do you think a pitbull is a naturally mean and aggressive dog? because i was thinking about getting one i have always loved their looks and muscular figure as well as there loyalness. have any of you ever known someone who owned a pitbull or did you own one? would you ever pet one? lol

it's all in how it's raised.
dogs are domesticated not wild.

teach it love and it will be a great and loyal friend.

pitbulls can be mistreated to be savage....but so could poodles...
they're just not as threatening because of there scrawny size.

my family has raised 5 bulldogs, English not pit though, but still very similar inssize and strength and lovingness to those who lovingly care for them.

According to dogsbite.org, who collect statistics on this sort of thing, in the first 6 months of this year, there were 318 media reports of pit bull attacks, with 388 victims sustaining bite injuries.

Of the injured victims, 64% (248) suffered severe bite injury. Of the severely injured victims, 10 suffered the loss of one or more body parts, and 6 died.

The group that incurred the highest rate of severe injury by pit bulls was 0-4 years old with 84% followed by 5-11 years old with 66%.

Most pit bull bites occurred off owner property -- pit bulls escape owner property and inflict bites at a substantially higher rate than other dog breeds.



Personally, I think it's dangerously irresponsible to keep an animal that inflicts such horrific injuries on children.

I owned a pitbull named John Henry. He was great. They are a lot of work and you have to take extra care with them as with most big dogs. If a pitbull bites he will do a lot of damage.

While he was a great dog, the best dog I ever owned was a boxer named Max. Unfortunately cancer killed Max when he was just 4 1/2 years old. Max was great with all kids and you never had to worry about him getting the wrong idea with children. I someday to own another boxer.

I owned a pitbull named John Henry. He was great. They are a lot of work and you have to take extra care with them as with most big dogs. If a pitbull bites he will do a lot of damage.

While he was a great dog, the best dog I ever owned was a boxer named Max. Unfortunately cancer killed Max when he was just 4 1/2 years old. Max was great with all kids and you never had to worry about him getting the wrong idea with children. I someday to own another boxer.
wow man just 4 in a half you can get cancer? poor doggy, sorry for your loss i bet he was like a son to you

I agree with David Taylor, it's all in how they are raised.

But my mom has a Pomeranian that when she first got it, it was mostly hair and teeth when it came to me, but he's warmed up to me as long as I don't try to get his biscuits. :lol:

I've seen both as far as Pit Bulls go, I've seen the vicious ones and the nice ones. It's all how they were treated and raised.

As someone one said, for most dogs, if they have a bad moment, there's some minor stitching. If pit bulls have a bad moment, someone is often maimed or killed.

I did not research this to see if it is true first...I once heard that part of the trouble with pit bulls is that their brains don't stop growing, which eventually causes too much pressure and can lead to the erratic behavior they are known so well for. If this is true, it's probably out on the web somewhere.

I have met many pit's over the years, usually in one of the most stressful circumstances a dog faces... a visit to the vet. In my experience most are sweet, easy going dogs. It's a combination of good breeding and raising them right. If I made a list of breeds that I had expectations of aggression before walking into the exam room, pit bulls are very low on the list. That might be because most pit owners are responsible enough to make sure their dog has great behavior in many situations.

I would recommend to anyone that wants to get one and doesn't have a lot of experience with the breed to reconsider, especially if you have young children. There is a small percentage of the breed that just can never be trusted, regardless of how they're handled. If you still want one, volunteer to work with them at a shelter and maybe then foster with a pit rescue first so you know what your dealing with.

The stats of pit's being responsible for so many attacks should be qualified by the fact that there's no criteria to establish breed, whoever makes the report guesses the breed (a lot of the dogs roaming around loose attacking people are mixes) - and I wouldn't be surprised if the default guess is pit bull. Some people have thought my dog Soda Cracker is a pit, and he's a 28 lb Aussie/Jack Russell mix, so I know how far off people's guesses can be.


I did not research this to see if it is true first...I once heard that part of the trouble with pit bulls is that their brains don't stop growing, which eventually causes too much pressure and can lead to the erratic behavior they are known so well for. If this is true, it's probably out on the web somewhere.
This, I guarantee you, is not true.

We're on our first Ænglish Bulldog.

I do not believe the hype about Pitbulls and thing that it comes completely down to their upbringing. Dogs that are improperly trained and socialized will show heightened levels of aggression; that is something that crosses breeds. For example, my wife's Pomeranian is 100x more aggressive than my father in law's 2 Pitbulls, and her tiny 10lb dog terrifies those hulking beasts. Why? The Pom is more aggressive because my wife didn't train her properly and she never received adequate socalization.

