8 Reasons Pit Bulls Are Better Than Most People

[baldguy]

Pit bulls get a bad rap, and they haven't earned it. It's the jerks who train pit bulls (and other breeds) to be aggressive that deserve the bad rap. Those are the ones that deserve the "looks" (and in many cases jail time).

But still, I get some mighty odd glares when walking my pit bull. No matter. I'd rather hang out with a pit bull than most people any day. Here's why:

1. Pit bulls are smart. They're darn smart. Heck, my pit bull is even smarter than I am. She ignores commotion around her and goes back to bed as soon as the kids leave for school. She knows by just a look or a gesture that it's time for a walk or food or playtime. Try that on your kids sometime. Spoiler alert: it rarely works.

2. Pit bulls are lovers not fighters. My dog doesn't have locking jaws. She's not inherently aggressive. Make no mistake--badly behaved dogs are created by badly behaved humans. She wants to please so much that she'll do anything for her people. And then she'll cuddle with you as long as you want. When's the last time your husband did that?

3. Pit bulls forgive. From what we can piece together, our dog was confined to a backyard, neglected, and used for breeding. She's afraid of water, sticks, bottles, and a variety of other things (I shudder at the potential reasons), but she doesn't let that define her. She doesn't hold grudges or stereotypes against all humans. I mean, geez, I still haven't forgiven my husband for eating my sandwich almost twenty years ago. She's a way better "person" than I am.

more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathryn-leehane/8-reasons-pit-bulls-are-b_b_6055718.html?utm_hp_ref=animals

[Enrique]

1. since they're better than people

then who cares when they frighten, maim and kill people. The people deserve it.

[baldguy]

4. The point is that as a rule they don't

"...badly behaved dogs are created by badly behaved humans."

[newfie11]

2. You are so right

My son adopted one 5 years ago and what a sweetheart he is. He goes to doggie daycare while my son and his wife are working. They've never had a problem.

My kennel club puts on a Canine Good Citizen day and a very sweet grey pitty passed it perfectly 2 years in a row.

Sure there can be bad dogs just like bad people.

More often than not its the owners at fault for aggressive dogs with no training.

I have 4 newfoundland dogs and 1 Pomeranian, all extremely friendly.
To friendly for those with an adversion to drool.

[CBGLuthier]

3. One reason the person who wrote this is an idiot. They think dogs are better than people because of

their breed. We call thinking people are better based on "breed" racism. What an idiot.

[baldguy]

5. Someone didn't bother to actually *read* the article, did they?

P.S. I could say these things about any dog breed, but I'm talking about pit bulls because October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month.

[Polly Hennessey]

6. Pit Bulls

Baldguy,

Don't pay any attention to CBGLuthier. I didn't even understand what he was ranting about. Pit Bulls are great, just the same as all dog breeds. Sounds as though you are lucky to be loved by one. Me, I'm loved by a Golden Retriever.

[BlueCaliDem]

12. "Someone didn't bother to actually *read* the article, did they?*

Reactionaries rarely do. Their motto is, why think things through when you can blast someone instead?

[Initech]

7. Who needs butter? I've got plenty!

[baldguy]

9. Orchid wants popcorn.

Or, whatever. Just as long as it's people food.

[BlueCaliDem]

13. Aw...what a snoot! She's adorable, BG.

Your family is lucky to have her.

[jen63]

15. Love the name!

She's a beauty.

[jen63]

10. I also have popcorn salt.

Have you tried it? It's ground really fine so it sticks well to the kernels.

[Initech]

11. Is it garlic flavored?

[jen63]

14. Nah, I'm a boring butter and plain salt

kinda person. You?

[Initech]

17. I prefer garlic or cajun flavored, but I'll take sea salt as well. I'm not picky.

[jen63]

18. I'm not picky either.

If it was offered, I wouldn't turn it down. Especially for this OP.

[catbyte]

8. Full disclosure: I'm a cat woman, but I hang out with dog people, and every pit bull I've ever met

in my almost 6 decades on this earth has been a big, slobbering love bug, whereas the meanest dog I ever met was a Pomeranian. Bad people create bad dogs, they're not born that way. Well, maybe not bad, but definitely incompetent dog socialization.

[BlueCaliDem]

16. The meanest dog I've ever met

was Miniature Pinscher. Two of them, to be precise. I still have the scars on my right calve. My mistake was thinking that they were Chihuahuas.

[Initech]

19. One of my good friends has a Pit bull mix.

And then my brother's wife's friends have this miniature schnauzer mix. I was far more terrified of the schnauzer than I was of my buddy's pit bull.

[Jamastiene]

20. K&R

[Jenoch]

21. I agree that the owners of pit bulls

are responsible for much of their bad behavior. I also believe that pit bulls are an aggresive breed who may or may not snap at some point in their lives and let instinct take over with tragic consequences. Anecdotal evidence will not change the facts about this breed of dog.

[baldguy]

24. Anecdotal evidence is what accuses Pit Bulls of being unusually aggressive.

In other words: bullshit.

Actual scientific studies show that breed has no bearing at all in aggressive behavior in dogs.

[Drahthaardogs]

25. Says the guy who has never bred performance animals.

Every cow pony could run like Secretariat if the stupid cowboys knew how to train horses...

[baldguy]

27. If Pit Bulls are so naturally aggressive

Why do dog fighting assholes need to train them to fight? Why do they need to be starved, & beaten, & tortured before they learn how to attack other dogs? Hundreds of animals are bred, a small fraction of them are picked to have unimaginable abuse inflicted on them, most are killing during the "training" process - just to get a few that actually will fight.

