Grandfather current owners, outlaw new sales and breeding.

All hail Baby! Heroic pit bull saves family, 5 dogs from fire
http://now.msn.com/baby-the-pit-bull-hailed-as-hero-after-saving-family-from-fire

Pit Bull Saves Nayeli Garzon-Jimenez's Baby From Kidnappers During Indiana Burglary
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/24/pit-bull-saves-nayeli-gar_n_2176158.html

Stray Pit Bull saves woman and child from attacker
http://www.piaberrend.org/stray-pit-bull-saves-woman-child-from-attacker/

Hero Pit Bull Saves Elderly Woman With Dementia
http://nj1015.com/hero-pit-bull-saves-elderly-woman-with-dementia-video/

Hero pit bull pulls owner from train tracks in life-saving rescue
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/hero-pit-bull-pulls-owner-train-tracks-life-saving-rescue-article-1.1075467

Hero Pitbull Saves Owner Twice
http://www.extragoodnews.com/hero-pitbull-saves-owner-twice/

Pit Bull Shot In The Head Trying To Protect Owner, But Miraculously Survives
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/04/04/pit-bull-shot-in-the-head-trying-to-protect-owner-but-miraculously-survives/

Hero dog bitten defending little Ebony
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/hero-dog-bitten-defending-little-ebony/story-e6frf7kx-1111115627487

Hero pit bull finds newborn
http://www.all-creatures.org/adow/art-heropit.html

Pit bull scares off home intruder in Aztec
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/sns-mct-pit-bull-scares-off-home-intruder-in-aztec-20130301,0,3982474.story

Pit bull credited for saving family from armed intruders
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/HeroicPitties/Weezie.pdf

Kool K-9 Popsicle retires
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/CustomsToday/2002/October/k9.xml

Juice is the family star. (Pi Bull saved a sleeping couple from a burning house.)
http://www.purina.ca/about/halloffame/inductee/2004/juice.aspx

Dog notifies owner about his mother's heart attack
http://www.purina.ca/about/halloffame/inductee/2001/lilly.aspx

Dog wakes owner who succumbed to carbon monoxide.
http://www.purina.ca/about/halloffame/inductee/1999/cesar.aspx

Dog saves owner after she collapses from a spider bite.
http://www.purina.ca/about/halloffame/inductee/1999/norton.aspx

Hero Pitbull Thwarts Abduction Attempt
http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/hero-pitbull-thwarts-abduction-attempt-video

Pit bull takes bullets for owner
http://www.ohmidog.com/2008/12/11/pit-bull-takes-bullets-for-owner/

But did anyone listen? Noooooo.

was from an old timer that lived down the road from me when I was a kid.
"Horses are smarter than we think they are, but they ain't as smart as they think they are."

Also, are you comparing "number of people injured falling off horses" to "number of people bitten by pitbulls", by any chance?

If I'm reading it right, I see 32 deaths from "bitten or struck by dog" and 72 from "bitten or struck by other mammals", but I haven't found any reference to horses - do you have a page number, please?

Or do you want to try to contradict my post #16. I've offered my proof. Now it's your turn to put up or shut up.

not the media says so or they bite people because if you do you just show yourself to be ignorant. There are more Golden Retriever attacks than Pitbull attacks every year also more German Shepard attacks but I don't see you calling for those breeds to be banned. The media will also call any bread a "pitbull" if it amps up the fear and they do so often, even when the dog in question has no pitbull characteristics what so ever. Your ignorance shows that you should be banned from breeding because the world would be a better place without your want for ignorance and your obvious inability to educate yourself before spouting off your mouth.

Rarely are Golden Retrievers guilty of mauling people to death.

You may wish to edit it to tone down the personal insults a bit.

Before that, many said Doberman Pinchers should be banned and before that, some suggested banning German Shepherds...because people were buying more of each of these breeds...so more of them were biting folks.
We need better training of the folks who OWN these dogs.

I completely agree about training owners. Hell, everybody should be trained how to deal with unfamiliar dogs.

