Why are SO many people SO HATEFUL towards pitbulls?

Question

Within 24 hours, I've posted TWO questions regarding my worries about the recent AGRESSION between my 2 neutered female pit bulls.

While most responses have been informative & helpful, I've gotten some that have suggested that I LET my pit bulls "fight it out", even to the point of charging admission in order to profit from their fighting to the death.

I am REALLY sorry, but, I fail to see how ANYONE could possibly suggest these types of remedies.

What is WRONG with people??? Dogs are man's "best friend",& , in my experience, pit bulls are wonderful, loyal, friendly and devoted pets. Great with kids!

Unfortunately, they DO seem to have problems with other dogs.

I'd LOVE to hear from some real dog-lovers - especially those who've found that pit bulls are WONDERFUL pets. Mostly, they seem to LOVE people. Their interactions with other dogs, however, MAY sometimes be difficult. I hope to hear from those who have REAL LIFE experience with pit bulls.

Answer 1

Um, they eat people. Or I should say attack people. People have reason to be afraid of them. Pit bull people need to understand this, and get over it.

Answer 2

First off, let me say this: I am a pit bull lover. Pits are so loyal and loveable! I have owned 2 pits, both males, and was really close to a female pit that belongs to my friend. We never had ANY behavior problems out of any of these dogs! Even around kids, they ALL loved little kids. However, one friend had a pit that would let NO ONE, except his owner, even get near him. He would try to attack anyone and anything that got near him. This dog actually jumped THROUGH a car window, while rolled up, trying to get to someone. As a result my friend had to actually shoot his own dog to keep him from killing his friend. My friend says that when Bebe was just a puppy, him and his brother fed the dog gun powder and thats what made him so mean. If thats true, I have no idea! I don't know why people say such horrible things about pits. But I do think it is funny how on the news, they will only report when a pit kills/attacks someone, no other dog. Now I know that other breeds have killed before! LOL When I was little I was attacked by a chow, my dad has been attacked by a bulldog. It has nothing to do with the breed, it's how you raise the dog. I now have a german shepherd mixed with pit bull, and he is the sweetest thing! He loves playing, especially with kids, because I have taught him not to bite, and not to be so rough. My dad, on the other hand, likes to play rough with him. But he knows who he can and cannot be rough with, he is a very smart dog!

I myself have never seen any conflict with other dogs *in the pits that I have owned previously*. I lived in an apt. with some friends a few months ago, we had 2 pits *one male and one female* and one mutt *who is a female*. They LOVED each other. All they did was play and play ALL DAY LONG! LOL These dogs acted just like kids, I swear. They did everything together! They are the greatest dogs I ever knew. :)

Sorry I couldn't be more help with your problem, maybe ask a vet! But I just wanted to be someone who had something good to say about a pit, rather than all these negative things ppl are saying!

Answer 3

Most people have had bad experiences and think every pit bull is like that, i myself have a female pit bull , she is the most love able, loyal, protective, dog. The only time i am even reminded she is a pit bull is when she sees another female dog.
As long as a dog no matter what breed is raised and trained right , Anyone could have the perfect dog.

Everyone always believes what they hear before seeing it with their own eyes.

Answer 4

The problem Pit Bulls have? Bad press.

As you know, many dog attacks in the last several years are pit bull related. While individual dogs are very nice, the breed was bred - yes - to fight bulls to death in a pit. (That is where the name comes from) Since this was what they were bred for, some do have unreliable temperments. And, even the ones that are nice, have incredible strong jaws and very high energy (as do all terrier breeds.)

Some people who are less responsible owners don't take the time and energy to make sure their dogs are trained and exercized enough - that contributes too.


While I don't own a pit bull or other dog, I did lose a cat to a pit bull breed - but I do know that some people are very biased about them. (I still won't go up to one I don't know, but I won't go up to other dogs either - not unless their owner says it's okay!)

Answer 5

I don't have a pit bull, but I do have a boxer that is the sweetest dog in the world until she gets around another dog, and then she attacks, no matter how big or small the other dog is. I think there is just such a stigma about pit bulls, and it is hard to people to see past that and if they see aggressive behavior, they think it reinforces what they think they already know about the dogs. Just like anything else, there are good and bad dogs in any breed, it's just too bad a certain breed gets a bad rap. Sorry I can't be of any help, just wanted you to know that my boxer is also aggressive around other dogs, that's why she's an only dog;-)

Answer 6

My family dog, a maltese, was recently mauled to death by a pitbull. Obviously, I am very angery at this particular pitbull and their owner for not being able to restrain their dog. Both the dogs were on leashes, but mine was facing the other way when this pitbull ran up from behind and bit him in the neck. Now, I don't hate all pitbulls even after this incident. I must admit though, I do feel uneasy with most pitbulls now after witnessing the incident. I agree with everyone here stating that it's the owner that makes the difference. And some owners shouldn't be able to own these dogs. If you can't handle the responsibility, and take the necessary precautions, please don't risk yourself and others from getting hurt. Thank you to everyone that realize the potential aggressive nature of pitbulls and do whatever it takes to prevent an incident like mine from happening again.

