[Dabdklwu]

I'm new to this forum and am trying to learn abit from anothers point of view.

[rsdefwgxvcfdts]

Any breed can have the potential to be dangerous. Yes, even chihuahuas.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is bred to be DA (dog aggressive) but should not be HA (human aggressive) at all.

[Dabdklwu]

So in a sense are you saying to keep them away from other dogs?

[rsdefwgxvcfdts]

No. I'm saying that with this breed, you need to always supervise them when they are around other dogs. Invest in a breakstick. And stay away from dog parks.

This breed really doesn't need doggy friends. They prefer humans.

---------- Post added at 02:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:27 PM ----------

Here is a thread on different dog tolerance levels:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=21366

[SashaLionx]

Yup, Michelle said it very well.

In fact, this breed was known as the nanny dog for years and years. You really cannot find a dog better suited to family life and people friendliness.

[Dabdklwu]

One more question. I'm totally biased towards the whole issue as the only dog that has attacked me was a mix of who knows what and was a stray. What makes people want them if there is more of a known risk and you have to be extra cautious around other animals. Curiosity?

[DINAKuncher]

I think OWNERS are more dangerous than DOGS in general. Also, in general, any larger breed is potentially able to do more damage than a smaller breed. As for breeds...people should do more research before they chose a breed and be able to say no to a breed they are not sure of. Every breed is not for everyone!

APBTs...AmStaffs...American Bulldogs...Staffordshire Bull Terriers...Bull Terriers...and other Bulldog Breeds vary in temperment even between breeds. No matter what breed choosen, OWNERS need to do whatever it takes to keep a dog secure and out of trouble. Truth be told, IMO only 10-15% of current "pit bull owners" really know enough about this breed to properly exercise/contain/train these dogs.

[SashaLionx]

One more question. I'm totally biased towards the whole issue as the only dog that has attacked me was a mix of who knows what and was a stray. What makes people want them if there is more of a known risk and you have to be extra cautious around other animals. Curiosity?

Any breed of dog can have dog aggression and pretty much all the breeds I love have really high prey drive (i.e. may not be trustworthy around small mammals, birds, etc.).

I have a dog because I love the companionship she gives me. Granted mine is very friendly to people and animals (though she hunts mice, has caught squirrels, and has nearly caught a duck many times), but a dog that doesn't like other dogs or whatever is no big deal to me. Its so easy to manage if you are responsible and have a good relationship with your dog and have trained it well.

My roommate has a lab/rhodesian ridgeback mix and rhodesian ridgeback. Those boys don't care for other dogs and they are guard dogs. They are fine if introduced properly to people and even friendly toward 90% of people because they are secure and were well socialized. Wouldn't trade those wonderful boys for the world. It is nearly as common for RR to be DA as it is for apbt's.

A friend of mine has an apbt that is the most social and friendly dog with humans, but there are some dogs she just doesn't care for. She is one of the best dogs I have ever met in my life.

Just some examples as to why it should not matter whether a dog is friendly with other dogs or not...

Responsible ownership is the hardest thing to come by these days and unfortunately you see people humanizing their dogs to the point where they think their dogs should interact with other dogs as humans interact with other humans. Dogs are not humans and do not have the same social needs as humans. Hence why DA is a perfectly normal and acceptable trait in some dog breeds, especially the apbt.

[courlerwele]

i am glad to see someone not familiar with the breed asking questions and wanting to learn. there is a search function and 1000s of post to research. this breed isn't for everyone just like any other breed or animal. i don't have the space to raise a giraffe so i don't try to fit one in my daily life.

[anenselog]

Yup, Michelle said it very well.

In fact, this breed was known as the nanny dog for years and years. You really cannot find a dog better suited to family life and people friendliness.

I agree.

[Gilowero]

No breed of dog is more dangerous than another. There are no human agressive breeds.

Even a truly human aggressive dog can be considered a "safe" dog in the hands of a knowledgable, educated, and responsible owner who knows his dog inside and out and is responsible in his ownership of that dog.

[Dabdklwu]

It's strange how yrs of media scrutiny can play on ones mind. I am ashamed to admit that no matter how hard I try to believe some of their best traits and what a great dog they are...I still feel a bit of fear lurking. Which truly surprises me. I guess interaction with the species is the best way to overcome it. I'll have to see if the local shelters here actually allow one to be socialized with. They weren't in my area when I lived in Florida.

---------- Post added at 03:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:32 PM ----------

I'm in Chattanooga TN if anyone is familiar with the adoption guidelines?

---------- Post added at 03:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:34 PM ----------

oops...I just realized that I've been discussing the same issue on two different threads......Yeah..I'm new to this forum

[Marat]

To answer the OP's last question:

I have worked in veterinary medicine for 17 years now and have owned Bullbreeds (AmStaffs, mixes out of rescue and APBT's) for 11. Out of all breeds I get to deal with in my job, the most patient and forgiving have been the Bullbreeds.

Before I finally decided that I "had" to have one myself, I met a few that were seriously hurt and wouldn't blink an eye while you tried to help them. Can't say the same for most other breeds.

Other than that, they fall into the "easy to care for" category for me: no major health problems ( like: Great Danes don't live long and bloat, Boxers will invariably get cancer.. or develop seizures.. or die from heart disease, Dobes WILL die of heart disease, Dachsies will have back problems etc, etc), short hair and the ability to breath without me having to wear ear-muffs to drown out the gurgling sound they make.

