Pit-bulls - I Just Don't Get It.

[EVO8Gold]

After the most recent attack by a Pit-bull (Pit-bull Cross) recently in Melbourne I have done some reading on this breed. What is clearly evident is that these dogs instinctively fight. This has been bred into them over many generations. There have certainly been many instances over the years where animals that seem to be well balanced and have been maintained in a stable and well managed environment all of a sudden snap and the result is either injured people or other animals. Even when reviewing the breed characteristics from this rescue site in the USA, there are aspects of their personality I find alarming and certainly not conducive to life in a normal suburban environment. http://www.pbrc.net/breedinfo.html.

How many times have we been told by the owner of a dog that has attached that it was a warm loving animal that was good with the kids until ................

Over the years I have owned a Boxer, a Dachshund. an Irish setter, two English Cocker Spaniels, a Basenji, a Golden Retriever and 2 Curly Coated retrievers. As such I have some experience with dogs but no experience with dogs of this nature.

Personally, when considering the number of wonderful dog breeds available and what I am hoping to gain from dog ownership, I would never consider Pit-bull ownership.

I realise that individuals such as drug dealers like this breed as it helps maintain their privacy and also the ownership of animals of this temperament appeal to their thuggish nature.

What I cannot understand I why someone would take the risk and introduce an animal of this nature to a young family or keep it in a normal urban environment?

[GeckoTree]

Dunno what appeals to any breed ownership,

Qualities and traits.

Dingoes appeal to me. Some like them some don't.

[persephone]

Pit bulls appeal to me I would never own one ... same as I would never own an F1 car `- too much for me ..but I can still admire them and enjoy what they do ;)

[Bjelkier]

Why do the breeds you have owned appeal to you?

We all have different ideas of what we want from a dog. Personally I am a fan of the spitz but my head is always turned by a well bred, well muscled Bull breed, they are truely a sight to behold.

After owning a ABPT I would happily have another and I would have no issue having one with children because I do not believe that they are mindless killing machines.

[Weasels]

After the most recent attack by a Pit-bull (Pit-bull Cross) recently in Melbourne I have done some reading on this breed. What is clearly evident is that these dogs instinctively fight. This has been bred into them over many generations. There have certainly been many instances over the years where animals that seem to be well balanced and have been maintained in a stable and well managed environment all of a sudden snap and the result is either injured people or other animals. Even when reviewing the breed characteristics from this rescue site in the USA, there are aspects of their personality I find alarming and certainly not conducive to life in a normal suburban environment.....

I'm not drawn to bull breeds myself so I couldn't say. BUT in my own brain I can't even conceive of how people could not like dogs in general, or my fav breeds specifically, so I'm sure other people have this emotional blind-spot too where they just see a loyal loving friend rather than a fighting machine

Dingoes appeal to me. Some like them some don't.

This I don't really get tho. We have spent tens of thousands of years creating dogs that are biddable, friendly and attached to humans, then people who get dingoes as pets just decied this wasn't worth the trouble (?). Even most indigenous Australian groups ditched dingoes pretty quick once they saw the advantages of domestic dogs. I like dingoes plenty as wild animals, but I like my pets to be.... well, pets.

[RallyValley]

Yes in the list of breeds you named there is only one I would actually own. Everybody has different tastes.

[poodlefan]

Personally, when considering the number of wonderful dog breeds available and what I am hoping to gain from dog ownership, I would never consider Pit-bull ownership.

I realise that individuals such as drug dealers like this breed as it helps maintain their privacy and also the ownership of animals of this temperament appeal to their thuggish nature.

What I cannot understand I why someone would take the risk and introduce an animal of this nature to a young family or keep it in a normal urban environment?

The number one breed featured in dog bites in the ACT is now the Golden Retriever. Based on that fact in isolation, we'd ban them too. Why would anyone want to introduce an animal like that to a young family??? I'm not serious of course but viewing facts in isolation from others can be a dangerous thing.

