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Anyone have a pit? FI brought one home about a month and a half ago...he is the sweetest little thing in the world and the 2nd love of my life. He's in training classes, and very very well behaved. Everyone loves him to pieces, but I typically get the "O.M.G aren't you scared to have that animal in your house?" response when I tell aquaintances my "adorable" puppy is a PIT BULL. *gasp*
I'm just curious to know who else has a pit? I was watching a news story just a minute ago where a police officer shot a pit bull just because it was BARKING at him. They put the video on the news, and the dog didn't do anything but bark! I have a dachshund who barks at people she doesn't know...really? Would a cop shoot my mini weenie dog?!
What are your thoughts on pits? Keep in mind there are TONS of breeds of dogs who appear to be American Pit Bull Terriers, BUT are NOT! The white pit bulls (dogo argentinos) are actually BREAD to be agressive towards people. APBTs are not.
It breaks my heart in two that so many people don't like him. It isn't fair. I can run/walk with him WITHOUT a leash and he goes no where. He is so loyal and loving. I wish I could change people's ideas... there are THREE pits on my FI's street ... and guess what? The only dog that's attacked anyone has been a BOXER!
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When people found out our dog was part pit their response is usually 'what....no, but he's so sweet'. Honestly, he's the most cuddly dog we've ever had.
I didn't vote because I've seen pitbulls that are very aggressive and some that are very sweet. It depends on the dog and it's history.
Pit bulls can be very loving animals if they are brought up without aggression.
I would take any type of dog but there are a lot of restrictions on having that type of dog at many apartment complexes.
If I had a house, I would consider adopting one if it doesn't try to bit me when I try to pet it.
ETA: My brother had a pit bull and it was the cutest and sweetest thing ever. It was a pure bred, too. She was a beautiful dog. My brother was having trouble taking care of her because he was starting to travel a lot because of work. I tried so hard to get her to live with me but my apt complex wouldn't allow it. My brother found a girl friend of his to take it.
Here are some pictures of Juliet...
I voted that they are awesome :) They really are great dogs, but I'm not sure they are the breed for me (but nothing to do with their stereotypes, just breed personality overall. I wouldn't ever want a jack russel or a pug either). Plus it's sometimes harder to get insurance and a place to rent with a pit, but I do love them!
I live in Philly where unfortunately we have a HUGE underground dogfighting problem :( As a result, there is a really negative stigma against pit bulls here, and it's tragic because they make up about 80% of the shelter population (conservatively).
I grew up with a pit/boxer mix and have worked with dozens of them at the local shelter. I have not had a problem yet. They are all individuals and can't all be lumped together. That being said, they are a very high energy breed, with a tendency for dog/animal aggression and typically are not suitable for novice dog owners. I feel this way because any pit bull mishap these days puts all "bully breeds" in danger of BSL legislation. People assume that dog/animal aggression translates to human aggression (which is completely false), so even incidents between pits and other animals put them at danger of being outlawed. I guess I just live by the precautionary principle.
A pit isn't right for my lifestyle right now, and I certainly will not say that anyone can or should own a pit bull, but with the right training and the right owner they are truly one of the most amazing, loyal, and unselfish breeds you will ever come across :)
I think the breed restrictions are ridiculous. It's not the pit bulls that are the problem, it's the people that breed and train them to be aggressive, or let them get away with aggressive behavior. Horses are the exact same way: if you let them get away with disrespectful behavior, they will end up hurting someone. Too bad it's the animals who suffer. I'm glad you brought home your sweet baby!
We met a guy in a park and our dogs were playing so I asked him what kind of dog his was and he's like 'American Terrier' I'm like how is that different from a pit bull, but he said that he just used American Terrier because he'd noticed that people all liked her until they found out she was a pit, so then he just used the less common name for them.
you're puppy is very very adorable!!
I am very very very ify with pits, even though we now own one. I love her to death she and I have gotten more used to each other/more comfortable around each other. I'm actually pretty afraid of dogs I was bitten several times as an infant. Any ways, Roxy is still a puppy and very playful and hyper. I've told mr. bobby hundreds of times that if she looks at our future children or nips or growls at them she is gone. end of story. Pits are a very moody breed from what i understand, even though they are very beautiful!
Not going to lie I LOVE boxers! they're just so goofy looking and love able!(in laws had two one was "murdered" we have no suspects...lol)
You're lucky to get your puppy in training classes! I wish we would have had roxy early enough to do that!!
