I'm not criticising bull breeds and their owners unnecessarily though. The British Government didn't ban the American Pit Bull because they were having a knee jerk reaction about it, believe me. Alot of research and expert opinion went into that decision. And as I've pointed out time and again on this thread, I don't know what the situation in America is like but I do know the situation in the UK and that the majority of people who own bull terriers are socially irresponsible and aggressive. I've also seen enough of bull terriers in my life to know they are hard-wired to attack other dogs. If you've had a pleasant experience with a bull dog then you were lucky and I'm glad for you but please don't try and make me out to be an idiot. Yours is just an opinion based on personal experience as much as mine is. And my opinion based on my experience is that they are all bad dogs. And I'll just point out that this thread is about how my dog was almost killed by a bull terrier on Saturday and how I've suffered a terrible shock from it that I'm still trying to get over. So please don't ignore my feelings for the sake of your grandstanding. Thanks very much

pits bulls are vicious take a look !
http://pawsitivelypitbull.com/photo.htm

First off, the majority of the animals on that site are Staffordshire Bull Terriers or crosses. Staffs are known to get on very well with children. Again... my concern with them (and all bull terriers) is that they go for other dogs. I'll also point out that even the most responsible pit bull sites recommend their owners carry a 'break stick' stick with them to break up fights. Proof positive that even the most ardent bull fans know what their dog is like

im pretty sure those people know what breed there dogs are and i would be more afraid of my brownie then them

If your ready to get off of your soap box. I already expressed my sympathy's towards you and agreed that their are bad dogs. I just ask that you not say that ALL ARE BAD. Cause i have already proved that statement to be wrong. I would probably be more apt to sympathize with you if you came across as a nicer person. But considering your language and the way you attack I am losing that sympathy. I also want you to know that ALL dogs CAN bite. They are banning a breed that I love because of people that want to fight them and raise them to be mean. It's not just my personal experience It is several. How would you feel if they were to ban a breed you loved because of bad owners?

And of course you can tell alot about me as a person from an internet forum right? I didn't get personal with you and I'm not prepared to either. I can assure you though, that I'm a lovely person but I'm also not one to just go along with general opinion when I feel strongly about something. Your point about all dogs biting is entirely valid but I cannot agree that bull terrier temperament is determined by the owner. I think they're too risky and while it heartens me to hear stories like your own and to see photos etc. I remain wholly unconvinced that bull terriers as a breed are 100% safe when it comes to other dogs. I see a distinct difference between bull terriers who get along well with people and who get along with other animals. I have never known of an instance where a bull terrier was totally fine with other dogs. Never.

This is my whole point and it seems to be consistently ignored. I'm not talking about getting along with people - it's the way they attack other animals. I would love to feel differently about this. I got involved in a really heavy petting session with a Staff in a pub the other night (when Badger was away in bed) so I certainly don't hate them. Far from it. He was a gorgeous dog and actually reminded me so much of my puppy - the way he rolled on his back and his tongue stuck out. But again - in hope - I asked his owners and they said told me that while he was great with people and kids, he'd attacked four dogs (thankfully none seriously) in the last year alone

And I have NEVER seen a pit attack..never not once so does that mean it doesn't happen..course not..just like it doesn't mean that all are bad because of YOUR experiences alone. I am seeing your side and I agree with some of what you are saying..all i ask is you see my side and realize that those are just a few bad..but they aren't all that way. You are wrong is saying these are vicous dogs. Do you think AKC would allow them to be shown if they were the killer dog you and a selective few are trying to portray them as. Or waht about the pits that are search and rescue dogs? Yes there are pits that do that. But you see no one wants to hear these stories..all they want to hear his how ONE vicious pit attacked a dog. YOur right I don't know you just as you don't know me. I'm not trying to take away from what happened to you. I think the people should of been sent to court to be judged and punished and the pit in my opinion be put down. I WILL NOT HAVE A BITING DOG. But I also think that maybe you should see the whole picture before you judge.

I don't think its your opinion that hurt her feelings, but probably that you said things like, "they're useless dogs, they're no point. I think they should all be destroyed..." etc. I realize that's just your opinion, but you have to realize how much it hurts the people that own them. Tashasmom in perticular, she thinks of her dog as her other baby. and seeing things like that probably really hurts. :( I do feel terrible bad about your baby, and I hope you never have to expierance that again. But I don't think you should say such harsh things when people on this site own and love them...JMO.

