No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

I agree that most times people are to blame and the dog always pays the price.

I just feel like pits get a bad rap. I have known some really sweet pits. We loved that big ole boy next door.

[Nanook]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

They do get a bad rap. I know a few and they are just big babies, who have a lot of energy.

The fact remains, however...that they have a strong prey drive, and one needs to be aware of the original intention they were bred for.

Several things can happen to even the most well bred. As an example..the Doberman you see today is a far cry from Louis Doberman's vision when he created the breed, and the temperaments improved as well.

Anyway, as Dobermans became so much more friendly, people who wanted a "mean guard dog" would become sorely disappointed. People would abuse them in order to try to make them mean back in the 1970's when Dobermans became one of the most popular breeds (I almost want to say THE most registered in stats in the 70's if memory serves me correctly)...they also became the most abused. Well, beat a dog that was bred to protect enough times and it will protect, alright...it will protect itself against it's abuser.

This is all related to the Pits as I see it...for the breeders who are being responsible and only breeding dogs with excellent temperaments COULD eventually, I believe...turn around the bad rap.

BUT sadly...as long as some eeediot people are still into breeding for fighting purposes, keeping that pretty drive well in the forefront of their minds...then bad things are going to happen and the breeds reputation is going to continue to spiral downward.

It's sad but true.

I don't know what the answer is. Well, that is entirely not true...the answer lies in getting down and dirty and fighting a war on fighting dogs and lock up every stupid eediot involved in this horrific practice. But we all know that is not going to happen.

It is just too bad that the powers at be would rather spend their time writing breed specific legislation instead and that is a crying shame.

I guess it is then up to the people involved, and those that want to be involved to do whatever they can to stop this dog fighting practice & shut down puppy mills.

[Nanook]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

To address the other top biting breeds one has to look at breed popularity as a start. The absolute worst thing that can happen to a breed is for it to become popular and end up on the top ten list of registered breeds. It goes hand in hand. Cockers were very popular and the American Cocker's in general are nasty if you ask me. English Cockers, nice dogs, they haven't been ruined yet.

101 Dalmations did a large disservice to a breed that was bred for one thing, and that was to run along the carriages. Dal's are NOT great house dogs, great family companions and wonderful with children, they were not even bred for that.

Shar-Pei's became popular and again, they were not bred for family dogs. They were bred to herd and guard and hunt. Herd and guard in one breed for a child? add a stong prey drive? duh!

It won't be long and we'll be reading about all the nasty killer Chihuahuas. They really are sweet dogs, but they are not for every household! But now they are being turned into shelters in record numbers because of a few clebs and movies.

Poor dogs. They get the short end of the stick, every time.

[CeaBee]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

Thanks for pulling all that research info Nannook, really interesting.

Is the difference with the pitt bull and rott as the surgeon says:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
&quot;With German shepherds, they bite you and then that's it,&quot; he said. &quot;Pit bulls and rottweilers, once they go, they're going for the kill.&quot;</div></div>

I was bitten by a doberman mix when i was a child , but he bit, and let go and it only required about six stiches i think. and as i said before in an earlier post, i noticed that once my rottweiller (not mistreated, lots of exercise) started fighting with the german shepherd, he would hold on to the other dogs throat, and it was difficult to get him to let go.

[Nanook]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

I don't own either breed but stats seems point in that direction! I know some totally sweet Rotties too. Bad breeding gives them a bad rap.

Poor Rotties!

[CeaBee]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

My Bobby was a real sweet guy too (not so much to the german shepherds tho' )

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">To address the other top biting breeds one has to look at breed popularity as a start. The absolute worst thing that can happen to a breed is for it to become popular and end up on the top ten list of registered breeds. It goes hand in hand. Cockers were very popular and the American Cocker's in general are nasty if you ask me. English Cockers, nice dogs, they haven't been ruined yet.
Very true re popularity! look at Dobies in the 70's, Pit since the 80's, Rotties and Am bulls since the 90's.

I don't know anything about English cockers but agree many of the Americans are NASTY!

101 Dalmations did a large disservice to a breed that was bred for one thing, and that was to run along the carriages. Dal's are NOT great house dogs, great family companions and wonderful with children, they were not even bred for that.



Shar-Pei's became popular and again, they were not bred for family dogs. They were bred to herd and guard and hunt. Herd and guard in one breed for a child? add a stong prey drive? duh!

I lived next door to a Pei in the late 80's - early 90's who was great with his family. But he was a very serious guard dog. My pei mix is great with his family but he is very much a guard dog (even though he only weighs 34 lbs (gained weight on prednisone)

It won't be long and we'll be reading about all the nasty killer Chihuahuas. They really are sweet dogs, but they are not for every household! But now they are being turned into shelters in record numbers because of a few clebs and movies.

I have met some really nasty Chihauhaus.

Poor dogs. They get the short end of the stick, every time.



That unfortunately is the sad truth.

</div></div>

[Nanook]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

If you met a few nasty Chi's then were probably ill bred and/or not trained correctly. Breed nasty and you will get nasty, breed sweet time and again, that is what you get. Well, like people...some of every breed are not righted. And that is what makes stats practically impossible when you think about it... just by the fact there are many times more of one breed than another.

