[dadahyp]

Please tell me WHY should or WHY should not?

[TN Seeker]

The government has their nose in way too much already. That in itself is reason enough for them not be involved in a ban. If you have a neighbor close by who has one, then share your concern with that neighbor. I don't know where you live, but wild (viscious) dogs are not all that uncommon here. They run in packs. Also, there are coyotes.

[Dana P]

No they shouldn't. Even though all dogs are born with that killer instinct, they were once wild animals for god's sake, it takes the owner to control that, and some owners are irresponsible enough to allow, and in some cases even train the dog to be aggressive. I know some cases were pitbulls are pumped with steroids, thus changing their behaviour majorly, as well as their appearence. I have a pit bull as a pet, and it's the softest thing i've ever know

[Rich A]

No, because it's not the dogs who are vicious. Some owners mistreat and mishandle these dogs & turn them into something they don't want to become. Dogs are social animals, loving, loyal, and can be manipulated to behave in any way a master teaches it. They only want to do what they are told & to be accepted within a social group, just like a pack animal. Owners should be held responsible for how their dogs behave. If a dog attacks another, or a human, it should be put down. The owner should pay a heavy legal price in the event that that takes place. They should also be charged with animal cruelty. I wouldn't ban breeds of dogs. I would enforce existing animal security laws that are already on the books.

[clelia m]

dogs arent born visious they are made, unfortunatly the crule gits that fight the dogs have made a name for such dogs and yes i think they should be baned, for there saftey and other peoples

[dogsdogman]

They need 2 ban stupid owners. Any dog with teeth can become vicious. Training and only those prepared 2 own a dog with certain propensities should b permitted 2 have them.

[the District Dick]

i have a dog who is half German shepherd half Rot Wiler his name is Butch..hes not vicious at all..its not the breed..its how you raise them..there is no such thing as a "Vicious breed of dogs" dogs are a mans best friend..its how the dog is raise..if you raise him to attack people, he will think its normal to attack people..and dogs dont attack unless you aggravate them

[paddocklke]

You cannot judge an animal's behavior just by breed. Yes certain breeds have tendancies to act or react to certain situations but that reaction is not completely defined just by breed. It is nature vs. nurture.I had a male pit bull for eight years that I adopted at the age of three from a no kill shelter. He was the sweetest, smartest, most loving dog you could imagine. He never showed aggression towards any people yet he did show aggression towards a couple of dogs that came rushing him while walking him although I think that was more of a protection instinct in him. I gave him a lot of attention, exercise, and love. I had no problem having him around my daughter that was a baby. He loved her and let her pull on his ears, sit on him, poke him, etc. If he had enough, he would leave the room.Pit bulls do not make good home protection animals as people may think. My dog would have licked the person to death before doing anything to them. I have also read that on websites dedicated to pit bulls so that is not just my personal opinion. Should my dog have been banned? I think not. That is breed profiling similar to racial profiling. A dog should be looked at by past and present behavior not breed. There is a golden retriever two blocks from me that is vicious and I would be much more worried about getting attacked by that dog than my pit bull.

[Wanger]

Yes, to some degree, but only the ones that were originally bread for fighting, like Pittbulls, dobermans, and such. There was a little girl that was attacked by their family pet, a Pittbull Terrier because it was chained up and she got too close. It's not always the owner that is the problem, but a lot of the time it is. It is bread into some breeds to be protective, but when they start to attack there owners, it is time to do something. Maybe breed them with a less abrupt breed. Pittbulls and Dobies are notorious biters, but the number one biter in the US is believe it or not, a Cocker Spaniel, so it is not just the fighting breeds that are dangerous. It also has to do with knowing how to raise them and knowing the dogs temperment.

[~RIDE~]

THERE IS NO VICIOUS BREED OF DOG!!! Though several are labeled as so, which is very sad and unworthy. It's NOT the dog breed, it's the OWNER who trains them to be vicious. One can make ANY breed vicious by various means. I have a very loving Pit Bull. ALL of her litter mates and parents are just as GENTLE as she is! There are many reasons that cause a dog to be vicious. Here are some of them: Owner induced; Lack of socialization, training, companionship; They can receive a dominance aggressive gene from parent; Beating which will either cause a very submissive dog or an aggressive dog. The list goes on and on. So NO, I DO NOT feel that the government should ban ANY breeds. In all my years of being involved with animal welfare, I have seen MORE mixed breeds than standard breeds that are vicious. One of the Spaniel breeds is known for developing an aggressive temperament...who would ever of thought that a Spaniel would be vicious! This I can account for firsthand during my career at a Veterinarian Hospital. All the “labeled vicious dogs” by Shelters and Home Owners Insurance Companies (German Shepherd, Doberman Pincher, Rottweiler, Pit Bull/Staffordshire Terrier, Chow, Wolf Hybrid, etc.) is BS!!! I have encountered MANY other breeds (full and mixed) that are ferocious when it comes to human contact. Why you ask?...all and more that I stated above. Stricter laws need to be applied to people who own dogs that will attack, ALSO HIGH OFFENCES TO THOSE WHO COMMIT ANIMAL CRUELTY! This problem all revolves around the OWNER...NOT THE DOG!!!