News of pit bull attacks just keeps coming.
In March alone, an Indianapolis cop was bitten on a knee while looking for someone for questioning. Another officer shot
and killed one of two of dogs that attacked a man while he carried out trash. The dog, by the way, had been at a Humane Society
shelter and adopted out months earlier.
The stories are worse farther from Indianapolis. Three children mauled in California by a roaming pack of five. A woman’s
arm nearly ripped away during a two-minute-long frenzy in Australia.
There were nearly 300 pit bull attacks in Indianapolis last year. Police spokesman Jeff Duhamell expects activity to pick
up again as the weather warms and more people resume jogging, bicycling and other outdoor activity.
“They are an extremely vicious breed, and they always have been. They’ll come after you,” Duhamell says.
“The more you pull way from them, the more they’ll lock down and start ripping skin and muscle.”
Pit bull owners say the bad rap comes from unrestrained animals or those trained to be mean. It doesn’t help that the
breed is favored by drug dealers and other folks who don’t like attention, aficionados say. Treat the dogs responsibly
and train them to be passive, and they’re fine.
(If pit bulls can be trained to be unaggressive, can labs be trained not to fetch? Just asking.)
Mayor Greg Ballard and the City-County Council have been reluctant to single out the breed for special regulation.
So what’s a person to do?
Duhamell says pit bulls running loose are the most dangerous, because they’re aggressively territorial. Stay away from
them, and get inside a car or house if you feel threatened, he recommends. Or shout “No!” or “Down!”
in the hope they’re educated. Other dogs set them off, so leave yours at home.
A Taser might work if you’re accurate enough to get the probes on the dog, he says. And Mace might help.
Duhamell muses about the potential of pepper spray designed to ward off grizzly bears. The spray, which hunters are required
to carry in areas of Wyoming, squirts 30 feet from a small canister.
If all else fails, Web sites focused on dog attacks recommend curling up in a fetal position and protecting the head and
face—areas where plastic surgery is harder to hide with clothing.
What are your thoughts about pit bulls? Are they maligned? Any ideas for preventing attacks you can share?
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In Your State
http://tinyurl.com/yamdhfd
"Over the past 45 years (1965-present) there have been eleven (11) fatal dog attacks in Indiana, an average of one (1) fatality every four (4) years.
At least twelve (12) different breeds/types of dogs have been identified in these eleven incidents. (Note: The number of breeds is larger than number of attacks because one fatality involved three dogs of different breeds.)...In 2005, 29 Indiana children died as result of maltreatment (abuse / neglect).
In a single year, 2005, more than four times as many Indiana children died from maltreatment than the total of all children killed by dogs in the state over the past 44 years."
I am the proud owner of an 11 year old female pit bull. She has never shown any aggression towards anyone. She loves people and adores children.
I raised her right. She doesn't encounter aggression in the house. She doesn't encounter beatings or fights.
By growing up in a warm and loving house, she has become a very well mannered dog.
It is a ridiculous comment to state if you can untrain aggressiveness can you untrain a lab to fetch. You don't untrain anything. You never train it in the first place.
We live in a society of people who can't think for themselves. Pit Bulls are all aggressive b/c TV told me so. Life lesson: There are no absolutes. This applies to stereotypes of dogs as well as stereotypes of people.
What do you do when the media attacks? I've tried curling up in the feral position - it doesn't help - and there is not enough plastic surgery in the world that will make the media look good or trustworthy anymore.
FACT - This is called a "dog bite" and all dogs can do this when someone barges onto their territory.
Theyâ??ll come after you,â?? Duhamell says. â??The more you pull way from them, the more theyâ??ll lock down and start ripping skin and muscle.â?? - FICTION - made up nonsense because he really didn't have a case to cite of a police officer having his muscle and skin ripped by a pit bull - so he just slapped his lips together for a good story line for your "pit bull article."
Ah, information about pit bulls from the business journal and a police spokesperson.
Now, let me go and ask my 12-year-niece for her opinion... it's got to be better than this garbage.
First when any dog attacks, keep your wits about you. Do not panic, animals can sense fear and distress, if the animal attacking you just attacked for "NO Reason" then they are not going to stop because you are yelling and screaming. Second, use what you can to protect youself, most dogs have a high pain tolerance using your feet and hands probably won't do much (personal experience dog on dog, no pit by the way. An AKC lab and an AKC AB). Didn't know about this one but... If you can... Stick your finger (or bigger) into it's anus. Apparently a dog will instantly let go. Haven't seen this but makes some sense. And lastly... the most important part:
Don't say it was a 'pit bull'. Pit bull is not a breed of dog, it is a "type" that emcompasses many breeds (any where from 3 at a minimum to dozens). Dogs are deemed pit bull if they even remotly resemble what someone (ignorantly) beleives a 'pit bull' looks like (again pit bull is not a breed).
