Pit Bulls sure seeem to be more of a problem than other breeds.

I came across one this week I had to back away from and wait in my truck until it left.

I have no problem shooting an agressive dog on the loose.

every pit bull i knew was a big baby, never would hurt a person. every mean dog has a mean owner. dogs act just like the person that trained them

I tried to find some statistics on how many dog attacks there were in the last 10 years. It would be interesting to know what percentage were Pit Bulls verses all other breeds.

There is very little information.

I have raised dogs all my life.

Some breeds are better at chasing tennis balls.
some breeds are better at chasing sheep.
Some breeds are better at swimming.
Others are better at law enforcement.

Other breeds have some DNA trigger that can go off for no reason. They are great one minute and attack the next.

It would seem Pit Bulls are in this category. It is interesting that an attack is almost always two or more Pit Bulls running loose. They suddenly act like a pack of wolves for no reason. I have never heard (although it must have happened) two or more Goldens or Terriers attacking to the point of real damage and death.

I have asked several of my vets their opinion. They never want to point to a certain breed but they all say when a Pit Bull is scheduled for an appointment, they clear the waiting area of all other animals and make sure they don't meet in the hallways.

That tells you something.

Pitbulls were originally bred to be more aggressive, but its the owners at fault. This breed has been "abused" in that people get them for the wrong reasons, without knowing the natural insticts of these dogs.

They are terriers, high energy, high prey drive and they need a VERY responsible and knowledgable owner.

If their energy is not channeled correctly or trained in the right direction they can be very dangerous, especially if neglected or abused.

Copied from www.UKCdogs.com:
The American Pit Bull Terrier’s many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions.

Yes, pit bulls are known for there aggression. But if you train a dog and properly discipline it you shouldn't have any problems. That is just another stereo type this world likes to pin on things that are unfamiliar or there afraid of.

I used to believe that some breeds had an inherent tendency to be aggressive, but I have since realized that some, maybe most, dogs from every breed have the potential to become vicious. The difference between a chihuahua that bites ankles and a pit bull that tears off someone's arm is only the amount of damage they can do. All dog owners should be careful in how they handle their dogs and shouldn't "play" in ways that promote aggression, no matter the size of their pooches.

Pitbulls were originally bred to be more aggressive, but its the owners at fault. This breed has been "abused" in that people get them for the wrong reasons, without knowing the natural insticts of these dogs.

They are terriers, high energy, high prey drive and they need a VERY responsible and knowledgable owner. They need to be properly socialized with people and other animals. A well adjusted dog is not going to attack the neighbor.

If their energy is not channeled correctly or trained in the right direction they can be very dangerous, especially if neglected or abused.

Copied from www.UKCdogs.com:
The American Pit Bull Terrier’s many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions.

All these bad stories you hear about Pitbulls are situations where the dogs were neglected and ignored, penned up in rooms alone with other dogs only. In a place like that they go crazy, and who can blame them? It's ALL the owner!

Pit Bulls are intimidating just by looks alone, so are Dobermans and a few others, however Pit Bulls were originally used to pull down full size steer for farmers by hanging off their nose. And only because they are so strong. But..... they were taught to do that. It is a mythe that their jaws lock. Not so, if you research. They just have a full set of teeth clear to the jaw bone. My fears are the same as most however, my 20 year old daughter who had been afraid of large dogs her entire childhood rescued one from the shelter that a homeless man gave up, he is three years old and probably the most loving dog I have ever been around. I too look at him and feel fear, but I have come to know him and he is the biggest baby you can imagine and only wants to be loved and exercised.. This is key, dogs like this need responsible owners at all times, they need exercise or they get bored, bored leave to mischief. If you watch Ceasar "The dog Whisperer" his favorite breed, is the Pit Bull. I now understand why. In closing, no one should own one, unless they are screened and mature enough to understand that this breed is one big muscle and should only be played with in certain ways, and no one should ever be allowed to tease these dogs. This is what they learn and could surface if the wrong combination should be in front of them. We walk him right thru town full of people and you would be surprised the looks we receive. We are well dressed, normal looking people and people will eventually come over and ask about him and want to pet him. They are truely cautious. We also ran into some twenty something young men one sunny afternoon, and they said,"Cool Dog, they are the kind of dog you can beat the hell out of and they don't even care." I could have fallen over. I said, " that right there is why these dogs get into the trouble they get into, because they do, what they are taught, if no one is allowed to interact negatively with them, they do not learn it." They apologized and said they were just kidding! Amazing

Of the three pit bull owners I've talked with over the years, all had nothing but positive things to say about the breed. Two owners were women who had children. All three households raised and treated their dogs as part of the family. One of the women claimed that they were on their second pit bull and that both dogs were great around the children, had sweet dispositions and had never bitten anyone.

I believe that the vast majority of vicious dogs are the result of treatment by vicious or vacuous owners.

Cassie

if those dogs get out and tear somebody a new ass the owners need to go to prison.

Pits get a bad rep because they have been bred to be aggressive. We have one that was bred to be a guard dog for a crack house that we got from Pit Bull Rescue society. He does have his moments when he needs to be watched carefully but the home break ins that used to happen have stopped totally.
I know our dog would defend my wife from anyone that even looked wrong. He can smell drugs/alcohol on people from up to 50 feet away and he will bark at anyone that tries to approach her menacingly.
He lets us know when certain people are going by that should be watched. The gas thefts that were going on here quit because he "knew" which car it was and always went outside to bark at them when they came into our complex.

It's not about dangerous dogs. It's about dangerous people with dogs.

