My family is going to get a pitbull. Are they really as aggressive and vicious as the media makes them sound?

Question

Are they dog friendly. Can i trust a pitbull around my Labrador?

Answer 1

Not at all, if you raise a dog to be aggressive, it will be aggressive...Not just pit-bulls, but any dog in general...

Answer 2

if it is either the Bull Terrier, American or English Straffordship Terrier these are wonderful dogs and are great pets. They have to be made mean by bad breeding or abuse. They do not tolerate strange dogs well and have a bend for fighting them. A natural follow through with there being a breed for fighting. This also gives them a better relationship to humans than other breeds.

I watched a very old Bull Terrier in the vet's surgery one day she was very arthritic and in pain but she play and roughhoused with three boys and never once whined much less snapped or offer any aggressive act.
Another story about an American Straffordshire Terrier. A friend has one and was out walking late one evening. A person came up. The dog positioned himself between them never growling or showing anything but alertness. The man was surprised, asked his question and went away. A great show of protection with common sense.

As to with other dogs, I think you will be find if the pup is raised with your Lab. A friend has raised a Bull with his and they get along fine. But the Bull does not back down and will hold his ground. This may prove a bit of trouble later. I would suggest altering your puppy at six months to prevent any problems.

Again they are great dogs for families. Just watch your breeding and don't try to make them mean. It is people who make bad dogs.

Answer 3

With all the breeds of dogs available, why on earth would your family choose a pit bull?
Yes, I have known some very sweet pit bulls, but that's not the point. Are you aware that some cities have actually banned them? And that you may not be able to purchase home insurance if you own a pit bull?
Great Britain has passed a law barring all pit bull owners from breeding them, so that all the remaining pit bulls there will eventually die out.
The thing about pits is that once they chomp down on something, they don't let go. There's no real way to determine what a puppy's temperament will be as an adult.
If your family wants a guard-type dog, why not consider a German Shepherd or Doberman?

Answer 4

it depends on the owner. if any dog is loved and socialized, he or she will not be aggressive and vicious. I've seen any pitbulls who were just like any other dogs. My bf previously owned 2 pitbulls and he said he misses them so much and he said they are the best.
But then again, couple weeks ago, at a dog park, my 4 month old shih tzu was biten by a pitbull. Thankfully the pitbull only got my puppy's hair. My puppy was hanging from the pitbull's mouth...off the ground.
so it depends how you treat and train your dog.
Good luck

Answer 5

Is there someone standing around ahnding out tupid pills to people before they let them post a question? what the hell is wrong with these people already? And for the record, once you are stupid enough to "turn on the mean streak" there is NO turning it off... ever I have 2 Rotts.. a 90lb female and a 165lb male.. ad og as powerful as pitts and rotts can be very dangerous when not properly cared for. Instead of thinking your dog has the same ego problem that you do, take a second look. You hold the power to prove the stereotypes wrong. Train your dog to be a companion or therapy dog and help prove why Breed Specific Laws are rediculous.

Answer 6

No. There are dogs that are potentially more aggressive than others but that depends on their "personality" and not the breed. You can read advice by experts on how to choose a puppy. There are some tests that you can perform on puppies to find out which suits you. For example: crouch next to the puppy, roll it on its back and keep it immobile with one hand for 30 seconds. If the puppy tries violently to escape, scratches and bites, than you have a dog that likes to be in control and can be later easily provoked to bite.(this dog should only be adopted by someone who can control him, preferably someone with experience in training dogs. If not, he will be the "leader of the pack" in your house.) If the dog sits still, then struggles then sits still again and accepts your look, then you have a friendly dog. There are more tests like this that you can and should perform when you want to adopt a dog. Good luck!

Answer 7

NOT AT ALL!!!!
They are the most loving dogs you can get, but you must raise them with love and socialize them on a day to day basis. Also look into their background. Some of these dogs come from parents who have been bred and raised to fight, which can be genetically passed down into the puppies behavioral traits.
One thing to remember about these dogs is that they were specifically bred to fight other dogs and also to be the most favorable human companion, so you MUST get them socialized with other dogs as a puppy and also get them around as many people and children as possible. Doing this when they are a few months old is KEY.
These dogs have gone through so many temperament tests and have passed them with outstanding results.

If you really want to know more I'd suggest looking at books and researching them on the internet as much as possible and also when you are walking down the street, and see someone with a pittbull ask them if their dog is friendly as you would any dog and get to know it.

Answer 8

I have been a pest control tech (I now on the company) for years. I have dealt with every breed of dog known to man. Some of the nicest dogs I have come across have been pits.

However, like any dog, if it is trained to be mean, not socialized well, or chained up, it has the potential to become dangerous. If you check out the stories on the dog attacks, you will see that many of them have these three attributes in common.

I am sure your pup will be fine. Good luck to you!

Answer 9

Pit bulls have a bad reputation. I have a red nose pit and a little mutt Chihuahua. Plus I have 4 little girls all under 8 and the Buddy our Pitt is SO sweet. He looks mean and he's big but he is such a nice dog. Pits love to play and need attention. Hes never acted up and he plays with all dogs. Pits turn out the way there owners make them.
So if your good to your pit it will be a good dog and if your bad to your Pitt it will turn like most mean dogs.

Answer 10

the media contorts everything to their benefit so don't believe everything they say. apbts are very affectionate dogs. they can be very territorial however, and some do carry on the dog aggression traits of their parents if they were raised in unhealthy situations. you need to remind the puppy that you and any other humans in your household are the bosses not the dog. you will need to stamp down any aggressive behaviors immediately. make sure that you take the dog to an obedience class. if the dog is older maybe see if they have a socializing class for the dog with other dogs so yours will know that it is ok for other dogs to be around. ask your local humane society or aspca for classes in your area. also check with your township, or city hall about ordnance's banning pitbulls, or if they require you to have extra house insurance to own one, just to be safe. i have seen too many people have to get rid of their babies because they were not aware of ordinances regarding apbts

Answer 11

My cousins have pit bulls and they are probably the friendliest dogs that I know. They play with the kids and they go to the dog park and hang with their dog buddies.

Its what everyone else is saying, if it was raised to be friendly it will be.

When they are all over the news, it was because at the time it was the drug dealers dog of choice and they were training them to be vicious. The media has since moved on.