pit bull research

[kris parker]

i have to do a research paper for my english class on something controversial and i decided to do it on the pit bull bans. i have a pit bull rotty mix and i ablsolutely love dogs especially pit bulls and rottys and boxers.. i hate the fact that they are discriminated against just because of the breed name. i need some information on pit bulls and why they are discriminated against. i know there are many stories of them attacking little kids and killing people and stuff like that but any dog could do that? it's the peoples fault not the dog..

[Michael William Shea]

Sometimes is it the peoples fault, for they do not socialize them, or walk them, or train them to be gentle. However, as a vet and trainer, a lot of pits have attacked without being provoked. In Colorado last month, a lady was walking to her car, her neighbors pit bull were in the back yard. I believe the ages were eleven month and his mother was one. The pits escaped from the yard and attacked the elderly lady, who suffered a massive heart attack and it took two or three neighbors to pull the pit who was viciously attacking the elderly lady. She continues to be on life support. How is that giving a pit a bad name? The pit attacked unprovoked, the owners had them in a yard, and claims, they were socialized and very good with children. The mother and pup have never growled or bitten before. Did they miss the signs previously? Did they ignore the mother and pups behaviouror signs? I have met very good owners who have done everything they can for their pits that they have adopted from the humane society and all of a sudden they have attacked their owners causing serious injury. I have met very aggresive pits and very sweet pits. I believe that genetics, where they have come from previously (meaning humane society or bred.) I believe that pits are more prone to aggresssive behaviour. They have extremely powerful jaws, I also believe they need experienced owners. All dogs can bite, however pits are more prone.

[kris parker]

but since people know or should know this about pits when they adopt them, then the owner should be held respnsible for it. they know the dog could attack.. or is "more prone" to as you say.. it's a risk the owner takes when they get the dog.. they should also keep in more secure since it is a pit bull... i guess.. i still say it's the peoples fault that this certain breed of dog is so feared.. people were stupid enough to breed the fighting gene into it... it's not the dogs fault

[Michael William Shea]

A lot of people fall in love with the adorable terrier pit bull, but do not understand or comprehend how to raise them. They are a bit stubborn, there is training techniques I use that are different from another dog. There is never harsh words, but there has to be a correction. Not a mean one, but a very gentle and loving one. Your dog at all times needs to know that you are the Alpha, and he cannot do anything to become above you.
A neighbor of mine, adopted a terrier pit from the humane society at the age of 9 months old. A sweet girl, very loving. One day, the dog was about seven at the time. He sat down to watch T.V. Bella jumped up on the couch as she did every night to cuddle with him. The dog had her head on his lap. He was petting the dog and temporarily stopped, when he lowered his hand again to pet her, she attacked his hand, stopped and then attacked his neck, face, arms and legs. He couldn't escape her attack. Bella finally stopped and went to lay down. He then crawled to the door, came over to our house and we dialed 911. He was in minutes of dying. It looked like a horror movie, there was massive amounts of blood everywhere. He asked over and over "Did I miss the signs, why did she attack me" He lost his left arm, and his face is extremely scarred and so is his neck and other body parts. He had over 300 stitches. He begged me not to put her down, he loved her so much as all of us did. We entered into his house and there was blood everywhere. She came to us wagging her tail and very excited. We muzzled her, and restrained her in a pound for over two weeks. During that time, we medically tested her, everything came out fine. We temperament tested her, and she passed with flying colors over 10 times. We were court ordered to put her down.. She never growled and was extremely kind to animals, well socialized and very well trained. Was it the dogs fault? I have to answer yes, it was Bellas fault. Unless, he missed any previous signal or sign, and dimissed the behaviour previously. As far as we can tell, he did everything right. He has never had another animal, he is terrified of them. He has never had a dog act out that way, he was the Alpha.

