Great Debate: Pit Bulls

[99Smokin73Stroker]

I don't know how it is for the rest of you across the country but around here Pit Bulls have been a topic in the news. There have been several reports on the local new here in Indy lately about Pit Bull incidents. As I was posting in the "Best Friends" thread tonight, in the middle of one of my posts as the local news was wrapping up they previewed some stories that would be featured in the morning newspaper. One of them was a possible ban on Pit Bulls. I am starting this thread because I know that I am not the only fan of Pit Bulls, and hopefully not the only one that realizes that they are not bad dogs at all. If you read my post in the best friends thread you can see that I befriended a Pit Bull that is up for adoption at a dog kennel that I have been doing some work at. His name is Nico, awesome dog, playful, doesn't bark or whine sunup to sundown....he's just an awesome dog, but I can't take him home I don't have a place for him and it wouldn't be fair. I mentioned this to my mom, and she automatically made a face that said "oh no, not THAT breed." I think it is pretty clear there are a lot of people that are biased against them, and I also think that the media has a lot do with it. They have constantly portrayed them as if they are the only breed that is capable of opening it's mouth and using it to bite a human being. I don't know the facts, but I would be money that dog bite incidents happen hundreds of times a day across the country, by many different breeds. Most of them are probably minor and are not reported but they happen. I've been around all kinds of dogs throughout my life especially the past few weeks remodeling this kennel. I've been bitten three times that I remember, once by a beagle and twice by chows. I've also been around many different Pit Bulls, Boxers, Rotts, Dobermans and not one time has one appeared to be aggressive or threatening to me. I think that it is owners that are mainly responsible for an animal being aggressive. But some I would bet are naturally aggressive - JUST like human beings!!! Right? I'm gonna sit back and watch what opinions all of you have.

[dustindiesel]

ive seen alot of nice pit bulls its too bad that people fight them and do stupid ish to give them a bad rap...

i got a hard time myself telling people my dogs are wolf hybrids...some vets wont even look at them...

**on a side note my mom used to be a dog groomer and the worst dog over and over were the lil ankle biters...mostly the chit zu(spell check haha)

[MrJohnWayne]

You know I have to agree. I think it is the owners that turn dogs that way. Growing up I've had almost every "mean" dog at one point that would turn up as strays. Never once did we have a problem with any of them. I know several people that raise/breed/have pits and not once have they had a bad story. Now it's possible for a good dog to go bad. Sometimes it just happens but this deal with everyone saying pits are bad dogs is BS!! They are a powerful dog yes but just because some scum raises them to fight etc.. shouldn't give all dogs that stigma!

[bigcountrysg]

pitbulls are good for one thing in my opinion. A moving target to practice on.

[dustindiesel]

Originally Posted by bigcountrysg

pitbulls are good for one thing in my opinion. A moving target to practice on.

i take it ur not a fan

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

Originally Posted by bigcountrysg

pitbulls are good for one thing in my opinion. A moving target to practice on.

damb lol i got 2 pit bulls
first one is snoopy and the second one is trigger... i do have to agree that it is all how they are rasied ... mine are such big babies is not even funny but if you do go into my yard without me beside you esp if they dont know you get ready to get your head bit off......

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by dustindiesel

i take it ur not a fan

What gave it away.

[jphelzer]

Let me start by saying that I'm a huge dog fan...I agree totally that the issue with Pit Bulls is some of the moronic owners. But it's more than that. When a pit bull does "lose it" and attack a human or another dog, they are devestating. They have close to 3x the jaw pressure of a Rot (2000 psi vs 800 for a Rot).

Some sobering statistics:
42% of all dog related deaths in the US are from Pit Bulls - & they constitute 1% of all dogs. 70% of those deaths were children.

Ever wonder why Pit Bulls aren't used in the police and military? They've been shown time and time again to be too unpredictable. I work with K9 officers every day, and they wouldn't even consider using one.

I'm sure the members here that have them are responsible, respectful owners that treat their dogs well. But, remember, there are some dumbasses out there that abuse and mistreat these dogs, and bred a killing machine.

My personal opinion is they're too dangerous for most people to have...

[Blue01F250]

I think its mostly in how they are raised - but - the bite of a Pit or other larger dog is more severe than that of an "ankle biter" because those Pits won't let go - they are like gators - they clamp on and have to be forced off!!

Although I would never own one - I do not feel that a specific breed should be banned EVER! Its not the dogs fault - its the person that has mistreated teh dog or raised it to be more aggressive than normal!

[99Smokin73Stroker]

What happened, did you get bit by one or something?

My girlfriends parents have a weim, that thing has snapped at my hands more than a dozen times. I better call the news, weims should be banned!!