need input on pitbull
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| I would be VERY concerned about a pitbull that I had no "background" on. I don't necessarily believe that all pitbulls are bad but so many are bred for aggression and protection. By not knowing anything about his parentage or earlier life I would be concerned that you are opening yourself up for problems. Why take the risk? |
| I agree with Ginny. Being that you don't have a background on the dog that could be a big problem. JMO, but I would never bring one into my house. Even if it seemed like the sweetest dog....because they do have a tendency to turn on you. |
| I wouldn't take it in either not knowing it's history or parentage. |
| Hi Bge,
I understand your concern as I'd be in the same mindset as yourself. However, I'd judge the dog on his own merit. Based on what you told us, your daughter and the Humane Society Staff know what a good boy he is. I met a Bully (as they are affectionately called by their owners and not Pitts) just last week at the dog park. The dog was as gentle as could be with Panda and all the others. After years of going to the dog park and viewing the odd scrimage or fight, I have to be honest and say it involved dogs of other breeds and not PB's. It's just if it involves one , people remember. Walking down the street one day when Blue whom was 15 and Merlin, 6 months old at the time, I heard a woman scream from her window. I turned around and saw this dog charging us, teeth bared, running full speed towards us. Gasp we had our backs turned on him originally - shows you how aggressive it was. I placed the dogs behind me and prepared. Anyhow it was so frightening and my yells brought three men running to help but not before the nasty dog had hurt Merlin. IT WASN'T A PB EITHER! If it had been, I'm sure it would have been in the papers. I'm not even going to mention the breed of dog it was as again each dog should be judged on his own merit. There are good and bad in every breed. Bully's are not listed as the list of 10 ten dogs that are known to bite the most frequently, they do get the most press however, as their bites cause a lot of damage. Ironically, it's those big jaws that give them what I consider the most beautiful smiles on the dog planet. When they smile you know it! Sadly because of their reps they wait forever in shelters for a good home such as yours. I can't tell you what to do as that decision is yours and be prepared for the pre-judgement of others. Although what better ambassador to have around a Bully than a sheepdog to show the world they can be as lovable as any other dog. I've listed some GOOD stories about them below..I'd recommend everyone read them. http://www.nbc10.com/news/9365516/detail.html This is one of the most heart warming stories and a must read! http://www.spca.bc.ca/Victoria/dogs/tyson_update.html Good luck with whatever choice you make. Marianne and the boys  |
| http://www.virtualimpax.com/klhh/28931.htm |
| You are always taking a risk getting a dog from a shelter that you don't know anything about. But I agree with Marianne that you should judge the dog by its own merits, he was used at a kids camp! Obviously the shelter staff is comfortable enough with him to let him play with kids... that is huge for any dog in a shelter let alone a pitbull.
I say go for it, but do not let him around children or other dogs unsupervised. These dogs get such a bad rap, they need caring people to help show that they can be wonderful dogs. I have several friends that have either full pits or mixes (all from shelters), and they are some of the sweetest dogs i've ever met! |
| Sorry but I just don't agree. The fact that he has been taken safely around young children as a Puppy doesn't mean alot in my book. Many dogs with aggressive tendencies don't show them until they start to mature. I absolutely believe that every dog should be given a chance but a dog with an unknown history and parentage is a dog for someone with ALOT of experience and knowledge to deal with.
Someone like Marianne, with all her experience and "dog sense" could most likely work wonders with Cujo and this dog could have a chance at a great life. But I guess I'd need to know more about bge's family and how much experience she has with training. I personally would be overwhelmed by the risk and responsibilty presented by such a dog. If you have alot of experience, are willing to put the time into training and don't have young children then it could very well work. But I still say, why take the risk? |
| I would judge it on the dog. If you do take him in, I would make sure to keep him well socialized, to take him to lots of obedience classes, etc. I have heard a lot of terrible things about pit bulls, but many wonderful things, too. I would hope that a sweet affectionate boy at a year of age would continue to be sweet and affectionate with the right environment. Good luck in your decision - I am on the side of trying it out. |
| Hi Again,
Thanks for your confidence in me Ginny.
