Pitbulls are just like any other dog, can be raised right or not. They do have the terrier instict just like our yorkies and they are a tough cookie. But so are ANY big dogs, capable of causing big damages. My bf has a pit and a co worker has a pit recued from the streets that i dogsat for a weekend, no problems, he was actuallu afraid of Mojo..heheheh

Minnie, my lab can make some people unconfortable too, but she is sweeter than Mojo!!

I agree w/ your point of view.

To be honest, I'm a bit nervous around large dogs such as pit bulls. But I always let them come to me and I'll stick out my fist (not my fingers) to let them smell me. From there, I'll respond w/ smooth pats on the head and such if they allow me to do so.

But to say that they will suddenly "munch" is a bit extreme, if not absurd.

My Yorkie and my Maltese...they both get more excited if I respond w/ a "No" or "Stop" command if they are licking my face. And I'm doing it playfully of course. Sure they may not truly be listening to my commands when I'm effectively "playing" w/ them...but they get more excited and will try harder and harder to lick my face.

It would not surprise me if this type of increased response (being riled up)...is similar to the response of pit bulls "munching" on other dogs/people.

Thats exactly what I think, however I think Pitbulls are going to be more prone to be mean. I think if raised with loving care, and trained they could be just like other dogs. All dogs still have primal instinct and I think they(pitbulls) are just dangerous because they are too often raised and purposely bred to be mean and act on their primal animal instinct and I think it is really embedded in thier genes. I also know some people who raise thier pit bulls right and the dogs have been know to "snap" all of a sudden so I am honeslty have to say they scare me a little because of all that I know about their breed. BUt they are gorgeous dogs.
I know that my 80 lb boxer would protect me and the little dogs in seconds if anyone tried to harm us because thats her basic motherly animal instincts. And becasue of her strength that would probobly scare other people. I weigh a little more than my boxer and if I am walking her and she sees a cat or something I can not control her. She will literally drag me. I think the same goes for pit bulls. They are sooooo strong and thats part of what makes them a huge threat. I will not actually walk my boxer- my husband has too. I think pit bulls fall victim to carlessness on thier owners part. It pisses me off that more owners dont actualy get in trouble when thier animal does something. It is completely the onwers responsibilty to maintain their animals. I also think (some)breeders are responsible for the characteristics of pitbulls.

I happen to love pit bulls! I used to have one and he was the sweetest dog ever! He just didn't know he weighed 65lbs!! Here's a pic w/ him on the first day we brought our little Lucky home!

I would like to add this thought:


I think its important that we remember there is always exceptions. Of course there are going to be some pitbulls that have made wonderfuls pets. Any opinons about pitbulls are just generaliztions formed from all the bad publicity we have seen on the news and tv or personal encounters. So I hope no one that has a pitbull on this forum gets offended. Im sure many pitbull owners have never had problems with thier pitbull and unfortunately that wont make the news. We only hear the bad stuff. I think its good to be openminded about that kind of stuff, and hope others reading this thread consider that too :)

Well said!

I love the picture that is soo cute. I love your pit bull's coloring too. :D

Like you said we both have different opinions on the breed. In now way did I say YOUR God daughter will get mauled, I was merely refering to other people and their kids and dogs being mauled. I really meant no offense to you, I was generalizing my comment to the various stories of people who's loved ones have been mauled, even after they've said the dog was docile and nice. Again I didn't mean to offend you in any way :hug:

I love them. Its funny this was brought up because I am arguing w/ my boss about them. His mom is a DVM and hates Pits.

I sent this e-mail out to 100 people this morning:

Please help. Breed bans are not the answer. Making stricter penalities against animal cruelty or dog fighting will be far more effective. Training law enforcement to recognize the signs of dog fighting is more important. Rumor has it that the Chicago City Council may act on this soon. Please tell Alderman Rugai that she's WRONG.


Kristy


No More Pit Bulls In Chicago?
19th Ward Alderman Ginger Rugai wants to ban them...
19th Ward Alderman Virginia A. Rugai, usually referred to as Alderman Ginger Rugai, has proposed an ordinance that would ban Chicagoans from owning pit bulls. Heck, the ordinance would make it illegal for Chicagoans even to carry someone else's pit bull inside city limits. (By "pit bulls" the ordinance actually means three different breeds, namely American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.)

The ordinance is so strict that if one of your out-of-town relatives were to come and visit you with his pet pit bull in a dog cage and you were to let the two of them stay overnight in your home, you could be facing fines of $100-1000 and/or up to six months in jail.