And why, do most dogs who are rescued from that horror & who are allowed to be rehabilitated, are able to trust & love humans again with no issues at all?

If you think breeding is everything, you have no clue what you're talking about.

[Drahthaardogs]

28. Why do idiots take a dog to a shooting range to not make them gun shy?

When in fact it can make them gunshy? Why...because people do not know any better. The same reason youkeep insisting genetics do not matter. You do not know any better. You have never bred a litter, trained a dog to a high level, nor played the doggie games. You really have no idea how genetics interact with canine behavior, in fact, you really do not understand fight drives, prey drives, etc. Instead of going, hmmm maybe this guy who has donethis for a living and personally knows many of the big names in working dogs has some insight, you post utter silliness that all aggression stems from poor socialization.

[baldguy]

31. There sure are a lot of idiots involved in dog breeding, for sure.

[Drahthaardogs]

34. Yep. the people who think love is all you need so responsible breeding not required

Come to mind. After that would be designer breeders.

[baldguy]

37. Of course responsible breeders don't support BSLs

& recognize breed isn't a factor in aggressive behavior:

American Kennel Club

United Kennel Club

American Dog Breeders Associaton


As well as every major organization involved in animal welfare, animal control, dog training, sheltering, veterinary services, medical services, government and the law:

Humane Society of the United States

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Best Friends Animal Society

American Humane Association

American Veterinary Medical Association

National Animal Control Association

National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors

International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

Association of Pet Dog Trainers

International Association of Canine Professionals

National Animal Interest Alliance

Center for Disease Control

American Bar Association


And of course

Obama Comes Out Against Dog Breed-Specific Legislation, Joins The Fight For Pit Bulls

[Drahthaardogs]

39. The fact that you put the AKC in your list of responsible breeders

tells me all I need to know.

Just for the record,

The AKC has NO breed requirements for performance or health. They breed pretty dogs and have ruined many breeds. Many people will not TOUCH an AKC dog to acquire a dog that can do what it was suppossed to do.

Some breeds that come to mind...

AKC border collies

AKC hounds

AKC english pointers

AKC english setters

AKC cocker spaniels

AKC german shepherds

and on and on and on.

We are done now. You are no dogman.

[baldguy]

40. You don't like the AKC? Fine.

Name one national breeders assoc that supports YOUR contention that Pit Bulls are unusually aggressive.

Or any other professional animal welfare group, for that matter.

[Jenoch]

29. I don't know the answer to this question.

Which breed of dog is responsible for the highest rate of serious injury or death among victims of dog attacks?

[baldguy]

30. Nobody else does either. There are no reliable statistics available.

If someone says they have such data, they are lying.

[Jenoch]

32. I don't know the rate,

but more people are killed annually by pit bulls than any other breed of dog.

[baldguy]

35. That is a lie.

But, you knew that.

[DrDan]

41. got that right

Here is an NIH study from a couple of years ago

"CONCLUSIONS: Attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs. Strict regulation of pit bulls may substantially reduce the US mortality rates related to dog bites."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21475022


And we now know breed-specific laws work. In Toronto, during the past decade of a Pit Bull ban, the Pit population is down 49% (984 to 501). However, due to now holding the owners responsible (muzzles, etc), bites are down 93% (168 to 13). Pit bulls now are not the leaders in per capita bites. Bravo Toronto.


"In 2004, the last full year before the ban, there were 984 pit bulls licensed in Toronto and 168 reported pit bull bites. That’s more than double the rate of German shepherds, the next most aggressive breed.

"The figures, compiled by the city’s Animal Services division at the Star’s request, come from comparing a breed’s licensed population with the number of times it was reported to have bitten a person or pet.

"Nearly a decade after the ban was put in place, its purpose appears to have been achieved: pit bull bites in the city have virtually disappeared."

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/10/03/pit_bulls_were_torontos_biggest_biters_before_the_ban.html

[Jamastiene]

22. I barely knew my neighbors.

They moved last year and took their pit/lab mix with them. I was good friends with their dogs, because they spent more time hanging out with me in the yard than at their own home. They also slept under my house right under where my bed is. I didn't have much use for the people that lived next door, but I sure miss their dogs.

[etherealtruth]

26. I tried to post a picture of my Pit mix ...

... in her new dinosaur costume. I didn't succeed so I self deleted (writing this so you wouldn't think I wrote something snarky and thought better .... i am just computer illiterate)

[flvegan]

33. I applaud you, sir.

As someone who has personal experience, who has rescued bait dogs, fighters and other pits from the worst situations in the hundreds, IN THE HUNDREDS, I applaud you for taking up this topic here. I'll say no more as I've suffered the wrath of the alert-monkeys on this topic. LOL.

[meaculpa2011]

36. I've posted this before, but...

my neighbor had a pit bull. Responsible owner. Raised him from birth. Never off the leash while out of the house. He always claimed that the bad publicity was due to owners that didn't know what they were doing.

Last year the dog took a snarling run at their toddler. Jerry lunged between them and the dog locked onto his forearm. He was out of work for two months.

I'm not a dog expert or even a dog lover, but I've been accosted at the park on two occasions by pit bulls that were off the leash and it was scary--despite their owners' assurances.

[baldguy]

38. Your story indicates your neighbor was not a "responsible owner".

And my and my dog have been attacked by dogs during walks twice in the last 5 yrs: one was German Shepherd, and the other was a standard Poodle. The GSD was just being territorial, but the Poodle was vicious & mean. Now my 65-lb Pit Bull is afraid of all Poodles, no matter how small they are, and wary at meeting new dogs.

In both cases, I lay blame totally on the owners, not the dogs. And certainly not on the entire breed.