Pitbulls - Love 'em or Hate 'em?
- Thread starter Dingo
- Start date
No, they are not. They are simply not raised properly. A properly raised pit bull is actually friendly and loyal.
I have nothing against them. The one I've had personal up-close experience with was one of the sweetest, friendliest dogs I've ever met. It does depend on the dog, its history, and its owner, however. Some are very brutal indeed, but I think that has more to do with nurture rather than nature.
Are they physically capable of killing a human being? Yes, of course. However, you're probably just as capable of killing a pitbull with your bare hands. More so considering that in such a fight a human would be inclined to pick up a weapon.
Are they physically capable of killing a human being? Yes, of course. However, you're probably just as capable of killing a pitbull with your bare hands. More so considering that in such a fight a human would be inclined to pick up a weapon.
By that rationale black people should be outlawed as well.
You had no right to defend your friend and hurt that dog.
You should have waited to the police to show up - only they are informed and trained to make a proper decision about how to handle such a case.
Did I mention Pits were not trained to be human aggressive. In fact biting a person in the old days of dog fighting was considered a breed flaw?
Yes, Pit owners have to be aware of the breed's violent history and need to be firm yet gentle (This breed does remarkably well with Positive Reinforement training). Yes, there are extra precautions Pitbull owners need to take.
And also these 'dangerous' dogs, even when they were bred as dog fighters, were also companions welcomed in their owners' homes in Victorian England. Many an English gentleman had at least one of these dogs to keep him company.
And also, let's not forget that these dogs were also loyal companions of the American pioneer and the earliest settlers of the West. They were protectors, working dogs, and companions as well.
Pitbulls have a violent history and sadly in some cases present because of unethical owners and breeders that use them for fighting. But these dogs have many other tasks they do well. Therapy dogs (the more loving and sociable of the breed), Search and Rescue Dogs, and Explosives/Narcotics Detection Dogs have had quite a few Pitbulls, including those who had been originally dog fighters, in their ranks.
I believe what is needed is not to outlaw this breed but to somehow regulate who can own the pitbull. Maybe there needs to be special licence to own one and the same with any other breed that are as capable of killing a person.
I think something along the lines of a vetting or some screening process for breeders and shelters and the like with published guidance for those wanting to purchase a pitbull. And maybe a registration and licencing process for breeders wishing to breed pitbulls would be a better solution.
I have a pure-bred American Pit-Bull Terrier named Dixie. She is the friendliest dog you've ever met. The worst she will do to a Human is lick them all day. The reason she does this is because she went through 3 different homes (including mine) within the 1st 2 months of her life. I guess you could call that 'Puppy abandonment syndrome.'
There was one time not too long ago that she got a little overzealous and I had to yank the chain attached to her collar. It was the day after Christmas last year. We were at a neighbor's house conversing with him. Some of the neighborhood kids were there and Dixie wanted to play with them. Since Dixie was larger than some of these kids, I can understand their reluctance to get too close. Anyway, Dixie started barking and tried to jump up on one to lick her in the face. The little girl got scared and started to cry. I immediately pulled Dixie back and told her No in a very loud voice. Since that day, the little girl has crossed paths with Dixie again. That time, we talked her into petting Dixie on the head after I made her sit. She's not afraid of Dixie anymore.
Also, I think it's worth noting that there's an elementary school down the street from me and I pass by there with Dixie almost everyday on our walks. Whenever the kids see her, they always get excited and ask me questions. The kids also know she's a Pit and they aren't even remotely afraid.
As for other dogs, Dixie's luck is even worse. She doesn't encounter them much. When she does, she's normally nervous around them. The only exceptions would be that retarded Cockapoo that my Grandmother has and a Great Dane owned by a friend of my father. She gets along famoulsy with the Great Dane. The Cockapoo is terrified of Dixie because Dixie is at least 5 times as large.
I can empathize with Pit-Bulls. I've had plenty of people become afraid of me for no good reason too.