Educating the buying public, that is huge.

There are certain questions every breeder should ask a potential puppy buyer and if you are not asked those questions then RUN!

As far as rescue goes? This is why I adamantly recommend a breed specific rescue organization, for those dogs are fostered, monitored, and the fosters KNOW the temperament and into which environment they will fit in. The ones that will never fit in are culled.

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

As far as rescue goes? This is why I adamantly recommend a breed specific rescue organization, for those dogs are fostered, monitored, and the fosters KNOW the temperament and into which environment they will fit in. The ones that will never fit in are culled.

I will keep this in mind if / when I adopt another dog.

[23JAM00]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

Thanks for the groundwork Nanook, altho I don't agree with some of the statistics shown.

Being a foster MOM isn't easy. Believe that. My foster has been here since November. He's one of the Missouri 500. Never socialized, brought up on a chain his whole life, starved...etc. He's leaving tomorrow. I've taught, fed, disciplined, exercised and loved every minute. Knowing where this dog came from and where his going makes me proud, nonetheless sad. His temperament is A+ loves people &amp; children but has some tendencies to be same sex agressive.
He will NOT go to a home with another male dog, we don't want to take that chance of him wanting to fight with another dog, how slim that chance might be. So therefore he will go to a loving family who is pit bull savvy, educated on what the breed entails and will accept him for the great dog he is.

We foster because we want the dog to be brought up in a family atmosphere, loved, disciplined, and be everything a great dog can be....the whole 9 yards, and become an ambassador for the breed. Goodbye sweet boy, you'll be missed

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

That's so nice Nanceejay

[Nanook]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

Very cool Nanceejay! I understand your sediment on the stats. I looked long and hard and thought some very biased. Others not so much. The cdc on how not to get bit though, I liked that as gospel.

Best of luck to your foster in his new home!

[schultz]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

I've been involved with a group here in town for over 20 years and a big animal lover but I'm still not comfortable around a Pitt. The thing is some of them love you one minute then turn on you. A friend was telling me a story the other day about someone who had a Pitt and another big dog of some kind and a small dog. They were all well socialized and friends...the owner came home and found the small dogs torn to shreds in her house....what a horrible experience. She doesn't even want to look at the big dogs anymore. In that case I'd have to put them down.
I've got a rental house and my insurance company requires renters with pitt bulls to have $300,000 in libility insurance.

[23JAM00]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: schultz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I've been involved with a group here in town for over 20 years and a big animal lover but I'm still not comfortable around a Pitt. The thing is some of them love you one minute then turn on you. A friend was telling me a story the other day about someone who had a Pitt and another big dog of some kind and a small dog. They were all well socialized and friends...the owner came home and found the small dogs torn to shreds in her house....what a horrible experience. She doesn't even want to look at the big dogs anymore. In that case I'd have to put them down.
I've got a rental house and my insurance company requires renters with pitt bulls to have $300,000 in libility insurance.
</div></div>

I'm sorry your not comfortable around these dogs, they are some of the best and loyal dogs. As posted earlier, there are people who breed them for the $$ and are not responsible enough to care. I think education is the key and not to believe every attack story that's printed by a biased media. Its always and attack and NEVER ever a bite.

I don't know if you know that person but why would they leave large dogs alone with smaller dogs? No matter how much they are socialized or get along when your there, who knows what is going on when your not? It could of been the smaller dog that started the issue. That was asking for trouble. My dogs are not left roaming the house when I'm not here. They are all crated. Its just common sense.

Back home in Mass I had a huge yard that was fenced all the way around to keep my dogs safe and to keep other dogs out. The neighbor next door had some kind of small dog that always got loose and came to our fence aggressive and wanting to get in and fight my large dogs. One day she did squeeze thru a very small opening between the cement of the garage and the fence post. Rushed in and attacked my female, well all three of my large dogs went after her as they were in their own yard and territory.

It was hard to keep the large dogs away. The dog officer was called and said I was in the right because my dogs were in their yard fenced in and not to worry. My insurance carrier came out and agreed after I reported the incident.

You just never know what circumstances can arise and you have to be conscious of what could happen all the time.

[schultz]

Re: No place for pit bulls, rotts around kids

Hey Nancy. Yes, I too wish that I wasn't afraid of them but I just am and can't help it. I am sure there are some sweet ones out there that people treat good. I can't stand to see them being abused....that just breaks my heart. I wish they would put larger fines/prison terms on people who fight them.

Dogs are pack animals so when they see their buddies getting aggressive they tend to jump in (doesn't matter if they are big or small). I've seen some nasty little dogs too. I leave my 2 small dogs home all day running loose in the house. I am 99.9% sure they would not fight each other but they are animals still and we just can't rule that out.

My next door neighbor has a Pitt and he is well cared for and has had hip surgery. I pet him when I see her out with him but would not want to pet sit him....you know what I mean?

Through the years I've had some lovely big dogs...they were just mongrel mutts that I rescued. They make loyal wonderful pets too.

Dottie Lee and Henry are my buddies....life would never be quite as nice without them.

Nancy, I admire you for what you do as I could not do it and I think it's wonderful. These dogs need someone to love them too.