If your child acts bad you dont get rid of the child, you blame the parent. Same goes for dogs and their irresponsible owners. Putting down the dogs gives the owners no liability. they just get another dog. If we put fines behind loose dogs and enforce existing laws, we can go a long way to budget the proper resources to stem the idiots who keep raising dogs with utter contempt of others.

Just a quick thought... With all the offleash dog parks around, how many vicious dog attacks have you heard about coming from them? There are dogs of all breeds (including pitbulls) EVERYWHERE and people with children all all over them.

Responsible owners should not be penalized by the actions of an irresponsible few. existing laws should be enforced and fines doubled, tripled for infractions of basic leash and containment laws. if a dog goes over a fence or is loose, a 300$ fine that doubles each time will keep that dog contained or they'll get rid of the dog before something else happens.

In many countries around the globe Pit Bulls and related dog breeds are illegal for the simple fact that they are unpredictable in their nature. Also when they attack .. they go for the kill .. I would sincerely love to see these breeds made illegal to breed and own with severe penalties like prison time attached to them.

When was the last time you heard a poodle maul an old lady to death ? Don't try to defend that it isn't the dog but the owner as you are simply sticking your head in the sand on this.

There is no question that Pit Bulls are a strong breed. We have had one for the last five years and we're amazed at what she does with old cow bones we found in the desert.
Conversely, she is the sweetest animal I've ever had. Se is absolutely GREAT with our grandchildren; who profess to want to come over to see the dog more than us. We can take bones or food directly out of her mouth if we feel the need to do so. In fact, one of my "games" with her is "I want the bone" where I chase her around the yard while she plays keep-a-way with a bone in her mouth. When I catch her, I take the bone away and throw it across the yard which she fetches and the game repeats until she gets tired.
As was mentioned in an earlier comment, Ceasar's (of Dog Whisper fame) favorite breed is Pit Bull's, in fact his primary traning dog on the show is one.
Our dog has never met a stranger she didn't like, and we have a "waiting list" of people in line who want her if we are unable to keep her. She LIVES for love, food, and sleep (not necessarily in that order).

It is so funny, I went to school in Animal Behavior and Vet medicine... the dog most likely to bite is our "Fire Dept" fav Dalmation's. After owning Dalmations, Pits and Wolf-hybred's... it was the Dalmation's that were the ones with the attitude. Dogs are much like human children...funny what training can do along with kind disipline! When trained to be a killer "any" dog will attack!

Many dogs bite, but few clamp down to kill like a pit bull. Of viscious attacks that make the news, the percentage is overwhelmingly pits ! Tell me the number of those accouts that included the owner's statement of how gentle and harmless the dog had always been. These dogs are a lethal weapon without a safety or a trigger lock. Owners should need a permit; they and the dog should be registered with a proof of training. If you want to own a pitbull then safeguard the innocent public. Once an ear is bitten off, a body part disfigured, or worse; it can't be undone. Animal ownership is a choice. Unless you want the personal protection a pit can provide, just don't get one.

I presume 'making the breed illegal' won't unfortunately make it, but as second choice I would opt for licensing it .. just like firearms. That way it is registered. You'd need to always walk the pit bulls muzzled in public, fellons can't own them and you'd need to have a 'proper enclosure' that a dog can't simply break out off when they snap.

I really believe all the stories about how sweet they are and kind and that it is just how the dog is treated, BUT ... a dalmation isn't going to snap and go for the kill (even though it bites more). The above writer says it well .. a Pit Bull is a lethal weapon without a safety or a trigger lock. I don't care if you say its sweet or not, walk it muzzled on the street, because I share that street with you and I don't know if you treated it well or not.

Oh my goodness. Ignorance! Ask any trainer! Pitbull's are not human aggressive. Do a search. More people in the world are bitten by SMALL DOGS, not Pits. Shoot, just watch the Dog Whisperer even!

So .. I did a quick search.

http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html#Thedogsmostlikelytobite

According to the Clifton study, pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes are responsible for 74% of attacks that were included in the study, 68% of the attacks upon children, 82% of the attacks upon adults, 65% of the deaths, and 68% of the maimings. In more than two-thirds of the cases included in the study, the life-threatening or fatal attack was apparently the first known dangerous behavior by the animal in question.

Studies indicate that pit bull-type dogs were involved in approximately a third of human DBRF (i.e., dog bite related fatalities) reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993 through 1996....[T]he data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities." (Sacks JJ, Sinclair L, Gilchrist J, Golab GC, Lockwood R. Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. JAVMA 2000;217:836-840.)

I have always believed that it was their nature to be agressive & dangerous. This past weekend however, one came into my yard that may have at least made me think about whether that is the the whole story. This poor thing was scared to death that I was going to hurt it. It came up to me wagging it's tail & then when I went to pet it, it crouched down in fear. It was obvious to me that someone had hurt this animal. It chased my cat, which didn't really bother me because that seems like a natural thing to do. But, feeling the need to protect my cat, I yelled at it and it literally lay on the ground trembling. It was a young dog, no more than a year and I can picture it as an older dog, when someone hurts it one too many times it turning on them & attacking. I wouldn't trust a pitbull, & don't as a rule trust any dog that I don't know. But I think at least in some cases, nurture or lack of it, plays a role in any animals personality.

Pit Bulls are inherently aggressive,unpredictable and a danger to the public. They should never be allowed to run free. bgates

Pit Bulls are inherently aggressive and unpredictable and dangerous to the public. They should never be allowed to run free. bgates

What is the pit bull lovers solution?

By their own criteria it must have a 100% success rate.

