a quest. regarding pit bulls?

Question

i'm so sick and tired of people wanting to defend this type of breed as I believe it was created out of sheer human evil - to fight. i have nothing against the animals but I sure do against people who claim it all depends on the way the dog has been raised. that may be true, but my question really is, then would someone please explain why a person probably can't get killed by a labrador retriever but there are reports from all over the world about someone being killed by a pit bull. i think you see my point...

thanx

sweetie, the next thing you'll say is you can probably get killed by a hamster, :))

find me one piece of news where someone got killed by a labrador retriever or a newfoundland

thank you

i'd like you to stick to my question, i wasnt asking about attack i was asking about deaths

get it?

and if you find an article where someone got killed by the gentle types of breed, please send me a link, i so think you'll be able to find it, :)

my point is that you dont stick to my question, read me again

is there were a killer labrador retriever or a poodle, trust me, i'd be the first thing in the headlines, gee...

Answer 1

The reason you don't hear about a lab killing someone is because it doesn't make for a "sensational" news story. People think of labs as sweet and cuddly. So they won't put that in the news!

When I was attacked by a little terrier that tore up my leg, no one put that in the news, because the same day, a pitt bit a mailman, and he had a milder injury then mine. The pitt bite made the news, and my bite didn't.

Ignorance and news worthiness is the reason you only hear about pitts!

****"After reviewing over 431 cases of fatal dog attacks it is apparent there is no single factor that translates in a lethal encounter between a person and a dog(s). A fatal dog attack is always the culmination of past and present events that include: inherited and learned behaviors, genetics, breeding, socialization, function of the dog, physical condition and size of the dog, reproductive status of dog, popularity of breed, individual temperament, environmental stresses, owner responsibility, victim behavior, victim size and physical condition, timing and misfortune.
Many communities and cities believe that the solution to prevent severe and fatal dog attacks is to label, restrict or ban certain breeds of dogs as potentially dangerous. If the breed of dog was the primary or sole determining factor in a fatal dog attack, it would necessarily stand to reason that since there are literally millions of Rottweilers, Pit Bulls and German Shepherd Dogs in the United States, there would have to be countless more than an approximate 20 human fatalities per year."
http://www.fataldogattacks.com/

Look it up yourself, we should not have to do the research for you, but since you are blinded by ignorance, I will help educate you!

Answer 2

The dogs were definitely bred to fight but not to fight people. The reason you see a difference in breeds is for many reasons. First, a bull breed is bred to fight and not give up. It's what made the breed a winner in the pits (when they were bred to fight other dogs). They don't give up when they are in a fight mode. Many breeds were not selected for their desire to win nor their desire to fight other dogs.
Many unscrupulous people are now breeding the dogs to be 'attack' dogs or guard dogs to guard their drug stashes which means they are breeding a dog and socializing the dog to be aggressive to people. This type of person, however does NOT represent the majority of breeders around the world who breed a kind and loving dog and who raise them to be good citizens. You probably have never been to a dog show where excellent quality American Staffordshire Terriers (aka Pit Bulls) are being shown. If you had, you'd find a great dog who is loyal, good natured and friendly.
Another big reason for all the 'pit bull' attacks is mistaken identity. It's estimated that of the attacks, 70% are cases of incorrect identification of the breed. In fact, a recent attack attributed to a pit bull actually WAS a labrador retriever.
Here are some cases of mistaken identity
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/MistakenIdentity/WrongId.htm

This is a great game to see if you can even identify the pit bull
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v3.html

As we get more dogs and more breeds along with more mixes, it will be harder to identify what a 'pit bull' really is. What we should be punishing is the aggression which, yes, can and does come from any breed. I think if you would do more research on the bully breeds and pit bulls in particular with out an eye to finding a 'criminal' you will find that this breed is like most others - the difference is whether they have a good owner or a bad one.
Remember, once Pit Bulls are banned and eliminated from the pool of available dogs, the owners who train their dogs to fight people will move to another breed. Will it be a breed of dog you love? Will it be exterminated for the same wrong reasons?