You know first thing I thought of when I read the post is I wonder what mix he's crossed with? Dr. Stanley Coren, prof at UBC, and author of many books has often referred to what breed trait becomes most dominate in mixes. I was curious regarding this as far back as 16 years or so as Blue is a Blue Heeler/Lab. In his youth he looked more like a Blue Heeler and with the darkening of his coat he more resembles a slender Lab with a mottled coat. Blue Heelers are known to nip ankles , Labs love the water. Blue does neither. He did nip ankles in his younger days but as it was not appropriate he eventually stopped doing it. While he's not afraid of water and likes to spalsh around in it, he never just dives in, unlike both Merlin and Panda. Blue does drool however, if one happens to be eating in front of him, as most labs. Blue Heelers are listed as one of the dogs on the top 10 most dogs likely to bite. Did you know that Westies are the number one? More reported bites from those cute little dogs...seems amazing doesn't it? Terriers too are listed as being a breed that is known for not getting along with other dogs. Tell that to little Yorkie owners! (Terriers fall into something like 200 sub categories) Blue Heeler, Westie, and Terrier owners would be shouting out loud and clear...that's not my dog! I'm one of them in regards to Blue. So again it goes back to viewing each dog on their own merit.
Anyhow, Dr. Stanely Coren if I remember correctly does mention that mixes may have the personality traits of it's own and not necessarily the breeds it's mixed with. He used to say it would pick up the personality trait of the dog breed it most resembled, but think he's changed his opinion about that over the years. I think the breed it most resembles does have something to do with the way people react to the dog. Marianne and the boys |
| What lists are you looking at Marianne? Just curious.... since you mentioned pitbulls are not on them, and blue heelrs and westies are?? I've never seen a list for biters with them on it and not pitbull type dogs?? |
| Here's an interesting site which indicates that the two dogs most likely to kill are Pittbulls and Rotties. I thought it was interesting that "dog bites" are the second most common cause for an ER visit with Children.
http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statist ... kelytobite |
| My sister had a Pitbull-mix... sweet Georgia passed away about 2 years ago. They adopted her from a shelter thinking she was just a "Boxer-mix". They had her for a while then took her to the vet for something and the vet said to her, "You do know you have a pitbull-mix?" My sister was ready to freek because she had two small children then. The vet told her that ANY breed of dog can be mean... it depended upon the individual dog. It turned out that Georgia could be trusted completely with the kids. I remember one time I had stayed overnight and we were all watching a movie... this silly girl climbed up on the couch, kinda flipped around so she was sitting with her back to the back of the couch with her belly exposed, inbetween my sister and me. She wanted me to scratch her tummy... we laughed our heads off. She loved to be loved and always wanted to have her fanny scratched. She was a wonderful dog. She could be confrontational with other dogs that entered her property but became best buddies with the mother-inlaw's Dachshund and later two Boston Terriers that were brought into the home.
I also knew another PB-mix that was not real friendly with strangers. On occasion the dog would get loose in the neighborhood... she was a dog I had to use the "stand tall and show no fear" approach to get her to leave and go home. I was not real fond of this dog. She did get along with other dogs and people that the owner invited on the property. The only other experience I've had with pitbull-mixes was at a puppy class. There were 4 of us in the class... our 2 sheepies and their 2 pb-mixes. A lot of people base their opinions of the breed on the horror stories we've all heard without ever actually knowing one of the good ones. I too am more cautious when I hear "pitbull". I do believe that the owners of these dogs must be able to handle a powerful dog in a humane manner, have secured property and be responsible pet owners. And make certain he's neutered! If you do adopt him, I strongly recommend you enroll yourself, your daughter AND the dog in classes and take the training and socialization as far as you can go. Someone mentioned on another thread going for a good citizenship award. It's an excellent idea. This is a choice you need to make for yourself... if you are in doubt, ask a professional trainer to evaluate the dog first to get another opinion. Also have your vet check the dog out to see how he responds to a stranger's handling. If you are still have doubts, this is probably not a dog for you. I thought these statistics were real eye openers... dogs as a whole can be dangerous. "...In 1994, the most recent year for which published data are available, an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occurred in the United States..." source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5226a1.htm |
| My son had a pb named Sable, she was really very sweet and loving and listened well. That being said, I would let her lick my hands but would never let her near my face like I do my own dogs, that lingering fear was always in the back of my mind. I would be hesitant to take a dog with no known background, especially if young children will be around it. |
I LOVE pitties... 