No domestic dog breed is more 'inherently' dangerous than any other, dangerousness needs to evaluated on an individual basis. There are numerous 'pit bull' (mostly the real pure bred APBT, and AmStaffs) dogs that work in law enforcement and as therapy dogs. If they are so dangerous why would our boys in blue even consider them as 'partners'? Hopefully the ignorant 'rumors' stop here and I don't have to start pulling out websites that state my point. Like the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) or the National Canine Research Council. Check for yourselves.
ALL dogs will attack prey or defend what they perceive as their territory (though these instincts can be overcome by good training.) But not all dogs have the jaw strength and tenaciousness of a pit bill. Pit bills are not inherently vicious but their bites are inherently more damaging than many other breeds.
"
And do you think this is the first time that a media outlet has mis identified a dog as a pit bull?
Second, why in the world was Duhamell interviewed? It is obvious by his words that his viewpoint is rather skewed. He just spouts off the first things that come to mind without ANY factual basis about these dogs, or dogs in general. He may want to do his research about learn about dog behavior in general and RESPONSIBLE dog ownership before slamming a breed.
I am truly SHOCKED at the audacity of the author of this "blog" to not do a hint of research before allowing this blog to be "published" online.
This is a breed that has been around for over 200 years. This is a breed that has been honored as one of our top war dogs (Sgt. Stubby). This is a breed that was called a nanny dog. This used to be a family dog and still is. It is the irresponsible dog owners and backyard breeders who have ruined the wonderful reputation of the breed, and the rest of us have to pay.
Any dog has the propensity to attack, and pits are no different than any other dog. It just so happens that they are the dog of choice now by the media, and with your idiotic blog, it is just fueling a fire that doesn't need any help. WHY? Why did you have to post this?
One HUGE thing to keep in mind is that there are 20+ breeds and mix breed dogs that resemble pit bulls that are NOT pit bulls. This is so much information to find online from reputable sources. The term "pit bull" has become a catch-all term for dogs that have a stocky build, a block-like head, and short hair. The media and police officers do not know what kind of dog has attacked...they just ASSUME that it is a pit bull because of the way it looks. Sounds a bit like discrimination to me, which is what RESPONSIBLE dog owners are trying to avoid, no matter what the breed.
Many backyard breeders have screwed up the disposition of all breeds of dogs. When you can get a pup for $20 from a classififed ad, do you think that the dog will be of sound character? NO. Maybe the police department, media, and other naysayers should try to focus on backyard breeders and the irresponsible dog owners for their dirty deeds rather than bash the breed and the rest of us who ARE RESPONSIBLE?
"Pit bulls" have received a bad rap because they are an extremely popular breed (meaning there are many out there) for families because of their gentleness, intelligence, and many other POSITIVE qualities. It is the irresponsible dog owners who keep them in the yard, do not include them in the family, chain them up, do not spay/neuter them, do not vaccinate them, and just allow them to be lawn ornaments that cause a majority of the problems. Responsible dog ownership is the KEY to any happy and healthy dog, no matter WHAT the breed.
You will rarely ever hear/read of dog attacks on anyone by any other breed of dog because that just might tarnish the squeaky clean image of the "family dog". Keep in mind that dog attacks from many other breeds occur on a regular basis, but the media chooses not to report it. Why not continue to bash a breed that doesn't deserve the beating that it continously receives? The "pit bull" is just a thug dog and doesn't matter to anyone else, right? You couldn't be any more wrong.
I am utterly disappointed in the choice of topic for this blog and to be asking such stupid questions about what to do when a pit bull attacks. If you want to make the article less discriminatory, maybe it should be what to do when ANY dog attacks.
Here are some reputable websites for you to look at to learn the truth before any future blogs:
http://www.badrap.org/rescue/index.html
http://www.pitbulllovers.com/pit-bulls-ten-things-you-should-know.html
http://www.dogwatch.net/fight_ontario_ban/pit_bull_facts.html
These are just a few of the hundreds of websites out there that will educate you on the wonderful breed and its relatives.
This blog is disgusting.
Can you truly say that the dogs that chased you were pit bulls? No you cannot. Unless the dogs were DNA tested (which the tests are generally inconclusive) you have NO idea what breed of dog they were. More than likely they were a mixed breed that just looked like your perception and the medias perception of what a "pit bull" is. A bigger dog with teeth and short hair. OH MY! It must be a pit bull! This is what they look like! Good job on discrimation.
