Save the Ontario Pitbulls!

[Apopli]

Actually, statistics and research that can easily be found through google, and even at your local city centre show that golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, german shepherds, chow chows, akitas, cocker spaniels, among others are MUCH more likely to attack than a pitbull.

Also, in every documented pitbull attack on humans I have found (and I have extensively researched this), the dog itself was a victim of some form of abuse or neglect. However, not every german shepherd who has attacked humans has been provoked. Same with labs, chows and akitas. And in fact, the majority of shepherd and lab attacks occure on someone the dog is familiar with, which is contrary to pitbull attacks.

Labs and retrievers are by nature hunting dogs, and are therefor more likely to excersise prey drive. Shepherds are guard dogs and will go to any length to protect their owner.

I don't mean this as an attack, and please don't take it personally. However, I wish people could just admit to being afraid of this breed rather than make up untrue statments like "a pitbull is more likely to attack than a lab".

Ignorance breeds fear that only education can cure. Read up on the breed befor jumping to conclusions that hold no ground.

 

[MasterDrummer]

Pitbulls are used (or have been) for fighting and if the dog is bred from a fighting dog it will fight as an instinct. There jaws are way too strong if the owner doesn't have it trained well. IMHO it is the owner's fault if the dog is aggressive because the owner wasn't responsible enough to train it and socialize it. And I think that only EXPERIENCED dog owners should be allowed to own a pitbull since, without training, they can get way out of hand and attack another dog or a person.
This is only my opinion

 

[SailfinGirl]

I have to admit actuall, I had no idea what a pitbull looked like, I thought they were the same build as bull terriers. They don't look anything like what I imagined them. They don't look vicious. So,m I may have to retract all my statements about labs being less vicious. I don't actually like them though, either.

 

[rykitten]

You know, I get so sick of this topic in the news and every which way you turn. It's not the dog you should be angry with but the people who keep them.
I have had experiences with many pitbulls and have come to the conclusion that they can and will be good natured as long as their keepers are. Just like any other dog.

I witnessed a dog fight at the beach a few years ago. Rottie vs. Pit. The Pit attacked the Rottie, bit the Rottie's neck and held on for a good 15 mins. The Rottie's owner was desperately clocking the Pit on the head, closed fist. He wouldn't unlock his jaw. It was horrible. The owners ended getting into a fist fight as well . . . proves my point about owners and how they interact with their animals

On the flip side, I have a Rastafarian friend who is very laid back and easy going. He has a pit named Ziggy and a Rottie named Ty. Ziggy is a monster, I'm guessing he weighs close to 200 lbs. I can lay on the ground holding only his leash and he'll drag me around the park. He is the one of the most gentle dogs, he can't get or give you enough love. He's never aggressive and always willing to meet new people My best friend has a pit/lab mix. She's a gentle girl as well, but needs some obdience training.

My best friend nannies for a family that has kept several golden retrievers in the last year or so. Every single retriver they've tried (they tried 3) has bitten a member of the family, usually the children. This leads me to believe the family might be doing something wrong, not the dogs.

It really bothers me that people have stereo types about Pits. They're not all bad. Place the blame where it belongs; on the neglectful owners.

 

[Sorrell]

Here's some information that I posted in another thread awhile back that holds true in here as well:

I'd also like to add the roots of these "killer" breeds. Boxers were bred to hunt stag, Bulldogs were originated for bullbaiting, Dobermans were originated as home guardians and then developed as war dogs, Rottweilers were Roman herding dogs, and the so called pit bull was also a herding dog. None of these were bred to "kill people"

Also the number one biting breed is the German Shepard Dog holding 50% of the annual bites in the US. Second place is the pit bull with 8% and in third is the Golden Retriever. Does this surprise you? Now why do we not hate German Shepards or Golden Retrievers?

German Shepards are bred to bite. They are mainly used for herding and police work. If they can't bite in either of these professions they are useless. Yet we as a society know that German Shepards aren't inherently evil and we don't treat them as such. For some reason we do when it comes to the other "killer" breeds, halm of whom do not even make the dog bite statistic list.

This is my area of expertise and I enjoy giving speeches against breed ban laws and restrictions. If anyone would like for me to elaborate on any of this I would be glad to.




The reason I bring up German Shepards is while they hold 50% of all dog bites a year in the US, there is not one city in the country that has bans or even restrictions on the breed. Many dogs that do not even make the dog bite statistic list are banned or restricted in various cities. This is evidence that these laws are being passed based on fear and not fact.

I do believe that the reson pit bulls are targeted over other breeds is because they are not dogs that bite and release. They bite and hold, which means they tend to do more damage. Once again though, in proper environments, these dogs should never bite at all.

The "Find the Pit Bull" test is one that I use when I give talks on breed ban laws. When these laws go into effect, the vast majority are in the books as "confiscate and destroy on site" no questions asked. I personally own a boxer which is one of the dogs pictured in the find the pit bull test. How awful that would be if my dog were misidentified and destroyed. Unless all animal control officers can be deeply trained in dog breed identification, many non-pits will be destroyed during it's implementation. Also important to point out, when this find the pit bull test is administered to Animal Control officers, the vast majority of the dogs will be identified as pits or pit crosses...making all suseptible to being destroyed.

