If you are thinking of adopting a dog or a puppy, consider a pit bull. Despite the stereotype that many prospective adopters have, pit bulls make very gentle and loyal family dogs. In fact, the pit bull is considered one of the friendliest dogs.
There is no such thing as a bad breed. Pit bulls get a bad response from many people, but more often than not, they are the victims of irresponsible and abusive ownership.
Bull breeds score better on temperament tests than the general dog population.
In December 2010, the American Temperament Test Society showed the American pit bull terrier scored an overall temperament rating of 83.9%, compared to the 77% score of the general dog population.
Pit bulls are actually bred to be affectionate towards people. They have been bred for hundreds of years for strength, agility, high pain tolerance and absence of aggression toward humans. Pit bulls are extremely intelligent dogs and take their cues from the humans who raise them.
Only humans are capable of knowing the difference between “right and wrong,” and all dogs are bred, raised and trained to behave the way they do.
There are many pit bulls in shelters. This is partly due to over-breeding and the misconceptions and misinformation that the general public has about the breed.
Here are some helpful tips to take note of when adopting a pit bull, part of a vast array of information that is available both in your local library and on the Internet.
Socialization is the key to a happy and confident pit bull. All pit puppies should be enrolled in a puppy class where part of the time is devoted to off-leash play with other dogs.
Pit bulls are enthusiastic learners. They enjoy trick training, and many graduate at the head of their obedience classes. There are many pit bull rescue groups that can recommend training classes.
It’s play time! Pits are moderately active indoors and extremely active outdoors — be prepared to spend a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes twice a day engaged in aerobic-level activities with your dog.
You may experience breed discrimination. Legislation may prohibit you from living in certain communities, and homeowners insurance may be harder to find. Before you adopt, call your local city hall or animal shelter to find out about your local laws.
Do your research. Are your neighbors the kind who might get concerned about a pit bull in the community? Bringing home a pit bull may be tough, because many people wrongly associate them with being aggressive. Be prepared with breed facts and history to let people know that it’s bad ownership that causes pit bulls to be aggressive.
Adoption is the best option. By rescuing a pit bull, you are saving a dog that needs a home and family. Adopting a pit from a shelter means that the dog will have had an initial health evaluation and should also have already been vaccinated and spayed or neutered for you. More and more shelters use a standardized evaluation to assess the behavior of their dogs. If the dog you’re interested in has been evaluated, ask to see the results so you can get a more complete picture of the dog’s typical reactions to things.
Consider adopting an older pit bull. With an adult dog, what you see is what you get. Their personality is already developed, and you'll be able to spot the characteristics you're looking for much more easily than with a puppy.
Establish house rules for your new pit that everyone will stick to. Consistency is the key to training pit bulls. Decide on the behaviors you find acceptable and those that you wish to discourage, such as:
• Is she/he allowed on the furniture?
• Is it okay for her/him to bark in the backyard?
• Can she/he play with toys in the house?
• How do you want her/him to behave when guests come into the home?
Set a good example for others. Become a proud owner — be sure to show your pit bull the love and care it deserves. And always let others know what great companions they make!
Understand that pit bulls are large and strong dogs. If they aren’t used to being around small children, they may unwittingly knock them over while playing. Some pit bulls do best in a home with children 12 and older.
Comments
Dear Joshua... as a Pit Bull lover and Founder of a Pit Bull Rescue you need to check you facts before using them in the heading of an article. Pit Bull advocates have created their own myths and or chosen to emit the full truth. The ATTS was never meant to measure aggression but balance to see if they can be put to work. Most dogs fail for lack of confidence, not aggression. The ratio of Pit Bulls to those other dogs is 1/28. And Pit Bulls are not for everyone and require a great deal of of work, knowledge, and responsibility. You, see all these people on the dog shows having problems with little toy dogs, imagine if they chose a dog like a Pit Bull, not good! While the article is great, not mentioning the hard truth is misleading. Advocates stress responsibility, you can't be responsible without addressing their tendency for dog aggression. Just because we pretend it's not there doesn't mean it will never surface. It's a great dog but the owner needs to be fully engaged.
Thanks for the clarification. I think this article can be misleading.
Md thank you so much for being a responsible pit rescue. It is rescues like you that need way more attention and support, if that were to happen just maybe the situation would change.