I would have LOVED to see the "300 Pit Bull bites in 2008" out into perspective and include the whole stats for all breeds, not just a one sided slant which fulfills your agenda.
BTW, was Duhamell speaking on behalf of IMPD this time or not???
I think you are the one missing the point. Who cares whether it was a pitbull or not!!! She was afraid for her life! Any Dog roaming free that intimidates (i.e. hair up, growls, chasing) shouldn't be on the street. Either the owner controls it or it should be taken off the street. Dogs don't have rights...people do!!! You can't discriminate against an animal...only people!!!
good information? questionable.
so, what do you do? if they are going to bite, they are not going to let you pull away. so do everything you can to get your hand in their mouth, not you arm, your hand. you won't be able to pull it away, no way, no how. but you will be able to push it, as in, straight down their throat. push hard. it's going to be a bloody mess, but at least it's not your blood. when the police or the owner do show up, their left with a dead dog. you might be injured, but the attack will be ended, and that dog will never attack again.
I see you read the article and commented here, so you must have an interest. Thanks for your worthwhile comment.
Pittbulls have a very bad and untrue rep. I am a proud owner of three pittbulls, and have owned more than 20. The three that i have now are the best dogs a doglover could want. Neither of them have ever bitten anyone and only one of them is aggressive towards other dogs (as ALL MALE DOGS ARE!!!).
Any breed of dog can be trained to be aggressive and territorial, like german shephards for instance, which are a known breed used by policeman!
There may have been 300 pit bull attacks last year... but how many dog bites from another breed were experienced? How many go unreported? That's the problem with statistics. We can make them say whatever we want.
There are thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of pit bulls living peacefully in Indiana without creating any problems. These are the dogs that are cared for, loved, trained, and contained.
Michael - I take umbrage to your statement. I know almost ALL of the professional dog trainers here in Indianapolis and the vast majority of them say that pit bulls are one of their favorite breeds. A temperamentally correct pit bull can be one of the best pets. Any dog left outside, on a chain, who isn't socialized is a potential time bomb.
misconduct on penalty of confiscation.
Let's take your Lab example. The first time you throw a ball, a Lab may, instinctually, go get the ball -- an owner then, calls the dog back, the dog comes to the owner, turns over the ball, and the owner praises the dog on a job well done. Most owners do this instinctually-- and it's actually called training. The dog associates this with a good thing (affection) and continues to do it. If after the first few times the dog went to go get the ball the owner smacked the crap out of the dog for doing it, you can bet the dog would quit retrieving the ball because it now associates "retrieving" with a negative "punishment". So it stops the behavior.
Regardless of what instincts are there, the dogs end up being very largely a product of what the owners teach their dogs to do (and not do). That's the same regardless of whether the dog is a chihuahua, a lab, a pit bull, or whatever.
The website, Petabuse.com keeps tallies on pet abuse cases and in the past 8 years, 21% of all of the abuse cases they've tracked have involved pit bull type dogs.
http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/cruelty_database/statistics/pit_bulls_vs_non_pit_bulls.php?year=
If such a large percentage of the abuse cases involve a certain type of dog, then would it be any coincidence that they are over-represented in dog bite situations? Probably not.
We can either continue to be ignorant and try to pretend that it is a breed-specific issue (it's not) or we can focus on real causal issues like owner ignorance, cruelty and neglect. If we focus on ownership issues, we can protect the public from irresponsible dog owners -- regardless of what type of dog they own.
Or we can pretend it's the dog's fault, kill innocent dogs owned by good owners through breed specific laws, not protect the dogs from neglectful and criminal owners and not ever deal with the actual problem.
There is a reason that every mainstream organization that deals with canine behavior in any way opposes breed-specific laws. Veterinarians, trainers, rescues, and even the National Animal Control Association -- ALL of them oppose breed-specific regulations.
http://jentown.com/stopbsl/bslposition.htm
Hopefully we listen to those people when making our laws and not people who have no understanding of canine behavior.
The one area that I have had to constantly stay vigilant in their training -Not to be Overly Friendly & Excited when greeting people! They ADORE attention & get very excited when people pay attention to them. I have had to constantly reaffirm their proper social skills in greetings, as they love to get petted, and give kisses. They are a sight to see -all those wiggling butts hovering in anticipation of being loved on!
I have NEVER had to train my dogs to NOT be aggressive. All of them were rescued /adopted , most from the most despicable living conditions imaginable.
It never ceases to amaze me that they have such a huge capacity & willingness to forgive and trust the very species that abused them horrendously!
It would be a much better world if the Human species was so capable of the same qualities.
Well, good for the SB Council.