Walking my dogs yesterday, a young guy walking past us says, "Beautiful dog" and reaches down to pet my dog's butt.

My dog ignored him, but that's one of the worst things you can do to an unfamiliar dog. (Putting your face in the face of an unfamiliar dog would be the worst.)

I said, "Here. You can pet this one," pushing my one dog forward while pulling the other dog away to my side.

"I'm going to pet YOU, too!"

In a split second, my dog climbed up the guy's chest and barked in his face.

The guy stood there, stunned.

"He doesn't like strangers. That's why I told you to pet the other one."

Fucking dumb ass.

Is dog walker your occupation, or your obligation?

that I walk. Another time some woman let her kid throw rocks at a pair of Frenchies I walk. Then there are the folks who are afraid of dogs and run away from them, screaming their heads off - you'd be surprised how many of them encounter along the Jersey City waterfront.

Indiscriminate breeding and selling dogs to people who had no business owning that breed.


I have said before, you want a REAL working dog representative of its breed? Get an FCI dog. Tight breeding restrictions, breed wardens, puppies are chipped and immaculate records are kept. THAT is how responsible breeding gets done.

The lack of disease among FCI dogs of the same breed vs. AKC dogs proves the point.

Dogs can be like people some ways.
Some are just plain mean and/or stupid.

Nuh UH!

Seriously though, some dogs can't be trained.

Ya done lost me.

I can see only one instance to ban an animal, if that animal is an invasive species. that's it IMO.
a while ago ,my Aussie just about tore a pit bull apart, that easily had 20lbs on her.
the pit bull was just so docile, thru a normal upbringing, that it was a surprise to me.
thought when my Aussie went after the pit, I would be taking her away in pieces..
just goes to show, a weapon in one's hand, is not the same in all hands.....

. . . . we have a Border Collie who is like your Aussie in that she is always the baddest badass on the block, no matter the other dog's size. She is unintimidated. Not mean. Just not easily intimidated and very (maybe a little overly) protective of her pack. Her pack is us and the other other two dogs. There are at least two pitties we encounter on our longer walks. No drama. Just never a doubt that she says to them "don't even think it".

when I see people with non-native snakes or spiders or any pet because they escape all the time and now the environment is being damaged because you "wanted to be cool" and have a "exotic" pet.

we call our aussie, Xena the psycho dog from hell and Hope our pittbull mix is doofus dog or just Doof for short. But the little rat terrier across the street could tear both our dogs up.

We don't hear about cats killing people all of the time.

And sure, you can blame the owners, but if they could not own them then there would be no problem. See how easy it is to fix things?

How hard can it be - limit choices to increase freedoms and safety.

Just wait, the dog nuts will be out defending them. "OH I just put mine in shows for competition" - yeah, well peta has something to say about that.

More families have dogs and love them than have guns. Dogs are living things with personalities, guns are manufactured. But some people still would like to equate them.

Banning them will make everyone safer!!!! But it will not.
I love pitties. I have never met a bad one yet. I have a doxy and a king shepherd. Both are wonderful dogs also.
Peace, Mojo

I had to get 10 stitches because my girlfriends cat scratched me deep when he decided he was sleep on my chest while I was also sleeping and I rolled over.

If Pit Bulls are outlawed,
only Outlaws will have Pit Bulls!

No one with drug convictions. No one with a history of violence whether they have been convicted or not. A drug test must be done on prospective owners. Etc.. The dogs are not the problem the problem is people that have violent tendencies that get these dogs and abuse them when that happens they are more likely to engage in an unprovoked yet predictable attack.

And drug tests? No one should be forced to take a drug test to own any kind of dog. I don't see the link, as I do for those who have violent convictions in their past.

But, not if they have been violent because of trying to score or whatever it is they do.

