If you go back to the first page I believe, there was a link in one of the posts of a list of the dogs that have been banned or have restrictions on owning. I think the list was posted in the post as well.

Lots of dogs on there that I was surprised by!!

not surprised by the spinger spaniel, the one we had would attack if you came in the room while my mom was sleeping. She bit my brother in the stomach. My mom was pregnant so we rehomed her to a home with no children where she was spoiled rotten til she passed away.

Say the parents were watching the kid with the dog but the dog just suddenly lunges and attacks the kid. How much damage would be done by the dog before the parents could get him off of the child. Thats why I say it is a risk

That's very true but that is a risk you take with owning any kind of animal. A small dog can do the same, take a lunge at a child and hurt them, as well as a cat can scratch a small childs eye or lay and suffocate a baby as well.

There's risks all around us. The pool example is very true as well. We are having alot of drownings in canada lately and small children.

Not trying to argue or anything with you, hope you don't think I am, I am just debating here and trying to explore all options! lol :)

:thumbup: I agree, on all your posts.

How much damage? Substantial. :( Even supervised, and even if it happens in a fraction of a second's time. Yes, even a small dog can react in the same manner, the difference is the amount of damage a large dog vs a small dog can cause. Not trying to imply anything negative about larger dogs, that's just the fact of the matter.

Exactly what I was thinking! Anything can happen, in a split second!

I don't even leave the dogs out alone, in there fenced yard! Nor do I leave open access to my little dogs, by my big dog! LIGHTNING is FAST!!! And when energy like that is striking through a dog, they have so much power!
A trainer once told me that the adrenaline, that hits us, when something like that happens, drives the instinct of the dog, to kill (or harm)!

I, too, hate reading these type stories. :( My heart goes out to the family who lost their 2 year old. We see, again, irresponsible pet owners and/or breeders contribute to the loss of lives and the breed gets another dose of bad publicity.:mad:

You are so very right but many feel thier dogs are thier kids and are not dangerous or do not understand that they are.

JL

you are so right fail them both but other dogs not a part of this get pulled down to for human adult failings.

JL

Springer rage it is called and is a genetic concern in part and a chemical issuse. Some of these guys have seizures causing the concner with them and when medicated do very well.

JL

May I add . The first dog in world war one was a pitbull .He had the backs of many men . People will argue about this breed for ever . Fact is The owners of the dog is to blame . My daughter has a pit bull now although the dog is sweet and never hurt anyone in her 6 years . Still she is a big girl and you don't leave a small chaild alone with any dog regardless the breed . Now I will probaly get yelled at lol

I know a young couple who owned a pitbull for years. He was a well behaved family pet. The couple became parents to a little girl and the dog and child got along fine. When the little girl was about 3 she was sitting up on the bed with her mother. The pitbull was sleeping on the floor at the bed's side. The child got off the bed and stepped on the sleeping dog. The dog woke up with snapping teeth and almost bit off the child's nose and damaged her cheek. Luckily the teeth missed her eye. The poor little girl spent 2 weeks in the hospital and had to have 100's of stitches. The dog was put down. Here was a loving family pet that was startled from sleep and lashed out.

Sadly the adults failed to put bite inhibition on that dog.. and both the child and dog are hurt by it. With bite inhibition training that dog would have nipped or warned first.
I also bet it was taught a grr is wrong, so instead of being able to use it voice to say oach it went to a bit..... sad so sad.

JL

:thumbup: I not going to yell at you I agree.

JL

OK, first, I am soooo sorry for that poor sweet innocent child who had to go through this. I am extremely empathic towards the parents, as my mother has lost a child, and many folks in the media are quick to say "it was the parents fault!!!" (my brother drowned at a public pool) where it's simply not the case.

With that said, Pit Bulls, as a breed, are known family dogs. They are one of THE top dogs to have as a family statistically. Pit's were bred to be DOG aggressive, not human, and any dog that was born with human aggression was killed in order for that trait to be bred out of them. Many Pit's are not dog aggressive nowadays but many do still have that trait. A Pit will go for another dog/animal before going for a human. Also, Golden's and Labs, I believe, are above the Pit on the bite list. What does this all boil down to? BAD breeding.

Also, "lock jaw" is NOT true. That IS a myth. Honestly, the reason pits are so popular with irresponsible sorts it's because they're so stable in temperment. One guy told me that he'd rather have a pit than a Dobe or a Rott because if he beat a Dobe or Rott it would take his arm off, but a pit won't bite you no matter what. Ever seen people who sickeningly FIGHT these dogs... they can beat 'em, do whatever, yet the Pit will still gladly come over and give them a kiss on the face. That's how loyal they are.