Here is the newsflash for you AND the council...they just enacted a provision that is not clear on what "breed" they are talking about. Unless the dog is DNA tested as someone else posted earlier (which still isn't accurate), those dogs that are confiscated could be of any breed, mixed or pure. These ban restrictions are harmful to all dog owners.
There are many different breeds of dogs, including mix breeds, that resemble what every one thinks a pit bull looks like. With the restrictions that your wonderful SB Council imposed, that is putting all dogs that look a certain way in harms way of being confiscated.
Yea, I am SO proud of South Bend. Maybe they should think and research before they act. Oh yea. That would be way too complicated for any form of government body. Making snap decisions that don't benefit anyone makes more sense.
Killing breeds??? All dogs are direct descendants of Canis Lupis (Grey Wolf), so essentially all dogs are of 'killing' breeds. They are animals, all animals kill. You kill... I kill... every living thing has the potential to kill. Stop blaming the dog for something that we, as humans could easily prevent. Yes it is the owner of the dog that gives the dog a reason to do something. These are domestic animals... even further they are pets, treat them as such and you will get all the love of a pet. Treat them cruely and what do you think is going to happen? These are not some mystical creature that we don't have knowledge about, they are dogs, man's first animal companion. We have been around them in some form or another for longer than we can even imagine. They are not a monster or devil or extra-terrestrial creature of any sort. They are dogs!
Here's a bulletin for your geniuses: punishing the dog(s) is not going to solve the problem. Punish the PEOPLE who are responsible for either failing to train their dog or for not supervising their dog. And leave the responsible pit bull owners, like myself, alone.
We have a female pit bull mix who was rescued from Hurricane Katrina. She has issues and doesn't like strangers. So we're very careful to not put her in a situation where she might feel threatened and be likely to "attack" (which, with her, consists of nipping your ankle when you turn your back). With the people she knows she's loving to the point of being obnoxious.
Our male pit bull was recently attacked - on our property - by the neighbor's hound! Our dog sustained about half a dozen DEEP puncture wounds--the one you'd think would walk away from a fight unharmed if you believed the nonsense about pit bulls being born to fight. We've raised him with love and discipline and it shows.
How about putting your energy into solving a real problem. Or make suggestions on how to punish the people responsible for vicious dogs of ALL BREEDS.
Secondly, bites (or as you say, attacks) have gone down in Marion County from almost 3,000 per year in the 1970s to approx. half that in recent years.
Thirdly, there have only been two fatal dog attacks in Indianapolis, one in 1974 and one in 1984 - neither of which was by a pit bull or pit bull type dog.
So, to recap: Dog bites (attacks) have decreased dramatically even as the pit bull population in Indy has increased.
There has never been a fatal pit bull attack in Indy (or Marion County).
So, what of all these "vicious" pit bulls and their being bred for centuries to kill and all the other inflammatory nonsense being said by police spokespeole and articles about how to avoid a pit bull attack?
Funny thing about facts, they rarely get in the way of a good pit bull bashing article.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/index.html
Some "jornalists" will do just about anythng to get "pit bull" in the title of their headliine. Were this in ANY way FAIR the title would be "What do do when a DOG attacks". Was ANY decent informaton given? Nope, barely a drop. Did the writer quote from the American Medical Veterinary Association extentsive and expensive "TASK FORCE" done by PROFESSIONALS to REALLY inform people about keeping safe? NOPE. This article is but ONE MORE JOKE and another stain on news in general. Pathetic.
For those who are INTELLIGENT and REALLY interested in public safety look up the article the AMVA task force put out called "A COMMUNITY APPROACH TO DOG BITE PREVENTION". Where it does not sterotype, discriminate and profile but instead gives GOOD SOLID INFORMATION regarding public safety. I am SO SICK of these type of "TABLOID JOURNALISM". This joker should be making LESS THAN minium wage.
Just some actual history for the ones on here posting that all this breed has ever been for is fighting!
Pass a law that institutes a $500 annual fee for any animal over 20 pounds. Then most people will stick with small dogs and cats which can't hurt anyone when they act on their animal instincts.
Not once has he taken a stand in his lack of "journalism" in regards to this article. Not to mention the pathetic excuse of a police officer as Duhamell.
Question is: was Duhamell speaking on behalf of IMPD which is what he is (a simple spokesman), or was he speaking out of utter ignorance about dogs in general?
What a sad excuse for a journalist AND an officer. Actually, this is the PERFECT example of journalists and police officers today. Useless and lacking complete credibility.
