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Anyone own a pit bull? Even if you don't, come in :)
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Re: Anyone own a pit bull? Even if you don't, come in :)
Wow.
1. The ignorance in this post is truly astounding.
2. The dog breeds that are most likely to attack people are cocker spaniels, dachshunds, and labs. Pitties aren't even in the top 10.
Please do more research than just the misguided information you've gotten in this post. Pit bulls are not the dog for everyone, they are a terrier, can be dominant and dog aggressive, but can also be amazing, awesome pets. Please adopt whatever dog you do decide on!
I am clearly not a regular on this board but I read the first few idiotic ignorant responses and couldn't get through the rest of the ignorance, so I did not read every response.
OP you seem to 'get it' whereas everyone who is posting negative things does not.
You clearly know that Pit Bull type dogs (as "Pit Bull" is NOT a breed) were NEVER bred to be agressive towards humans. Yes, they do have a slighty higher tendency to be dog agressive than other breeds, which is COMPLETELY different that people agression. They are absolutely NOT one in the same. If a Pit Bull type dog EVER bit a handler in the fighting pit, they were culled (killed) IMMEDIATELY and never bred. Handlers worked IN the ring with the dogs and were bred to NOT be people agressive.
That being said, not ALL Pit Bull type dogs are dog agressive.
See the little girl in my siggy? I pulled her a mere 2 days ago from a high kill shelter in my area. She is the SWEETEST dog I have ever met. She gets along fabulously with other dogs and LOVES people.
Here ya go:
Monster Myths
myth (mith) n. 1.an invented story, fictitious person, etc. 2.a belief or set of beliefs, often unproven or false, that have accrued around a person, phenomena or institution.Who's afraid of the Big Bad Pit Bulls? Well, LOTS of people no thanks in part to some very damaging myths, the deeds of unscrupulous breeders/owners and the hyped up media coverage that has been plaguing this breed for years. So many untruths and half-truths have been repeated so many times that the general public has begun to believe fairy tales instead of fact. Its enough to make a bullydog supporter want to SCREAM!
No more vicious than golden retrievers, beagles or other popular dogs! In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), pit bulls achieved a passing rate of 83.9%. That's as good or better than beagles ... 78.2%, and golden retrievers ... 83.2%. How did your favorite breed do? See for yourself: ATTS.org
In the ATTS test, a dog is put through a series of confrontational situations. Any sign of panic or aggression leads to failure of the test. The achievement of pit bulls in this study disproves once and for all the old tired belief that pit bulls are inherently aggressive to people.
Like any breed of dog, a healthy pit bull that is properly raised will remain loving and friendly. In the past 20 years, we've seen some sad examples of poorly bred and badly treated dogs that are the byproducts of irresponsible 'backyard breeders' and cruel and abusive homes. These improperly raised, unsocialized creatures can show temperaments far removed from the traditional authentic pit bull. Don't confuse these unfortunate misbreds with the huge majority of well-loved dogs in this country that remain solid in temperament, affectionate, trustworthy and friendly to their dying day.
Don't Pit Bulls have LOCKING JAWS?
No. A pit bull's ability to "lock on" with it's jaws is one WHOPPER of a myth that refuses to let go! The jaws of a pit bull are built just as any other dog's jaw. There's no 'enzyme', no special mechanism that would make a pitbull's jaws 'lock'. They're DOGS, not alligators! What a pit bull does have is strength, tenacity, and determination. When he grasps something he wants to hang onto, his willpower is the glue.
Don't Pit Bulls TURN ON THEIR OWNERS?
No. Healthy pit bulls with stable temperaments are succeeding in hundreds of thousands of homes across the continent. Dogs that bite people are typically troubled individuals, and they represent every breed. In general, biting dogs have been damaged by improper handling, abuse and/or damaged genetics. The good news is, these types of personalities offer warning signs well in advance of biting, although unfortunately, many ignore or misinterpret their dog's troubling behaviors. To reduce dog bites, communities should invest in bite prevention education efforts such as these programs. For a well researched source of information on canine aggression, visit The National Canine Research Council
Don't pit bulls have to be TRAINED TO FIGHT?