In the 70's it was Dobies. In the 80's it was German Shepherds. In the 90's it was Rotties. Pits are the "it" name of today. Why don't ya ever hear about Goldens attacking family members? It wouldn't be as interesting on the news. The name Pit Bull attracts people. People LIKE hearing bad things. Ever notice how the news never, or rarely, has positive stories? They would much rather play a story about a Pit killing someone, over a Pit who is a certified therapy dog. It's more appealing to the masses. That's why ban restriction doesn't work... who are they to say which breeds get put down or removed from cities and which ones don't... so let's say Goldens suddenly become bigger attackers, now Golden's are banned from cities and states?

They aren't 'harmful', they don't attack randomly. It's all about training and being in the right/wrong hands. They ARE a powerful dog who needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation. They are not always dog friendly, but should never show any aggression towards people. Good breeders know this. Problem is too many people are breeding them out of the wazoo, and not paying ANY attention to temperament or genetics. Which is NO fault of the dog. Humans created Pit Bulls and now we are destroying them.

Education is key. Not killing these dogs or getting rid of a whole wonderful breed. People really need to be better informed about them and information needs to be put out there more. Which is why I think it's so wonderful Animal Planet is airing "Pit Boss" etc and showing how amazing they can be.

Well no dog should ever show aggression towards people...that's not something applicable to only Pits. :)

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

:thumbup:I agree with your post. I just read this and the thought "oh no" ran through my head. I haven't saw previews for this show, I hope they discuss some of the reasons these creatures have been given a bad name. It is not fair they suffer for human ignorance.

I can just see ignorant people falling in love with this show and deciding they want to breed them.:( Or people rushing out to buy them from anyone because they see how well tempered the dogs on the show will be. (Overpopulation of dalmations and 101 dalamations type thing.)

After seeing that movie when I was a kid, I really wanted one and we got one. Of course my parents didn't research or know anything about them. He was really really hyper and my parents didn't take the time to train him or anything, my dad just took him one day and brought him to the shelter :(

I think thats why it's hard for me to give up an animal, probably why I have so many lol When I was younger my dad got rid of my dalmantion and got rid of 3 cats I had. Still haunted by the time he took my one cat and left him on the side of the road when I was about 8 or so :(:( when we got home and my mom came home from work and I told her she went out looking for him but we never found him.

Yeah well look at some of the bred standards and being edgy around strangers is jargon for a aggressive to human and it is wink wink knob ok.

JL

Well, the DA is going to bring charges up against the step grand father in this case and they haven't decided what to charge him with yet. I say animal cruelty and manslaughter. His dogs killed the families chihuahua the year before, he knew these dogs were dangerous that is why he had them pad locked in a garage!! You see the dogs kill your other pet and you let them be in the same house as your toddler grandson??? The father & grandmother should feel guilty too. I don't care about adults owning pits, they know the risks and if the dog eats their face off, I don't care there is informed consent. But a small child can not consent to anything. That little boy died because of ignorant and irresponsible adults. RIP sweet baby boy.

I just saw the news interview with him. I thought it said he had 5 pitbulls?. Anyway, I guess he wasn't home and the grandmother found him out in the garage. How long was a 2 year old left alone that he was able to get into a (supposedly) padlocked garage? Even the neighbors were saying these were vicious dogs and were afraid of them. He said he never saw it, but the largest pit was never allowed near the kids.
I found the whole story very sad, was nearly in tears until the very end where they stated that the grandfather thought he should have to pay fines, but shouldn't serve any jail time :eek: That's the new thing in America when things like this happen or children are left in hot cars. Oh, they have suffered enough and shouldn't have to face jail time. There is NO reason this should have ever happened. That is a horrifying death of a tiny child.
I would think my last concern would be if I were going to jail.

Yes I agree I hope tje grandfather is charged

No this should not have happened and I am sure the Grandfather would love HIS grandbaby back and wishes he done different.

Dogs that are dog aggressive are not usually human aggressive as well but can be and just cause it killed the family chi does not mean it would have been an indication that the dog would go after a child.
The pad lock could have been so that others did not steal the family dogs and take them for fighting dogs.

There are many sides to this and we do not get to see them all.

A Child and a Dog are dead cause adult humans failed them but accidents happen. I grieve for their lose and will let the state decide the adults fate and I am sure that grandfather is suffering a great deal No one non of us unless we are psychotic do not grieve and have regrets after an event like this.

JL

Also, "lock jaw" is NOT true. That IS a myth.

You are correct and I should have stated it more clearly instead of perpetuating a myth. They don't mechanically 'lock'. But they are able to 'lock on' by their sheer will, massive jaw/head size and undeniable strength. That is why it is so difficult to get them pulled off their prey once they have ''locked on'' for lack of better terminology. Can't deny that compared to most other breeds they have those three items going for them. One of my 'kids' locks onto a bird and I scream and lunge at her, her will, strength, head/jaw size, is gonna translate into a pee puddle on the linoleum, and a loose bird.

I'm not saying pitbulls are the only breed with this capability. But they are pretty good at it.