Answer 3

I agree with you... to a point. Pitbulls can be dangerous animals. There, I said it. That said, attacks by dogs are not necessarily breed-specific. In fact, one study found that 25 different breeds of dogs have been involved in FATAL dog attacks since 1978. If you look at the list, the key characteristic that all these breeds carry is size, not aggression. That said, it is true that more than half the fatal attacks involved pitbulls and rottweilers. They are strong animals, and many of them are poorly trained by people who do not know what they are doing. So the potential for danger definitely exists. From that point of view, you are correct in your assessment.

That said, I think you miss the point that so many pitbull lovers are trying to explain. It is obvious from the tone of your email that the fatality-potential is NOT the only thing you are insinuating. The fact may be that this particular breed CAN be dangerous, but they do not have to be. If a pitbull is restrained properly and raised well, then they can be harmless. I've known dozens of pitbulls that were as sweet as any lab I've ever met. That is not an exaggeration. If you are merely trying to point out the potential for danger from this breed, then I wonder what you point is? Few people will argue that, because it is a fact. Lots of things are dangerous, however, in the hands of the wrong person. For example, are cars dangerous? Or are DRIVERS dangerous? Fact is that over 40,000 people die from car accidents each year, compared to a mere dozen from dog attacks, of which SOME were by pitbulls. Thousands more in BOTH situations are seriously injured.

You are right to suggest that a pitbull can be a dangerous breed. That is a fact. If you are suggesting, and regardless of how you may try to deny it you are, that people should not defend the breed, then you are wrong. It is obvious that you are ignorant on the subject. Millions of people own happy, well-mannered pitbulls. That is a fact as much as the numbers given in the link below. You cannot fault these owners for dog attacks any more than you can fault all car-owners because car accidents occur. If you are willing to argue THAT, then you've got an interesting view on life. Enjoy living in your bedroom by yourself, safe from all evil.

I will cede this point, however: I think that people who own potentially dangerous breeds should have to take a class and be licensed to own them. The problem is not the dog. The problem is the owner that doesn't know how to raise the dog. Anyone who DOES know how to raise a well-mannered and non-aggressive pitbull shouldn't even disagree with this. They would, theoretically, pass the course with no problem, right? If someone CAN'T pass a course like this, then maybe they need to get a cat instead.

Answer 4

But it's also not necessarily just 'training' v 'genetics'. Training isn't really the right term, too narrow. 'Management' would probably be better. For example up to 90% of dogs which kill or seriously injure people are unaltered males. This is neither 'training' strictly speaking nor 'genetics'. Likewise the CDC found that 2/3's of dogs in serious bite incidents were chained up outside. It's obvious that many or most of the rest are dogs illegally running loose. All these things partly make dogs more aggressive directly (unaltered dogs are, dogs running loose especially in packs tend to be, chaining up a dog can make it more territorial than otherwise) but also markers of a certain type of owner attitude and behavior likely to cause problems. Outright 'training' issues like do-it-yourself protection training, are also likely to go with it, and also likely to cause human aggression incidents. This type of owner is also associated with back yard breeding. But, I find a lot of the strong statements about 'inbred unstable pits' as well as the ones 'it's just training' to be deficient in any actual scientific evidence. The fact is that for all the controversy about it, this issue has not been studied in a reliable scientific way. Such strong statements are usually based on various people's personal impressions, often gained from incomplete or incorrect media accounts, which is worthless. And even to the extent the impressions are gained from first hand experience, I've dealt with a lot of 'pit bulls' and haven't encountered many if any with bad temperaments toward people, but I recognize that might vary with the place and circumstances. The only thing that virtually everyone with real credentials in veterinary science agrees is that there is no evidence that likelihood of human aggression or 'unpredictability' can reliably be ascribed to a dog based on what it looks like. Such attribution by appearance is the essence of Breed Specific Legislation, and it's nonsensical. Once everyone agrees BSL is not the solution to anything, then there's plenty of room to debate exactly what all the contributing factors, and their weightings, are in the vicious dog problem.

