Should we ban dangerous dogs like pitbulls?

Question

This week's debate topic :]
I'm on the con (we should NOT ban them) side please help!

Answer 1

I agree that they should not be banned. I do not believe breed banning works. I think people should become informed about the breeds they chose and they should research dogs in general before they get one. I also think stricter fines and punishments should be enforced for those that have or raise dangerous dogs.
What we really need to to is to ban lazy people and dangerous owners.

Answer 2

You have made a very good point. The real problem is the people behind these dogs. Why would anyone want to breed or own a dog for the purpose of strength, ferocious temperament and ability to fight? They are crazy! Pit bull breeders should be arrested, the dogs should be removed and assessed for rehoming like any other dog (if dangerous they are destroyed) and banned from owning or breeding dogs for life. How do we police this? Through a national system whereby every dog owner is required to have and pay for a dog license. The cost of running the scheme can be funded by a license fee. The cost of policing the scheme is worth it because of the innocent lives that have been ruined by poor dog owners and the peace of mind it will afford the anti dog lobby.

Answer 3

I love dogs of all kinds, but I do believe the pit-bull terrier is a bread that by it's nature is too un- predictable ,( I am not saying it's evil )
but it has a temperament akin to a wild animal , even people that has maintain them with love , have on too many occasions, either attacked their own families or Innocent by-standing people and specially the very young , as if this breed can feel jealousy and property guard to an extreme level , and accompanying their massive jaws makes them to dangerous to keep as a house pet and specially if there is children involved , this is one breed of dogs that I maintain it should be kept in magazines . Besides there are so many beautiful breads out there why pick one that is questionable ? is it only for machismo ? get a Doberman , a German Shepperd , Irish wolf , Buvie , or a Chihuahua.

Answer 4

Pitbulls a dangerous dog? If you should ban anything about pitbulls it should be the dangerous owners. It is the owner that makes a dog the way it is. A Chihuahua is more unpredictable than a pitbull. If the owner has raised the dog right it is not dangerous. So i say lets ban the dangerous owners.

Answer 5

sorry I am on the pro side too. Way too many attacks . Does anybody own pits realize that every time their dog or one of these dogs attacks somebody we all pay for it ,hospital rates go up,home insurance rates go up . and the cost of lawsuits goes up and they must recoup their money somehow . I think the u.k. realized this and that is why they are banned in the u.k.. I saw no protests in the u.k. over this . Were they any protests ? if not then why not? I'm sorry but this breed has the gene and the instinct is so strong in this breed that it will just naturally come out in the dog to attack another dog . Why would anyone want to open themselves up to a lawsuit or open their child up to being attacked ? Sorry I am just making a point here folks.

Answer 6

No, we should not ban pit bulls, we should ban ignorant, irresponsible pet owners. If the government bans the ownership of pit bulls, people that are causing the problem now will just find another dog to mistreat, not train and not take responsibility for until another breed is under fire for dog attacks. Breed bans only hurt responsible pet owners who know how to raise and train their pets. People who use them for weapons will still have their dogs just like they still have their firearms and other illegal paraphernalia. The government (city, state or federal) is looking for a quick fix and quick fixes do not work, they need to focus on the underlying problem instead. Harsher punishment for abuse and neglect. Punishment for irresponsible pet owners who do not secure their animals on their own property. Regulations and ordinances for breeding and owning unaltered pets (of all breeds) would help but all of these suggestion are not as easy as simply banning a breed.

Just for anyone interesting in keeping areas from breed banning, the State of California is working to implement a state wide ban. Please work to stop the politicians and groups working to do this.

Answer 7

This page presents interesting points, both pro and con.
http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/breedlaws.html

For someone to argue that a pit is just like any other dog, and that a dog's behavior is ALL due to how the dog is raised is incredibly naive, considering that Pit Bull dogs have been bred for many generations specifically for the purpose of attacking and killing other dogs. Breeding plays a huge part in personality. My mother has a blue heeler - she's never used it for herding, but herding is so strongly rooted in that dog's nature that it will herd anything and everything that moves, from bees to leaves blowing in the wind, because that is what it was bred to do. I've seen an English Bulldog who'd never seen a bull before in his life run up and grab it by the nose, purely out of instinct - because that is what it was bred for. Pointers point, Retrievers bring you stuff, Terriers kill small prey. A Pit Bull is bred to fight and kill, and that is what it will do once it matures - unless the owner socializes the dog intensively, AND employs constant careful supervision and management to prevent the dog from getting into a situation that triggers its fighting and killing instinct.

Pit bulls (and other fighting breeds) are always at high risk of attacking other dogs - and also potentially any person who gets in the way of a dog fight, or who triggers their fighting instinct. A pit bull attack will almost always inflict serious damage, because they have been selectively bred to be capable of inflicting fatal injuries. Intensive socialization can reduce the likelihood of problems, but the fight & kill drive is always there, and must be carefully managed.

I wouldn't support a breed ban, for the sake of people who are responsible owners & love their dogs, but I would support strong breed restrictions - for instance, licensing and special insurance. I think it would be best for people only to be allowed to own a pit bull or other fighting breed if they do not have a criminal record, and can prove experience in responsibly handling dogs, and/or take and pass classes in how to responsibly and safely handle the breed, as well as passing home inspections proving they care properly for the dog and keep it securely confined and unable to escape the property. A limit on the number of pit bull dogs allowed in a household would be a good idea too, to cut down on the risk of the dogs attacking as a pack.

Individuals who have irresponsibly handled a pit or other fighting breed by chaining their dogs, letting them run loose, or whose dogs have attacked or even repeatedly threatened people OR other animals, could be banned from owning any dog, and jailed if they violate the ban. Neighbors could be informed about the individual banned from dog owning with postcards, as it's done with convicted child predators now.

Answer 8

NO. I think that pit bulls should be treated as what they are dogs. I also think that it is a little known fact that pit bulls are on thee lower end of the dogs that bite list. 5th from last if I am correct. However with that said, they also have first place for fatal dog attacks in North America.
I think the solution would satisfy everyone, with dogs that have the potential to kill, you should have a license. proving that you are knowledgeable of the breed. Need to prove training. Need to prove proper accommodations. No renters. I think that it would be easy to ensure that only fitting owners would be in control of these dogs that have the potential for serious damage.
I am a dog lover, my best dog ever was an American pit bull terrier.
A great book for people who have an interest on either side of the fence is Pit Bulls For Dummies. It is very informative and easy to read.

Answer 9

I feel that we shouldn't, because part of the reason these "dangerous" dogs are dangerous is the way their owners had handled them when they were puppies. Also, their bloodlines might not help, especially if their parents had a "one-dog" temperment. The last part is how a person takes on their behavior. People who know jack ***t about dogs think that when a dog is playing with another dog, it's trying to attack them. Get your puppy trained if you have a "dangerous" breed of dog, so people won't flip out when you go out for walks.

Answer 10

No. I have two pit bulls and they are wonderful, friendly dogs. I have not seen any signs of aggression in them at all (one of mine even snuggles with our kitten), and they are purebred. The dog temperament depends on the owner and it does need to be taken into consideration because these dogs are built to fight (combo of mastiff for fearlessness and terrier for that fire), therefore, if they do become distraught their attacks may be more severe than other types of dogs. However, under the proper supervision, these attacks wouldn't be possible. People need to use their common sense; You know your dog's temperament- if you have an aggressive dog, take precautions: proper fencing, the people and animals it does well around, etc. So, NO to banning pit bulls, but possibly some sort of screening of those who want to own pit bulls.