Everyone I have met has been a sweetheart. But then this is at dog parks, shelters and with rescue people who would have already weeded out the bad ones. I joined the fight against BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) in Ontario and am still steaming over the outcome. All the experts said not to pass it and then it was shoved through anyway. No more pits or mixes allowed in Ontario.  |
| I agree that it depends on the individual dog. This one's age of less than a year old, and having been around children should be in his favor, but.....
When it comes to dogs, they're ALL animals, and capable of acting as one at any given time. When we bring them into our homes we're taking a chance on whether or not something will go wrong. It doesn't matter what breed it is. I guess the same holds true with humans, you never know when one will "snap". 
Good luck. |
| You never know what you are going to get with any animal. Some of it is a matter breeding but a lot of what an animal turns out to be is how they are raised. We could get into a big huge nautre vs. nurture argument but I think that we need to realize that instincts are instincts and we can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the one second that our back is turned is when instinct takes over and something bad happens.
I know several people with pit mixes that are super sweet, super submissive and you would think that they would never purposefully do anything but you never know. You actually never know with any dog but I think that the chance of something bad happening is greater with a dog who was originally bred for fighting. Those dogs are physically made to fight. So even if there is just one episode of biting or fighting, what happens when that jaw locks and you cannot get the dog off? I used to do work for the humane society and helped rehab and place many pits and pit mixes but at this point, I would never place a pit mix with any family that did not have a ton of training or obedience or large fighting type dog experience. This is not a "starter" breed or a breed where there should be any question about whether or not the people who will take the dog are fully capable of training and controlling it. I personally would not want to take the chance with the liability associated with this breed. It would make me way too worried about what could happen. I don't mean with bites, any dog can bite or attack but what happens if they do bite and you cannot get them to release? This kind of question never even crossed my mind until Carl got attacked. As trained and aware as all of us were, when that pit attacked Carl we COULD NOT get him off of him. All of the old tricks didn't work! What if that had been a smaller dog or a child? Carl was lucky to make it out of there with some puncture wounds and a new bout of nerves. This owner said that his dog was sweet and never did anything like this before. Well guess what, he can't claim that anymore!  |
| I would make sure you watched the dog carefully of course. If he is a sweetie then that's great.
I guess it really depends on his facial stucture if you are worried about a bite - those can be really nasty. I think the biggest thing I would be worried about is seizures - which can mess up a dogs ability to recognize you for a bit. I bring this up because my cousin has a dog who went through one last year. I guess he forgot her completely for a moment because he growled at her and lunged at her. She only made it out because she was close to a open door and slammed it on him. When he came to - he was the sweet dog he always was - but my cousin always remember that time he growled at her and tried to jump up and attack her face. Her doctor said that most dogs go through a seizure at least once in their lives - but most of the time their doggy parents are at work when it happens so nothing comes of it. That's just something to think about I suppose. Even sweet dogs can have a problem and lash out. In the end if you don't feel comfortable with the dog then I wouldn't keep him. It's not fair to him if someone in his family doesn't trust him or like him - and it doesn't make you a bad person not to want him - it would only bad to keep him if you didn't. |
| Hi:
I would listen to the folks at the humane society. They are the one who have been around him and who have the best idea of his personality. And, they do not (or should not) have any interest in placing a "biter". If you are still concerned, have the dog evaluated by a behaviorist or a dog trainer. Should you decide to adopt this sweetie, make sure that he goes to an obedience class. By the way - I do have some experience with PB crosses - my sister adopted one three years ago. My sister found a dog trainer that would allow her to take her two young sons (ages 3 and 7) to class and train them how to handle the dog, named Sheba, also. Sheba is a great dog that is well trained and much loved by the family. But, like any rescue dog, they had to invest a fair amount of work to bring her to this point. Jennifer, Baxer, Cassiopia and Sharkey |
| I found some interesting reading.