For what it is worth, I think that this "article" headline should be re-titled "What to Do When ANY DOG Attacks". Why does the media continue to use the two words "pit bull" to get attention? Granted, it grabbed quite a bit of attention here, but only to have REAL facts commented on by readers rather than placed within the article where they should be.
It is so sad to continue to use the words "pit bull" to gain readership when the dogs have done no wrong. It is the irresponsible owners and backyard breeders that have done wrong.
Maybe re-title the article: What to Do When Irresponsible Owners Allow Their Dogs to Attack.
Regardless, there does need to be some editing done. Look at all the facts that people have presented here and come to a logical conclusion.
Another idea...write another "blog" about the reaction to this article and actually interview intelligent people, not use a spokesman with a biased and unsubstantiated opinion, and obtain some facts.
Just some helpful thoughts...
Or...actually write about business related topics since this IS the IBJ, after all.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_W_npits12.41f9831.html
Five-year-old Destiny Colon remains hospitalized at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where she is listed in good condition. She suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung, police said.
Her 6-year-old brother, Hector Perez, who required 235 stitches to close bite wounds on his legs, has been released from a different hospital. Also released is their 7-year-old sister, Princess Colon, who received 18 stitches for her leg wounds.
Police initially described the dogs as a pack of pit bulls. But later examination showed that only the dog shot to death by police appeared to be a pure pit bull, Simmons said. The remaining four she described as a mastiff-pit bull mix, a pit bull-Labrador retriever mix, and two pit bull-Australian shepherd mixes.
(sure sounds like pit bulls are the common denominator to me)
As for protecting yourself from a pit, good luck. If you have a jacket or sweater, try to wrap it around an arm to use as protection. If you have time, take off your belt to use as a weapon. If you have a pen, stab it in the eye with it. Think outside the box b/c most people who witness this attack will be too scared to try to help you. Most of all, do not let the dog get a hold on your head, neck. Think of the dog's behavior: in a dogfighting pit, it is trained to attack until the other dog goes limp. So if it clamps on your arm, try not to tug it away b/c it'll only make him more frenzied. If he clamps on, sometimes you just need to hold still til someone comes to help. That sounds crazy, but there was one bite victim who did this until 911 arrived to shoot the dog. The woman's arm was torn up but - like a dog playing tug with its owner - the pit was only focused on that arm it had in its mouth. The worst case scenario is to get into a ball with your arms around the back of your neck. I can't imagine willingly putting yourself into such a vulnerable position, but that's the best defense if a grizzly is attacking - playing dead. I tell my neighbors who walk their little dogs to always have a pocketknife, an umbrella, a cane, a walking stick -- something to protect/shield them from an aggressive dog (along with their cell phone to call for help).
(sure sounds like pit bulls are the common denominator to me) ............
Well, then you are not too critical a thinker are you? The common denominator is that every dog has to be a pit bull according to the media (and you).
From "pack of pit bulls" by the police and media to only one pit bull and 4 MIXED breed dogs.
And what the heck does an Australian shep / pit bull mix look like? - geez, that sounds like a long haired dog that needed to be vamped up a notch by adding "pit bull to the mix"
Can you tell me with a straight fact that someone can ID a dog as an Austalian shep / pit bull x? What a joke.
Thanks for proving my points:
1. The media has to call everything a pit.
2. Police should NOT be talking about breeds or attempting to ID breeds - because they don't know what they are talking about.
3. And people will grasp at any straw (like you) to make this a "pit bull" issue, when in fact, it was 5 dogs allowed to run loose - that is the issue!
Just about now, it should be obvious that most of the "pit bull" attacks you cited in this "article" are wrong.
But, like every other media article that prints this type of inaccurate garbage, you cannot un-ring the bell.
You have added more lies and misinformation into the Internet universe, and the sooty ashes of misinformation (and outright untruths) further blacken the image of these dogs.
And so, another newspaper "reporter" will do another quickie, cheap Google search and bring up the mountains of misinformation about this dogs, including your contribution.
And it's not just about shoddy "reporting" - it's about the lives of these animals and the people who love them.
You've missed the point entirely. Of 5 dogs, only the one that was a pure pit bull was shot by police. Hmmm...why do ya suppose that is?
The police identified ALL the dogs as pit bulls!
So, technically to make your point, they should have shot all five, cause to the police they all looked like "pits"
And how the hell do we know the one they shot is "pure pit"
Utter ridicolousness -
But, yeah, let's keep completely ignoring the other 4 dogs and keep arguing over the one dog.
That's going to accomplish alot! NOT
I grew up actually learned better, now I have a german shepard/rottie mix. My family tried to hit me to get her to react like they always had with other dogs. She went and got a toy and wanted to play. She had no idea what they were doing. This is also the big bad guard dog that was barking, growling and licking the mailman all at the same time. Shepards and Rotties are soooooo vicious.
