Posted on 09/20/2008 8:52:04 PM PDT by familyop
Yes it is apparent that you do
and it's a refreshing break from the clouds of ignorance cluttering this thread.
Yeah, sure they were.
1COUNTER-MORTER-68, Sept 21/08
My uncle owns a rottweiler, I grew up owning a doberman and a german shepherd and a collie at different times. We now have a fox terrier. I’ve been around dogs all my life.
But not pit bulls. Never had the desire to own one and never really knew anybody that did, although I can understand how people get attached. I’m sure most aren’t a problem.
My problem is they account for so much mayhem, 100% human caused, but to the point this breed will wind up being banned totally as a reaction to this problem.
They’re already banned in many places, because OBVIOUSLY what we are doing simply isn’t working!
In Atlanta it seems we get a report in the paper about an incident regularly and 9 times out of 10 it’s about a pit bull attack.
But while pit bulls have gotten a bad rap, they’ve also been unfairly targeted for abuse, and to top it off they were originally bred to fight in Scotland, Ireland!
So yeah, people are ruining this breed. To assert there’s nothing wrong with them and to just calm down, is just sad.
People get puppies from a parent that may have been a fighting dog, take it home and think it’ll be fine isn’t exactly brilliant in any breed, but which breed is THE fighting dog?
What dogs were rescued from Michael Vick?
pit bulls.
Correct,,,Just like in Da’Hood,,,
You won’t quote how many little kids are attacked each
year by pits,,,
You must be a Newfie !...
No need to ban pit bulls, just pass a law that the owner is responsible for their dog’s actions as if they had committed the act with their own hands, or... teeth.
Good place to start, but how DOES one make restitution for their dog, any dog to someone after their child was torn to bits?
Nailed you guys back in post 56...
“Bunch of holier than thou control freaks”
This jerk next door breeds pits and sells them in Da’Hood
from what I can tell,,,
Of the 5 chained in the yard,,,2 bitches just had
Mo’Puppies!,,,(sigh),,,
Workin’ on the house here,,,
Power-washing to get ready to paint,,,
All 5 lunging at the fence,Razin’ Hell,all afternoon,,,
Hard to work lookin’ over your shoulder,,,
I wear a vest with the Colt in right pocket and 4 mags in
the left,,,balances the load,,,12ga. just inside the door.
(5 bee-hives),,,
They had 18 pits at one time,,,(last litters),,,
LEOs came out and made him get rid of a bunch,,,
20-25 this time,,,just a guess,,,
Oh well...
I agree. There is no other workable solution for the problem, and you already know of the origin (original breeding of pit bulls and their attraction to many now). But they were bred for that evil purpose, and they haven’t always been around. As for other dangerous breeds, more owners are keeping them away from public paths unless leashed, and they aren’t as often unexpectedly aggressive. The only German shepherds that I’ve seen recently are too crippled to be harmful (also due to the breeding behind them). Any others must be out of sight of pedestrians.
Dogs weren’t meant to be weapons for killing people or other dogs. Dogs can work for us and even act as good alarms of trouble (barking). But they are not good for attacking other human beings with any great measure of strength. We should leave such immoral spectacles behind us with the ancient Romans and Nazis of the early part of the last Century.
I guess these pitbull threads can get a little contentious eh?
I noticed a wiki link earlier and interestingly, this article has been flagged for “neutrality”, so we shouldn’t feel alone and there’s interesting quotes there, and perhaps some of you have participated!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:American_Pit_Bull_Terrier
Here’s a good article, good and bad:
History
The modern American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) can trace its roots back to England and the early 19th century. Crosses between “bully” type dogs and terriers eventually produced the modern APBT. Although not recognized as a “breed” and much smaller than the modern APBT, the early “bulldogs” were used as working dogs, controlling unruly bulls for butchers as well as farmers.
These “bulldogs” resembled, phenotypically, the modern APBT but were considerably smaller, weighing in at 15-30lbs. The courage and tenacity that made these dogs good at corraling dangerous bulls made them great at the blood sport of bull baiting.
The year 1835 saw the end of deadly bull baiting (countless thousands of dogs lost their lives to this “sport”) and the emergence of an even more sinister blood sport - dog fighting.
About the American Pit Bull Terrier:
General Appearance
The APBT is a medium sized breed with a solid build, sleek, short coat and with appropriate muscling.
Color
Any color and pattern is acceptable.
