Pitt Bulls, friend or foe?
By saralee1
@saralee1 (1983)
United States
February 16, 2007 8:49pm CST
Today at work, I wa greeted at the door by a huge, yet strangely beautiful Pitt Bull! It had grey hair, that looked soft. I was getting my equipment out of my truck, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw the proud Grey figure, wagging it's pudgy tail happily back and forth. I looked up in shock to see the Pitt Bull. my first reaction, was to make sure it wouldn't bite. It lapped my hand. I then briefly tried to pet it. It encouraged me to pet more. Cautiously, I gently touched it's silky grey fur in my hand, which seemed to ease the canine, and brought back pleasant memories, of when I once owned a dog.
Beautiful!
The Pitt was obviously female, with milked teets.
This Dog was extremely charming, however I knew it belonged to someone, it had to! my coworkers stared on, amused that this runaway dog had taken such a liking to me, and I to it.
Indeed this PittBull was the gentlest dog I had ever seen!
So, why are they banned in California?
beats me. Humans can be cruel, I guess, making their Dogs mean.
9 people like this
34 responses
@taylorpelto (33)
• United States
17 Feb 07
Pit bulls are considered dangerous and aggressive because their owners make them so. It seems to me that the majority of Pitt Bull owners are not loving families, but arrogant people who want a dog that can be mean, aggressive, and scary. It is those people who who give this breed such a bad name.
I believe the behavior of a dog starts out like a piece of
paper, upon which all owners leave a mark.
5 people like this
@mama_of_two (268)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I like the metaphor that you used for this. I think that this was well put.
2 people like this
@Angiepoo (20)
• Canada
17 Feb 07
They were probably banned because of the gangs that try to raise them for fighting and just because they look tough, it's an image to them. A few people ruined it for everyone else.
My neighbor has a pit bull mix and she was abused at her former home. She's very skittish and barks at strangers. she really a very sweet dog when I sit with her by the fence and she lets me stroke her face and she rolls onto her back. She's so cute she's white and you can see her grey freckels on her pink skin. But the next time she sees me she barks and can be kind of scary. Poor dog. I wish some people would learn that animals have emotions too and they aren't there just for our entertainment.
@mama_of_two (268)
• United States
17 Feb 07
That is too bad that people can be so cruel to any animal, especially pit bulls. They deserve so much better than what their reputation gives them. Really.
2 people like this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I adore pit bulls. Everyone always goes on about how dangerous they are, and all I can think back to is my days as an Animal Control Officer. I dealt with a lot of dangerous dogs, and yet, not a single one of those dangerous cases was a pitt bull. In three years I never encountered a pitt bull that was vicious. In fact, the most dangerous dogs I dealt with were ones that have a reputation as good family dogs.
The thing with Pitt bulls is that they are easy to train and want to please their owners. So they are easy to train to be vicious. There are other dogs that have the same circumstances - huskeys, for one. Seventy or so years ago, huskeys were the fighting dog of choice. But because of their loose neck skin, they weren't practical for fighting purposes and dogs with tighter skin were preferred. Smooth coat terriers, bull dogs, dobermans....
A full bred pitt bull brought up in a loving home by knowledgeable owners is a wonderful, attentive, loving dog.
5 people like this
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
17 Feb 07
Most breed of dogs are friendly to humans. Most offsprings of the dogs are born to be of friendly nature. Those which are not friendly to humans are easy to tell. Even while they are only puppies, they already bite humans. The pups which already bite humans will grow up to be the kind which shall become attackers. These pups are best eliminated as early as possible or placed in a suitable kennel. And these pups are not necessarily all pittbulls.
I was told that pittbulls by nature are very friendly. However, most of the males are being trained to become warriors. They are meant to fight other dogs in an arena the way some people are doing to male chickens. Do you know that these trained roosters attack men even without any provocation at all? This situation holds true to pittbulls, too. The trained ones for fighting purposes, cannot be trusted to be as friendly as those which grew up as regular pets.
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
17 Feb 07
Dude, all puppies will bite/chew on people. It's what they do. They don't know that biting hurts, since they bite and rough house with their litter mates all the time. They have to be broken of the habit. It doesn't mean they're mean or vicious, just that they're puppies.
4 people like this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
17 Feb 07
My hubby and I have a stray that "found" us. After being unable to locate her owner we kept her. The vet says she is part pit bull but it barely shows. She's the sweetest thing. We also just adopted a pit bull mix from the animal shelter. He's 4 months old and the happiest, friendliest dog, good with the kids, etc.. It all depends on how they were raised. Pit bulls that are raised with other dogs and around children don't tend to be as aggressive. It's people that raise them to fight that give the breed a bad name. I work for an insurance company that won't insure homes with what they call "attack breed" dogs living there. I understand the reasoning, but also think it's ridiculous. Good thing I wrote my own homeowners policy! LOL
5 people like this
@mama_of_two (268)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I agree that it depends on how you raise them. My oldest daughter grew up around 3 pit bulls, and one of them would sleep in her room at night to keep a good watchful eye out for anyone who would try to do something bad towards her or our house.
2 people like this
@keepermykitty (2573)
• Canada
17 Feb 07
Thats the problem , Humans have taught Pits to behave the way they do . I am pretty scared of them myself , rather I don`t trust them . My neighbor had one she was a pretty dog only I was terrified of her .
