The problem is not the dogs, it's the owners. They tend to attract the biggest idiots in society - the ones that are hyper-concerned with their "bad-ass" image that they buy the dog as a fashion accessory to help fit the image (along with their tattoos, piercings, jacked up truck, etc.)

They predictably don't take care of the dog or train it properly or take it for walks or play with it. The dog reverts to its instinctual programming and it's a recipe for disaster. Usually the dog gets a bullet in the head or a needle in the leg and the a-hole owner gets a slap on the wrist, only to do it again (naturally after making some public statement about how the system "disrespected" him or whatever).

It's a pattern that's all too common.

I have owned one pit bull and known two others.
The one we owned was an awesome dog. He listened, obeyed, and could be walked off leash and never - NEVER - gave so much as second look at other dogs. He went to dog parks and (after everyone's initial apprehension) played well with all others.
One of the others I knew fell into this same mold. She was attacked by another dog and didn't fight back. When we took her to the vet she got her ear stitched up she never flinched and showed no signs of aggression while getting poked and prodded.
The third however...

She was a Katrina rescue dog. She made up her mind in about two seconds if she liked you or hated you and nothing would change it. I was one of the lucky ones who she liked - I could walk into the yard and say "COCO!" and she would come running, roll over and give me her belly, and just lick and nuzzle me. Others would walk near her and she would growl. She attacked two other dogs unprovoked - they just happened to cross paths and she went off. But there were other dogs at the kennel she liked and would play with. A true "loaded gun" that I would not have completely trusted even with her attitude toward me. She ended up getting adopted by a good couple who had breed experience and knew to never allow her to be unsupervised.

It's part genetics and part breeding, same as all dogs.

"The most horrifying example of the lack of breed predictability is the October 2000 death of a 6-week-old baby, which was killed by her family's Pomeranian dog. The average weight of a Pomeranian is about 4 pounds, and they are not thought of as a dangerous breed. Note, however, that they were bred to be watchdogs! The baby's uncle left the infant and the dog on a bed while the uncle prepared her bottle in the kitchen. Upon his return, the dog was mauling the baby, who died shortly afterwards. ("Baby Girl Killed by Family Dog," Los Angeles Times, Monday, October 9, 2000, Home Edition, Metro Section, Page B-5.) "

http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html#Thedogsmostlikelytobite

Funny post (though ignorant). I think most owners would agree... If some dude starts shooting my dog - dude gets shot back - quick. Consider that as you're looking at dogs looking at you. :rolleyes:

That's quite a jump. Was the dog abused by it's owners in New Orleans? Was it an attack dog for a drug dealer? Was it socialized as a puppy? Good life or bad life?

Lots of questions need answered before labeling a Katrina rescue a problem due to breeding & genetics, isn't there?

- Skip

Glad to know we Pelicans are protected by such stone cold killers. I feel much safer now.

That's just the thing Skip - who knows what happened to that dog? I didn't intend to tie the Katrina rescue part to the breeding and genetics part, but I see how it did "read" that way. What I wanted to show was three dogs - all rescues with unknown pasts (and I did leave that out) - with three completely different personalities but the same breed.

I have volunteered for years now with a few different rescue organizations. During that time I have dealt with a lot of pits, and have been bitten three times:
Chow
BD (just yer Basic Dog)
Carin Terrier

Out of the three, that little Toto was the worst. Little mutt got me right on the ball of the thumb. :mad:

Even with Coco's temperment she didn't have the worst attack out there. That prize went to an Akita when a volunteer ignored the "do not let out with others" sign on her kennel and she attacked and killed another dog.

I'm calling BS Andy. No way you've been around PB, for any period time, and not been killed. Haven't you been reading this thread???!?! ;)

I think it's possible to make many/most dogs "aggressive". My point was, an aggressive dog, with unknown past, is not indicative of an aggressive "breed".

Maybe that's what you're saying too? Sorry if I'm being dense...

- Skip

Skip, the problem we're dealing with here is that the difference between smart & stupid is, smart has limitations.

You're right, it was BS. In fact I was killed, but I got better. :D

Yup, I think we are saying the same thing two different ways.

This sucks. I just scrolled up and saw a picture of my Hannah. Hit me like a sledge-hammer. She was the sweetest, most affectionate dog I've ever known. I miss her.

as a dog lover/owner and fan of all things canine, I postulate the following:

1. The reason you usually pit bull attacks on the news is due to the fact that they attack the most.
2. The dogs are not sitting there waiting to explode with violence, however they have a different "trigger" than other dogs.
3. I have never known a dog that was not 100% motivated by the desire to receive love from their masters. When a pit bull attacks, or a lab brings you a ball, it is doing so for the reward of love from its owner.
4. The above tends to correlate why people with mean pitbulls tend to have a certain personality type.
5. You never hear of golden retriever attacks because they are so rare.
6. I agree with some of the above comments regarding the pit bull's ownership, in re...why have them. There does seem to be a greater chance of injury with them, and a nearly 100% chance of stigma associated with them.
7. All dogs are awesome, they just need the care, love, discipline, attention and exercise that they require to show that.