And by proper, I mean consistent and non-violent (hitting a dog does a great job of teaching them to be scared but little else). Bad breeding does a lot of terrible things to animals, and bad/no training does even worse things, especially to medium and large breed dogs. Worse yet, some people forget that dogs think like dogs, and leave young children unattended with them - and young children think like little kids; they aren't trying to provoke their friend, the dog, but they don't know not to keep away from eyes, etc. And of course some dogs have been so poorly socialized and trained that a kid doing nothing but breathing quietly is enough to provoke the dog's prey/play instinct. It all leads to too much animal and human suffering.

He wandered up our driveway and I kept him here for a day or so until animal control could come out and pick him up.

He was fine with people, even our great granddaughter who at that time was maybe one or two. But he was quite aggressive with our three dogs to the point where I had to tie him up in the barn.

Any dog's behavior is a combination of nature and nurture, breeding and training. After generations of selective breeding to promote hostility training a dog to be gentle is an uphill fight at best.

It's sad because I saw some good in that dog but he was a slave to his genetics.

He might not have performed well enough for his prior owner, yet retained too much aggression for him to ever be a pet (especially with other dogs).

That is so sad.

There are several breeds that have had their reputations and their heritage ruined by bad breeders/trainers who want -- as Stinky said -- to have the baddest of badass dogs on their leash. As with other, less dangerous (to people, anyway) fads, there's a big upsurge in popularity for a decade or two. Dobermans were supposed to be killer dogs. Chihuahuas were supposed to be darling. I wouldn't have either of them on a bet.

What people do to dogs is beyond sad.

for example medical personnel didn't wash their hands back then.

The Staffordshire bull terrier was so-known; the American pit bull terrier is not a Staffordshire bull terrier, and the two breeds have developed separately for over a century. See the American Kennel Club and UK Kennel Club breed standards, specifically for the Staffordshire bull terrier, they both say "temperament: affectionate, especially with children". This is however NOT THE SAME DOG as the American Pit Bull terrier.

"The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed’s natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work."

The breed differences between the American Staffordshire and the American Pit Bull terriers is the APBT is 10-20% larger, and 'enthusastic'.


That makes them more work to keep busy, and potentially destructive, not in temperament, but in physical capacity.


(Similar difference in the American Labrador, versus the English (conformation) Lab.)

The AKC doesn't recognise the American pit bull terrier. And the AKC breed standard for the American Staffordshire says nothing whatever about "affectionate with children". And I am not talking about the so-called "American Staffordshire" anyway but about the proper Staffordshire bull terrier which is neither an "American Staffordshire" nor an American pit bull terrier.

Not the AKC.

So I'm not sure they can be considered the most unbiased source.

The UKC focuses on function, rather than form, which also takes into account temperament. A useful approach for working dogs, which APBT's are.

UKC started down south among houndsmen. Back then, a hound was a hound and a good one was bred to a good one. Much like the Alaskan husky (which, if you have ever seen them, look NOTHING like a siberian husky from theAKC). They were working dogs for working people.

UKC really catered to (and to this day still does) hunting dogs. For example, years ago, the AKC Field Trial retrievers were getting hotter and hotter dogs, along with harder and harder trails, so that pretty much only pros were running dogs in them. UKC popularized the "hunt test" which is more in line with the FCI system and similar to NAVHDA which Bodo Winterhelt started over here to run tests for his pudelpointers out of Germany and Czek Republic. It changed the labs in my opinion for the better.

Last edited Mon Mar 11, 2013, 03:02 PM - Edit history (1)

So there's a new breed to kick around and stigmatize.
[IMG][/IMG]

See? Dangerous dog!
[IMG][/IMG]

The only difference between a Belgian Malinois and my dogs are the coats.

She's fierce, particularly when she's getting her belly rubbed.
[IMG][/IMG]

Of course, my GF is healing from a Belgian Malinois bite she received two weeks ago, so any dog can bite.

All dogs breeds are artificial man-made. It wont mean a thing if ANY one of them go extinct. THIS is a MUCH MUCH different matter though. V
Give ALL you can afford to the World Wildlife Foundation.

but I can't remember it while typing.

Would you be opening a stick of gum while running from a forest fire?

What's it to you?