Just to add the people who atts their dog are generally not an average owner and much less the type of owner to put any active work into their dog, any type. I believe it even cost to do the testing and not what most owners who want an average pet would even consider. Therefore most experts do not put much weight onto these statistics.
@MD Stovalli
First of all, thank you for your input. I respect it. And thank you for running a rescue.
Second,
I also do a radio show that reaches 83k+. Would you be interested in making a guest appearance to talk about your experiences with Pit Bulls? And/Or a story in regards to your viewpoints?
While you are not from Chicago, and I write for the Chicago end of Examiner- you have some valuable input.
Thank You, Joshua-Paul Angell
Joshua,
Actually, pit bulls are a terrible choice of dog for most people if only because of their high drive and high energy. Plus,most are dog aggressive and this means that many exercise opportunities (for example, dog parks) are not an option. As MDStovalli points out, no part of the ATTS test tests meaningfully for dog dangerousness. In fact a dog can be lunging at the end of it's leash, giving every indication of wanting to rip the throat out of the "threatening" stranger (who, ov course, is no threat at all, but merely behaving the way the schizophrenic homeless guy in the park might behave) and still pass the ATTS test with flying colors. Timid breeds, such as shetland sheepdogs, tend to do horribly on the test, but no sheltie has ever killed a person in this country, as far as I can tell. Pit bulls do okay (not great, but okay) on the ATTS test, and kill people in this country with regularity.
The solution to the pit bull crisis (and the crisis is very real as a visit to any urban shelter will demonstrate) is not to try to convince people who shouldn't have pit bulls (and that is the vast majority of people) to adopt them anyway, it is to pass laws that limit pit bull breeding to people who have at least some prayer of being responsible. Mandatory spay/neuter of all pit bulls except AKC and UKC-PR registered show dogs will accomphish that.
obviously you too know only what you read in the news. they are at risk of being dog aggressive only because of training, ive had many pit bulls and also bred many, none of which were either dog or human aggressive. bull dogs were also bred to fight dogs yet they have been set right as well. you also have no idea what your talking about
I agree with this person who commented on your terrible comment. you obviously dont have a pit bull or really know anything other than what you've read in the news paper or wherever you heard it. i also have owned many pit bulls and other breeds. (3 pits, a jackrussle, and a golden retriever) i currently have a pit and a golden. out of the three pits ive had they have not attacked any other dog. the golden and jack russle were the ones who would be aggressive towards other dogs. never the pits. so maybe you should educate yourself before you say you know what you're talking about.
dear dogcentric, I invite you to spend a day with my pitbull and I can promise you your views on the breed will change. I own a pit and he is the most gentle, loving, affectionate and obedient dog you will ever meet. All he wants is to play with humans and other dogs, hug and cuddle. I don't know how he was bred or anything about his young life since I rescued him from a high kill city shelter but I do know with some patience, effort and exercise they make the best companions. I have had dogs all my life and he is by far the best!
Thanks for the responsible reply. It is appreciated.
This is in response to people who keep saying things like "I owned 10 pit bulls and they never attacked anyone, therefore they are not dangerous." Good for you, and good luck in the future. "I own 20 automatic weapons and they have never killed anyone, therefore automatic weapons are not dangerous."
Every year in the pitbulls kill 3 people. Many other more aggressive breeds are lumped in with pitbulls as 'pitbull type dogs'. If an owner acts afraid or is seemly harmed by someone the pitbull will react VERY adversely to the threat. They are very dedicated and if one is extremely dedicated can you blame them for attacking someone who they thought hurt their master? If someone attacked me on the street I HOPE my pitbull would defend me. Though she is really sweet otherwise. Though yes, they are prone to dog aggression if they are properly socialized and don't see other dogs as a threat they will be perfectly fine.
Though, for the dogs' safety I do agree with what you've said about their regulation. That should be mandated for all dogs though to cut down on the number of homeless animals and dog attacks in general.
Joshua,
Is it "ownership" that causes the lab I rescued from the shelter to be obsessive about retriving? Is it "ownership" that causes the border collie my friends rescued from the shelter to obsessive circule (herd) groups of people and dogs with no herding training whatsoever? Nobody trained these dogs to have these traits and trying to train them NOT to have them would be very difficult at least, and maybe impossible. This is because labs are bred to retrieve and border collies are bred to herd.
