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.