Posted on 06/12/2009 3:30:19 PM PDT by MAD-AS-HELL
In a recent article about legislation against Pit Bulls, I ended with a comment on how fear and anger over isolated and heavily reported attacks was resulting in reprehensible actions being taken against Pit Bulls as a breed group, blaming the dog, and not irresponsible dog owners. A common refrain is "get rid of these dangerous dogs", even though breed specific legislation has not resulted in changes promised. Not anywhere.Petraits for Lake Shore Animal Shelter
After reading an article showcasing a Baltimore group which, like the HSUS's "End Dogfighting in Chicago" organization, is working to help Pit Bulls and the people who care for them, I was compelled to put together the following facts. I hope others will use this information to combat the fear that has perpetuated myths about this breed group. Some may even wish to forward it to local media, city councilmen, senators, and representatives as a fact sheet for their reference. It is sorely needed, providing the truth about the breed group, and another avenue for action.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Check out this story from our local news. The lady in the video being interviewed has a pitbull named Rogue who is being trained as a therapy dog. My dog Bailey is pictured next to the article — she’s the black and white mixed breed playing tug-of-war with a “dangerously aggressive” brown pit named Finley.
http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S967346.shtml
First the minorities abused guns and now the “powers that be” want to take guns away. Then the minorities abused the poor pit bulls and now the powers want to take them away.
Did you mean: Amstaff
“The Truth about pit bulls ...”
A study examining a two-year period by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that, “during 1997 and 1998, at least 27 people died of dog bite attacks (18 in 1997 and 9 in 1998). At least 25 breeds of dogs have been involved in 238 human DBRF (dog bite related fatalities) during the past 20 years. Pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers” [the study places both breeds into one category] “...were involved in more than half of these deaths.” Additionally, the article concluded: “Although fatal attacks on humans appear to be a breed-specific problem (pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers), other breeds may bite and cause fatalities at higher rates.”
And most of the time, it is neighbors and children that pay the price.
I have neighbors that are gone 12 hours a day and their pit is crated.the whole day and taken on short walks. They never run that dog.
Why should my five year old be at risk because they are poor pittie parents?
You and yours should not be put at risk because of someone else’s irresponsibility. Unfortunately, we all are.
You just have to prevent what you can, and prepare for what you can’t.
My premise isn't on trained utility but on natural traits. A retriever that won't wait is also worthless, however that doesn't mean that a good retriever doesn't have to restrain its urges.
Channeling as you put it still makes use of the animals natural tendencies. How exactly would you say that Pits are therefore channeled when kept as family dogs?
Bears can also be trained to be pets, however I don't think its wise. Pits on the other hand are not bears, but dogs. Dogs are pack animals and have a strong tendency to bond. Thus, most well kept Pits are also safe animals around their "pack". However, all dog breeds have a tendency to also be territorial in regard to those outside the pack. A dog with greater innate tendencies and capabilities to do great harm are a greater danger.
Pit Bulls are more dangerous than Labs all other things being equal. I don't think breed bans are in order, but neither do I think animal control should consider all dogs to be the same. A Yorki that runs the neighborhood is not the same danger as a Pit Bull that does. For the record, I had a fantastic rescue dog that was our family dog for 12 years that almost certainly had some Pit or Mastiff in him. He was sweet as could be around the house, but he was extremely aggressive toward strange men when I wasn't around (one of the reasons to have such a dog). That said, I was very careful to keep him on my property and not to put other people at risk. He never gave me any indication that he might harm a child, but I never felt it wise to leave him alone with small children.
I don't favor breed bans, but I think there is a reality to face with certain dog breeds. Full size Poodles, Chows, German Sheps, Pits, etc. are a greater danger than Labs and Golden Retrievers. That doesn't make them bad, its just a fact. They are more aggressive and more capable of doing damage. To use your gun analogy, its far worse to get shot with a .357 than a BB gun. That doesn't make the .357 evil or mean I want to ban it. Its just a fact.
I understand the desire to counter the bad press, as you say, which is likely unfair and unrepresentative in many ways. However, I also disagree with the AKC argument that suggests there are no differences between dog breeds.
I used to be gone a lot when I was on active duty and when I got a dog I wanted one that would protect my family, be able to stand his ground and hold off a grown man, i.e. I wanted a large, aggressive dog capable of doing great bodily harm. With that choice came great responsibility. The first of which was to acknowledge that restraining my dog was far more important than my neighbor restraining their Yorki.
Mine runs with me every morning, and pulls a wagon two or three times a week.
I know many owners that use weight training, and some who compete. That’s really the best way to give the pit a ‘fight’ that he can win.
I would never say that pit bulls are no different from other dogs. Even when you raise & handle one correctly, you have to be more vigilant than with another breed.
Eliminating any concept of possesion, food aggression, and jumping as a greeting helps too, if you have the time.
The instinct to fight may still be there, but it’s buried under so many layers of conditioning and odebience training that it would take something drastic to bring it out.
Sorry, I guess I should've been more specific here. A pit can be trained to use their innate abilities to fulfill jobs totally different from what they were bred for, just like any other dog.
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