Similarly, pit bulls are bred to race across a pit, attack another dog with no provocation whatsoever and keep up the attack until the other dog is dead. Many pit bulls are dangerous dog aggressive with no training whatsoever and even if their owners try incredibly diligently to make them otherwise.
The UKC American Pit Bull Terrier standard explicitly admits that "most" pit bulls are dog aggressive. Do you think that this is because the UKC believes that "most" pit bull owners train their dogs to be dangerous to other dogs? It isn't. It is because (like lab fetching and border collie herding) killing other dogs is what pit bulls are BRED to do.
its people like you with no idea of what they are talking about who give the breed a bad name. bull dogs were bred to fight too, how come they arent in the news. do your research. how come everytime a pitbull does something wrong it gets thrown in the spotlight. did you hear about the pomeranian that killed a baby? probably not. but maybe you should google it, and shut your mouth.
dogcentric,
All dogs have the same traits. Some just shine more than other. My pit bull swims. herds, and fetches also. Actually much better the the lab I had,. My shepherds didn't herd anything at all. Just because a breed was originally meant to do something, doesn't meant they will. They are many purebred dogs that cannot do what they were intended to do, but they still make excellent pets. Just not good for hunters or farmers. These are called pet quality purebreds. Rarely does anyone use a breed for what it was originally meant for, therefore breeds lose what they were made for. Same thing with pit bulls. Most pit bulls, when owned by a responsible owner, make elite family pets. Socialization takes any animal aggression they may have away. Most dogs are naturally aggressive towards other dogs. I've had many dogs, mainly retrievers act aggressive towards my pit bull. Dos are dogs, and they all have the same traits. That's what makes them dogs. Guess you just have to know dogs, and be well rounded with many breeds to understand that.
Great article Joshua! Thanks to people like you for setting the record straight, and helping to eliminate the unnecessary fear and negative placed on this breed. Keep it up!
Pit bulls make excellent pets! I have had quite a few dogs in my life, but pit bulls are the tops. They are relatively easy to train, although a little stubborn once in a while, they are incredibly loyal dogs. So loyal and lovable, I wouldn't hesitate getting another one in the future. I used to believe they were mean dogs, only because of the negative stigma transported through the media, but personal experience has showed me that they are actually one of the sweetest, most friendly breeds. Pit bulls are just awesome animals!!!!
All that mumbo jumbo that people like dogcentric are talking about is total nonsense. He/she is an pro BSL lobbyist trying to undermine the breed. They will stop at nothing to bad mouth the breed, but have no experience with the breed type. How would one with no experience know any better anyway. I get all of my info from professionals and experience. Almost any veterinarian will tell you they are fantastic pets, plus they are awesome with children.
Thank you to MD Stovalli for being a responsible pit bull advocate.
Suggesting that a high score on the ATTS is any indication that the dog will be a safe pet is just plain wrong.
The ATTS was designed by a schutzhund enthusiast for the purpose of screening dogs for potential schutzhund (bite work) ability.
No part of the test is designed to test safety in the home.
Pit bull advocates have latched onto it and trained their for the test - which is ridiculous for a screening test - and have distorted the results.
Directly from the UKC Website-
"CHARACTERISTICS
The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed’s natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work."
They say most are likely to exhibit some dog aggression. They follow it up with socializing the dog, which eliminates that behavior. Most, if not all breeds, exhibit aggression towards other dogs if not socialized..Pit bulls rock!!
. So, the UKC says that pit bulls "require" an owner who "will carefully socialize and obedience train" the dog because pit bulls are very strong and most are dog aggressive. Plus the UKC says that "good fencing is a must" for these dogs who are (mostly) dog aggressive (according to the UKC standard). So how many pit bull "advocates" are in favor of breed specific laws that codify what the UKC standard says is "required" of pit bull owners. That is, are you in favor of breed specific laws that REQUIRE pit bull owners to extensively socialize their dogs and take them to dog obedience classes and REQUIRE them to have high fences? Or do you just want to say "well, if they are responsible, they will do those things," and shrug your shoulders when the irresponsibly owned pit bulls escape and kill other peoples' pets?
Being from Los Angeles, CA & seeing thousands of Pit Bulls euthanized every year because of back yard breeding & POOR breeding, I would LOVE to see a law put in place to limit who can breed this dog and who can own this dog.