It is discrimination to believe a certain breed is naturally aggressive. If you believe propaganda about dogs, you can easily make the same mistake with people. There are not bad breeds only bad owners.
Keep in my dog has been attacked by a lab/retreiver mix that ripped her face open. My dog was only 7 months old at the time.
The list of innocent children being attacked and killed or brutalized by these dogs grows longer every year.
I think you've given your article the wrong name, however. When a pit bull attacks, it's already late. A better title would have been "How to Prevent Pit Bull Attacks." That's an easy one: Ban them and criminalize ownership of any the pit bull types. Had the states stepped up the plate to protect their people and removed this danger, much human suffering would have been avoided.
Kylie Chivers and John Mokomoko took on the Gold Coast City Council in the Supreme Court over the identification of their dog Tango as an American pit bull, as opposed to an American staffordshire terrier.
The council's ruling of Tango as a pit bull meant the dog, which originally cost them $300, was automatically deemed dangerous and needed to be put down.
To keep the animal safe the family moved it to a kennel just south of Tweed Heads more than five years ago, where it could be registered as an American staffordshire terrier.
Today, hundreds of thousands of dollars later, Justice Glenn Martin found in favour of council lawyers who argued the American pit bull and American staffordshire terrier were the same breed, meaning both were dangerous.
There are many myths pit bull propagandists purvey. Search google, yahoo whatever for "dogsbite".
To the commenter who allows their child to take chews away from their pit bull, you should stop -- there might come a time when the pit bull thinks the child is too old for that sort of effrontery.
quote "GOOD DOGS" I'm suing, it's as dumb a comment as saying "Loaded Guns are not the
problem....it's the children , who fire them!! The Vet who is I'd say more educated on dogs said...I quote.."PIT BULLS DO NOT recognize CHILDREN as humans, if they run and squeal, what about the woman who raised one for years and came home went to play fetch with the dogs favorite toy and it ripped her face off. The recent story of "KILLER WHALE!!" duh, animals, breeds are labeled for a reason...with statements like that...all I can say is ...how'd you like that mandatory Health care reform...lol
unthinking causes many problems when it comes to sides...research, and keep silent until you have an informed, intelligent rational response. Or the next missing face from a mauled child might be closer to home or in your neighborhood because of stupid unresearched statements. Do the homework, please.
Before passing judgement or trying to ban a breed I think it is important that you get all the facts. I do believe there should be laws that ALL dog owners have to follow and if there is an aggressive dog it should be banned. But don't ban a whole breed, or make people give up their pets (that are non-aggressive) just because some people can't control their dogs. Those people should be punished, not the breed.
Thank you for letting me speak my peace! :)
I currently own an American staffordshire terrier. Honestly, I was scared to own one, it was my husbands idea to get one. So I did my research...
I would describe them as a dog that you can't just take "out of the box" and have act like a "normal" dog. I am not saying they're aggressive.. but very stubborn, and they need a strong leader with a kind hand to show them whats okay, and what isn't.
So far this puppy is very friendly... to everyone and everything. A little too friendly!! ( we have her in training to calm down when she meets new people) BUT, in saying that they are late to mature, usually around 1-2 years old... which is when their true attitudes come out. Meaning, will they be tolerant to other animals/dogs still?, will they try to become alpha of the house?, will she still greet every stranger with a wagging tail or will she become more reserved and a little unsure... which sadly, can lead to being aggressive, if not handled properly.
I've meet some really mean smaller dogs, and everyone just kinda shrugs it off and laughs, because they're so small. But if ANY large dog acted like that, not just bully breeds, people would be calling animal control faster then you can blink. Proper socialization for any dog is important, and needed. You can not, and should not, get a dog, play with it when its a puppy.. and when it become unruly just throw it in the backyard. Thats when they get out of the yards, off their chains or whatever and start acting out. I totally 100% agree, no dog, of ANY breed, should be off chain unless you are 100% sure you can call it back and it will listen... which for a lot of dogs and owners, isn't possible.
So far this puppy is a joy and and headache at the same time, but I'm waiting for when she reaches 1-2 years old to see what her personality will truly be like. But in the meantime , we are doing everything we can to lay down a solid foundation for a dog with manners, well socialized and obedient. Would i say this dog is for everyone? no, not at all. Would I say that responsible dog owners who can recognize if their dog needs training , get one if they wish. Sure, absolutely.
