@tenente Yes, it has created a stigma that people can't get past. Whenever I see someone with a pitbull out in public, I ask if I can pet them, I think it is good for the dog, and shows others that you don't have to be afraid.
It is how the dog has been raised, trained and treated that determines how it behaves. That said I've always found it puzzling how many people are so keen to own large powerful dogs, especially those with what we can only describe as bad reputations. I love dogs, have owned dogs and am currently looking for another. I prefer bigger dogs to smaller ones, but I think many owners should be far more careful about what breeds they may be interested in, and how they treat and train them. And to be honest there are far too many people who should never have dogs. They are dangerous to themselves, the dogs and any other people and dogs they may come into contact with.
@22Michelle You are right on the money. I also like big dogs, but of the 200+ dogs we have had, I have not "Picked out"
a single one. They came to us through many channels, and we took them all. We kept all the disabled ones ourselves, because we couldn't trust that people would care for them correctly. We had what I called a "Trainer dog" he would take dogs that were unsocialized, mistreated, kept in a cage their whole, etc and he would teach them how to be dogs again.
It made me cry more than once watching him interact and train other dogs. It was truly amazing.
a dog's, like people, temperament is based on how they're raised, trained, & treated.
I've had APBT, Boxer, Malinois, and a Doberman, & a Rottweiler; all were harmless to family and humble strangers. And like people, they only got angry when people behaved threateningly towards them. All, especially apbt and malinois were extremely protective of my nieces when they were kids & would always put themselves between them and strangers.
small dogs are the most mis-behaved imo. small dog, small brain, too stupid to be useful, and yap nonstop to the point of irritating everything around them (including other animals)
We have our second Boston, my parents had a Boston, and my grandparents had three - Mitzie, MItzie 2 and Mitzie 3. People might just have the (totally wrong) impression that brachycephalic (short-nosed/headed) dogs are trouble. The problem more than likely lies with the human OWNER of the particular dog. Pits, bullies, Bosties, frenchies, etc. all make great pets. Loyal to their masters, smart as heck, and a cuddles all in one package. What more could one want? Oh, yeah - a couple MORE bullies! :- )
This is Skipper. He is a Pit Bull Rottie mix. Most people that saw him were immediately intimidated and did not want to meet him. He never would have been picked if he was at a shelter. He is one of the most gentle dogs we ever had.
All our dogs walked all over him, even the little dogs took advantage of the big guy.
Their jaws are so powerful is why. If they bite down they won’t let go. A police officer was attacked here about 20 years ago by one. A couple months before there was a contest with pit bull dogs pulling very heavy loads at the county fairgrounds. After the officer got attacked that was the last time they held that competition.
I as well as my son both have bully mixes that are both big babies. I seen some good ones and some bad ones. My grandparents had a toy poodle that was nasty as hell and would snarle and snap if you even looked at him.
@MistyCee I've been bitten several times over the years having so many dogs it was inevitable. Two times I needed stitches. It was never by the bully breeds.
It's less about the breed, and more about how the dog was raised. But even when I was working in the veterinary world, I several pitbulls that were truly nuts.
Because they’re aggressive as hell. Everyone who loves pit bulls loves to gush about how great they are. Ive seen kids’ and peoples faces disfigured from being attacked by these dogs.
Dogs get tumors, can become sick and all kind of issues that cause them to attack unprovoked
@DogMan As responsible dog iwners mot only should we train our dogs we need to protect them from the ignorance of children who don't know and / or understand dogs. I recall how several times I ended up with my hand in my Black Labrador's mouth when he'd got something stuck. He was always very gentle. Then I'd see him eating a bone and be reminded of how powerful that bite could be. I trusted him with children, it was the children I kept an eye on
This is one of our many Pit mixes. That is the neighbors cat that would come over during the period when Jaida started going down hill. The cat offered much comfort.
