Another sad reason to get rid of every pitbull.

PIK · April 28, 2014

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ottawa+toddler+disfigured+bull/9780902/story.html

To many times we read about this one type of dog. And this dog being a problem dog to begin with, it should be put down and the owners charged.I had one of these problem pitbulls lunge at me once but it had a muzzle on it, and if it did not, I would have been in big trouble.

Rue · April 28, 2014

Pitbulls as you know are not a specific breed.Someone took a British Bull dog, a Staffordshire Terrier, a Rottweiler, some English terrier types and some other breeds and mixed them. They then would take the most aggressive puppy out of the pack and breed them.

What makes pitbulls unpredictable is we do not know who bred them and what their actual genetic components are. So some are extremely gentle and passive, and others may not be. The most probable reason for that some are genetically predisposed to violence is that their brain keeps growing and pushing on the skull casing causing them to be violent.

This happens with any improperly bred dog. In the 60's this happened with Saint Bernards and Doberman Pinschers.

Sure I believe pitbulls can be dangerous if they are not bred properly and have a genetic propensity to violence due to their small skulls or for the other obvious reason-their owners got them because their owners are idiots and need to have violent dogs to compensate for being fools. Dogs reflect their owners.

So I would argue to you, yes I understand your distrust. I would say this though. If after an x-ray there is no genetic defect with a pit bull and it is gentle, which many are, surely we do not have to kill them and I wish there was a way I could make it easy for you to know those kind so you would not be afraid of them.

Do I expect you to know the difference between them and dangerous ones or trust their owners ..no. That is why I believe in muzzles and I think most responsible put bull owners no they scare people and do not go in public places.

Do I share your concern you bet. I have had two attack on of my dogs. I am lucky she did not die. She is a tough little terrier and held them both off jumping in the air and biting their faces. She was protecting my Golden Retriever. But I took control of both pit bulls who then listened to my commands and their owner was a good person. I believe the female pit was protecting her immature male son who tried to mount the terrier. It happened very quickly. No one was to blame. It happened quickly. Sure I was frightened you bet.

I have trained dogs. Myself I am very concerned with certain pit bulls yes or especially Akitas a Japanese hunting dog that was bred to take down a bear. In fact Akitas to me are far more dangerous and I know only a handful of Akita Master's who truly understand them.

Some other dog breeds can be just as problematic. You have to do your homework. Any dog can be vicious. Chihuahuas are pound per pound the most vicious of dogs and most likely to bite. They are fierce guardians.

Many pit bulls are gentle. Staffordshire terriers and American bull dogs often used to make them are actually very gentle dogs and were used as baby sitter dogs.

Some pits are mixed with Caine Corsos a dog that can be quite fierce. Then again I know big baby Caine Corsos.

I think most people would not know the difference between an American bull dog, a boxer mix, a pure Staffordshire terrier, etc.

We have this idea of a pitbull as something with a big head and mouth.

The actual pitbull that is dangerous as well as having the genetic defect and/or idiot owner has a lock jaw-the kind of jaw that can clamp down and can not be opened. That comes from the British bull dog it was mixed with.

Not all pit bulls have those kinds of clamp down jaws that are impossible to pry open.Some are for example mixed with Rottweilers the most muscular dog there is and this have powerful necks. It depends on the mix of characteristics, genetic predisposition and of course owner.

I share your concerns but want to reassure you that not all are bad. How do you know the difference? Well I would say err on the side of caution and I understand your concerns because its hard to know the difference.

All I can say is bad dogs come in many breeds and some are genetically predisposed to violence and others reflect their idiot owners.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Rue

eyeball · April 28, 2014

Ban the deed not the breed.

GostHacked · April 28, 2014

I know a few pitbulls that are very friendly and docile. It's not the dog, but the owner and environment that contributes to most of their behaviour.

BubberMiley · April 28, 2014

I got a good bite on my ankle about a year ago from a bull terrier. The owner was worse than the dog though, calling me an "asshole" for complaining to her about it. Then she ran away when I threatened to phone the police.

Saw her again last week with the dog off-leash too and had some fun pretending to call the cops on her again. It can be fun making a 300-pound woman run for the first time in years.

Michael Hardner · April 28, 2014

No, ban the breed. If irresponsible owners are turning their dogs into monsters, and banning the breed will end that practice then why not ? It's not like the dogs will feel unfulfilled in not having puppies, and the owners can buy poodles.

Boges · April 28, 2014

Sure ultimately it's the owners fault for a dangerous dog. But don't pretend that these dogs weren't bred to dangerous fighting dogs. Breeds initially had roles. Why are Jack Russel's neurotic? They were bred that way. Same way Labs love the water and Collies herd.

Also I question why an owner would want a dog that's been bred in such a manor.

GostHacked · April 28, 2014

No, ban the breed. If irresponsible owners are turning their dogs into monsters, and banning the breed will end that practice then why not ? It's not like the dogs will feel unfulfilled in not having puppies, and the owners can buy poodles.

You agree with my stance that it is part of the environment and purpose that these dogs are being raised for. As I said I know some pitbulls that are quite friendly and docile. It's not the dog's fault that they are raised in a specific environment.

You are more likely to get bit by smaller yappy dogs than a pitbull. Any dog can be made to be aggressive with the intent to cause harm. The dogs are not the problem.

