[snarkytart]

You hit the nail on the head. It’s some sort of bravado attached to owning one of these dogs, even from those who are not into gangs or illegal activity. They want to show they can handle a mean dog, and trot around with it like a badge of honor.

[ClearBlueSky]

I do believe that is a common factor. When people say-it's the owner, not the dog I wonder if they would say the same about a killer child? Mom and dad raise the kid kindly and non-violently and they end up with a genetically insane killer who attacks them, or others. Since they are the 'breeders' in such a case- and genetically responsible to a degree- it seems the environment in such cases doesn't matter much.In the case of pit-bulls, I see the breed as ruined by BYB and those who breed fighting dogs being the ones who sell the majority of puppies to Joe Public . Buyers have no way of knowing that the cute little puppies have dangerous grandparents-but the odds of BYB to pro breeders ratio would not be in their favor.In the case of too many seeking these dogs, the danger factor is not only desired, it is a plus!

A sane person would pause before adopting a CHILD with a violent killer ancestor,but not an animal whose pedigree contains violent fighters? Love and reason will have a far greater impact on a kid with dangerous genetics than it can on an animal whose instincts are dominant.And sometimes love and raising are meaningless to both.