re: Pitbull bread

Quoting Fat-and-Happy:" If Chihuahuas were bigger, I'm pretty sure the breed would be destroyed lol. Those things have attitudes! ... [snip!] ... out from under the bed and bite the hell out of me on a regular basis... good thing he was older and had like 5 teeth haha)"

I think this is also an owner issue. Chihuahuas are not disciplined very well because they are not as big. When my Pittweiler was a puppy he growled at me, and I punished him big time! I knew that some day he would weigh more than me and could be very dangerous.

I think a lot of people who own Chihuahua are not going to punish them so harshly if they growl as a puppy, because they know that dog will never be big enough to really hurt someone.

Having a good dog is all about having a good owner.

<blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" I hope someone you love will never be bitten by any dog. A Pit is strong enough to kill you and a Winner ... [snip!] ... society. I hope you and all the people you love are never involved in a dog bite situation. No matter the size of the dog."</blockquote>




I love pit bulls. I love lots of big dogs and have a soft spot for all the "gladiator types."
That said, you can't ignore their temperament even with great owners. Breeds have dispositions and the GENERAL disposition of a pit is one that would make me much more cautious than many other breeds. Some breeds do well with kids that taunt them or squeeze them or accidentally fall on them and some don't. I would have less confidence in a pit that isn't in a steady and controlled environment.

I don't think it is wrong to assume that certain breeds have a propensity towards a certain personality. Behavioral tendencies have genetic links. Just look at families. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, adhd, etc run in families and have genetic links. That doesn't mean all the families members are going to have it and that certain environments won't help alleviate the severity of the genetic expression. It just is what it is.

For example: Not all border collies or blue heeler dogs are trained to herd animals but many of them still have this innate tendency to do it anyway. The same is with hunting dogs. Not all dachshunds are trained to hunt small animals and rabbits but some of them are obsessed with that anyway.

I'm not saying that an entire breed should be demonized because of its breeding history, but it is definitely something to be aware of. You want a pit, get a pit. You don't want one, don't get one. But if you do get one, you have to be aware of the social stigma and respect that some people are scared of them and always will be. I'm leery of all dogs... but I think I put out "I don't really like dog" vibes lol

<blockquote><b>Quoting Fat-and-Happy:</b>" I don't think it is wrong to assume that certain breeds have a propensity towards a certain personality. ... [snip!] ... are scared of them and always will be. I'm leery of all dogs... but I think I put out "I don't really like dog" vibes lol"</blockquote>




Well, if I had one that munched on my ankles when I was a kid, I wouldn't like dogs either.

Quoting TheNuge:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Fat-and-Happy:</b>" I don't think it is wrong to assume that ... [snip!] ... vibes lol"</blockquote> Well, if I had one that munched on my ankles when I was a kid, I wouldn't like dogs either."

lol! Yeah....

Our neighbor has a pit, it is really friendly, but it always gets out and gets in our yard.... but when I first met him he scared the hell out of me because I was walking down the street and he ran out growling at me and had that "Should I rip this girls face off?" look and demeanor going on. Did I mention it was almost dark outside? I tried my best not to act afraid and pulled out my cute puppy voice and let him sniff my hand... I mean if he's going to eat my face, why not let him start with my hand right?   After the longest couple of minutes ever he decided he didn't want to eat me and that instead I was his best friend and was jumping all over licking me and trying to play. I swiftly walked home to recover from my heart attack after that. lol

Quoting TheNuge:" <blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" I hope someone you love will never be bitten ... [snip!] ... fall on them and some don't. I would have less confidence in a pit that isn't in a steady and controlled environment."

Pitbull have amazing temperament! That is why people buy them(loving people)They are one of the most tolerant, patient and gentle breeds. They can be "game" towards other dogs or small animals but not people.(unless they are trained to be that way, it is not in their natural temperament) That is the same with most of the "Gladiator Dogs" They are known to have a very mellow temperament.,

The Pit was known at the
"Nanny Dog" for a long time in the US. It is easy to find info on this all over.
This is a good story that talks about how the dogs were The most reliable of any breed with children. It has some really cool photos from back in the 1900's too
http://www.ywgrossman.com/photoblog/?p=676

This just goes into the "nanny" thing a little

http://sgbrown.hubpages.com/hub/The-Pit-Bull-Dog-Once-Knows-as-the-Nanny-Dog-What-Happened

<blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" Pitbull have amazing temperament! That is why people buy them(loving people)They are one of the most ... [snip!] ... into the "nanny" thing a little http://sgbrown.hubpages.com/hub/The-Pit-Bull-Dog-Once-Knows-as-the-Nanny-Dog-What-Happened "</blockquote>




I realize you love pits. I love them too. But you are not looking at them objectively.
I'm a landlord and I can't get liability insurance coverage for pits and several other breeds as they are more probe to problems AND their problems are more severe.
There is a reason they are on the "no" list.