http://www.lawdogsusa.org/ The following site has TONS of information on it. On the left hand side of the home page there is a button for "Sad Reality". If you click on this button you will go to pictures that are very graphic and very sad, so don't go there unless you are strong. http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/pospress.php Enjoy! |
| bge, Unfortunately the media has made a mess of this breed, focusing on just the bad. You rarely hear of the great things they do such as the boy who was saved from 2 Akitas attacking by a pitbull who fended them off. Or the family who's rescued pit saved them from a house fire. There are many others too but not put in the media. Having had many pits and pit mixes I have had very little problem with the breed itself. EDUCATE yourself and research but not just the negative issues also read sites and books that are neutral on the breed. I fell in love with the breed about 10 yrs ago when I found a young female pit mix about 1 yr old who was dumped along the highway. Lucky for her I came along or she would have been hit. She was very skinny and had sores all over her. I'm sure she was abused. She feared men and didn't do well with other dogs but that didn't last long. I did lots and lots of reading and talking/emailing people who had or have had pits etc. Training and education are keys with any animal and most can be loving, sweet companions. Not knowing ANY dogs back ground can be a problem but you can't single out a specific "breed". She lived to see her 14th birthday and her favorite buddy in my house was our grouchy barn cat that we rescued. This cat was not friendly and wouldn't allow anyone or even our other pets near him except highway, that's what we named her. Over the years we have taken in many stray and abandoned pit/pit mixes, yes we have had a few that we couldn't turn around and that was sad but most times with proper training you can have a wonderful sweet pet. My Aunt has a doxie that I wouldnt be in a room alone with. She is just 2 and will snap at your face if you get close and on more than one occasion has snapped at my hand. This was NOT a pit but a little cute looking lap dog. So why don't we hear about the many small dogs that go on biting. Most times they arent reported. So I ask you to please educate yourself then decide. Good luck! |
| Thanks Bosleys mom sor your positive post... my current pits name is Bosley. He is a pit boxer mix and the biggest lush you ever met.
Take a look ay my Bos! 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michigangal45/370356685/ http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/pospress.html |
Bosley's beautiful! Thank you for your post. I am not a pit bull owner but I try to never judge a dog by breed. I think a lot of dog behavior is shaped by their owners so they are the ones to blame! I like to hear the positive pit stuff because I know it exists-- it's just not an interesting a news story as a dog killing someone.  |
| michigangal43-
I checked out your links - the 2nd one for pitbullsontheweb - lists a dog on the top of the link as getting it's CGC, and then goes on to say it "became a registered therapy dog at only 9 months old". I would like to know what organization the so called therapy dog is with. I am an evaluator with Therapy Dogs International, and have been working with this group for 20 years. I know for a fact that a dog may not test until it is at least 1 year old. Delta Society has the same one year rule for dogs also. Needeless to say - based on the opening statement on the website -I am doubting the credibility of that site. BTW - I have nothing against pit bills. We had one as a member of our therapy dog chapter and she was a great PB ambassador and changed many people's opinions about them. |
I agree with a lot of what has been said already, and I think most bases have been covered, but Ill toss my 2 cents in as well..I grew up with bulls, and I ADORE them, but...For myself, personally I chose not to have one as an adult...NOT because of aggression concerns, but because they really require a strong, firm, consistent owner (Im consistent, just not always firm  ) I think that what may make or break this adoption is the experience and personality of the new owner! I hope it works out, good luck! |
| I think the most likely to bite, and dogs known to kill when they bite are two different lists... I'm only saying this because I remember seeing a list from a government type site (can't remember, was posted on another forum and I may have posted it here), and being surprised until I read their "reasoning."