Weight
Bitches: 30-50lbs
Dogs: 35-60lbs. Larger and smaller dogs are accepted as long as they are not disproportionately large or small (so those 100lb brutes would definitely be disproportionate and inadmissible to a UKC show ring).
Height
17-23 inches (for dogs and bitches).
Ears
Both cropped and uncropped are accepted by the UKC and ADBA.
American Pit Bull Terriers are no more or less difficult than any other dog to train or socialize. Owners most certainly need to understand the dog fighting history and take necessary precautions by ensuring early socialization with other dogs and monitoring of their interactions with other dogs. Even with extensive socialization, some American Pit Bull Terriers may never become comfortable around other dogs, so each dog should be treated as an individual with careful consideration.
By their very nature, American Pit Bull Terriers strive to be around humans - centuries of breeding have seen to that. They need a kind heart AND a kind hand - physical reprimands are useless and ineffective for any dog and should rarely, if ever, be employed.
American Pit Bull Terriers have been used by the FDA and USDA for sniffing out bombs and drugs and have been used by the military as well as police forces. APBT’s have also been used as therapy and service dogs; in fact, the first certified hearing dog in Alaska was an American Pit Bull Terrier.
American Pit Bull Terriers are great at weight pulling as well as Agility, Schutzhund, Obedience and Carting. As far as temperament is concerned, APBT’s have consistently scored an 82% and higher on the American Temperament Test Society’s evaluation, higher than Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and most other breeds.
With socialization, training and a kind hand - American Pit Bull Terriers are wonderful companions for all walks of life: from families to single individuals, from joggers to apartment dwellers, and onward.
http://dogs.about.com/cs/breedprofiles/p/am_pit_bull.htm
Now it stands to reason the dog was bred to fight, is powerful and requires a certain owner.
As I keep saying, humans aren’t always doing such a breed any favors!
Here’s another:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanpitbull.htm
So the breed’s beginnings, again go back to pit fighting.
In other words, the breed was from the beginning a purposeful effort to promote fighting in dogs. It’s in the genes through no fault of it’s own!
While it’s not a wild beast like a lion that can never be tamed, it’s OBVLIOUSLY no poodle either. The potential to be lethal is obviously a concern and only responsible people should own one, no different than responsible people should lock away their guns and ammo who own small children.
People who fight them, shouldn’t own these dogs. And IMO if a person fights such dogs, and has small kids around them also, they should also be arrested for child abuse.
Lastly, this makes alot of sense and tells the good and the bad...and I like the poart about each dog is an individual and aggressive pit bull terrier dogs SHOULD NOT BE BRED!
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/americanpitbullterriers.html
American Pit Bull Terriers: the most honest dog breed review you’ll ever find. Information about American Pit Bull Terrier personality and behavior.
A well-bred American Pit Bull Terrier is a dependable, good-natured, loyal companion.
Athletic and agile, with finely tuned reflexes, he must have moderate daily exercise to maintain his splendid muscle tone.
Companionship is even more important, and extensive ongoing socialization is paramount. His attitude toward strangers varies from exuberant face kissing to polite reserve, and guarding instincts vary from high to nil, with some lines being much stronger tempered than others.
His attitude toward other canines, however, is another story. His ancestry dictates a strong-willed, no-nonsense kind of dog who does not take kindly to being challenged by other assertive dogs. If confronted, he will readily engage.
********************************************************
Though some individuals live peacefully in a house full of pets, there is always the risk that dormant animal prey instincts may suddenly flare into deadly combat.
*******************************************************
Pit Bulls can be stubborn, yet they respond well to confident owners who know how to establish and enforce rules of expected behavior.
Because of public/media prejudice, he should be trained through at least basic obedience and always leashed outside of his yard. Every well-behaved Pit Bull seen on the street can help counteract anti-breed sentiment.”
History
The American Pit Bull Terrier was developed from tough working terriers and old-style bulldogs, and used for dogfighting.
Size
18-22 inches and 40-80 lbs
American Pit Bull Terriers
What’s good about ‘em
What’s bad about ‘em
If you want a dog who...
Is medium to large, muscular and powerful
Looks imposing, so makes an effective deterrent, but is usually non-aggressive with people
Thrives on vigorous athletic activities
Has a sleek, easy-groom coat that comes in many colors
An American Pit Bull Terrier may be right for you.
If you don’t want to deal with...