Quoting applelove:" Pitbull have amazing temperament! That is why people buy them(loving people)They are one of the most ... [snip!] ... into the "nanny" thing a little http://sgbrown.hubpages.com/hub/The-Pit-Bull-Dog-Once-Knows-as-the-Nanny-Dog-What-Happened "

I think that maybe once the breed became a popular fighting dog, people started breeding the more aggressive ones... and inbred them and caused problems in the blood lines. There are sweet pits. I've met them. But I can't ignore the ones that eat babies and use them for chew toys.... but then again I'm leery of all dogs.

Quoting Fat-and-Happy:" I think that maybe once the breed became a popular fighting dog, people started breeding the more aggressive ... [snip!] ... I've met them. But I can't ignore the ones that eat babies and use them for chew toys.... but then again I'm leery of all dogs."

I am, too. I never leave my children alone with a strange dog, even if it's just my friend's dog. I never left my babies alone with my own dogs. They're animals and you never know what is going to set them off.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Bangtail:</b>" I am, too. I never leave my children alone with a strange dog, even if it's just my friend's dog. I ... [snip!] ... friend's dog. I never left my babies alone with my own dogs. They're animals and you never know what is going to set them off."</blockquote>




You never know what kids are going to do. I don't have an aggressive dog. I have an aggressive but wonderful 4 yer old neighbor who can't control her exuberance. It's HER temperament. I can't leave the 2 alone at all as my dog gets nervous and I don't want an incident.
I'd never take a risk with a child.

Quoting TheNuge:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Bangtail:</b>" I am, too. I never leave my children alone with ... [snip!] ... I can't leave the 2 alone at all as my dog gets nervous and I don't want an incident. I'd never take a risk with a child."

That's true. My youngest son is like Darla on Finding Nemo. He never slows down and he's rough. He always tries to ride my lab/german shepherd like a pony. She's grown up with him, though, so she's cool with it. I have to watch him with other people's animals. My BIL's dog does not like him at all. Ty will just keep picking at him and picking at him until he snaps. He's a little dog, so I figure if Ty gets bit one good time, maybe he'll stop.

Quoting Fat-and-Happy:" I think that maybe once the breed became a popular fighting dog, people started breeding the more aggressive ... [snip!] ... I've met them. But I can't ignore the ones that eat babies and use them for chew toys.... but then again I'm leery of all dogs."

You are right, there are some very smurffy inbred bloodlines and NO baby should be left alone with ANY dog. Because any dog can eat a new born. My dogs and baby all sleep with me in my room... but not when the baby was new born!

Quoting Bangtail:" I am, too. I never leave my children alone with a strange dog, even if it's just my friend's dog. I ... [snip!] ... friend's dog. I never left my babies alone with my own dogs. They're animals and you never know what is going to set them off."

I know what will set my dog off but I can't stop a baby from doing it! My baby actuly bites my dogs! I would never let my baby do that to a did I did not know. And I don't let my baby hang out with my dogs alone. No matter how much I trust my Dogs I still don't

It is always best to be safe!

<blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" I know what will set my dog off but I can't stop a baby from doing it! My baby actuly bites my dogs! ... [snip!] ... don't let my baby hang out with my dogs alone. No matter how much I trust my Dogs I still don't It is always best to be safe!"</blockquote>




Lol at the baby biting the dog.

I won't leave my dog alone with young kids. She gets nervous.
I know one of my neighbors dogs well as I take care of her often. She is a yellow lab and I'd leave young children with her. I'd also leave my last boxer with young children. Neither of these sweeties know there teeth are for.

For my next dog, I want one that I Think i MIGHT be able to leave alone with a young child. As you can tell from this thread, you know what breed I won't be getting.
BUT, I could see, at some point in the future, taking a pit in as a rescue/foster. There are too many of these nice dogs in shelters.

Bad owner= behavioral problems Good owner= well-adjusted family pet they need lots of guidance and can be stubborn at times but when with the right owner and right type of training at a young age they're great! Also tell your sister to fix her dog. Shelters put down put bulls by the dozens each day so there's no need for her to be breeding hers when she could be saving another dogs life.