Pitbulls

A lot about raising dogs and just being around them has to do with YOUR temperament and demeanor around dogs. Dogs really do have a 6th sense around people. Its one reason why children are attacked so frequently, dogs know they are dominant over children. A dog's world revolves around dominance, who is and who isn't. I've had dogs my entire life and have never had any problems..although I've always opted for mutts from the local shelter. My 3 yr old has already learned to portray his dominance over both of our dogs...he handles them very well and both dogs behave for him. Its sorta funny... I most definitely believe that dogs 'smell' fear as well as 'non-fear'. My niece and nephew are extremely afraid of dogs (got this from their parents)...when they come to my house I have to put my 2 dogs (60 and 45 lbs) outside, although my 2 dogs are sweeties. My dogs can 'smell' that fear on those kids a mile away. On the opposite end, my sitter just recently adopted a golden lab puppy. He never approaches anyone except for my hubby and myself. He loves us and my sitter can't figure it out. I told her its because he knows we absolutely love dogs. He can 'smell' it. I've always said that people that are afraid of dogs are more likely to get attacked or bitten. I've tried to tell this to my niece and nephew, how important it is for them to get over that fear so that they can have that sense of dominance. I don't know about pit bulls, don't have any experience with them but I do believe there are dogs and/or breeds that just naturally want to be dominant and won't take kindly to being submissive to anyone. Just my opinion....

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Originally Posted by ljcoolj

I don't know about pit bulls, don't have any experience with them but I do believe there are dogs and/or breeds that just naturally want to be dominant and won't take kindly to being submissive to anyone. Just my opinion....

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I had a pit bull/shephard mix that was such a sissy. When he was two, I got a Rottweiler pup. That Rottweiler ran roughshod over the mix ~ until he went too far. I never had any trouble with either other than the p/s mix loved to get out and run free and the Rottweiler would follow. Neither ever did harm to anyone.

Revvell

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Originally Posted by codajess

The ignorance when it comes to dogs blows my mind.

Dogs are only what you raise them to be.

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My aunt and uncle raised a pitbull along with their 2 children. The dog was sweet and played gently with me and my cousins. One day we were playing the backyard like usual and the pitbull attacked me and continued biting me over and over and over. My cousins ran for help. My mom came and saved me.

This dog was not raised to fight, yet it attacked me. At the time I was 7 years old. I would NEVER trust a pitbull around my children.

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Originally Posted by denisedeland

I admit my fear of the dogs comes from being attacked when I was 7. Because of that I have always been afraid of any dog. I won't even own one.. I know lots of dogs are sweet and kind. My brother in law has a dog that is just as sweet as he can be. I have always been a cat lover myself. But the fear of a dog attacking me is always on my mind when a dog comes near me. I'm not usre how bad she was hurt or what happened yet. She just sent me a message telling me she was attacked by the females and they had to put them down. I asked her for all the details when I wrote her back. I'm sure something had to trigger it. They had always been good dogs before this.

Denise

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I note that some dogs revert to "pack mentality" under certain circumstances. This is not just Pit Bulls, but almost all dog breeds. Most of what I have experienced confirms this fact. In the case of your friend, she probably would do better to only have one to two dogs at a time when dealing with Pit Bulls, or a number of other large breeds because this cuts down on potential pack dynamics and helps keep the Human in the dominant role. Dogs look to their owners and their families a part of their pack and a certain order must exist. Humans do not understand this and end up playing dog "politics" that the have no idea they are living out. It causes violent reactions that humans are often unwittingly at fault for.
Please do not take this to mean your friend deserved it, IN NO WAY am I saying that. I am merely saying that we as humans often, in our enthusiasm and love of animals do things that cause bad reactions.
Nix

I think any dog can turn. I don't specifically know about pitbulls, but when I was 5 I was attacked in the face by a Husky. Had to go to the hospital. To this day I'm afraid of big dogs, but ironically...I want a Husky. I don't remember the incident though. I just have the scars still...

