Pitbulls/fact or fiction?

Question

Do all pitbull dogs have it in them to be mean? I've always heard that they can turn on their owner at anytime. Is this true? Has anyone had one turn on them after having them for a while?

Answer 1

each breed of dog was created with a specific job or chore in mind, its deep inside them and cannot be "loved" or gentled away, you can't undo what they have been engineered to do
yes there are plenty of gentle pits but always right under the surface is the capability or instinct to fight, and you never know what might set off a particular dog, I would imagine that they have a hair-trigger temper

Answer 2

FICTION. I work at arescue, and see many different breeds of dogs, come from many different hmes and places. It all depends on how they are brough up. If you are always the boss, then the dog nows that you are in charge, but if you let the dog do what it likes, it could well attack you, or be unpredictable.

I have never been bitten by a staffie, or a rottweiler, but I have been by a West Highland White Terrier. I'm not saying either of these breeds are 100% innocent or 100% savage, just that any dog could be unpredictable if it has not been brought up correctly.

Right from a young age, once they have been fully vaccinated, they should be socialised with other dogs, cats, small animals, children, and male and female adults. It sounds silly, but I know of a dog that loves every woman that walks through the gate, but you have a man there instead and the dog goes mental. This is due to not being socialised very well.

Answer 3

Contrary to what most people are saying here, there are dogs (especially certain breeds such as pit bulls) who have a prediliction to attack despite kind, gentle training.
If an individiual dog gets the "worst" concentration of genetics from that specific breeds pool, they can be quite aggressive despite the best training. For example, I have owned several Blue Heelers in my life. This is an aggressive, loyal dog bred to herd cattle by nipping at their heels. I have raised them all the same - lovingly. One was extremely aggressive to strangers, I had to watch him like a hawk or he would attack their feet and ankles (as is inherent). Another was an absolute lamb that would jump up and kiss every strangers face. Another was somewhere in between the two extremes. All three came from different breeders. So if you want to make sure a particular pit bull is not going to be aggressive, it is best to know his lineage very well and avoid any where parents/grandparents/littermates, etc. had any of these tendencies.

Answer 4

all animals have it in them to be mean just like us humans you never read in the paper how the owner beat the dog or neglected it or how there inbred and most people who own them wanna have them for fighting or hey i got the baddest dog on the block and none of them know how to train those dogs at all pits need a dominant owner cause there hard headed at times and need plenty of exercise most of the time 90 percent of the time its the owners fault not the dogs the other 10 percent is all the inbreeding going on people do this cause they think it makes the dog meaner but it doesent you just end up with a dumb dog that will go after anything including the hand that feeds it hope this all helps

Answer 5

ANY dog has it in them to be mean.

Pitbulls (Am. Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, and American Pitbull Terriers) were bred to be aggressive towards other animals, including other dogs. This is because they were bred to fight other dogs. As such, they have a very high prey drive and are very tenacious (because 'losers' in the pits were often times killed), which means if they decide to be mean, it usually results in a fatality. The key word there is IF.

Despite the hype, pitbulls are not out to get anyone. They don't just turn on their owners for no reason.

At the root of every pitbull attack there are a few variables: a) the dogs were of poor breeding---this means they probably came from puppy mills, BYBs, or 'thugs' who bred them to look intimidating---either way, no consideration was given to producing a tempermentally sound dog and b) the owners did not understand that the pitbull is a high prey drive dog and that they require very strict boundaries (Ie: TRAINING). In failing to provide these very necessary boundaries, they allowed the dog to view them as inferior leaders of the pack, and thus the dog acted accordingly towards the bad leaders by trying to oust them---in the world of canids this results in a pretty severe fight, but since the pitbull only fights to win (survive), the fight is usually fatal.