I got a 30 lb. one in the backyard.Pit Bulls get a bad rap mainly because so many people don't know what a Pit Bull is.In all honesty,most people can't tell a true Pit Bull from a Boxer/Lab mix. True,they have temperment problems if not handled properly,but so do Dobermans,German Shepards,Rottweillers,Boxers and Mastiffs.The one I got will meet you at the back gate,and probably jump on you as a greeting.Not my favorite breed,my favorite dog I had was a female Bull Mastiff.I've never had a more gentle dog in my life.

I was friends for some time with a pit bull breeder. He told me that there are two main types, and the smaller ones are actually more aggressive, as they have been bred to be fighters.

However, when his female had a litter of the larger pups there was one I wanted because he was so cute. My friend would not let me have him, nor would he allow him to go to a 'pet' home, because of his aggressiveness and unpredictability. I think it's about 50/50 on environment and breeding.

My mother-in-law was recently attacked while walking in her neighborhood by a pit bull/mastiff mix. The owner had it chained in the yard, but it got loose. She had puncture wounds in her skull, and claw wounds in her legs. She's doing better, but I imagine it was a horrific experience.

One thing no one has mentioned yet is that you will be paying a lot more for insurance if you own a pit bull: when I got homeowner's insurance, they wanted to know if I had a dog, especially if I had a pit bull.

One of the problems with pitbulls and children is that they are very protective. That means they can mistake a neighbor kid rough housing with your child as an act of aggression to their beloved. They have no problems protecting those that they love.

I have always had Rotties. My sister has always had Pits. They are both wonderful animals that are loyal to the death. My Rottie just died after jumping out of my truck (going 5 miles an hour... it was a freak accident) to "protect" me from to dogs that charged the truck.

You have to assert your dominance over these dogs as they are pack animals and will test you to see if you are the "Alpha dog". Once their place is established in the pack, they become a member of the family. You MUST also make sure that they obey your every command without question because they can do sooo much damage if they do attack.

I got a 30 lb. one in the backyard.Pit Bulls get a bad rap mainly because so many people don't know what a Pit Bull is.In all honesty,most people can't tell a true Pit Bull from a Boxer/Lab mix. True,they have temperment problems if not handled properly,but so do Dobermans,German Shepards,Rottweillers,Boxers and Mastiffs.The one I got will meet you at the back gate,and probably jump on you as a greeting.Not my favorite breed,my favorite dog I had was a female Bull Mastiff.I've never had a more gentle dog in my life.

can you upload a picture of him?

I once lived in the same house with a pit bull named Lucy. She was sweet, obedient to her master, etc., until the day a boy came to the door to sell something. As he was walking down the walkway, away from the house, Lucy bust through the screen door and latched onto his back. Fortunately, the boy wasn't badly hurt or killed... but he easily could have been if the owner hadn't been there to stop her. The boy did nothing to provoke an attack, just in case anyone wonders.

Obviously I have a tainted view of them after thinking she was a safe dog that would never hurt anyone and this incident occurring. I wouldn't own one.

do you think a pitbull is a naturally mean and aggressive dog? because i was thinking about getting one i have always loved their looks and muscular figure as well as there loyalness. have any of you ever known someone who owned a pitbull or did you own one? would you ever pet one? lol

As a previous owner of a pitbull I loved my dog max, but their capacity to shred another animal to pieces shouldn't be risked, they should be banned in all states, there are like a loaded gun and in the wrong hands can cause fatal harm as can any large dog but the pit is in a class all it's own and after looking at report in the news of mailmen getting mauled another animals, sheep, goats, horses, cat and the worst of all children, and one child is worth banning these dogs for good, In all honesty, why chance it??? The pit bull son is usually bred with it's mother to produce dogs with larger heads, paws etc.... but once the genentics get that manipulated the dog is no longer mans best friend but worst enemy and in my book it's the equvilent to being retarted.

can you upload a picture of him?

It's a her.I'll see if I can.I've never downloaded pictures before.

As a previous owner of a pitbull I loved my dog max, but their capacity to shred another animal to pieces shouldn't be risked, they should be banned in all states, there are like a loaded gun and in the wrong hands can cause fatal harm as can any large dog but the pit is in a class all it's own and after looking at report in the news of mailmen getting mauled another animals, sheep, goats, horses, cat and the worst of all children, and one child is worth banning these dogs for good, In all honesty, why chance it??? The pit bull son is usually bred with it's mother to produce dogs with larger heads, paws etc.... but once the genentics get that manipulated the dog is no longer mans best friend but worst enemy and in my book it's the equvilent to being retarted.

