What are your views on pitbulls?

Question

I am an animal lover and I do not agree with the way people are treating pit bulls. They want to kill the breed off in some cities! I believe it is how the dog is rasied thta makes them who they are. What do you think

Answer 1

It's a great breed. I believe that too many people don't know how to properly train the dog and that causes problems.

Answer 2

Yes. In some cities it is illegal to walk them if you are under 16 or so. I think they are good dogs but do not suite everyone. A responsible owner and person that breeds them will more than likely determine mostly everything. I think it is pretty sad that some of these people don't know hardly anything about these dogs and just get themselves into some trouble. But again- it is how you raise them- at least what I think!
I don't think they should necessarily kill the breed off but limit it a little bit. I don't think you should have a license but should have a permit or something small because they can be unpredictable. But who is going to check for all of these people to have the permit and keep renewing it and if they don't what is the consequences? Its a lot to think about and gather people for it. I think it should be up to the city and they can determine what should go and what not. If they want to take the time and check and gather animal control for that then they can. But in the Constitution it does say we do have rights. I think its a lot of controversy. I would say talk to you city administrators and talk through it call a meeting and what not.
I think its a lot to talk over the Internet about but there should (at least I think!) should be some guidelines. We cant please everybody!
Hope this helps and does not end up in a total argument!

Answer 3

I raised APBTs for over eight years. I only had one that was a threat to people, and although she was a big baby with me, I had her put down. That is the only responsible thing to do with any dog that shows a propensity to attack people without provocation.

APBT's don't turn on people. Even the guy who wrote about having raised two pups that later attacked a child likely just overlooked an explanation for the sudden aggressiveness. I'm willing to bet that those dogs were less than two years old when that situation occurred. If that is the case, then the explanation is simply that the dogs were still puppies. Yes. Puppies. Dogs don't stop growing until they are 3 years old. They don't come out of the womb set in whatever temperment they are destined to have. The mean one I had was friendly to everybody when she was a pup. She hadn't fully grown into her temperment (vicious) until she was two. Maybe some other children teased her. Maybe it was the one she attacked. Even if there is no reasonable explanation, for every example like that, there are many more examples where everything turrned out fine. Like mine. None of the dogs that I owned or sold that were raised with kids ever had any problems with them. In fact, several of them had contact with kids after they became adults, and didn't "turn" on them.

The actions of certain individual dogs should not be used to judge the entire breed.

Most of my dogs were aggressive towards other dogs, but even then, that aggressiveness didn't start as soon as they left the womb. With proper socialization at a young age, most of mine were managable around other animals.

Dogs grow into their temperments. Usually it is gradual. Sometimes it is sudden.

The man-eater that I had was never abused. She was raised the same way as all of my other dogs were raised. her mother and father were both big lap dogs that would lick you to death, and never showed the slightest inclination to hurt a human being. She had 7 other siblings that were also friendly with anyone they ever met. She was the only one that turned out that way. I have no idea why, but she is definitely not how the breed is supposed to be.

I don't believe there is anything I could have done to make her friendly with strangers. Concerning each and every one of the other 50 or so APBTs that I have owned over the years, I don't think there was anything I could have done to make them vicious.

Answer 4

I am a true Pitbull Lover. I own one and would not own any other breed. I however would like to set the record straight. Pitbulls were not originally Bred to fight. They were intially bred to be family pets as well as rid farms of vermin. The fact that they have a very high pain tolerance and the fact that they are extremely focused on what ever it is that they are trained to do is why they made such great fighting dogs. But even so, even the most well known fighting dogs in history were not aggressive untill they were put in the ring. The breeders of that day only bred the Game dogs which in many ways encouraged more sound dogs. It is the general population that has made them the way the media portrays them. 98% of Pitbulls in the world go unnoticed because they are owned by responsible owners. it is that 2% that the media has slaughtered as well as bad owners. and by the way, the next time you see a head line that Pitbull attacks make sure it is a Pitbull. Mistaken Identity is to blame most of the time in that 2%.