Yes, both variables can apply to ANY breed of dog. However, because of the traits that make a pitbull a pitbull (ie: tenacity, extreme loyalty, high prey drive, ect.), a poorly bred and poorly trained pitbull is more dangerous than say, a poorly trained and poorly bred Golden Retriever. The pitbull was bred to be aggressive towards other animals---but when poor breeding is involved, that aggressiveness can quickly be averted towards humans. In fact a lot of 'thug' breeders breed pitbulls to make them more like working guard dogs (ie: capable and willing to bite humans---they encourage it)---unfortunately, these are the dogs you see biting people...and as I mentioned earlier, pitbulls don't bite for the sake of biting, WHEN they bite, they aim to kill---they were bred for that trait. Very few other breeds were bred for such a trait (and they certainly aren't being bred by 'thugs' who are taking advantage of those traits and directing them towards other people).

So, no, they don't turn on their owner anytime. A well-bred and well trained pitbull is one of the MOST loyal wonderful type of dog you can find! The key is getting a pitbull from a reputable source, socializing, and establishing boundaries/rules (ie: TRAINING).

Answer 6

Pit bull's are just like people. They each have their own personality.if a dog is loved ans not miss treated,they are the best protector in the world. I grew up with one she passed away when i was21 and my parents got her for me when i was born. I know own 2 pits and 1 Rottweiler. and they never fight. Please don't miss understand me a dog can have a bad day just like anyone else,but I would much rather have the love and loyalty and the protection of my Pitt's than relying on a gun or a man to protect me.My Pitt that i was raised with was so protective that my parents couldn't even spank me in front of because she thought i was being hurt. I'm no expert but in the cases i have heard of the dog was simply defending itself.I do know that they are one breed that if chained it will bring out there aggressive side and need to watched when around children because we all know children like to pull on ears and tails and dogs don't always realize that it's playing and not being attacked.

Answer 7

Our pure bred Red Nose (Sydney)
The sweetest dog I've ever known.

Let me tell you a cute (but scary story for the other person.) There was a little boy going door to door selling the news paper. When my mother opened the door to see who it was the Pit Bull went running out the door he seen the little boy went flying OVER the fence. My mother said that the little boys eyes were bigger than silver dollars. He thought he was going to be dinner for sure.Which I don't blame him because of the bad reputation

When Sidney got to him he knocked the poor little boy down and gave him a full face washing.

He was also raised with 3 other dogs 2 chi wow wows and a wiener dog. He never hurt them once. He got to live about ten years and he never turned on us once. All he knew was love.

"IT'S HOW PEOPLE RAISE THEM " People choose the Pit to be aggressive because they are strong.

But I wouldn't trust a couple of Pomeranian
not that they can hurt you like the Pit. But just about every Pomeranian that I have met were aggressive.

Answer 8

One of the most popular and baseless urban myths about pit bulls is that "pit bulls" often ‘turn’ on their owners without provocation. However, no sane dog performs behaviors for no reason. When aggression becomes a problem the reasons can often be traced to such things as improper handling, lack of socialization or training, a misreading of dog behavior by the owner, lack of discipline, or even disease. When an owner is startled by a sudden, aggressive outburst, it is generally because they have been unaware of problems that were brewing.

Answer 9

ABSOLUTELY not true! I had a junk yard pit, that I rescued from an abusive situation. He was the sweetest gentlest dog I ever had. I also have friends with Pits. They are my favorite dogs. It is true that they are DOG aggressive. It's in their blood since they were bread for dog fights. But like ANY dog, propper socialization (From puppy hood)and a good loving master will do the trick. The bad pits you hear about are the ones that the master didn't take for enough walks, or sheltered the dog too much or abused it.

Answer 10

My spouse and I have had pits for 13 years and (I agree with 'i plead the 5th') most of them ar pussy's, but what people don't realize, is it in how they are raised, like any dog. If you raise them to be mean well that is how they will be. My boston Terrera scares my pitt. I really wished that people would look at pitts in a different way, but all you hear about them is the bad and that is only because the way they are raised. They are really great dogs.

Answer 11

Pitt bulls are only as mean as people make them. They won't turn on an owner that treats them well. That shows them rules boundaries and limitations. They are dog like any other. Just really strong. They were breed to be fighting dogs. Just like Teacup Yorkies are breed to be small. Neither one is 100% healthy.