I don’t want to pass judgement on any breed of dog. Different breeds have different needs and their owners are responsible for meeting these needs as well as being responsible for their dog’s actions.
That said, 20-years ago, I watched and struggled with a “wonderful, smart, loving well-trained” pit bull, while it killed a 3-year-old child. This family’s kids played with this dog, it was a member of the family. One minute they were in the yard playing with it, the next minute the child was dead. I watched the attack occur and it was like night and day. I’ll spare you the gory details.
Again, I’m not passing judgement on the dog or the owners, just relating my experience, so please spare me the bad dog/bad owner arguements. This specific dog looked to me like it snapped.
Reminds me of that chimp that went berserk in Connecticut a few days ago.
The family raised it like a baby; living with it for 20 or so years, it used to dress itself and was treated like a child of the family.
So what happens?
One day it snaps FOR NO REASON, tears the face right off a neighbor, bites off the neighbors hands, tears pieces off the neighbor and starts eating the neighbor alive.
One of many reasons I suspect any animal owner who thinks their pet wouldn't hurt a fly, is an irresponsible owner.
That’s a horrible story. I will say that the breeder we bought our Pit from told us to establish dominance over the pup right away. I guess I’m the Alpha Male (I’m actually the Mom of the family) because he obeys me well. He is going to puppy class in a few weeks and he’s getting neutered as well. I am used to dealing with big and bad animals having lived on a farm (meanest pigs that ever ended up on a plate).
Sorry you had that experience. Personally, even though they are in fact good with kids, you don’t let a three year old ‘play’ with such a animal.
Hell, I wouldn’t let a three year old play with a cat.