Dog-Tolerance Levels: Dog/DogNO! Pit bulls are terriers, and terriers tend to be scrappy with other animals if unsocialized, poorly managed or otherwise left to their own devices. Just as farmers have used Jack Russell Terriers to do battle with badgers, foxes and other animals, unscrupulous people have exploited the terrier drive in pit bulls against other dogs for 'entertainment' purposes. Like many breeds, pit bulls can run the gamut from very dog aggressive to exceptionally dog friendly, but each dog shares some potential to fight other dogs if mismanaged. Avoiding dog fights involves understanding terrier traits and basic canine behavior in general. More info:
Living well with: Multi Dogs
Socializing your pit bull: Socializing
A properly socialized, well managed pit bull should never have to get into a dogfight, because he's accustomed to the presence of other dogs and - IMPORTANT! - he has a smart and responsible owner willing to keep him safe from situations that could invite the unhappy possibility of a scuffle.
Right: The old engraving above shows a hunter setting his 'pit bull type' dog on a fox.Doesn't forcing a pit bull to HANG from a tree branch make him aggressive?
No. Tugging at a tree branch is FUN for a pit bull (but it's not good for his teeth!). Many bull breeds show an inbred desire to grasp and hold -- a leftover trait from the days when they worked on farms and used as 'Butcher's Dogs' to grab onto the noses of bulls (i.e. "Take the bull by the nose"). This natural work drive shows up today in an enthusiastic desire to play Tug-o-War and to grab onto hanging objects like tree branches, ropes, etc. Many responsible pit bull owners provide safely designed 'Spring Poles' for their dog's enjoyment and to allow them to burn off steam while excercising this natural ability. The result is a calmer happier, better exercised dog. For info on how to build one for your bully, visit: Jessup's Working Pit Bull Site Aren't TREADMILLS used to get dogs ready to fight?
No. Aggression towards other animals and human aggression are two totally different things. We've heard this frightened quote, "He went after a dog (or cat) and our kids might be next!". This is one big MONSTER of a myth that has generated a host of damaging anti-pit bull hysteria. It is perfectly 'normal' for a pit bull to be wonderfully affectionate and friendly with people, while at the same time not 100% trustworthy around other dogs. Like any breed of dog that we see in family homes today, a properly raised, well socialized, responsibly owned pit bull should never be human aggressive. Pit bulls that do show truly aggressive behavior towards humans are not typical of the breed and in some cases, should be humanely euthanized.
He didn't attack a CHILD - the person was over 6 feet tall. And the person was INTRUDING on their property.
I cannot believe the ignorance in this post. I worked at a boarding kennel. The dogs I was bit by most were labs, goldens, and beagles. Why? Because stupid backyard breeders are breeding them for ignorant owners such as yourselves who think that the breed is what makes a dog a "perfect family dog."
Educate yourself, people.
ETA - Both of my dogs were adopted from shelters when they were adults. And both of my dogs are excellent with my son and all of my nieces and nephews because I have worked hard to train them to be.
5/10 - Gideon 6/12 Warren
4/11 Started adoption process for 2 siblings through DCF. 10/12 Found out we are licensed! 12/14 Brought 3 week old identical twin girls home from the hospital. Could be at least until Summer 1015 til we know if they are forever ours
OP: Pit bull or not (and, as long as you read up and understand the breeds and feel they match your family, go for it), look into getting one that is in a foster home with children. That will help you determine if that PARTICULAR dog will fit into your household. Foster homes know more about their dogs and see them in a more normal environment than a shelter.
The page quoted, BadRap, is awesome for information on bully breeds. And an understanding of the differences between them. If you get a pit read up on all the information, and be willing to dole it out when idiots give you false information on the breed. Education is the best response
Seriously, thank you for being the voice of reason and common sense in all this idiocy. I agree 100% with everything you said.
OP if you want some REAL info on pits, venture onto the Pets board. Several women there have pitties or mixes and can give you a TON of useful info. Not every home is right for a pit (just like not every home is right for a poodle, lab, etc) but yours might be!
I'm going to go walk my pit mix and chow mix before the "vicious" dogs decide to eat me.
Snow!
<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DI love the poster who says all the horrible things about pitbulls and then says she is a lab person. My brother's yellow lab, who they bought from a breeder as a young puppy, who is the "sweetest, most gentlest, typical lab, yada, yada" lunged out and attacked my nephew---had bite marks on his ribs. Dog has not been around many kids. Kids move differently, and dog was on leash and must have felt threatened.
