Christine Hibbard, CTC, CPDT
If you speak with any of us at Companion Animal Solutions, follow our blog or work with us, you know the answer to this question. No, we do not believe that Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous. So why am I writing about this topic again?
In September, I got a phone call from a reporter at Q13 News who wanted to interview me on camera about whether Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous. I asked the reporter what had happened and he said, “Don’t worry about it. I just want your professional opinion as to whether Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous”. He also informed me he would be at my office within 30 minutes. You can read the transcript of the interview here. It wasn’t until after the interview aired that I discovered a woman had been horribly mauled by a Pit Bull.
Then about four weeks later, a reporter named Eric Johnson at KOMO 4 News interviewed Dr. Jim Ha, CAAB extensively about canine ethology and behavioral genetics. I highly recommend watching this piece because the reporter interviewed several people and truly tried to give exposure to all sides of the Pit Bull issue. The overall question the piece was trying to answer was the same though. Are Pit Bulls genetically wired for aggression? While we all feel truly awful for anyone injured by a dog, why does every dog attack case involving a Pit Bull illicit the same question from the media? If Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists, Veterinarians, Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and Certified Professional Dog Trainers do not believe Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous, then why does the question keep coming up? In addition to the sensationalism that drives media in America, I believe the question keeps coming up because the issue of Pit Bulls is a complex one and like any complex issue, people end up on opposite ends of the argument without evaluating or understanding the facts.
Prior to their popularity with criminals and others looking for a dog to project a tough or intimidating image, Pit Bulls were known for being family dogs. Greta Kaplan, CPDT, CDBC recently wrote in a report to a client:
Because Pit Bulls were bred to fight with other dogs and had to be handled safely by humans, the exact opposite pattern was deliberately selected for: The dog would not inhibit its behavior toward the other dog, but would completely inhibit any aggression toward the human handler. This selected trait is closely related to why Staffordshire Bull Terriers and the early Pit Bull Type dogs are known as the “Nanny Dog,” considered incredibly safe with children. They are sturdy, insensitive to pain, handling and spatial proximity, and incredibly inhibited when faced with aggressive, threatening or intrusive human behavior.
We know that animal behavior is a combination of nature (genetics) and nurture (learning). We know that genetics plays a part in what people sometimes call “breed specific behaviors”. That’s why when we work a dog behavior case, we use ethology to help us identify why certain behavior is happening but even within a specific breed, dogs can vary widely. When we talk about the ethology of Pit Bulls, the topic begins to veer off course because unfortunately for the breed, they became popular with criminals. Criminals have selectively bred these dogs for generations for dog/dog aggression. Often, dog/dog aggression (or gameness) doesn’t begin to appear until after a dog reaches sexual maturity (six months) or social maturity (18 months). Often, it doesn’t appear at all. The behavior problems we see Pit Bulls for the most are generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, fear and dog/dog aggression. Notice that human directed aggression is not on this list.
In Jim’s interview, he estimated that 20% to 30% of a dog’s behavior is based on genetics. If he’s correct, then that leaves a HUGE area for which nurture or learning is responsible for the behavior we see. In Ray Coppinger’s book Dogs, he makes compelling arguments for how brains develop and how learning takes place that emphasize how adaptable dogs can be if socialized properly per the purpose we want the dog to serve. I’m paraphrasing here but basically one of the points he makes is that if you want a flock guarding dog, choose any village dog with low prey drive and raise it with sheep during it’s critical social period. Viola, you’ve got a flock guard.
If socialization/learning is so important, what can happen when a Pit Bull is isolated and even abused? If a certain societal element or owner wants dogs who are aggressive, we’ll get dogs who are aggressive. Blaming the breed is ludicrous if you look at and understand the facts of how learning takes place. Now don’t think I haven’t worked with Pit Bulls I’ve thought were dangerous, I have. But I’ve worked through behavior problems with hundreds of dogs and I can tell you that a tiny percentage of them (less than 2%) are inherently dangerous and this has nothing to do with their breed. It’s how they’ve been bred, raised and trained (and I’m using the term trained loosely here). There’s a reason we’re so passionate about using scientific, humane training methods (no force, fear or pain please). Abusing a dog and calling it training often leads to anxiety, fear and human directed aggression.
There’s beginning to be some good news for Pit Bulls as a breed. Reputable rescues are working with these dogs and finding responsible homes for them. Most of the Vick Pit Bulls have moved on to have normal lives or even become therapy dogs. A recent piece on the NBC Morning News covered a school for the blind who is raising Pit Bull puppies and training Pit Bulls to be service dogs for blind and developmentally disabled children. Recently, the Seattle Kennel Club wrote an article about one of my favorite owner/dog pairs; Benny the Pit Bull and his owner Mike who is a Seattle Animal Care & Control Officer. I had the honor of working with Benny and Mike and I can tell you from personal experience, Benny’s play manners with my two rough housing Australian Shepherds was beyond reproach.
While we can’t stop irresponsible people and criminals from turning dogs into aggressive, dangerous dogs, we can all hope that the tide is turning. We also hope you’ll take this opportunity to tell us about your experience with Pit Bulls.
I am actually currently writing a paper on how Pit Bulls are not responsible for their aggression- it is more commonly the owner and how they raise them. Also, learning in more detail about Pit Bull fighting leads me to believe ever more intensely that the dog is not responsible for any negative-learned behavior. I feel as though that these dogs are extremely energetic, and they need to learn to exert this energy properly.
I have a 5 year-old Pit Bull terrier who is the sweetest dog I have ever met. We got “Gridley” when we also had a 9 year-old German Shepherd in the house. We never had any problems with aggression from either of the dogs . . . in fact, when the German Shepherd (Ben) passed away, Gridley sulked for a while and would sniff around Ben’s bed, and act extremely weary. The two dogs were truly best friends. We even have photos of them taking naps together.
I also would like to add that I have a sister with Autism who the dog is especially gentle with. My dog will playfully growl and be extremely “boyish” when playing with my father, but the second my sister grabs hold of the rope, Gridley calms right down and gently tugs. If you grab the end of the rope with your hold hand, Grid will persistently search for a part of the rope where he won’t grab onto your fingers. There are times when my sister, driven by her need for routine, will put the dog in his crate because “everyone belongs in bed” around 9:30 p.m. He listens to her the best out of everyone! One second the dog is hanging out with all of us in the living room, and the next he is confused and staring at us from inside his crate. We laugh and then let him out once she goes to bed. It is all hilarious.
