<p>Pit Bulls should be banned in Seattle. There are many other better breeds for city life close to other people.</p>
<p>There are certain breeds that have conditions when it comes down to home owners insurance that require special rates or the companies will not insure. That is because the stats say that these dogs are more than standard risk in trouble. Whether it is just because these dogs tend to belong to folks who stir up their aggressiveness or if it is something in the breed, I do not know. But I can tell you, as a dog lover, there are certain types of dogs that I am more cautious in approaching than others, and any of the pit bull breeds fall into that category. In our area, there have been several stories of pit bulls who had a wonderful history, loved by neighbors and family, considered gentle, and then they inflicted great harm on someone. You just don’t see poodles doing that sort of thing or Golden Retrievers or any number of breeds. And boy, that would be news if they did. Pit bulls are truly the epidemy of dog bites man news stories. </p>
<p>IMHOP, the tiny dogs are probably the worst offenders in biting and meanness, but people just do not report chihuahua bites or yorkie or pekeapoo attacks. The problem with rottweilers, pit bulls, huskies is that the damage done in their attacks cannot go unreported many times.</p>
<p>I did read that more people are bitten by Goldens and Labs than any other breed - because there are more of these dogs around. Then there was the tragic story a few years ago (NY state) of a 6 year old girl who was killed by her Golden. She was out in the yard playing, wearing a long scarf and the dog tugged on it (retrieving instinct?) and choked her. An unbelievable tragedy that underscores the need to ALWAYS supervise children and dogs. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, a lot of people with aggressive personalities choose breeds that ‘complement’ their own personalities and don’t supervise, or worse, encourage antisocial behavior. Genetics underly everything with dogs.</p>
<p>I did see an adoreable loveable female red nosed pitt this weekend at a kennel Club event. She was sweet and friendly, very well behaved. That said: everyone was cautious approaching her and her handler advised similiar caution when approaching any dog with strong genes such as Rosie the Pitt, a german shepard, rottweiler, huskie, akita, malamute, dobernman, giant schnauzer. This was a professional trainer/breeder and AKC instructor. I figure she knew dogs and it sounded like good advice. </p>
<p>Its like any of us humans, genetics, enviorment and training all play a part in our and dogs personalities and traits. Just my two cents worth…</p>
<p>Lefthandofdog, I’ve seen a number of statistics about dog bites, and labs and goldens did not make the top ten in any of the lists despite the prevalence of the breed. Pitbulls, rottweilers, husky types, german shepherds led the list. Can’t remember what else was on it. I will say that pitts are probably as high on the list as they are because of their prevalence these days in certain neighborhoods, by certain people, and because there is some vagueness in defining the pitbull as a breed. I agree that children and dogs ALWAYS have to be supervised. We had the sweetest beagle mix that I’ve ever seen (never a more docile, loving dog ever). But as he got older, he did get a bit more cranky. Never snapped or bit but was definitely not as accomodating. You never know when a dog crosses that line, despite its history. My friend had a giant poodle who grew up and loved kids in her prime, but one the kids got older, it had to be put in another room if kids were darting about. She was showing signs of uncharacteristic nervousness and irritation to the point that my friend did not trust her.</p>
<p>Way back about 2000, in our city Pit bulls were declared an “aggressive breed” - a complicated law that was declared a breed aggressive if a certain breed was responsible for 40% of attacks. Aggressive breeds were required to be muzzled in public and on a 3 foot leash. All this after little children were maimed while playing on their sidewalk.<br>
Oh the outcry! The law went to court. Finally was over turned but before that it worked.
Pit bull attacks plummeted. Soon after the law was overturned pit bull attacks started up again. There have been owners attacked, owner’s children attacked, innocent kids playing on the sidewalk, people attacked getting out of their cars.
Doesn’t help that they are the dog of choice for drug dealers.</p>
<p>This is typcial:</p>
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<p>our lab has bitten my daughter in the face.