Another example: if a tourist who was driving from New York to L.A. with a pit bull in her car had a flat tire while passing through Chicago and couldn't get out of town in less than an hour (the time non-residents are given to transport a pit bull through city limits), the poor woman could also be facing fines of $100-1000 and/or up to six months in jail.

Now that it has been introduced at the City Council meeting, the Rugai ordinance has to be reviewed by the licensing committee. If approved, Chicagoans who own pit bulls would have thirty days to get rid of their pets.

By the way, this is not the first time Alderman Rugai has come into conflict with dog owners. A while back she tried to draft a bill limiting the number of dogs per household. The Daley administration opposed her then (as they oppose her now) and the bill did not pass.

If you do not agree with her, you can contact the Chicago City Council and let them know how you feel:

Chicago City Council
City Hall
121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 209
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 744-6800
Fax: (312) 744-6824

10444 S. Western Ave
Chicago IL 60643

3017 West 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

vrugai@cityofchicago.org


Phone: 773-238-8766 (Western)
Fax: 773-238-9049 (Western)

Actually it's not absurd. It's what is on the news, that the dog was a loving family pet and they didn't see it coming. If my use of the word munching created an increased response, I'm happy because people will be more aware. I wasn't impossing my view on you or anyone else. Just stating things from my POV.

[QUOTE=StewiesMom]I sent this e-mail out to 100 people this morning:

Please help. Breed bans are not the answer. Making stricter penalities against animal cruelty or dog fighting will be far more effective. Training law enforcement to recognize the signs of dog fighting is more important. Rumor has it that the Chicago City Council may act on this soon. Please tell Alderman Rugai that she's WRONG. [QUOTE]

I agree :thumbup: -- breed bans are wrong. I will send an e-mail.

When I was a little girl my grandmother had a pit bull. She was soo gentle. We lived in a rural area and she kinda herded us when we were babies if that makes any sense. She would watch out for things like snakes and animals and stuff and make sure we didn't get into any trouble while we were playing. lol which was pretty hard if you consider all the trouble we could have gotten into. But, she was super protective and didn't like strangers one bit. So I guess it's all in how they are raised.

I don't believe that they are all bad. You can turn any dog into a bad, mean dog. My neighbors have a pit bull that one of my other neighbors call animal control on he can get out of their fence and has been climbing over into another neighbors yard and he chased the neighbor that called her daughter home from the bus stop and by what she said the owners just stood there and watch him do this.

My husband has already said that if they did not get him picked up that it this dog climbed our fence he would not hesistate to shoot it. I hope that they did get it. I'm almost afraid to let my dogs out even being out there with them they don't know to be afraid of this dog.

I hoping that they got him. I'm going to take a drive up the street later and see if I do see him.

I too don't want to cause a debate on this. But with the behavior that this dog is showing I don't trust it.

On the other hand I was at Petsmart with Mollie last week and this couple was there with a pit butt and she was an absolute sweetheart she loved Mollie. Like I said it how depends on how they are raised.

Dorry this is so long.

:thumbup: very well said

Wonderful point Vain chick
 

I think you were doing someone a very big service in pointing out that
their child could possibly be bitten and to be very aware of that. The
owners could give them the MOST loving care but would not know
what the owners of grand parents, great grand parents did with their
dogs. I just think it might be prudent with over 150 other breeds out
there to pick another breed. There was a child killed by their own pit bull
here in Akron and it was a very sad story.

I agree, it's very sad. Look at the 12 year old kid, Nicholas Fabish (sp?). He got KILLED by 2 of HIS pit bull pets. They had been the loving family pets since he was very young and it only took one day after however many years for them to snap. I really wasn't trying to offend, I was really just trying to point out exactly what you said. Thank you :thumbup: :D

I think there are alot of problems with cross breeding them.But I wouldnt personally own one,no offence to any yorkie talkers that own one as I know you love your dogs.Pit bulls have actually been banned from my country now and you have to get any left here nuetered.You still see them advertised in the paper but I think they are phasing the law in over time.

I mean no offence when I say this, but no. I don't trust the breed at all. I have heard of way too many horror stories of people owning that particular breed, whether it be for a few months or 10 years and the animal turns on the family or a stranger for no apparent reason. I wouldn't even have my furbabies or any children around them.
I do believe that they might be good pets, but there's always that chance that, for some reason a switch clicks in their brains and they decide to turn on humans or other animals.

I have many problems with the stories of pit bulls being loving family pets and then turning on them and biting. Many of these stories once you look closer at them you see why the dogs attacked. Many of these dogs were abused in their familys but you never hear that side. I have seen many stories where sweet child Johnny was hitting the dog with a stick before the attack....