Next, I like their slightly more independent streak.. a Border Collie, that hangs on my heel every single moment of the day, asking for a job... too intense for me.

Next, I like a versatile dog, one that can do it all and doesn't really have to sweat beans to do it. Jack of all trades kind of dog. The APBT fits the bill for me. I do weightpull, agility and obedience with my dogs and have OK success in all three. And there are lots of people doing other sports with their APBT successfully. You will probably see this breed in more (differing) sports collectively, than any other breed. Feel free to name other breeds used in such a variety of sports... successfully.

I like to be secure in the knowledge that my dogs won't eat a person. I know, that this isn't exactly what Joe Public thinks of the breed, but fact is: this breed was one of the only ones in part selectively bred to NOT bite a person. Takes knowing the breed history past the hype to realize that.

In the end.. for me, dealing with dog aggression (in varying forms) is a small price to pay in exchange for all the stuff I get in return. And just a side-note.. dog aggression isn't only an issue in my breed of choice. Almost all terrier owners have to deal with it.. most guard dogs are snipy towards each other. So, why would I exchange my dogs for something docile that can't do agility (well), can't step over its own shadow to participate in weightpulls, needs me to be around 24/7, dies of a variety of congenital problems or keeps me awake at night because it snores so loud.

[intorkercet]

I think OWNERS are more dangerous than DOGS in general.

That right there sums it up the best, its the owners who fail the dog not the dog failing its owners.

To the OP, I think the whole stigma surrounding the fighting heritage of the dog is what gives people the impression that they are bad ass dogs. What most people do not know is that even though the dog was bred for its ability to vanquish prey the dog in itself was not bred to harm humans. People hear the fighting part and just assume that the dog has to be a killer in order to fight, that is clearly not true at all and that is the main reason why the wrong croud end up getting an APBT. When they find out that the dog is not naturally mean that is when they force it onto the dog. That is where and how unstable dogs are created, you cannot force the dog to what is not natural to it without reprocussions, reasons why the ones that really are mean do bad things. Its more of a self fullfilling prophecy really, those who bought them to have a mean bad ass dog create the menace they thought of them to be which goes against everything the dog was intended to be.

As to why I own them, I grew up with them, we had a farm and these dogs can excell at many things and farm work is one of them.

They are great dogs but I agree and say it often, they are not meant for everyone. Lots of research should be done on whatever dog you open your house up to, if I didn't want a digger I wouldn't own a Jack Russell Terror. Same rule applies, if i didn't want to handle the prey drive of a terrier I wouldn't own one, after all thats what terriers are.....they are prey driven dogs.

[Lapsiks]

NOT AT ALL! My dashund growing up was way meaner than most of the pit i've had. The main reasons they get these "vicious" labels is the idiots that get them for a masculinity status and not becsause they love the breed. I was actually attcked by a pit as a child whose owners neglected it and didn't socialize it. it got out and I was in my front yard.I still love pitbulls today and it's all i'll have. I love them so much that my fiance and i actually started Bullseye Bully Rescue this past year. Any breed can be made mean, not only pitbulls.

[ForumMasta]

No.I honestly think a dangerous dog can be of any breed or mix of breeds. I think multiple factors 'create' a dangerous dog. Pit bulls CAN be dog agressive as a breed trait,but I havent seen too many pit bulls,raised and trained properly that were human agressive.

Ignorant/irresponsible/clueless owners,not socialising/training,not supervising kids with dogs,chaining/penning your dog with NO human interaction,stress, poor genetics,medical issues,Fear/anxeity,pain,abuse and/or neglect,''packing up'',breed traits(like dog agression,gaurding traits might predispose a breed to be situationnally agressive, like pit bulls or dobermanns can have some dog agression,german shepherds are protective wich can make them 'bite' to 'defend' home or terratory,huskies or malamutes can be small animal agressive,etc)

[JessiPollo]

Hers'a quote to remember there are no such thing as bad dogs only bad owners. I dont care about anyone's differing opinion about this statement often time watching every single dog problem shows whether its, Dog Whisperer, its me or the dog, good dog u, even the Horse Whisperer, there is 1 commonality among all of them they are not in the business of training dogs but training OWNERS!!!!! when ur pet start mis-behaving its easy for us the blame the breed or blame the dog and often times we dont wanna look at the real source of our pet's instability , meaning US!!!! We have 2 choices in things involving BSL, we can choose ignorance or we can choose education. choosing ignoracne only furthers the dumbing down process of society, choosing education makes us more aware of the real issues and makes us better in the long run as a people.

[Andromino]

Yes they can be dangerous dogs but it is all in how you raise them. My neighbors poodle is more agressive than my 130 lb male Romeo.

[clorkergo]

Yes they can be dangerous dogs but it is all in how you raise them. My neighbors poodle is more agressive than my 130 lb male Romeo.

While "how you raise them" may have some impact on a dog, a large part of the temperment of the APBT is due to genetics. I've seen rescue dogs come into work that were beat and they were much more friendly than the million and one BYB labs(or poodles). A poorly bred APBT, no matter how well you socialize and train it, has the potential to be HA, there's just a chance that their wiring went wrong because of poor breeding practices.

[xpllmr]

Excellent information given here. Glad you are sticking around to learn some facts about this breed, and not just taking the media's word for it.