which is in some ways more dangerous than many other breeds. But they seem to be the preferred breed for idiots, and they are used and abused by same.

No, not all pit owners are idiots. Moving on...like a retriever who as a mature dog is driven to retrieve, or a herding dog that by nature herds your cats and children, pits have certain characteristics that can really escalate what might be a minor event with another breed.



Bet I get a load of flames for saying that, though.

It's the owner!!! They're the problem!!!
That's what gun nuts also say.

In fact, just today, I was at the pet supply store this afternoon and met the sweetest female pit bull! She was totally flirting with my dog.

The thing is that many people get them because they think they are tough, violent dogs. It's a self-fulfilling prophesy.

And just for the record, the only child I've ever known personally who was attacked by a family dog was my best friend's daughter and the dog was just a run of the mill mutt.

prophecy." I think this is mostly true - out of all the pits with actual competent owners I've known, only one was ever known to get aggressive with people.

Some of the sweetest dogs I've met have been pits or pit mixes. I damn sure don't advocate doing away with the entire breed. But there's a good reason why aggressive idiots tend to choose pits - part of it is "image," sure, but it's also the dogs' physical characteristics (which, granted, are sometimes exaggerated as marketing or fear-mongering).

I was in a neighborhood distributing literature for a candidate. I did not know it was even there. There was no barking, no growling, first thing I knew a dog was around was when it had its teeth in my side. It got two good bites in my side and a couple in my arm. I reported it to county animal control but they said they could not find it.

Are u OK?

Applied a bunch of alcohol to the wounds and some down my throat. I got sick for a day or so a couple days later but that may be a coincidence.

I'm one of those ppl who just 'deal with it'.... But sometimes professional care is warranted.

I have seen a doctor maybe three times in 30 years and each time I came out of the office wondering why I went in. If I can stand I deal with it also.

Few and far between, but it's good to be able to recognize when it is necessary.

Care to try again? Before slogging his shit work around, check out the resources used.

Keep rolling that worthless garbage out (next will be the CDC's own debunked "study", because...typical) and we'll keep tossing it in the dumpster where it belongs.

for utilitarian needs, working assistants if you will, are now kept as pets for narcissists.

They 'grandfathered in' existing pit-bulls, but do not allow new ones.

I agree that they are sweet dogs - if raised as a family pet. Sadly, many are not.

They are very protective - it is their created nature, and they are very strong.

Dog Nutz are similar to Gun Nutz.... there is no 'enough already'. They will continue to try to make the 'weapon' more lethal. They dump undesirables at shelters (packed w/them) or just kill them.

There is a sub-culture that is focused on this breed and their ability to kill. Stop the supply!!

I would LOVE to have the humans doing this taken out, but that's not gonna happen.

The American Pit Bull is a product of selective breeding for protective and aggressive proclivities... all well and good - but a nasty sub-culture of humans are actively trying to create monsters out of them.

I say phase them out - no new litters allowed. Existing dogs are great, so long as they are 'pets', not pit fighters. The sewer scum that want them for fighting may not like that, but I don't give a rats ass. Cold Turkey M'F*ers !!!

There are soooooo many dogs needing a loving home euthanized every year - most are pit bulls that were not 'pets'.

That said, my Effie is a pit bull cross. Silly, insubordinate and lovable.

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2013/02/pit_bulls_banned_countries.php
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/04/11/municipalities-ban-pit-bulls/7582381/
https://www.americanbar.org/newsletter/publications/gp_solo_magazine_home/gp_solo_magazine_index/pitbull.html

Look around. Clueless, feckless morons have a say.

At one time we called them "Republicans" here. Now, not so much.

These same fucking morons invoke Merritt Clifton. They think they have a "gotcha" but what they have is a facepalm-able laugh track of their entire argument.

Suffer fools, idiots and shitwits gladly. I will not do.

The same people who want to to own assault rifles and pistols. They are nuts.

I look forward to your answer.

Of all the cuddly, loving, family friendly breeds available, why pit bulls? If they're just like any other dog why are they favored by gang bangers, drug dealers, militia types, paranoids, macho douchebags...

Often when problems arise with some breeds it is a result of the way they treated and/or trained by their owners. Actually, some of the really small dogs can be pretty aggressive but they don't get any where near the amount of publicity that pit bulls do.

The little ones bite more often, but inflict minimal harm - rarely more than a few band aids, and are most often not reported.

dangerous then any other dog I have ever owned (on her home turf). Small dogs can be more prone to nipping and biting out of either 1) fear biting related to their small size or 2) what I call a Napoleonic complex that they are going to protect their turf and their family.

When my small dog was alive I always had to grab her if someone came onto our property because she would bite. If we were somewhere else she was generally not a problem although over rambunctious young children could set her off.

all kinds and in all sorts of conditions of mental and physical health and I have to say I'm always a little on guard with Pitts. Even the sweeties - and I've worked with some - strike me as having a hair trigger. Innately high-strung it seems.

to address the issues I brought up.

