Pit Bulls are not ALL bad!

[skydivr]

I'm sorry, I don't agree. There are a few breeds of dogs (Pits/Rots/Dobies) who have a greater amount of the 'attack' instinct than others, and I am not willing to risk my child's (or another's) on the faith that something innocuous won't 'trigger' that instinct. A scream, a flutter, anything. They don't warn, they just GO. All of these dogs are so strong and big enough to fight off a adult human; a child doesn't have a chance. I'll never have a dog big enough that I can't kill/hurt it with my bare hands if I had to in order to keep it off a child. There are too many stories of "but, my dog was harmless!" when it attacked someone.

My neighbors have a Rot, her chest is as big as mine and solid muscle. They think that dog is harmless, but I'll NEVER trust it. I could not beat that dog down if it attacked my daughter. I think they've realized they can't keep it and have found another home.

My grandmother had 3 dobies, and I'd played with them since they were puppies (and so had my mom who had cared for them). One day, she was petting one, when the dog nochalantly without warning tried to take her finger off, her engagement ring is the only thing that stopped the bite.

 

[kromdom]

Shannon,
Is the little black-and-tan a Min Pin or Chihuahua? Pretty slick with getting tucked in

 

[schroetf]

i wouldn't have a lion either--

 

[jdsbusa]

I'm sorry, I don't agree. There are a few breeds of dogs (Pits/Rots/Dobies) who have a greater amount of the 'attack' instinct than others, and I am not willing to risk my child's (or another's) on the faith that something innocuous won't 'trigger' that instinct. A scream, a flutter, anything. They don't warn, they just GO. All of these dogs are so strong and big enough to fight off a adult human; a child doesn't have a chance. I'll never have a dog big enough that I can't kill/hurt it with my bare hands if I had to in order to keep it off a child. There are too many stories of "but, my dog was harmless!" when it attacked someone.

My neighbors have a Rot, her chest is as big as mine and solid muscle. They think that dog is harmless, but I'll NEVER trust it. I could not beat that dog down if it attacked my daughter. I think they've realized they can't keep it and have found another home.

My grandmother had 3 dobies, and I'd played with them since they were puppies (and so had my mom who had cared for them). One day, she was petting one, when the dog nochalantly without warning tried to take her finger off, her engagement ring is the only thing that stopped the bite.

I'm in the same boat as Keith. My backyard neighbor has a pit - a HUGE pit. I've already warned the kids to keep their distance for 2 reasons. 1. I have no knowledge of how this animal has been or is treated and 2. if the dog gets hold of them, well let's just say my stomach turns even thinking about what may result. The dog has charged the fence several times as I mow my yard so I already feel he's just a bit on the edge for my taste. His owners are nice people and play with him and he seems fine with them, but he's quite aggressive towards me and has also charged one of my sons friends when he got within 5 feet of the fence (and it's not a friendly charge - you can see a dogs demeanor on their face and posture). Now I'm not one of those "put all pits down" but I'm also not one that feels these dogs are a great breed to have around people. They simply do far too much damage if they decide to bite. There's too many other great breeds out there for me to ever even consider something like a pit as a pet. Our pug suits my kids just fine, she plays with them a ton and play bites at their toes but her tiny teeth would be lucky to break a water balloon let alone skin (she's a runt and never really grew up so she's kind of a mini-pug). Your dogs are nice looking, just not my taste and not something due to their capabilities that I could ever trust with my family.