The only thing breed ban laws do when they are passed is cause the people with bad intentions to move on to a new breed of dog. Pretty soon...what will be left?

 

[FanOFish]

Here's some information that I posted in another thread awhile back that holds true in here as well:

Also the number one biting breed is the German Shepard Dog holding 50% of the annual bites in the US. Second place is the pit bull with 8% and in third is the Golden Retriever. Does this surprise you? Now why do we not hate German Shepards or Golden Retrievers?

This is a tad bit off subject here because it has nothing to do with Pitbulls, I do believe that they very often reflect how they were raised. That said, I do think many dogs are more naturally agressive than others....

The point of this post is more about the comments I've seen about Golden Retrievers. I am not disputing what has been said but am rather surprised by it. I have had one for 10 years now and have never seen a more mellow breed of dog. I can't even imagine one turning vicious.

Can you possibly give me the source you are referencing, I would like to read more about it.

Thanks

 

[Apopli]

Statistics taken from http/www.atts.org/stats1.html These are the American Temperament Test Society tests. The society is for the promotion of uniform temperament evaluation of purebred and spayed/neutered mixed-breed dog, especially with breed-specific laws the government is trying to impliment all over Canada and the US.

Akita: tested: 397 Passed: 285 Failed: 112 Percent: 71.8%

American Bulldog: Tested: 108 Passed: 87 Fialed: 21 Percent: 80.6%

American Pit Bull Terrier: Tested: 446 Passed: 374 Failed: 72 Percent: 83.9%

American Staffordshire Terrier: Tested:457 Passed: 380 Failed: 77 Percent: 83.2%

Bichon Frise: Tested: 26 Passed: 20 Failed: 6 Percent: 76.9%

Border Collie: Tested: 197 Passed: 156 Failed: 41 Percent: 79.2%

Boxer: Tested: 317 Passed: 268 Faled: 49 Percent: 84.5%

Bull Terrier: Tested: 49 Passed: 44 Failed: 5 Percent: 89.8%

Bulldog: Tested: 119 Passed: 81 Failed: 38 Percent: 68.1%

Bullmastiff: Tested: 104 Passed: 79 Failed: 25 Percent: 76.0%

Chihuahua: Tested: 33 Passed: 23 Failed: 10 Percent: 69.7%

Chinese Shar-Pei: Tested: 198 Passed: 137 Failed: 61 Percent: 69.2%

Chow Chow: Tested: 87 Passed: 60 Failed: 27 Percent: 69.0%

Cocker Spaniel: Tested: 214 Passed: 174 Failed: 40 Percent: 81.3%

Doberman Pinscher: Tested: 1363 Passed: 1041 Failed: 322 Percent: 76.4%

Great Dane: Tested: 219 Passed: 171 Failed: 48 Percent: 78.1%

German Shepherd Dog: Tested: 2642 Passed: 2183 Failed: 459 Percent: 82.6%

Golden Retriever: Tested: 637 Passed: 530 Failed: 107 Percent: 83.2%

Neapolitan Mastiff: Tested: 11 Passed: 6 Failed: 5 Percent: 54.5%

Rottweiler: Tested: 4423 Passed: 3634 Failed: 789 Percent: 82.2%

As you can see, the Pitbull scored in the top of the breeds listed. And at 83.9% and ranks right up with, and surpases, many of the dogs considered to be great family pets.

But it's just another statistic people overlook.

Goldens are right under pitbulls by .7%. Just as many couldn't pass temperment testing. But again, with these dogs it's all in how they're raised. A working dog is more likely to have aggression issues than a house dog raised with children. As well a dog that's outside more often than inside is more likely to have issues. The Working Dog instincts are stronger than training on a dog that works and is isolated from humans more often than not.

I'm sure if every dog were raised and kept in ideal conditions 100% of the time, the statistics would be very different.

I could go through all the dog attack articles and stories to find all the golden-related stories. But all you really have to do is a search on Google, or on news archives, like CBC, CCN, Yahoo news, ect ect. News archives are where we got a lot of statistics and reliable stories.

 

[purple_drazi]

My mother had a miniature dachshound that suddenly bit my baby on the cheek one day. I smacked that bloody dog to the other side of the room, would have done it more physical harm but my mother wouldn't let me. (!!!!) I could have stomped on the dachshound if I had to but if it had been a pitbull the baby would be dead and I would have probably been torn open while trying to intervene.
Size, ability and inclination matter.

Unfortunately, a pitbull is built like a tank and has a jaw like a vice. Yes, they can make lovely pets. But they're like loaded guns. Even the owners don't really know if their dog is safe, stories of pitbull owners being "shocked" and "surprised" when their supposedly friendly & tame pitbull tears somebody open are a dime a dozen.

