Pitbull Debate...

[Jazi]

Frankly, I don't understand the fear that people have towards a WHOLE breed just because they had a bad experience, or were even attacked, by a dog. Not just with pit bulls, but with any breed, when someone gets bitten, most people just HATE all other dogs of that breed. I don't understand this. I mean, hate the dog that bit you, not ALL of them.

And I'm not just saying this for the heck of it. I, too, was mauled by a dog at a young age and I've got the scars to prove it. I think I was about six and it was a huge white Shepherd....Do I hate the breed because of this? No, of course not. In fact I think they are beautiful dogs. I hated that one dog in particular though for sending me to the hospital.

I just think that even people who have had tramatic incidences should take a step back and realize that their hatred and/or fear is likely unfounded. Sure you should be wary of any strange dog you meet. But I get so tired of hearing from people that they were "attacked" as a child by a very specific dog and that's their only reasoning for hating a whole breed.

For instance, I am currently fostering an adult Great Dane. And I had a candidate that was going to adopt him. Turns out that she couldn't though because she apparently lives with her boyfriend and he threw a fit. This guy was apparently attacked by a big dog as a child......So?? This Dane is one of the most gentle and lovable oafs I have ever seen lol. And this dog has been with me long enough that I completely understand his personality, he doesn't have a mean fur on his body. But the guy wouldn't even come to meet the dog. I just don't understand...I would think people would want to try and get over their fear

Phobias don't always make sense, though I wish they did. I also don't understand being afraid of a specific breed (or just ALL DOGS) from being bitten or attacked. Yes, you had a bad experience with a certain dog, but that doesn't mean all are like that. As a dog owner nothing annoys me more when I'm walking and someone takes a swing at my dog, who is leashed and ignoring them, because "keep that dog away from me I hate dogs". When the GSDs were alive and I walked them in a shopping center (to the pet store), people in the parking lot would try to hit them with their carts because "no I don't like dogs stay away from me". My dog is not hurting you or even looking at you, get over yourself. If you react violently to every dog you see, you will eventually make the wrong one angry and you'll be attacked again. It's not something that's restricted to pits or even big dogs (I had someone pick up a lawn chair and swing it at one of my grandfather's JRTs just for sitting next to her), but it does get annoying very quickly.

I've been attacked by scotties. Snarled at by mastiffs, jumped by labs, snapped at by spaniels and terriers. I'll admit when I first see a Scottie I do get a little wary, but once I actually meet the dog is when I make my judgement, not before. I don't hate any of those dogs, and I can see why they would make awesome pets. Dogs are dogs, there'll always be bad ones in the bunch, and it makes no sense to slap a snap judgement on all of them.

[ReadingIndigo]

The problem with requiring a liscense for "agressive" dogs (were I live all dogs are required to be liscensed, it's like five dollars but there's a fine if you are caught with an unliscensed dog) is that it implies that they are more agressive then other breeds which testing (and the fact that there isn't a high rate of attacks on shelter workers and volunteers) proves they aren't. Can certain breeds to more damage more quickly than other breeds, yes, but even very small dogs have attacked and killed infants. But the ability of a dog breed to cause a significant amount of damage is not the same as agression which is the likely hood of them biting/attacking. With liscenses for speacial "agressive" breeds people will think you have to be some tough guy dog expert to handle them and they will pass them by without even bothering to research to see if they might be the right dog for them. I saw it all the time in the shelter, people would push their kids right past and not let them even look at the Pit Bulls then let them stick their hand in the cage with other dogs. Even the little ones that nipped cause aw itsn't that cute :roll: /end scarsam

An infant is not the average human. It may be an average infant, but not the average human. A pit bull is more dangerous than a beagle. There's no denying that. they may be less aggressive, but they are still more physically suited to cause major bodily damage.

For instance, I am currently fostering an adult Great Dane. And I had a candidate that was going to adopt him. Turns out that she couldn't though because apparently her boyfriend lives with her and he threw a fit. This guy was apparently attacked by a big dog as a child......So?? This Dane is one of the most gentle and lovable oafs I have ever seen lol. And this dog has been with me long enough that I completely understand his personality, he doesn't have a mean fur on his body. But the guy wouldn't even come to meet the dog. I just don't understand...I would think people would want to try and get over their fear :/

Trauma is different for each person. It's worse in some people than for others. It doesn't matter that most are nice, all that matters is the emotional trauma inflicted by one.