 

[skydivr]

I'm in the same boat as Keith. My backyard neighbor has a pit - a HUGE pit. I've already warned the kids to keep their distance for 2 reasons. 1. I have no knowledge of how this animal has been or is treated and 2. if the dog gets hold of them, well let's just say my stomach turns even thinking about what may result. The dog has charged the fence several times as I mow my yard so I already feel he's just a bit on the edge for my taste. His owners are nice people and play with him and he seems fine with them, but he's quite aggressive towards me and has also charged one of my sons friends when he got within 5 feet of the fence (and it's not a friendly charge - you can see a dogs demeanor on their face and posture). Now I'm not one of those "put all pits down" but I'm also not one that feels these dogs are a great breed to have around people. They simply do far too much damage if they decide to bite. There's too many other great breeds out there for me to ever even consider something like a pit as a pet. Our pug suits my kids just fine, she plays with them a ton and play bites at their toes but her tiny teeth would be lucky to break a water balloon let alone skin (she's a runt and never really grew up so she's kind of a mini-pug). Your dogs are nice looking, just not my taste and not something due to their capabilities that I could ever trust with my family.

What do your neighbors say when you discuss with them your fears? A dog CHARGING is a dog that is ready to ATTACK if the circumstances are right. Let me guess - "he's a sweetie that would never harm anyone" - right?

The problem is, that if that dog harms your child, there is NOTHING they can ever do to make up for it - you could kill the dog, you could sue, but NOTHING would ever be able to make it up to what that dog would do to your child. Just NOT WORTH IT. I'd keep a shotgun handy just in case...

 

[jdsbusa]

What do your neighbors say when you discuss with them your fears? A dog CHARGING is a dog that is ready to ATTACK if the circumstances are right. Let me guess - "he's a sweetie that would never harm anyone" - right?

The problem is, that if that dog harms your child, there is NOTHING they can ever do to make up for it - you could kill the dog, you could sue, but NOTHING would ever be able to make it up to what that dog would do to your child. Just NOT WORTH IT. I'd keep a shotgun handy just in case...

Honestly Keith, I've never spoken with them. They're not out much. I've seen them play with the dog maybe a half dozen times when no one else is around (they seem kind of anti-social). I'm sure they'd tell me he's harmless and deny that he charges the fence as most people tend to defend their pets as one of their children. I feel otherwise and I'll stick with my gut instinct before I take anyone's word - time has proven I have a pretty good gut feel for things. There's also a mix wolf breed that roams the neighborhood from time to time. I've run him off more than once already. He scares the bejeezers out of me as he is huge! Don't know if he's half mastiff or what, but the wolf part is obvious. I see his owners running around on their cells looking for the dog and usually holler at them to quit letting him out and tell them where he ran off to. They're not the brightest bunch apparently - letting a 150lb dog out in the front yard w/ no fence and he's half wild anyway - what do they expect he's going to do?

 

[Mr Brown]

There are a few breeds of dogs (Pits/Rots/Dobies) who have a greater amount of the 'attack' instinct than others,

Sorry, this is simply false. Not discounting the experiences you have related, and caution is always advised if there is doubt, but the dogs you call pits are not, nor ever have been bred for guarding people or property. Rotts and Dobies sure, but not the Bully breeds. Their instinct is animal aggression, which is different. Small children can however be mistaken by them for animals, with sometimes tragic results. All breeds of dog will bite humans, but the Bully breeds are quite low on the list of biters. Granted the damage done by a large dog is worse, but a damn Dalmatian or Lab will take a chunk outta your hind end also if they so desire....

 

[trojan2k]

What do your neighbors say when you discuss with them your fears? A dog CHARGING is a dog that is ready to ATTACK if the circumstances are right. Let me guess - "he's a sweetie that would never harm anyone" - right?

The problem is, that if that dog harms your child, there is NOTHING they can ever do to make up for it - you could kill the dog, you could sue, but NOTHING would ever be able to make it up to what that dog would do to your child. Just NOT WORTH IT. I'd keep a shotgun handy just in case...

I would definitley have a talk with my neighbors. I love Pitbulls, but charging the fence isn't a good thing. I don't even like when mine stands there and barks.
As for the people that think their dogs are harmless, like said above, need to realize that any dog you decide to own, Pit or other, is a liability. Whatever happens to somebody else as a result of your dogs behavior is legally on you.