I'm not saying all pits or dogs that attack are abused, there are exceptions but no more with pits then any other breed. Pits just bring out the headlines more. I blame the media.

I'm with you no disrepect but I don't trust them either. I do believe that it is the way they are raised. But, you never know.

I dont care how many people say they are harmless. I would never let my child or my dogs around a pitbull. People have them in my neighborhood and when I take walks and walk by their fence they act like they want to attack. They are not a safe breed and their is a reason why there have been so many attacks by that breed.

Where do you live? I know of some cities her in the states where it is illegal to have them within city limits.

Here is a picture of Mickeys and Minnies Brothers and sister. They are the most loving dogs. We have always owned a pittbull. And have never had one turn mean. I think its all in how the dog is raised. I let my Yorkies and Pitts visit and go around each other. But I do not let them play . Not b/c Im afarid they will bite them but b/c of the difference in the size. Now I would never let Mickey and Minnie go around any other large dog of any kind. B/c I know Mickey would try to take one on thinking he is the boss. and all it would take is one bite.

I can see both sides...
My cousin was at a friend's house who owned two pitbulls and they were supposed to be the most docile animals and they had never attacked or even bitten anyone or anything. One of the pitbulls came up to her and started sniffing her leg and she let him sniff her because she didn't want to pull away from him and scare him...Next thing you know, he's got his jaw locked on her leg and it took three grown men to get the pit bull off of her. This dog had never attacked anyone before...3 years later, she still has a horrible scar, and can't wear shorts or skirts because it looks so bad and she's lucky that's all that happened to her...
On the other hand, a friend of mine has a pit bull who is also very docile and is great with her children. They pull her tail and climb all over her and she's as sweet as can be with them. But if any other dogs step on their property, she attacks them, and has done that so viciously that they have ended up in vet emergency. It's very scary...

Pit bulls
 

Like any other dog or for that matter any domestic it animal can turn out bad if they are trained or treated that way.I believe Pit Bulls have taken a really bad rap and have paid dearly for it.German Shepherds,Dobermans, remember? They were in the hot seat before the Pit Bulls.I have met some of the sweetest Pit Bulls, no ,I do not believe they are a mean breed!!!

I live in new zealand.

Here is the problem with the media and the pits. For example; Jojo is a 3 year old pit mixed that the owner got him from a back yard breeder with no paper and history of his bloodline. He climbed the fence one day and bite the kid next door and the next thing you know " PIT BULL ATTACK KID NEXTDOOR" is all over the nightly news. Don't be so ignorant, you got to know the history of the breed and what they were meant to do. They were bred for their gameness and royalty. They were not bred to be agressive toward human. Back in the day if they do show any agression toward human they would be put down and not reproduce. Think about it, before the fight the owner have to handle the other owner's dog.
Would you want your dog to be aggresive that the other guy can't even get close? That's why they put the one thats agressive toward human to
sleep and only breed for gameness and royalty. Their gameness and their drive do pass on to the half bred or the so call "PIT" that the media portray them to be. They say that pit bull are getting over populated but thats not true. The pit mixed are getting overpopulated while the real
pit bulls are rare to see. I owned a pit named Duece that is ADBA registered Champion bloodline. His temperment is 2nd to none. He is the biggest baby in our family. Like all bull terrier they do have lots of energy and are very hyper. They need to be exercise everyday or else they will get into troble. I can go on and educate some of ya'll about American Pit Bull Terrier but I'm getting sleepy. Just remember that real pits are hard to find. And just because it looks like a pit does not mean that its a pit.

I really agree with alot you say sunshine.Although I would not own a pit myself the pit mixed is getting over populated that is for sure and pit bulls are rare to see.When I compare the pits in my country(well the ones people say are pits) to the ones in your country they look so different.And to the other thread I read I think it is totally irresponsible to let a child pull a dogs tail and climb all over it and treat it like a horse,that is asking for trouble.

I love all dogs but Pitts scare me - The day Ray Ray.. my neighbors dog was hurt ...a Pitt attacked a little boy who was walking with his mother TWO STREETS from my house. The poor little boy was in surgery ALL DAY

I just heard this on the news .

I've seen the dog in my neighborhood roaming free.....Well...He finally attacked and a child was seriously hurt. He also could have been the dog who broke into my neighbors yard that day.

So no...I'm scared of Pitts and only certain people should have one - VERY RESPONSIBLE people - not like my neighbors who's 2 dogs constantly get out of their yard.