Can't be done, can it?

No solution will have a 100% success rate.

Banning Fighting breeds may not have a 100% success rate, but the success rate would be much better than any solution the pit bull lovers offer.

Like some others have written before me, the breed has killing in it's DNA. They have been bred to be very efficient killing machines and it is very hard to predict which behaviors will trigger them into this reaction.

If you absolutely need a Pit Bull or other 'dangerous' breed over the 100+ other 'safe' breeds out there, than your sanity is in question. There is a stigma associated with owners of Pitbulls. If you own one, you are living with a loaded gun with your finger on the trigger...

It's a combination of both. Pit Bulls, however, are a dangerous breed and I believe their viciousness is bred into them. This gets compounded by their owners when they are irresponsible or mistreat the animals. Anytime one of these dogs attack someone, their owners should be held criminally responisible.

As a registered veterinary nurse, I agree that it is a combination of both. Pit bull type dogs (which encompass more than one breed)have been selectively bred to be tough and strong and fairly dog aggressive. At the same time, they have been bred to be "nanny dogs" to small children, and can be incredibly loving and affectionate. At the veterinary hospitals where I have worked, when we have pit bull types come in, I don't fear for myself as much as I fear for our other canine patients. I have literally witnessed a pit bull type wagging its tail and licking my hand until the second it sees another canine patient and then all of a sudden the pit bull is a different animal altogether, barking with hackles up and straining at the leash. I also agree that the owners play a big part in the attitude of the pit bull type. Where I live we have an extreme Latino gang problem and I have personally witnessed pit bulls chained to bumpers of junk cars in yards with no water, fed old tortillas, ignored and neglected, etc. I am guessing it is to make them "mean."

It is true that dogs will do what we breed and train them for. I myself have a herding dog, who has been bred to have the annoying herding habits he has. I can't blame him, it's not his fault. Previously I owned a Retriever who could not keep anything out of his mouth. I've owned a terrier who dug numerous holes, and a beagle who bayed and chased and ran. We as humans have created these animals to be what we want. We can't blame the pit bull type for acting the way it is bred to. But at the same time we need to point the finger at the irresponsible owners who get these breeds and warp them into twisted dangerous fighting machines.

By the way, at the veterinary hospital, IMHO, the breeds most likely to bite us are: Chihuahua, Min Pin, Chow, and Husky mix.

I have one loving dog who whom I adopted 10 years ago. He's the best dog ever! He loves my cat and does not chase others! Theyre like brothers. Yes he is a Pit type. But I have been a resonsible owner, going to dog training, having regular Dr. visits, and just loving him. He has never bit another dog or person. I'm getting sick and tired of hearing only of Pit bull attacks, when i know that other breads are just as bad, ask any Postman, but the pitbull get all the attention. Why? it's my strong beliefe that all dogs are born to be agressive, and can attack. I was attacked by a Rotwiller but it never hit the news..It's just the owners responsiblily to be responsible and owners need training to learn about there dog.

It is interesting to read some of the responses on here. For one I work at a vet clinic and never do we clear the room for a pitbull just incase it will bite. for two i have seen and heard of people being attacked by goldens and labs as well as the littler breeds which attack more often, but for what ever reason thats ok because they are little (that is just dumb). I think there should be some more research done by some of these people that are quick to condemn pitbulls as the bad guy. what about the idiots that are baiting these poor animals and leaving them chained up in the back yard. I cant tell you how often i have seen that. pitbulls need attention and training, to be spayed and neutered. not left to outside with out any attention or care. you cant blame the dogs you MUST make the owners of dogs that bite responsible. I know alot of people who own pitbulls and love the breed, I love the breed. Banning these dogs are not going to stop irresponsible people from owning them and we all know that. Make people responsible!!! I am a very responsible pitbull owner, I have had him neutered and socializied since he was a puppy. He is know 8yrs old and lives peacefully with 2 cats and my boston terrier. I know others who have pitbulls that also own other animals and have children and they are just fine. IF a dog bites hold the owner responsible, but dont take those who love and care for the breeds right to have one as a family member away, that is not right. I am so sorry for the people who have been bitten by pitbulls or any dog for that matter. No matter the breed they all have the potential to bite.

I am the proud owner of a male American Pit Bull Terrier and a female American Staffordshire Terrier-- "technically" two different breeds, but both are often referred to as Pit Bulls (but why quibble over semantics when dealing with such an issue as breed specific legislation). These two dogs are the best dogs that I have ever had. I have never had more loyal and loving dogs.

The fact of the matter is that pit bulls were bred for another characteristic aside from "aggression." That characteristic is loyalty. A pit bull wants to please its master more than anyting else. If a dog's master wants the dog to be aggressive and fight, then that is exactly what a good pit bull will do. However, if that dog's master wants it to be kind, loving, and careful, then that is exactly what that dog will do.

It is unfortunate that some people believe that pit bulls are supposed to be aggressive. These ignorant people buy pit bulls and proceed to abuse them mentally and physically. These dogs are only given praise when they behave aggressively. In order to gain their master's affections, they will then routinely behave aggressively. It is these owners that are to blame for the epidemic of pit bull attacks. The reason that the number of attacks involving pit bulls is so high is due to people believing that the breed is supposed to act that way.

Breed specific legislation is "dog racism." A breed of dog is the same as a race of people. Each breed/race is defined by certain characteristics. However, each dog/person within that breed/race has their own personality. It is wrong to stereotype a dog or a person based on their breed or race. I found a news article about a Pomeranian that killed a baby. Why are all Pomeranians not referred to as baby killers?