 

[jdsbusa]

I would definitley have a talk with my neighbors. I love Pitbulls, but charging the fence isn't a good thing. I don't even like when mine stands there and barks.
As for the people that think their dogs are harmless, like said above, need to realize that any dog you decide to own, Pit or other, is a liability. Whatever happens to somebody else as a result of your dogs behavior is legally on you.

Well like I said, they're kinda anti-social. I never see them out unless no one is around and when someone does come out they seem to scurry in real quick. They're normal looking, just odd acting. I'm not about to go knocking on their front door knowing their dog is inside and if they open the front door they may not be able to control him. The fence keeps him at bay, but an open front door wont do squat.

 

[Phil96]

Sure they are sweet, well brought up and behaved. Just makes me nervous seeing
dogs that potentially dangerous around youngsters.

 

[Mr Brown]

Sure they are sweet, well brought up and behaved. Just makes me nervous seeing
dogs that potentially dangerous around youngsters.

ALL big dogs are potentially dangerous, not just Pits, or bully breeds. They are no more or less potentially dangerous than any other breed. That is the point of the argument we responsible owners are making.
It's like a loaded gun, or a fast bike. In the correct hands they are fine. In the wrong hands they can be fatal.

 

[Acehole]

You actually managed to keep your mouth shut and walk on? I wouldn't have!

 

[ibified]

jdsbusa: if hes 150 lbs, I assure you he isnt a pit bull. Huge for a pitbull would be slightly under HALF that, with most pit bulls falling between 50 and 60 lbs.

 

[jdsbusa]

jdsbusa: if hes 150 lbs, I assure you he isnt a pit bull. Huge for a pitbull would be slightly under HALF that, with most pit bulls falling between 50 and 60 lbs.

You misread ibified - the wolf mix that's out roaming far too much is 150. He's a freaking monster. The pit himself is huge - built like a brickhouse in the chest but nowhere near the height/size of the wolf mix. The pit "looks" to be a solid 70lbs, not sure but I'm not gonna lift him up and check for ya.

 

[ibified]

Sorry I misread that. I hear about people being mauled by "120 lb pit bulls" too much, i guess.

The dog responsible for the most bites in this country is, by far, the....



























Cocker Spaniel. Not kidding.

 

[skydivr]

Mr. Brown, it's that part about "small children" that I'm most worried about.

For the sake of arguement, I'll agree that a pit bull is not more likely to bite than any other big dog. Then, I'll modify my statement. Having a big dog that can take out a human is like having a loaded gun in your coat pocket 10 ft away with the safety off and children within 5 ft....Something deadly could happen before you could do anything about it and you can't take it back....

 

[Mr Brown]

Mr. Brown, it's that part about "small children" that I'm most worried about.

For the sake of arguement, I'll agree that a pit bull is not more likely to bite than any other big dog. Then, I'll modify my statement. Having a big dog that can take out a human is like having a loaded gun in your coat pocket 10 ft away with the safety off and children within 5 ft....Something deadly could happen before you could do anything about it and you can't take it back....

I agree completely. That is where the responsible ownership part comes in. My last dog would and did bite. Knowing that, he was kept away from people he did not know, and instructions were given to people he did. Nobody walked into my house without knocking. He was extremely protective of all my family, which was how I raised him to be. Had he bitten somebody that hadn't deserved it, it would have been my fault entirely.

 

[blownws6]

I love my american pit bull terrier

 

[skydivr]

Had he bitten somebody that hadn't deserved it, it would have been my fault entirely.

Which would be too late. Think how would you feel if your child was attacked and maybe killed or permanently disfigured. My dachshund has the heart of a lion, and would bite if aggravated, but he probably can't kill anyone.

Getting a little off the subject of the thread admittedly.

 

[dogman]

The old time pit men did not want there dogs to bite humans as when they broke the pits up from fighting they wanted to be able to reach right in and separate the dogs..Not get bit by them..The owners are the most cause of these problems with the dogs..Like Mr.Brown I like dogs and trust them more than most people..