Take a pitbull in the same situation---NATIONAL NEWS---PITBULL ATTACKS BABY. Family says it was such a sweet dog, never had any problems, blah blah blah. Pitbull- put to sleep. Guess what, this yellow lab attack did not make any news per typical and is still living with the family and they have a new two week old baby.
I would never leave any dog alone with any kid. EVER. Here is my niece, who is absolutely terrified of any big dogs, including their own bloodhound, the yellow lab has also snapped at her, which has made it even worse. We worked and worked with her with our dogs, and once she realized they weren't going to hurt her like the lab, she LOVES our dogs. (pit mixes from *GASP* shelters, with unknown backgrounds)
Pitbulls are horrible I was bit by one a few years back. I will leave the dog park if someone brings in a pit.
I have a lab and she is amazing. Best dog ever. I also had goldens growing up.
Labs are horrible. One attacked my nephew. I hide when it will comes over. I will also not give treats to labs. Both labs I am around, a yellow and choc try to eat your hand off when you give them a treat. They are also way to hyper for me. I love that my dogs gently take a treat from your hand without even touching your hand.
Generalize much?
Kudos to the OP for 1) recognizing that pitties can be wonderful dogs, and 2) wanting to rescue a shelter dog. I'll give you my perspective on your original question, and try to ignore some of the generalizations in this post.
I have a shelter pittie, adopted when she was 4 years old, and an unknown history. I don't have any kids yet but when we decided to adopt a dog I wanted one that I could trust around our future children. I decided on a pit bull terrier for the same reason you're considering them: There are just so many who need homes.
Anyway, I've had mostly good reactions in my upper middle class neighborhood. On walks in the park, a few people have crossed to the other side of the path, but that's pretty rare. People usually comment about how well behaved and happy she is to meet everybody. Other pittie owners will want to talk to you. You meet a lot of people who care about the breed and it's really great to have those conversations. Families have really surprised me - I expected to get negative reactions, but parents and kids have been really great about asking if they can pet my dog, then they see how much she absolutely adores children. We've never had complaints from neighbors or any fear about someone hurting her, mainly because she is never outside unsupervised except for short potty breaks. She lives inside and rarely barks, so most people probably don't even know we have a dog. She generally gets along with other dogs, but she can get snippy at times, so we don't take her to the dog park. Instead, we have play dates with other dogs that we know she gets along with (usually male dogs who are bigger than she is). She's always been very friendly when meeting other dogs on walks, including the times when we've been charged by an off-leash dog.
From what I've seen, my pit loves everyone, especially children. She's been around babies and kids of all ages and with the exception of wanting to lick them to death, she's been very gentle. She knows not to jump on or bump children smaller than she is. We've had babies on the floor near her and she ignores them, and has never come close to stepping on them.
You sound pretty rational, so I'm sure you know that temperment has nothing to do with breed. It's all about the individual dog and how it was trained. Instead of a puppy, have you considered a young adult dog that's been in foster care? That would be the best way to get a dog with a known temperment that has been tested around children.
Good luck, and thanks for having a caring heart and an open mind!
4/25/12 ~ Our angel, Persephone James, is here!
It's sad that this post is demonstrative of the exact ignorance that perpetuates breed stereotypes in the general population.
Many, MANY people have wonderful examples of bully breeds residing peacefully as members of the family. Their kids grow up loving (being loved by) pits and other bully breeds. The "zomg, they will snap and cannot be trusted!" generalization is complete & utter crap, just like every other ignorant blanket statement out there.
I've seen basset hounds, labs, poodles, cocker spaniels, mixed breeds and everything in between that would not be safe around children or other animals. Dog-dog or dog-human aggression is not dictated by or limited to certain breeds.
Will you have to deal with nastiness & judgment from neighbors? Of course, because of the very same nonsense that's being spewed here. However, I believe it would open up a lot of opportunity to educate, to help debunk the myths about the breed, if you're up for it.
1. The media gets it wrong ALL THE TIME. I can't tell you how many times the media has reported a "pit bull" attack, and when they show a picture of the dog it's not even a bully breed.
