Recently, some cities have passed laws banning certain dog breeds that have a track record of showing aggressive behavior (such as the Pit Bull). Do you think this is right, or is it wrong to single out certain breeds? Does your city have such a law in place? If so, what breeds are currently banned?

I think that's awful. I think Canada and UK have both passed bans on pit bull breeds. Aggressive dogs such as pit bulls need special training. I think it is the owners responsibility to train their dogs.

Originally Posted by millsandbones

I think Canada and UK have both passed bans on pit bull breeds.

This is true. Pit Bulls are banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. There was a period where they kept killing children. Princess Anne became the first member of the royal family to have a criminal record when her English Bull Terrier bit two children in Windsor Great Park. There national hysteria and the legislation passed.

One difficulty is that macho young men like the Staffordshire bull terrier. They think it makes them look tough. There's been a spate of them attacking children.

I don't think it is right to ban a breed based on it's history. I DO think that people should be required to take/pass a test to own certin breeds (or ANY dog for that matter) If you do not take or do not pass the test you are not allowed a dog.

In almost 13 years as a groomer and working at shops and kennels I have known/seen people bitten by the following breeds. I will try to list them in the order of MOST frequent offenders but am sure I am not compleatly acurate.

> Shih-Tsu & Lhasa Apso
> Dalmatian
> Chow Chow
> GoldenDoodle/Labradoodle
> American Eskimo
> Dachshund
> Jack Russel
> Chesapeake Bay Retriever
> Cocker Spaniel
> Mastiff
> German Shepherd

as well as an assortment of mutts, beagles, labs, goldens, chihuahuas, St. Bernards... I only know 2 aggressive pit bulls in all those years and have works with pits, rotties, cane corsos, bull terriers, bulldogs and other breeds that are listed as "dangerous".

Most of the "mean" dogs I know have been small dogs and doodles

Originally Posted by orangedog

In almost 13 years as a groomer and working at shops and kennels I have known/seen people bitten by the following breeds. I will try to list them in the order of MOST frequent offenders but am sure I am not compleatly acurate.

> Shih-Tsu & Lhasa Apso
> Dalmatian
> Chow Chow
> GoldenDoodle/Labradoodle
> American Eskimo
> Dachshund
> Jack Russel
> Chesapeake Bay Retriever
> Cocker Spaniel
> Mastiff
> German Shepherd

as well as an assortment of mutts, beagles, labs, goldens, chihuahuas, St. Bernards... I only know 2 aggressive pit bulls in all those years and have works with pits, rotties, cane corsos, bull terriers, bulldogs and other breeds that are listed as "dangerous".

Most of the "mean" dogs I know have been small dogs and doodles

It dosent suprise me to see dals at the top part of your list. Most think of dals as these cute lovable dogs, from the movies. After owning 3 dals and being around many others, I've learned that they are hyper, sensitive, and can be extreamly fearfull of almost anything unless socilized properly from a very early age. I know the same can be said for most any dog, but it seems to me to be more so in dals.

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by puppy123

Recently, some cities have passed laws banning certain dog breeds that have a track record of showing aggressive behavior (such as the Pit Bull). Do you think this is right, or is it wrong to single out certain breeds? Does your city have such a law in place? If so, what breeds are currently banned?

As with other crime's, I think example's and harsh law's need to be made. Punish the owner with more than a slap on the wrist and not the breed... When they are born they are not aggressive, something happen's either medical or by raising them wrong and with intent to be mean. It is not the dog's fault.

I have/had and agressive dog (vaccine damage) and know how careful I must be because if something happen's, it is my fault not my pup's..

Also banned in the UK under the dangerous dogs act -

Dogo Argentino
Fila Braziliero
Japanese Tosa

A bit scary really because if your dog looks like a banned breed and is accused of being a banned breed, its up to you to prove it's not or face the consequences.

LH

[DoggieVogue]

Originally Posted by millsandbones

I think it is the owners responsibility to train their dogs.

I agree. I don't think "dangerous breeds" should be banned, but dangerous owners! I just don't think banning whole breeds helps anything.

For the past week this has been a topic on my mind. As a newly pitbull owner, I strongly disagree with the banning of their breed. I have posted a topic about my pitbulls barking, however I can confidently say she has NEVER bitten anyone.

She is a 3 1/2 year old Texas Rednose with beautiful green eyes. She was the runt of the litter so she's pure muscle but only about 55lbs. I find it shameful that when we take her out to our local dog park, being ILLEGAL not to muzzle your pitbull, everyone around jumps to the conclusion that she's some killer and they leash their dogs or worse take them out of the park.

I believe that pitbull's are a DOG before their breed like anything else and there was an article not too long ago from when Ceaser Milian (Dog Whisperer) came to Toronto for a seminar and he voiced his opinion that back in the 80's Doberman's were banned for a while, then German Shepherds and THEN Rotties. Since the news on those dog bans is done and over with, no one thinks that when they see a Rottie that it can be dangerous.

I've WITNESSED dogs at the local dog park that have attacked my PITBULL and she simply jumps back and runs to us for protection and I keep asking myself "Are they doing to ban that breed now?"

It's simply a fad that's going on and I do agree that pitbulls DO have a bad reputation with aggression towards people and other animals but that is solely their owners problems. If the pitbull is not trained at a young age and socialized well with other animals, or even worse if you get people out there that simply just want their pitbull to fight then of course you're going to get a fearful and eventually an aggressive dog.

Also, it's certain provinces in Canada that have this pitbull ban (Ontario being the one I'm in). I've heard recently that they are taking the ban to court to try to revoke it like they've done on the other 3 breeds I've described above.



I believe it's about time that people start ignoring the news events and not taking the "breed" to be EVERY pitbull in this world. If people can start looking at my Bella and confidently wanting to pet her and let their dogs interact with her, then I believe I can make a SMALL difference in my communities views on these beautiful dogs!!!

[Lunareclipse]

I believe that all dogs are just dogs. None is more vicious than the other when they are born. They acyually act quite identical during thier puppy stage. I think the problem is the owners. I believe any problems with the dog is 99% the owner's fault for lack of training or training them to do the wrong things. My neighbors had pits and they were so great with other animals and children, but lord help the stranger that ever approached one of the children. I used to be a groomer and I have been bitten more by Cocker Spaniels and some of the toy breeds than I have pits or rots or any of those other dogs that are supposed to be dangerous.