Myths and Strereotypes

Myths and Stereotypes

Pitbulls are inheritantly dangerous and may attack at any time: According to the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), the pitbull is no more vicious than the golden retriever or the beagle. The ATTS test puts various breeds through a series of tests dealing with unexpected situations and strangers. Dogs that possess any signs of unprovoked fear or aggression automatically fail the test. The pitbull passed with a high 83.9%, compared to the average 77% scored by other breeds.

Like any other dog, a pitbull that is properly raised and socialized in a loving environment will remain friendly and faithful. Unfortunately, as the pitbull still remains one of the most highly abused and exploited breeds in the world, there also remain sad examples of poorly bred and mistreated pitbulls that are the byproduct of irresponsible breeders and dogfighters or "dogmen" as they like to call themselves. These unfortunate animals that are improperly raised and unsocialized may show temperaments that are far from those of the authenti c and well cared for pitbull.

Pitbulls have lock jaws: One of my all time favorite myths. It seems that the media is obsessed with portraying the pitbull as some sort of superhuman monster with immortal capabilities. However, our good friend, "science," has yet again proven this rumor to be nothing more than a jaw dropping lie. These are dogs, with a bone anatomy just like that of any other dog, except they possess alot more strength and will power. However, they are not carnivorous dinosaurs.

Dr. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states, "To the best of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would allow any meaningful comparison to be made of the biting power of various breeds of dogs."

A pitbull that attacks other animals will go after people next: Animal aggression and human aggression are two completely different things. Pitbulls were once trained to fight and bring down large animals, hence the possession of animal aggression in some pitbulls in not unnatural, and definately NOT a reason to euthanize the dog. It deserves to be given a chance to live in a loving home just like any other dog. However, with that being said, while pitbulls were once bred to fight other animals, they were at the same time, bred never to possess any signs of human aggression. This is what enabled a "dogmen" to grab his dog by the collar, or even the scruff of the neck, and pull it out of a fight without ever getting bitten. Hence, any pitbull that shows signs of aggression towards people is not at all typical of the breed, and should therefore be evaluated by a professional animal behaviorist and a veterinarian (in case there are medical issues at hand), or be humanely euthanized. These dogs should NEVER be bred, as they possess an unfit temperament.

Adult pitbulls should not be adopted, because their background is unknown: This one really gets under my nails. I believe that every dog deserves a chance. Papers and certificates don't mean a heck of alot these days, considering the intolerable amount of backyard breeders that use them to blind their customers. Furthermore, when putting up dogs for adoption, responsible shelter and rescues always ensure that the dogs are properly temperament tested, and look at the animal's temperament as a way to judge whether the dog will be able to be adopted out into a new home.

Pitbulls and children do not belong together: Pitbulls are known for their ability to handle alot of rough and tumble play that children can dish out. They make wonderful companions for kids, and are great family pets when properly trained and socialized. However, children should be taught how to properly interact with dogs and when to respect quiet time. Children and dogs (no matter what breed), should never be left alone without adult supervision.

Pitbulls are great guard dogs: NO! Pitbulls make LOUSY guard dogs. They are inheretenly much too friendly. Any pitbull I know would much rather lick a robber to death than ever attack one. However, being a very loyal breed, the pitbull will protect its owner if it feels that there is a threat. Also, due to its strong will power and eagerness to please its owner, if a pitbull is taught to be aggressive towards people at a very early stage in its life, and if this behavior is reinforced, then the dog will most likely become aggressive towards people as an adult. This is why an emphasis must be placed on responsible ownership, and rather than punishing the breed, we should punish the deed.

Pekinese, Toy Poodles and Shelties are all known to be high strung. but when was the last time you heard of any of these breeds mauling or killing a human? How many six year old have required 100 stitches to close the wound suffered from an attack from an overly aggressive Pomeranian?

Other large dogs are kept and raised, without the weekly reports of dogs gone wild that Pit Bulls generate. I'd venture there's a lot more German Shepherds around and acting as guard dogs than there is pitbulls filling that role. Why isn't there an epidemic of violence by this breed? Why aren't there roving packs of Shepherds terrorizing neighbourhoods and killing family pets that pose no threat to themselves?

Your arguments seem self-serving and false when measured against the present reality. And even if owners are at fault in many of the cases (which i'll grant could be true), we can't euthanize bad owners. So the next best alternative is to ban all people (bad or good) from owning this breed. Pitbulls attract the wrong kind of dog owner. For every picture you post of a pitbull that can get along with humans, there's a thousand that were acquired because the buyer knew this was not a lovable, passive little lapdog.

Two people have been killed by dogs in Northern California in the last two years.

One guess as to what kind of dog did the killing in both cases. :roll:

was it a lightning shark dog?

Hey, nice attempt to bolster your argument with pictures!

Mind if I do the same?

Wanna bet for every picture you show of supposedly friendly and lovable pitbulls, that I can produce 10 that show the oppsite?

This does not look good for our doggy heros.

I view these things like hand guns. The owners need to be held responceable at all times, and a violation of the safety rules will result in removal of the weapon.

Hell, if folks can pass city, province, country by-laws, they can have rabid baboons as pets. Just don't come crying to us when you get bit, and be prepaired to loose when it bites someone else.

I was biten by a pitbull when I was a kid. Luckily, it was chained, and I yanked my hand away quickly enough to only receive gashes that ran the length of a few fingers. The reason that I was even near it was because I went to my housekeeper's house for a visit, and she told me he was fine to handle. I walked over cautiously, stuck my hand out for him to smell, and he responded by trying to eat it off. She didn't mistreat him or anything of that sort. She couldn't understand why he did it, as he was quite friendly with her and her family.

How can you justify the risk of a child have their face ripped off by these animals? Is your love for these dogs stronger than your love for children?

How can you justify the risk of a child have their face ripped off by these animals? Is your love for these dogs stronger than your love for children?[/quote]

Absolutly not, My hubby has a seven year old and they are inlove with him when he come's up on weekends the WHOLE weekend they are all attached at the hip, it's quiet cute actually.

Pit bulls ARE Animal Agressive no gettin around that, but they aren't to be human agressive, if my dogs turned on someone or anything even an animal or w.e my dog would be goin for a car ride and gettin a great big needle to go night nght, I don't put up with that shit, with any type of dog, I personally don't like German sheppards White one's more I have had 3 insidents because of irresponsible owners, I had a dog picked up and thrown around like a rag doll and killed by a white german sheppard and nothing was done about the dog, just because it was a german sheppard. But if I was a Pit it would be broad casted across every news station it would be front page in every paper and the dog would be P.T.S asap.