A breed is a race created by humans. As far as dog attack statistics, they are inherently flawed. Anyone reporting on these statistics can say that any dog is any breed. It's really just their best guess. Unless they have papers on that dog, or have done a DNA test, it's a guess that most people are not really qualified to make--news reporters being the least qualified. I have seen many other breeds mistaken for American pit bull terriers--boxers, American bulldogs, different mastiff breeds, Presa Canarios, even a black Lab.
Pit bulls were bred for hundreds of years to fight other dogs. This is not their fault, it is the fault of the breeders. Because of this, some pit bulls are dog aggressive. Being dog aggressive is completely different from being aggressive towards humans, and from being aggressive towards small animals (prey drive). All three traits stem from separate genes. I do not advocate pit bull type dogs being off leash in areas such as a dog park because of the dog aggression trait that some of them have. Some dogs never develop this trait, some develop it to a certain degree--my dog only has a problem with dogs who show aggression to her first.
Because of the nature of dog fighting, pit bulls are also the ONLY breed that was ever bred specifically to be non human aggressive. Before modern times, when the dogs got into the hands of bad breeders just trying to make a buck and people actually cared about genetics, if the dog showed any human aggression he was put down. Owners were expected to be down in the pit with their dogs to referee the fight, and if they could not put their hands on the dogs or get in between them reliably, there was a problem. The same dogs were used to babysit, guard the house, watch and herd livestock, and as a family pet.
One place that many people run into a problem nowadays is that these dogs are very intelligent and very headstrong. They NEED direction, and they NEED an alpha. If the human allows the dog to be alpha, it is a recipe for disaster. This can be true for all dogs. I have seen it for everything from small terriers and chihuahuas to cocker spaniels to labs. And before you say anything about small dogs not being able to do harm--I've read reports about papillons and Pomeranians killing infants.
Pit bulls were bred for hundreds of years to fight other dogs. This is not their fault, it is the fault of the breeders. Because of this, some pit bulls are dog aggressive. Being dog aggressive is completely different from being aggressive towards humans, and from being aggressive towards small animals (prey drive). All three traits stem from separate genes. I do not advocate pit bull type dogs being off leash in areas such as a dog park because of the dog aggression trait that some of them have. Some dogs never develop this trait, some develop it to a certain degree--my dog only has a problem with dogs who show aggression to her first.
Because of the nature of dog fighting, pit bulls are also the ONLY breed that was ever bred specifically to be non human aggressive. Before modern times, when the dogs got into the hands of bad breeders just trying to make a buck and people actually cared about genetics, if the dog showed any human aggression he was put down. Owners were expected to be down in the pit with their dogs to referee the fight, and if they could not put their hands on the dogs or get in between them reliably, there was a problem. The same dogs were used to babysit, guard the house, watch and herd livestock, and as a family pet.
One place that many people run into a problem nowadays is that these dogs are very intelligent and very headstrong. They NEED direction, and they NEED an alpha. If the human allows the dog to be alpha, it is a recipe for disaster. This can be true for all dogs. I have seen it for everything from small terriers and chihuahuas to cocker spaniels to labs. And before you say anything about small dogs not being able to do harm--I've read reports about papillons and Pomeranians killing infants.
"This breed is variously cited as being responsible for nearly a third of all fatal dog attacks in the United States, in part due to its tenacity in a fight. Pit bulls cause one-third of dog-bite related fatalities while only make up less than 2% of the dog population. Because of the deaths, maulings and serious injuries inflicted by Pit Bulls, many countries worldwide ban these dogs altogether or require licenses for ownership of them. In response to many high profile maulings and fatal attacks by Pit Bulls, many US cities and towns have specifically targeted the breed with legislation restricting ownership and increasing penalties on owners for attacks made by their Pit Bulls."
It is not media bull. Of course, with proper training, they can be sweet, but their nature is agressive. They are agressive, period. Don't matter if it is another dog or a person.
I personally, don't agree that they should never be pets, but many people don't give them the training they need to be sweet, loving pets, or the proper fencing to keep them in their yards. I've read or seen too many news reports of children or even adults being mauled by pits.
Pits are probably the (based on my opinion on what I've seen) one of the most abused dogs in the Dallas area. Our volunteers who start off scared to death of the Pits after a while all end up loving the big goofy dogs.
Just my two cents...
By agrant311 at 2009-08-18
I'm aware that a lot of people find my dog intimidating, especially children, because he's stocky and old, but I don't fault them for it. my wife's friend brought her two infants sons to our house a couple months ago and as soon as they saw our dog they screamed bloody murder. but I also understood why they did it. if I was a toddler and saw a barking dog twice my size i'd probably freak out too. I know my brother in-law doesn't like our dog because he's old, he's a mixed breed and he's covered in fatty lumps - I see the way he reacts toward him but the truth is, it doesn't bother me. as long as he doesn't do anything stupid like hit my dog i'm fine with it.
Quite honestly, from looking at the picture of Gus, and depending on where he is from, it is very possible that Gus is mixed with a pit bull. Pit/lab mixes are VERY common, being that they are the two most common breeds in the country. I could tell you more definitely with a better picture. Also, I'd get those lipomas aspirated and sent to a lab just in case. My dad had a lab who died from "harmless" fatty tumors.
I work as a delivery driver in tallahassee and i have to say that the breed of dog i see most common is the majestic pit. I've been greeted with more happiness than i have teeth, so i for one believe that the aggressive nature somewhat lies in the trainer. That being said, i also believe that this nature also lies in the natural personality of the breed. Pits were first breed to fight bulls, so they are in essence a fighting dog, so it really shouldn't be so surprising that some fear the idea of the dreaded pitbull. I know im kinda working both sides of the fence, but the point im trying to make is that REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH YOU SAY SOMETHING, PEOPLE WILL NEVER CHANGE UNLESS THEY DEAL WITH THINGS FIRST HAND. so in my honest opinion, this ENTIRE thread is void of any real reason for existing. Even my comments are just firsthand knowledge and cant be proven to be a real statistic within this ever-to-be ignorant topic
http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/nutritioninformation/f/FAQ_string.htm
http://www.mprgroup.net/misc/findpit.html
oh mj. I
also... my best friend growing up had a doberman and a pit... one bit me... one liked to give me so many kisses and i was drowing in his drool.
the doberman was the biter.
ive never met a mean pit. i see them and just want to snuggle the smurf out of em.