Long story short, we love our pit. While I do understand the fear that is instilled in the population do to the attacks and how brutal they can be because of Pit Bull’s strength and energy, I believe that Pits can be a loving addition to the family but must be monitored with children and kept on a leash, as with any dog. I also think it is important to address any aggressive natures that they might have obtained for some reason. (many of the stories about pit attacks that I have read have included the detail that the dog bit someone/ showed signs of aggression some time prior to the more intense attack) I believe owning a dog, especially a large breed, is a science, but once it is perfected, they make the absolute best of friends.
Gridley sounds absolutely marvelous and what a great owner you are! Thanks for reading Behind the Behavior!
Such terrible propaganda you are spreading. Pitt bulls ARE extremely dangerous. I hope you never personally have to counsel someone who’s child has been mauled or killed by a pit bull. For decades of this type of debate, to try to justify that pits “aren’t dangerous” – trying to keep explaining away as to why they’re not dangerous…. doesn’t that empircally tell you they are indeed dangerous? Any responsible veternarian would NEVER recommend someone to own a pit bull. Dennis was right in his previous post. Don’t let your emotional ‘love’ to pits cloud the research that they are unpredictable, and turn at the drop of a hat. I don’t care what certified person tries to argue the point.
In reading the comments, ive noticed that a lot of the people up here believe pitts are aggressive partly because they know owners who have been “nothing but nice” to their pitts and they still attack, but have they? Noone knows what actually goes on between these pitts and their owners behind closed doors or when they are alone with them. No matter how sweet a person is, they could be cruel to their pet when they are alone and nice to them when they are in front of people so they themselves dont appear abusive. My opinion is that pitts are not dangerous animals. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I enjoyed reading the articile and the comments Christine =)
Wow! I just have to comment. What freaking “research”?? by whom and where is it published???? What are their credentials?? I have three dogs considered DANGEROUS breeds. My vet will “empirically” tell you that my pit bull is the LEAST dangerous of all my dogs. Why? Because my vet is not some hysterical idiot…he knows my crew.
I do animal rescue so I have seen all breeds and all types of abuse. Two of my “failed fosters”—meaning I couldn’t give them up–were severely abused and found abandoned in the desert, susceptible to not only the elements, but other predators, so serious trust issues.
My first was a Carolina Dog–in other words, a domesticated Dingo. Took months of patience, love, and discipline to build trust and he became a completely different dog. I also brought him into my home with my alpha male Rottie-mix. No problems and the two are inseparable. My latest is my Pit. .. I too was a little leary about the pit bull b/c of all the mis-information/propaganda. Therefore, I used every resource I could find to learn about this breed. Knowledge is power, ignorance spreads lies.
Again, my bully had been traumatized and we are still working on nervous peeing, but after six months, I believe he is the happiest, most well adjusted dog in the world! I trust him more than I do the dog I raised from a pup and the first foster. I owe Christine for giving me valuable training advice, as well as my vet who ensures my pit is in perfect health. My dogs are trained NOT to cross the barrier of the doorways for example and there has never once been a fight over food, affection, etc. Why??? Because my dogs understand their roles completely, have full trust in me that they will not be abused in any way and therefore look at all humans as non-threatening.
It’s a shame that children are hurt by animals, but just like its the owners’ responsibility to train their pets, its also the parents responsibility to train their children how to interact with pets. My father taught us at an earlier age how to respect and interact with dogs.
ANY animal can be dangerous. Case in point: I have NEVER been bitten by a dog, but received stitches as a child from a CAT that ripped open my hand. As a result, I now hate cats..so should we consider ALL CATS dangerous and ban them??? No, because that is hysteria!
Sorry, but I get really ticked off by ignorance. So when I hear people talk about things they do not comprehend and make blanket statements, I put them in the same category as racists, sexists, and homophobics.
Barb – you’re going off on the deep end. Nobody disagreed that all animals (and humans) have a dangerous element to them. Let me ask you though, can a cat rip your throat out and mangle you beyond recognition?
Nobody disagreed that there are really lovely pits out there. Nobody would disagree that there are really nasty cats out there. Everybody would agree that they would MUCH rather be facing off against an angry cat over a pit. There are many people with pet chimps out there who have perfectly lovely lives. But then you look at someone like Charla Nash and suddenly its not that simple anymore is it?
So when making analogies, at least try to keep the argument in the right context
And here are your statistics that you’ve asked so nicely for:
https://dogbitelaw.com/dog-bite-statistics/the-breeds-most-likely-to-kill.html
https://www.dogsbite.org/dogsbite-recent-dog-bite-statistics.php
And here is a word or two about ignorance. The next time, my friend goes for counseling over the death of his daughter who was ripped to shreds by a pit, I’ll mention that he is just in the same category as racists, sexists and homophobics. I’ll console myself with the same rationale whenever I think about the pieces of her body we had to gather up.
For all your blame on the OWNERS of pitbulls, just remember that pitbulls were genetically bred for fighting…period. They instinctively have a host of aggressions which other dogs do not.
https://www.aspcabehavior.org/articles/49/Aggression-in-Dogs.aspx
Pitbulls are freaks of nature. We have already committed a huge blunder in breeding these dogs. And now thanks to victimizing the victims even further, we’re at the verge of committing another one.
In spite of all this research and statistics I can’t believe Christie and you could just sit smugly there and insist that there is nothing wrong with pits. Just remember – for you, the above numbers may be simply statistics that can be ignored…until, heaven forbid, you end up being included in them
Peace and out.
Thanks for sharing Dennis. I remember when working on my MBA that .com and .org sites were considered jaded research. I’m sure you remember not being able to use these sources when working on your Masters Thesis.
I feel very badly for your friend’s daughter as well as any parent who loses a child under any circumstances. I grew up in Detroit and know many families that have suffered the loss and/or permanent disability of toddlers and small children due to drive-by shootings and child abuse. Statistically, dog attacks are irrelevant compared to the number and types of deaths each year, especially since Detroit has a very large pit bull population. Even the data you provided shows that the number of fatalities compared to the number of pit breeds in this country is minute. My point is the hysteria of people with limited knowledge making blanket statements about any breed being is similar to any categorization of living beings. The recent Trayvon Martin death is a classic example.
Even one injury or death is too much, its sad, but life happens.
