Pit Bulls or Poodles - Which one would you root for?
Hint : Shread-mouth vs lick-mouth PS Pix of Father (red) and Son (cream)
Posted on 06/26/2011 3:08:13 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A recent attack on a 75-year-old woman by two pit bulls fuels the ongoing debate as to whether or not the breed should be considered dangerous.
The woman suffered severe injuries, including multiple bites and a heart attack.
The incident has reignited the debate: Are pit bulls unsafe?
Dangerous Dogs
The controversy surrounding pit bulls has been argued for decades. A special report released by the U.S. Center for Disease Control in 2000 displayed that pit bulls were responsible for the majority of dog bite related fatalities.
The report has since received an overwhelming amount of dissonance from pit bull advocates. The CDC later released a statement saying there was no accurate way to identify which breeds are more likely to kill.
However, advocates at the nonprofit organization Dogsbite.org performed its own study that revealed more than 50 percent of fatal dog attacks are from pit bulls. The Texas-based website serves to warn the public about dangerous dog breeds and educate the public about possible solutions to prevent pit bull attacks.
Colleen Lynn, founder of Dogsbite.org, said the example of the recent attack exposes pit bulls as a hazardous breed.
“We know not all pit bulls are going to attack,” she said. “Pit bulls are not born vicious, they are born dangerous. If you’re going to own one you need to know.” Lynn believes both genetics and a dog’s surroundings play a role in dog attacks.
“There’s no question that environment can play a role,” Lynn said. “But pit bulls bite, clamp, hold and shake. That’s totally genetic.”
Lynn suggested the pit bulls that attacked Emako Mendoza were displaying typical pit bull breed behavior. She said keeping multiple pit bulls elevates the risk, especially with puppies.
Lynn worries that the dogs’ owners will not be able to pay for Mendoza’s injuries. Because of instances like this, Lynn wants to enforce legislation, which would make pit bull owners obtain insurance.
“These dogs can cause serious damage,” she said. “It’s very self-centered considering the risk they could pose.”
Nature vs. Nurture
Are pit bulls attack dogs by nature, or does training play a role?
The Pit Bull Rescue Central website advocates against the notion that the breed itself is dangerous. Marcy Setter runs the website educating dog owners and restoring the pit bull image.
“It’s not a breed issue, it’s a dog issue,” Setter said. “I hear about dogs getting loose and that relates directly to irresponsible dog owners.”
Setter said it’s important to socialize any dog, and expose them to as much as possible.
“A dog is a dog at the end of the day, and all dogs bite,” she said. “Every breed has attacks or fatalities against them.”
Despite negative connotations people have of pit bulls, Setter said people are still interested in adopting them because they are friendly and loyal.
“I would tell a new dog owner the same thing I’d tell other dog owners,” she said. “Make sure to socialize the animal with other dogs and animals.”
Taking Responsibility
San Diego seems to be a pit bull hot spot; simply stroll by Ocean Beach and one will see owners walking pit bulls along the boardwalk.
Michaela Myers, a volunteer with the Pit Bull Rescue San Diego, said pit bulls are a popular dog type not just in San Diego, but also across the nation. As a pit bull owner, Myers believes the dogs make good pets despite unfavorable attention they often receive.
“They’re goofy, loving and great companions,” she said. Myers has two pit bull mixes, one that is a certified therapy dog.
Myers said some people want pit bulls for the wrong reasons, such as enhancing their image as someone who is tough.
“When they become popular with the wrong people for the wrong reasons pit bulls get a bad rep,” she said. Myers said the recent attack must take into account how the dogs were kept and treated.
At the San Diego league experienced trainers evaluate pit bulls to determine whether or not they are temperamental, according to Myers.
The local rescue league also encourages newly adopted dog owners to understand the image they present with their pit bull.
“I do think dog owners have an extra responsibility because the public scrutinizes,” she said. “We want them to be extra responsible with how they present themselves with their dog.”
“Pit Bulls” have such a widespread bad reputation that I’d say there must be some element to truth to that generality. Sure, all dogs can bite, and sure, some pits are angels. But the odds are, when you see smoke, there is fire. Years ago a stray pit ran onto our front yard and attacked my wife’s little dog (not that I should have cared, but that’s another story). Due to their questionable temperment and power, I consider pits more potentially dangerous to man and beast than the average dog.
Dogs do what they were bred to do. We had a Blue Heeler, the kids could not run across the back yard without him nipping their legs.
All Pit bulls are not mean vicious killers but I believe that instinct can be sparked (don't we see that all the time?) and when it is they are so powerful they can kill an adult.
Poodles, no question. Pretty dogs, particularly the creme! My first dog when I was 10 was a black miniature poodle. He had the mildest temperament and was an ideal children’s dog. Smart too. The only aggressive thing he ever did was snatch a ham sandwich from my 3-year-old sister. I never cared much for the puff ball style of poodle clips though.
I don’t recall reading any news stories about elkhounds attacking, fatally or otherwise, any individual lately.
Of course, the average journalist probably couldn’t tell an elkhound from a samoyed.
sounds like a good start...GG
I have a lot of background in image processing.
In the picture showing the baby in white on the left, and the dog on the right, it is obvious it's a post-procecessed photo.
Here's why. Observe the focus on the dog, and then the focus on the baby.
Two different source photos have been merged. The dog clearly has a different depth of field than does the baby. There is no way a single lens was used to form this picture. People who don't understand how cameras work are often caught when composting pictures because they use source images that are not compatible (such as these two).
The illumination of the baby on the left if bright, direct light, well exposed negative, while the dog on the right is from a underexposed negative.
It looks like the baby and fur were part of the original photo, and the dog was photoshopped in (not the area around the dog's front feet seem to be processed).
Lastly, the collar on the dog is NOT a period collar, it's a modern collar.
You can find an article delving deep into the facts of how this “article” got created at http://thetruthaboutpitbulls.blogspot.com/2010/08/nanny-dog-myth-revealed.html
He’s a cutie! Love the expression.
I see that you cannot back up your lie.
I tend to think better of conservatives but I guess there are liars in every crowd.
They are both sweet but I am only going to pay to one through college!
Which lie are you talking about?
Rick Perry giving a cornerstone dedication brick to a Islamic Mosque?
The Trans Texas Corridor Fiasco?
The Gardasil executive order overidden by the Texas House/Senate?
The numerous relatives working as lobbyists?
Please refresh my memory which Perry scandal we were talking about.
that article is bogus. You can tell the photos are photoshopped. Yahoo fell for it.
12 posted on Sunday, June 26, 2011 5:21:27 PM by BereanBrain
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Thing slow at DU liar?
Let me rephrase that. But my daughter's 3-lb yorkie bites, clamps, holds and shakes. That's totally genetic.
Also, my 42-lb. cocker spaniel bites, clamps, holds and shakes. That's totally genetic.
42lb cocker spaniel? Very heavy for a cocker.
Wikipedia? LOL
Yeah, I call her Miss Piggy. She likes to eat hers and the other two dogs’ bowls too. I have to play food police at feeding time!
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