I guess i should wrap this up with saying that I wish they would make a law with bully breeds... not to outlaw them ( which just makes them more appealing to the wrong type of people, and make the good owners outcasts), but to make it a law that all bully owners need to come from licenced breeders, and have mandatory training by a certain age. If someone calls in to the police, and they don't have proof of the breeder and training, they loose their dog. Period. Can't afford to pay the breeder's price, or the training? Tough, don't get a bully breed then. That way there could be a little comfort to people who don't trust the breed, that if they see one, they would know it has training and the paperwork to support it...
A small step in fixing a bad rap
People need to get their facts straight about Pits. They are very loyal and loving dogs. It's not the breed that needs to be band it's the stupid people that make them look bad. It's also the stupid people that have the stereotype about them that needs to be banned. You don't like it too darn bad. Deal with it. Pits are not bad dogs.
You said: "most dog breeds do not require the owner to train them NOT to be aggressive. it seems as though aggression comes naturally to pit bulls...am I wrong??"
Yes, twice. Where this insane idea about having to train a dog to not be aggresive is beyond comprehension. No such thing, absolute child like propaganda.
2nd, if there is a pit bull that happens to be naturally aggressive, it's towards animals specifically. Ther are more attacks on humans from Dalmations, and other breeds than pit bulls.
Pits require responsibility.
Many of the YOUNGER PEOPLE (than me) think it's cool to train them to be aggressive towards people to impress others.
This is when pits get a bad rap, because they have a very powerful bite, and are very stubborn, and if made to be human aggresive, a problem could arise.
There are dog attacks all over from many, many breeds. Just mention pit bull though and the media is all over it time and time again until they get past their own blood lust. It sells, period.
The writer of this article is either absolutely ignorant of dogs , and or pit bulls , or an absolute liar.
Do some research , go to some shows, and other pit type events and see for yourself.
Also the American history of them being bred to fight, explains a bit more on this .
These dogs had to fight with a handler in the ring and know to never attack the human handler. In those days when the breed was kept to strict verifiable bloodlines, if a dog bit a handler it was put to death, period.
All of the top breeders of a hundred years ago, and further back "culled" out any human aggression out of the blood lines that was evident.
Yes some from the strong blood lines are naturally animal/dog aggressive, and require much responsibility.
Many actually are not animal aggressive and get along with cats, rabbits , you name it.
Sadly there are people who want vicious dogs that are in fashion to have and right now pits are popular just like dobermans were then rots, etc.
And many have no business owning a pit, as they don't know how NOT to train them.
This article is such crap.
Pit Bulls Kill More People Than All Other Breeds Combined
Our children and grandchildren are worth more than any dog or breed of dog. it is time to ban these dogs and put a stop to these attacks. Nothing else will prevent more deaths from Pit Bull attacks.
Those who defend them with lies, propaganda and misinformation are just as guilty as the animal that attacks and maims or kills a person.
First off, I have worked in the pet service industry for years and I will say that I have encountered almost every breed of dog you can imagine. Yes, I have had the pleasure of working with some very nice, friendly, and lovable pits. I have also had to walk out from a customer's home on MANY occasions because the dogs disposition did not fall within our working policy. No, not all of these dogs were pits but more than 3 out of 5 were.
In my neighborhood alone in the past 3 weeks there have been 4 vicious dog attacks on other people's pets. All 4 occurred on the attacked victims property. The attackers in all 4 cases were pits. 2 different pits to be exact. The irony to this is that every single attack resulted from the pits either jumping a fence to gain access to the victim or digging under the fence in one situation.
Just one hour before my post, my child was chased back to the house by one of these loose pits. When I went outside to see what she was crying about, the pit came at me. Thankfully I had armed myself with aluminum bat which I placed upside his head and ran him off.
Please do not get me wrong. My beef is not with the breed as a whole though I do not care who claims what ... it is PAINFULLY obvious that pits are, in general, a violent breed of dog. Be it due to owner irresponsibility or bad genetics or maltreatment etc. this is sadly, for the breed, a fact. My problem is more so with the owners of ANY breed of dog which has shown ANY aggression towards other dogs or people and yet they remain to do nothing to better confine their dogs.
We should take all owners of these dogs who have attacked on more than one occasion, smear a can of Alpo to the backsides and let a pack of these loose on them. Maybe after they experience what their own dogs are doing to other people they will start to learn some responsibility!
Do not pretend you understand that pit bulls are not innately bad animals at least somewhat prone to attacks, because no one can know that, at least no one that I've seen in this set of comments.
Whether aggressive, attacking behavior is induced by people, innate or BOTH, there is certainly a danger associated with pit bulls. There's no reason a person who is biased against them isn't justified, to argue otherwise is ignorant, arrogant and stubborn.
