How can you call yourself a dog lover . . .?

Question

I really do not understand something. I see people calling American Pit Bull Terriers (learn the correct name, it's not just 'pit bull'), Boxers, Chihuahuas, and more breeds vicious. Saying they should all be put down.

Here's the part I don't understand: How can you call yourselves dog lovers when you have such passionate hate for a breed? A dog is a dog is a dog.

Any dog can be aggressive. Any dog can bite. Any dog can kill.

Yes, I admit. Some breeds had been bred for this. But responsible breeds are waging war to breed it back out. And let's not forget - you're calling to punish a dog for something OUR race bred it to do.

Yet - many of you don't even know the breed you're lashing out at. Many of you have never owned nor worked with one. Ironic.

If you want the onslaught of dog bites - from any breed - to stop, call for education! Educate those around you about good breeders, training, and handling.

How can you call yourself a dog lover?

Note this is only for those who fit in the category of breed specific hate. And this is not meant to insult, only to try to understand another point of view while trying to educate in the process.

John J - actually, you can. Have you ever met a English Springer Spaniel bred from the 'show' line and then one from the 'field' line? There's huge differences in hunting drives.

Answer 1

It's pure ignorance, nothing but. People listen to the media not caring if they are reporting the truth or not.
Also, most people dont know that the term "pit bull" includes several different breeds (as well as any dog that even resembles a pit bull). They are the only type pf dog that all the statistics are thrown together, let alone not accurate. If the same thing were done for hunting, herding, toy, and other breed types they would see the pit bull types are actually much lower on the bite stats than any other type.

Answer 2

I guess it's because the "American Pit Bull Terrier" is the only breed you ever hear about on the news, read about in the newspapers, etc., that has attacked / killed people, usually unprovoked.

I have never owned one, and have actually never come into contact with one, so I don't have a specific opinion or any first-hand experience one way or the other, but yeah, when I hear the words "American Pit Bull Terrier" the first thing I think of is that they have been known to attack / kill people. I guess then it would be the media that has put that in our heads, but it's not like it's a "rumor" or something, they report actual attacks.

My uncle always had Doberman Pinschers and I remember hearing as a kid that "Doberman Pinschers will turn on you in an instant". My Uncle's dogs were very gentle and nice but I was always kind of scared of them as a kid because of having been told that. So things do get planted in your mind.

I agree with you that people should educate themselves before labeling the whole breed that way. But in a lot of the reported attacks the dog owners have said that the dog had never acted that way before, etc., so what brought that behavior out if it's not somewhat naturally ingrained in their breed? I'm not being a smart-alec, I genuinely wonder about that.

Answer 3

Although I worked at a Dog Kennel for 4 years as a teenager, I finally have come to the realization I'm afraid of Pit Bulls or any breed that resembles them. Not that I have been bitten but they just scare me with their head and body structure. At the Kennel we did not except these types of breeds to board, the owner felt it wasn't worth another dog or staff getting injured. Yes, I do know other dog breeds are aggressive such as the German Shepherd is the #1 biter.

There are a lot of dumb people that get these types of dog to do their dirty work and fight them. Which perpetuates the problem even more.

I've been bit by a Lab, a corgi and a poodle..none of them broke the skin but I feel if a "pit" bit me it wouldn't have turned out the same.
my .02 cents

Answer 4

I am in total agreement with this. Any dog I mean any dog can be trained to be mean and agressive. Personally I'll take a a larger breed dog over little ones any day. Just my preference. Some people don't even know a dog they might be petting and saying sweet things to is a type of Pit. They picture them all being fawn in color with big broad shoulders and head. Just like the one I have at home who loves everyone especially "her" 17 year old kitty who washes her face daily. And my grandchildren who play with her. Oh and did I mention I have a Hybrid also who is almost 1/2 wolf they love each other too. They disagree sometimes but the wolf wins as she is older. Never more than a growl and never very often. And you people who are calling the person who wrote in this question a idiot think about what you say. Dog's should not have to pay the price for what idiot people train them to be agressive.

Answer 5

I see your point but unfortunately education isn't a realistic solution. There are so many ignorant, irresponsible dog owners out there that educating them all or even getting these types of people to get a dog education is not even plausible.

Therefore, the realistic thing to ensure that bad dog people don't get a more dangerous dog breed is to restrict the ownership of the breed. There is no right of dog ownership. Just because I'm in love with M1 Abrams tanks doesn't mean that I should be allowed to have one.

Answer 6

Maybe because people tend not to learn lessons from things that happen, and tend to continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. It makes no sense to keep breeding a breed of dog that is so strong and dangerous, when there are people who don't care and aren't doing the right thing and continue to produce dogs that keep hurting people. Produce a litter of puppies so that they are sold to the wrong type people and they are not trained and they are not controlled, they bite someone and they are put down.. What happens then?? Well they breed another litter of dogs who go out and do the same thing. Education doesn't seem to work with people... Either they don't care, cause there is
money involved, or they just are too stupid to see what they are doing.

Answer 7

An aggressive dog is an aggressive dog, is an aggressive dog.
Because there is a market for aggressive dogs, unscrupulous breeders match dogs with bad temperaments and breed them to make badass puppies for profit. They would be mean and have bad temperaments no matter who owned them. They are not breed specific, but they are badass dogs.
I'm a dog lover, but I do believe that there are dogs that are not fit to live among humans and they should be put down. Once again, I'm not being breed specific, but I'll always rank humans ahead of dogs (especially bad ones).

Answer 8

it is hard for man to know what an animal perceives as a threat; I have now seen pit bulls who were kind and gently, bite. It is a misunderstanding that the pit bull is an animal who may have a stronger instinct for its pack; people need to be educated that an animal is an animal and any animal no matter how good needs to be supervised.

Answer 9

AMEN!!!

You wouldn't believe how many people think dogs are pits when there isn't a lick of pit in them. They haven't even seen one and are automatically terrified. I just recently rescued a lhasa that had a big black blotch over his eye and I had to have him shaved he came in in such horrible condition and when he got loose there were a group of people saying he was a pit.

Ill never forget my rescue chase. He had been hit by a car and we got him all fixed up and to adoptions one warm day. This young boy about 10 was having a great time with him playing just like pits love to do and when the mom asked what kind of dog he was I told her he's one of those nasty pit bulls. At the time Chase was on his back and the boy rubbing his belly his mom yanked him off the ground and away from us. HORRIBLE - Chase went away to college with the boy that did adopt him and goes back home to see the rest of the family with him. Another pitty, Maynerd, I rescued as a baby went away to law school. Pepper has a farm house in southern KY and was actually adopted by our presidents in laws. Bones - found him on my porch dying of parvo at 4 months. He got two girls and a single mom to keep him on his toes. Hazel may my first. Also parvo survivor that had been abandoned at the vet. She got herself a little girl too. Their picture is in our 2006 Calendar and is truest to form of a a pit bull.

Of all my rescues Ive never had to put a bully to sleep. The bully breeds ALL of them are awesome. Thank you for helping us educate the public

Answer 10

Just like Guns don't kill people, .......people kill people. People make dogs mean, dogs don't just become mean.

I have a Rottweiler Female that cries when she watches Animal planet and treats my cats like Kings. This comes from me teaching and showing my dog love as well as my 2 German Shepherd Dogs.

Your Post was and is excellent! Way to point out a sobering truth!

Way to GO!