However, given that my daughter ( when she was five- an age where she had to try * everything* )stuck her own face in the dogs face when she was sleeping and poked at her- it isn’t surprising that she got nipped, ( she also gave a warning growl first)</p>
<p>However- would it have been worse if she had been a different breed?
Possibly.</p>
<p>Dogs obviously vary in temprament and it might be hard to tell when they are puppies, just like characteristics I thought my husband was going to grow out of when he was 22, he still has!
She was originally bred for sport, which apparently emphasizes health and energy :eek: little did I know. She was also going to breed herself- until the breeder decided he already had enough *itches.
Very sweet dog.
She will retrieve all day, even after her legs will not hold her up anymore ( she is 14) That is a characteristic that is part of her lineage.</p>
<p>( we originally got a dog- for the kids for protection, after my daughter was followed by a weirdo when she was out walking- and even though I thought about it, I ultimately decided against getting a dog from the pound, just because I wanted more info about the bloodlines- )
Other types of dogs have other characteristics.
A friend of D’s had a rescued Greyhound. He wouldn’t fetch * at all* 
, to the boys disappointment, but he would run laps at the field across the street without prompting. Some of that was instinctual & some was probably learned as he used to race. Also a very sweet dog & I don’t think I have ever even heard him bark, let alone growl or nip. ( & for some reason, he loved me- he would follow me around even down the stairs, something he didn’t do otherwise 
)</p>
<p>I had more problems with dogs, growing up in the suburbs. ( The big dogs ran loose, the smaller dogs, like Dachshunds & Pekes stayed close to home) Few yards were fenced and dogs had the run of the neighborhood. Since it was the 70’s, neither the kids or the dogs were supervised. Most dogs were very good, but there was one aggressive Lab that would knock down children and try to " marry" them. That was very scary. A few of the dogs also tended to run in packs, which seemed to bring out negative behavior.</p>
<p>In our city neighborhood, most dogs are behind fence or the house and if they are out they are on a leash or in a dog park. ( although that is another problem area, as those with aggressive dogs, take their dogs to the park where they may fight or intimidate other dogs/people- they are the minority though)
The dog that tried to fight our lab , was at a house who was taking care of them, they had left the door open and forgot he was there. So it was an accident, not a ongoing situation, as with another friend who lives on a street with a house that has several pitbulls where they are not fenced/supervised. She is afraid to walk around her block & apparently, the owners are not the sort of people you can talk to.
Which is the problem, the ones who are not responsible, ruin it for everyone else.</p>
<p>I think what many say about the pitbulls and other breeds with a bad rep is true in that a big part of the problem is the type of people who tend to get those dogs and that they encourage aggressiveness. However, it is hard enough getting a good, gentle family puppy without taking the chance on aggressive breed characteristics. We have a perpetual puppy here who was a 10 on the 10 point scale in determining suitability, alertness, intelligence. It took a while to realize he was challenged in many areas. Thank God he was not aggressive. With all the boys coming to our house, I could not have a dog that had a temper and could not be trusted. Even so I do not leave him alone with children, nor did I with the sweetest most docile dog I have ever seen. But if he were a pitbull, or doberman or akita, it would require far more vigilence. We have friends with an akita who is temperamental. Did not realize it until it was about two years old and firmly entrenched in the family. They had had other akitas who were as gentle as can be but this one developed an aggressive streak that is considered part of the breed. You are always getting a “pig in the poke” with dogs, but you can at least put the numbers on your side by getting a breed without an aggressive rep if you have children or a lot of people coming to the house. Yes, training is important, but there are just some dogs…, and yes, all breeds can have rogues, but some just more than others. Too bad the ankle biters don’t get reported for all of their viciousness. There are a couple in our neighborhood who are always snarling and threatening my poor sweetie who has no idea what is going on.</p>
<p>There has been a ban on pitbulls in Ontario since 2005. When the legislation was passed, people who were then owners of pitbulls were required to have their dogs neutered, and also to muzzle them when they were out in public. No further breeding, owning, selling was permitted from that time on.</p>