Answer 5

Pitbulls were bred to be fighting dogs, so they do have some of that instinct in them through the breed, but I totally agree that it is how they are raised. Before we adopted our two puppies, we would go to the shelter and there were more pitbulls than any other dog, and they were all very very sweet when we would visit with them. We fell in love with one, but she was gone by the time we got our house. We now have a pitbull mix and, although he barks, he is not aggressive, but very defensive. He loves other animals and people. Pits get bad raps for the killings that have happened, but those pits were raised that way. If the dog is well socialized and loved, there shouldn't be a problem!!

Answer 6

I think dogs, including pit bulls, are just like people. Some are perfectly pleasant, and others are terrors. Some have had a rough start (owner) and get over it just fine, but some are treated rough and in turn become aggressive. I've heard of some shelters that rescue and rehabilitate fighting pit bulls - some of them show signs of submissiveness and can be brought back around (to become fantastic pets). My friend has a pit bull that is THE sweetest dog on Earth. She is just a lover. They most certainly aren't all bad, they are just really strong dogs and some have had aggression brought out of them.

Answer 7

I love my Pit Bulls!!! I have read some of your responses and most of them are quite good. The one thing I would like to add is that they were originally bred for hog and large game hunting. I have never once worried about my 3 pits being around my children (4 and 5 year old). As a matter of fact they sleep in the bed with my kids. The only people that have to worry about being bit by my dogs are the people that would try to hurt my kids or myself. And you know what, that's the way I want it as long as you stay in line, so will they. It doesn't matter what the breed of dog is, whether it be pure bred or mutt, if a dog is trained to be aggressive it will be. "judge the deed, not the breed"

Answer 8

I think the way a dog is raised is definitely the most important factor in the way a dog interacts with other dog and humans. However, the pit bull is an aggressive dog by nature. So I think that extra precautions should be taken when dealing with them. In the Chicago area, there are a few suburbs who now require that pit bulls be registered with the local government offices so that there is proof that these dogs have been vaccinated and that they can be monitored as to their behavior. For example, if "Bruno" attacks another dog in the area, it would be listed on his permanent record. I think this is a good idea.

Answer 9

Pit bull myths, prejudice, and ignorance must stop.

Myth: Pit bulls were bred for fighting and can "turn" for no reason

- these notions are absurd!

Animals are very sensitive to perceived threats (that's how they have survived for millions of years without "help" from humans). Why do they always seem to "turn" on kids? Because kids have a tendency to do things they shouldn't and when asked about what they did will just blame the dog. I have seen it plenty of times - I watched a child throwing rocks at a neighbors's dog and when the neighbor came out to find out what the dog was barking about the kid said "I don't know".

Yes, some Pits have been TRAINED to fight not bred to fight. My parents, grandparents, and greatgrandparents were farmers - does that mean I must be a farmer? No, farming is something you LEARN or are TRAINED to do.

People wake up.

Answer 10

I agree it is more often the way the dog is raised, however because of a lot of inbreeding some of the animals are unpredictable. This is not just a problem with pit bulls but also hybred wolves, rottis and even german shepherds.

I think if we could get rid of the unscrupulous breeders and the jerks who treat the dogs badly.. things would get so much better.

Answer 11

Pitbulls are very great breeds. Loyal, smart, caring, they are even good with children when raised with them. Its the people I don't like.They were originally bred as fighters, and with they're trademark lock jaw, its a very powerful weapon. So like so many people, ignorance got the better of them and wanted a dog that was going to be the coolest dog that no one would mess with. They didn't train them right, thinking it was funny to teach them agression, and that gets passed down into the next generation. They need to start screening people who want to own pets, then when they seem fitted for the pet, they can get one. Theres too many people hurting and ruining animals lives out there. Easy solution, only let responsible people own pets!!