I just started to read this thread and wanted to put my two cents in!
I have two dogs; Lucy a 6lb Yorkie and Tubby a 60lb Black Lab, Springer mix.
I grew up with Black Labs and German Shepards as a kid and they were the most trustworthy, loyal, protective, lovable dogs that were not dangerous at all.
The Black lab that we had when I was quite young (Teddy) would play with us and run like the wind, catch balls in his mouth and jump so high in the air it was amazing. When he got older he had arthritis and one of my nephews were outside playing and decided to poke Teddy with a stick, Teddy grabbed him by the leg and put a decent sized puncture wound in his leg, when my brothers and I were playing outside my brother was on a wooden swing twisting and when he came around one time he hit Teddy in the side and Teddy grabbed my brother in the belly area which required stitches. Teddy NEVER hurt anyone unless he was either provoked or hurt he NEVER just ran after and attacked for no reason.
I would trust a Black Lab with my life!!! I would also trust a German Shepard with my life I believe that if another dog or person tried to attack me Teddy would have spared his life to protect me and the same goes with the German Shepard we had.
One of our friends have a Rotty who is the biggest, sweetest lap dog too and would not hurt a fly and they have an English Bulldog too which is the sweetest dog as well BUT if the two dogs are in the same room the EB goes after the Rotty and she is out for blood~the Rotty tries to protect himself from her and gets hurt at times but he never attacks.
The two dogs remain in the same house but are kept in separate rooms, let out separately, etc. they have three kids in the house, two teens and a 2 yr old. If this was my house I would have to take the EB to a rescue and get her out of my house because she is dangerous. They have had her since she was a pup and have never did anything to warrant the violence she is capable of.
Our previous neighbors have an American Bulldog who was so so so sweet, and she and my lab springer Tubby would have play dates, she was so graceful and would leap through the snow like a deer and chase Tubby who would run like the wind...beautiful and fun to watch. She is the sweetest, most gentle dog and I don't think she would hurt a flee!
I myself as a child was at my aunts house and they had a german shepard, my cousins and I were playing and chasing each other and I happened to be at the end of the line ~ the GS I believe thought i was chasing and trying to hurt the others as we were all screaming and he came after me and chomped down on my butt....that was not fun but I still LOVE GS dogs!!
My Tubby is the sweetest, most gentle, kindest dog ever whom I can put a treat in my mouth and he will somehow get it into his mouth without even touching my lips. Lucy is his boss, she barks at him to get away from her toy and he looks away from her and gently walks away but then I have also caught them playing a chasing game around the house and he is very gentle. The only time he is not so gentle is when his tail is wagging
but that is not his fault of course. Again, I would trust Tubby with anyone and anything, he is the type of dog that would offer a treat to the burglar as long as the burglar gave him some attention and a little pat on the head!
I am more leery of Lucy around children and adults than I am of Tubby. Lucy is getting better but I think her previous owner had kids that taunted her because she can be aggressive around kids and some adults.
I am torn because there are dogs that just snap and do horrible, unthinkable things to people but I just can't fathom someone taking my dog away from me just because of the breed. The violence has to stop somehow but banning them may not be the best way to go about it.
I don't know if there is a good solution to this issue. I do know that people that train them to kill should be jailed for a long time!! I can't stand how people think it is okay to train a dog to attack and kill...it is heartbreaking!!
There are people that leave pets and babies in cars during the summer and let them bake....I have come to the conclusion that sadly there are just way too many human people out there that lack common sense and it is very, very SAD!!