There was one time not too long ago that she got a little overzealous and I had to yank the chain attached to her collar. It was the day after Christmas last year. We were at a neighbor's house conversing with him. Some of the neighborhood kids were there and Dixie wanted to play with them. Since Dixie was larger than some of these kids, I can understand their reluctance to get too close. Anyway, Dixie started barking and tried to jump up on one to lick her in the face. The little girl got scared and started to cry. I immediately pulled Dixie back and told her No in a very loud voice. Since that day, the little girl has crossed paths with Dixie again. That time, we talked her into petting Dixie on the head after I made her sit. She's not afraid of Dixie anymore.
Also, I think it's worth noting that there's an elementary school down the street from me and I pass by there with Dixie almost everyday on our walks. Whenever the kids see her, they always get excited and ask me questions. The kids also know she's a Pit and they aren't even remotely afraid.
As for other dogs, Dixie's luck is even worse. She doesn't encounter them much. When she does, she's normally nervous around them. The only exceptions would be that retarded Cockapoo that my Grandmother has and a Great Dane owned by a friend of my father. She gets along famoulsy with the Great Dane. The Cockapoo is terrified of Dixie because Dixie is at least 5 times as large.
I can empathize with Pit-Bulls. I've had plenty of people become afraid of me for no good reason too.
Amazing. Were you and Dixie separated by Katrina? I assume by your location being Sisko's hometown you are from New Orleans. My neighbors own a Katrina dog (a beagle mix named Jill, loves to play with my Belgian Malinois, Ninja).
Sadly the Army is one of the worst for BSL, however it's being lobbied to change that. So sad to see that a service where Sergeant Stubby, a Pitbull Terrier and most distinguished dog in US Army history, once was beloved by a whole Division (40,000 or so guys) and guest of honor at the White House for three presidents before his death in 1926, practices this unfortunate knee jerk bit of legislature. Soldiers who own Pits are unable to live on the base and must reside offpost.
And the reason I oppose BSL though I don't yet own a Pit? Who's to say overzealous and ignorant officials are gonna stop at Pitbulls? My best buddy of the four legged variety is a Belgian Malinois, basically a German Shepherd with a finer coat and smaller body. One thing's for sure, I'll be damned before I let anyone, even the law, take a member of my family from me.
I feel the reason to point to another thing in favor of the Pit, a temperment test done by an unbiased agency:
FYI: ATTS is the American Temperment Testing Society and it tests dog temperments of every known breed.
Sadly the Army is one of the worst for BSL, however it's being lobbied to change that. So sad to see that a service where Sergeant Stubby, a Pitbull Terrier and most distinguished dog in US Army history, once was beloved by a whole Division (40,000 or so guys) and guest of honor at the White House for three presidents before his death in 1926, practices this unfortunate knee jerk bit of legislature. Soldiers who own Pits are unable to live on the base and must reside offpost.
And the reason I oppose BSL though I don't yet own a Pit? Who's to say overzealous and ignorant officials are gonna stop at Pitbulls? My best buddy of the four legged variety is a Belgian Malinois, basically a German Shepherd with a finer coat and smaller body. One thing's for sure, I'll be damned before I let anyone, even the law, take a member of my family from me.
I feel the reason to point to another thing in favor of the Pit, a temperment test done by an unbiased agency:
FYI: ATTS is the American Temperment Testing Society and it tests dog temperments of every known breed.
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YES they ARE! All you pitbull lovers say the same thing until you are attacked. And I know people who were not raising them as fighter dogs...as family dogs...and members of their family were attacked.
And it only takes ONCE.
Retarded. Who would want such an animal?
Rii
Rear Admiral
Somehow I doubt that this distinction is at all comforting to the victim.
And for good measure Who died and made you the Supreme Decider?Better yet, be like every other knee-jerk reacting idiot and blame former President GWB. Just cry and yell that there were no pit-bull attacks until he gave his greedy oil buddies sweet tax breaks.