However! The responsible law abiding owner, such as myself ,who socializes and nurtures my dogs enthusiastic, loving traits and keeps them vaccinated and licensed, will be the ONLY owners who comply with the law.
The back yard breeders who don't care about the dog's or puppies' health, nor care to license spay/neuter or socialize their dogs (because 90% of them fight, abandon or abuse their dogs) will NOT COMPY with the law.
Animal Control resources are already overwhelmed and being cut fiscally every year. Who is going to patrol and uphold the laws? No way will a law reduce the number of back yard breeders who make their money selling these dogs to amateur fighting rings and and other losers, (you know, the jerks who get a pit bull because they think it makes them look bad ass?!). Because the "loser" type is attracted to this breed with a bad rap, the dog will continue to be meligned and targeted for such laws because of who holds the other end of the leash.
I am a responsible pit bull owner. I don't take my dogs to dog parks. I don't spew untruths about this breed not being dog agressive (because enerally it is). However, I most certainly am not for any type of BSL or law because it just doesn't work...and that has been proven.
Howerver, a good start would be educating possible adopters about the breed, educating the inner city kids growing up beleiving it is ok to fight dogs for profit and entertainment and educating the masses (including media!) about the true human loving nature of the WELL BRED Pit Bull type dog.
Whew...just saw all my typos! I rely way too much on auto spell these days!
100Plus,
Since you brag that you have bred "many" pit bulls, please tell us PRECISELY what titles and health screens you think that a pit bull breeder should have on a dog before he considers it (possibly) to be a dog worthy of breeding. You almost certainly won't do that, because you (almost certainly) are like the VAST majority of pit bull breeders--breeding dogs without any good reason to breed them, just for the money. These are the pit bulls that glut shelters and fill shelter freezers.
A law requiring spay/neuter of all pit bulls except AKC and UKC-PR registered show dogs is the ONLY way to protect pit bulls themselves from being victims of irresponsible pit bull breeders.
But, hey, if you aren't an irresponsible breeder, tell us precisely what you do that sets you apart from the vast majority of pit bull breeders who are grossly irresponsible and who have the blood of so many dead pit bulls on their hands.
Snowbird,
Your pit bull may "herd," (if you define herding in an extremely broad way), but neither your pit bull nor any other pit bull will EVER win or even be competitive at, a sheepdog trial. Similarly, a lot of dogs will fight, but very few who are not bred for the trait will fight to the death. Pit bulls ARE bred to fight and to not quit fighting until their quarry is dead. This is certainly why, when two pit bulls attacked ex-marine Jerry Yates in California last year, they kept up the attack even AFTER they had killed him, inflicting significant post mortem injuries to his body. Hint: That isn't what standard poodles do when they bite. This is why no poodle has ever killed anybody in this country (as far as I can tell, somebody correct me if I am wrong) and pit bulls do so with regularity.
Pit bulls are actually the only breed type that is known to excel at what all of the other breeds do. They may not beat a border collie at herding competition, as this trait is brought out of the Border Collie by reintroducing the dogs with wolves, but the pit bull does a great job at it too. All dogs have it in them, but border collies and other herding dogs that are specifically meant for herding have more wolf DNA. Along with the herding with BCs, comes the biting, which we need to teach them not to do. All breeds can easily be taught to curb their aggression. Pit bulls are so incredibly intelligent and loyal, and have many uses. They are working dogs, and will do anything to please. I have to add, they are the sweetest dogs I have ever been around. All they want to do is cuddle up or play. My dogs play with other dogs (all breeds and sizes) and the only time there has been any aggression is when the other dog is aggressive. And my dogs have never bitten. They just growl and bare teeth to warn the misbehaved dogs. It is usually labs that are the culprits, as many people get these popular dogs and have no clue how to train or socialize them. Many of the dogs at the beach, the forest, and the dog parks are also pit bulls, completely unleashed, and most extremely well mannered. Usually the pits are the most obedient and the best mannered when out and about.