This may be what she saw? I've grown a fear for pitbulls, and I can be rude to owners who innocently bring their dog close to play with Yuki. They don't deserve it, but I don't feel comfortable AT ALL with them, no matter how much you swear to me they're gentle... |
| Never met a pitbull I liked!! |
bge wrote: I need some input here. My daughter found this dog (under a year old) at the one humane shelter. Has anyone ouwned a pitbull mix? I was against even considering him because of his breed but my daughter convinced me and to my surprise he is a sweetie. We Had Abby along and tried them together and they played like best buds. He was not over aggressive and if you wanted them to stop they did right away. The shelter used him at a kids camp even though they must not put him in a houshold with children under 12 (because of insurace reasons) I'm just not sold. The breed is what scares me. If he was not pitbull I would get him in a heartbeat. Maybe I watch to much animal planet with the dogfighting thing thay find and they are always pitbulls |
| i have a blueheeler pit bull mix she is the best dog i got her when she was two from a BAD home it did not look good at the start {pooping on the flour no leash skills} but with some work it is now all a ok she is timid with other dogs and some men [she had been hit] i did have to move from an aprt to a house with a big yard she needs to run every day i did not want a pit bull mix at the time but as it worked out i would not change a thing |
| I do not think Louisville shelters adopt out pitbulls, if found in the streets they are euthenized. The several people and children who have been killed/seriously injured by a dog have been pitbulls. I know several people who love their pitbulls, but they cannot be around other dogs! Personally, I have never owned an aggressive or alpha dog and prefer not to, BUT, dogs are dogs and I reckon can turn at anytime. Patch, for over 7 years, has been a live-and-let-live dog and I like that. |
| I guess I've been REALLY fortunate; all the pit and pit-mixes I have met have been VERY sweet dogs. When you think about aggressive dogs and dogs that bite; remember that ALL dogs can bite, all can be aggressive and most large dogs can kill. Why not take this pit mix to an aggression specific trainer for an evaluation or a temperment test, to put your mind to rest? I'd own a pit or a pit mix in a heart beat; and two of Tonks and Luna's favorite dog park friends are pit-mixes. I'd say judge the dog for the dog, and don't let societal perceptions sway your decision making. |
Sheepie2 wrote: I do not think Louisville shelters adopt out pitbulls, if found in the streets they are euthenized.
Chicago is mostly the same way, although many shelters are starting to come around. Now they adopt out "ambassadors of the breed" and pick the pitbulls that are wonderful, well tempered dogs. As far as dog bites/maulings, Petfinder did a study recently and found that if a bite is by a pitbull the media almost always reports that, whereas if it's by another breed of dog they often leave it out. Additionally, there is no centralized dog bite reporting agency in the US. Because of this we should all be very wary of any dog bite statistics out there. I've done a lot of research on breed specific legislation the past 2 years and the past 4 years have worked with a lot of pitbulls in rescue. I've fostered 3 pitbulls, and I think it's kind of ironic that the reason I wouldn't want to adopt is because I find them to be too affectionate |
| Heather, the irony is that although dog aggression/high prey drive is probably somewhat hardwired into most of the bully breeds (there's no such thing as a universal "pitbull" breed per se, though the UKC registers what is known as the American Pit Bull Terrier, while the AKC registers the genetically similar American Staffordshire Terrier as well as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and there are other bully breeds as well such as the American Bulldog, all mish-mashed under the misleading term "pit bull", most shelter dogs labeled as "pits" are probably mixes of lord only knows what and many have ended up dead based on nothing but their resemblance to a certain breed type), at the same time there was a very strong selection for dogs in the true bully breeds that would never think about putting teeth on a human. Why? Because you had to be able to separate/handle the dogs. So properly bred bully breeds have actually had a more stringent selection process for human friendlieness than our own breed, which when improperly bred often has a pretty awful (and incorrect) temperament that should feature on any bite list according to many vets and groomers. Dogs should be assessed and evaluated based on their individual temperaments, not stereotypes.