I know it is a loaded subject, and I run an animal rescue myself.

But, at the moment, you appear to be possibly PUI...as am I w/ my 3rd glass of wine in hand. A good time to laugh, a bad place to be for arguments.

I would like to have a real conversation.... in the morning - after coffee.

SOMETIMES

Problem solved.

such a PR problem. The person that would train any pitbull to attack anything is pure evil and should be locked up for animal cruelty.

Ugh. I get so sick of the OP's ridiculous cats-are-the-devil posts.

Thanks for the reminder.

although I've seen some that were effective guard dogs. Most of the ones I've gotten close to were pussycats, loved to have their necks and ears scratched, sighers and leaners.

That being said, pitties do tremendous damage when they do bite, that's the main problem, they're all jaw. Little kids who don't understand are often the victim because they can't tell the difference between playful behavior and a dog that's over it and on its last nerve.

I know I wouldn't have one around kids under 10, old enough to understand some dog behavior cues and big enough to survive an attack.

Interesting.

But saying that...

I had a complete Nanny Dog when I was a kid. This dog was insane crazy hate with just about anyone but me. The other family members? He would tolerate their touch. Dog would meet me at the end of this long ass country driveway for the school bus.

Good boy.

A neighbor poisoned him with ground glass.

How many owners get "pit bulls" because they want a dog for protection (or to scare others) and don't properly train them? Not too long ago, it was dobermans that had the same reputation.

I say that as a person that has had previous experience with a child being severely bitten by a neighbor's pit bull. My son, to this day (even with his permanent facial scars) doesn't blame the dog. In fact, he loves dogs and we have several.

Then along came Odie, 7 months and homeless. I was supposed to watch him for a couple weeks. After two weeks no body could take him away from me. He had cigarette burns on his stomach that some creeps did when he was just a pup. They were trying to make him mean I guess. He is a hundred pound male and loves everyone. I am foster to a German Shepard/Rottweiler right now and they get along fine, he is 116 pounds and I do keep an eye on him because I don't know him that well. He came from a Meth addict home and I wish he could talk. He is 11. But Sassie the 20 pound Cocker would be the most dangerous if she had the same weight. I have to muzzle her to give her a bath. The Bulldog would be the safest dog I got. And I am pretty sure I am not an idiot.

(by we I mean my then 17 year-old son) ... I was told she was a "mixed breed" (she technically is). She was (and is)the sweetest little dog. Everything we had wanted. After I was thoroughly in love I was informed that she was a "pit bull"

She is well trained and extremely well behaved; however, I take every precaution with her ... as I would do with any large dog.

There is no accurate dog census. The CDC based its statistics on media reports, which are biased, based on misinformation, and written to sell, not inform. The so-called statistics the OP points to come with numerous caveats, and the person referred to is a known pitbull hater with an agenda.

Last year I spent a lot of time looking at the CDC and other reports on dog bites. The vast majority -- and I mean *vast* majority were: *unneutered males *running loose, often in a pack *or chained 24x7 (which leaves them very unsocialized and fear-stressed because they know they are trapped)

Several of the deaths were flukes; not the result in any way of the bite. A chihuhua bite that was not medically treated; resulting infection also untreated led to death. I would say negligance on the part of the elderly person's caregivers. One person who had a heart condition that was, essentially, a ticking time bomb. A fender-bender could have also led to the person's heart attack.

Pit bulls score very, very high on temperatment testing. Higher than many of our most familiar "family pet" breeds.

Breed Name..........................Tested...Passed....Failed...Percent
LABRADOR RETRIEVER............805.......741........64.......92.0%

AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER..870.......755........115......86.8%
AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE....657.......555........102......84.5%
BEAGLE.............................75.........60..........15....80.0%
BORDER COLLIE.....................292.......238........54........81.5%
BOSTON TERRIER...................68.........57..........11.......83.8%
CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI........75.........60..........15.......80.0%
COLLIE..................................873.......701.........172.....80.3%
DALMATIAN...........................336.......278..........58......82.7%
DOBERMAN PINSCHER...........1655.....1,299........356.....78.5%
GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG.......3194.....2,710.......484......84.8%
GOLDEN RETRIEVER...........785.......669........116......85.2%
JACK RUSSELL TERRIER............63..........53.........10.....84.1%
MINIATURE POODLE..................71.........55.........16......77.5%
PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI........207........163........44.......78.7%
PORTUGUESE WATER DOG.......158........123........35.......77.8%
ROTTWEILER.........................5652......4,751......901......84.1%
SHETLAND SHEEPDOG.............502.........343......159......68.3%
STANDARD POODLE.................253.........219........34.....86.6%
WEIMARANER..........................218........176........42......80.7%

http://atts.org/breed-statistics/statistics-page7/