Breed specific dangerous dog laws?

Question

Why do dangerous dog laws have to be breed specific? How do you feel about dangerous dog laws? How do you feel about pitbulls, GSDs, Rottweilers and Dobermans becoming illegal in some states? What about labrador retrievers? They could be considered "dangerous" too. Does restricting pitbull and GSD ownership really protect people in the community or is it just a comfort thing?

I've grown up with these breeds and I love them. Sure they may need a special kind of owner, but just as some GSDs and pitbulls can become "dangerous" so can border collies, golden retrievers etc. (Had to bring up those two) :)

Why do these laws need to be breed specific? Are some dogs really more vicious than others or is it just the way they're raised? If it's just the way they're raised then why do so many irresponsible owners own pits and GSDs and other breeds that are considered more "dangerous"? What do you consider a "dangerous" dog?

Answer 1

I'm against BSL. I know better. There is no such thing as a bad breed of dog. Just irresponsible people breeding poor quality poor tempered dogs, and the wrong type of people owning certain breeds. Not every breed is for beginners.

If they ban one breed, how long before the next "bad" breed comes along and they ban that one too. Before you know there will be no dogs.

Punish the deed, not the breed.

Dangerous dog=poorly bred, poorly raised, undersocialized, and undertrained, all the result of PEOPLE, not the dogs themselves.

Answer 2

I think breed specific laws are ridiculous in every way. Why should my well trained and well behaved Dobermans be punished when they have done nothing wrong and I am a responsible pet owner? Their only crime is looking scary. I know poodles that frighten more people than my dogs.
I think that there should be certain requirements to own a certain breed, like you have to take a class or the dog has to pass a good canine citizen course. Then once you have an issue with your dog, you lose that right to own a dog. Period. But anyone that has never had any issues should not lose their right because of a few bozos. Those laws only punish the responsible ones and it's wrong.

Answer 3

I consider a dog dangerous if they have an owner who specifically raises them to be that way. I'm not talking about police dogs either, which are well trained dogs. I'm talking about the people who are deliberately mean to their dogs in an attempt to teach them to be aggressive or protective.

Some of the breeds you mentioned just are not good for the novice dog owner. I wish that instead of banning a breed, they could crack down on who owns them and what they are doing with these dogs to make them this way.

I've seen a nasty border collie or two in my days too. That's usually been related to fear and owners not taking the time to socialize. Any dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Answer 4

Any dog can be dangerous when put in irresponsible hands. Dogs as small as Pomeranians have killed.
Pit bulls are a popular dog right now, where it used to be Dobie's, Rottie's or Shepherds. So they are being picked on.
http://www.rott-n-chatter.com/rottweilers/laws/breedspecific.html

BSL does not address these root causes behind dog attacks. It simply blames a particular breed or breeds without actually solving the real problem of irresponsible ownership and lack of education. BSL is illogical, expensive, and ineffective. Non-breed-specific dangerous dog laws and anti-cruelty laws are more effective, provided those laws are strongly written and firmly enforced. Increased education (especially for dog owners and children) will also help reduce dog bites/attacks, as will low-cost spay/neuter campaigns. We need more funding for animal control agencies to enforce the laws and tackle dog fighting. These strategies make sense. BSL is a wet bandaid.
http://www.stopbsl.com/bsldiscussion.htm

Answer 5

I think alot of it has to do with these being not about the dog really but about the type of people who generally own them. Also these are the dogs that are most commonly used in dog fighting and other such criminal acts. Although there have been instances were dogs such as pit bulls have been raised well and then suddenly they just snap and turn on their owners. I own a pug and a boston terrier and their have been other dogs of these breeds that I would consider "dangerous" but are not labeled so I would assume mainly for reasons of their size.

Answer 6

I am an american pitbull owner. I think its wrong for them to pin point it on certain breeds you can make any breed mean. Its the owner who make them mean.My pitbull is the most loving dog you will meet,I am always around him with people,including children. Like alot of people say they are mean to children wrong my pit loves children. All dogs show aggression, you have to curve these behaviors. Only the owners make the dog what it is just like a child. With the proper socialization and training these so called dangerous dogs will be the best family pets.Im not just saying it i know.

A lot of people dont do there homework before buying these dogs... I think alot of people think they will protect them, but it only bites them in the ***. leaving a dog chained up,no human contact. and others think its cool, they see these dogs on rap music and try to show them off when they get boring they chain them outside. Its cruel... I know not everyone does this,but i see it...

Also these laws are pin pointing everyone who owns these breeds no matter the temper or how good they are trained. It sickens me! What happens to the owners who take the time and care about these breeds, they get punished.. I fear each and everyday i will loose my american pit.It scary.. The laws need to change it around and watch who buys these so called dangerous dogs.

Answer 7

First of all, I don't support breed-specific laws, since studies have shown that certain other conditions (not neutering and tying out) are bigger indicators for dog bites than breed. I think better enforcement of existing laws and laws for mandatory spay/neuter and against tying out are more effective in stopping bad breeding practices and aggressive dogs.

But - studies by the U.S. Center for Disease Control have shown that pit bull type dogs are #1 for dog bites and rottweilers are #2. The labs, border collies and goldens you name statistically didn't even make the list. But there is a reason for this. There is a group of irresponsible people who intentionally choose these breeds, breed specific dogs based on their aggressive traits, train them to fight, don't spay and neuter and generally abuse these animals. So the likelihood of a bite from these breeds is higher because of a certain group that owns them and breeds them (not all owners - but unfortunately too many of them) and their behavior.

Answer 8

Breed specific laws are unfair. I don' think any specific breed is worse than another. I think people who breed them and own them are to blame. I own cocker spaniels...and they are supposedly considered bad with children...this is not what I am used to seeing in the breed and my cockers are great with my kids. It's really a shame that certain breeds are considered "vicious" I owned a doberman once who was the most loving animal. No dog by the AKC is supposed to be vicious...all breeds should have a sound disposition. it's the breeders and owners that are to blame.

Answer 9

Dogs are viscious by dog, not by breed.

Unfortunately, the dog laws are made by folks who are not always familiar with the individual breeds, and in some cases also bend to public demand. The public only hears about the bad things, the dog attacks, etc., and make an opinion based only on what they hear and see in the news, and not based on actual fact of the breed as a whole.

Dogs are not viscious by breed, and there are no bad breed, only bad owners who do not take the time to properly socialize and train their dogs.

Answer 10

BSL is retarded. It looks at making the loud mouthed happy but not at the problem. My dog is lab/pit/GSD/rotti and is a sweetheart. He's got issues but at 8 months old that's still easily cured. Most of the people I know who have been bitten, the responsible dog was either a small/toy breed or one reputed as being "great family friendly". The only truly dangerous dog is one that hasn't been shown proper behavior and those left in the back yard on a chain.