Serious dog people have known for many, many years that bite statistics were misleading and being misused and that the media sensationalizes the misdeeds of dogs of certain breed types while mostly ignoring others. Nothing new there. Shelters have been the number one killer of these types of dogs, fueled by their deepseated ignorance and supported by the HSUS which seems hellbent on perpetuating and capitalizing on their unfortunate reputation and bringing about their extermination. Sad and very disturbing. I don't see too many true Am Staffs, but the Staffy bulls are fairly well represented in the performance community and typically wonderfully athletic, sweet, smart dogs. A well bred staffy is generally fabulous with children and adults alike, and fine with other dogs if purchased from a reputable breeder and socialized well from puppyhood onward. Mad grew up playing with a staffy in her agility class and the same owner has a wellbred APBT now that has some kind of mutual adoration society thing going with Sybil. Most border collies should be so sweet and dog friendly. Not that you'd know it to listen to media hype. Kristine |
| I've only personally known a few pitbulls and they are dog aggressive - I keep my distance from them when I have Patch. This one I know was raised from a puppy in average family surroundings and it is so mean and aggressive it can only be in one room of the house with the owner - she cannot be out of sight nor roam the house. she went through the screen door to attack a woman and her little dog who were walking past their house. i cannot stand the dog because of its vicious nature. |
Sheepie2 wrote: I've only personally known a few pitbulls and they are dog aggressive - I keep my distance from them when I have Patch. This one I know was raised from a puppy in average family surroundings and it is so mean and aggressive it can only be in one room of the house with the owner - she cannot be out of sight nor roam the house. she went through the screen door to attack a woman and her little dog who were walking past their house. i cannot stand the dog because of its vicious nature.
Interesting. Have you by chance asked what breed/mix it is? Since pit bull is not a breed, it would be interesting to know what genetically went into this dog, though often in these cases we never know for sure. A very dog experienced friend of mine had what looked to be a bully breed/lab mix, though who can say for sure what mix she was, that she adopted from a shelter as a young puppy who had to be put down by age 4 due to unmanagable dog aggression. She would be fine for periods of a time and then something would set her off and it was almost like a switch would flip. She spent years working with a behaviorist, tried medicating her, careful management, nothing worked. So it's very clear there are dogs who are genetically not wired right. Mind you, I've seen the same thing in OES, and it can probably be found in most breeds. NYS OES rescue went through a period a bit over a decade ago when they had to euthanize a series of young owner surrendered human aggressive dogs, all closely related, who simply could not safely be rehabilitated/placed. That doesn't mean all OES are aggressive, of course. But if those dogs were all one ever encountered, one would be excused for thinking otherwise. I've lost count of how many vets, groomers and dog trainers have told me over the years they're shocked my OES are so sweet. Most of the OES they've encountered have been just plain nasty. Consequently they don't have a very high opinion of the breed. Yet most of us know differently and I think we'd be devastated if shelters routinely euthanized any OES that was surrendered based on that reputation alone. Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: I've lost count of how many vets, groomers and dog trainers have told me over the years they're shocked my OES are so sweet. Most of the OES they've encountered have been just plain nasty. Consequently they don't have a very high opinion of the breed. Yet most of us know differently and I think we'd be devastated if shelters routinely euthanized any OES that was surrendered based on that reputation alone.