Do some more reading. I suggest you start with the research that shows that banning the APBT does not make urban environments safer.

Problem dogs are created.. via neglect, ignorance, and in the case of children, failure to knowledgeably and responsibly supervise.

Beyond that, I don't see why personal dislikes and likes should determine what breeds folks own. You don't have to "get it". You should be concerned about what's happening because it may not stop there.

Edited August 30, 2011 by poodlefan

[GeckoTree]

Yes weasels, those who have the licence keep as their own to help ensure the purity. People just don't need to know the why's or what fores, just acceptance that they are stewards.

[persephone]

I realise that individuals such as drug dealers like this breed as it helps maintain their privacy and also the ownership of animals of this temperament appeal to their thuggish nature.

I'll tell that to a friend who has two little girls ..and a muscly dog who is the biggest sook ever ;)

[loveretrievers]

I adore retrievers and german shepherds. I find many breeds attractive and love seeing them but they are not for me. I grew up around a pit bull named mandy. It was never an issue, I didn't live with her, was my aunts dog. She was actually very loving and gentle. Never for a moment was she scary. Should I consider myself lucky I got out alive?

I do know their chi was certainly one to worry about, she would take a finger, she hated anyone not in the family. I seen my moms chow snap one day and leap at my little cousin for no reason other than he was there. I had a aunt that had a dally that bit a family friend in the face one night when he was over for a visit.

You shouldn't judge the breed because of media and what it was previously used for. Sure most people who buy them for fighting and protection they are going to do just that. Will would kill given the chance. They have also made wonderful pets. Would I own one? NO. Im not into bull breeds.

edited to say they shouldn't be owned by just anyone but that goes for most breeds.

Edited August 30, 2011 by loveretrievers

[Weasels]

Yes weasels, those who have the licence keep as their own to help ensure the purity. People just don't need to know the why's or what fores, just acceptance that they are stewards.

That's fine. I'm pretty sure we don't need permits in WA and we have at least 5 in my suburb. I've had to chase one down on the beach and return him to his owners because once they're gone - they're gone. Very independent little mites, and keeping & breeding them to maintain lines is different from Johnny random deciding they're 'cool'.

(ETA: and taking on a more difficult breed than they can handle. Just like unsocialised pitbulls! I guess I wasn't so off topic after all :D )

Edited August 30, 2011 by Weasels

[ncarter]

have you got a link to some Australian bite statistics poodlefan?

[casowner]

The number one breed featured in dog bites in the ACT is now the Golden Retriever. Based on that fact in isolation, we'd ban them too. Why would anyone want to introduce an animal like that to a young family??? I'm not serious of course but viewing facts in isolation from others can be a dangerous thing.

The other morning we came across a young goldie (6-8 months old at a guess) harassing a ewe and lamb, I was very brave and got out of the car to stop it from escalating. The creature charged at me and jumped over the fence and then pounced on me smothering me with licks and muddy paw prints. I put him in the car, well he knocked me over to jump in the car and found the property where he came from a 1km or so away. It was interesting as my partner asked if I would be so keen to jump out of the car (knowing my kids were in there) if it was a bull breed and I am still am not sure how I would have reacted. I would have done something but not sure if I would have been so quick to react. Saying that though the most HA dog I have ever met was a young entire goldie that a work mate owned that he had on breeders terms, I still shudder at that one. The second most nasty one was a CKCS that belonged to an old Groomer boss of mine, monstrous little creature

Saying that I adore staffords or as I like to call them wombats on steroids, I have never met a pure stafford that I haven't liked - lots of cross breeds yes but no pure breds. I remember we had 2 Am Staff brothers Domino and Harley and a Stafford bitch Chelsea that were training as Hearing Dogs when I first started there. Whoever thought it was a good idea to train an AmStaff to run and throw themselves onto a person and train them with a food reward must have been crazy. Chelsea passed (darling girl) but the boys were pet homed due to "over enthusiam while working"

Edited August 30, 2011 by casowner

[WreckitWhippet]

I dunno but Cavs shit me to tears, I can't stand Cattle Dogs but there must be something appealing about them, as their owners love and treasure them. The same can be said for cross bred mutts but each to their own and I don;t care what people find appealing and choose to own, providing they are responsible owners and meet the dogs needs.