I don't think that a breed of dogs should be singled out the way the pit bull has. Dogs are essentially wild animals that have been tamed. I believe that owners of all dogs, no matter the breed, must be held accountable for the actions of their dogs. Being a dog owner bears the resposibility of raising your dog to be a good citizen no matter what the breed.

I have come across several pit bulls and none of them have attacked me. I have never come across an aggressive one. It's the owners fault if they're aggressive and attack someone. It's not their fault. I love pit bulls and I absolutely hate the people that raise them wrong. They have every right to be here just as all the other breeds of dogs have the right to be here. Plain and simple.

In response to your report last night regarding the 11 yr old being bitten by a Pit Bull, tell me if it was a Labrador Retriever it wouldn't even be considered "news worthy". Allot of the problem with society's mentality with Pit Bull's is they don't realize that it is the owners fault and how they are raised. I'm sorry to say at one time I was one of those ignorant people until our family became the owners of a Red Nose Pit Bull she is the light of my life. Their personalities are quite comical.

You need to show the other side of Pit Bull's. All the news media ever does is show those poor dogs behind chain link fences or tied up. What animal wouldn't be mean if it was left tied up with no attention every single day. I can tell you right now it wouldn't make a difference if it was a Pit Bull or Cocker Spaniel it would be vicious. But a Cocker Spaniel or a Labrador attacking someone doesn't make headlines does it? As I don't agree with your reporting I'm sure this will go in the trash. Something to remember good reporting is showing both sides of the story......not just the one that is going to get you ratings. Talk to good dog owners who own Pit Bulls and get some different opinions not just the people who have been bitten by a Pit Bull.

Let's face it when is a dog bite "newsworthy" unless it's a Pit Bull doing the biting. Our Vetenarian told us she has been bitten by small dogs more than larger breeds. Again, a Poodle biting someone wouldn't be considered a "news story" would it?

A ban for these wonderful animals would be based on "ignorance."


Vicky R.
Kent, WA

Pits are more likely to kill you then a poodle or yorkshire. Yes, small ones can bite you .. but I think the damage a pit does is generally instantly mauling. Hasn't anyone read the report http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html#Thedogsmostlikelytobite

Muzzle your pitbull in public and I have far more respect for you. Remember .. I can't see if you treated your dog good or bad .. so to protect myself and my family I have to expect the worst. Those friendly dog owners should realize that.

Really now. Look at the dog, then look at the owner. My big brother owns an American Blue Brendel Pit Pull. His head is like bigger then his body, and he has attacked an other dog before. But before you go judging...wouldnt you attack or 'take care' of a tresspasser or robber that broke into your home? Now for the juiciness, my big brother didnt get this dog as a 1st time owner;so the dog already had the opprotunity to be introduced into the fight ring. This dog lives at my moms house (no we arent teenagers or little kids, we are grown adults). At Mom's house there are 4, sometimes 5 other dogs, all different breeds and the pit doesn't bother any of them or the cats! I have come across plenty of pits in my travels in the army and I have come across some i wouldnt trust to be alone with but its the owner who teaches the dog that fighting or attacking is okay. And I've heard owners brag about it. You know in hawaii locals are allowed to breed their pits to fight b/c some of the pinapple field owners let them bring their pits into the fields to attack and kill wild boars. Its all in the owner.You child doesnt know how to kill when their born...neither does a damn dog. They are tought.Educated. Or antaganized.I think that if a dog attacks someone or an other animal then the owner should be investigated as well on how they train and care for their animal. Teaching any animal to fight is a form of animal abuse and neglect i.m.o.(in my opinion)
I have been bit by a little ankle dog...a chi. and i have been chased by a husky. It really just doesnt matter the breed of the animal!If pit bulls are to be treated differently or have to have muzzles or whatever I think that all dogs should. Its a form of disgrimination if not.No reason to single out pits.

Pit Bull owners have these dogs for their own self-protection. That is mainly why this agressive and dangerous breed exists. Choosing this breed is not necessarily being irresponsible, from the owner's viewpoint. But the choice is made at the exclusion of all other loveing breeds. So a better question might be WHY do they choose a dog with these murderous tendencies and horrible record of being a menace to society?

I feel that ousting a breed is very sad. I have known bad pit bulls and wonderful loving pitbulls. I feel it is the owners responsibility to teach these animals love and caring. I have had a few pitbulls in my life and they were loving and affectionette. They were also very protective to myself and family. It is all how the animal is raised. I truely believe this whole heartedly.

I remember when they wanted to outlaw rotwillers and doberman pinchers too. If the animal is mean look to the owners, they are the ones that have created the mean streak these animals have. If you outlaw this breed I can list many more that need to be in that catagory too, you know like chows. but I believe they are gentle too if taught. It would be an infringement on our rights as dog owners or any animal for that fact to make sure they are not aggressive.