I've seen labs and goldens send little dogs to the vet while out, but I've never seen a pit bull, rott, German shepherd, or any other large powerful breed do this. I believe it has to do with more responsible ownership. People that typically have pit bulls are aware of the power and tend to take special care to make sure their dogs don’t act up. In the ghetto it may be different, but that comes with the territory. Many of the people that own other breeds that don't have a bad wrap are usually the problems, as they think their breed isn't aggressive, therefore no reason to train it as much. These are the types of dogs that bite more often, and end up hurting many more people and animals. I know of a 3 year old that ended up in ICU from a lab attack. We going to blame the entire retriever breed? Just to sensationalize it, we’ll take all hunting dogs, including mixes, add them together to make it seems like one massive breed. That’s why the numbers are much higher with pit bulls. And the story didn’t make the newspaper. Now if the damage was the fraction of what it was and it was a pit bull, it would be printed in at least 20 different papers. Funny how that works, but some people don’t want to see it for what it is. There have been numerous breeds that have killed. Should we ban all dogs that have the capacity to kill?
A poodle could kill too. If a 10lb Pomeranian can do it, poodles are more than capable of it, especially if they have a bad owner that promotes it. If Great Danes or Mastiffs become popular with thugs, then guess what will happen to their rapport? Responsible owners suffer, and BSL supporters fail to see the real causes. Some people do not have the depth, experience, or knowledge to see obvious. While ignorance is to completely blame for the misunderstanding, it is no excuse. The people like you out there against pit bulls, have never lived or worked with pit bull, so how would you really know? Sorry, but experience rules. They vast majority of vets, animal control officers, and canine behaviorists will tell you it’s not the breed that is the issue, but always the owners. Listen to experience or listen to people that get paid to lobby against a breed type? Hmmmmm………
I will certainly correct you for being wrong about your comment, Pit bulls ARE bred to fight and to not quit fighting until their quarry is dead. And, do you happen to run a puppy-mill by chance, cuz it sure does sound like your a breeder.
Poodles maim people all the time. They were originally hunting dogs. Pitbulls were brought over to help hunt and other farming activities. The same characteristics that make them good farmhands make them good fighters. Such as high pain tolerance and dedication. Get it straight. A POMERANIAN killed a baby. Any dog can kill. Dogs with SDS are very likely to try to kill but obviously their size hinders that. Many bites from them go unreported because it is minor. Also how do you know for a fact they were pitbulls? Give me a picture and I bet they're not. I bet you don't even know what the breed standards are.
Pit bull "advocates" (I put that in quotes because almost none of them advocate for the laws that would be necessary to actually protect pit bulls) will always say that "pit bulls aren't for everybody," and that "pit bulls need especially responsible and committed owners." This is fine, and true of many breeds. But the problem with pit bull people is that they actively OPPOSE the kinds of breed specific laws that are necessary to stop the literally thousands of totally irresponsible pit bull breeders who are breeding the pit bulls that glut nearly every urban (and many rural) shelter. So, since so many pit bulls are dying everywhere, these pit bull "advocates" kind of change their tune and rather than give a realistic view of pit bulls (strong, extremely active, often stubborn, extremely driven, usually dog aggressive dogs who are often escape artists and who need LOTS of exercise) , they start sugar-coating the problems with the breed, and trying to attract people who don't really want a pit bull with a rosy-glasses view of pit bull ownership or, frankly, outright lies. (Example of a lie: Pit bull dog aggression can always be eliminated by socialization).
Truly responsible dog groups actually NEVER minimize the problems associated with their breeds in order to try to attract people to ownership.
Every responsible owner would love to see people using the breeds for aggression stopped in their tracks. Instead, BSL supporters want to ban, restrict, and tax pit bull owners. I refuse to be punished for other peoples' negligence, and the gullible public that let the media scare them, because their too ignorant to know any better. Most of the people that think pit bulls are bad do not have more than a high school education, and believe everything they read in the paper. Media educated. So I am going to let this group dictate whether I should pay for other people's negligence? I simply wouldn’t register my dogs anymore if that were the case. The law can't even control the current dog fighting rings. These dogs that are bred for fighting aren't even naturally vicious. They breed them like thoroughbred horses; strong, with a lot of stamina. If they were naturally aggressive, most of the Vick dogs would have been put down, rather than reformed. Most dogs bred for fighting come with a heavy price tag anyway, and they’re not inexpensive. I think the vast majority would like to see enforcement for current laws, and holding people responsible for the actions of their pets. All studies proved BSL doesn't work, is a waste of money, and gives people a false sense of security. Pit bulls are everywhere, but you see 99% of the problems are in sub-standard areas. Why is that? Isn't that the strongest evidence that the issues stem from ownership, rather than breed type?