You are all human beings rudely exchanging disrespectful comments over the defense of what can be and is often a horribly formidable creature roaming the streets of my not-very-good neighborhood and all some of you see if that I insulted your little Bruiser.
There are differences in breeds. Being BRED for a specific purpose means there are INNATE differences in dogs. There are reasons why pit bulls are used to be fighting dogs. Can't a pit bull owner acknowledge that?
There are also a lot of irresponsible dog owners out there, even the well-meaning ones who are just not dog savvy that can cause the creation of an aggressive dog without doing anything to encourage it. People are adopting pit bulls daily from shelters with no regard for how dangerous the animal can be, no idea of its past.
I do not trust your unceasing insistence that the breed is a misunderstood, well-mannered joy. I've had my own experience(S) and I do not trust the average dog owner to identify aggressive traits in their dogs so that they can stop them, I do not trust them to make sure the dogs are properly socialized and I do not trust that just because he's great with your kids doesn't mean he won't hurt my dog or my kid if they were to start playing together at the park.
You can't tell me I'm wrong about ensuring my own personal safety based on my observance.
Your observance of a good pit bull means they just get a bad rap, my observance of a bad pit bull means someone gets hurt.
Do not pretend you understand that pit bulls are not innately bad animals at least somewhat prone to attacks, because no one can know that, at least no one that I've seen in this set of comments.
Whether aggressive, attacking behavior is induced by people, innate or BOTH, there is certainly a danger associated with pit bulls. There's no reason a person who is biased against them isn't justified, to argue otherwise is ignorant, arrogant and stubborn.
You are all human beings rudely exchanging disrespectful comments over the defense of what can be and is often a horribly formidable creature roaming the streets of my not-very-good neighborhood and all some of you see if that I insulted your little Bruiser.
There are differences in breeds. Being BRED for a specific purpose means there are INNATE differences in dogs. There are reasons why pit bulls are used to be fighting dogs. Can't a pit bull owner acknowledge that?
There are also a lot of irresponsible dog owners out there, even the well-meaning ones who are just not dog savvy that can cause the creation of an aggressive dog without doing anything to encourage it. People are adopting pit bulls daily from shelters with no regard for how dangerous the animal can be, no idea of its past.
I do not trust your unceasing insistence that the breed is a misunderstood, well-mannered joy. I've had my own experience(S) and I do not trust the average dog owner to identify aggressive traits in their dogs so that they can stop them, I do not trust them to make sure the dogs are properly socialized and I do not trust that just because he's great with your kids doesn't mean he won't hurt my dog or my kid if they were to start playing together at the park.
You can't tell me I'm wrong about ensuring my own personal safety based on my observance.
Your observance of a good pit bull means they just get a bad rap, my observance of a bad pit bull means someone gets hurt.
I should add that pit bulls are by no means the only aggressive breed - my pug has been attacked by a really nasty pomeranian at the dog park twice already, and I've seen that dog attack many others too. At least with a small dog like that you can usually get them off, though. That's not to say they can't cause serious damage if they want to!
Thank God we acted quickly and it only was a somewhat superficial nose scratch, but it could've been worse.
I'm not generalizing but I think they should not be mixed with more tranquil breeds until they are properly trained to blend in as well!
And the distinctions you make are ridiculous. If it looks like a pitbull, if it snarls at me like a pitbull, I'm calling it a damn pitbull. If, as you say, the genetics tests are unreliable, how do you know it ISN'T a pitbull? Ban everything that looks and acts like a pitbull and our streets will be that much safer.
Kimberly
It is IGNORANCE. People don't know how to approach an unfamiliar dog, regardless of the breed. Dogs can't speak. They don't exchange pleasantries, they don't shake your hand. If a stranger walked up to you on the street, grabbed you and kissed you on the lips, what would you do? Thank them? Kiss them back? Hell no. You'd respond with anger or shock, correct? Then why to people think they can come up to a dog that has no idea who the hell they are, violate their personal space and touch them? ANY dog can feel threatened in that situation.
ALL dogs are ANIMALS first (with lineage from carnivorous predators), DOG next and BREED last. All dogs are capable of the same actions. All dogs can smell better than humans, just scent hounds are better at it. All dogs can bite, just large muscular breeds do more damage. NO breed is inherently violent but all animals have the capability to be violent. Just like humans. To say all 'pit bulls' are predisposed to attack because some are trained (or have lack of socialization) to do so is like saying since 70% of all violent crimes are committed by black males then ALL black males are going to hurt you. Congratulations, you have been brainwashed by the media. Oh, wait, just because it's in the papers and on CNN, it must be true, right? Just like we found WDMs in Iraq. Stop being sheep and start being educated.