2. Please tell me that you don't really believe that pit bulls have locking jaws.
This exactly.
https://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html
I bet you can't pick out the pit bull on the first try. Go ahead... give it a shot.
If you cant, what the hell makes you think the media idiots can?
Thanks for posting this link! I was looking for it earlier. It took me a minute and I own a pittie!
I have a pit/chocolate lab mix. He is great but certain pit traits come out. He is very strong and can hold his own in a dog fight. That being said he is also very protective of his family, which includes us and my sis, bil and 5 year old niece. I was out for a walk a few years ago with him when some random dog started charging at us out of the blue. My pit pulled me back a few feet then got in front of me to protect me. He can tell from our reaction to something/someone if he should give kisses or be on guard. We are very cautious around other people because of his strength. He wants to jump and give kisses to new friends but that can hurt some people. He has been amazing with LO. He wants to give DS kisses and let DS climb all over him. He even sits on the edge of our floor quilt while DS plays, waiting for him to crawl to him.
They are a very smart breed and can be trained to behave any way the owner wants. that being said, I do believe that early lessons stick. Get a puppy so you know the only lessons he has learned are good ones from you.
Oh... and AW. My pit and LO from December
I strongly disagree with this.
You never know what personality a puppy is going to have until they are mature, and that does not happen for a few years. A puppy is a HUGE time commitment, and not a good idea when you have a baby/young child. It's like having two full time jobs. Not to mention puppies are generally much too rambunctious and can hurt small children with their boisterousness.
With an adult dog (especially one in a foster home), you already know what you are getting. And you can make sure they are a good fit for your family, because they come trained, and cat and baby/kid tested before they come home with you. You will also already know their energy level, and if it is a good match with yours.
A big F YOU to those who base their info. on stereotypes. Currently pit bulls are the most bred dog in the US right now and therefore are shelters are beyond capacity. Only 1 in 600 make it out alive... all because of stupid humans breeding them and stupid humans judging them for simply being born.
Princess the pit in my siggy was rescued off the streets, history unknown. She is 1000% bomb proof and is a love to all who meet her. For those of you that think she should be dead because she is a pit bull, well, let's hope those kids of yours are smart enough to learn of which they speak.
Shelby adopted after 9 months!
Do you see where I get the impression that this particular dog might be unsafe around children?
The OP can do whatever she wants based on her comfort level.
I am astounded by the ignorance in this post!
I have a 7 y/o pit bull who I rescued when she was 2 y/o. I have also fostered 9 other pit bulls. I have had great experiences with the breed. It's good to go through a shelter or rescue because there are qualified staff who will perform thorough temperament tests on each dog prior to putting it on the adoption floor.
I personally wanted a dog who was at least 2 y/o because I wanted to skip the puppy stage and I liked the idea of her having reached maturity so we knew what her temperament was with other dogs. She is such a great dog, so easy to train and very well behaved. She does have a prey drive, so I can't have her around my friends' cats or ferretts, but she is social and sweet and plays with other dogs at day camp 1-2 days a week.
Granted, we put a lot of work into her (she has completed 4 levels of obedience) but my fosters didn't go through obedience and I have had the most wonderful foster dogs (pits and non-pits alike).
Here is a great video that inspired me to get involved with pit bull rescue. I encourage you to watch it so you, too, can gain a deeper understanding of this misunderstood breed.
Now, it's not all puppies and rainbows. There is discrimination. Insurance companies have restrictions, or they mandate you take out massive liability policies (but this isn't JUST for pits- my own HO insurance company has a list of 30 breeds, including great danes, that require extra liability!) People may cross the street when you are out walking, they may snatch up their children, they may call you white trash or a thug. People may not want to visit you.
They are terriers, so they are stubborn and headstrong, and as the pp said, they will run the household if they don't see anyone else doing it. We implement NILIF training for all of our dogs and have never had any issues. They are on the couch, I say "OFF" and they are like lightening to get out of my way. I once put my dog into a down/stay and put her bowl of food on the floor and forgot to release her. 30 minutes later I went back into the kitchen, wondering what on earth was taking her so long and the poor thing was still in her down/stay, waiting on my release.