I can agree that Pit bulls are not for everyone.
If you are the type of person that isn't really interested in taking your dog for walks and would rather chill on the couch then please, please, please, don't get a Pit bull.
Also if you are a push over and would let your dog do as it pleases, do not ever consider getting a Pit bull.
These dogs need lots of exercise, lots of training and it's owner absolutely needs to know about dog psychology and the leader ship role.
What? You have obviously been fooled. I have two pit bulls that go out on a regular basis. No issues whatsoever. Pit bulls, like many other active breeds, need a lot of exercise. There is no scientific evidence that supports the myths many ignorant people tend to believe. Anything negative about pit bulls can be proven wrong with scientific evidence and expert analysis. All of the myths people buy into have no scientific evidence or expert analysis. I challenge you to name one thing that deems more of a threat then other breeds. I can and will provide you with expert testimony that proves you and all of the others have been fooled by the media and hearsay.
The only thing I can agree with is they need the right owner. But than again, all breeds need to right owners.
Anon,
I misread "isn't" as "is" in your second sentence. I stand corrected. I agree that pit bulls aren't for the person that wants a dog they do not have to spend time with. Why would anyone that is not willing to give a dog time have a dog in the first place.?
Snowbird,
I am a "BSL supporter" and I DON'T want to "ban, restrict, tax" pit bull owners. What I want is a breed specific law requiring mandatory microchipping of all pit bulls (and all pit bull mixes, to include American Bulldogs) and mandatory spay/neuter of all pit bulls and pit bull mixes (to include American Bulldogs) except AKC and UKC-PR registered show dogs. How does that law "ban, restrict or tax" YOU in any way? How does it hurt you?
In fact, without laws, pit bull breeders will continue to be grossly irresponsible and to breed FAR too many pit bulls. Many of them will continue to breed FOR dangerous temperaments, including both dog and human aggression. Unless you have a solution to this crisis that doesn't involve laws (and you don't), then you are supporting the system that is directly leading to thousands of pit bulls being killed every week and an occasional toddler dying in pit bull jaws.
So do you support the law I propose or not? How would such a law "punish" you in any way? Currently it is the suffering pit bulls who are being "punished" by the pit bull community's opposition to any laws that would protect them, isn't it? Is it OKAY with you that thousands of pit bulls suffer and die every week because of irresponsible pit bull breeders?
I ask again dogcentric, are you some kinda breeder or puppy-mill owner, and where are you getting this idea about pitbulls killing toddlers from, just go to
www.pitbullsforlife.com
www.pitbullproject.ca or
www.pitbulls.org
Look, I do not, and never will support BSL. To target one breed type, when there is no scientific evidence to back it, does no good and costs a lot of money. Dogs have been around for years, and every decade or two people jump on a bandwagon blaming different breeds. They don't put the obvious together and correlate problems with owners of popular breeds at the time. When you give the government more control, you actually take away freedoms we have.
BSL doesn't reduce dog bites:
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/NNB-...
and
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/breed-bans/article/556
Topeka, KS repeals ban:
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/in-your-state/kansas/
The UK is considering repealing the ban, as it is suffering the same issues:
http://www.bva.co.uk/newsroom/2218.aspx
BSL is proven not to work. What will BSL change? It causes more put bulls to die unnecessarily. Education is the key. Calgary, totally BSL free has no laws regarding BSL, yet they have the least amount of issues. They prevent dog attacks through education. It is much more cost effective, and they have 80% less attacks:
http://www.defendingdog.com/id40.html
With so much scientific evidence and expert analysis, I can and will debunk every myth you can through out about pit bulls. You have no evidence they are more of a risk than other breeds.
All of this in-fighting is doing nothing for pit bull-type dogs at all. I could disagree with both of you (snowbird04 and dogcentric) on several points but that won't do anything to help the positive that this reporter is doing to promote the welfare of these dogs. You are also feeding all of the people that HATE these dogs and are pro-BSL by disagreeing so readily with each other. Bully advocates have to HELP this cause, not create dissention in the ranks.
I certainly understand your theory on the hate feeding, but I will not allow people to post myths without any supporting evidence. What do you disagree with? I can sight all legitimate sources of my information.
