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I was raised to believe that I am responsible for my dog's actions, within reason. If my dog nips someone, barely breaking the skin, then I would offer to be responsible, pay for any medical expenses incurred, provide proof of my dog's rabies vaccination, and would not expect to be sued for tens of thousands of dollars or have my dog seized and condemned for being dangerous. If my dog were to cause a more severe injury to a person, unprovoked, I would have to be responsible unless there were extenuating circumstances - thankfully I've never been in that situation.
I've never owned a pit bull type dog; and never will, not because I think the breed is entirely dangerous, but because they're usually too much dog for me, too strong, rambunctious, high-energy, as are Boxers and many other breeds.
I had posted a picture, sort of a way to illustrate that "pitbull" is a rather generic name. The picture is of an American Bulldog, but with that head many think pitbull. My point is anything that looks like a pibble isn't necessarily so. American Bullys are super sweet although extremely strong but often lumped in as a pibble. They are considered as a part of the Pitbull breed stock history.
I know of a couple of very sweet pibbles and my only dog bite has been from a Dalmation. Thing about pibbles is that they are very intense dogs, everything from loving with its owner to playtime to fighting is done to the maximum, there is no partway with them.
Should pibbles be singled out-- I don't think so. Neither should Shepards, Dobies, Rotties etc, the previous dogs of ill temper. Pibbles do require extra attention in being sold and in ownership.
I am a big fan of Pitbulls and Parolees. I have learned that they can be as good as any other dog, but it depends upon the way they are raised. This is true of any dog. To target Pitbulls is just ignorant.
For example, we had a litter of Springer Spaniels once. Springers are known for being big sloppy lovers and great family dogs. A puppy we kept, however, needed to be put down after a year because he started to bite people without any warning.
ANY breed of dog can be dangerous, but no breed of dog is predictably dangerous.
I was walking my 4 lb chihuahua who looks absolutely adorable, and he's really a well mannered dog but he will stand up for himself if he has to establish his dominance, as is the nature of any dog who feels threatened. That's normal animal behavior.
I'm minding my own business and a neighborhood idiot - a complete stranger - walked up and without my permission decided to just scoop up my dog and the idiot put her face right into my dogs face and kissed him. The neighborhood idiot got bit in the face by my dog and as far as I'm concerned, rightfully so.
Luckily for the idiot, my dog didn't pierce the skin because he didn't have many teeth, but any idiot who thinks they can just walk up to someone else's dog, scoop them up and put their face right in the dogs face is an idiot who needs to be educated in both animal behavior and respecting personal space of both people and their animals. Putting your face in an animals face is a sign of aggression. Yeah I know you are probably going to say lucky for ME that I didn't get sued, but no - in reality lucky for HER because perhaps next time she'll think twice about kissing a strangers dog on a whim and it may just save her face. You can't fix stupid.
I commend the parents who are wise enough to teach their kids NOT to run up to animals and to ASK the owner if it's okay to pet their dog. It amazes me how many of them don't. This is the best thing you can teach your kid.
I can go to the dog park and I know just by observation who does and who doesn't know the importance of being the alpha with ANY breed. Large breeds need an owner who understands the importance of being an alpha -- and that goes for any breed - otherwise it's a recipe for disaster.
Pit Bulls are a powerful breed indeed but they aren't bad dogs per se, and yet they get a bad rap. You have to look at how these dogs are raised, who they are raised by, what form of abuse and neglect they've endured, if any. The media only portrays one side of the story, and a lot of dogs who attack aren't pure bred Pit Bulls in the first place. In most cases it's the owner that's the problem, not the dog. If you don't know how to be an alpha, you shouldn't have a dog.
I have a friend who is a responsible Pit Bull owner. His dog is the typical scary looking Pit Bull, but she is also the sweetest dog you'll ever meet and very well rounded. Just because she looks mean and because the media says she's unpredicable doesn't mean she is. ALL members of his household are the alpha over the dog.
The misconception that Pit Bulls are the number one dangerous breed in terms of attacking innocent people is simply NOT TRUE, but again, that's what the media wants you to believe.
My friends father is a plastic surgeon. The number one dog he's had to perform plastic surgeries on children due to dog attacks, and it's usually "the family dog" who attacks children IN THEIR OWN FAMILY, is the GERMAN SHEPARD.
So again, you have to look at your source. The media isn't a reliable unbiased source of information.
I once owned a beautiful German Shepherd of the German line. When my homeowners insurance agent found out about it, I was told I had to get rid of him or they would cancel my policy. He told me that the german shepherd was one of the breeds on their vicious dog list and they do not cover property with these dogs.
Anyone in their right mind, who does not have a stake in pit bull advocacy, knows that pit bull and pit bull mixes have long been a very unstable breed of dog.
I can't understand why anyone would be into Pit Bull advocacy. There is clearly an agenda there, and while I hate to get political on this it's a largely liberal one. The inherent implication is that if the dog is inherently dangerous, then so are the owners. Well....of course. Those most likely to acquire pit bulls are almost certainly low-life losers.
There's nothing to sugar-coat here. Nothing to advocate for. The rest of society should not have to accommodating these arseholes and their ticking time bombs, nor should we be guilt-tripped into doing so.
Persons who own pit bulls are dirtbags and deadbeats. Moderator cut: -
Is it the dog's fault? Sort of. Pit Bulls ARE inherently dangerous, just like a wolf, panther, coyote or mountain lion is inherently dangerous.
One poster stated above that if you don't train a pit bull properly it will be dangerous....well duh! If that's true than it's inherent. A Bichon might poop on your carpet if you don't train it properly, but it's not going to kill anyone. Why? Because it's not inherently dangerous.
I've never heard of a Beagle, a Greyhound, or an English Sheep Dog mauling someone's son or daughter to death.
But it's also people's fault for getting these types of dogs, for not neutering them and breeding them. Honestly that should be banned as well (as should not neutering your pet unless with an expensive breeding license; I'm against a lot of government regulation and fees, but there are too many strays as it is, and too many irresponsible breeders and owners too).
And of course those that deliberately train the dogs to be even more violent than they naturally are...definitely guilty of whatever damage the dog does, up to and including murder. Prison cells are the only thing we need to "advocate" for losers who own pits and train them to be violent.
Last edited by Oldhag1; 01-06-2015 at 09:52 AM..
Reason: Inflaming
Persons who own pit bulls are dirtbags and deadbeats. End. Of. Story.
Hmm, who knew?
Care to compare credit scores (805), Income ($180,000+ annual), Education (dissertation shy of PhD, hold an MBA), Profesional attainment (Retired Senior FG Military Officer, Consultant), Family success (two engineers, one history major and a Military Linguist), value of real estate owned ($600,000+), standing in lay ministry at church (Work with 9 sub units of our church as an advisor to the local ministers), Charity donations (~$10,000 annually)? Shall I contuinue?
I have never before defined myself by my dog, but obviously I am a dirtbag and a deadbeat. By the way, my Staffordshire Terrier mix was represented at the SPCA as a "Lab" mix, but since I am a "dirtbag and deadbeat" I kept her and raised her in a loving home instead of doing the responsible thing and discarding the dog.
There's a reason most home owners and renters policies won't cover pit bulls. A responsible dog owner would make sure they have liability insurance. A pit bull owner can't do that.
Lets not ignore the responsibility of the breeders who should not be selling pups to anyone who doesn't have experience with dogs or more importantly prior experience with these stronger breeds.
People need to be educated.
And to the person who claims that all pitbull owners are scumbags, I think you kissed my chihuahua.
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