Did you know that pits actually rate better on the personality test than labs? Just another 2 cents. :)
We have told people with children that Jake (the dog) is a Lab...and they believe us. The ones who we tell Jake is a pit...they run away. Makes 0 sense.
It is the trainer and the environment in which they are raised. However, I can't get out of mind that their bite is the strongest and their grip is to tight they won't let go. In the end, it is an animal, and you never know when it can fly off the handle. Look at those tigers in Vegas who turned on its trainer after a gazillion years together.
Momma -- Yeah, I understand that completely and it worries me too. You never know...there are always those freak stories where people get attacked by their monkeys and stuff. Crazy.
But I mean, we could have gotten a "nippy" poodle and had issues with that too. The only reason we ended up with a pit is because his original "mother" OD'd on cocaine and FI works in the hospital ER...a social worker told us we could have the dog, and we named him Jake. Been inseperable every since. The original mother is sitting in jail...and you can guess why she had a PIT in the first place. I feel very blessed to have rescued him.
We have a pit! He's the sweetest thing. I agree that the fear people show is ridiculous. We've had people come by and chat while their kid is petting him and getting kisses until the inevitable "so what is he" question at which point they learn he's a pit they jerk their kids away. Really?! Because finding out he's OMGAPITBULL!!! all of a sudden he's a dangerous maneater and going to eat their child for breakfast. Right. No, sorry. He just cleaned your child's breakfast off their face. That's all.
It definitely is all about how their raised though. Ironically, I just put down my (best guess) Rhodesian Ridgeback/Lab mix due to human aggression. Nurture plays just as big a part as nature does.
their bite is the strongest and their grip is to tight they won't let go
That is not at all true. Lots of breeds have strong jaws and the Pit is not stronger. The idea that their jaws lock when they bite is also a myth.
Pit bull is not actually a AKC recognised breed, so pit owners are not wrong if they just refer to them as a mix. As a vet, I cannot even remember ever seeing a pitty that wasn't a big sweet mushball.
They just get a lot of bad PR and slimball owners tend to be attracted to them because of it.
My DH has the same perception about Rotties. And I had one and she was the sweetest dog EVER. But people crossed the street when they saw her and always assumed she was vicious (which was ridiculous if you knew her). I have a GSD now and people still assume he's vicisous. I don't get it, he's the sweetest thing ever! I'm all about how a dog acts, not the breed reputation!
I've had mixed experiences with pit bulls. I've met some who are just adorable, and I've met some who are more like weapons than pets. Unfortunately, the latter is my neighbor and he walks his dog OFF LEASH throughout our apartment complex. My corgi and I have been able to avoid mishaps, but it makes me nervous. I think a lot of the dog's temperament has to do with it's owner and it's upbringing.
I worked for a veterinarian thru high school and college, i have seen sweet pits and skitish ones, but the few dog bites i got while working for 7+ years were mostly from dogs under 25 lbs, training has a lot to do with behavior....but My husband and i have a Perro de Presa Canario, AKA Presa Canario. She is very loyal and a very well behaved dog, but she has a strong prey drive, and will give chase to birds and other small game. We constantly work with her and socialize her with every different type of situation. I guess i think we should always respect that animals are animals and no matter how much we train them accidents can happen so take necessary precautions to be as safe as possible especially if you have a breed like this.
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dogfighting is a problem here in Detroit, Pontiac, Flint and other areas in Michigan as well. it makes me so incredibly sad that these loving animals (and others) are used for this malicious sport. these pitbulls dont deserve the bad reputation. after all, they aren't nicknamed the "nanny dog" for no reason. they are GREAT with children!
@edgypeanuts, i totally agree. it's not true at all, and it doesn't matter what the breed is, some dogs have a stronger grip than others, my parents dainty standard poodle has the most extreme grip i have ever experianced and no one gives her the terrible reputation!
@Momma, aside from the locked jaw thing being a total myth, there is an enormous difference between a tiger and a dog. I think that should be obvious--one is a wild animal, raised in a semi-domestic situation for only its lifespan. It has all of its wild instincts, whether they have been somewhat 'controlled' by a 'trainer' or not. A pit bull is a dog bred from human beings' ancient line of domestic dogs. Yes, it is selectively bred to have some dog-to-dog violent tendencies, but in the vast majority of pit bulls RAISED WELL and not for fighting, those tendencies are sublimated. Historically, those pit bulls bred for fighting were selected and trained for dog fighting were actually selected for their lack of aggression towards humans. How could a dog fighter control his dog if it didn't obey him or lashed out at him? Yes, an abused pit bull, or one raised to be violent in general, will lash out at humans as well as other dogs, but this can be said of any abused or poorly raised dog. Pit bulls are by and large good dogs. I have volunteered in two different shelters and sadly the vast majority of dogs waiting for homes--I mean like 80% or more--were pits. This is ridiculous, because nearly all of these dogs were friendly, playful, sweet, generally adoptable dogs. Completely wonderful babies. The myths and stereotypes really hurt these sweet pups, and it is so upsetting to see so many wonderful dogs left in the shelters or euthanized when dogs with frankly worse temperaments are adopted out simply due to breed biases. Places that have laws against certain breeds are just flat-out disgusting and founded on very poor science and arguments (or none at all).