I agree with many points in the websites you provided though. I remember when Doberman’s were the feared breed, and before that, Bouviers, Chows, and German Shepherds (which are probably still the most fierce breed since they are used by law enforcement, et al because of their “breeding.” But that is just an assumption–not based on any factual info) The latest bias is against Pit Bull Terriers. I’m glad I live in Maricopa County where Sheriff Joe paid for the placement of all of Michael Vicks’ dogs–NONE of which were put down despite the fact they were used in dog fighting. We also have wolf rescues here where one man I know has SEVEN rescued wolves that share his home.
I appreciate your concern, but I seriously doubt that I will ever be attacked by any canine be it dog, coyote, or wolf simply b/c I understand and respect the relationship between man and beast. Trust me, I have been in situations with dogs and coyotes and never injured. I will not agree to disagree on banning or euthanizing an entire breed based on a few unfortunate accidents.
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It is important to those of us who are responsible owners to have a forum to share information and training techniques for our animals. I suggest that anyone who does not benefit from this site, keep to sites that share your beliefs and where you can find comfort. Like I stated, I too was hesitant until I did research and actually own a pit bull terrier. These are energetic, loyal, and extremely eager to please animals. I would even consider starting a pit bull terrier rescue group. Awesome animals!
May God bless and console your friend and any other person that has been a victim of violence.
I’d like to thank our readers for keeping the dialog on this important issue scientifically based, respectful and compassionate. I thought I was going to have to step in and moderate but as always, our readers are the best!
The bear in my backyard and the cobra in my shed are both very friendly animals. I swear. Don’t get mad at them if they hurt you because you caused them to do that to you. They are friendly animals that there’s no scientific research that was done to conclude otherwise. Trained properly, they can coexist with human in a friendly environment.
Um… Sound familiar?
BARB – ” I remember when working on my MBA that .com and .org sites were considered jaded research.” I think this sweeping statement should be avoided, just for the sake of clarity and balance. impressive though that you have an MBA and still find the balance and find the time to properly raise and train your dogs while being busy with school.
Maybe you just happen to skim over the website Dennis posted too quickly, but sites like https://dogbitelaw.com/dog-bite-statistics/the-breeds-most-likely-to-kill.html actually list peer-reviewed journal articles that you can find even through google scholar.
pubmed.com also has .com and it’s the most widely used search source for biomedical journal research. that said, if your point is simply “don’t trust everything you read online”, then I would agree with you 100%. Not all of Dennis’ links contain scholarly articles, and not all scholarly articles are ‘the truth’.
i’m not here to agree or to disagree about your points regarding pitbulls. personally, i’m intrigued by this whole nature vs. nurture issue just as much as you and Dennis.
here’s a article that provide another perspective for everyone to consider. interesting read to say the least.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787806000128
published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research in 2006. entitled “Breed-specific legislation and the pitbull terrier: Are the laws justified?”
Here’s another link:
Again, it doesn’t take the whole owner training, nature vs. nurture into consideration.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2387261/
The Canadian Veterinary Journal 2008 June; 49(6): 577–581.
Interesting bits
“In 1990, Winnipeg was the first major Canadian jurisdiction among several to ban pit bull (terrier)-type dogs. Ontario adopted a province-wide ban on pit bulls in 2005. ” This is too bad. I have friends in Canada.
And here are other excerpts people here probably have heard some permutations of:
check the original paper for additional references
“In the United States, pit bull-type dogs and rottweilers were involved in more than half of 238 dog-attack deaths; they were followed by German shepherds, husky-type dogs, and malamutes in the number of deaths caused (5). However, as pit bull-type dogs gradually, and almost singularly, came under legislation in several Canadian jurisdictions, this breed-type’s ranking in the present retrospective study cannot be compared easily with the ranking from the earlier US-based study. In nonfatal aggressive incidents, the pit bull did rank highest in 2000 and 2001 (2.84 bite incidents per 100 licensed dogs of this breed type) in 1 Canadian municipality (Edmonton, Alberta) (12). Other breeds that followed in this municipality included the rottweiler (1.60 bite incidents per 100 licensed), Akita (1.52), mastiff (1.47), Dalmatian (1.40), and Great Dane (1.21) (12). The rottweiler, by causing 21 of the 72 non-fatal injuries attributed to dogs from known breeds, ranked 1st in a hospital-based summary of dog bites in children (9).”
BUT…before you go “lies, damned lies, and statistics!!!”
two things: 1. the authors did say this “ranking in the present retrospective study [about the pitbulls] cannot be compared easily with the ranking from the earlier US-based study”
there’s other parts in the paper that’s well….stuff that probably most people can agree on.
“Irrespective of breed, inadvertently creating the circumstance for multiple dogs, whether owned or stray, to form packs without human supervision may have been a major dog-related factor underlying the pattern of the fatalities identified in this study. Kneafsey and Condon (13) have reported that in a pack situation, once an aggressive act is initiated, whether as a playful nip or a serious bite, individually benign dogs may join in and the pack instinct escalates the attack until the victim is killed or the dogs are driven off. ”
please let the discussion continue!
I would like to point out something about the Ontario Breed Specific Legislation which banned pit bulls. The OVMA, Ontario Veterinarian Medical Association, was not consulted on the ban and now, the ban is currently being reviewed. Without consultation from the OVMA, there was no professional, expert opinion given to the voting bodies. This is actually against the legislation process. So, currently Ontario is reviewing the Breed Specific Legislation that prevents any persons living in Ontario to own a pit bull. As of right now, the ban is likely to be lifted and pit bulls will be allowed in the province again. Statistics Canada reports that from 1967-2011 the breed with the largest amount of fatal attacks and dog bites was actually husky and sledding dogs.
I understand many people fear these dogs and I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, I also believe that everything should be evaluated on a individual basis. Therefore, please consider each animal, no matter the breed, on an individual basis and leave stereotypes and stigmas behind. I understand that some people have encountered a variety of animals and have had some unfortunate situations; i respect their reasoning to dislike the breed. However, just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean you have to disrespect others who do like it.
I feel that if you do decide to become the owner of a pit bull or any dog for that matter, make an informed, educated decision. Do not make a decision based solely on statistics, peer reviewed journals or stories from peers. Diversify your knowledge and use all means to make this decision. Go out and meet some dogs, read up on them, talk to some vets, check into the literature and provide yourself with a solid foundation of information and experience. When you own a dog, no matter the breed, you must dedicate yourself to provide that animal with proper training, education and compassion. As I believe, a dog is a balance between nature and nurture and is a direct reflection of the owner. Anyone who owns a dog that may not be as socially acceptable as a Chihuahua, needs to be an advocate for the breed.
