[lil mutt]

Having a large breed dog is not included in my options now if ever i get a new dog. Not that i dont like them but currently there's no one here at home who can take care of a large dog...

Coming late to the discussion, but I'd never, ever, own a pit bull. Vicious, vicious nature. If one ever turns on you, it will definitely be lights out! And as soon as his jaws lock on you, you're gonna be hoping that "lights out" comes sooner rather than later.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by wouldbedogowner

Coming late to the discussion, but I'd never, ever, own a pit bull. Vicious, vicious nature. If one ever turns on you, it will definitely be lights out! And as soon as his jaws lock on you, you're gonna be hoping that "lights out" comes sooner rather than later.

sorry, but appears you have fallen into the proverbial media hype that outlines majority of the dogs blamed are in fact not true pits but pit mixes and in many cases not pits at all. The APBT was for the first half of the 20th century the most popular breed in the US and for good reason, it is a very social breed that is protective of its family. You may want to read up on the breed before falling in with the misguided consensus that our infamous media is far to quick to print without all the facts.
perfect example....
Pet Pitbull - Find the Pit Bull
take the test and be honest......odds are you cannot find the Pit Bull on the first try which is common and why so many people attacked later realize that the dog that actually attacked them only "looked" like a pit bull.
I have been a breeder of dogs and have rescued and raised dogs for over 48 years. Of all the Pit Bulls I have been around and there have been many the only harm they have ever caused is to lick someone to death......
The rare incidents in which they have actually attacked and seriously hurt someone can be blamed solely on the owner as the breed is not born mean as many seem to believe...But then again how many people actually read up and research any breed before they go out and get one???? There lies the problem of why so many dogs end up being mistreated, abused and thrown away to shelters all because some idiot forgot that he was taught reading for a reason...
and an fyi just in case I miss understood what you stated....No breed of dog has a lock jaw or can dislocate their jaw to bite. That is a rumor started by someone who knows nothing about the anatomy of a canine.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by lil mutt

Having a large breed dog is not included in my options now if ever i get a new dog. Not that i dont like them but currently there's no one here at home who can take care of a large dog...

actually if you read up you will find that the Greyhound in fact as far as large breeds is quite adept at doing nothing all day when left alone but sleep.
On the other hand, the Miniature Pinscher is prone to getting into everything due to the high energy level where the Greyhound is only perceived to be high energy when in fact it is not. Size should never be an indicator but instead knowing the breed generally opens ones eyes to the reality of dogs where we find more often our conception is far from what we have been led to believe or even thought.

Yogi, you make a good point about other dogs probably being mistaken for a pit bull. I couldn't find him-I'm thinking none of those were pit bulls. BUT, and it's a BIG BUT, since you are very knowlegeable about the breed, tell me what other dog on this PLANET can do as much harm as the Pit Bull when they attack? I would be willing to bet NONE...

When I said a Pit Bull's jaws "lock" on you, I didn't mean that in the technical sense of the word. WHat I meant-and it's the same as if the jaws actually did have a locking mechanism-is that once they get their jaws around your arm, neck, etc. it will virtually take the "swat team" to get them to release your body part from their grip.

They will NOT release you in an attack unless they are hit on the head by a heavy, blunt object, or they are SHOT.

You WILL need immediate, emergency intervention, aimed at destroying the dog if your life is to be saved.

Tell me I'm wrong...

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by wouldbedogowner

Yogi, you make a good point about other dogs probably being mistaken for a pit bull. I couldn't find him-I'm thinking none of those were pit bulls. BUT, and it's a BIG BUT, since you are very knowlegeable about the breed, tell me what other dog on this PLANET can do as much harm as the Pit Bull when they attack? I would be willing to bet NONE...

When I said a Pit Bull's jaws "lock" on you, I didn't mean that in the technical sense of the word. WHat I meant-and it's the same as if the jaws actually did have a locking mechanism-is that once they get their jaws around your arm, neck, etc. it will virtually take the "swat team" to get them to release your body part from their grip.

They will NOT release you in an attack unless they are hit on the head by a heavy, blunt object, or they are SHOT.

You WILL need immediate, emergency intervention, aimed at destroying the dog if your life is to be saved.

Tell me I'm wrong...