I love pits! I think it is SO SOO SOOOO SAD that they are sucha missunderstood breed! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD DOG, ONLY A BAD OWNER!
Pits are a VERY loyal breed, they have such a NEED to please there owners and THAT is why they have a bad name...for those irresponsible pet owners who TRAIN WHAT THEY KNOW is a very trainable, pleasing dog who will do anything!
LIke I said, its soo sad that they have a bad name and so many go "uneducated" so to say on the subject and fear them! I can understand why they are feared, I am not knocking those who do, because they have been given a reason to, by the horrible people I mentioned above!
Its just so unfortunate!
@KT_williams I totally agree!!!
I have a pit but the shelter told us she was a "lab mix" for legal reasons. Camille is the sweetest happiest dog.
She just had shitty owners. I love her.
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All the doggie pictures are melting my heart. I think in the battle of nurture vs. nature, nurture wins this out. Pit Bulls are naturally strong animals therefore people abuse them and create all the misconceptions that are out there.
Love them, cute photos! It is all in how they are raised. I hate breed specific legislation and the myths about these guys. I can pick a few popular breeds that are much nastier than most pits I've met.
Everyone's Pits are SO darn cute!!!!
We have a mixed Pit and FI always just tell people that she's a mutt which she is but she's a Pit Bull mixed with god only know what else.
The bad rep Pit Bulls get just infuriates me so much.
We know so many people with dogs and honestly our Pit is the sweetest most good natured one out of all of them. We've had her since 10 weeks old and we trained her to not be aggressive. When she was a pup she was def very nippy when we rid her of that really fast. We always play with her and test her to try and get her really mad and she never ever bites down. FI will play with her really rough for a good 10 minutes and she likes to open her mouth (and her mouth gets big!) to play and he will at the end when she's really riled up put his arm into her mouth and she will always just lick it.
And yes she has a VERY strong jaw. When we play tug of war she will win about 50% of the time. But whenever we tell her to leave it, she will.
We are 90% convinced that when we have kids she will be their protector.
Everyone thinks Shelties are sweet good natured dogs right? FI's parents have 3. 1 of them has bit me in the butt. His mother keeps her around because nobody else wanted that dog and they have no kids around. But I'm sorry. When we have kids I have to seriously think if I will bring a kid around that dog. And the other one is extremely aggressive when other people come near his rawhide or when he's just in a stinky mood.
Our Pit is always loving, she's such a cuddly dog and always want to be near us.
Adn yes at the end of the day a dog is still an animal and you can't predict what they can do. Just like a human. You cant' predict what a human can do. The difference is that a human can talk ot you.
It's all about the crappy a$$ ignorant owners that should frankly suffer in hell for treating Pit Bulls or any dog for that matter the way they do.
I've met some really sweet pits and some really nasty ones. I think the thing to remember is that most dogs are very sweet with their owners, but dogs like pits (and rotties and dobermans) have a protective instinct that always has the possibility to take over. There is a reason people specifically pick the breed for protection. They probably aren't going to do anything to their owner but snuggle, but I still wouldn't just walk into a yard with one out front and assume it won't attack me.
I think it's always smart to be a little fearful of any dog you don't know.
I voted that they scare me but to be honest so does every dog taller than my knees. Growing up I was never fond of large dogs which is ironic being that our poochie is a lab/rottie. A lab on steroids which is how we like to describe him. Unfortunately, since he is part Rottie sometimes we have to leave that out of the description for apartments and such or they wouldn't allow him in even though he has the personality of a lab. One documentation that can back us up is that the vet has him as a straight lab.
I agree with the others though. Pits have such a bad rap and it is all because of the select group of people that raise them incorrectly and treat them horribly. I have known plenty of Pit owners whose dogs were very well behaved and lived well with a growing family. I wish we were able to stop treating this breed like crap.