GostHacked · April 28, 2014

Sure ultimately it's the owners fault for a dangerous dog. But don't pretend that these dogs weren't bred to dangerous fighting dogs. Breeds initially had roles. Why are Jack Russel's neurotic? They were bred that way. Same way Labs love the water and Collies herd.

Also I question why an owner would want a dog that's been bred in such a manor.

So it's not the dog's fault, it is our manipulation in breeding and training that gets this result. Humans caused this problem, not the pitbulls.

Boges · April 28, 2014

You are more likely to get bit by smaller yappy dogs than a pitbull. Any dog can be made to be aggressive with the intent to cause harm. The dogs are not the problem.

Yeah and more people get bitten buy Labs too. Of course there are exponentially more Labs out there than Pit Bulls.

But when a Bit Bull bites it's very dangerous and possibly fatal, when a yappy dog bites it's an annoyance followed by a band-aid.

If I see a person walking a Pit Bull or a Rottie for that matter when walking a dog, I walk the other way. I don't trust anyone I don't know with a dog like that.

Boges · April 28, 2014

So it's not the dog's fault, it is our manipulation in breeding and training that gets this result. Humans caused this problem, not the pitbulls.

So how about we ban the breeding of a dog with a fighting heritage like the Pit Bull? Oh wait, we in Ontario did.

Don't see it as banning the breed, see it as banning the breeding of a dog that has no place in our society anymore.

In Ontario, no one was told to kill an existing Pit Bull. But people insist on continuing to breed such a dog. It's as if God created the Pit Bull, no Humans did!

Edited April 28, 2014 by Boges

Michael Hardner · April 28, 2014

You are more likely to get bit by smaller yappy dogs than a pitbull.

I've been bitten by small yappy dogs and big aggressive dogs. The yappy dog bites were annoying and infrequently painful. Big dog bites have sent me to the ER and were life threatening.

They should ban these aggressive breeds. Your right to have a cool looking (but ugly looking to me) dog is subordinate to my right to not be killed. Also, if your dog comes after me in any threatening way, I will do it major damage.

Michael Hardner · April 28, 2014

So it's not the dog's fault,

It's not the dog's fault, agreed, but banning the breed doesn't hurt the dog in any way either.

Bryan · April 28, 2014

People blame Pit bulls often when they have no idea what kind of dog it really is. The American Veterinary Medical Association regularly tests dog breeds for their aggressiveness and temperament, and pit bulls routinely score at the low end of the scale -- they are less aggressive than most other breeds.

Boges · April 28, 2014

People blame Pit bulls often when they have no idea what kind of dog it really is. The American Veterinary Medical Association regularly tests dog breeds for their aggressiveness and temperament, and pit bulls routinely score at the low end of the scale -- they are less aggressive than most other breeds.

Perhaps but when they do get aggressive they tend to clamp down and not let go.

I'm not blaming the dog, I'm blaming the twits that see it as their God-given right to own a dog that was bred for fighting.

GostHacked · April 28, 2014

I've been bitten by small yappy dogs and big aggressive dogs. The yappy dog bites were annoying and infrequently painful. Big dog bites have sent me to the ER and were life threatening.

They should ban these aggressive breeds. Your right to have a cool looking (but ugly looking to me) dog is subordinate to my right to not be killed. Also, if your dog comes after me in any threatening way, I will do it major damage.

Sure bigger dogs pose a bigger threat, but the behaviour is the same. The dog should NOT bite in the first place. That is a sign of an owner who cannot control their dog. I know several people like this. They should NOT own a pet of any kind, let alone a dog. Dogs demand more time and care from the owner compared to most pets.

Boges · April 28, 2014

What's easier, trying to mitigate the threat by banning dogs that tend to pose a greater threat or making all dog owners pass a licensing test even if they only want to own a Yorkie that fits in a purse.

Bryan · April 28, 2014

You mean dogs that you PERCEIVE to be a bigger threat. You believe it, and it's in the paper, so it must be true.

Boges · April 28, 2014

You don't hear about many Bichon Friese's putting people in the hospital do you? People aren't pulling these opinions on Pit Bulls out of their Asses.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Boges

Boges · April 28, 2014

Here are some stats.

https://www.causes.com/actions/1753697-fatal-pit-bull-attacks-sharply-rise-in-2013

Yeah but Yorkies and Beagles bite too!

Michael Hardner · April 28, 2014

That is a sign of an owner who cannot control their dog.

Agreed. Ban them.

GostHacked · April 28, 2014

What's easier, trying to mitigate the threat by banning dogs that tend to pose a greater threat or making all dog owners pass a licensing test even if they only want to own a Yorkie that fits in a purse.

I drive a car, I have a license. If I desire to own a gun, I get a license. If I chose to build something, I need a license and all sorts of permits.

Let's ban guns for the same reason. Unrealistic to think this way.

Boges · April 28, 2014

I drive a car, I have a license. If I desire to own a gun, I get a license. If I chose to build something, I need a license and all sorts of permits.

Let's ban guns for the same reason. Unrealistic to think this way.

Yeah but you can own a dog and not have to license it. I certainly don't it's just a money grab. Take it to the vet though.

Don't make everyone suffer for a few twits. Deal with the twits.