There is in fact a way that is used and it is a prong board that is used not just for Pit Bulls but for any breed designed to break the hold.
as for the Pit Bull, click on #16.....
in addition, it is not the fault of the breed but those incompetent fools who don't read up on a breed before getting one. This is the majority of the problem as well as the majority of the people in this country. With all the resources out there common sense seems to be totally lacking when the number of dogs chosen are chosen for looks or abilities instead of whether they will fit your lifestyle. In turn they end up abused primarily as they will not do what you expect them to do where if you had read up on them it most likely would tell you this. Thus creating a dog that is prone to act up. No offense, I am much larger and stronger and even more dangerous than any Pit Bull and if you abuse me you do not think I will not react in same you are grossly mistaken. Be reminded, the most dangerous animal on earth is man. He is also the most ignorant and every day that he lives only proves he is also the most incompetent. Man is the only species of animal that has an ego and therefore refuses to acknowledge his short falls with regards to errors in judgement in turn finding blame and fault in everyone and everything else but himself.
as for the other breeds, actually there are many....
Cane Corso, the Mastiffs, Rottys etc. They are just as powerful and in some cases more so in addition to the fact they are generally twice as large physically than the APBT. But their ability to do damage with their teeth is just as great and their jaw pressure just as equal. The problem here is the only breed ever created by man for the purpose of killing other animals is the terrier. But ironically for many years in this country the majority of dog bites were attributed to a breed most would no suspect, the Cocker Spaniel.
The fact is majority of the polls taken with regards to dogs bites come second hand from doctors and hospital as well as animal control officers and police officers and in 90% of the cases, the actual offending dog is not even seen by these people but only told to them by the victim and we all know that most people could not identify a real pit bull if they saw one, as you have proven.

[reeskujo]

Thanks for the great post Yogi....

I also want to add that whenever I've had a Pit Bull in my Puppy or beginner classes they were the most well behaved breed in the class...They were also the most lovable and the ones that wanted to please their owners the most....I would say at least 85% of them graduate at the top of the class...

I really wish people would research the breed and get the true facts instead of believing all of the hype that the media and other people not educated on the breed puts out there...

Pit Bulls in the hands of the right owner are not only one of the sweetest most loyal breeds out there but they're also extremely good with children...

I've trained many of them and quite a few have even gone on to get their CGC cert. and then became therapy dogs...

Yogi is also right about the Cocker Spaniel having the highest bite statistic...A lot of the ones I've had in my obedience classes were not only nippy with people but were prone to be a bit dog aggressive as well...

In fact the only dogs that have ever tried to bite me have always been small breed dogs...

Any dog when not trained and socialized properly and at a young age has the potential to bite and do damage....

The Pit Bull has unfairly gotten a bad rap do to all the Michael Vicks in the world!

Yogi, you make some good points. However, use of a prong board is IFFY at best. If it has a child in its grip or has an adult in a vulnerable spot, such as the neck. It will be SHOT. Prong board or no prong board, the pit bull engaged in an vicious attack on a human will more than likely be destroyed at the scene if it will not immediately back off the victim. It is rare that the dog will back off in an attack.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm not saying the dog is solely responsible, but I am saying the dog has a vicious nature. If it turns, whomever is unlucky enough to be is its target is in deep trouble. Thus, this breed should not be around children.

And if the Pit Bull did does not have a vicious nature, like some of you contend, why is this THE number one dog used as a "killer" dog. I don't know where you are getting your info Yogi, but while I agree that the pit is not the biggest dog, there is no dog that can do more damage when in attack mode. Do you deny that??

[Yogi]

sorry but you are mistaken. The breeds viciousness as you speak has to be created in the breed. Perfect example, look at Michael Vicks "fighting dogs" they are now tame and no longer display the attitude that was brought on by abusive techniques to make them so.
The Cane Corso can and has done more damage than a Pit Bull. They also have killed people and are more predisposed to aggressive behavior when defending an area than the pit. This breed ripped an old woman nearly apart in Virginia a couple years ago and was responsible for the death of a woman in San Francisco with they same results. They also do not let go. In fact many breeds fit the "bite and hold on" philosophy. Hell I should know, I have 13 of them.
The terriers were created for the sole purpose of killing animals (not people). No matter what the size of the terrier whether it be a Miniature Pinscher, Parson John Russell Terrier aka Jack Russell Terrier or an APBT, they were bred to bite and hold on. What Ree said is fact, the small terriers are far more likely to attack a person than larger breeds on the whole as they are extremely defensive aggressive dogs. Territorial and possessive therefore much of the display is normal in the breed. Unfortunately for you, you have made up your mind and are so closed mind at this point that you would never take the time to actually visit with a Pit Bull all because of bias media and ignorant people who could not identify an APBT from a Boxer as you failed to do with a simple dog test.
The reality is, any dog has the capability to kill a human from the Pomeranian years ago that killed the infant to a St Bernard. Your fear though is bore more so out of lack of knowledge and more so on hear say and media ingnorance. How does it go, what we do not understand is what we instinctively feel we must destroy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73j-H...ead.php?t=6960