Pit Bull Terriers are historically bred for dogfighting, and have a tendency to be dog aggressive. However, they have also been bred to love their handlers (no sense in having a weapon that hurts the one weilding it) and have a tendency to be real people-pleasers. Any dog, of any breed, can be made to be aggressive, and as the breed-of-the-decade to hate (it's been German Shepherds, Dobermans, or Rottweilers in other times), dangerous/unstable people have been gravitating to Pitties, worsening the stereotype. I have been around many well-raised Pit Bulls without fear of attack, but was nearly bitten by an unfamiliar yellow lab. There are no bad dogs, only problematic owners not doing their research and training.

pits always have a nature to kill i was resently i was attacked i have never been afraid of dogs till the day i was attacked you can leave me comments at (shellybubbles@gmail.com)

I was resently attacked by a pit bull it's in their blood to kill I have never been afraid of dog till the day i was attacked (shellybubbles@gmail.com)

I was resently attacked by a pit bull it's in their blood to kill I have never been afraid of dog till the day i was attacked (shellybubbles@gmail.com)

No Pitbulls are not the problem its the owner. I have been around pits most of my life and never found one that was aggressive. I have one now and hes great with our 3 kids we have an infant, 3 year old and 10 year old when they are here he doesnt leave their side he a wonderful dog. He never barks at anyone. Hes also a grand champion. pits get a bad rap what about the dogs that the police train to attack people? why isnt the same said about them? or when another breed attacks someone? you dont hear about it why is that? pitbulls are great dogs to have if you love them and train them right

Again .. I don't know if your dog is about to snap or not when I walk the street with your pitbull. Instead of singling out Pits .. I then suggest to have ALL dogs muzzled when they are being walked in public.

You have to dig quite a ways to get to these stories. Think about the thousands of dogs living peacefully in the city of Seattle that you never hear about. Then, from that number, look at the number of dog bites that happen from all breeds (even ones that aren't considered "newsworthy"), and filter that yet again to the three noteworthy cases being slung around the media right now and you'll see you have had to push aside a vast number of pets. It is true that you don't know how I treat my dog by looking at me. But expecting all dog owners to muzzle their dogs simply because a handful of bad DOG owners (emphasis that it's not always just bad Pit Bull owners) and a dollop of sensationalistic press is rediculous. Prosecuting destructive dog owners should be easier, and people who are found guilty should be the ones to legally answer for the actions of their dogs and not allowed to own a dog again, no matter the breed.

Sure .. we'll prosecute the bad dog owner after it mauls my 3 year old son to death ..

pitt bulls are just dogs and should be socialised and raised with love and affection just like any other breed of course there are some dogs that are just mean period whether it is dog agressive people aggressive or just unpredictable period pitbulls were bred for fighting because of there gameness and endurance if it were not for pitbulls it could have been a lot of other breeds such as dobermens rottwillers and bulldogs just to name a few but i suppose it just would not have been as exciting to those people who choose to do such terrible deeds and ruin. to me personally one of the most loyal loving family breeds on the planet also dog owners should be held responsible for the deed or actions of there dogs whether it is a poodle pitbull or any other breed oh and by the way attend a pitbull show you might be amazed or changed at how they carry them selves also the american kennel club the national televised dog show on breed standards has a american staffordshire terrier competing it is the same as the american pitbull terrier which is a long shot from fighting pitbulls thanxs for reading oh yea my family has 4 pitbulls that love us and we love them

YES, Pit Bull is aggressive and dangerous with very small % of exception. We never hear on the news about other dogs attack as much as about Pit Bull. I am sure news media is not biased but this is the reality of life. We know that Pit Bull has ‘attacking’ attributes in its DNA. We are not sure of the ‘responsibility’ attribute of the owner’s DNA. Therefore best is to ban it and stop the innocent people being attacked/killed.

I feel there should be ban on keeping Pit Bull as a pet. There are many other extremely faithful, strong & handsome dog breeds that are not wild in temperament. The pit bull stories are similar to gun crimes. Gun shootings happen because there is no ban/restriction. The existing Pit Bull dogs could be used by police department under great care. No more new pit bulls. If it is man made breed it can be stopped by man.
-- by shashi

It is not the dog it is never the dog, its the owners, they train their dog. To be a attack dog. Many people who don't want anyone in their house to protect their property and most of the time it is drug dealers who have these dogs because of their ferocity is why the dogs are agressive. My friend has a pit bull and he is a big puppy he would not hurt a fly. My sister has a pit mix with rott and a big puppy. It is the O W N E R who makes their dogs vicious. So The owners who have those agressive dogs are because they trained them to be such. The dna of the dog has nothing to do with it any dog can be agressive. They all can kill if they are big enough. Laws should be changed if the dog kills someone the OWNER should be put in jail as a murder. The dog should be euthinised. The owner should spend life in prison.

This is to Who ever has the handle C.
You are one dumb s.o.b I am a convicted fellon why should'nt I have a pitbull? I have one of the most loving great dogs you will never see. You are probaly a lonely affraid person who crys like a baby when you see a dog. I do agree that we should have them registerd and temperment test. but by trying to take another thing away from me ur wrong.

Adam, I don't mind you having a dog .. I mind people having a dog that is an attack dog. Why not pick a lab or a golden retriever or if you'd like a big dog .. a great dane. The fact is that many pitbulls are great and loving animals .. but when they snap .. they never attack their owners, but innocent bystanders. Also it is a known fact that the dogs that do 'snap' never showed any aggression before so 'testing the dog' doesn't do anything.

C has a dog ... so your entire story isn't correct .. might want to try another psychological analysis.

I am a veterinarian in Puyallup, and we see many Pitbulls everyday. This is a very misunderstood breed! Most people only know what they read in the paper or see on the news, but the fact is that most of these dogs are very sweet, and are good family dogs. I have sutured up many bite wounds and seen many aggressive dogs walk in our doors and the majority of the time a Pitbull is NOT involved. It is just not newsworthy to read about a biting Labrador or Golden Retriever.

Most dog attacks involve intact male dogs allowed to roam at will. I think a good alternative to a breed ban would be a law making it mandatory to spay or neuter a Pitbull by 6 months of age. There also should be some serious fines or jail time if someone allows their dogs to run loose. I know that some people won't like this option but there are already so many unwanted dogs, and I would rather see a neuter law than a breed ban.