The best thing you can do is adopt a pit bull with a sound temperament (through a shelter or rescue and ask about their test results, they will love that you know about them!) and enroll it in obedience training. Make your pit bull an example of how all dogs should be. Teach it to heel on leash, to not jump, to obey you when you give it a command. Make your pit bull shine so that he or she changes the minds of ignorant people out there. Be an ambassador.
And the negatives reactions from people- well, I look at my dog everyday and all of the frustrations melt away. I could not ask for a better dog- she has just been wonderful.When people can't give her a chance, they are really not worth my time.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do. Mine is a runt- she is just over 40 pounds, so they come in all different sizes if you think a bigger dog (70 pounds) may overwhelm you. I have fostered pit bulls ranging from babies to adults and the adults are anywhere from 35 to 75 pounds.
Here is my cutie pie.
if you're not going to put in the effort to train the dog, socialize them with other dogs, people, and children of all ages, it doesn't matter what breed it is, it's going to be a liability.
pits are wonderful, sweet, goofy, albeit strongwilled and stubborn dogs. they can be too much for first-time owners who don't know what they're doing, but the biggest issue most of my pit-owning friends have is dealing with close-minded people, many of which have never given a pit a chance, or could recognize one if they saw one.
Have you seen my monkey?
We took in a stray pit bull/boxer mix about a month ago. He was playing in traffic on the freeway and I knew that if we brought him to a shelter, he wouldn't make it out alive, so we've spent the money to get him neutered, get his shots, get his eye fixed, and we're house training and crate training him. We hope to find him a suitable family, otherwise we will keep him and provide a safe, loving home. The vet predicts Wilson is between 10-12 months old, very much a puppy.
In addition to Wilson, we have a German Shepherd and a Chow/German Shepherd/Rottweiler mutt (also a stray). There are terrible stereotypes about every single one of my dogs, which is unfortunate. The GSD is protective, but he's never had to do anything more than bark to get people out of our yard. The chow's main goal in life is to cuddle as closely as he can without suffocating anybody.
I got the German Shepherd as a 10 week old puppy and he's actually the one we have to be most careful about. He's been through 4 obedience classes, passed his Canine Good Citizen test, but he's insecure. I trust him with children and I trust him in a calm environment, I even trust him with other dogs, but he doesn't handle stress well. He was diagnosed with OCD and anxiety. We didn't know what we were in for because he was so young when we got him, but the Chow is old enough that we know his temperment. So, for that reason, I would definitely not advise getting a puppy like so many other people recommended. I'd aim for the 1 year+ range so you can still have puppy cuteness (if that's something you want), but they're mostly housebroken and you have a better idea what their temperment is.
As far as what strangers and neighbors think...of our 3 dogs, the GSD actually gets the most stares and people cross the street when they see him. To help the dog and the strangers, I put hiking boots and sometimes saddlebags on him. Strangers think it's cute and they point and smile at him, which in turn helps the dog relax because people aren't scared and crossing the street. (Plus, he gets to carry his own stuff and holding that little bit of weight wears him out faster, so it's a win all around.) He's a great dog though. I can let him off leash at baseball fields and he'll obey commands, but strangers don't know that. When I'm in uniform though, suddenly everybody assumes he's a trained K9. People are goofy like that.
Yes, he did attack. He bit him three times. Once on the upper waist and twice on his legs. The attack only stopped because I opened the door and the kid came running in my house. That is why if it were one of the smaller children, they would have been bit right in the face. Since the attack happened and even before it happened, when the dog sees the children in the next yard over, he stares and then charges the fence at them. He definitely "attacked" which I never thought he would do. I understand the child was entirely wrong for entering our yard but it scares me of his potential around all children including my own daughter, my nephews and the day my daughter brings friends over.
This has nothing to do with the breed of dog, and everything to do with you being irresponsible and leaving your dog in the yard without your immediate supervision. Don't blame the dog for your irresponsibility.
Here's our pitbull-basset hound with DS. They love to lick each other. I'm actually more afraid of the cat hurting DS. Our dog is the sweetest dog alive. He is so loving with the baby and has never shown any aggression at all. We take him to the dog park all the time and he plays nice with all the other dogs and people. We got him as a puppy from a high kill shelter and he is now 2 years old. They can be very loyal good family dogs. I was hesitant at first but have never met a gentler dog.