Biodiversity is crucial, and the WWF is a great org. However I disagree that these various dog breeds 'won't mean a thing' if they are also wiped out.

I'm not going to feel bad about splitting a donation between WWF, PETA, and an effort to preserve a working breed like the APBT, that is being abused by the very humans that created it, at allocation levels that reflect my priorities.

Humans were able to develop agriculture and livestock because of dogs. Archaeologists have found dog bones with the earliest human civilizations. There was a show on Nova demonstrating how dogs were instrumental to the development of human civilization. Their extinction would mean a great deal. It would put an end to small livestock ranches and make it so that all animals had to be boxed into pens and kept drugged. Dogs are used by the military, police, border patrol, and DEA. Without guard dogs, many more people would feel the need to buy guns. Without dogs, the blind and disabled would have their mobility greatly restricted. Many of our lives would be hurt greatly if dogs became extinct.

I had to put down my 15 yr old chihuahua last month which I still havent recovered from. I specifically said it would be not be a biggy if any one of the 1000's of dog breeds went extinct. I NEVER said ALL dogs. That would be a nightmare.

But I walk my dogs a couple miles a day and all my dogs have been attacked by a pitbull at least once. Luckily the owner was there to stop it before any damage. They like to play too agressively which can easily turn into a fight/attack.

but I agree with the OP that the hysteria about pit bulls is overblown. My dog meets lots of great pit bulls at the park all the time. Personalities vary, and most is dependent on the owner. Even Michael Vick's dogs have been rehabilitated and one serves as a therapy dog.

Specific breeds, I don't care about. My girl is a mixed breed. But dogs are one of the world's greatest creations, IMO.

I was walking my four dogs in the park when two boxers, off-leash, came running around the corner.

They crashed into us and I got pulled down, headfirst into the snow. (i've been told that's common behavior for boxers.)

The owner ran up to us and grabbed his dogs while I untangled myself from the leashes.

I was PISSED.

many boxer owners count them as the most lovable and cuddly dogs around. My dog is, supposedly, a boxer mix. She is not even slightly aggressive, though she will chase rabbits and squirrels if given the chance.

that boxers are not that bright, and that a swat on the butt with a rolled-up newspaper must be administered repeatedly before the dogs realize it's a punishment and not a game.

Let me say that the worst punishment I have ever given my dogs is to swat one on the butt with a single, rolled-up paper towel (which could only be less threatening if it was damp.)

Usually I simply say, "Don't make me point at you!" That does the trick.

Never hit a dog under any circumstances. That trainer gave bad advice. It simply doesn't work. Positive reinforcement is far more effective. But really, dogs follow directions because they want to please you. The one command my dog has the most trouble following is "sit," and that's the one for which she has often been rewarded with treats. So now I can't get her to sit in the car when I'm in the front and she's in the wagon area. Still, I would never hit her, and anyone who does will have hell to pay.

This dog isn't a genius, but she's a love.

She's got to deal with dogs who haven't been trained, and it's her job to groom them, not train them.

That said, she trains her own dogs with positive reinforcement. She shows them in conformation, agility, lure coursing, and rally obedience.

but I'm still not hitting my dog.

However, when you've got to deal with dogs that are brighter than their owners (like the woman with the 70 pound beagle who's concerned that it has lost its appetite), the behaviors they've developed sometimes requires that their system needs a major reboot.

that requires a swat in that case.

There was a couple who were training their dog with a new invisible fence and would stand outside the fence and call the dog. The dog associated the "come" command and the owners with a painful shock.

It's sad how our society is judging and executing pitties
They're not more dangereus than other breeds! They're so loving and inteligent and also very faithful to their owners. This hate against pitts must stop

:'(

... and I guess the only thing I have to add to this thread is that perhaps there needs to be some kind of 'birth control' - aside from spay/neuter - for ALL breeds. Not an outright 'breed specific' ban of any kind.