[kris parker]

still... yes that was bella's fault that she attacked him but he still should have been more alert with her no matter how long he had had her and done the same thing over and over again with her.. she is a pit bull and many people say they are aggresive.. yes they were born with the aggresivness in them but he should have known the risks of having her.. i have a pit bull and she's never shown any sign of aggresion except when i comes to food and only towards other dogs.. i was aware that she could and would hurt my other dogs especially when it came to food.. one day i wasnt paying attention and she attacked my other dog which is a samoyed.. thankfully my samoyed defended herself and some how got the pit bull off her.. but she's fine and they don't get along anymore so thats why i take precautions with both of them now.. my samoyed has aggresion towards other dogs and she attacks any dog she doesnt know... just like many people say pit bulls attack other dogs... any breed of dog could have done what bella did and just because it's a pit bull people have to bring it up... it would be different if a golden retriever did it though...

[Michael William Shea]

I don't think the statement "It would of been different in a golden retreiver did it" There wasn't any publicity on ths, he kept it quiet and so did the others in my neighborhood that were attacked by there dogs. Several by a lab, one by a mastiff, one by a german shepherd, several by little dogs including mini pins, shih tzus, llapso apsos etc. He did nothing to deserve that attack, it wasn't Bella. It was the dog, she attacked and we will never know why. We can only say perhaps he missed the signs, but I don't think he did. Any dog that has attacked another dog or person is going to get in the news, perhaps as an warning to others that dogs can attack and beware, and be a responsible owner.

[kris parker]

it's a risk a person takes when they get a dog and bring it into their home... if they are not aware of these risks then they dont need a dog. so it's still a person's fault in my eyes you can look at it however you would like.

[Steff]

www.realpitbull.com

www.understand-a-bull.com

Here are two sites you can go to for info.

[Bullies2Love]

I am in the middle of a research paper as well in college. Been working on the paper for month now. Here are some sources to get you started.

http://stopbsl.com/
http://www.thetruthaboutpitbulls.com/
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/aruslweiss2001.htm
http://www.pbrc.net/

[kris parker]

thanks..

[Kim ~Thebomb~]

Here are my feelings on why there is so much negative about the breed. First of all, almost all dogs, I would say 95%, of dogs that come into an animal control shelter, or rescue are incorrectly identified. They call almost every dog a pit bull, pit bull mix. Go to a site called petfinder.com, or do a google search for adopt a dog. Look thru some of the dogs. If you go to show all breeds, there are about 157000 dogs listed for adoption. There are about 20000 mis identified at Labs, 10000 Chihuahuas, 12000 listed as "pit bull" Many of those dogs are no more pit bull then an elephant is. There are several sites that will show that most people can not identify a "pit bull" There are over 20 breeds that look like a "pit bull" (google search for "find the pit bull"

Then there are the un educated and non responsible pit owners.These dogs need to have lots of training, socialize, socialize and socialize, exercise, both of the intellect and physical. A tired dog is a good dog.

Hope this helps ya some.

[Cheryl aka Purr]

I think in many ways fear and ignorance begats fear and further ignorance. Like Kris said, "It would be different if it was a golden"
A golden, or lab, or english sheep dog would be seen as an isolated incident, the media hears pitbull and its a big story, :another vicious pitbull attack.:

Are there genuine attacks? yes.


but when it involves a pit or one of the other bullie breeds, it hits the front page, if it involves a toy breed or other medium sized breed, it gets an insequential coverage as far as world or national news. So the fear and ignorance is carried further.

Just my opinion. William your first mention obviously the lady did NOT have her dogs in her control. In the latter, yes maybe the dog just snapped, like it can happen with any dog. Pits are stronger breeds and can do more damage from that alone.
You said Bella was a terrier pit. As a Pitbull Terrier or some type of cross? If it was a cross, which part snapped?
I like this page Steff http://www.understand-a-bull.com/PitbullInformation/PitBullIndex.htm
The public only sees negative stories in the news. Pit Bulls are wonderful dogs in the hands of responsible owners just like any other breed. As with any dog, there will always be irresponsible owners and poorly bred dogs. That does NOT mean that all of these dogs are evil! The majority of domestic violence in the US is caused by men, are all men considered evil and dangerous, No. Then why would all Pit Bulls be dangerous because of a few bad owners?
Are there dangerous pit bulls? yes, all breeds have bad apples espcially power breeds that fall into the wrong hands and get bred for the wrong reasons and wrong genetics to make a big bad dog and make me look powerful, or to give a person power.

[kris parker]

thank you for agreeing with me ^-^