It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by SGTSECRET
so, to all those anti pit people, judging from this it would seem the chihuahua needs to be 'banned,' and the big mean pit is calm as can be. oh nooo big scary dog that kills people, wow...any dog can hurt someone, raise it right and you will have no worries.
Originally posted by Brandon88
If you wanna see a violent dog why don't you go check out the German Shepards with police training should they be banned to?
Originally posted by nixie_nox
reply to post by andersensrm
Again, personal experiences is not indicative of the problem overall. We had a pit who was spoiled rotten and given all the love in the world. (some humans could hope to have it this good) and the dog would growl and snap.
"Approximately 92% of fatal dog attacks involved male dogs, 94% of which were not neutered." This is probably a much stronger correlation than any single breed, yet I don't hear the same clarion call to require neutering for all dog adoptions (though we strongly encouraged it).
Well since you're taking the "plural of anecdote is data" route on this one, here's my contribution. I have loved every single pit bull I've ever met except two that were clearly raised #ty and were aggressive towards other dogs. The breed is bred to please, meaning they'll do anything and everything to garner praise. If that means rolling over on their back so that master says "I wuv you" in a high pitched voice, they'll do that. If that means attacking and killing something so that master says "good boy," it means that too. If master is a dip# and doesn't train or socialize them properly, it means they'll do whatever comes naturally, which may be face biting and jugular slashing like any vicious dog (ever met an aggressive German shepherd? 10x scary).
It is hands down my favorite breed, but because Americans are by and large dip# dog owners, it means that by and large American pit bulls are #ty dogs.
I've been a daily reader of yours for ten years, and this post about pitbulls is the first time that I've been moved to write to you. You are going to get a lot of overheated rhetoric about these dogs on both sides so I wanted to share my experience as a pitbull owner, father and attorney. I have owned several of these dogs, all from shelters, and the one that I currently have was taken away from her previous owner due to cruel treatment. These are the things that I have found to be true:
1) These are great family dogs. They love kids and are suckers for any kind of positive attention. They have a high pain tolerance and generally are not bothered by kids pulling their ears, etc. These dogs are great cuddlers.
2) They can be dog aggressive. Dogs that were bred for generations to fight other dogs cannot always turn this off. If dogs fight, the pit is usually going to win and is capable of killing the other dog. I personally have found that neutered/spayed dogs properly socialized are rarely dog aggressive but owners need to be able to read their dog's body language to head off a potential fight. I currently have a large female pitbull that goes to doggy daycare, the dogpark, and resides with another mixed breed female with no problem. I had one before her for 12 years that would fight any dog she came into contact with but loved people. She stayed indoors and on a leash when out and about.
3) Dog aggression is not human aggression. Dogs that were bred for the pit were also bred not to display human aggression. There is someone in the pit with the dogs when they fight. Pitbulls were never bred to be guard dogs or protection and are not very good at either. If you want a dog to protect your home or family from human intruders, you are much better served by a German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Bullmastiff, Akita, etc. I would also note that all of these dogs are much larger than pitbulls.
4) Unfortunately a lot of #heads own pitbulls. They like the dog's reputation for aggressiveness and do things to foster it.
5) A properly socialized pitbull will be the best dog you own. They are extremely affectionate, they will be your kid's best friend, are extremely eager to please, and loyal to a fault. The shelters are full of these wonderful dogs that are going to be put down. These dogs aren't for everybody. They are active, need exercise, and need to be properly socialized. If you aren't willing to do these things, don't get a pit - you are just perpetuating a problem. Actually, you probably shouldn't get a dog period.
Originally posted by ILikeStars
Yet another Baby attacked by Cat - Should they be Banned?
A pitbull's lock jaw can well exceed 300psi of pressure and the dogs need to be shot with a firearm multiple times if enraged. The only viable way to release its bite (sans a firearm) is by using a wedge-shaped object to ram into the side of the dog's mouth and hammer in to force it open.
Some Facts & Myths About Pit Bulls*
* Pit bulls do not have locking jaws.
* They do not bite differently than other large breeds.
* They are not more aggressive than other breeds (source: American Temperament Test Society).
link
Take the opportunity to dispel many of the common myths: Pit bulls do not have locking jaws, do night bite differently than other large breeds, do not “suddenly snap...”
Like all prejudicial thinking, judging a dog simply by how it looks only leads to negative actions and reactions.
Understanding that certain myths created about particular breeds can lead to innocent dogs losing their lives is something that, happily, many thousands of people have been able to grasp since the Worldwide web has been able to educate.
link
The structure and function of the APBT’s jaws is the same as any other dog. They do not have a “locking mechanism” in their jaws and they do not have an “enzyme” that prevents the release of a bite.
dogwatch
The most common myth about 'pit bull' dogs is that their jobs lock. This is untrue.
Breeds like the American Pit Bull Terrier do have very powerful jaws, and this is where this myth comes from. However, the jaw does not 'lock' - and you cannot get the jaw to 'lock' through abusive actions such as breaking the jaw.
There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of "locking mechanism" unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."
The 'pit bull' has powerful jaws, but they are not alone in this. This is yet another myth - that 'pit bulls' are more dangerous because they have the most powerful bite. Most large breeds and cross breeds have a very strong bite, and even smaller dogs can inflict a bite powerful enough to kill. Any dogs can be dangerous in the hands or an irresponsible, negligent or abusive owner.
Originally posted by guitarist
reply to post by lordbayfin
For Pit Bulls like Doberman , German Shepherds and Rotty's that were all over breed in the past and shelters were full of them. just like they may have more Pit Bulls at times today.
When i walk into a ASPCA,I see all breeds of dogs. don't know which shelters you have been to.
I'd blame the owner. before the dog. was the dog on a leash ? if he or she was walking it how was the dog raised. there is a lot of factors to any dogs behavior.
Do you own a Pit or have you ever ?
I have along with other breeds and they are great dogs.
And for Pit Bulls being called black, brown, red (liver nose) and blue by their noses, big deal its a category.
When i pick up a news paper or turn the TV or go online, i see humans killing, maiming, raping torturing and doing other unspeakable things to other humans and their own children, maybe we should be banned since we are real lousy examples for our own children our animals or anything else for that matter.
Originally posted by Domo1
reply to post by rival
even chows and rott's and dobies.
Rotts have a much stronger bite than pit bulls. Dobermans were bread to attack humans. Pit Bulls were bred to be very tolerant of humans so the handlers could well... handle them.
A pitbull's lock jaw