It breaks my heart to go to petfinder.com and see thousands upon thousands of homeless dogs - all ages, breeds, locales - the majority of which will end up euthanized because there is simply no room at an Inn for them. Shelters do as much as they can but are woefully underfunded, and rescues can only take so many. The homeless/stray population problem is just as bad.

Something needs be done to bring some sanity and responsibility to breeding - shut down those fucking backyard puppy mills and the like who are churning out 'product for profit'. Spay/neuter as often as possible. And stop with the breeding in mutations (like the 'super-snub nose' on bulldogs ... the poor things CANNOT breathe!!!) .... and other 'designer breed' mutations. Argh, people, think!!!


That is all.

... handiwork:

http://www.wusa9.com/video/79579081001/1/PHOTO-MAY-BE-DISTURBING-Child-Gets-892-Stitches-After-Pit-Bull-Attack

http://www.bestgore.com/animal-encounters/7-year-old-boy-survive-pitbull-attack-face-gnawed-off/

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/20271669/police-pit-bull-attacks-child-in-griffin

Want some more? I barely scratched the surface of what's available.

BTW, we have 3 French Bulldogs and 2 GSDs and a kennel license.

This is just the first page from today.

Pit Bull Attacks 76-Year-Old Calif. Woman, Neighbors Hit Dog with ...
Opposing Views-Mar 8, 2013
A pit bull attacked a 76-year-old woman on Tuesday as she was making her daily shopping trip to Walmart in San Jacinto, California, sending ...

Janesville Gazette
14 month old boy dies after pit bull attack
Sheboygan Daily-Mar 6, 2013
WALWORTH COUNTY — A 14 month old boy and his 30 year old babysitter were attacked by a pair of pit bulls Wednesday. The woman called ...
+Show more

NBC Southern California
SAN JACINTO: Woman, 76, rescued from pit bull attack
Press-Enterprise-Mar 6, 2013
Jose Reyes holds the baseball bat he used to help rescue a 76-year-old San Jacinto woman attacked by a pit bull Wednesday, March 5.

Good Samaritan saves cyclist in pitbull attack
Independent Online-Mar 8, 2013
Durban - As two pitbull terriers mauled his leg, a cyclist thought his life was over, but a Good Samaritan pulled her car alongside him, hooting ...

Woman says she was injured in pitbull attack
Madison County Record-Mar 5, 2013
In recently filed court documents, a woman claims she suffered severe and permanent injuries after a dog attacked her while she was visiting a ...

Two pit bull attacks in Apple Valley
Victorville Daily Press-Mar 1, 2013
APPLE VALLEY • Two separate pit bull attacks were reported in one day, injuring two women and one child, according to San Bernardino ...

Boy speaks about pit bull attack
7Online WSVN-TV-Feb 14, 2013
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A young boy is recuperating from his wounds after he was attacked by a pit bull while visiting his ...

NBC Southern California
Pitbulls Attack Horserider, One Dog Shot and Killed
Patch.com-Feb 23, 2013Share
A 24-year-old man shot and killed one of two pit bulls attacking a woman and her horse along a trail in San Dimas Saturday morning, a sheriff's ...

Man attacked by pit bull for several minutes remains hospitalized
WPXI Pittsburgh-Feb 13, 2013
According to police, officers were dispatched to Stoebner Way in Larimer just before 5 p.m. Tuesday for the report of a pit bull attacking the man.

Pit Bull Kills 2-Year-Old Isaiah Ray Aguilar as He Chases Balloon
Opposing Views-Feb 20, 2013
Dogsbite.org reports that the female Pit Bull that attacked and killed toddler Isaiah Aguilar had recently killed another Pit Bull and that she also ...