I personally do love pit bulls but respect the opinions of my family, friends and strangers who are not so fond of the breed but try to provide them with information and resources plus encounters with some great dogs to help them see what I see.
I feel that when people stop viewing these dogs as an extension of thier own personality and as a fashion assessory then perhaps the rest of us will be safer then we are now. I have had dalmations in the past. I found them to be energetic likable dogs that were once on the bite list in my area because two many people thought they would be like the disney movies. Bad encounters I have had with dogs were pits, rotties and a seriously deranged owner and his German shepherd. I now have a coonhound that was once knocked off his feet by a pittie on a busy street. When we finally seperated her dog after getting it off mine ahe drove off in her car while I was looking mine over. It may well be an owner issue but I can,t help but question some of these folks judgement when I found 8 unlicensed pits within three different houses surrounding me. Thats stupidity on their part. Every single bad encounter I have had with a dog started with a stupid owner telling me their dog would hurt no one. Respect the animal, local laws and do the rest of us a favor when we are out walking by leashing these powerful animals. And keep them away from me. If the dog drags you around you do not have control over it. Enough said.
My comment will be short and sweet. Approx. 95% of Pitbulls will never attack a person but is that 5% chance worth it? If you have kids and a Pitbull I’d say you’re stupid to risk it and you should buy a normal dog. Don’t get me wrong i’d love to have a Pitbull but I know im going to have kids and I’d prefer a dog that will protect them not possibly kill them.
my comment sounded negatively bias even though i love pitbulls i guess i should state that i truly believe a pitbull that’s raised in a loving home would be a wonderful and loving pet!
I have owned dogs my whole life. From Beagles, Wheatens, Labs, German Shepards, etc. We were told by a pit bull advocate and owner that pit bulls were so misunderstood and “it’s the deed, no the breed”. It’s the owners not the breed… Blah Blah Blah. Bought one, loved it and trained it. Was impressed. Was attacked and had to have my husband beat it with a shovel about 50 times to get it off of my arm. The look in that dogs eyes were nothing short of “I’m going to kill you”. There was no provocation, no other animals or people around. My husband was inside the home. I don’t care what anyone says, I treated that dog well and it was loved. If I ever see a pit bull come near me, I will warn the owner only once. The dog will die.
As the owner of a pitbull-collie mix and a staffy I would just like to vouch for them. I truly belive that anyone who has such a terrible bias towards pitbulls has probably never met one. Bigotry won’t get you far in life and perhaps if you opened your eyes and starting learning the truth as opposed to falling for the sensalization in todays media you might be a better person for it. Everyone always comes back with “Oh but I know a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend whos daughert was killed by a pitbull” Yeah, well that story that you dredged out of the recesses of your memory probaly happened several states over and what and the media outlet you happened to hear it on also neglected to mention that the dog was kept outside on a 100lb 10 foot chain for its whole life and noone understands why it suddenly attacked the two year old it was left unsupervised with who was pulling it tail and poking its out eyes out. Unfortunately the poor dog gets the blame because some brute of a person who shouldn’t even own a hamster decides he wants a dog based on its physical appearance. No one is going to argue the fact that there are a few bad apple dogs out there just as there are bad apple people. But do good pitbulls really sell stories? They win families over every day all over canada and the states but they don’t sell the newspapers.
i just found your web side. I also have norw. and a small maincoon mix. The one main coon male i had was very big similas to red on top but he died So iam looking for a main coon Baby that we become this size. Can you reccoment some breeders that are breeding with big animals tanks for your help
Firstly, let me be clear that I fully understand that aggression is inherently a component in all living things. In terms of human behavior, as well as behavior appearing in all and especially higher level species, issues of “nature vs. nurture”, “fight vs. flight”, “prey vs. predator” behavioral responses have been observed, analyzed, discussed, and opinionated on as long as humans have had the ability to articulate and have identified themselves as apart from the natural world and have held dominion over the natural world. However, the statistics regarding dog bites despite the horrific nature of some, in no way compares to the human horrors perpetrated against species other than human, and interpersonally directed violence. Furthermore, the fact that cruelty against children, the elderly, women and animals accounts for millions of victims globally every year, not to mention the millions of companion animals destroyed in shelters, animal control agencies and public policies, says far more about the propensity for violence committed by humans than any statistics demonstrating random and/or intentional aggression against humans by other species and circumstances. I have served as a cruelty investigator, researcher, and author for over 20 years. My book based on a statistical study, co-authored by Dr. Kathleen Heide, “Animal Cruelty: Pathway to Violence against People”, demonstrates the many manifestations by which humans have perpetuated cruelty within and across species lines- and investigates the parameters by which predatory criminals have statistically significantly escalated from cruelty to animals to violence against humans. Would I have faced more danger assisting Ted Bundy (he wearing a fake cast on his arm), or any guy in a dark parking lot asking for a hand to his car, or coming to the assistance of a lost or abandoned Pit Bull is unknown- but “life on life’s terms” sadly includes violence without reconciliation. As far as some of the chimpanzee analogies- it is ironic that they are our closest living relatives.
I cant believe there are so many idiots out here who advocate the ownership of these dangerous dogs.A few myths about the “friendly pit bull” that I would like to clarify here
1-“Pitbull” is a generic term-Absolutely not,the earliest instance of these dogs was back in England,where the bulldog was crossed with various terriers to create the best fighting dog,which led to the staffordshire bull terrier.These dogs were brought to America wherein they were made bigger and stronger and were given the moniker “pitbull”.In order to avoid any controversy with the general public,these dogs were named as “American staffordshire terrier” by the AKC.So “APBT”,”Amstaff” are not two different dogs.If they are,what is the difference?People only point out superficial differences not actual ones
2-“Blame the deed not the breed” – Again,this is nonsense.Animals are not humans,they cannot make judgements as to what is moral behaviour or not,they act according to instinct.A greyhound will run away if it is not leashed,no matter how experienced the owner is or how good that individual dog is,because they have a flight/chase instinct,so why is it so hard to believe that pitbulls and other such fighting dogs are inherently aggressive??