http://animal.discovery.com/tv/anima...uiz/index.html


Tahoe was a therapy dog and often paid visits to a certain little boy in a
childrens hospital who was fighting leukemia. Tahoe usually visited on certain
days of the week. One morning the little boy asked his nurse if he could see
Tahoe that day. She told him it wasn't the day for his regular visit. The little
boy said "I know, but I really want to see him today. Please call and ask if he
can come see me." The nurse called the owner and asked if she was busy. Said for
some reason Tommy really wanted to see Tahoe today. The owner agreed and her and Tahoe went to see Tommy. Once there they walked into the room. Tahoe stopped and looked at Tommy who had tears in his eyes. Immediately Tahoe climbed up on the bed and gently laid down beside Tommy. Tommy wrapped his arms
around Tahoe and hugged him as tightly as he weakened state could. Tahoe laid
his head across Tommy's neck. A few moments later Tommy passed away with Tahoe in his arms. Tahoe was a pit bull terrier. When they left the
hospital the owner with tears in her eyes and Tahoe with his tail down and
looking very sad. A lady across the lot yelled.. "GET THAT MONSTER OUT OF HERE,
THERE ARE KIDS HERE." The owner simply stopped, turned around and looked at the
lady with tears in her eyes and said quietly. " I know, that is why we are here.
What you just read is a true story. Published a few years ago.
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Fin...pitbull_v4.swf

It is odd don't you think that so much press is given to attacks that in the majority of cases are not actual APBT's but where is the press when it comes to the real APBT's abilities in caring and aiding humans. But I guess you may not want to hear about that. This is what the media and those in support of BSL are hoping you will do.
and for the record, for the first half of the 20th century this was the breed of choice for families...the APBT is fine with children and is prone if anything to being overprotective of them which is why for so many years so many had them. Just the opposite of their reputation these days all due to ignorant people who know nothing about APBTs and to compound it could not identify one if it walked up to them.
If you had actually taken the quiz, you would have seen a couple of breeds that can do far more harm than the APBT.
I am fortunate in that I was not born gullible and prone to believing what I read from the newspapers or the nightly news as so much is over rated for the sake of getting the ratings or selling more papers. Tabloid journalism is unfortunately the main stay of America and the majority of Americans just cannot seem to get enough of it. Hopefully you are not one of them. Experience is still the best teacher....try it you may be surprised and how much one can learn from it. I started 48 years ago with dogs and cats and the majority of the books I have perused over the years are so far off it reminds of reading comics as a kid. For that matter, the majority of books written regarding dog breeds are not written by actual breeders but by people who send questionaires to breeders and use their general info filling in where there is no information. If you truly want to know all there is too know, contact a breeder, a reputable one and be prepared to spend some quality time with them. My pups in most cases are never sold to those who want them. Simply put, they do not know enough about the breed let alone dogs that I am willing to have one of my pups thrown to a shelter or mistreated due to incompetence or strictly out of wanting a dog, just to say they have one.
Many reputable breeders as should will put you through a a serious question and answer session in which after and only after will you know if you will be permitted to purchase a dog. The emphasis these days even from my standpoint is to check out your local shelter. There are nearly as many purebreds as there are mixed breeds and there is not a thing wrong with a mixed breed. Some of the best dogs I have ever had have been "mutts" who still share a special place in my heart.

[reeskujo]

Not only have almost all of Vicks dogs been re-homed and most in homes with children but one has even gone on to become a therapy dog....

wouldbedogowner you are completely wrong about the dog being born with a vicious nature....In fact it's quite the opposite...They are born very sweet,loving and loyal....It is the cruelty of the human race that turns them on people....

Unless there is something physically wrong with a dog or a dog has been severely abused or under socialized or in some cases threatend dogs do not just randomly turn on people for no reason...There is always under lying cause.