Answer 5

I have owned pits and been around pits all of my life. I have NEVER had one attack anybody. I have owned 4 myself, and my aunt has owned 13 over the years. I currently have a pit, and she is good around all people even little kids. Some of the younger kids play real rough with her and she just sits there and takes it, doesn't bark growl or anything, even if they hit her in the head. My grandmother however owned a chow, and it was the most vicious dog I have ever met. It almost bit off my little cousin's leg, and almost took off my grandpa's hand. I have never seen this behavior in ANY of the pits I have been around. There can be aggressive dogs in any breed. Some people do breed these animals for all the wrong reasons, and those people should be buried under the jail. It is the OWNERS fault if these animals become aggressive. I am against anyone using these animals in any kind of a violent way.

Answer 6

OK here is one link http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EPF/is_3_105/ai_n15679358, you here more about the pit bulls because people train them to fight. Did you see the article of the women that had her face ripped off by HER pet lab? Pit Bulls just have a stronger bite than other breeds is why their attacks can become fatal. Again, you cant blame the breed, there are alot of these dogs owned by responsible people that never attack and never kill. I have a friend that has a female and you could do anything with this dog, including take its food away and she would just sit and look at you. There are more people killed by Hippos than dogs, why not pick on them for a while!

Answer 7

I had 2 pitbulls, and to be honest, they were a handfull...very energetic and at times too much to handle, but i can say that they were anything but dangerous. I am 5'2 and was hesitant at first about getting the puppies, but they never tryed to hurt me, or even played too hard with me. And also, if you do some research, you will find that there are many more aggressive dogs than pit bulls, the reason pit bulls are so publicised is because when the bite, they don't let go, which is more damaging in most cases. The point is, pitbulls can be killers if they are trained to fight, but from what i expierenced, my pit bulls were not aggressive.

Answer 8

oh do I so agree with you . these dogs are a menace to society . I am also against anyone who says that they are brought up to be mean by the ppl who own them . That is not true . it is in their genes and their bloodline to be dangerous and they can turn in a minute . yes there are other dogs out there but those breeds dont end up killing the person they bite or attack. Pits can take a severe toll on another living creature and cause permanant damage . Have I rarely seen a rotti,german sheppard or retriever kill anybody . the severity of the attack caused by a pit is unbelievable and the owners of these dogs should either have to have extra home insurance or a license and muzzle to prevent the dog from killing another living creature if they are not preparred to do that then they should not be allowed to own the dog. Plain and simple . god bless you.

Answer 9

Have you ever seen a labrador retriever? I'm pretty sure it could fit it's mouth around your throat if it felt threatened.

This is an informative wesite for you http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/FatalDog/FatalDog.pdf

Although I'm sure you won't read it because you're not really interested in facts that dispute your opinion. But hey, why don't you give us some links about your friendly breeds cuddling with their humans? Probably because they don't report the good stuff. So how do you know there aren't plenty of pit bulls out there they are just as affectionate as your lab retriever?

Answer 10

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=47999

http://www.nbc30.com/news/4274785/detail.html

There are a couple of stories for you about Golden Retriever attacks.

In the long run, most any dog can turn around and attack someone. I have known tremendously sweet pit bulls, and I have known some very nasty dogs of various other breeds. You are going to have your good and your bad with any breed though. One of my Border Collies snapped one day (we think she may have had some sort of brain tumor that overrode the system), but I luckily was able to yank her back quickly enough that she did not end up getting me sued when she lunged viciously at a woman's face. I took her and had her put to sleep to be on the safe side. I felt that was my responsibility as a pet owner to not only keep her safe, but to keep everyone around her safe as well. (I would like to note that she had had seizures as well and that in her case, it was a matter of bad breeding and not bad upbringing.) Which also brings me to the point of certain breeds like rottweilers. They can be some of the sweetest dogs ever, but I would not trust every one of them. The worse the backyard breeders get, the worse the breed as a whole gets.

I hope this helped a little.