Pam I totally could not agree more, most dog attacks we see at the pet ER where I work do involve intact male dogs allowed to roam, regardless of the breed!! It is so frustrating. I just do not understand why people do not spay and neuter. I feel very strongly that the *only* people who should be breeding dogs (and cats!!) are *professional breeders* who devote their lives to improving their breed of choice, and *even then*, do we really need more pets to be born?? our shelters are full of unwanted pets that need a home. My dog is a shelter rescue and is the best dog I've ever owned. I would not hesitate to rescue another unwanted pet. Please people!!! spay, neuter, and rescue!!!

I am an educated (Masters), middle-class woman who has two APBTs (both rescues) and they are AWESOME dogs, especially with children. Just last night our one year old HUGE pitbull was lying head to head with our godson and they were snoring face to face. Too precious. When my godson was an infant, our pitbull would stand over him, watching, and when the baby would cry, Woody would run around the house, searching for his mother to come take care of the baby.

I have volunteered in shelters for five years and I have only met ONE pitbull out of hundreds that I was afraid of, and that one was a rescue from a drug circle and had been TRAINED to be human aggressive. On the other hand, my rednose pitbull has been attacked by a golden retriever, two small scruffy dogs (not sure of breed), a Brittany Spaniel (also mine) and multiple dachshunds. With the Golden, he is TERRIFIED of them and cries whenever one is in view. Is this aggressive?

Jeff - we chose this breed not because it looked "murderous" or intimidating, but because they are loyal, easily-trained, love children, are goofy, sweet and huge babies that insist on sleeping in the bed and always sitting on our laps! Their look only played a role in that their chubby cheeks are irresistible!

Shashi - my husband was attacked by TWO trained hunting labs when he was a child, and my best friend was attacked my a miniature collie. It is not the breed, it is the owner, and it is absolutely untrue that pitbulls have it in their genes to attack humans. They have been trained to be dog aggressive, but that also had to do more with the owner and less inherently with the breed.

Also, if you check your facts, cities with pitbull bans experience a significant increase in crime while bite statistics remain unchanged. About the media - I know a man who was an animal control officer in California. He let the news station know about every animal attack. He was expressively told not tP inform the station unless the breed was a Pitbull - that no other breed was such a sensation and worth reporting. When you do hear about another breed in the news, it is always "Dog Attack!" with no mention of the breed. When incidents do involve a Pitbull, the breed is always displayed loud and clear.

The real problem here is certain people allowed to own dogs, any breed, and the way they are permitted to treat them. Our dogs are inside dogs, they sleep in the bed (which creates stability in the dog), they are walked twice a day for at least 40 minutes, go to the dog park several days a week and have had obedience training. This is not what I regularly see from the Pitbull owners I see in the media. On the contrary, Pitbulls are usually untrained (or trained to be human aggressive), under socialized, under exercised and chained up away from their family. Being chained alone increases aggression by more than 80% by some studies. Dog owners, regardless of the breed, need to be punished more harshly for abusing and neglecting animals. Maybe harsher sentences will deter people from mistreating their animals and make them more proactive in training and nurturing their precious dogs. Punish the DEED, not the BREED.

Just a slight comment to the Vets that are responding to this thread. Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't all the bites that people get inflicted from dogs get treated at a first aid or emergency room instead of a vetenarians office or has the world changed so that I can get stitches there as well?

Another issue to consider, when you think about dog bite statistics, is that people commonly misidentify the breed. As there is no breed standard for "Pitbulls" (as defined by the AKC), any dog with a large chest and wide head is classified as a Pitbull or Pitbull mix. There are people at the dog park who consistently ask my friends who have Boxers, Mastiffs, even Great Danes, if their dog is a Pittie. What!? The general public is not educated enough on dog breeds to be able to correctly identify a breed, especially a mixed breed. If you need evidence of this, please go to

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

to see if you can correctly id the breed.

After being afraid of dogs my entire childhood, I got a dog several years ago for the first time. She is a "pitbull". She is the best thing to have happened to me. I learned to not be so judgemental. If you have ever witnessed the abuses these dogs face disportionately- its amazing that more of them do NOT act out. Pitbulls are one of the most abused breed of dog yet time and again they have the capacity to forgive. My pitbull was bossed around by a one pound foster kitten and a daschund with an attitude problem. She gets high marks in all her obedience classes and has excelled at anything I have asked her to do. But I am a responsible owner- I give her love, exercise, training, organic food, and routine veterinary care- something that alot of pitbulls lack. If these dogs were'nt so horrendously abused and neglected, I think we would hear less of these stories. Also, the media doesn't report other instances of dog aggression or check to make sure the dog in question is actually a "pitbull" or one of the many other breeds that look similar. It is actually very difficult to tell which dogs are a mix or an American Pitbull Terrier. This fact checking is important! But if it "bleeds it leads"- something my friend who used to write for channel 6 says. Statistically speaking, balloons and slippers are more dangerous than dogs but when is the last time you saw an expose on that! Google it if you don't believe me...

Statistically seen you are more likely to die of a lightning strike instead of a terrorist attack too. Should we instead then put all of our effort towards twarding off lightning strikes instead?

