Pit Bulls

Dedman · Post by **Dedman** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:12 am

I broke this off from the Parenthood Test thread because I sense a good discussion about Pit Bulls coming on.

I donâ??t think the Pits are more dangerous than any other dog. If you raise them with love and the proper training they make great family dogs. My family has had two of them. Even a Basset will be mean and aggressive if you mistreat it.

While it is true that Pits are stronger and more aggressive in general than other breeds, that doesnâ??t automatically make them more dangerous. They are more aggressive in everything they do, even play. One thing people forget is that they are terriers. Terriers by nature are very energetic and enthusiastic in everything they do. Pits are no exception. Itâ??s just that they are much stronger than most other breeds.

They have been banned in several areas. They are banned for the same reason that some guns are banned â?? the people doing the banning donâ??t understand the root cause of the particular problem. It is easier to ban a breed or a gun and look tough and caring to your constituents than it is to actually take the time to understand the thing you are banning.

WarAdvocat · Post by **WarAdvocat** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:01 am

I'm a dog person. I like dogs, and most dogs like me. I've spent a lot of time with various breeds of dogs, and I have an opinion that certain breeds are inherently unstable and likely to turn on humans with little to no warning. In no particular order, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shephards, Chows and Pit Bulls top my personal list.

I've seen it happen too often with these breeds in particular. There are aggressive strains and pet strains of most of these breeds, and all too often the blood has been intermingled. These animals seem to react particularly badly to mixed or confusing signals (such as those given by children) and they tend to react aggressively.

While I won't tell others what to do in regards to their animals, I judge animals on a case by case basis. However, I am always extra careful around those breeds, because all too often they will go from docility to violent hostility at the drop of a misread signal. I'm watchful and cautious around animals, but it's as much luck as care that I haven't been bitten by several of the animals I've dealt with, due to their aggressive nature.

No way in hell would I trust a known aggressive breed around children. Particularly the larger or more powerful aggressive breeds of dogs. It's not fair to what might be an otherwise good animal, and it's not safe for the children.

Generalizations aside, it's up to the individual to make these types of decisions. Personal knowledge of an animal and of the animal's lineage/history can definately influence the factors I mentioned above. Ultimately, if anything were to happen, you are the one who has to live with that decision, and I'm sure most people wouldn't cavalierly risk life and limb to have a certain type of pet. When other people are involved, particularly children, I just prefer to err on the side of excessive caution.

Pun · Post by **Pun** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:08 am

I say we force feed all the pitbulls and eat their livers.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:13 am

I am the same, I will take a more protective stance when a "known" more agressive dog is near me, my wife or my dog. It's a sad thing but around my city, people (dumb ones) are breeding certain agressive breeds with other agressive breeds to make the ultimate fighting dog. This is plain stupid and not only dangerous but unhealthy for the dogs also.

I saw one dude in my building with one of theses mixed breeds and the dog had muscles like Arnie had. It was nasty. Just imagining what this dog could do if he went nuts was frightning.

I know the blame is on the onwer and how it the dog is raised but unfortunetly, the owner never gets enough punishment for the crimes of the dog.

WarAdvocat · Post by **WarAdvocat** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:36 am

I believe that there are inherently dangerous breeds, so yeah, the blame is on the owner for owning one and exposing people to risk. I'm against regulation, and FOR common sense. Keep kids away from dangerous animals.

So on the one hand I agree with Dedman, legislation against certain breeds is idiotic grandstanding by lawmakers trying to seem "tough". On the other hand, I think they should throw the book at anyone who owns a dangerous breed that injures someone. Then they should throw more books. And then some rocks, or some bricks, or even some nice large pipe wrenches. Or a hand grenade.

Flabby Chick · Post by **Flabby Chick** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:42 am

I don't know pit bulls very well. Whilst i'm sure owners are being truthful when they say that the breed can be very docile, why take the chance. If i had the choice of protecting my civil rights so i could own my particular favourite animal or seeing a childs throat ripped out, i wouldn't have to think very hard.

Why risk it? Ban the breed.

Ferno · Post by **Ferno** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:52 am

it's the terrier part that makes them aggressive.

if they were 'pit bull daschunds', most likely there would not be a problem.

Testiculese · Post by **Testiculese** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:54 pm

I've had Pits my entire life, and won't consider any other dog. They're great with kids, and are very much people-dogs. They are also quite smart.

Out of all the dogs I've had, only one was a terror. But only to other dogs. Kids could crash around, and into him, push him around, dump water on him, and he'd just sit there, or if annoyed, get up and go somewhere else. Nothing fazed him, he was too big (75lbs..pretty big for a pit). He did not like other dogs tho', and would go after them whenever he got the chance. I've had to pull him off a few dogs from the neighborhood.

I'm more scared of Poodles than Pits. I've been bitten by a Shepard, two Poodles and something else..I dunno what it was, but it's face met my schoolbag head on. Poodles are the worst. Nasty fuckers.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 6:38 pm

Dedman wrote:I donâ??t think the Pits are more dangerous than any other dog. If you raise them with love and the proper training they make great family dogs. My family has had two of them. Even a Basset will be mean and aggressive if you mistreat it.

Agree. As usual abuse by a certain breed of humans is the cause. (Now, that breed we should get rid of

). Personally I'm a lot more wary about Dobermanns -- notoriousely unstable breed if they are pure (due to inbreeding they have a tendency to go postal and need to be monitored closely -- less of a problem w/ good training)

Dedman wrote:They have been banned in several areas. They are banned for the same reason that some guns are banned â?? the people doing the banning donâ??t understand the root cause of the particular problem. It is easier to ban a breed or a gun and look tough and caring to your constituents than it is to actually take the time to understand the thing you are banning.

Germany banned them a few years ago (along w/ certain other breeds) -- you need a license now (not sure what you have to do to get one tho.) The reason where a few cases of maiming done by Pits and other breeds the media picked up and hyped along. In every one of those cases the dog was abused prior to that tho.

Ferno · Post by **Ferno** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:03 am

yea exactly Testi. Poodles are just psycho. It must be a reflection of their uptight owners or something.

Say you got a Bulldog as a puppy. you're a seedy kind of person who gets his kicks from dogfights. So you beat the crap out of the puppy, and raise it to fight just about anything. Sooner or later when the dog's an adult he'll snap one day, maim someone or someone's pet and people will be screaming to ban the bulldog breed.

One thing I've noticed from History is people tend to put band-aids on problems, no matter what they are. The band-aid, while looking like a good solution, rarely stops the bleeding.

Pit Bulls

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