<p>[News</a> | Lynchburg News Advance](<a href=“http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FATAL_DOG_MAULING?SITE=VALYD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT]News”>http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FATAL_DOG_MAULING?SITE=VALYD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)</p>
<p>We considered a Patton type bull terrier some time ago, and decided against it.</p>
<p>I read everything there was to read about the dogs, and even the supportive literature made clear (if you were paying attention) that these dogs had special characteristics. Among them, they would almost certainly kill every small animal within some large radius of your property. </p>
<p>The pitbull writeups ( i think it is technically an American Staffordshire terrier) were just as transparent. Definitely should not be owned by anyone who doesn’t have respect for the damage that they can do. </p>
<p>When I see someone coming with one of those dogs, I give it a very wide berth.</p>
<p>Please don’t lump German Shepherds in with pit bulls. They are from the herding group. Yes, there may be some lousy ones around. That is the case with very popular breeds. But all over the world German Shepherd Dogs are leading blind people, rescuing people, sniffing out drugs, listening ear dogs in schools, being wonderful companions to their families and yeah, some still herd sheep.</p>
<p>“Pitbull” refers to more than one breed. There are sizes involved. Lines of
dogs bred for generations to fight are very different from AKC dogs bred for companionship and from the Spanky and Our Gang mascot.</p>
<pre><code>I am so old I remember when people regarded Doberman Pinschers the way so-called pitbulls are today.
Say there was a pitbull ban. Dog fighters, drug dealers would just get other dogs. The problem is people. And guess what? There are worse fighting breeds out there for them to turn to.
Their looks (pitbull breed’s) do not appeal to me either. To each.
How about enforcing the dog laws already on the books?
</code></pre>
<p>The laws were being enforced. some of these dogs were so aggressive they would go after innocent bystanders while on the leash.</p>
<p>picture this - 3 kids playing on the sidewalk. An owner walking the pitbull down the street on a 6 or 8 foot leash. Suddenly all havoc breaks out. The dog lunges toward a child and the owner can no longer control it.<br>
when a pit bull bites - they do not let go.
Hence, the muzzle.</p>
<p>Pit Bulls are easy to train to be aggressive. Contrary to what some people believe there is a genetic component. When aggressive animals are bred in a geographical area - pretty soon it’s hard to by a puppy that is NOT bred to be aggressive.</p>
<p>Haha, no. There is no empirical evidence of pitbulls being genetically more predisposed to being aggressive. 100% hype.</p>
<p>A while back, the owner of a pit bull wrote a “My Turn” piece in Newsweek. He said that his pit bull is about as sweet as they come BUT that their jaws are incredible…he said that one time his dog ate its way through an interior door in his house.</p>
<p>We have a Jack Russell who is the most pampered pup possible. He enjoys lounging in the sun and partaking of butter cookies. He is adored, worshipped and his skills as a therapist are unparalelled.</p>
<p>Don’t ever try to walk into my house. He is territorial in the extreme. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. He always has to be muzzled if we have guests and has been known to get the muzzle off. Once our paper-carrier (nasty lady) walked into the house without knocking and he jumped on her and scratched her leg before we could get him. She’s lucky that’s all he did.</p>
<p>He’s never been abused or mistreated in any way, and we don’t pay him for his guard dog services, but there is something in his nature that switches on when someone comes near his house and I can’t imagine anything we can do about it. (Actually, since hubby works nights, we don’t want to stop it.) I do think genetics come into play.</p>
<p>Jack Russells are the funniest dogs. My Lab had a friend who lived up the street & when ever we would walk by, they would exchange hellos and then she would turn her attention to the owner in hopes of some treats while the Jack Russell would try and " marry her". Since she probably outweighed him by 50 lbs, she didn’t really respond, but she would turn her head and wonder" what are you * doing* back there? "
His name was Spike ;)</p>
<p>The AKC breeds are: the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Bull Terrier. </p>
<p>I do not know the proper UKC breed names.</p>
<p>UKC - American Pit Bull Terrier</p>
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<p>Those jaws can eat their way through your leg as well. Or a neighbor child’s leg, or the leg of the little old lady walking down the street.</p>