3- “In the 60s,it was the German Shepherd”- Again,total nonsense.What is the proof that you have for making the claim that various dog breeds were “victimised” at a time ?? German Shepherds were perhaps disliked due to anti-german propoganda during WW2,nothing else
4-“The Nanny dog”- This is sheer crap.It is nothing but a romanticised potrayal of dogs.the nanny dog concept originated in the PeterPan novels (where it was a Landseer Newfoundland).People quote “Our Gang” (Pete the pup),but movies do not represent reality,because if cinematic potrayal of pitbulls was correct,then everyone would have pet tigers (a.l.a “Rajah”-Princess Jasmine’s pet in Aladdin or Archie the bear in Dr.Dolittle 2)
5-“Symbol of america” -Nations always choose powerful and not neccesarily popular animals as symbols.(eg-lions,tigers,eagles etc)The pitbull is american and powerful hence it was chosen as a symbol,that’s all
6-“Breed “discrimination” is like racism”-Seriously,do I even have to say anything about how horrible this statement is??
Lastly,to conclude,I have observed that pitbull advocacy/animal rights has become the new age religion.It is one thing to be compassionate towards animals,but blatantly ignoring/refusing to acknowledge risks is stupid.Animals deserve our compassion,no doubt,but our kindness should be based on logic and not in foolish dogma.don’t equate animals with humans.Animals are below humans,it is a fact.It does not mean that we have a right to be cruel to them,certainly not,but granting “rights” to animals is absurd,especially when many people on earth themselves have no rights
A few myths about the “friendly pit bull” that I would like to clarify here
1-“Pitbull” is a generic term-Absolutely not,the earliest instance of these dogs was back in England,where the bulldog was crossed with various terriers to create the best fighting dog,which led to the staffordshire bull terrier.These dogs were brought to America wherein they were made bigger and stronger and were given the moniker “pitbull”.In order to avoid any controversy with the general public,these dogs were named as “American staffordshire terrier” by the AKC.So “APBT”,”Amstaff” are not two different dogs.If they are,what is the difference?People only point out superficial differences not actual ones
2-“Blame the deed not the breed” – Again,this is nonsense.Animals are not humans,they cannot make judgements as to what is moral behaviour or not,they act according to instinct.A greyhound will run away if it is not leashed,no matter how experienced the owner is or how good that individual dog is,because they have a flight/chase instinct,so why is it so hard to believe that pitbulls and other such fighting dogs are inherently aggressive??
3- “In the 60s,it was the German Shepherd”- Again,total nonsense.What is the proof that you have for making the claim that various dog breeds were “victimised” at a time ?? German Shepherds were perhaps disliked due to anti-german propoganda during WW2,nothing else
4-“The Nanny dog”- This is sheer crap.It is nothing but a romanticised potrayal of dogs.the nanny dog concept originated in the PeterPan novels (where it was a Landseer Newfoundland).People quote “Our Gang” (Pete the pup),but movies do not represent reality,because if cinematic potrayal of pitbulls was correct,then everyone would have pet tigers (a.l.a “Rajah”-Princess Jasmine’s pet in Aladdin or Archie the bear in Dr.Dolittle 2)
5-“Symbol of america” -Nations always choose powerful and not neccesarily popular animals as symbols.(eg-lions,tigers,eagles etc)The pitbull is american and powerful hence it was chosen as a symbol,that’s all
6-“Breed “discrimination” is like racism”-Seriously,do I even have to say anything about how horrible this statement is??
Lastly,to conclude,I have observed that pitbull advocacy/animal rights has become the new age religion.It is one thing to be compassionate towards animals,but blatantly ignoring/refusing to acknowledge risks is stupid.Animals deserve our compassion,no doubt,but our kindness should be based on logic and not in foolish dogma.don’t equate animals with humans.Animals are below humans,it is a fact.It does not mean that we have a right to be cruel to them,certainly not,but granting “rights” to animals is absurd,especially when many people on earth themselves have no rights
Any dog can be dangerous and any dog can be safe. And whoever says one or the other is an idiot! They are animals. You have to treat them like animals and with respect. One has to respect the fact that they are living creatures. Just like a human. You have assholes, idiots, smart and intelligent people, strong, stupid whatever the case is. These dogs are safe just like any other dog. It can be dangerous and aggressive just like any other dog also. How you train them is a big part of it. In reality the only reason you have the bad image of this breed is because 3 out of 5 dog owners own a pitbull. So there is way more of them then any other breed in US. But still by national statistics there is more of other breed incidents were dogs are agressive and more bite attacks and more death related attacks are by other breeds. So please open your eyes people. In florida a kid ripped apart by a Dolmination!!!! Can someone explain that to me!????? Plz dont. Pit bulls are not a problem in this world. Thats a fact! Just like any other dog is not a problem. It is us humans. We were given power over them by God! But of course everyone who has power does abuse it unfortunately. Poor animals of any kind of breed that have to deal with this thats all. You don’t have to love dogs or cats of any kind or you can be a big lover of one or the other. But what everyone needs to do is respect animals for what they are just like we respect people for what they are. Ah very sad. Very sad.
Hi. I firmly believe that Pit Bulls (and other “dangerous” breeds) can be wonderful, loving and loyal pets. I am even in the process of training a young female pit to become a seizure alert and response dog for my husband. It was a funny thing that I found her too. I was at a breeder’s house with a friend who was purchasing a pup for her eldest child and we were on the way to pick up my husband’s keppra (a seizure med) because he had been out for two days. He complained of not feeling well and as he sat in the floor the puppy ran up and miraculously at 8weeks old, she instinctively knew he was going to have a seizure because she began barking and trying to crawl in his lap and then barking at us and . By her reaction we grabbed him a pillow, when the seizure began, she laid close to him and eyed him carefully as I made him comfortable to avoid injury and because of an 8 week old puppy, he was not injured…. damnedest thing I ever saw 🙂 needless to say we brought her home and she is adjusting well. I actually came across this forum as I was doing research on this breed. I think what alot of people do not understand, is that pit bulls who are not bred for fighting or are birthed by fighter parents are not dangerous animals.
Sounds like you found a very special dog Victoria. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience!
