I will just throw this out there - working in animal rescue, I got but by a chi and a border collie, and was close to getting bit by a few others. But never a pit. Ever. And 80% of our dogs were pits. There is a reason they used to be called nanny dogs - their temperament is more stable than any other breed I have encountered. In temperament testing the breed scored higher than golden retrievers for godsake.
Some pits have dog aggression, which is a side affect of the years of breeding for dog fighting the breed has had to endure. But dog aggression in no way shape or form equals human aggression. Even dogs bred to fight are bred to be docile to humans because the owners have to be able to reach into the ring and pull then out without getting their arm ripped off.
I hate the pittie hate. I grew up with one and have been around them my whole life. There is just so much misinformation out there about the breed.
See, herein lies the problem. The issue with pitbulls didn't come from thin air, sadly. There is a reason why people are scared of these dogs. There are a whole lotta fucked up people in this world who are still breeding pitbulls to fight. They aren't properly trained outside of the ring, which is why a lot of pitbulls end up dead (and other dogs). It's sick. And until we do more to really fight aggressively against dog fighting rings and backyard breeders, there will be serious issues with pitbulls.
This is just dumb, and caving to stupid stereotypes. I've never met a pittie that wasn't a total lover. I've known pitties rescued from shit situations and dispute bad starts they were still great dogs. The bad dogs are the exception, not the rule.
Not in my experience, sadly. I know it isn't the dog's fault, but when one tries to kill your dog, you think differently.
I would have to know the person really well before I would consider going to someone's house who owned a pitbull.
If a pitbull tried to kill one of my dogs in the past--I would always think to myself "I'll ALWAYS be afraid of pitbulls around my DOGS. Forever."
I'm not sure why I'd be afraid of pitbulls around ME.
My husky "witnessed" (was covered in blood) after a fight between a pitt bull and a lab yesterday, and yes the pitt started it. I do think they are more likely to bite other dogs, because I have seen it happen, though I also think they are perfectly safe around humans.
And with that, Que? , I leave you with Nikita in the snow.
My husky "witnessed" (was covered in blood) after a fight between a pitt bull and a lab yesterday, and yes the pitt started it. I do think they are more likely to bite other dogs, because I have seen it happen, though I also think they are perfectly safe around humans.
And with that, Que? , I leave you with Nikita in the snow.
And this is why responsible pit ownership (and animal ownership in general) is so important. Plenty of pits are awesome with other dogs, but you have to know your dog and what your dog is comfortable with and can handle. Irresponsible owners make me all kinds of ragey.
I think the issue with pitbulls is absolutely the fault and cause of poor ownership and lack of training.
That said, I don't like them. For the same reason I don't like a lot of large dogs, including German shepherds and rottweilers. Jaw strength. I might be far more likely to be bit to shreds by a toy poodle, but I can take down a fucking poodle if I have to. A dog with a bite force of 250 pounds is a different story altogether.
Also, while I think most dogs would never bite and have gentle natures, you just don't know; and the attitude of dog owners who claim their dog would never do that is so off-putting and short-sighted that I automatically discount them as responsible dog owners. ANY dog can snap, regardless of how well-trained it is or how nicely behaved. I think the second you claim this is not true is the very second you become a dangerous pet owner.
I agree, but pits are actually less likely to attack than a poodle, so there is that.
But yeah. Dogs off leash? Don't even get me started. I have told off more than one person lol I love walking my dog and having you dog run full speed at me while you yell "he's friendly!!!" Fuck you. I don't know you or your dog and you have no clue if my dog is friendly with other dogs.
I also think pit owners have extra responsibility to be awesome dog owners. They only way to change the stigma is to be ultra responsible and know your dog I side and out. I want a pit desperately, and will get I e when I buy a house, but I am absolutely aware of the responsibility that comes with it.
LlHC, I do have to disagree with you that "any dog" can snap. My dogs won't. We had Nikita her whole life and she never came close to snapping at a human. Same with Nanook. We know the temperament of every dog in their family tree, going back 6 generations, and there has never been a dog bite from any of them, despite being poked, prodded, and generally molested in the show ring. When they were young we trained them by taking away their food mid-bite and they never reacted adversely. When I say my dogs won't bite I know that for a fact, just as certainly as I know my husband would never hit me or abuse a child.
Then I'm sorry, elle, but I think that makes you a dangerous owner.
