How many have have actually had an encounter with an agressive pitbull? As an animal control officer, I can honestly say I have had very few. In fact , if you ask an ACO what type of dog they watch out for, it's usually a Chow (mix) or Shar-pei (mix). The reason pitbulls make the news is because they make good news. Any bite from a bully breed will invariably be worse than a breed that was bred for, say, herding. most pitbulls are also owned by those on the lower socio-econic scale, so it also gives the media a chance to highlight this. One final thing for you PETA types. Ingrid Newkirk herself wants the breed to be done away with. Hardly "ethical", is it?
2007-05-26 15:23:11 · 23 answers · asked by Worzel Gummidge 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
My daughter has three & they are nothing more than big babies being raised in the house with my two grandaughters, ages 6 & 4. The oldest Pit, 6 years old has been raised her entire life with the 6 year old girl!!!
2007-05-26 15:29:50 · answer #1 · answered by ® 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I love Pitts. I have had 2. I have a boxer Pitt mix right now, and also 2 chiwawas (spelling, LOL). Anyways. I rescued my big dog, he was an old fighting dog I think, but he is so incredibly gentle and docile. Him and my female 7 pound chiwawa are so close, he grooms her as she lays inbetewn his legs. He also loves to play with my male. The only problem that I have with him is the fact that he is a very big dog, and if another dog is not neutered, he becomes so so so aggressive, that is why I think he was an old fighter, also because he came from a reservation where dog fighting is legal. Makes me sick. He has so many scars on him and was so underweight when I got him. I got him a shock collar, and we go to classes, to stop him from being so aggressive with un-fixed males. other than that he is perfect, dosnt even pull at the leash and is a perfect angel. He is doing so well now with his aggression too. He is so gentle with my 19 month old also. Honestly my chiwawas are so much more aggressive than my Pitt every single day! My male that I have had for 5 years I need to find a home for because he bit the baby! It is the people, not the breed. I am very scared of the chows and sharpees though. I wish people would learn about the bully breeds before judging them. They are so loving and have an affinity for kids. Yes they have their problems, but every breed does. They just happen to be so power full and people misuse that.
2007-05-26 23:16:05 · answer #2 · answered by Michelle D 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You know, I am so glad to see this posting. I am in the media, and I own a American Pit Bull Terrier... a strange combination, I know... but it is hard on me to see people constantly judging the breed. Paris is the best dog I have ever owned. Outside of her, I have had a chocolate lab, a miniature dauschund, and an english springer spaniel... and believe it or not, Paris has been the most docile of the bunch. She is loving, caring, and attentive... and would never hurt a human. Heck, she is even scared of cats! But, truth be told, I have to be very careful with her around other dogs. She grew up in doggy daycare, but there are certain dogs she doesn't agree with. that's why I make sure to test her compatibility with another dog before they can become friends. Overall, I have never met a pit bull that was aggressive towards humans. The media hypes up attacks because the breed is so large... and strong, but I think that's where it stops.
2007-05-26 22:52:02 · answer #3 · answered by Txnewsgirl 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well I have never been attacked by a pit bull but they do scare me beacsue of all of the media news and becasue when I was staying at a hotel there was one chained to a truck unitended and the whole truck was shaking and it looked like it wanted to kill me. I try to believe that not all pit bulls are mean but it is very hard. One story in the news about another dog saving a little girl from a pit bull touched my heart. I have heard that chows can be mean too but my friend has one and it's nice. I don't think that we will ever "get rid" of pitbulls. It seems too unethical.
2007-05-26 22:30:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I work in a veterinary hospital and i completely agree with you. Pitbulls are usually sweet and very energetic. i am not saying they are all that way, but it is almost always the product of their owners. Chow's and Shar-pei's top my list as dogs to be very cautious of. Also believe it or not the smaller the dog the more likely they are going to bite you and you dont have much to hold onto when trying to control them. The only difference is the smaller dogs do less damage so its not a "big deal". I am a big advocate to prevent discrimination against breeds like pit bulls, dobermans and rottweilers. Its just not fair. Its the owners who determine what their dogs temperment will be. They need to learn to control their dog or dont get one.
Punish the deed, not the breed. Stop dog fighting
2007-05-26 22:48:24 · answer #5 · answered by vettech1328 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
To answer your question.. I have seen a few "pit bulls" that are animal agressive but, I have never ever seen one that was human agressive. All of the "pit bulls" I know have been properly raised, trained and socalized and they have good, loving homes though. "Pit bulls" were bred to fight, thats why they tend to be animal agressive but, at the same time "pit bulls" were bred to be loyal, devoted, obedient, tolerant, loving, people-friendly, family pets! As with any breed there will be exceptions to the normal behavior and temperament but, for the most part, as with any breed, it all depends on the owner! There are alot of "pit bulls" (as well as other breeds) that do end up in bad homes. Homes where they get abused, neglected, trained to fight or just trained to be mean. That doesnt make all "pit bulls" mean. If a "pit bull" (just like any other dog) is properly raised, trained and socalized, they make great companions and wonderful family pets!