I was raised to believe that pitbulls are dangerous terrifying creatures.. My mother is terrified of them regardless of the fact that she has never owned one. 2 yrs ago I began renting a house on a large farm property with several other homes. I was (ignorantly) scared to death when I found out there was a pit on the property allowed to run loose. That is the sweetest, most well mannered dog I have ever met! He instantly bonded to my 3 yr old daughter, and follows her around the property, and on one occasion, protected her from another dog that meant to hurt her. Now there are 3 on the property, they play with our Maltese, and allow him to play and chase them around. I have NEVER seen an ounce of aggression out of ANY of these three pitbulls here. I feel like I have seen the light, and I wish that more people would realize that their fear is based on ignorance. You should never approach an unfamiliar dog of ANY breed. I have seen more aggression out of poodles and chihuahuas than these big babies
We sure live in a strange world where a few idiots spoilt for choice insist on keeping a dangerous creature as a “pet” while compromising the safety and security of their neighbors.Pitbull owners or “pitnutters” as they are called,often display their namesake’s tenacity and ferocity in defending this breed.Their arguments range from making outrageous claims like comparing this dog breed to racial/ethnic minorities to blaming the victim under all circumstances(reminiscent of blaming rape victims).Surely,the situation could have been a lot better if these “animal rights” activists spent some time in curbing the illegal breeding of these dogs,educating their community in raising this animal and most importantly,not remaining in utter denial about the potential danger posed by these dogs.instead,they use strongarm tactics to completely supress all voices of opposition,subvert and defy laws made for the safety of citizens
We sure live in a strange world where a few idiots spoilt for choice insist on keeping a dangerous creature as a “pet” while compromising the safety and security of their neighbors.Pitbull owners or “pitnutters” as they are called,often display their namesake’s tenacity and ferocity in defending this breed.Their arguments range from making outrageous claims like comparing this dog breed to racial/ethnic minorities to blaming the victim under all circumstances(reminiscent of blaming rape victims).Surely,the situation could have been a lot better if these “animal rights” activists spent some time in curbing the illegal breeding of these dogs,educating their community in raising this animal and most importantly,not remaining in utter denial about the potential danger posed by these dogs.instead,they use strongarm tactics to completely supress all voices of opposition,subvert and defy laws made for the safety of citizens
@GalvCoast They’re only dangerous if somebody trains them to be mean or a fighter! Everyone knows that! You have millions of people that LOVE Pitbulls including me! I have a razor’s edge and he’s very gentle and sweet to my newborn niece and not even a harm at all to anybody. I don’t see why people complain about other dogs when they attack people too! But when it’s a pitbull attack, everybody seems to care and forget about what all other dogs are capable of! So if you don’t know what an actual pitbull is like in person, then don’t judge!
I have been reading this blog for about a year– since my daughter got a pit bull It was laready 11 months old when whe got it and I was extremely worried. (SHe lives alone in a not very good part of DC.) She chose the dog, not because she wanted a pit bull, but because at the shelter, it seemed like the most loving and friendly.
Today she called me with a story that reminded me of some I have read on this site. She had her dog in a fenced in dog park. She was off the leash. “Gigi” was off the leash and kept running over to the same area of the fence– nudging the ground. There was a woman on the other side who was watering flowers, so my daughter thought that was the attraction. The dog kept it up though, over and over. Finally my daughter went to investigate. She found a bird with its foot caught in the fence! The bird looked dead at first, but then moved its wings. My daughter managed to pry the foot loose with a stick and the bird flew away. Gigi was then happy.
I don’t know how these dogs sense the danger of others, but they do. Gigi is the most gentle and loving dog. She doesn’t even bark, she squeaks (does anyone know what that is about.)
Getting GiGi from a shelter and having her be so loving and gentle I realize was lucky. My daughter didn’t know her background, but the shelter thought she had been a “stray.” Gigi has been with her a little over a year now and she has been a better companion than we ever could have imagined. Really, she is a gentle giant.
Pit bulls are “NOT” extremely dangerous dogs. If you beat on them and be mean to them. Then yes they are going to be mean back. They are very loving dogs. I don’t know why people can’t see that. Just because you hear story’s about them. That does not make it true.
Way to stereotype BARB d.
” When I hear people talk about things they do not comprehend and make blanket statements, I put them in the same category as racists, sexists, and homophobics.”
So you’re saying that when you bump into someone who is ignorant on a subject, rather than trying to enlighten them you categorize them the same was racist, sexists, and homophobes do the groups they focuse on.?? ‘
Typical of an educated ” look at me. I have an MBA” person. (^_?)??
you know i own two pit bulls my self an when i take them out i get people who grab there kids an try get them as far they can from me and i can do sit on ground an laugh most of the time. My female aka nakia was raised other dogs an people even kids when she baby i use to take her park all the time just so she be nice every one and she the biggest baby you every meet . i took her one of my nephew soft ball games and guy walk by me grab his grand kid up keep her from come over an seen nakia i try tell him she wont hurt she love kids all he tell me sorry dont believe when i ask him why he could say she pit i told him so what your point pit bulls are Not bad dogs it all how u raise them it the people who own pit that make them bad dogs it not the dog it self i told him look she a big baby all she do is lick u to death if you don’t believe me that fine but i can put new born by her all she do lick it when i talk the man my nephew coach came up an put his 5 day old baby by nakia just show the man he even told him i am not scared of her an i put my son by her all nakia did was lick him treat him like he one her babys. i told the guy see you might want look in pit bull little more because u cant go by what u hear or read then he let his grand kid come by nakia just lick her and happy a kid was by her.With my male pit he is 6mnth old and i dont take him out like i did her because i am train him be guard dog because my apt been broken in to an all nakia would do lick them to death so i train him guard me an my house right now he does good job may only be 6mnth old but he done let couple people who try come in my house that he boss an mean business he even try jump people up stairs pit some reason both my pits don’t like there and i dont know why because nakia love play other dogs some reason she dont like them.
Ridicilous. None of you who are saying pitbulls are dangerous have any idea. I have owned a pitbull since he was 6 weeks old. He is almost 9, and has been the sweetest and most level tempered dog I have ever owned. My nephew rides him around the house. His siter is a yorkie poo who is 12 pounds. they are in-seperable. It disquists me how you think you “know” pitbulls are dangerous because of their fighing backround. ANY dog can be trained to be mean, its just pitbulls are strong and can do damade.
Get your facts straight before you post stupid unknown facts.
Tyson (my pitbull) sleeps under the covers with me, sits on my lap, and loves to death. He has never growled at anyone, nor bit anyone. My yorkie poo has been more of a threat to me than he has.
You have to know how to train and own a larger dog such as a pitbull.
GalvCoast, you know nothing.