Legal liabilities (public perception, future breed bans, insurance problems, increased chance of lawsuits)
An extremely careful search to avoid all the nasty, neurotic Pit Bulls
Providing extra amounts of socialization and training to make sure your dog turns out well and counteracts the bad press
Aggression toward other animals
Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young
Destructiveness when bored
Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
Shedding
An American Pit Bull Terrier may not be right for you.
If I were considering an American Pit Bull Terrier...
My major concerns would be:
Unstable temperaments. American Pit Bull Terriers are a dime a dozen today, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who don’t have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs who can function in our society.
************************************************************
Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see LOTS of Pit Bulls with flat-out dangerous temperaments. It is difficult to find a responsible breeder when one has to sort through all the hype from macho breeders who boast about their dogs’ “power” and “invincibility.”
***********************************************************
Extreme animal aggression. Most Pit Bull Terriers are aggressive toward other dogs. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures, including deer and livestock. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.
To keep your Pit Bull in, and to keep other animals out, fences should be high, with wire sunk into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks.
Providing enough socialization. Most American Pit Bull Terriers are friendly, but some have protective instincts toward strangers. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of “good guys.” Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they could become suspicious of everyone, which could lead to aggression toward people.
Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. American Pit Bull Terriers are powerful dogs who MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored —which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Pit Bulls are famous for chewing through drywall, ripping the stuffing out of sofas, and turning your yard into a moonscape of giant craters.
If you simply want a pet for your family, and don’t have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in weight-pulling, or agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or schutzhund (protection), or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed.
The strong temperament. American Pit Bull Terriers are not Golden Retrievers. The best Pit Bulls are versatile working dogs, capable of learning a great deal, but they have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and many are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
To teach your Pit Bull to listen to you, “Respect Training” is mandatory. My American Pit Bull Terrier Training Page discusses the program you need.
Bounciness Young Pit Bull Terriers (up to about two years old) can be bulls in a china shop. When they romp and jump, they do so with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people.
**********************************************************
If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend Pit Bull Terrier puppies. The temptation to play roughly is too strong in many young Pit Bulls.
**********************************************************
Legal liabilities. American Pit Bull Terriers are already targeted for “banning” in certain areas. Homeowners’ insurance policies may be refused or revoked if you are discovered to own a Pit Bull Terrier. Your friends and neighbors may be very uncomfortable around this breed. In this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a fighting heritage should be seriously considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable.
Frankly, most American Pit Bull Terriers are “too much dog” for the average household. Very few people really have the knowledge or skills necessary to manage this breed, or to provide the type of activities that keep him satisfied.
Not all Pit Bulls are alike!
There are energetic Pit Bulls, and placid Pit Bulls.
Hard-headed Pit Bulls, and sweet-natured Pit Bulls.
Serious Pit Bulls, and good-natured goofballs.
Introverted Pit Bulls, and Pit Bulls who love everyone.
If you acquire an American Pit Bull Terrier puppy, you can’t know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the “norm.”
If you’re considering an adult Pit Bull...
There are plenty of adult American Pit Bull Terriers who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don’t let “typical breed negatives” worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you’re acquiring potential — what he one day will be. So “typical breed characteristics” are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you’re acquiring what he already IS.
No, I am not, but my beloved Dad was a Newfoundlander and a finer man I've never met.
He passed on 7 years ago and there isn't a day goes by that I don't think of him and miss him.
He taught me about honor and duty, of the importance of hard work and a simple faith in the Lord.
He served God, country and his family and did so with a selfless attitude that endeared him to all who knew him.
The Good Lord brought my dog into my life shortly after my Dad went home
and I named my dog after him so that I would be reminded each day of my Dad,
and how blessed I was to have him as a Father.
So no, I'm not a Newfie but I am the proud son of a Newfoundlander
WRONG!!! I GOT NAILS!!!,,,Newfie!!!...
Got mine a little cheaper...
I’d rather be born a pitbull than a poodle.
No disrespect toward your Dad...(RIP)...
Nope , don’t believe it. I DO believe the owners were in denial.
In answer to an earlier question from you, I’m on the Rockies in the USA. But the way that ranchers deal with pests here is not much different from the way Alberta farmers do. And yes, I’m related to Canadians.
Good grief, have you ever heard of Cocker rage? How about Springer rage? Get educated.Several breeds go off the deep end TRUE Pit bulls don’t.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.