I love dogs and have always had one, have trained and socialized them and understand that they have a social heirarchy that has to be dealt with and recongnized.

However where pitbulls are concerned...yes, some can be wonderful dogs...but each breed of dog has its own inborn tendencies, traits, strengths and weaknesses. (natural ways of being)

Pitbulls have been bred to be aggressive. They do not have to be raised wrong or mistreated for this trait to surface. The very fact that they are unpredictible...that there is a more than ordinary chance (well documented by repeated and viscious attacks) that they DO and CAN suddenly turn on their owners and others is the only reason I personally need never to live with OR put myself or anyone I love in a position to be attacked by one.

It is hard to condemn a breed across the board but I don't hesitate for a second regarding pitbulls.

http://www.sighly.com/kids.jpg

I am new to this site, but found this post to hit home. I have fostered and rescued pits for nearly 8 years now. This is a picture of Roxy and the two children we live with. There is also a 2 month old baby in the house, Roxy treats it with the care and attention she would as if it were her own pup.
Yes pits were bred at times for fighting, but for the most part this teaches them aggression toward other dogs, and a major respect for humans, as it is the humans who put their hands in the fight to break them apart. But they are of the terrier breed, and have not always been used to fight. Petey from the little rascals was a pit. They are great companions. They are also the most abused dogs BY FAR. Any idiot looking to train a dog to be mean and "protect" him is going to get a strong dog capable of doing damage...IE a pit and not a poodle! Most of the people you see on tv claiming "he was a great dog, he just snapped" arent going to admit they abuse the dog. It amazes me how ignorant people are. My cousin kicks his huskey for growling, claiming hes showing him whose "top dog". People really think this way!!!
As for the few cases where the dog does attack for no reason... if they do exist, maybe its just the dogs personality? I'm not sure. But it isn't just the pit bull breed who does this. If you go to the Kennel Club website, the bite statistics show pits among the ranks of retreivers, scoring very high on temperment tests and low bite rates.
I think anyone who knows animals can tell a dogs personality very quickly. From my experience a dog gives out warning signs, and shows strange behavior if they have been abused, are scared, or are capable of biting. It doesn't just happen.
I have had pits around me for years now, and trust them with all my heart. i have never seen a dog so tollerable of kids jumping and poking and ...well you all know kids:)
If you go into any pound you will find the majority of dogs without homes are pits, its very sad. Pits bond very strongly to their owner, and are SO willing to please.
I read an article once that stated...if you beat a doberman it will come after you and attack, if you beat a pit bull, it will come back to you, head down, trying to please you and do better the next time.

I also suggest checking out

http://www.badrap.org/
or
http://www.happypitbull.com/

Under the myths section these site address many misconceptions about the breed, and is fairly educational.

American Temperament Test Results,
http://www.atts.org/statistics.html

American Pit Bull Terrier – 83.4% passed
American Staffordshire Terrier – 83.3% passed
Staffordshire Bull Terrier - 93.2% passed
German Shorthaired Pointer – 75.7% passed
Golden Retriever- 83.6% Passed



I hate to talk so much about this subject, but before I accidentally adopted a pit to save them from being put to sleep....I had the same fear and lack of knowledge of the breed. I learned for every horrible story you hear on the news, there are millions of happy families and pits out there. My first rescue later became a therapy dog at my dad's va nursing home.

Then I moved to Denver 2 years ago from the East Coast, and shortly after, Denver banned pit bulls, and took them away from families and put them to sleep if they were still in the city limits beyond a certain date....it was horrible. Any dog lover would understand having their faithful pet taken away. It's Un-American!!! I also truly believe the people who had the "bad" pits will only find another breed to abuse and then what, will the city take away dobermans, shepards, rotties?

