Denver Bans Pit Bulls

Most bite reports I've read overwhelmingly involve Pits, and secondarily involve Rottweilers. Pit Bulls are a very dangerous breed, regardless of the training.

I'll give you a case in point: An acquaintence of mine had the tip of his nose bitten off by his brother's Pit Bull. The dog was his brother's pet, and he'd known it it's entire life. They did not train the dog to be aggressive. One day he was playing around with the dog, when it lunged at him and took off his nose.


Pit Bulls might have the capacity to be lovely, but I'm convinced they have an inherent nature to attack, and when they bite they clamp down and don't let go. I've read too many bite reports, and seen too many pictures of maulings involving Pits to think otherwise.

(how can the dog know any better if it has been rewarded constantly for aggressive behavior?)

Yep. I don't want to be around an animal that is likely to attack after a few seconds eye contact. Don't believe they will? You know how to find out.

I think this is blaming the dog for the owner's stupidity.

Pit bulls can be lovely dogs. Sadly, many of the people who are attracted to the breed want an agressive and threatening dog. They raise the dog up to be intimidating.

Stupid.

Sad.

Breeders play a role in the destruction of the breed too.

Pitbulls were banned from the sidewalks here in Toronto without a muzzle. I think that's pushing it a bit. Yea i agree that the breeder might have something to do with it. But when you hear a dog attack, you seldomly hear that it was a terrier or a collie, do you?

Pitbulls were banned from the sidewalks here in Toronto without a muzzle. I think that's pushing it a bit. Yea i agree that the breeder might have something to do with it. But when you hear a dog attack, you seldomly hear that it was a terrier or a collie, do you?

The AKC eschewed breeds called "pit bulls" until 1936, when it recognized the American Pit Bull Terrier under the alias Staffordshire Terrier, named after the miners of Staffordshire, England, who had a hand in developing the breed for the fighting pit. The name was changed in 1972 to the American Staffordshire Terrier to distinguish the breed from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England, the ancestor of the American dogs, which was recognized by AKC in 1974.

As the breed moved to America the names Pitdog and Pitbull Terrier stuck. However, American breeders wanted an animal heavier than the British breed, hence the name American Staffordshire Terrier. This is the breed commonly referred to a Pit Bull.

"Pit bull" is a generic and derogatory term that encompasses any of several breeds of dogs or crosses on those breeds. Pit Bull fanciers can be divided into several camps: conscientious breeders of the AKC-registered duo who often deny kinship of their dogs with the APBT; ethical breeders of the APBT who face squarely the slander heaped upon them by ignorant neighbors; and unethical breeders of all three breeds who still indulge in dog fighting or promote aggressive temperaments for illegal purposes. Dog fighting rings still exist--it's only been a few years since a ring with national ties was busted in New Richmond and Blanchester, Ohio--and inner city drug dealers often use the dogs to guard their drug supplies and cash.

To further complicate matters, those who still breed for fighting are not as careful to preserve the dog's strong instinct to bond with humans as the early breeders did. So, today "pit bull" is a pejorative term that strikes fear in the hearts of many and leads to the spreading of urban legends about dogs with locking jaws that exert 20 thousand pounds of pressure, unstable breed temperament, and overwhelming human aggression.

In fact, the well-bred American Pit Bull Terrier is a family guardian and protector; an intelligent and obedient pet; a sweet, even-tempered dog that serves well as a help-mate to handicapped owner and friend to small children; and a healthy, hardy dog that complains little and offers much to his family.

Unfortunately, it has been more important for legislators in many jurisdictions to prove to constituents that they have "done something" about community problems. Spurred on by media accounts of "pit bull" attacks described in lurid detail, these councils and commissioners have banned pit bulls in all their forms from their communities. Never mind that the owners are the ones at fault for harboring a vicious dog; never mind that few of these dogs actually bite people; never mind that the breed and its crosses are not always easy to identify. Just ban them.

She was bred to fight--and fight she will. Our house is fairly isolated in a rural area and Iffy stays in our yard. She objects to strangers: meter readers, repair people, delivery men and suchlike until told that they have been invited. She's a great watchdog and a wonderful companion, but requires constant supervision when other dogs are around.

She's had little experience with young children, but I wouldn't trust her with young children, either.

rhythm.synergy wrote:

Pitbulls were banned from the sidewalks here in Toronto without a muzzle. I think that's pushing it a bit. Yea i agree that the breeder might have something to do with it. But when you hear a dog attack, you seldomly hear that it was a terrier or a collie, do you?

Pit bulls are terriers. They are generally known as American Pit Bull Terriers.

Quote:

The AKC eschewed breeds called "pit bulls" until 1936, when it recognized the American Pit Bull Terrier under the alias Staffordshire Terrier, named after the miners of Staffordshire, England, who had a hand in developing the breed for the fighting pit. The name was changed in 1972 to the American Staffordshire Terrier to distinguish the breed from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England, the ancestor of the American dogs, which was recognized by AKC in 1974.

All dogs need to be raised with children to be good with them. A lab can turn on a child who is annoying them. You just don't know with ANY breed.