It was inevitable that posters would show up to repeat the mantras that
Highly aggressive dogs involved in attacks on humans are routinely misidentified as pit bulls/pit bull mixes because reasons, and
There are no bad dog breeds, just bad dog owners.
Thee are just too many stories and news accounts backing up the OP’s experience for me not to be very wary around dogs with the build and characteristic appearance of pit bulls. In the past I’ve encountered and made friends with entirely peaceful and friendly pit bulls, excuse me, “AmStaffs”. Doubtful I’d do that again.
It’s sad to see that the population of dog shelters runs heavily toward pits and pit mixes, while shelters try to minimize their toxic reputation by giving them cute names.
Breed bans seem like a bad idea. Better to prosecute and fine the hell out of people who let dangerous animals roam free.
Fine, dogs that look like Pit Bulls attack people disproportionately more than dogs that look like Golden Retrievers.
I have seen a number of Pit Bulls go from docile to bat-shit crazy with little or no warning. I tried to tell a number of owners of the danger their pet presented to them but sage advise is no substitute for stitches.
I’ve never seen training override instinct. Your mileage and scar tissue may very.
Years ago I got home from work (night audit) and was chatting to my next door neighbor, who was out on his,patio, as I got out of my car. Some guy walked past with what was at least part pit bull ona leash - the first time I had seen them. The dog, hilariously, walked in this very dignified way. Like “peasants, you are beneath my notice”. Anyhow we all said good morning, and the guy and dog walked past. About 10 feet past me the dog suddenly stopped. It turned and came straight to me and shoved its heads in my hands so I could pet it. I obliged while his owner looked mortified. After about a minute the dog withdrew its head, turned, and continued on its majestic way.
I think way too many people adopt them so they can have " a big tough dog" and don’t know how to train them properly.
I’m looking forward to doing it again as soon as my friend brings her new adoptee over.
I trust this particular friend to know her dog. And she knows pitties.
I think I forgot to say that. But it’s true.
Again, that particular dog shouldn’t have been in the care of a person who didn’t know how to handle it. Possibly that particular dog shouldn’t have been out in public in anybody’s care; possibly that particular dog even needs to be euthanized; I don’t know either of those things.
I would summarize my feelings thusly. If you like that breed and are a responsible and competent dog owner who will make sure your animal does not break free and maul someone, I’m not going to persecute you. I won’t visit you, and I don’t expect you to visit me with that animal in tow, but I support your right to have the dog you love in your home and securely contained in your yard.
Rather than argue whether pit bulls are inherently dangerous or not, I’m going to take a different tack – what is it with people who think they need to take their dog with them everywhere they go? I can hardly go to Home Depot, or Target, or even the freakin’ grocery store without seeing someone who thought it was a good idea to bring their dog with them.
As far as the OP goes, if that woman knew it was going to be too hot to leave the dog in the car while she goes in to pick up her check, then maybe she just needs to leave the damn dog at home.
Yes, and guess what? After that debacle, she did exactly that. She took the dog home and then came back alone to the district office to get her check. Oh, by the way, they were really pissed with her, too.
There isn’t a problem with the ‘pit pull’ breed, there’s a problem with Pit Bull owners. They seem to be the breed of choice for young men wanting a ‘tough’ dog, and of course they are the breed of choice for dog fighting, which is still a thing. We had a dog fighting ring broken up in my home town just before I left.
If you ‘train’ a dog by hitting it, isolating it, putting it on a chain in your backyard, or doing whatever it is these obnoxious people do to make their dog ‘mean’, you’ll get an uncontrollable dog that is only good for being aggressive. Then they wind up either dead or in a shelter where unsuspecting people take the cute Pitty home and discover it’s a monster. Then all Pit Bulls get a bad rap.
Doberman Pinchers were that dog for a long time. They are actually sweet dogs, but in the 70’s and 80’s they had a reputation as ‘killer’ dogs, partly because some prominant movies used them in that role, but because they were widely purchased as guard and protection dogs, and treated accordingly.
Then they developed the other problem AKC breeds have - if they get popular, they start to get bred in ways that damages the breed. This has happened to German Shepherds and Goldens as well. It’s one reason Border Collie communities fought to keep their dogs OUT of the AKC. To no avail.
This happened to me a month ago on my daily walk down a street I rarely go. I’m guessing it was a 70-80 lb pit bull like dog. He started about 15 yards away. I stopped and when he got to me he stopped and barked a couple more times then I petted him and he was fine. During this time the owner was yelling at me “JUST SMACK HIM”. I don’t think so Tim.
Well, no WONDER this “breed” logs more bites: with multiple heads, they have more biting power!!
We were walking past a pet supply store, a few years back, and there was an adoption event. One of the dogs there was a “pit bull” - very much the classic look, versus a dog that was labelled that out of ignorance / laziness.
He rolled over onto his belly, demanding scritches. I obliged, assuring the attendants that I was properly terrified. I hope that fellow found a good home.
