The pitbull controversy is only increasing the popularity of pitbull ownership

As you mentioned,the problem of the reputation the pitbull has is because of what the owners trained him for.I as well know a pitbull that sleeps with the kittens and cats and is a blast to be around. Maybe it is time for the owners to accept the full responsibility for what their dogs do.

I don't find anything wrong with Pitbulls. They are a natural animal with a certain instinct. People who are keeping them as a pet should be well aware of their habits and instincts. It is the job of the owner to control the animal. Now if someone keeps a leopard or a wold as a pet it should be the responsibility of the owner to look after it. We can not blame the pet from attacking others. Unfortunately whenever anything goes wrong it is the pet which suffers, in many cases it is with their life they lose. I think pit bull owners should be made aware in official way that they are keeping a dangerous pet and they should be held responsible for the acts of their pets.

Pit Bull ownership was banned last year in my province. I think you are absolutely right in saying that people ruined this breed which is no more dangerous normally than a jack russel terrier. Unfortunately the sensationalistic media encouraged would be gangsters and thugs to run right out and breed and raise them. People ruin animals not the other way around, and now that they are gone here I'm left wondering what breed will next be ruined, Sheppards, Rotties, Dobermans ... it really makes me sick. Thank you for an interesting and timely topic.

I agree with you I think it all comes down to the training. When we got our rottweiler everyone would say "oh that is such a mean dog to have" and yet our rottie is a sweetheart and wouldn't hurt a fly literally. With these guard dogs it all comes down to training them.

There's something about your tone that I can't help respond too. lol Wanting to buy a pitbull, just because it gets bad publicity is just the sort of thing that a stupid juvenille would admit to. And no. If I wanted a guard dog, I'd want the smartest dog on the block!! Not one that would gulp down a lump of sedative laced meat at the first sniff. Pitbulls are generally owned by people who have a fear of being a target. Usually a target of the Police. But the Police do not stop doing their job because somebody has a stupid musclebound monster waiting to take someones face off. Pitbulls are of little use for anything other than fighting with each other. The origin of the breed. This practice is still carried on today as has been shown in Liverpool UK where 17 of the dogs were discovered at a training establishment. Another camp was found since in Leeds I heard through my family. Unlike most dogs, the pitbull does not give warning through body language such as moving it's ears back or barring his teeth. The pitbull is a psychotic reactionary that acts without warning. If having such a cuddly animal on the end of a lead is what it takes to make someone feel safe, then all I can say is that person has a persecution complex or some such mental problem. Failing that they likely have a lifestyle that attracts violence.

I don't believe its making them more popular, just more noticed. Owners are getting attacked by close minded people and forced to defend themselves. Apparently people are only supposed to keep those little yapsters as pets anymore.

I know what u mean....last yr was the big debate about pitbulls here...all the hooplah and crap...until they finally made some rules like muzzling and no new pups...as soon as they made the new laws...the crap went away...and the cops dont enforce the new laws anyways....so it was all for not.

I would say yes the problem with the pitbull they have interbred thats why their temperment is so bad. I have only me acouple of good pitbulls in my life time. Thats not saying to much for them.

I currently have a pitbull actually, and have had one before but its the owner as well as what you said that makes them so mean, They have trained them in that manner, how ever they can be very nice dogs, such as ours are not being trained as guard dogs or anything like that. Their around kids and very good.

pibulls are ferocious and bloodthirsty only if you train them to be that way! i've got a friend who owns the most fun to be around dogs in neighborhoods and guess what they are pitbulls! However sadly most people buy pitbulls with intentions of making them fight and hence train them to be vicious, mean and blood thirsty! In the end it all comes to their upbringing. You want them to be friendly and adorable they'll be that way and if you want them to be killers they'll be that way too!

I would never own a pitbull anyway but after the case here in the UK at new year has put me off even more (5 year old girl killed by one). I'm not saying that they're all bad I just don't personally like them, love my huskys!!!!

I agree that a Pitbulls attitude is based on the way he is raised. My dad has had several litters of Pitbull puppies, and every single puppy has been incredibly sweet, even tempered, and mellow. For people to make a generalized assumption that "all Pitbulls are bad" is wrong. I believe the saying "There is no such thing as a bad dog, there are only bad owners".

Yea, society shouldnt blame the dogs. Its the trainers!!! I have a pitbull also. He never barks at people unless they get real close too me. He doesn't even bark at other dogs until he senses their aggression. I think people should be punished for their dogs action. All pitbulls arent killers as potrayed.

According to some television show that I've watched, a person's inner behavior can be reflected by things that he is interested with. Most people who buy dogs because of the bloodthirsty and nasty brawls these dogs are attached with only shows that it is not the dog that's into those things rather the owner or the buyer of a dog. I highly agree that it also depends on how one raise and trains the dog. If you treat it kindly with respect and love and discipline, then nothing can go wrong. But, treat it with much anger and beatings, then let's just see when the dog got all fed up with it.

I just got a pit about a week ago. He is the sweets dog I have owned in a long time very good with my infant and I believe that its all in how u raise them. Dogs only learn from there trainers just like in children. They learn what they are taught so for those people that complain about the pits just dont understand its not the dogs fault

I have two rescued pits, and they're the sweetest, most loving dogs ever. I hate when people see me and ask in horror, "Are those pit bulls???". That would be like me asking them "Gasp. Are you Irish?". C'mon

Very few dogs are born to be violent. They become violent because of their owners. You're right, the more fuss the media makes about pitbulls and rottweilers being 'devil dogs', the more inclined disturbed individuals are to own one! In many areas it's a status symbol to have a dangerous dog. It proves how 'hard' you are. I don't know why anyone who just wanted a family pet would go for a pitbull when there are so many other breeds to choose from, though. Even if they don't train the dog to fight, people are obviously still buying them for their tough image.

I like dogs .. but I don't like pitbulls .. or certainly not as pets, they are quite ugly looking brutes and aren't playful or amusing in any way .. just seems to me that owning a pitbull is some sort of kudos thing .. And I simply can't understand why anyone would want to keep a dog of a breed known to be dangerous in their home .. if they were told to let a violent person into their house they would be outraged ..

I have the sweetest pitbull i have ever known and i have known AT LEAST 10. She is not full pit, she is also Rotweiler! Rotweilers are also in the category of "mean dogs". She acts more like a human than a dog and her best friends are the 8 cats that i own. she does not have a single mean bone in her body. i read a book on pitbulls when i first got mine. the book was written by a veterinarian. they stated that the reason why pitbulls become aggressive is in fact that they have not been raised right. in order to properly raise pitbulls, you must be able to be devoted to them 24/7. since me and my husband have work at home jobs, we were able to provide her with enough attention! the owners of the other pitts that i have known were not necessarily around 24/7 but you get the idea. if you own or deciding to own a pitbull, make sure you have enough space for them to run because they are high energy dogs or have them inside and NOT tied up on a chain in the back or front yard without any attention or affection!

I hate it when people say that pitbulls are only mean when they are trained that way. Pitbulls are bred to have aggressive personalities. It is in their DNA to be aggressive. Almost all of the attacks that I have heard about was caused by pitbulls whose owners said they were never trained to be mean and that they had never attacked before. Why do people want to take a chance on a dog that might rip off a face of an innocent child or anyone else? Even if a person was on your property without permission, do they really deserve to be horribly mangled for the rest of their lives? I don't think so!