This is a wonderful post and I agree with everything you said! Alot of people have never even seen, much less spent any time with an American Pit Bull Terrier, an American Staffordshire Terrier or a Staffordshire Bull Terrier! People go by all of the myths that they hear from other people and in the media! Its really sad to me that so many people choose to believe myths over facts! It is such a shame that alot of people will never understand how "pit bulls" really are! They will never get to experiance their undying love, their loyalty, their devotion, their goofy, human like personalities... They will never see how smart, sweet, gentle and tolerant they really are! And its all because they choose to believe myths over facts! "Pit bulls" are three of the most stable people-friendly breeds in existence! They are great breeds, wonderful companions and an absolute joy to be around! Anyway.. if I dont stop now I will go on forever! lol.. So, like I already said, I have never seen a human agressive "pit bull" and I have seen very few "pit bulls" that were even animal agressive! And again, Thank you for this wonderful post and I agree 100%! : )
2007-05-27 12:04:30 · answer #6 · answered by Love-A-Bull 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I love it, finally, someone who knows the experience! I have never had a bad incounter with a pit-bull, EVER! And even if I did, I wouldn't blame the poor dog for doing what it was taught.
In fact come to think of it, I've NEVER had a bad experience with any type of dog. Just goes to show you that it's knowledge that protects you in the end.
I have an Amstaff/Pit-bull Terrier, and she has been attacked twice by my old neighbors German Shephered, and ran away. She has been snapped at by two labs, and turned belly up.She was attacked by a collie, and ran as fast as she could to get away. She has been attacked by a ferral cat, that was nearly dead, and ran whimpering with her tail between her legs. She has been chased by my grandmothers horses, and almost got trampled.
All these encounters and she never fought back, what does that tell you? Most of this happened at pet stores and dog parks, and it's funny because when I go to the dog park half of the people there leave, and I feel that it's their dogs that are going to hurt her.
I also just got a American Pit-bull Terrier puppy about 7 weeks ago, and she loves that puppy.
It's all in how they are trained, raised, and treated.
2007-05-26 22:37:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Many ACO feel the same as you do. In fact i kneew one who not only loved the breed but took one in that had been used as a pit dog and loved him to the end
2007-05-27 19:43:52 · answer #8 · answered by raven blackwing 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the media does keep bad press about the pit bull in the public eye.(good for ratings)
I own a pit bull (best dog ever) would trust anyone with her but people are scare of her because of the reputation she carries,and there is a golden down the road you can't go near
And this is fair?
I have walked dead up on a chained pit bull in its yard no food or water and did not even get a bark . Other dogs well...........!
2007-05-26 22:59:42 · answer #9 · answered by Buster 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I have been around pitt bulls most of my life. I owned one and several of my friends, neighbors, and family members have owned them. I have encountered 2 aggressive pitts. The first was a family pet that attacked my friend. It was one of his father's three pitts. In the dog's defense, it had been chained it's whole life. The second was a neighbor's. He never tried to control his dog, never leashed or confined the dog, but when she had or was about to have puppies, anything in her path was fair game. I know of at least 3 people that she went after, me included. I was about 10 years old. My sister running at my side was 7. When my neighbor was confronted, his response was to try to keep out of the dog's way. I do not use either of these instances as examples that the breed should be "discontinued." But that bad owners exist and it causes bad dogs.
2007-05-26 22:59:31 · answer #10 · answered by krissy4543 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
"Punish the deed, not the breed."
I've never had a problem with a pit. I knew a red nose that the most lethal thing about him was his spit (dog drool +concrete = me on my butt.) I've been bitten by one Rott (he was a multiple offender and as a trained guard dog he didn't do as much damage as he could have.) I never feared my friend's Rotts. I've been bitten by a neighbor's crazy GSD (never had a problem with his Pit.) I used to work for a Doberman breeder who also had a Min Pin who bit me. I've been bitten and snapped at by so many American Cocker Spaniels that I've lost count. All of them were from pet shops or backyard breeders, never a show-line Cocker. I've worked at breeder/show kennels, boarding kennels, veterinary office kennels, and a major pet supply store and have dealt with dogs from a whole range of breeds who have come from all kinds of breeders. The breeders and the way they are raised by the owners make a lot of difference in being able to trust a dog.
2007-05-26 22:44:09 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