This is a response to “Are pit bulls really all that dangerous?”, from May 1, 2009.
Your article regarding dog injury numbers was interesting, and obviously well researched, but it occurs to me that there is a side to this question you hadn’t mentioned. Nearly every time I see a Pit Bull acting aggressively, they appear to have been mistreated by the owner(s). Obviously any dog that’s been abused would be more likely to bite, but are there any studies that show how different breeds react to mistreatment? For that matter, did your research point out any cases where dog abuse was the likely cause of a dog-bite story? And if so, are Pit Bulls more likely than other breeds to cause injury following owner mistreatment? I know how doggedly Cecil will search out facts, so has he dug up anything about these questions?
Thanks for the date of the column, KO. We also prefer that you insert a link to the column you’re writing about. Simple as pasting in the URL, the software will make it a link. Like this:
I would say that if I want to train a doggy to be vicious, I’d probably choose a pit bull over say a chihuahua or a toy poodle. I think something that is large in size and has massive, strong jaws might be a wee bit more intimidating than a dog that could be stomped to death. That probably accounts for the high rate of pit bulls, doberman pinchers, and German shepherds involved in bites. Some people want guard dogs or fighting dogs, and they choose the breeds that were created for those purposes.
I have a friend with a pit bull who’s a very sweet dog. Me personally, I’m a cat person. I know I’m safe with them as long as I keep my credit cards under lock and key and change my computer password on a regular basis. And, what ever you do, don’t let them watch those TV investment seminars.
