[Lara's mom]

A reputable breeder sold a pit bull to Rachel Ray - the chef. At this point, after 5 attacks against innocent animals they are contemplating putting the vicious S.OB. down. In one of the attacks, the dog was being walked by a professional handler. A pedestrian was walking by and, the nasty monster lunged and tore off her dogs ear.

Check out a guy named Zupf on youtube. He actually keeps track of how many people and pets are savaged and killed by pit bulls and pit bull crosses. The statistics and the incredible brutality of the attacks will appall you. The number of children that these dogs either outright kill or maim for life is the stuff of nightmares.

What really incenses me, are the pit bull apologists who will blame an innocent child, an elderly person, a tiny dog on a leash...NEVER do these people take responsibility for the actions of their dogs.

I had one experience with these so called poor misunderstood dogs. CRAP!!! These dogs are vicious and have no business being anywhere where average citizens and their pets dwell.

[OrangeDog]

It is so sad about Rachel and John's dog I would love to get more info but am affriad to ask, I am sure it is a painfull subject for them!

Just goes to show because I know they are wonderfull people and the dog gets amazing care, training, etc.

[Lara's mom]

So, what does that tell you? The dog was bought from a reputable breeder and went to a loving home where there were trainers and handlers to deal with Isaboo. Did it make a damn bit of difference? No! Five attacks on innocent animals and counting...If that dog had belonged to an average citizen, she would not have been given 5 chances, especially since she bit her owner as she was attempting to break up yet another attack initiated by her dog.

[Todd]

You mention these specific incidents involving pit bulls but I guarantee you that I could provide you with just as many examples of incidents involving other breeds. As far as Ray's pit goes, this is a prime example of pits being made to look bad amplified through the media. Again, the statistics DON'T lie. For example, I'll use the breeds that you own, Jack Russells. Statistics say that there are mrebites on humans and other dogs by these little guys than pit bulls, but a Russell is too small to cause that much damage. A pit can cause that much damage. But with your counter-arguments you have yet to acknowledge the fact that toy breeds statistically bite more dogs than pit bulls. It's a matter of damage NOT frequency! The media make pit bulls look bad beause of the deaths/damage caused which is newsworthy. A Jack Russell giving his owner a puncture wound is not newsworthy.

Some people feel that some breeds or poor breeding can contribute to tempremental problems which I can believe but not to such a degree that the animal is an endangerment to society. For example, a human may be friendly in nature and have a kid and the kid also turns out friendly because of the way it was raised. With dogs, mother dogs don't raise this way and often the pups are given away/sold as pups so the rely of their OWNERS to determine their temprement to a degree. A human for example may suffer from anger management problems which may be genetic but this doesn't mean that they can't overcome that with training. Same goes with an aggressive dog. I just don't understand the reason why people pin aggressiveness of pit bulls in general. This is nothing but steriotypical trhinking and could be compared to racism in humans. Again, a black guy in a hoodie may fit the steriotype and actually turn out to be a thief but it's NOT because of his race (black) it's because of the way he was RAISED or brought up like a dog is brought up/trained. Even if there are some genetics involved, I feel that the reason pits are given a bad rep is because of the way POOR OWNERS treat them/train them/or bring them up. Same would happen if these same OWNERS owned another breed.

[Lara's mom]

In that respect, I have to agree with you. If pit bulls were banned all over North America, the irresponsible thug mentality type individuals would simply seize on another breed and make them dangerous.

I have often said that it's not dogs who need to be licenced but rather the people who own them.

[Shanoo]

I would definitly have to say its the dog and not the breed when to comes to labs.

I am no expert but I have had Labs all my life and currently own a 4 year old male chocolate lab who happens to be a saint in the world of dogs!

He plays gently with our neighbours children who are both under the age of three and plays well with our 2 ten year old children who can be rough with him if not warned. He has not even once hinted at any such aggression is the face of young children wrestling him from puppyhood. I truly believe I am lucky enough to own the perfect dog and I also believe it is breed specific.

I think with good breeding it takes a traumatic event to turn a lab nastly. I cannot even imagine it.

I hope you are able to sort out everything with your lab and a halti might help with the pulling although i am unsure if you can use a muzzle with that. A halti takes the power from the dogs chest and puts it in the nose and it does not hurt your dog. Choke collars and shock collars are so uneeded when such other wonderful fixes exist.