Like others, I've seen good ones, I've seen bad ones.. and like everyone said, it's in the training, etc. I had a friend that had a part pit that attacked their daughter and even the shelters wouldn't take her when they decided that they had to get rid of her (the dog, not the daughter).
I also work for a rescue organization that brings up dogs from mexico for adoption and I've seen several wonderful pits come through the organization. I just transported one and he was the sweetest, most loving dog and if I was able to adopt, he would so have been the one I took home myself. But very high strung and I can see how frustration could lead to aggression with one such as him.
@wulfin,
I def agree with the very high strung.
I think sometimes too it lies in the organization (be it local shelter, SPCA or rescue group) to inform the adopter of the breed's traits.
When we did our first meet and greet with our pup. The girl we sat with at our local SPCA told us many times over and over that our pup because of her breed will need a lot of training. She will be very nippy. Very high strung. Will need a lot of discipline. She wanted to make sure we were up for it. And I am forever grateful that she took her volunteer job seriously enough to tell potential adopters that.
Sometimes too it's about pairing the right dog with the right owners. Not automatically letting someone adopt a dog just because they find the dog oh so cute as a puppy.
I have a pit/american bull dog mix, and she is the sweetest thing in the world! People have misconceptions about her, but once they get to know her they fall in love with her too. She's larger than an average pit due to the bull dog, so its even worse with her sometimes. I will always and forver have a bully in my life, they are so loyal and gentle. She has been around my niece and nephews since they were born, and she is so good with them. THey can do whatever they want to her, she doesn't care, as long as they don't mind getting face kisses 
here's my girl taking a nap after a long day of, well napping
I didn't vote because I have good stories and bad stories, working at an animal shelter that doesn't accept pitts (none of the people who want them around here are the people we would want to have them, so they end up staying there forever so we can't take them)... But we do have shelters within driving distance who do take pitbulls and we gladly try to help the owners as much as we can...
But just to show that nurture doesn't always win, breeding has ALOT to do with it as well... One woman called in, she was pregnant and her two year old pitt that they had raised since he was a really little puppy was starting to act out agressively to her husband and now her, and has broken out of his "bedroom" in the garage and chased a few people down the street... They also have a female pitt whom they also raised as from a very little puppy, they were raised the same exact way and she was an angel, nothing wrong got along with all of them just fine... Granted the male wasn't fixed so that was probably a big part of her problem (I advised her to get him fixed and get him in training), but they are now afraid of him and have to keep him chained up in their garage at night because they are afraid he will get out and hurt someone.
But I agree with good breeding and raised correctly (and getting them fixed) they can be amazing dogs.
Then there are the amazing dogs who are the exception to every rule. We had a dog come through our shelter, when he first got to us he was skin and bones, his head and eyes were swollen and he was maybe two days away from death. We couldn't let him leave, when you petted him (even in his horrific state) his tail would wag, we could NOT let him walk out of our shelter to die... We took him, even though he looks like he is a pitt mix. Well after months of rehabbing him back to health and figuring out his personality, he is not at all agressive (we were seriously concerned about food agression after being starved) got along well with all other dogs and even cats. He doesn't look completely pitt, we say he is a Boxer/Bull dog mix, he may even have some great dane in him... But he plays just like a boxer so who knows. A boyfriend of a girl I work with ended up falling in love with him and adopting him.
Sam before:
Sam After:
I'm so glad to see so many positive pibble stories here. I know first-hand how many people have misperceptions about the breed - I have two beautiful pibbles myself and they are the loves of my life. I would do anything to make sure that they are well taken care of, and we try hard to make them ambassadors of their breed.
The fact that many of the dogs siezed from Michael Vick's ranch were rehabilitated and re-homed speaks volumes. These dogs are eager to please and are excellent companions for the right owner. They're not the dog for someone who wants an accessory. They should not be trained to be violent or "guard dogs." I feel like I'm supposed to be my dog's protector, not the other way around. And they're not the right dog for someone who doesn't want to work hard at being a good dog owner. When it comes to dogs, pit bulls can be like unruly teenagers. You have to work with them.
I've never had one, but I think they're gorgeous dogs, and they're so sweet! My FI and I would looooove to have one, but we live in an apartment complex (and even when we leave here, will still be renting for a while) and there are almost NO landlords that will allow you to have one.
i have an american pit, and she is the sweetest, most loving dog i could have ever hoped for. she was a rescue, but was only about 7 months old when we got her. the problems associated with pit bulls relates back to how they are raised and the environment they live in - which only gets worse when you take into consideration how strong-willed and smart they are.
it's easy to see how they can be turned into something dangerous - they are incredible strong and fiercely loyal. however, breed restrictions and higher home-owner rates are ridiculous! i think its funny that when we go out for walks there are always smaller dogs barking, snapping and snarling at her, and she just keeps walking and doesn't become agressive.