Kristine Couldn't agree more. My vet is another good example. His opionon of OES was the same until he met mine. One day he even told me that of the other six clients he had, he'd have put down 5 of the 6 OES if asked! The 6th one he said he was giving the benefit of the doubt because the owner was really concientious about strict obedience training with it & he felt it had a chance! I'm just shaking my head because ALL of mine have been very sweet. Isaac is the one that really convinced him. He rants & raves about his laid back personality all the time. He's referred people to me that are intersted in the breed because of him too. I felt the same way about Rottweilers for a long time. And my vet is a Rottweiler breeder............imported dogs from Germany for his lines. But one day I was standing at the vet's counter paying a bill with my very 1st OES. In came a lady with a 9 month old Rottweiler puppy (actually pretty good sized dog at the time) & she either had no control of the dog or wasn't expecting it to take off on her. The thing walked thru the door, took 1 look at my OES (in full coat thank heavens) & proceeded to bite her in 5 places before any of us could react! 3 times on the right ear flap & 2 places in the neck! Wasn't one out of my vet's lines but he appologized profusely for the attack. Plain & simple..........he had told the lady if she really wanted this breed she should have bought from a reputable breeder & then still been prepared to be consistent in strict obedience traing with it because they were VERY powerful dogs. Good dogs once they knew who was in charge & found their place but none the less, powerful. It was years before I'd even go close to a Rottweiler at a show. Since then I have gotten to know many & 2 in particular who are just the sweetest things I've ever known. I think a lot of it just boils down to owners always being aware of their dog while in public. Most just flat out don't. I've lost count of how many times even at a dog show I am trying to get from point A to point B with one of my dogs & an owner has their dog on a lead, it is behind their back while they converse with someone else & the dog has a radius of 6 feet (length of the lead) to roam!  |
| I love dogs, and most dogs like me - it is rare that a dog isn't friends with me immediately. but for the life of me I cannot understand people who embrace a vicious dog. This family I know with the pitbull, and supposedly it is a full bred Staff, are steadfast on keeping this killer dog. It has attacked people and other animals including their own in the house - they have spent hundreds, and probably thousands, on injury-related vet visits. another dog of theirs is aggressive probably because of this one aggressive dog. it just doesn't make sense to me to be constantly on guard with this pitbull. i understand dogs who have aggression-based food guarding or toy guarding or guarding their bed, but this dog is full time vicious. she scares me to death. |
ChSheepdogs wrote: I felt the same way about Rottweilers for a long time. And my vet is a Rottweiler breeder............imported dogs from Germany for his lines.
You know, that's really interesting. My first encounter with a rottweiler was this incredible young intact bitch in Norway, She used to come to the stable where I took riding lessons. Her temperament was first rate, she was exquisitely trained, just the most wonderful dog imaginable. To this day I can't see a well bred, althetic and well conditioned rottie and not think fond thoughts of her, probably 30 years later. Later when I came to the US and heard all of these terrible things about rotties I thought, well, maybe the Europeans just breed better dogs. Then again, unlike you I've never encountered a rottie here either that wasn't first rate in the temperament department. But I mainly encounter them in agility and obedience. Still, thanks to that magnificent bitch my gut instinct has always been, it's not the breed. First impressions really stick with you, the good and the bad. Kristine |
HeatherRWM wrote: As far as dog bites/maulings, Petfinder did a study recently and found that if a bite is by a pitbull the media almost always reports that, whereas if it's by another breed of dog they often leave it out. Additionally, there is no centralized dog bite reporting agency in the US. Because of this we should all be very wary of any dog bite statistics out there. I hear this and others cite similar theories, but to that I counter there is a huge difference when a Chihuahua or Cocker Spaniel attacks and when a Pitt attacks. Few breeds have the power behind the jaws coupled with the stability issues of the various "bull" breeds/mixes. Most other attacks aren't reported because they aren't maulings. My son was attacked by a Great Dane/Pointer mix. Big strong dog and scary as heck but if it had been a Pitt, I imagine he would have lost his arm, at least. Sure individually there are some wonderful pitts out there. Unfortunately there are more who aren't due to abuse, inbreeding or neglect, and because of that, I'm unwilling to risk my family and pets' safety. I've known one Pitt who was gentle as a lamb, too. But I also knew the power he had if he chose to use it. |
| As Kristine has mentioned a few times, pitbull is not a breed of dog but rather a term that encompasses three similar breeds (American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier).
Here's a fun link to see if you can find the "pitbull": http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html |
HeatherRWM wrote: Here's a fun link to see if you can find the "pitbull":
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html Yes, and don't ask me how badly I score on this test and I live and breathe dogs
Also, they do not have supercanine bite pressure, nor do their jaws "lock" and sleeping with garlic will not keep them away. Oh, wait, never mind the last part 
Kristine |
| Timely.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009 ... s-actions/ Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote:
That was a great article. My sister used to have a pit bull mix. She was the smartest dog I've ever known. And she knew how to make her point made. Once, my mother was watching her and she ticked her off somehow. We found out she was mad because she took the biggest poo on my mom's bed - right in the middle. |
| All you really need to do is provide firm training. Heelers are loving dogs but need to be socialized and worked with. Both breeds are very trainable but they are a bully breed and a firm hand is needed to let them know you are in charge. |
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