NY Times article about Vick's pit bulls

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Have to correct something here, Deb...

Fighting was bred into them, but aggression towards their human handlers was not. In fact, they are highly loyal and normally very good with children when raised from a young age. Pits are naturally not friendly with other small animals though, and it's normally a risk if you incorporate them into your home when you have another dog or cat sometimes even when you raise them as young puppies. I had a pit bull before and while he was not aggressive, he was what was called 'fear aggressive' (a lot of pits are.) When they feel cornered, they lash out. A lot of research says that something snaps on in a pit bull at around the age of 1 1/2 or 2 with other animals and that this poses a problem because the majority of people who own them as pets (by then) think they're in the clear to have them around other animals.

My newest dog Charlotte is starting to look like a lab/pit mix instead of the lab/hound mix they thought she was at the pound, but she has been fine so far in regards to aggression. (Even when cornered.)

they are bred to be aggressive and to be a killer. i doubt that breeding could teach a dog to differentiate between a dog and a human, they're both just targets for his aggression and killing instincts.
my dog doesn't treat me as a human, but as the alpha female of the pack. she exhibits every behavior of a dog who knows she's further down in the pecking order to me every day, when i come home, when i'm eating, etc. i'd imagine a pit is the same way, until deciding it is the alpha male/female. problem is, unlike many dogs, when a pit goes alpha, there's no stopping it. dogs don't think, they don't point at a human and say not a target, and then at the neighbors dog and say yep, target. so you got lucky with a pit, there are plenty of people who can't say the same.

[Mortimer]

WUFF...WUFF!!!!






BARK!

Originally Posted by Mortimer

WUFF...WUFF!!!!






BARK!

Aww hell to the naw...














dog.

[Mortimer]

Oh geez.

Shame-shame.




Aks Dannie if she's short and stocky...please.

[Mortimer]

Dannie..are you going to take this from the Cajunatah?





She's also drawing funny pictures of you and sending them to board members.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Mortimer

Dannie..are you going to take this from the Cajunatah?





She's also drawing funny pictures of you and sending them to board members.

I can't draw.

And sorry... did not mean to come across as a big ole B, but hate the bad rap that most pits get when the majority of them (when raised right) can make great pets.

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I can't draw.

And sorry... did not mean to come across as a big ole B, but hate the bad rap that most pits get when the majority of them (when raised right) can make great pets.

Oh I know....I was just trying to stir up trouble since the Browns can't.




And you're right...those funny pictures of Dannie you sent clearly show a lack of skill.

[megahertz]

Cajungator is right. A well bred Pit who is socialized properly and owned by a responsible person (this being most important) is not a danger to any human. One of the main quailties of a Pit is its great love of people. They never meet a stranger. My Pit lives with a Basset, a Aussie, 9 cats and 6 horses and she loves everybody. My sister has a poodle that is always attacting my Pit. I have seen Powder with this poodles entire head in her mouth but she never left a mark on her. Just stood there holding her till my sister got her dog. Powder plays with a 10lb dustmop on legs named Teddy who likes to run under Powder between her front legs and grab her by the throat. Powder just drags him along. Yes I have to watch when she plays with something smaller than herself. She is 65 lbs of enthusiasm in a very strong body who will knock you down and lick you to death.
Do not judge the breed by the Vicks of the world.
Powder wanted me to pass this message along
NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY
I STILL LOVE YOU
10/20/07 National Pit Bull Awareness Day

[Mortimer]

Get lost man.

[Danzig]

woman just got mauled by her two pits she's had since pups. but i'm sure til they killed her in front of her son they were good pets too.

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I can't draw.

And sorry... did not mean to come across as a big ole B, but hate the bad rap that most pits get when the majority of them (when raised right) can make great pets.

Dannie just got snotty with you.


You gonna take that from her?

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Mortimer

Dannie just got snotty with you.


You gonna take that from her?

She's entitled to her opinion... even if it's only based upon stories she's read about. ANY breed of dog can do what she described.

Dannie 1 Cajun 0

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Dannie 1 Cajun 0

Update...



Cajun 1

Dannie 1

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

She's entitled to her opinion... even if it's only based upon stories she's read about. ANY breed of dog can do what she described.

You are sooooo right.

Dannie should loosen the old tummy tucker and get real here.




Gee..that was harsh.

I take it back...but she should certainly check her facts before she talks about things she doesn't know anything about.




E-U....that was harsh as well.

I'll let you handle it.

[Cajungator26]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007...ot_cujo-5.html

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Mortimer

Dannie just got snotty with you.


You gonna take that from her?

as an aside, cajun and i have chatted on here and elsewhere for years quite amicably. even when we disagree.
not quite sure what your posts on here are trying to accomplish.

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by Danzig

as an aside, cajun and i have chatted on here and elsewhere for years quite amicably. even when we disagree.
not quite sure what your posts on here are trying to accomplish.

Well you don't have to be snotty about it.


If I bother you just say so.
















Brother.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Mortimer

Well you don't have to be snotty about it.


If I bother you just say so.
















Brother.

well, i'm snotty if i do,
and snotty if i don't....

[GenuineRisk]

Nothing like a good discussion (thanks, Danzig and Cajun) to get the Google itch going- this is from the ASPCA site:

<<The Pit Bull’s Bad Reputation
Sadly, pit bulls have acquired a reputation as unpredictable, dangerous, and vicious. Their intimidating appearance has made them attractive to the wrong sorts of owner—people who are looking for a macho dog and end up encouraging aggressive behavior. In order to meet the growing demand for pit bulls, unscrupulous and uncaring breeders are producing puppies without maintaining the breed’s typical reliability with people. In fact, pit bulls are now notorious for redirecting aggression from a dog to any person who attempts to break up a fight. It is a shame what has happened to this loyal and affectionate breed.

Having said all that, we must tell you that a well-bred, well-socialized, and well-trained pit bull is one of the most delightful, intelligent, and gentle dogs imaginable. Some of the most famous dogs in American history were pit bulls: Stubby, the most decorated United States war dog; Petey, the beloved mascot from Little Rascals, and Helen Keller’s faithful companion. Additionally, many pit bulls were featured in well-known advertising campaigns, such as Buster Brown shoes and Levis. The majority of pit bulls are still ambassadors for their breed, serving as loving companions, family members, and therapy dogs, working in search and rescue, narcotics and explosives detection, and police and sentry duty. Unfortunately, we often hear more about the exceptions than the rule.>>

Here's the link- it's really interesting reading about the history of the various breeds that are called pit bulls:

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer...e=pets_pitbull

Interestingly, they were once called the nursemaid's dog, because they were so trustworthy with children (the original fighting dogs were bred and trained to be aggressive to animals, not people, because the owners had to be in the ring with the dogs at all times). But, as the article says, breeding hasn't been so carefully regulated recently. It sounds like proper socialization is the key, and I don't think many owners really put the proper amount of time into training their dogs, regardless of breed, which may make them too challenging for some.

Danzig is SO right on about people not taking into account their living situation when they get a dog- I see so many overweight, depressed Golden Retrievers here in the city, who clearly are not getting the exercise the breed needs. I think their owners probably grew up in the 'burbs. Good apartment dogs, interestingly enough can include greyhounds (my personal wish, when I finally live in an apartment that allows pets) and really big dogs, like St. Bernards and Pyrenees Mtn. Dogs, because they don't require a lot of exercise and aren't barky (noise always a factor in apartment living- also why I can't have a parrot. ).