Surviving vicious dog attack, Jim Stewart starts long recovery
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/36736
Bull Dog

Teen Recovering After Vicious Dog Attack
http://www.wftv.com/countybycounty/21603892/detail.html
Rottweiler

Animal expert: dog attack was Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's fault
http://www.examiner.com/x-1994-LA-Celebrity-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m11d20-Animal-expert-dog-attack-was-Jennifer-Lopez-and-Marc-Anthonys-fault
German Shepherd

KILLED BY HIS OWN DOG
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/138487/Killed-by-his-own-dog
Doberman mix

Loose dog bites man twice
http://nnsl.com/northern-news-services/stories/papers/nov18_09dg.html
German Shepherd

Off-duty officer shoots dog
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/strange/strange_cnn_iowa_Off_duty_officer_shoots_dog_200911031323
Black Lab

Puppy kills 2-month-old boy
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/07/puppy-kills-2-m.html
Black Lab

Kids' cries woke mom of boy, 3, killed by dogs' bites
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=a79e501c-14a2-4964-aa02-f9a5ab25d2a5
Rottweiler

Coroner rules death of baby killed by dog was accident
http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/sep/24/coroner-rules-death-of-baby-killed-by-dog-was/
Husky

Here's a few links with some positive information but without any of the bullshit:

http://bslnews.org/

http://www.pbrc.net/

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/index.html

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/08/the-pit-bull-problem/

http://www.dontbullymybreed.org/

http://truthaboutpitbulls.blogspot.com/

http://www.pitbulladvocate101.com/index.php

http://saveabull.com/

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There's no "reason" for it; just media-induced ignorance & fear.

Because BSLs target the wrong thing & punish the wrong people and ultimately do not work.

Mauling deaths - mostly avoidable

when they realize they don't work. Unfortunately, a few seek to EXPAND the ban. Too often, misinformed idiots get in charge of the process.

We'll just have to disagree over the notion that these dogs are only ever dangerous because of "bad owners".

That's why we have taken in more rescues than we count and went thru a local yokel, government bureaucratic nightmare and spent a bunch of money we don't have to get a kennel license.

That makes perfect fucking sense.

I guess our secret is out.

Which is sad, because they're the breed most in need of help. Mainly because of the hatred, fear & plain blind ignorance you're promoting here.

My fucking eyes are wide open and my vision is 20/20. Who "needs help" is the thousands of people and other animals that mauled by your "nanny dogs" every year. No other breed even comes close to the damage they do, to not only people and pets, but to the wider perception of canines in general.

I'm a damn sight better informed about dogs, their care, the legal responsibilities of keeping them, than 99% of the people on this forum, including you.

If you don't want to be insulted, don't try to pass yourself off as an expert then present info which can so easily be proven wrong.

Pal.

Children mauled and some of them killed by the breed you are trying to pass off as "nanny dogs." Tell us how they didn't happen, the parents must be faking those too, right?


Pa-fucking-thetic.

The difference is that any dog properly trained and socialized won't. If you had any real experience at all with dogs, you'd know that.

Last edited Mon Mar 11, 2013, 07:49 PM - Edit history (1)

... Pit Bulls, far and away, maul, maim, and kill more people and pets than any other breed. Sorry that the actual facts offend you so much.

Horses & cows kill more people each year than Pit Bulls:

Number of fatalities, 2006:
Dogs (Bitten or struck by), 32
-Pit-Bull-type, 17
-Rottweiler, 9
Other mammals (Bitten or struck by), 72
-Horses, 20
-Cows, 22
-Deer, 15 (excluding an est. 105 involving motor vehicles)
Lawn mowers, 65
Sharp glass, 32
Falling off a cliff, 73
Drowning and submersion following fall into bathtub, 32
Drowning and submersion while in bathtub, 381

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/MortFinal2006_WorktableIV_part2.pdf

Compare with the 42,642 traffic fatalities we had in 2006. You must want to ban automobiles as well.

Not because dying is funny, but because I would expect, what with all the hysteria regarding pit bulls, that surely there would be more deaths by pit bulls than say, dying in the bathtub, which is something we use every day. I found in a list that there was slightly more deaths related to lightening than pit bulls. So I wonder when we're going to start banning bathtubs? I mean a little over 400 people died as a result of them!

But then again we all don't have to like the same things. Some like Collies, some like Poodles. On this however you are an insufferable clod regardless of your rescue claims. A true dog lover wouldn't have the attitude you do.

