I think that the statisticians have weighed in - and it's not in the pit bull's favor.  Look at what the insurers say - the breed tops their lists for a reason.

For those who own pit bulls, why this type of dog?  Friendliness?  Ease of care?

Fuck me running.  That pit must have had loud pipes for this much hate.  Probably eats beans in his chili too.  

Well, it was a pretty big deal for the OP and those who were trying to break the dogs apart.

Insurance companies dislike anything that results in a claim. People are more likely to sue for a higher settlement over a pit bull bite than they are a Lab bite, even if the damage is the same. Why? Because they can win it.

TA-DA!!!

The vast majority are friendly. They are also intelligent, loyal, athletic, require little in the way of grooming, don't shed much, and have very few health problems. They are not too large, nor are they too small.

They make great hiking buddies, running partners, and are excellent hunting dogs. You can train them to do everything from retrieving fowl, to search and rescue, to dock diving, to flyball, to frisbee games, to formal obedience.

They are a great generalist dog. They can do pretty much anything their owners want them to do.

Owned a couple growing up, always great dogs smart, loyal, eager to please. Ours were never aggressive towards dogs or people.

My wife and I just rescued a young one last week and he is already sitting, staying, house broken, and heeling. But then again we take our dogs pretty seriously and put in the work.

He'll be enrolled in the same obedience classes our other dog (pure bred rottweiler) just got out of when we get back from vacation in two weeks.
The rottweiler will shortly thereafter be enrolled in her level two classes.

All true, but there are a lot of other dogs out there that are smart, friendly, loyal, can go for walks, chase a Frisbee, and so forth.

Why the Pit Bull, or a Rottweiler?

That can be said of any breed; there are always other choices.  Yet some people like certain breeds.  Or in this case, "type" is more accurate than breed.

I just don't see one I've raised as a risk.  If I were to see warning signs that couldn't be corrected in any breed I would get rid of the dog.

Very loving and protective. Also like the way they look.

Well they will actually rip a perps face off if they come into someone's home.
Just like a Doberman, Akita, cane corso, etc.

While everyone is quick to hold up a picture of someone injured by a "scary" breed (just like they do when someone is killed by a gun). I totally forgot to explain not just my experience as an owner, but also as someone who saved a "monster". Someone who looks into dog behavior.

I've spent thousands of dollars on my "other" dog. Not the Staffy, he too, was what some would call "expensive", but medical, adoption, shots, treatments were astronomical to actually rescue my corso. I don't mean rescue like let her live in my house, but I mean bring her back to health. I took her in and took full responsibility for every step she took once she became my dog.

she was 25lbs under weight, abused, neglected, and afraid of men. She also had a laundry list of medical issues that made my "adapt a dog its cheaper than your fancy renowned breeder dog" friends look like aholes.

I've spent the last year building trust, confidence, and general rehab of a dog that is supposedly ready to kill me because I wore socks; or whatever the ignorant believe. Every trip is planned. Not to isolate, but to limit exposure that could cause harm to her or people or dogs. You cannot banish or shelter a dog from contact. It won't work, you have to rehabilitate them slowly, confidently, and ensure safe passage for them and everything they encounter. I actually take pride in both my dog's behaviors, they are a product of my training, love, and upbringing. With the corso there is an element of risk, but with every day, every encounter, you learn to look for signs and ways to positively counter negative behavior. So, to all of you that paint with a broad brush I say, Fuck you.

Want a parallel? All large capacity "clips" do is kill innocent children just wanting to go to school. Sound familiar? Before you paint, look at the size of the wall. You could be covering up art. Or in some of your cases your favorite Dale Jr. t-shirt.

The wife decided on the Rottweiler based on her research, our family wants/needs, and input from long tome owners.
The pitbull kinda chose us at a rescue event and like I said I had a couple growing up.

If you're ever in the area you're welcome to meet my big goofy dogs they're pretty awesome.

I'd like to see these so called tame pit bulls reaction when the mailman comes by the house

Thank you, and the handful of posters above you, for the replies.  In my opinion, this is far better than rhetoric.

But, it's what crackshot said, and others didn't, that sort of stands out: his Pit is a darn powerful dog.

You've also got a Rottweiler, which when I parse through the Clifton data, comes out to be more problematic than Pit Bulls, when normalized for prevalence of breed.

