning large dogs even if bans are in place and bans will encourage importing of larger, more aggressive dogs.

Answer 7

Pit bulls can make outstanding pets, they are protective of their family especially children, highly intelligent, and can be very very sweet and I know of one that is an excellent search and rescue dog. He once saved an elderly diabetic woman who was lost in the surrounding woods. The reason that a lot of Pit Bulls are used in illegal dog fights is their high tolerance for pain and the strength of their jaws, which is stronger than any dog breed around. I believe that the reason for the attacks on people by Pit Bulls that have never been in an abusive situation is b/c those Pit Bulls don't know their own strength and are not intensively trained, which is required for any working type dog.

Answer 8

Personally, I don't like how they are built, but only because I like taller dogs with longer fur and erect ears. I don't have anything against them, though. The ones that have given the breed a bad wrap of being viscious killing machines were made that way, not born that way. I do, however, have a problem with those humans who train pit bulls, German shepherds, rottie, dobermans, or even poodles to be violent. Not only are they soiling the name of a great breed (whatever breed that may be), but just proving how much they disrepect anything that isn't themself.

Answer 9

They are too strong an animal to have as a family pet. I'm sure there are some that are like babies but as Chetco noted that is not always the case. I would not want to risk my child's or my own life just to prove a point. There are too many other wonderful breeds out there to pick from.

Answer 10

I love mine. I was weary at first when my husband brought him home. He was already grown and at the time my daughter was 2 years old and wanted to "see" everything, which meant touch. When Buster (my Pitt) met my daughter, he immediately took to her. My daughter is now 6 and Buster is still the sweetest dog. They really have a bad rep. I think it depends on how they are treated and what they are taught. Since we got him, he has NEVER growled, snapped at or bitten anyone. He even gets along with my small dogs. He loves to play, go for walks, be petted and he absolutely loves to fetch his ball.