I can see right through your bullshit and so can others here, apparently.

Pit Bull hating being just one of them.

How would a "ban" take place? Would all all the pits be simply euthanized? Who would do that? Who pays for that? Would your city/state come and take your family dog that you've had for years?

I agree Stinky, it's the asshole humans that have ruined this breed.

BSLs are passed based on fear & ignorance. Non-aggressive, family-socialized Pit Bull-type dogs have been confiscated and killed with no respect to their temperament, training or history. While, in the same jurisdiction non-Pit Bulls who do have aggression, violence & temperament issues have been allowed to roam freely. The only difference is the way the dogs looks.

If it was being done to humans we'd call it genocide based on racial profiling.

I am against breed bans. There is no way to do it without being simply cruel and inhumane.

Education and neuter programs are the way to go!

Ban an object from everyone because a few misuse it.

as an inanimate object designed to kill.

American way, didn't ya know?

Maybe someday we'll learn.

to change the minds around here already set on believing pit bulls are dangerous from birth no matter how they are trained, you're wasting your time. Some are just wrapped up in all this hysteria which is complete bullshit anyway. You got a slightly better chance of dying from a lightening strike than at the jaws of a pit bull. All of this hysteria is ridiculous.

Some perspective is in order. Do you know how many pit bulls are in the United States? Do you know how many pit bull rescue shelters there are? How many pit bull fosters there are? How many owners of them there are? Look up the numbers people. Those attacked or killed by a pit bull is a drop in the bucket, compared to population of people and pit bulls. The way some of you talk, we should be hearing of hundreds, if not thousands of pit bull attacks daily seeing as how they are so "dangerous" - and if that was happening you know the media would be all over it.

When you do see a vicious pit bull, 99% of the time all roads lead back to the owners. Instead of trying to ban an entire breed of dog, why don't you help us all in eradicating the scum bags who mistreat and train these dogs to be fighters. Put the blame where it belongs. These people are the root to the damn problem, not the breed.

I can find loads of people all over the world killed, bitten and mauled by other dogs, I can cherry pick stories too with a google search.

Why don't you measure those against the stories about pit bulls doing remarkable things for their owners?

Or how about the floods of stories about people abusing pit bulls - a few months ago in my area I not only saw several who were starved to death, beaten, one that was tied to a bumper of a truck and dragged down the highway until the chain broke and the dog hit a guard rail, had to be put to sleep. How about the one that was tied to a picnic table in the cold and it's hind quarters stuck to the ground. I can find a lot more of these stories. See how many of those stories you can find.

Gee, I guess all people must be evil bastards because SOME people treat animals in this way. It seems to be the case with ALL pit bulls, right?

Take it up with the insurance actuaries who run the numbers. Why dont insurance companies insure houses where a pitbull is kept/owned?

Oh I'm sorry, you must mean that it's ok to treat animals like shit, but not ok if that animal retaliates (and yes I realize the retaliation is often misplaced unfortunately). If a person has a dog, whatever breed that dog is, if they treat them badly, train them to fight, use them as a bait dog and whatever other horrible things that are done, and that dog causes harm to another, the owner should be held criminally responsible. It's still up to us pet owners to control our animals, regardless of what they are.

And insurance companies, yeah some won't insure pit bulls .... however there are those that do insure pit bulls, hence otherwise you're trying to say that pit bull owners who also own property don't tell their insurance companies about their pit bull. Did you know that the ones who don't also will not insure other, what they call "bully breeds"? Pit bulls are not the only ones in the list of "bully breeds". Other breeds have a stigma attached to them too. If you want to rent an apartment, if they don't have an all out ban on ALL dogs, they may have one for bully breeds. Some won't allow you to have a dog that weighs too much (such as nothing over 40lbs). However, other rental properties do allow whatever dog you may have as long as that dog doesn't cause a problem. These landlords also have insurance with a company that will insure bully breeds.

Some people believe that all Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds are bad dogs - that's also rubbish. When you work with all kinds of dogs, you learn pretty quick that it's not the breed, it's the individual dog who most times is just guilty of being a product of their environment. I don't discriminate against people, I won't do it with dogs either.