TravT – So which one would you rather have bite you? In the event that both did lose it and attacked you, which would you rather have to deal with? Take out the inherently dangerous part and replace it with incredibly powerful with the ability to kill a full grown man. It is funny to hear many pit bull owners say how safe their dog is and still it attacks. It is funny how agressive smaller dogs might be, but they are still relatively harmless. There is no comparison between a pit bull and a yorkie.
Another point is in a scientific study, a drug only has to be relatively effective compared to a placebo to be considered for approval. If a placebo helped 1% and the drugged helped 3% that drug will be further studied in hopes of curing an illness. So what percentage of collies vs percentage of pits have attacked another dog or person?
I used to own 5 pit bulls…a mom and four of her puppies. I loved those dogs and they never even threatened to harm me. They did however maul a beagle and a coyote and were at least blamed for mauling a cow. People in the neighborhood said they would circle them. We had to put up a fence.
Pitbulls are the most dangerous dogs because when they latch on they don’t open up their mouth until broken or pulled apart with a crowbar basically. But don’t get me wrong. All dogs including chow chows, dobermans, Rottweilers, German shepards, pit bulls, even dalmations and boxers can be dangerous depending on their training. I’ve raised all kinds of dogs and made guard dogs to be nice around people and other animals outside. The meanest dogs I’ve had from instinct is the pit bull from latching on and a rotweiler for biting. And a German Shepard and Doberman. The most gentle dogs no matter how they re trained is the golden retriever. The retriever is not a guard dog, but is the friendliest ever. Only problem is they won’t fight back for themselves or anyone. Just train your dog to be friendly and with several dogs they have an instinct to get along. The worst thing to do is raise and train a pit bull to be aggressive. They go for the kill. But train those right and they are loyal and will prote t you,kids, and puppies well. Take my advise, I’ve been raising them all 27 years.
Ive been quiet for awhile, but just have to interject b/c I am upset. I had to take my beautiful, gentle, loving pit-bull to the emergency animal hospital @ 4am b/c my shep-lab mix attacked him and he was gushing blood everywhere. My bully has 7 stitches above his eye and the left side of his face is extremely swollen. There were other people in the ER and they all freaked out and grabbed their dogs when I came in with my dog. So ignorant! I am sooooooooooooooooooooo tired of people assuming that a pit is a vicious animal when mine was actually the victim of an attack by a shep-retriever mix. Both my other dogs are now confined to the garage as punishment for this attack and I am keeping my pit in the bed with me until he fully recovers. AND, guest what, the ER vet has THREE pit bulls and had one of them at the hospital with him when we arrived. even in pain, my dog was docile—even when the vet cleaned/stitched his wounds and shaved the hair away from his eye. ALL animals are inherently dangerous, but HUMANS are the most dangerous of all living creatures. So before local government tries to ban pits, the should look at getting rid of hateful humans instead! And, this includes those that are intimated by those of us who have a graduate degree–we have invested more time and effort in our lives to become EDUCATED vs assumptive hysteria. Please don’t comment on this post unless you are an educated, non-simple minded, non-biased person that knows exactly what you are talking about.
barbd – Nobody doubts that people have nice pit bulls. That is hardly the point. Of course the nicest pit bull will be nicer than the meanest lab. Just as a hand gun is a safe weapon, doesn’t mean comething can’t go wrong. Even things can go wrong with a bb gun. Just because 1 kid gets shot in the eye by a bb gun doesn’t mean it is more dangerous than a gun that has never killed anyone.
Hello I have read everyone’s commentsn I would just like to say that I am 19 years old and I DO LIVE IN ONTAIRO and I own a PittBull, (Brinkz), and I have a 5 month old son, my dog was badly beaten before I got him, he is not all better and living a happy life, he is not DANGROUS at all, EVERY DOG is dangrous, my mother has 2 dashhounds and the one is a very dangrous dog if you go anywhere near my mom he will lung and he never misses, but he’s great with my son, my dog Brinkz is great with kids other dogs and everything, PittBull are over rated it all depends on how you train/raise them if you beat the dog then the dog is going to react, Brinkz was beaten so bad he almost died and he has never done anything wrong, he’s scared if you move your hand to fast, but he is also ony 9 months old, I love PitBulls and people over rate them, I’ve had 14 of them (rescued) and they have all been great dogs, people need to learn that it dosent matter how big or small a dog is they can still do a lot of damage, and my old Black Lab Pure Bread, safed my life. Along with my old PittBull. From n ex bf how beat me, and dog can draw blood, people needd to get over themselfs big time
I LOVE PITBULLS<3.
I have a dog. He never hurt anyone in our house or family, he was teased and harssed everyday by a neighbore, finally he broke off his chain and bit him-I am ashamed of this-it never got publisized, never in the media or news even though he broke the person’s skin..maybe it’s cuz he wasn’t a pit, my dog is a jack russel. Think about that when you blame pits, you don’t hear the stories of lttle dogs attacking.
I don’t favor Breed Specific Legislation. I favor jailing irresponsible pet owners. We need to start locking these people up.
This article doesn’t go far enough in answering basic questions about pit bull attacks. For instance, why is it that pit bulls which attack other dogs will often try to bite people that try to stop their attack? This even includes their owners. The article implies that even for pit bulls that are dog aggressive, they are not human aggressive. But in reality, this doesn’t seem to be the case.
The article implies that the bad dogs are the ones that weren’t trained properly or given love. But you can find accounts of various pit bull attacks where the dogs had decent homes. Is it that training these dogs is very complicated and difficult, and most people would fail at the task without extensive assistance from experts like the ones on this site? In my neighborhood, most of the pit bulls owners most likely can’t afford to pay for such training services, and most likely don’t have the time or desire to do such a thing anyhow.
The author doesn’t say much about how the breeding of these dogs in recent history may have changed the behavior of the breed. If criminals have been extensively involved in breeding, is it not possible that the breed now contains a more dangerous lineage?
Why is it that pit bull lovers think that all dog bites are the same? For example, I often hear pit bull supporters tell me how Chihuahuas and other lapdogs bite more people per year than pit bull breeds. I respond by asking, how many Chihuahuas have killed children, adults, and horses? Such a question agitates the pit bull owner, and they become belligerent. I also hear pit bull supporters citing extraneous statistics, like how many people die from drowning every year or die from taking aspirin. When I hear these obfuscation and prevarications, I feel like these people have no credibility.
Why is it that many pit bull owners are angry and aggressive people? Say anything negative about a pit bull, and you may be called ignorant, an animal racist, a human piece of !@#$. I’ve even had my life threatened by some of these pit bull supporters. Are these people that favor dog life over human life? What gives? Why should I trust them if they behave this way?