Siberian huskies, along with about 20 other breeds, are capable of higher cognition, understand the consequences of their actions, and can be trained so that you know with certainty they won't bite. I am not saying this is true of all dogs or even all dogs within a breed, but I have faith in my dogs' training and background. They won't do it.
ETA: Autumn, I would not leave young children unsupervised around my dogs because I wouldn't want the kids harassing them. And if the conversation is "is it hypothetically possible that if a child were beating them and pulling their tail, they would snap" then OK, yeah, I don't know the answer to that. But I am talking about in ordinary interactions, or any interaction I would allow. I would bet my life they wouldn't snap at a human.
I think the issue with pitbulls is absolutely the fault and cause of poor ownership and lack of training.
That said, I don't like them. For the same reason I don't like a lot of large dogs, including German shepherds and rottweilers. Jaw strength. I might be far more likely to be bit to shreds by a toy poodle, but I can take down a fucking poodle if I have to. A dog with a bite force of 250 pounds is a different story altogether.
Also, while I think most dogs would never bite and have gentle natures, you just don't know; and the attitude of dog owners who claim their dog would never do that is so off-putting and short-sighted that I automatically discount them as responsible dog owners. ANY dog can snap, regardless of how well-trained it is or how nicely behaved. I think the second you claim this is not true is the very second you become a dangerous pet owner.
I agree, but pits are actually less likely to attack than a poodle, so there is that. But yeah. Dogs off leash? Don't even get me started. I have told off more than one person lol I love walking my dog and having you dog run full speed at me while you yell "he's friendly!!!" Fuck you. I don't know you or your dog and you have no clue if my dog is friendly with other dogs.
I also think pit owners have extra responsibility to be awesome dog owners. They only way to change the stigma is to be ultra responsible and know your dog I side and out. I want a pit desperately, and will get I e when I buy a house, but I am absolutely aware of the responsibility that comes with it.
No kidding! I had to pick up my 35 lb dog when an off leash black lab came running up to us on our walk the other day. My dog doesn't like anyone running up to him he doesn't know because he was attacked as a puppy. Luckily, he is putty in my arms but if I leave him on the ground while a dog runs up to us he goes straight into defense mode.
I agree, but pits are actually less likely to attack than a poodle, so there is that. But yeah. Dogs off leash? Don't even get me started. I have told off more than one person lol I love walking my dog and having you dog run full speed at me while you yell "he's friendly!!!" Fuck you. I don't know you or your dog and you have no clue if my dog is friendly with other dogs.
I also think pit owners have extra responsibility to be awesome dog owners. They only way to change the stigma is to be ultra responsible and know your dog I side and out. I want a pit desperately, and will get I e when I buy a house, but I am absolutely aware of the responsibility that comes with it.
No kidding! I had to pick up my 35 lb dog when an off leash black lab came running up to us on our walk the other day. My dog doesn't like anyone running up to him he doesn't know because he was attacked as a puppy. Luckily, he is putty in my arms but if I leave him on the ground while a dog runs up to us he goes straight into defense mode.
I personally think that dogs should always be on the leash unless they are in a place where it specifies that dogs are allowed off the leash or they are out in the woods/nature/etc. I don't care how well trained your dog is, the dog needs to be on the leash.
I agree, but pits are actually less likely to attack than a poodle, so there is that.
But yeah. Dogs off leash? Don't even get me started. I have told off more than one person lol I love walking my dog and having you dog run full speed at me while you yell "he's friendly!!!" Fuck you. I don't know you or your dog and you have no clue if my dog is friendly with other dogs.
I also think pit owners have extra responsibility to be awesome dog owners. They only way to change the stigma is to be ultra responsible and know your dog I side and out. I want a pit desperately, and will get I e when I buy a house, but I am absolutely aware of the responsibility that comes with it.
I live in a very dog friendly town. We are surrounded by mountains and woods and all of it is off leash areas. We have the opposite problem than what you described. People walk aggressive dogs on leash in the off leash area and then shit their pants when my dog runs up to them. I have control over my dog, but I don't feel like I should have to call him back when I'm hiking in the friggin bush and someone has their dog on a 2ft leash. That pisses me off.
Anyway, I have also been in the situation you described, where I was all "he's friendly!" and learned my lesson the hard way. You're right that it comes down to people being responsible and respectful to other dog owners and people.
Off leash areas are totally different. No problem at all!