I’ve been around pit bulls before and they can be really good dogs. But due to the way they have been bred over the centuries since ancient Grecian times, to be fierce and have that innate ability to intimidate any enemies of the owner perceived or real, they also have an unpredictable nature that lends them to attacking those they should not. The breeds of dogs that I don’t care for are pit bulls, chows, and sharpeis.
I almost got into a fight with a pitbull a few months ago. Scared the living daylights out of me. I thought for sure I would either end up in the hospital or be dead since this was a larger one.
No matter how well bred, trained, or taken care of a pit bull is time and time again you will hear pit bull news stories where the owner of the dog that just mauled or killed some one say, “He was a really good dog. My dog has never done anything like this.”
You say, “but it takes work, time and dedication to them.” Any dog bred to be aggressive requires such, but many people do not have the work ethic to do so. It doesn’t matter if it is pit bulls, presa canarios, or cane corsos.
At any given moment they’ll turn on their owners or the children of the owners. Why subject yourself or others to the unpredictable predatory nature of such a breed of dog? I’ll take an Irish Wolfhound any day. They are gentle with human beings but fatally vicious with wolves. They weren’t bred for fighting or territorial domination.
Why did you choose, out of the many breeds of dogs, to own pit bulls?
If your dog attacked someone, would you admit that you knew he had behavioral issues, but kept him anyway? Of course not! You'd try to paint yourself as an unwitting dupe of an evil dog's duplicity, as so many do.
By “You” I meant not you personally, but you as in “the type of you that would choose to own a vicious dog”.
Jack, More than likely, what you encountered was not at all an American Pit Bull Terrier, but an American Bully... completely different type of dog. Let me say this, pit bulls are known to be dog aggressive... this is a normal trait that is no more out of the normal than a cat that chases and kills a mouse. It’s just part of their history. Until people understand that they are dog aggressive, and prey driven, there will continue to be an outcry to “kill them all”. However, that being said, this breed should NEVER be human aggressive, and any dog that displays any amount of human aggression, if owned by a responsible person, will be humanely euthanized. This breed should love everyone that enters the house. Actually, if your home is broken into, a pit bull should be more than happy to see the robber and be willing to show them to the good china.... after a stop at the cookie jar. Pit bulls were used as the Nanny dogs in the 1800’s.... don’t believe me? Visit www.badrap.org and read up about their history with the children of the 1800’s. Also, although I strongly disagree with it, back in the days when they were used to fight, handlers had to be able to get into the pit and administer medication and check wounds of these dogs. The dogs that turned and tried to bite the handlers were oftentimes put down... why? Because they were unsound temperament dogs, and unsound temperaments toward humans was not allowed. The only ones you see that own this breed that wants the “Billy bad boy” image are the very ones that do not need to own this breed.... or any dog in my opinion. The ones that do not want to take the time to invest in their dogs, socialize them and make sure they are of sound temperament, are the very ones that should not own them. The ones that allow them to run loose so they can get in trouble are the ones that should not own them.... however, every time I hear Joe Birch tell a story about a pit bull that attacked the neighbors cat... I roll my eyes. I had a Chow that killed 2 cats, a Chow that I adopted from the Memphis Humane Society. Was I letting him run loose? No, he was chained in the back yard because I couldn’t keep him inside... the cats got too close to his dog house. Dogs kill cats... that’s just part of the dog/cat world. Cats kill birds and mice, but you never hear a story on the news about the cat that killed a poor bird. Point is, if people wouldn’t let their cats run loose, the cats wouldn’t be in danger of any dog, or car, that happens by. I have 6 dogs, and of the 6, 4 would kill cats. Why wouldn’t the other 2? Because they are 13+ yrs old and wouldn’t spend the energy chasing one. But the 2 Labs would kill a cat in a heart beat. Oh, and I have 2 cats as well... and they are house cats that are inside with my 2 pit bulls everyday. My cats are never let outside, and my pit bulls have never attacked the cats either. But I crate the younger dog when I leave. Mollie pretty much has run of the house. But the cats can get away from her, not that she will chase them, she’s too lazy and could care less what they do. I crate Bella because I’m a responsible owner and know to never leave 2 dogs loose in the house when I can’t supervise... more than likely, Bella would just destroy the house and eat the couch cushions, so I don’t take a chance. I NEVER worry about my dogs turning on me... none of them. They may turn on the cat at one point, and they have had squabbles among themselves, the 2 labs got into a squabble just last night, but the family?? I never worry about it. Why? Because if any of my dogs ever display an unsound temperament, they will be put down. There is a world of difference between human aggression and dog aggression, and it will be a good day when Joe America realizes that.