Very few people are breeding them to be human-aggressive. The mere fact that out of 5 to 10 million pit bull-type dogs, an infinitesimally small percentage attack people. There are thousands of idiot owners that get them and encourage vicious behavior, only to be disappointed by their inherently trusting, friendly nature. It’s an interesting phenomenon occurring, that dogs being purposely bred for certain attributes simply aren’t being born with them. The dogs just don’t have that in their makeup, and the ones that are attacking seem to be doing so because of gross negligence and mistreatment on the owner’s part, as is noted in the above article, and on the CDC’s study.
Thanks for your input solo,
To be honest, I find those dogs intimidating. I’m used to shepherds (collies and Alsatians, etc.) mostly and I love them. They’re the ones I grew up with and understand.
I honestly don’t understand Pits. They seem to have been bred for their jaws.
A friend of mine, father of one of my son’s best friends, has one. He explained the whole thing, and I understood; when you look for a dog, you expect to get a little more than a mere pet.
But once, I went to pick up my son, and the dog answered the door with the mom. I was already well acquainted with the familly and the dog. The dog barked and jumped up, playfully it seemed, but it also gave me a good nip on the arm. I pushed the dog away, as you might to an Alsatian; no go, he kept coming. I know, the mom was there with the kids; dad was away and I’d want my dog to do the same under the similar circumstances. But similar; this implies a matter of degree. And, that dog was the strongest creature I’ve ever encountered, never having taken on mountain lions or bears, or the like.
All that said I will confess, the dog has never threatened my son, and that’s what counts. Also, I’m sure I handled the situation badly, reacting to one breed as if it were another.