No, that's totally fair. Please excuse me. I think I've been so upset by the exprience on the whole that I've allowed my fears to over-ride my normal good sense of balance. It was my worst case scenario coming true and my blood still runs cold thinking about what could have happened. I'm pretty sure you're a great dog owner and that there are plenty out there but please believe me when I say that where we live, there are loads of young men pulling these dogs around trying to be all impressive and threatening and intimidating people with them. I'm really hoping that I meet a bull soon that will totally change my mind but in the meantime, I will take you as good to your word and believe you that there are exceptions and indeed perhaps a majority that are good, dependable, friendly dogs. It's a strange and funny irony that it is the very qualities I love so much in my Badger - tenaciousness, strong-will, determination and drive - that are the things I am most afraid of in bull terriers. It's a weird old world. In any event, my apologies if I've upset you or anyone else with my comments. I hope you understand that that wasn't my intention :)

Hey Guys.. I don't post here much and I'm very happy that Badger is safe and no harm was done, but you can't judge one breed because of an irresponsible owner. My yorkie, Diva, comes home in a few weeks and she'll be living with one pitbull, a pitbull/bulldog mix, a flat-coated retriever, and a terrier.. We don't like it when people sit there and say that yorkies are little ankle biting twirps and what not, so its not fair to say pitbulls (any bull breed for that matter) are man/dog/cat eating monsters. Yes, most of them have a lot of prey drive and most act very aggressive on the leash. I'll say that for both of my bullies, they are very dog aggressive on-leash. Yesterday I took both bullies for a walk around my block without a leash and they were fine and ignored other dogs completely. In the yard when they're all playing, whos the instigater? Our terrier and our retriever.. I love both ends of the spectrum. I just don't like to see certain breeds labelled like that because ignorant comments and irresponsible owners is what is getting our dogs banned. Hopefully when Diva comes home, I can show you guys what its like living with them.. I know of one other yorkie owner who has two pitbull also but I don't know if she's a member here.. But Annie, I'm really happy that Badger wasn't hurt. My own pitbulls have been bum rushed by loose pitbulls trying to attack (just this past weekend) and I fought the dogs off before I let them get near my dogs. So again.. Whether its a labrador or a pitbull.. Its all how you train them, raise them, and own them...

I think we can all agree that no matter what the breed of the dog, it is the owner’s responsibility to keep a potentially dangerous dog away from smaller dogs and children. I guess I was very naive in thinking that when I took my dog out on a leash around other leashed dogs she would be safe. I liked to think I could trust other people’s judgment in how their dog would behave; after all, they are supposed to be responsible for their dog’s actions. After reading not only Badger’s experience, but everyone else’s I won’t be taking that risk. Thank you all for sharing.

I am sure there are some "good" pit bulls. However, everytime someone is attacked by a pit bull just like the elderly lady the other day who was attacked and had one of her feet eaten off by one or the 4 year old boy who was killed by one not too long ago in a town 20 miles from me. The owners usually say something like "He was a really gentle dog, he had never given us any indication he would kill our child, etc." This seems to me that they must be very unpredictable and can turn mean at any time. Therefore, I would never trust my child or small dogs around them and I certainly would not want to own one. I'm glad some of you have had good experiences with them, but there has to be a reason why so many cities are banning them or at least making owners carry extra insurance or muzzle them. Statistics prove they can and will kill humans.
I personally wouldn't own any animal who would hurt my grandchildren. Not even my Yorkie, as much as I love her. I gave away a beautiful Himalayan Persian cat because she would bite my grandchildren for no reason. Granted, I found her a good home with people who spoiled her and loved her and had no children or grandchildren but I would not let her hurt my grandchildren who had never hurt her.

I am glad your puppy is okay. I had a 4lb Maltese(Lexi) that was killed by a Pit Bull mix. It does turn you against a breed. Not because I have heard that Pit Bulls are mean, but to see the damage it can do. My Lexi could be a mean dog. She definitely had an attitude sometimes. But she could not do much harm to a human or animal. But a Pit Bull can and did. It is hard to see any Pit Bull now. Let alone the killer down the street.

Thank you very much for your insight :) and I look forward to seeing pics. What you say about the prey drive is totally true. I see it with Badger all the time. My husband pointed out that if he were ten times the size, we'd have a potentially dangerous dog on our hands which makes total sense. Out of interest, what did you do with them that made them more docile with other dogs? When you say they are aggressive on the lead, is that just the way they are? That doesn't necessarily mean they want to attack every living thing right? And can you suggest any steps I could take if, for instance, one were to get hold of Badger? (given your experience this past weekend - which I'm sorry to hear about. Hope they're okay) I'm not asking to be funny but if I kind of get some sort of positive advice, it might put my mind more at ease...

I guess I am one of the ignorant people, but I don't care how gentle pit bulls are...they have been known to turn on their owners...and not necessarily irresponsible owners. These dogs have attacked humans including children who, if not killed in the attack, have to grow up disfigured...some missing limbs...enduring the mental and physical scars of being attacked by an aggressive pit bull that it's owner states, "He wouldn't hurt anyone!" I've read countless times where yorkies have been mauled and killed by pit bulls. I'm sure there are some that get through life without becoming aggressive, but I would NEVER have one or have my yorkie or grandkids around one. I say they cannot be trusted and I'm sure not going to chance it because their owner says he won't hurt anyone. I'm not about to find out! Sorry if I upset anyone, but it's how I feel.