That's the result of bad and impropate breeding.It's not the dog's fault. I've seen and been around many pit bulls that were fun and family friendly.I am against any banning of any dogs.In the 70's and early 80's you heard about Dobermans being vicous and running amuck attacking people.Like I posted,many people wouldn't know a pit bull if it bit them.Just because a dog is big,muscular,and has wrinkles don't make them a pit bull.

I had a Pit named Krisha and she was the most loving big baby, but she did take her job as a guard dog seriously. If someone came to the door she would not let tem in unless she knew them or I told her it was ok to stand down. She was fine with other dogs and did not post a threat to other children even if you dressed her up, or pulled her tail or took her bone. I think because I raised her with my daughter and trained her as a pup with my little girl they grew up together. (They were inceperable)
There is still an unpredictable side to certian breeds of any dog even if you do raise them with love and respect like a child they still have their own mind and make unexpected decisions.

My advice is if you want a pit get one mixed with something else that is not perceived as a agressive dog.
My friend has a Cocker Spaniel mixed with a Pit and it is a great dog. Looks like a Pit, but has a little longer and softer hair and is a little smaller than the normal pit. She has curly hair on her ears and it is just so darn cute. Great muscle tone and a big head but the ears just soften the face somewhat. She is actually very beautiful!!

With any animal show it who is boss, train it, treat it with love, give it toys treats and take them away then give them back so it knows it will get the treat or toy back and if you have children over to visit and do not raise it with any children of it's own it will prepair them for visitors of the small kind...have the children do this also when it is a pup so it will be use to the things kids do...like pulling ears, tails, putting clothes on them, taking food away etc... If the dog grows up this way it will not react badly to the things kids do. Also as a pup take it to dog parks so it will get use to other animals and not react agressivly.

Good luck in your quest and love your new family member what ever it may be.

Deetiff

I had a Pit named Krisha and she was the most loving big baby, but she did take her job as a guard dog seriously. If someone came to the door she would not let tem in unless she knew them or I told her it was ok to stand down. She was fine with other dogs and did not post a threat to other children even if you dressed her up, or pulled her tail or took her bone. I think because I raised her with my daughter and trained her as a pup with my little girl they grew up together. (They were inceperable)
There is still an unpredictable side to certian breeds of any dog even if you do raise them with love and respect like a child they still have their own mind and make unexpected decisions.

My advice is if you want a pit get one mixed with something else that is not perceived as a agressive dog.
My friend has a Cocker Spaniel mixed with a Pit and it is a great dog. Looks like a Pit, but has a little longer and softer hair and is a little smaller than the normal pit. She has curly hair on her ears and it is just so darn cute. Great muscle tone and a big head but the ears just soften the face somewhat. She is actually very beautiful!!

With any animal show it who is boss, train it, treat it with love, give it toys treats and take them away then give them back so it knows it will get the treat or toy back and if you have children over to visit and do not raise it with any children of it's own it will prepair them for visitors of the small kind...have the children do this also when it is a pup so it will be use to the things kids do...like pulling ears, tails, putting clothes on them, taking food away etc... If the dog grows up this way it will not react badly to the things kids do. Also as a pup take it to dog parks so it will get use to other animals and not react agressivly.

Good luck in your quest and love your new family member what ever it may be.

Deetiff

I agree mix your pit with like a hamster or gerbol :lol:

I was friends for some time with a pit bull breeder. He told me that there are two main types, and the smaller ones are actually more aggressive, as they have been bred to be fighters.

However, when his female had a litter of the larger pups there was one I wanted because he was so cute. My friend would not let me have him, nor would he allow him to go to a 'pet' home, because of his aggressiveness and unpredictability. I think it's about 50/50 on environment and breeding.

My mother-in-law was recently attacked while walking in her neighborhood by a pit bull/mastiff mix. The owner had it chained in the yard, but it got loose. She had puncture wounds in her skull, and claw wounds in her legs. She's doing better, but I imagine it was a horrific experience.

One thing no one has mentioned yet is that you will be paying a lot more for insurance if you own a pit bull: when I got homeowner's insurance, they wanted to know if I had a dog, especially if I had a pit bull.

Exactly!! why chance, it's not worth it.

Mix your pit with like a hamster or gerbol :lol:

That would not be possible....But then again all things are posible with Jesus Christ. I just don't think He would do that...to weard lol. :pp

Deetiff

Yes, I realize many Pitbulls have great temperments as advocated by many pitbull owners. But what is remarkable about the pitbull is its raw killing power once provoked. That kind of uncontrolled lethality must be considered in the equation.