I'm not trying to indict any particular breed of dog: there are some really interesting correlations, and there are some fuzzy correlations, but there are definite correlations to size and power - and Pit Bulls are undoubtedly powerful dogs.  But, what you seldom hear from Pit owners in conversation is that their dogs are powerful dogs, and some sort of acknowledgement of the responsibility that entails.

A photo of my truck the last time I was in Colorado.  That's 5 humans, 5 dogs, and 4 backbacks in 1 Tacoma, for those of you keeping score at home.



I like dogs. Together, we eschew hygiene.

Oh we fully understand the potential of these dogs which is exactly why we put in the time/work.
So far the worst thing the Rottweiler has done is knock andrasiks wife down because she was happy to see her. For whatever reason she goes batshit crazy happy when they come over she loves them.

The pitbull so far doesn't even pay attention to our four year old tabby cat. He seems very mellow and well behaved.

There are actually very few breeds that can be that athletic, that intelligent, that trainable, shed minimally, and do not require frequent trips to the groomer. They also have a great sense of humor.

Many people also grew up with them, especially out in the country. They loved their childhood pet and want one like it when they grow up.

And then you have to look at straight up personal preferences. Why do some men prefer blondes, others redheads, and still other brunettes. Why do some women like facial hair and others don't? Personal preference.

And of course, once you've actually been around the well-behaved ones, the ones that are sweet-natured and loving, it's hard not to realize their appeal. If all you ever know of them is what you hear on the media, or the ghetto ones you see with street thugs, or the ones chained up in trailer parks, it's easy to dismiss them, much like anything as you only associate with negative connotations.

/thread

 

A lot of shitheads own pit bulls.  Those same people will rarely talk about the responsibility of owning a gun or keeping one loaded in the house either.  That's a reflection of them, not their gun.

I used to be in the "kill'em all club", FWIW.  I was challenged by someone to do some research, and it changed my mind.

All the ones I've known loved everyone. Groomer, vet, mailman, show judge, even the Jehovah's witnesses that stop by.

You mean like every dog ever?

 

They absolutely are powerful dogs. They top the charts in weight pull competitions. They are medium-large, muscular, and energetic. That demands an owner that can channel that energy, knows how to train, and can ensure that they keep their animal under control.

That isn't really why people choose the breed, usually, but it is an inherent responsibility when keeping an APBT, or any other large, muscular, energetic dog.

The owner is ALWAYS responsible. It's a dog, it's your responsibility no matter what it does. Whenever I make the gun correlation people swear that dogs are independent thinkers who make all their own choices and that people have no influence over them. It's closer to the opposite than that.

 

"There are actually very few breeds that can be that athletic, that intelligent"



LOL.



There are plenty.  There are some that shed more (pretty much all of them shed).  Most dogs don't ever need to go to a groomer.

Can you help me out and show me where I've said these things?

I was never in the "kill 'em all club", but I agree that there are a lot of shitheads that choose pits. Their irresponsibility is not the fault of their dog, though the dog is often blamed for their irresponsibility.

I've also seen the same irresponsible people with Rotts, Dobes, German Shepherds, Cane Corsii, Presas, and numerous other breeds. They aren't any more responsible with those dogs either. Whereas responsible people are responsible no matter what breed they own.

Why not Pit Bulls or Rottweilers? My Rottie is the best dog I have ever owned.
He is a rescue who has earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen Award.

Our killers
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Odd toes you got

Huh?

General you, not you specifically.

Not really. There are many that hit the two points you quoted, but not many that fit the entire list. Dobermans are the closest. Standard Poodles as well, except for the whole groomer thing. A field bred Lab, maybe, except for the shedding.

This is a dog breed that may comprise 6% of the dog population, but is responsible for 68% of documented serious attacks.  Those are some pretty stark numbers, as are the statistics about Huskies/Wolf Hybrids and children.

Look at the circumstances surrounding each of the attacks though. You will find many similarities other than breed. Those same circumstances are Lso present in many of the other attacks.