Answer 7

There are alot of horror stories regarding pitbulls and rottweilers and shepards and the list goes on and on. It's not the dogs fault it's the way he has been trained or actually not trained. Dogs will behave well with people and other animals if they are socialized at an early age and this practice is kept up. If an owner is mean to their dog or encourages a dog to be mean that is what they will get. Then when the dog bites a person or another animal the poor thing is put to death..this is very cruel. Alot of people think it is cool to have a big tough dog but they won't think it is so cool when this animal turns on their master, dogs will do this if they fear their master or have no respect for them.

Answer 8

Why are SO many people SO HATEFUL towards pitbulls?

Because a pitt bull looks fearsome, and have the reputation (however false as it is) of being very aggressive.

I was fortunate enough to own a pitt bull for a couple of years. I rescued him from a bad situation, the previous owners were fighting him against other pitts. The local police and Animal Rescue knew what was going on, but could never get enough evidence on them to take it into court.

I asked how I could obtain the dog to save him from that lifestyle. The cops literally advised me to steal the animal and take him to a vet for his rabies vacination so I would be his legal registered owner. I took thier advice and dog napped him. While I had him at the vet I had all his injuries from fighting treated. He was in the animal hospital for 10 days. The vet bill was over $900 because he was so torn up from fighting.

When I brought the dog home I discovered just how gentle the animal really was. He thought he was a "lap puppy" and just loved us so much. He was the one of the sweetest animals I have ever had the fortune of sharing my life and home with. I have two other small female dogs, but he "allowed" them to terrorize him by chasing him around and biting his hind quarters. He never once made any aggressive moves toward my female dogs. However, he would fight with another male dog if he got within range of it. Especially around feeding time.

I had good old "Elvis" for two years before he passed away. I still miss him, but at least I know his last two years were happy and safe.

Answer 9

First of all, anyone who suggests that your dogs fight it out to their death is a seriously sick person.

Second, I did read your most recent question about your dogs. Upon reading, I thought to myself that it definitely was not a good idea for you to have 2 dogs, especially pitties, of the same sex. You already know that they are prone to dog aggression, especially with dogs of the same sex. I, unfortunately, did not do much research on pit bulls until after I got one (and subsequently fell in love with the breed). My dog was a slight spur of the moment decision. Anyway, my two dogs (both males, different breeds) got along wonderfully until one day, when my pittie was about the age of your youngest dog, these dogs just decided they HATED each other. We still have both dogs but have to keep them separated at all times. Baby gates (stacked two high) are always separating the two.

People seem to confuse dog aggression with human aggression. They are completely different things! Yes, pit bulls were bred to fight other dogs but they were also bred for their love of people. Unfortunately, some people only like to believe the media hype and don't educate themselves on the facts.

They say ignorance is bliss. Too bad our beloved pit bull is the one paying the consequences for their ignorance. It's far from bliss for them. It's a death sentence.

Answer 10

i agree with you, i myself don't have a pit bull, but i do agree with the fact that most people that clam they are "dog lovers" hear the name pit bull they start to show hate towards them, i don't believe that pit bulls are the blame for whats be going on in the media about them!!! I think they are dog just like labs are, and they are cute as pugs, and they feel to~ so next time that someone talks bad about pit bull just remember those people aren't dog lover!

Answer 11

I think that people just have a negative association towards pitbulls. They hear about pitbulls attacking people so when they see a pitbull, they automatically move away.

I have had both a negative experience and a positive experience with a pitbull. I am a true animal lover and will never dislike a specific kind of dog but I do have a right to express my experiences with them.

I took my boyfriend's dog out (lab husky mix) and my other friend took his pitbull out and we all went out on a walk to the park. They seemed like they were playing around fine when all of a sudden, my friend's dog bit my boyfriend's dog right on the neck causing him to bleed. Needless to say, he was pretty traumatized and we separated them from that day on.

However, I was with my friend and her friend's pitbull and we took him to Petco to get groomed. It was sort of intimidating at first since he is huge and my friend is tiny. Well, he was just a gentleman and walked right next to her without dragging at all.
Afterward we took him to the beach and of course when people saw him, they sort of walked far away.

So, some people just think a certain way and we can't get mad at them because they don't understand why we like a certain type of dog.