I think they were banned because the owners have no control over these animals . Even though they think they do ,they don`t .
I mean if a Pit turns on someone there is nothing anyone can do to get free .
I have also heard of a couple Pits that had actually turned on their own owners . So I a human cannot handle them I don`t think they should have one .
Thats my opinion , I don`t like to label these dogs , and I agree its the owners responsibility to raise the dog , but some breed them to be vicious and it isn`t the dogs fault .
I feel bad for these animals cause they can be a good dog .
Its all in the way the owner raises them .
@saralee1 (1983)
• United States
19 Feb 07
Well, there is a very good way to separate pitt bulls, when they have locked onto their target. It is called pepper spray in the eyes. I found this out quite by accident when I was on vacation, and a stray Pitt had attacked a leashed Pitt.
I went over, and sprayed the eyes, and they released immediately. and, don't think you can use a garden hose to separate these guys, cuz it just doesn't work!
@saralee1 (1983)
• United States
19 Feb 07
Well, there is a very good way to separate pitt bulls, when they have locked onto their target. It is called pepper spray in the eyes. I found this out quite by accident when I was on vacation, and a stray Pitt had attacked a leashed Pitt.
I went over, and sprayed the eyes, and they released immediately. and, don't think you can use a garden hose to separate these guys, cuz it just doesn't work!
@SanDslnrs (268)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I had a beautiful pitbull about 6 years ago. My husband had found her and she was about a year old at that time, she was so gentle with the kids and even with my cats. I think they are beautiful dogs who have gotten a bad rap because some people don't know how to treat them right. I live in California, and for the most part I think they have been banned due to some people fighting the dogs and of course they are aggressive. So, did you take the dog home or do you know if its owner found her?
@fayzah (253)
• United States
18 Feb 07
well they are banned in cali cause of people over-breeding them, which ruins the blood line, and they were also using them in cali for dog fights, so you mut know the breeder you want to get one from, other wise its like owing an aligator. not all animals are bad, it's only us humans that teach them to be bad
1 person likes this
@p3halliwel2005 (3156)
• Philippines
18 Feb 07
Dogs are like humans too in a way in discipline...Some dogs are trained and disciplined..maybe this dog is trained...
@Aloeli (398)
• Portugal
18 Feb 07
i think pitbull it's a dog like others but some are violent because they learn with their boss like someone practice his pitbull to kill he can atack others but if we do a lot of love and our dog it's a peacefull dog it will be always a good dog
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
20 Feb 07
As you have witnessed, not all pits are bad. The one you encountered obviously was brought up right by very caring owners. I have a Lab/Pit who wasn't brought up right by his former owners but now that I have him, he's more a baby than the ferocious dog he used to be. All cause I gave him lots of love, praise, security, and training.
1 person likes this
@mherrera812 (162)
• United States
17 Feb 07
My boyfriend has a Pit Bull. She is so nice, funny and smart. (Sounds like a human huh?) She lLike to be petted constantly and let's us lay next to her. If you raise your dog to be kind and gentle it will be kind. If you raise it to fight it will be aggressive. The media over exaggerates a lot of things. I DID NOT KNOW THAT PIT BULLS WERE BANNED IN CALI? Huh?
@decimus785 (1419)
• Aruba
17 Feb 07
Pitbulls are like humans.it could be your friend,you can treat them good ,give them everything,but one day they take advantage of your kindness and attack you or turn their back on you.
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
17 Feb 07
Foe, their tooth anatomy is not that of a normal dogs. In fact, these dogs were especially designed to be fight dogs. They are banned in New York, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. These dogs are not safe. They ay seem nice at first, but when until they reach a certain age or until they are provoked by another, they will not be so nice.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I agree. Pitbulls really aren't bad dogs. It's the human owners that make them the way they are. I've known several dogs that are so friendly because they were actually treated humanely and taught what was right and wrong.
1 person likes this
@ebo_bro (190)
• Philippines
17 Feb 07
pitbulls are not really considered as a breed. they are a combination of at least two different breed. My cousin is a dog breeder. He said, you can actually make a fighting dog or a show dog depending from where your pitbull combination. A fighting dog is really an aggressive one by nature, my cousin show me one. He himself have to be careful dealing with this kind of dog. he uses this type for a guard dog for his house. He also have a show type pitbull and he allowed me to play with it. pitbull, fighting or show dogs have a higher pain tolerance. this what make them scary.
I think the reason why some states or even country banned pitbull because they can not tell the difference between a show dog and a fighting dog. definitely the one you show is a show dog.
@mommyto4 (1)
• Canada
17 Feb 07
I too have come across several pit bulls in my day that were extremely friendly and I would have gladly taken any one of them home with me. I am a mother of 3 soon to be 4 and I feel that these dogs have been given such a bad name and it is a shame!! They are under strict rules here in Ontario Canada and I feel that they are a bit extreme. Of course you hear about all the bad things that have happened with pit bulls and everyone becomes alarmed, but what about the good ones??
I totally agree with the humans can be cruel and therefore make their dogs cruel too. Dogs are a lot like children they learn what they live and that is how they will act.
1 person likes this