I don't care to play russian roulette with my family's safety just because somebody wants to keep a dog. I think it's kind of gross that some people put their "right" to keep an animal above the safety of everyone else in the community.

btw: one owner muzzled his pitbull to make it "safe". The dog saw a german shepherd, tore off the muzzle and then went after the german shepherd. So much for that.

 

[SilverDollar_03]

I think pitbulls should be banned. their reputation is well deserved and they are to dangerous to have around. they have killed many innocent people in the past, and if they arent banned now, more people will be killed. Pitbulls are dogs, and like other dogs, have evolved and developed their instinct for millions of years. it isnt going to change now, the pitbulls bad nature is permanently ingraned in their instinct. i think they should be banned, because i want to feel safe, and others too as well!

 

[fraservet]

The statistic about dog bites (50%GSD,8%pitbull,then Golden retriever) is misleading because GSD and retrievers are many times more common than pitbulls.
Statistics like this are really only useful if they are reported per head of population - and I am fairly sure pitbulls would be right at the top of the list.

Any dog will bite under some circumstances, often from fear.
I get really annoyed when I have to PTS a dog because it bites someone, when it is clearly a friendly dog that has been abused/provoked so much that it bites.

In my job, I have many, many more small dogs try to bite me than large ones.
Unfortunately, the few large dogs that are inclined to bite are usually owned by people who have absolutely no control over them.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

another person in ontario was attacked this week by a pitbull, some little kid got mauled

 

[willywonka099]

Banning pit-bulls .......... People make me sick ... These dogs are put down do too irresponsible owners .. Ppl need too grow up and realise it's not the dog but the owners !!! Let's ban large cichlids from aquariums while we are at it ...... they latch on too ppl on occasion .... Lets ban birds they have POWERFULL beaks and hurt ppl ...

 

[CathyG]

I cannot condone keeping any "breed" that has been manufactured, whether it be poodles for prettiness, or pit bulls for aggression. We can choose not to shave our poodles, but we cannot deny inbred aggressive tendencies, however much we love our animals.

My family have always kept dogs, for the most part German Shepherds. But I had the most wonderful Doberman once, he was the gentlist and most intelligent creature...

In fact the worst "domesticated" animal I have ever kept was a Welsh Collie. Forget the herding instinct, those dogs can be absolutely neurotic, totally unreliable, and viscious with it. This is from someone who has always kept dogs.

There are few breeds that I would not keep for temperamental reasons, Rotties, certain terriers (Jack Russels jump to mind) and pit bulls. Having kids now, I would also turn down a Collie.

That said, the only time I have ever been bitten was by a Labrador

But I am serious, I cannot see the sense in wanting to own a dog bred specifically for aggression.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers were ordered to be muzzled because of their resemblence to Pit Bulls, I have known a few Staffies and have yet to meet a bad one.

I don't know...the responsibility should be put on the owner...If I was so set on owning a Pit Bull, I would be prepared to muzzle. Should they be banned? IMO, yes! Purely because of why they were bred...with some, no amount of cuddles can counter instinctive tendencies to damage...if you like the look, buy a Staffie! *shrugs*

 

[White Whale]

Find the Pitbull

This game demonstrates my point exactly. Click on the picture you think is a PitBull. When you click the correct dog you'll be redirected to a page that shows what each breed is - and how many tries it took you to find it.

The general public, media, and government alike can't recognize a Cano Corse from a Pitbull, from an AmStaff, from an American Bulldog, and these dogs are as different as a Pitbull is from a German Shepherd. All the Pitbull attacks? Are you so sure they even WERE Pitbulls?

Maybe it won't convince anyone to sign the petition, but I sure hope it sheds some light on the stupidity of banning a breed.

My PC can't seem to load the 4th pic, 1st row.
And all I see are an American Bulldog, B(something) Mountain dog, a retriever or hound, some south american dogs, a boxer.... Hey, is that a Rhodesian Ridgeback?

And that OH-SO-ADORABLE Staffordshire Terrier!!! (bottom pic, 2nd row)

 

[lady_tanksalot]

I think the question here involves nurture or nature

i also know many staffies with fantastic temperaments but only recently a neighbours yorkie was shredded by two staffs who had got away from the 7 year old girl who was walking them unsupervised!

the dangerous dog act was passed here in england recently stating that several breeds of dogs classed as dangerous where not allowed to be in public un muzzled (i'm not too familiar with all the implications of breeds etc and i'm not going to make them up)

dogs are pack animals and any dog needs to know its place in the pack, wether this is with other dogs or its human family if it's a household pet. many owners don't understand this and therefor don't know how to make the dog understand it is at the bottom of the pecking order in the family. this can lead to dogs getting confused and trying to dominate other members of it's family. many of the breeds known to have good temperaments have bittten family members trying to establish their dominance, bumping up statistics.

dogs like pit bulls get their reputation as they appear to be more likely to attack strangers.

IMHO there are very few individual dogs who with the right training and nurturing will still turn out to be aggresive

It should be owners we are banning not breeds

(sorry if i rambled)