Pittbull problems are twofold. I have owned pits in the past and will again. Am I careful when chosing them..yes. Irresponsible ownership has led to many problems with the breed and much of the hews hysteria that surrounds them. Many of them are used as status symbols and not trained or cared for properly. On the flip side I don't believe that poor ownership is always to blame. So many people are breeding poor quality dogs that there are bound to be some behavioral problems that come with it. They breed for a big head or a blue color with no thought to the temperament of the dogs or subsequent offspring. What do they care, they can get 300-600 dollars a pup and it is a free meal ticket. That is what my neighbors are planning to do and it just sickens me.
1 in 600 pittbulls finds a permanent home, and much of that is due to overbreeding, greed and selfishness. I will be the first one to euthanize a pit I have taken in if it shows any sort of behavior issue that may lead to aggression, there are too many nice pits put down each year to spend time on a problem one.
Start requiring a breeding license for anyone wanting to breed dogs and make it spendy; fine the heck out of anyone breeding them without a license and lets see if the poor quality, poor behaving dogs don't just decrease and eventually we will get what there was in the past, a wonderful family dog.

I'm a single mom with two kids, the last thing that I ever planned to do was own a pit bull. One night almost 4yrs ago, a very tiny adult dog wandered onto my apartment porch. I've always been a huge rescuer of animals, and this was no exception. I picked up this small dog and brought her in. It didn't take long for me to notice how incredibly emaciated she was, I could see every single bone in her body; her collar was so tight that it had become embedded into her throat. Once I got past the horrendous sight before me, I realized that I had picked up a "pit bull". She had be terribly abused by previous 'people' and was terrified of everything thing and everyone. She has been with me for the last 4 years and has had a complete turn-around. Never once has she shown any aggression toward any human, adult or child, or animal. She is with children of all ages every single day, they crawl on top of her, pull her ears/tail/various body parts. She is the tiniest 'pit bull' I have ever seen. She has even attended events and walked in parades. I also have another rescued dog, my giant 87lb 'pit bull'. He came from a drug house where he was severely abused, used as a bait dog and exposed to numerous drugs. He has been with me for nearly 2 years and is the biggest baby I have ever met.

These two dogs have taught me so very much in the last 4 years. I have done my research, and I currently volunteer with a pit bull rescue group. There are NO bad dogs, only BAD owners.

Pit bulls are the most misunderstood and mistreated animals in our country right now. We never hear the true stories from the media. These supposedly family dogs have likely been mistreated, under socialized and neglected. I know from experience that this happens all the time. My son was attacked by a black lab, the dog tore his face open. Two weeks later he attacked members of his family and was euthanized. When we went to the hospital to fix my son...no one asked any questions when I told them it was a black lab. No one from the news stations were interested, nor were the police. I can very nearly guarantee that if it had been a pit bull, everyone would have been all over it.

People think that because these dogs are so tolerant that they can be treated poorly without any backlash. Eventually these horribly treated dogs are gonna snap, and it wont be their fault, but the fault of the owner who treated them badly. My brother and his wife are abusive toward their two unaltered male 'pit bulls'. One of the dogs was beaten so severely that the whites of his eyes were solid red from the damage. The authorities are not interested in helping these two dogs. When the dogs decide to "TURN" it will be all over the news about how 'family' dogs turned on their family. You can bet I will be the first witness on the news stating how horribly they have been treated over the last few years. My neighbor used to beat her pit bull with a broom handle, right in front of me. I asked her why she treated him like that. "He needs to know who's boss." She said that like she was an expert dog trainer, she felt that beating him was the only way to teach him...ignorance. Yes I called the authorities. My list of experiences of bad owners and sad dogs is huge. It is NEVER the dogs fault.

I'm sorry for anyone who has had a bad experience with these dogs, but remember that no dogs are inherently mean nor is it in the DNA to attack people. Any animal treated badly will react badly.

Pit Bulls like any other dog can be a loveable dog. I have had dogs my whole life. I have 2 Rotts and they also have a bad rap; when in fact they are very sweet and in fact the most wondeful, faithful, gentle, dogs I have ever had. If the owner teaches a dog to be aggressive it will be. If an owner doesn't train a dog, it will be more likely to misbehave. These dogs are often treated badly and abused, which will make them mean. Maybe if people were held accountable for the way they treat their animals, things would start to change. Dogs, by nature are not mean. I have experienced many small dogs that bite and are mean, but these bites are not as damaging and hence not exciting news. In the meantime, if the media stopped sensationalizing these types of bites, maybe people wouldn't stereotype these dogs.

Irresponsible folks should not be allowed to have traditionally aggressive animals.

It is the same as selling hand guns to murderers.
Giving child molesters a Day Care License.
Giving a thief the key to the Jewelry Cabinet.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. Where is the responsibility.

Attacks are happening everywhere. They are mulriplying each month. Many owners do not see signs of the dog being aggresive. One pitbull made a 5 yr old get 250 stiches!!! if u dont belive me look at this page!!!

http://pit-bulls.christianfunfair.org/attacks.htm

Pit bulls should be banned. Every time you hear about a pit bull attack in the news, the owner almost always state that the dog has been loving family pet that has never attacked before. Such is the case with the pit bull that bit my nephew and tore his face off. One bite, that's all it took. All dogs bite, but pit bulls have been bred to cause more damage with a single bite. There is no purpose or reason for keeping such a potentially dangerous animal around in our society.

You can't put blame on the animal. They only do what comes natural. It's not their fault they have a bad reputation because humans treat them with cruelty. I have friends who have Pit Bulls. Their dogs are absolutely friendly Maybe a bit intimidating, but they're responsible about it. They don't have kids ..even though their dogs are friendly - they have stated plainly that if they ever have kids - they wouldn't have pit bulls. They have what's called common sense.