PP mentioned that she worked with a vet and that the smaller dogs were normally the more agressive and snappy from training issues - i 100% agree. where i am extra cautious with my dog because i know how strong she is and what she is capable of, it seems that the smaller dogs are allowed to run and bite because theyre "so cute" - honestly, i would be more willing to let a child play with my dog than with some of the smaller "nicer" dogs that are running around
I think it is a complicated issue. I have absolutely nothing against pit bulls as a breed, and actually think they're very cute (especially with natural ears... for the love of god stop the docking people). I also think breed restrictions are total BS.
As for if they scare me? Yea sometimes. Not because I think they're inherently bad but because bad people tend to adopt them and mistreat them. Which means its more likely a pit bull will be dangerous to me than a lab... because (in this area at least) labs are rarely trained to fight. If I saw a pit bull walking alone I'd be a little scared of it, because the kind of owner that lets its dog roam alone is more likely to be the kind of owner who mistreats the dog. If I saw a pit bull with a person though, honestly I'd look to the person to determine if i should be scared of the dog. If I see a put-together guy or girl with the dog who looks like they're treating it right I'm not scared at all. If I see some thug-ass walking down the street with his ass hanging out of his boxers and the pit bull on a chain, i'm probably going to be concerned.
I am a huge animal lover and although I dont have a pit bull I have several friends that do and I completely agree that it is all about the way you raise an animal. Dogs feel offer their owners energy not just the things they say and what not. If you act like you are scared around your dog bc you are fearful of it, it thinks it needs to protect you bc you are scared. I have a boxer and a doberman and both are just over sized, extremely lovey puppies (heck my dobie thinks she is a lap dog) but I was really surprised to see the reaction people have against my dobie bc they are 'junk yard dogs' and they are, however, excellent protectors of my family but thats what I want out of them. I want them to let me know when someone is coming into the yard and be right beside when I answer the door and its someone I dont know. That doesnt mean I dont and cant control the situation, they just make me feel safer, especially if my daughter is in the backyard playing. People just look at my dobie and label her aggressive and have even called her vicious to my face but they always think my boxer is some giant loving teddy bear (which he is) but if you were a stranger walking into my back yard with my daughter out there, he would do the same thing the dobie would but ppl seriously do not believe me when I tell them this and its all bc of perceptions they got off a movie or TV show.
PS - I love love love the pictures! They make me warm and fuzzy lol Here are mine, even tho they are not pits =)
If I see some thug-ass walking down the street with his ass hanging out of his boxers and the pit bull on a chain, i'm probably going to be concerned.
@ Corgi,
Well put!
THERE ARE NO BAD DOGS-ONLY BAD OWNERS!
I have a 130 pound Rottweiler so people are sometimes scared of her...for about 2 seconds until she rolls on the ground with her belly up! She is a SWEET lady! She has been around through two newborns and I love her.
NOTHING wrong with Pitts, as long as the owner takes the time to love and train them properly! I actually read that more dachsunds attack people every year than Ptts or Rotts....its all perception and the dogs that have owners who treat them badly that make everyone scared :-(
@gerbera- thanks :)
@brasty- i would definitely believe that statistic. The problem is that if a dachsund attacks you, you have maybe at worst a bad laceration that needs medical attention. If a pit attacks you, you could easily die. So the stakes are a bit higher when we're talking about violent pits (or any big dog).
I also wanted to add that I really respect those who do pit rescue... I hate to admit it but I don't have the guts for it. I 100% support and encourage rescue work and adopting from shelters... but it also freaks me out a little. Before I got my dog I worked as a "foster mom" for dogs for a short period of time and I had a large hound/?? mix turn on me and trap me in my bathroom. I did eventually get him caged without getting injured but it was one of the scariest moments of my life. I just don't think that I'd feel comfortable working with large dogs of unknown background. I did get my corgi from a rescue but he's only 30 pounds... i figured, whats the worst he could do to me? I'm glad not everyone is such a wuss like me.
@o0olibelulao0o I MELT!!! He is so cute, but his story breaks my heart. I am so thrilled that he gets the love he deserves now. That poor guy.
@Corgi - HAHAHAHAHAH! LOVE IT!
For all else, I agree that they are misunderstood and it is based on the owners and breeding.
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