Well I guess we are down to several reasons why someone would pick a pit bull over numerous breeds well known to be great pets that won't fuck up your insurance or carry various other stigmas; they shed less than a lot of other breeds, it's what's most available to "rescue," nostalgia if you had one as a kid, and personal preference.  There is also the ever present [Carl's Jr.] Badass Dog [Carl's Jr./] that some go for.  I'll point out that they make great hog hunting dogs also.



 

That doesn't look like a pit bull to me.  

I got mine because he was in a foster home and needed someone to love him.  

He's my Pit Bull and he's a damn fine dog.  Haters gonna hate.  F 'em.

Mine wouldn't get off his couch.  Hell, he'd tell you where the good booze was if you asked him too.

In my case, you'd be wrong.

This is the second time on ARFcom where I'd have to say that is actually a Pit Bull.  He appears to be the correct weight and build for a Pit.

The only 2 times I've pulled my CCW out:

- When some random idiot decided to walk up and stick his head into my open car window

- Random roaming pit bull in my old neighborhood that saw me and my dog and started running towards us

I actually hesitated less on sticking the pistol in #1s face than I did when I pulled it out ready to shoot the pit bull.

Everyone admits that all breeds can have traits as long as they aren't negative.

LOL.  10'ers...

In my case, it was to save the Pit's life.  I adopted mine from the local shelter with a broken leg.  She had no hope at a life as she came with the Pit stigma and was wounded to boot.

In the last two years, this dog has won my heart and admiration. Going forward I will always own a Pit and she has become the best dog.  Well behaved, laid back and always aware. She even puts herself ion the middle of the other three dogs (two rat terriers and a black lab) when they are aggressively playing.  Naamah says it best.  

Most disagree with my stance, especially swingset when sarcasm is involved, but until you own one (a pit) and can see first hand their nature to please you won't understand.  I cannot stress enough that any animal is a product of it's owner, to a degree, and unfortunately many many shitbird ghetto trash asshats want them and treat them accordingly.

Well said.

 

It's good to hear a pit owner say that, I recall getting into it with a pit owner (can't recall his handle off the top of my head) that denied outright that they're popular with ghetto shit birds...talk about denial.





That's been my entire stance since the outset of these threads, 10 years ago....but treating them badly is only half the problem. Any breed that becomes the domain of shit stains loses its good breed traits mighty quick, and the pit (in many cases) has been ill-bred to the point of it being a problem dog. You can deny that, but the very reason we have differing breeds was tightly controlled line-breeding to accentuate desirable traits (usually for a purpose). Now, that's all fucking out the window when Cleatus and Raysheen breed for badass, looks, and how scrappy they can be...while expecting obedience and predictability around their ghetto offspring.
It's wrecked the dog and because of that popularity with scum, their reputation is rightly in the toilet. If a Dachsund became the ghetto dog, even with a terrible temperament and careless breeding, it wouldn't be causing deaths and severe maulings. That's the other big problem with Pits. Their history as terriers and size/strength make them particularly awful when that switch is flipped....we see the results in threads on this site week after week. Yeah, other dogs can do that kind of damage, but the problem is with the popularity and frequency.
Other breeds have been hurt by reckless breeding - the Dalmation was turned into a health disaster after morons made it the gift-dog-of-choice after the movie came out 50 years ago - took a lot of work and breeding discipline to get it back to some semblance of the breed standard. The pit is even worse, because it's not well meaning families getting a hold of it, and the morons making the pit the fashion accessory for the neck-tat, Juggalo crowd has accentuated the worst traits of terriers.
Now, your reasons for owning may be 100% pure, but when you accept a dog with a shit reputation don't spend the rest of your days howling in protest that you are being lumped in with people you readily admit are causing a problem for the dog. There begins and ends any conflict you may have with me.
You picked it, you like the breed, so accept the scrutiny...it's part of the package.
 

Your sandy vagina isn't scrutiny.  The only reason I post in these threads is to attempt to provide factual information, not avoid whatever stigma you seem to think is attached to my dog that nobody but my neighbors ever see.

 

Same here, except I don't even own one.

However, as demonstrated by your first several posts, Swingset, you were simply trolling. Specifically trolling me and a couple other members, by your own admission. That's actually sort of frowned on here, come to think of it. I believe people have been locked and/or banned for that.

You don't offer scrutiny, other than some occasional blather about instincts prevalent in many breeds. You offer derision, sarcasm, and trolling.