Rii
Rear Admiral
Don't be absurd. I blame MTV.
Any large dog is capable of attacking and possibly killing a human. All that takes is once, too.
With that arguement it is definitely the responsibility of owners of large dogs to be especially mindful of that potential and place a premium on obedience training early on. Establish with said pooch that you are the pack leader as are members of your family and friends, and issues with large dogs are liable to be less.
That being said, I'd like my pooch to be wary of strangers at first, but once he sees I'm cool with them to relax. It is possible to train a Pit to that standard and I've seen dozens of Pits that fit that bill. My friend's Pit tends to eye newcomers a little suspiciously at first, but once he see's she's cool with them, he won't act up.
I don't suggest reactive approaches at all. Proactive approaches like knowing the tendencies of your chosen dog breed and its predispositions and thus awareness, vigiliance and training are far superior than knee jerk reactions when it comes to this particular dog breed.
That being said, I'd like my pooch to be wary of strangers at first, but once he sees I'm cool with them to relax. It is possible to train a Pit to that standard and I've seen dozens of Pits that fit that bill. My friend's Pit tends to eye newcomers a little suspiciously at first, but once he see's she's cool with them, he won't act up.
I don't suggest reactive approaches at all. Proactive approaches like knowing the tendencies of your chosen dog breed and its predispositions and thus awareness, vigiliance and training are far superior than knee jerk reactions when it comes to this particular dog breed.
Dixie was after Katrina. I'm not even sure where.
Well, I like the fearsome reputation that my Pit-Bull has with idiots. That makes her job as the guardian of my family & property (a role that all dogs have by their very nature) a lot easier.
Those who defend pit bulls also acknowledge that a problem exists.
They have a tendency to place the blame on the owners rather than the breed. Those who revile them tend to place the blame squarely on the dogs. The truth, however, lies somewhere in the middle.
Pit bulls have by far more deaths and maimings then any other dog breed. Obviously something within the breed gives them the tendency to be more aggressive. Bad ownership is simply not enough of an excuse for the consistently high number of deaths and maimings by pit bulls over an extended period of time.
So something has to be done. I can see three solutions.
1. Exterminate pit bulls
2. ban the breeding and force all pit bulls to be nurtured or spaded.
3. Highly restrict ownership and breeding
1 - Cannot be done easily. People love their dogs and will not easily give them up--hell they might kill to protect them.
2 - Is something that will take time, but will eventually phase out the breed. This seems to be the most practical solution.
3 - This doesn't necessarily solve the problem. It only solves the pit bull problem if good ownership stops pit bulls from being aggressive...which well is not a proven point. It would also be the most difficult to administer.
They have a tendency to place the blame on the owners rather than the breed. Those who revile them tend to place the blame squarely on the dogs. The truth, however, lies somewhere in the middle.
Pit bulls have by far more deaths and maimings then any other dog breed. Obviously something within the breed gives them the tendency to be more aggressive. Bad ownership is simply not enough of an excuse for the consistently high number of deaths and maimings by pit bulls over an extended period of time.
So something has to be done. I can see three solutions.
1. Exterminate pit bulls
2. ban the breeding and force all pit bulls to be nurtured or spaded.
3. Highly restrict ownership and breeding
1 - Cannot be done easily. People love their dogs and will not easily give them up--hell they might kill to protect them.
2 - Is something that will take time, but will eventually phase out the breed. This seems to be the most practical solution.
3 - This doesn't necessarily solve the problem. It only solves the pit bull problem if good ownership stops pit bulls from being aggressive...which well is not a proven point. It would also be the most difficult to administer.
Well, riding a motorcycle or driving a sports car makes it more likely I'll become yet another traffic death statistic but, I still want a Harley and a Corvette. Animals are stupid. They don't know any better. If my dog misbehaves, blame me for letting her misbehave. Besides, my dog is a big giant p***y. The worst she'll do is lick you to death.