I have to agree with MD Stovalli............a Pitbull owner needs to be "HYPER-VIGILANT" in making sure his or her dog is always under full control......I.e. leashed ,tethered or on a "run",you must be able to stop any problem before it starts,cause' the Pittie will always pay the ultimate price,!!1
I'm not a fan of BSL at all....pointing out one breed just reinforces people to think that this law is created because these are dangerous dogs. Pit Bulls are great dogs- but yes, over breeding has caused temperament issues..along with health issues, but isn't that the case with all breeds? Look at the wonderful Golden Retriever, who is supposed to have the "golden personality." They now rank high on the bite list. Irresponsible breeding is not just focused on pit bulls, it is a case with all dogs, so I hope someday we can instate breeding laws. New Orleans already started one, but I'd like to see it become an epidemic...and let BSL fall to the wayside. New Orleans has a law that states your dog has to be spay/neutered by a certain age, and if it isn't, you have to pay an intact fee...but before you can obtain an intact dog license, your dog has to go through a series of testing to be approved. That is the kind of legistlation that should be passed.....not some Bull Shit Legistlation that emphasizes on one breed, and one breed only....and puts innocent dogs and families in predicaments. All dogs have the ability to be dangerous...and all dogs are filling up the shelters...due to bad breeding/ownership.
I was terrified but unable to say no to my grandsons pleas nurse his "find" back to health. This lovely pit appearred to be about a year old, had just had pups, which were missing, had worms, an infection, and desperately needed love and attention. She was wonderful around friends and family, our papillion and chow/husky mix, everyone and was particularly fond of her, until,,, we had her checked out by our vet, provided all the love and nourishment, exercise, training, anything she could have wanted. Apparantly she became a little too fond of me. About three weeks later when she was totally healthy and my loving parents came to meet her from out of state, my mother was a little to close to me to suit the pit and upon being properly introduced, she proceded to try to chew my mothers face off. Pitbulls are dangerous, unpredictable, and able to convince you of their sweetness, only to attack any person they think may be a threat to their security, even if that person is not. She was jealous for no reason and was going to take my mother out before she became a problem to her. Do not let these dogs around defenseless children or the elderly. She was fine as long as we were providing for her health. As soon as she was healthy again, she had every intention of taking over. Yes, they are very intellegent. If you don't intend to match wits with your pet every minute of your life, in order to save your life, don't get a pitbull.
REALLY??? My son rescued pittie that had been attacked as a puppy and watched his mother killed trying to defend him. Yet on his first introduction to my 82 yr old Aunt, when he was left ALONE in a hotel room w/her, his instinct was to guard her. He lay next to her and never moved except to carefully follow her to the bathroom when she went there.... He never jumped up on her or tried to hurt her because he KNEW she was using a cane and could be hurt. this was his FIRST introdution to an elderly person!!!! It sounds like your animal had issues that had NOTHING to do with it being a pit. They were bred to be PEOPLE FRIENDLY.
Any dog can be dangerous...the sad thing is....overbreeding has caused dangerous levels of aggression in all breeds of dogs....that's why it is important to not support your average backyard breeder. We want to keep the standards of our beloved breeds met. As said above, Pits were bred to be people friendly. In fact, they were the only breed specifically bred not to bite the hand of a human. They are a powerful breed, yes, but that does not make them any more aggressive than any other breed. It is stated over and over, but I'll say it again....it is a people problem, not a pit bull problem.
Are you talking about dogs being specifically bred for aggression, or are you talking about just breeders not knowing what they are doing, causing genetic issues? If it is for aggression, that is sort of a myth. Since dog fighting has been made illegal, most, if not all aggression has been bred out of them. Experts agree with that, and also claim that even if someone is attempting to breed pits for bad temperament, their may be one offspring in the liter, and the remaining dogs normal. I am not a scientist, but I take the word of the many leading experts that have testified in court regarding this issue. If you need me to cite the source, I can get that for you. It is official documentation directly from people that are canine experts.
I agree that pit bulls have been given a bad and often undeserved reputation. However, if one has never owned a pit bull before, I would strongly disagree with your article advising people that adopting an adult is the best option. Many pit bulls that are in shelters were bred to fight or given up because of aggression, due largely to owners not properly socializing them with other dogs as puppies. While any dog at a shelter may be gentle and friendly on the first meeting, a perspective adopter can't always tell what the dog will be like off leash in a dog park or when encountering another dog or person walking in a neighborhood.