I now work with a rescue here in Colorado Springs that has saved over 150 pit bulls from Denver’s wrath, all have been amazing dogs whose owners had to give them up. Some people actually moved out of Denver, just to keep their pets.

It really is a matter of being educated. I can imagine it a lot harder to understand if you did not grow up with dogs, or have been bitten.

Pit bulls are one of the most over bred, most abused and most terminated dogs. I read that only 1 in 600 pits will find a forever home.

denisedeland ....I appreciate your open mind and desire to learn more before you judge. I wish more people sought information before being judgemental. I'm not sure what the situation was with your friends pets, I have been around large groups of pits at the rescue with no problem, but there may be something to be said about the "pack" animal theory. I have noticed dogs who hang out with dogs all day, or outside tend to act more like...well dogs. As much as I love any dog, and as much as I'd like to think they bit her on accident, I do fully understand having to put down any dog who may present a danger.

GlimR...I am sorry you feel that way. I think any animal, or any HUMAN for that matter can snap and be unpredictable, but it is rare. For the most part parents do not want to admit THEY made a mistake. I have surrounded myself by hundreds of pit bulls over the last 8 years, and i have only ever been attacked by a nasty little chihuahua.

It makes me sad that in such a seemingly open minded community there would be such harsh discrimination from a fellow dog lover:(
http://www.sighly.com/roxy.jpg

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Originally Posted by sbaker

It makes me sad that in such a seemingly open minded community there would be such harsh discrimination from a fellow dog lover:(

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Me, too......

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Originally Posted by sbaker

I also suggest checking out

http://www.badrap.org/
or
http://www.happypitbull.com/

Under the myths section these site address many misconceptions about the breed, and is fairly educational.

American Temperament Test Results,
http://www.atts.org/statistics.html

American Pit Bull Terrier – 83.4% passed
American Staffordshire Terrier – 83.3% passed
Staffordshire Bull Terrier - 93.2% passed
German Shorthaired Pointer – 75.7% passed
Golden Retriever- 83.6% Passed

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Thanks for these links. I now have more information to show people when this type of topic is brought up!

Hi My Name Is Delia. I Own A Pit Bull, Haze Who Is Now 1 Years Old I Raised Him Since He Was A 3 Week Old. I Also Had A Rat Terrier Name Haze Who Was 3 Years And I Had Him Since He Was 6 Weeks. And It Annoy Me When People Say That Pitbull Are Vicious Dogs When Truely Any Dog Can Be Vicious It All About How The Owner Treat Them And Their Are Many Thing That Make A Dog Turn On Thier Owner Such As Abuse. We Got To Understand That Dogs Are Not People And If Thier Is Abuse In The House Between The People Or Between The Master And The Dog That The Dog Will Since Fear. Because They Are Dogs They Dont No How To React To It They Cant Call The Police Or For Help They Go To Thier Natural Offence Which Is Attack. Another Reason Is Maybe The Dog Is To Old And Gettin Tired. Then They Become More Meaner They Might Show Signs Buy Not Greetin U At The Door Or Not Wantin To Be Bothered And Leavin Whenu Walkin A Room

My puppy, Scooby Doo, is 3 years old and have been a 100% raw carnivore since 3 months old. He is the friendliest, sweetest, kindest dog I know. He is mindful, obedient and affectionate. I believe it has much to do with his diet. For more information about feeding your dog raw, check out the many discussion groups online.

I believe that humans are raw vegans and dogs are raw carnivores. Many people feed their dogs raw vegan food and I respect their personal choice. Thank you for respecting mine.

:) Verawnika

P.S. Here's a pic of my baby puppy. :)

he's precious, smiley. i like his markings.

My intention was not to offend anyone.....as I said, I know there are many pits who make faithful and loyal companions.....but having known first hand a child who was severly mauled by one, without provocation in a seemingly lovely and gentle home my opinion stands. As a mother, no animal is worth taking the chance with my own child..no matter how wonderful or possibly maligned.

To each his own~