Anyone else think Pit Bulls are getting a bad rap?

Question

Most attacks that are claimed to have been caused by a pit bull, actually turn out to be another breed, but of course the original story remains unchanged.

see if you can spot a pit bull here:

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

What are your feelings about your personal experiences with the animal, and please take the test to see if you can spot them.

Thanks

mr phatt, here are the statistics for breed temperment comparison by the american temperment testing society on the breed you have mentioned compared to the pit bull

Name Number tested Percent pass

Akita 447 73.6%

Collie 811 79.2%

G shepard 2,833 83.3%

Pom 32 75%

Pitts 542 84%

Pitts have better temperment towards humans than all the other dogs you mentioned. The German Shepard impressed me though.

you can verify this at:

www.atts.org

Answer 1

I think it is starting to sink in the minds of others, thanks to another member that frequents YA.
I guessed it wrong, by the way, I know lots of people have no idea what a pit bull is or even looks like, but they say they hate them. It is sad that the government is trying to exterminate a whole breed of dog rather then impose really stiff penalties on the owners of vicious and aggressive dogs.

Answer 2

I have never met a pit bull or similar breed that was mean, not that I never will because it is bound to happen eventually. I work with a lot of animals and I have met more mean shepards, shih tzus, goldens, and labs then anything else. Most of those breeds are considered good family breeds. As far as I am concerned pit bull bites are more reported because they cause more damage when it happens not because it happens more often then other breeds. I remember reading somewhere that labs and shepards bite more often. What exactly is a pit bull... so many people see a dog with a certain look and categorize them without even thinking. AmStaffs are one of my favorite breeds, they would be looked at as a pit bull by most people. By the way, I went to the link and picked out the pit bull with no problem.

Answer 3

I Agree with most of the people here. i recuse a pit bull mix and when i got him he was skin and bones. I was hesitated to take him in but he is the best dog in the world i don't believe that all dogs go bad. when dogs get older the tolerance of things get less and that is why they are more snippy. i also believe that being a responsible pit bull owner or any dog owner at that matter means that when you dog gets snippy you need to know when it is time to put him down. any dog can go bad not just pit bulls its all bout how you train them and what you want them to do. I agree with you most of the attacks aren't pit bulls at all , just cuz they have the standard block shaped head they are pit bulls WRONG!!!!!!! Also the ignorant people that think fighting dogs is cool make it hard for the ones that own pit bulls and have never had a thing wrong with them. I would like to put thoses people in a ring and let something tear at them and then not give them any medical attention. see how they like it. I love my pit bull. I would rather adopt a pit then buy a new one to many don't have homes and they will be put down in a shelter.

Answer 4

I know from experience that most pits aren't as bad as people make them out to be. They are just another breed of dog. I have met so many that I ABSOLUTELY loved! But they are terriers... tried and true. They are determined and can be bull headed. I just don't believe they are as aggressive as the media makes them out to be. Of all the breeds of dogs, I would much rather work with a pit over a Chihuahua or a Min Pin. What does that say about the little ones?? *lol*

Most dog bites are actually inflicted by small breed dogs. But because their bites don't result in massive injuries they are usually unreported.

Answer 5

I know they get a bad rap. My sister has two of them, a Staffordshire and a King fisher. They are both very loving and protective of one another and of thier owner. Her Staffordshire plays with my 5 year old daughter all the time and would never bite her or any other person.
If the dog is raised right, any dog can be a wonderful pet. Likewise, if a dog is taught to be mean or aggressive, it will be. Personally I feel like the little yappy dogs are more prone to be biters and attack people and/or other animals.
Remember, these used to be the preferred family pet... Spot from the Little Rascals was a pit bull.

Answer 6

any dog can be nasty if the owners make them nasty.
they are getting a bad rap but they are not the only ones.
every year they pick a new breed to pick on. i have known
people who owned a golden retriever and the dog went
to bit people. if you raise the dog with love and dont hit
them i will be sweet. you need to social them and give them
lots of hugs and keep them on a leash at all times because
people will try and have the dog taken away from you just
because he is a pit bull. i had an English mastiff who was
250Lbs of mush and every time we walked him i heard
from some stupid people how mean they were. they
are the sweetest dogs just like the pit bull and the other
big dogs that get a bad rap. the pit bull is the dog of the
year to get picked on.

Answer 7

I definitely think that it is the owners that corrupt these dogs. I have an English Bulldog, which is a totally different breed all together, but a person that lives down the road called the police and reported that my husband and I had a pitbull and they wanted to make sure it was registered. People are so uneducated when it comes to pitbulls. My Mother in law has 2 pitbulls that wouldn't hurt a flea.
English Bulldogs are some of the friendliest dogs I have ever owned, my 8 month old crawls all over him....I wish people would educate themselves about dogs before they get in a big hurry to prejudge.

Answer 8

22 is the APBT but I use this test all the time to prove others have no idea what pits look like. Pit attacks are big news, I know of reporters out right lieing about a dog involed in a attack being a pit.

Answer 9

I have had two pit bulls in my day, both of which were loving gentle dogs... my biggest problem with them is that they ate EVERYTHING! I also have two kids and both of which were around the dogs all the time. What people fail to understand is that dogs are Very much like children and must be supervised. Most dogs see children like litter mates so tussling and rough houseing to them is all in good fun. Most dog attacks are provoked or mistaken. I find that any dog will attack if they feel that their people are in danger. I now have an American Bulldog and even though he is a bully breed he is the biggest lap dog you could ever know, except when he feels I am in danger by other dogs or men. LOL! My husband wrestles with me and it drives my dog insane.

Answer 10

Weren't all those dog's in that picture pit-bulls? Just kidding! Some people tend to think all big dogs with even similar faces are pitbulls. Annoying, but still reality. I personally like pit-bulls and I think instead of outlawing them like has been happening lately, they should just restrict owmership to people that can prove they are responsible owners. That would cut down the problems significantly and hopefully help the bad image pits have.