I adopted an adult pit/beagle mix who has been the most gentle, friendly dog I've ever owned. However, I immediately put him in training classes, gave him 4 walks a day and took him to the dog park 3-4 times a week.
My advice is no matter what kind of dog, you have to be responsible and put in the time. A dog isn't a toy and should be handled responsibly and with respect.
Adult pit bulls are perfect for first time owners!
Most pit bulls in shelters are around 1-2 years old and not there because of aggression. Many are there because they ate the couch, dug up the carpeting, chewed up the coffee table and basically have destroyed everything in the house...like most working breed puppies! But unfortunately, most are found walking the streets starved and scared because they were abandoned or let loose because the jerk owner didn't want the dog anymore.
The large number of people drawn to the Pit Bull type, get the dog for the wrong reasons, and don't believe a dog is a family member and will "get rid" of the dog as soon as it is a fnancial burden or tears up the house one too many times.
I highly recommend 1st time Pit Bull owners to go to a Pit Bull rescue and adopt a dog at least 4 years of age. What you see is what you get! At 4 years of age, they are over the puppy chewing stage. The rescue can tell you if the dog freindly or agressive (usually worded as the dog needing to be the only dog in the house), great with other animals, such as cats. they can also let you know the energy level...couch potatoe or jogging parnter.
The dog will be spayed/neutered, usually house trained and have basic training! An adult dog from a rescue group is a GREAT way to get introduced to the breed!
I agree with Shan1069. Older pit bulls are just as good as any other adult dog. These dogs are tested with kids, dogs, and cats, and will let owners know if they aren't good with any. Petfinder is a prime example. It is only the good dogs that get adopted out. Although most, if not all dogs can be rehabilitated, many are euthanized, where the best go to shelters for adoption. Pit bulls are incredibly people friendly, and make excellent pets. I adopted an adult pit, and the dog is excellent. Granted a puppy can be easier to train, an adult is certainly trainable, and I got mine at 4 years old.
I'm saying that aggression is due to lack of knowledge when breeding. Yes, aggression can easily be bred out of dogs, but it can easily be bred into dogs too. Careless breeding causes temperament issues... when breeders overlook problems in the parent dogs. And yes, dog fighting is made illegal, but do you think that everyone listens to the law? Gangsters and the like are breeding carelessly for aggression...it used to be that dog fighters specifically bred for dog aggression, but these days anybody who calls themselves a dog fighter is just breeding for aggression. And sure, you may be right, only one or two dogs turn out aggressive, but isn't that enough? One or two dogs- every litter? But you also get aggression bred into other breeds as well, like golden retrievers, shih tzus, german shepherds. If people don't know what they are doing when they breed their dogs, they unknowingly (or maybe even knowingly, but carelessly) breed poor attributes into their puppies. They say, over time (and sometime in this lifetime), we won't have some of the great breeds we have today. Also, almost one dog out of every litter (one of nine) never find a home. That's terrible. BSL I think is absolutely horrific and inadequate, but I will definitely support a law that requires owners to spay/neuter their dogs to control pet population.
Meant to add- dog fighting is still a glamorous sport in the gangster lifestyle. It is still seen quite often across the midwest. Yes, it is illegal, but that doesn't mean it's obsolete.
Snowbird,
Please try to address my questions to you. You claim that breed specific legislation "causes more pit bulls to die unnecessarily." Yet the breed specific legislation I propose (mandatory spay/neuter of all pit bulls and pit bull mixes except AKC and UKC-PR registered show dogs) wouldn't cause even a SINGLE remotely responsibly owned pit bull to die unnecessarily, would it? In fact it would massively reduce the horrific amounts of pit bull suffering that NOT addressing the breed specific pit bull crisis is causing in virtually every uban shelter.
But what is YOUR plan to reduce the pit bull suffering caused by irresponsible pit bull breeders? Wave a magic wand and turn Detroit into Calgary, Canada? I am sure that Detroit police would love to have Calgary's homicide rate, but guess what? Just telling the police in Detroit to do whatever Calgary police do won't stop people in Detroit from killing each other FAR more often than people in Calgary do.
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