[Jazi]

Any dog over 50lbs is capable of killing or at least seriously maiming your average human. An adult male might take a 60-70lb dog to bring down. Bans and permits on all dog breeds medium-sized and up, then?

I still think ALL dogs should require a permit to handle, not just SOME.

[ReadingIndigo]

Any dog over 50lbs is capable of killing or at least seriously maiming your average human. An adult male might take a 60-70lb dog to bring down. Bans and permits on all dog breeds medium-sized and up, then?

I still think ALL dogs should require a permit to handle, not just SOME.

When did I ever say ban? .-.

so basically, you think people should have a liscense to own a dog at all. any dog can be aggressive.

Sure. It would definitely help keep track of dog attacks.

I do agree with you, though. My opinion has changed slightly, from just the considered aggressive to all.

[Jazi]

You specifically didn't, though it's well known that pits are banned in many places. You didn't really answer my question though Dogs 50lbs and up can do serious damage and even kill adults. Would you consider all of those aggressive and dangerous?

[ReadingIndigo]

You specifically didn't, though it's well known that pits are banned in many places. You didn't really answer my question though :P Dogs 50lbs and up can do serious damage and even kill adults. Would you consider all of those aggressive and dangerous?

Sure. Not the most dangerous, but dangerous, none the less.

[Ourpawprints]

doing anything is dangerous. Like for all I know my computer could blow up in my face right now.

[Imzadi83]

The problem with requiring a liscense for "agressive" dogs (were I live all dogs are required to be liscensed, it's like five dollars but there's a fine if you are caught with an unliscensed dog) is that it implies that they are more agressive then other breeds which testing (and the fact that there isn't a high rate of attacks on shelter workers and volunteers) proves they aren't. Can certain breeds to more damage more quickly than other breeds, yes, but even very small dogs have attacked and killed infants. But the ability of a dog breed to cause a significant amount of damage is not the same as agression which is the likely hood of them biting/attacking. With liscenses for speacial "agressive" breeds people will think you have to be some tough guy dog expert to handle them and they will pass them by without even bothering to research to see if they might be the right dog for them. I saw it all the time in the shelter, people would push their kids right past and not let them even look at the Pit Bulls then let them stick their hand in the cage with other dogs. Even the little ones that nipped cause aw itsn't that cute /end scarsam

An infant is not the average human. It may be an average infant, but not the average human. A pit bull is more dangerous than a beagle. There's no denying that. they may be less aggressive, but they are still more physically suited to cause major bodily damage.

So is a human and you're more likely to get killed by one of those then a dog. Danger in my opnion is more than the ability to cause major damage, it's the likelyhood of that happening. For example I'm well aware that horseback riding is a dangerous sport but I know I'm far more likely to die in a car crash on the way to my riding lesson then from falling off the horse.

There a book called "Dogs Bite: But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous" by Janis Bradley that people might be interested in reading, just throwing that out there.

[IAmLink]

For instance, I am currently fostering an adult Great Dane. And I had a candidate that was going to adopt him. Turns out that she couldn't though because apparently her boyfriend lives with her and he threw a fit. This guy was apparently attacked by a big dog as a child......So?? This Dane is one of the most gentle and lovable oafs I have ever seen lol. And this dog has been with me long enough that I completely understand his personality, he doesn't have a mean fur on his body. But the guy wouldn't even come to meet the dog. I just don't understand...I would think people would want to try and get over their fear

Trauma is different for each person. It's worse in some people than for others. It doesn't matter that most are nice, all that matters is the emotional trauma inflicted by one.[/quote]

Yes, but my point is that people who are like this just simmer in their hate for a breed and they don't do anything to try and overcome it. It's just like any prejudice, baised and all it does is spread more misunderstanding and fear. And it should matter that most dogs are nice...that's the whole point. But when you take a fear and use that as an excuse for violent and or unnecessary behavior, like Ostwyn pointed out in those examples, it becomes an issue.

[Ourpawprints]

and it becomes and issue if you spread the word, saying pit bulls are horrible dogs and after a few decades so many people think that.