[dogbesotted]

well i love dogs... the little ones not quite so much as the larger breeds..

i have owned: labradors, cocker spaniels, mutts, cattle dogs, german shepherds, maremmas ( and still do) hungarian vizla. and staffies American pitbulls.

when my last apdt ( jake) died i was not able tolegally have another so i dont have one. The problem with breed bans is that it places a breed predominantly in the hands of the irresponsible and stupid .. those who see the breed as macho or whatever.. and thus perpetrates a grave injustice on the dogs. It is canine racism judging an entier ethnic population on the actions of a few. it is as some say a dog holocaust..

H

[B-Q]

I was thinking about this just the other day actually. Why people think we should have pitbulls because "why would someone want that when there are "better" breeds?"

There are lots of breeds that don't appeal to me, spitz breeds, scent founds and terrier come to mind staright up.

There are mountains of breeds that I don't see the appeal but that people that have them adore them, so I think its good that I recognise these breeds arn't for me and stick with the breeds that do.

I'm sure there are plenty of people that think having a working Border Collie as a pet is ridiculous but I can't imagine a better dog to share my life with.

[SwaY]

Some humans snap and go on killing sprees, others fall in love with known murderers - Human Nature is not always predictable and nor are dogs no mater what the breed.

[Sandra777]

Personally, when considering the number of wonderful dog breeds available and what I am hoping to gain from dog ownership, I would never consider Pit-bull ownership.

Which is absolutely your right.

However I would never consider owning any of the breeds you have owned as they do not offer me what I am hoping to gain from dog ownership.

I have never owned an APBT. I've never owned a crossbred dog either - which is what the huge majority of "problem" dogs actually are.

I realise that individuals such as drug dealers like this breed as it helps maintain their privacy and also the ownership of animals of this temperament appeal to their thuggish nature.

Absolutely - noted drug dealers such as Helen Keller, Theodore Roosevelt Woodrow Wilson and General George Patton, to say nothing of the notorious drug dealer Pink?

What I cannot understand I why someone would take the risk and introduce an animal of this nature to a young family or keep it in a normal urban environment?

An animal of what nature - resolute courageous and loyal?

Have you ever met actual American Pit Bull Terriers or are you basing your beliefs on 15 minutes of internet research and some media nonsense?

[Quickasyoucan]

Some humans snap and go on killing sprees, others fall in love with known murderers - Human Nature is not always predictable and nor are dogs no mater what the breed.

IMO people or animals who just "snap" simply because they are wired wrong would be a true minority.

There are also sometimes neurological issues that can come into play in both humans and animals

Howver, in the vast majority of cases both human and animal I'd say there were warning signs and or environmental factors at play. .

I'd love to see this literature the OP posted where there were 'heaps of cases of PB's just snapping'.

Our receptionist had a friend with a red (or is it ruby) pedigree cocker spaniel. Lovely dog, friendly and great with the kids. Then it suddenly started biting everyone. They consulted trainers, tried behaviour modification to no avail, they even had some kind friends take the dog on who had no kids and a calm environment. Dog bit them. The dog basically did a behavioural 180 in a very short space of time. They finally discovered it had some sort of brain tumour/neurological issue. That dog in essence did "just snap" but there was a very good reason for it.

[Kavik]

Bull breeds are not my thing, but I can appreciate them (OH loves bull breeds). Met one that would have been AWESOME for sports when working at a dog daycare, and I loved playing with it (was a bit much for its owner though ).