I've been attacked by three dogs in my lifetime. Each ran from a good distance to attack me from behind. Each was unprovoked. Each, according to their owners were the most lovable family friendly dogs you could imagine and "wouldn't hurt a flea".
- My first memory is of a time a household terrier burrowed under a fence, ran across the yard, and tore the back of my leg open.
- The second, a shepard mix, ran across the block, smashed through a large party of children to jump on my chest, growl, and froth all over me.
- The third, a large breed I don't know the name of, broke its leash free of its owners grip, chased me half a block on my jogging route, and locked its jaws around my arm.

I shudder to think of how those scenarios would have gone down if a pitbull had been involved. Suffice it to say, I hate dogs now, and I especially despise owners who assure me how friendly their dog is when its jumping up trying to get its mouth on me.

I hope you make a wise, informed, and ultimately safe decision.

They are illegal to own in my city

part of it depends on if your getting a true pitbull dog or one of the mutt breeds everyone calls a pit bull

That's the result of bad and impropate breeding.It's not the dog's fault. I've seen and been around many pit bulls that were fun and family friendly.I am against any banning of any dogs.In the 70's and early 80's you heard about Dobermans being vicous and running amuck attacking people.Like I posted,many people wouldn't know a pit bull if it bit them.Just because a dog is big,muscular,and has wrinkles don't make them a pit bull.


Can't argue with that, I have a neighbor that is "big,muscular,and has wrinkles " and he 's not a pitbull he's a bodybuilder:lol:

part of it depends on if your getting a true pitbull dog or one of the mutt breeds everyone calls a pit bull

Like getting one of the genuine ones purpose bred to be "the Bull of the Pit"? The cunningly crafted killing machines?

I grew up with two pit bulls. A white pit bull named Bud and a female named Tootsie. I actually have a picture of me at four lying on top of Tootsie! They were sweet, affectionate, and good dogs. I also grew up with a pit bull named Sancho. Tootsie was put down at age thirteen from cancer, Bud at age eleven from cancer. Sancho died at age thirteen from cancer.

Pit Bulls require a dedicated owner who has some experience and can meet their exercise needs. I would say they're not good for inexperienced owners who cannot handle power breeds.

Can't argue with that, I have a neighbor that is "big,muscular,and has wrinkles " and he 's not a pitbull he's a bodybuilder:lol:

I'm just saying. I had a dog ,Boxer/Shar-Pei mix that was mean as a snake. Not to us,or children or neighbors,but anybody else.No one entered our yard.I had him put down out of fear I would get sued or jailed. He was meaner than any Pit Bull I ever ran across.I'd perfer a Black and Tan Coonhound or a Bluetick,but because I live in the city,and we have too many squirels around,that's out of the question.Baby Girl,the Pit Bull,is small and quite friendly towards all she meets.

I've been attacked by three dogs in my lifetime. Each ran from a good distance to attack me from behind. Each was unprovoked. Each, according to their owners were the most lovable family friendly dogs you could imagine and "wouldn't hurt a flea".
- My first memory is of a time a household terrier burrowed under a fence, ran across the yard, and tore the back of my leg open.
- The second, a shepard mix, ran across the block, smashed through a large party of children to jump on my chest, growl, and froth all over me.
- The third, a large breed I don't know the name of, broke its leash free of its owners grip, chased me half a block on my jogging route, and locked its jaws around my arm.


Maybe you should stop walking around with the pork chops in your pockets. :D

Here is me with Tootsie the pit bull

Maybe you should stop walking around with the pork chops in your pockets. :D

Well, I imagine it had to be something scent related. The dogs were always in a frenzy. Though I can't believe what smells so threatening about a 5 year old playing or a 20 year old running (away). Three times was enough for me though... so I started carrying one of these in my pocket.

http://ts1.images.live.com/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=856252744512&id=f6efbceef6cd17b494c585a4358b2ec1&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mercop.com%2fimages%2fbagofev il%2faik1.jpg (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kubaton#focal=67121392d68d3d7eba3d4da3986 e8216&furl=http://www.mercop.com/images/bagofevil/aik1.jpg)
Maybe they can smell my complete lack of hesitation in using it, or my open hostility to canines in general, because I haven't been attacked since.

Incidentally, what WOULD cause the "gentle", "family friendly", "well bred", and "harmless" dog to attack in such a manner? I only ask because every attack that's occurred within my circle of friends and family has always been THAT dog.

the only pit i have had was a cross breed and it was the stupidest dog i think i have ever owned, so i'll stick to my wolf hybrids. but a lot of the bad publicity for the pit comes from people trying to breed the biggest and aggressive ones.