I can understand how pit lovers can become so enraged when their loved animals are often the center of the attack by the public or media. What I can not understand is how ignorant many pit bull owners can be. In my opinion, which is only worth the two cents it is intended to be, people who judge an entire breed by the acts of one or two animals in that breed is ignorant. I have had several different breeds of dogs growing up and I have my own personal opinions of each breed by my experience only. I would swear that black labs are by far the best dogs in the world for protection and companionship. My neighbor would swear her golden retriever is, even though I can still see the scar that little bugger left on my arm when he bit me out of nowhere. What can not be denied is the fact that pit bull attacks happen! I am so tired of hearing the phrase, “it’s not the dog! It’s the owner!”. No! It is the dog, regardless of breed! The blame I put on the owners is usually in the aftermath of an accident and how truly ignorant some of these owners are. They show up in court with the proverbial photos of the pit sleeping calmly with the baby and the family cat! They are in court for a reason!!!! Their dog attacked someone’s pet or child! I’ve also heard these same owners say out of the other side of their mouth, “Well [they] knew I owned pits! [They] shouldn’t have walked their dog so close to my property!”. So which is it? Your dog is a peace loving cat enthusiast? Or your neighbors are morons for walking their dogs on public property? Then they usually try to argue that it is mistaken identity. They agree they leave their gate open, or there’s holes in the yard, or they have a teenager who doesn’t pay attention…….but their dog couldn’t have done this!!! I work in the court system in my county and I often see cases of dog attacks brought. Why is it they are almost always involving pits? Over 100 cases brought to court since 2005, 98% of them involved a pit bull of some type. Owners usually try to keep that quiet too saying, “Oh, uh, it’s a lab mix!”. I say, “It’s a lab mixed with what?”. They usually answer, “Maybe terrier I think?!”. I do not judge ALL pit bull owners, so don’t castigate me yet. However, these cases and comments are not singled out. I consistently hear this from the majority. I feel bad when I see the judge order harsh punishments including a euthanization, when the owners do everything they are ordered to do and take responsibility of their dogs actions as if the actions were their own. But sadly, the owner of the dog who was euthanized was just in court less than a year earlier for killing a neighbors cat after his dog got “loose”. If we could agree that some animals are just naturally aggressive regardless of breed, then I believe victims wouldn’t be so enraged when they are the ones with the loss and everybody is defending the animal.
https://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/10/pit-bull-parents-rally-to-support-their-pets/#comments
Look, there are simply breeds that are more aggressive than others. This is called temperament. Obviously, this does not speak for every individual dog in the breed. To argue that pitbulls are the friendliest dogs ever is just plain ignorance.
Yes, humans play the biggest roles in their dogs’ behaviors. But in a perfect world where all owners treat their dogs 100% respectfully, pits would still rank high on the aggressive list. They were bred to fight and that’s the bottom line.
And everyone is only talking about human attacks. We have to look at aggression towards other animals. Are you going to seriously sit there and say pits are not aggressive to other dogs? Again, I’m not speaking for every single individual pit.
I had to very sadly give up my husky. When I brought him to what was to be his new home, I witnessed the neighbor’s female pit attempt to attack my husky. The dog behaviorlist that was with us said that the pit intended to kill my pup. He warned the new owner to keep my husky and the pit away from each other for at least a few weeks.
Two weeks later, I got a call from the new owner telling me that my husky mauled the pitbull. She had left town and had the pitbull’s owner watch the dogs. That pit’s owner claimed my husky initiated the attack. That was BS and I know it. My husky is now with my friend living with his small cat and two mini pincers.
The pit that my husky mauled was raised in a loving home by a sweet lady. That pit grew up with two of the neighbors’ dogs. However, those 4 other dogs it grew up with are all low energy. My husky is very, very hyper. I witnessed that “sweet pit” trying to kill my pooch. So all signs point to that pit initiating a fight with my husky.
Face the facts folks… Some breeds are just more capable of damage than others. I love pits and have nothing against them. I just never owned one because I know the risks with the breed. Everytime I hear the defense “it’s the owner, not the breed” I counter with “So is it the fault of husky owners that their dogs aren’t loyal to them and would be just as happy with a complete stranger?” Huskies were bred to be extremely loyal servants to humans because they are meant to be sled dogs. This also means huskies WILL run away if you leave them off the leash with an open path. That’s just the characteristic of the breed.
So don’t try to sit there and tell me that pits aren’t prone to snapping when they were bred to fight. Every dog is dangerous.. Sure, some are more so than others. Want to argue that as well? Then tell me when the last time was that you heard of a person being mauled by a husky. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Here you go! This is just one of many Husky attacks on children. Bull terriors have been family dogs since the early 1900’s. Nanny dogs; low-keyed; great with kids and other dogs. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2102683/Our-worst-nightmare-Newborn-baby-mauled-death-husky-used-family-dog-sled-business.html
Ive never been attacked by a Pit, and i have been around several ive owned a few and none of them had a agressive bone in they body. and the only dog attacks you hear about are ones from pits. Was i In the news when those 2 rat dogs bit my ankles and i had to get stiches? no. Ive never actualy even met a aggressive pit but ice come across some agressive bull massives. Pits are great dogs plain and simple oh and mr husky guy up there my husky dont run off I can let both dogs out side and leave them b and they always come up to the house when they dont hell my husky attacked another dog that was in the yard. What did my pit do….not a damn thing just went bout his business. and the husky is a girl . oh and the dogs most prown to attack are the small dogs. But they not in the news are they.
i think pit bulls are not dangerous i say that because cause i have a pit bull and he is so nice he never bites he is the best thats why pit bulls are not dangerous i had him ever since i was 1 years old and know i am 9 years old there are not not at all dangerous
At the end of the day it’s not about if the dogs will or will not bite, but the extent of someone’s injuries. Every dog can bite, period! A pittbull will not just bite, they will maul you. You want a pitbull then it should be required to hold liability insurance on it in a large sum.
I have seen many “so called mean dogs in my life”. . Most of the worst were the small breeds. nippy/bite you while your leavingetc. etc. )..I know more people that have had their nose bit// off with these small dogs than anyone dealing with the larger breeds. . I also have been with many cow dogs “working dogs” that will work on the cattle “mean” and I mean nasty! if they have to” and still come home for a petting and sleep with the family .when put in a family situation