Some people believe that if they raise a tiger for a pet and treat it lovingly they have effectively removed its instinctive nature by replacing it with love and loyalty to the human.

The pit bull is the same. They could be right, but they also could be VERY wrong. Is the risk worth it? Someone stated that you don't get rid of your children when the do something wrong...ahem! If a child is violent to the degree of doing serious damage we might still love them, but we most certainly do 'loose' them in a way, we must deal with it, face it and find a way to resolve it. With the Pit Bull we recognize it to be a threat to human safety and destroy it, not with a child of course.

Pit bulls should not be put in the category of household pet. They have a built in instinct to PREY, something that 'good ownership' does not remove and can NOT control. They prey on smaller animals, an act of aggression without provocation. This is why they are like having a tiger for a pet, you never know...it is their nature and YOU do not get to change them.

I have owned 3 pitbulls & none of them would never hurt a single person...It's the way the owner raises them, not the way they are breed. They were first used as baiting bulls. The way I see it is "Punish the DEED, Not the BREED."

IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS!!!!!!I raised Pit Bulls for alot of years and not 1 of my dogs were used for fighting nor were they encouraged to be guard dogs.Not 1 of my dogs caused a problem for anyone.These dogs are not mean from birth, they have to be made that way.These dogs are awesome family dogs if that's what you want them to be.The owner makes the dog,in ANY breed

pit bulls are good because my pitbull saved my life wile i was getting atacked by a big dog my pit went down the road brang a person who helped mr see pit bulls dont hert the help so dont be soo hard on them god!!

Please everyone listen. Why are these Pit Bulls seen more often as the "bad guys" than other breeds? Because the real "bad guys", the bad owners who want a dog to be a killer, target Pit Bulls because they are easier to abuse.
1. A small dog can't kill, that's why you never hear about "killer chihuahuas". But if you look, lots of little dogs display aggression that in a bigger dog would be hurtful or deadly.
2. Some dogs are more aware of whether people like them or not. A Golden Retriever has the same ability to kill as a Pit Bull, but people don't target them because Pits can be scary looking (though to me they're just cuuuute). Also, people don't want to hear about popular dogs hurting, because, well, they are popular!

Comparing a Tiger to a Pit Bull is not a reasonable comparison. Think about it, how many tigers were bred to be a humans companion, yet a Pit Bulls IS A DOG! NOT A WILD ANIMAL. That is the problem, people think of them as wild animals.

Why do the owners state the dog was always loving? Because they never paid attention to the signs. Dogs have a natural need to have an Alpha. If the human is not responsible to take charge as the Alpha, the dog will out of necessity. This means the dog thinks he/she rules the family, which usually he/she does.

My brother was 2 years old or younger and bit in the FACE by a WESTIE! If the Westie had been bigger, she would have permanently hurt him. Guess what the owners said?
"He messed with her." So that excuses her? Excuse me, I feel like saying to her owners, We were all there, he is two and your dog should be able to put up with him touching her.

My seven month old Westie mix doesn't bite when we touch her and she has a chew toy in her mouth.

Amen to Fred Ball saying, "Irresponsible folks should not be allowed to have traditionally aggressive animals.
It is the same as selling hand guns to murderers.
Giving child molesters a Day Care License.
Giving a thief the key to the Jewelry Cabinet.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. Where is the responsibility."

That is exactly what is happening. Dogs were not bred to protect us only, to be chained outside with not enough affection or responsible "Alpha leadership".

Hear what happened to the lady who after 8 years of quieting her Great Pyyenees (he growled at her because she was clipping his nails without proper training) and occasionally being slightly attacked (dog began to bite, she ran in the other room) and ignoring all of the clear signs? One day the poor dog was fed up with her and attacked AGAIN, she wasn't able to get to the other room and was seriously injured. Let me think, if my dog was growling at me, wouldn't I take him to obedience classes and get help? Not her! She just plowed right ahead. No understanding of her dog at all.

As people have been saying, Pit Bulls are commonly bred wrong (leading to problems) and actually are sometimes American Staffies, Staffordshire Terriers, even Bull terriers or Dogo Argentinos or even dogs who come from mastiff decent or that don't carry any “aggressive” blood in them. "Pit Bull" commonly refers to Am Pit Bull Terrier as well as all of the others.

Not that I am saying the other dogs should be banned. I don't believe in breed banning. Every breed has bad and good individuals. Punish the deed not the breed. Don't target one breed, target the irresponsible owners, the bad breeders, rehab badly used dogs and if necessary you may have to euthanize some but if we can get dogs, as a whole, better bred and taken care of we won't have these problems.

Before anyone calls me a person more concerned with dogs than humans, consider this.

If Someone can maul, hurt, mistreat and even kill innocent puppies, what will they do to an even more innocent child?

IF WE can ban dog breeds, why stop there? Why not ban all people from Mexico? That would be so much more horrible than banning a dog breed!

What we do to our animals can be an outflow of our hearts.

What is done to a dog or a horse or a cat IS SO MUCH MORE EASILY DONE TO A HUMAN!

I'm not shouting, just emphasizing. Please understand this and also understand that calling names is not going to accomplish anything. I see one too many people for Pit Bulls calling others idiots and worse. That is no way to treat fellow humans with their own opinions.

In short, as Pam said, it isn't newsworthy to hear of a killer Golden or a killer Lab, but they bite just as much. What people want to hear is about the killer Pits.

Male dogs that have not been neutered will attack more, thus people should do the responsible thing and fix their dog!

I'll leave you with this: ANY dog will bite under the right situations, for ALL dogs have teeth and jaws!