Dog breeds were bred by humans for specific tasks and traits. The blood sport breeds were bred for superiority in the fighting ring. So dogs are fair game for discrimination if you dont like the sport that the dog was bred for. Its just a man-made breed like a breed of plant or car make. In no way can that be compared to natural species and/or humans. To say they are equal is a dangerous false equivalency.

We're a completely different species from dogs! Good grief, when I said I don't discriminate against breeds of dog (as I don't discriminate against different people), I meant that I don't look upon one breed as being better than another, or one breed being meaner than another. I don't stigmatize a whole breed based on the actions of a few. You realize that when you work with hundreds of different dogs.

You have a very different attitude towards animals than I do evidently. I respect all life, not just my own species. Dogs had their purposes and were bred for different things. Pit bulls were not just bred to fight, but then no doubt you'll disbelieve that. These days however, our dogs are companion animals and whether you want to believe it or not, most pit bulls are wonderful dogs. You just refuse to see the better side of the coin.

Please follow this link to the testing agency's site:
http://atts.org/tt-test-description/

Once there, you can click in the menu, second from right, for breed statistics, or follow this link:
http://atts.org/breed-statistics/

For the record, the American Pit Bull Terrier scores an 86.8% (higher is better, lower is worse). The closely related Stafforshire Terrier that some contend is the actual "Nanny Dog" scores slightly lower, at 84.5%. In practical terms, the members of both breeds are similar.

Here are more highlights (info from the liks above)

A Collie, like Lassie, scores 80.3%. The much admired Border Collie is 81.5%. (Ours is probably a lower scored individual as she has a bite record already and can be dog agressive. She is wrapped *very* tightly.) The cute little Chihuahua is at 69.8%. Also cute and small is the Lhasa Apso, with a score of only 70.4%. The Obama's Portuguese Water Dog is at 77.8%. Scottish Terriers, like Bush'd Barney, get a 63.6%. My wife's beloved little Shih-Tzu is right there with Bo at 77.8%.

Those cuter than cute Shelties (Shetland Sheep Dogs/Miniature Collies) deserve a bit of respect as they score only 68.3%.

Lastly, My German Shepherd Dog, the gentlest creature to walk the earth, ever, sees her breed score a decent 84.8% In that each of these scores or averages of tested individuals, my sens is that ours would probably score a mid 90. He fault is warning stragners passing by on the road to pick another place to walk.

But anyway, this is to show some actual research into Pit Bull temperament and give lie to "vicious" reputation. They are, obviously, High "ordinary" . . . .and that's a good thing.

By the way, do some looking and you find much in the way of rational reportage, research, and commentary demonstrating that Pitties are no worse than any dog and lots better than many. The opposite view is also available, but from less reliable sources and in far less numbers.

when he denies you homeowners insurance because of your pit bull. Insurance actuarial stats are based on cold numbers not temperament. A chihuahua probably has poor temperament but it cant remove your arm or face like pit bulls have been know to do.

that would terrify people if done by a large breed simply because it looks cute, and to my knowledge, no one's ever been killed by a Maltese. (Unless they tripped over it and fell down the stairs.)

the Newfie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_(dog)


http://breeds-dog.blogspot.com/2012/03/newfoundland-dog-temperament.html

The Newfoundland Dog is Legendary for his mild and docile, and are incredibly loyal and strength.They make great working dogs. That's why this race is known as the "gentle giant" or nanny dog. International Kennel clubs generally describe the breed as having a sweet temperament. Usually has a deep bark, it is easy to train if you start early. And "exceptionally good with children, but because of its size in a very early age, young children may be accidentally dropped, and bowed. The breed was immortalized in" Nana ", the lover of guard dogs in Peter Pan New Terra generally good with other animals, but its size can create problems if not trained.

'Pit' meant they did it in a pit. 'Terrier' is a dog bred and trained to go down holes - to fight burrowing animals.