Pitbull owners should be held to stricter standards
92- lrohner
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Took my 3 doggies (a mini doxie and two chihuahuas) to the dog park this afternoon for their 4th of July celebration. Was there for about an hour with all of the dogs (about 30 of them, big and small) having a great time. Then the pitbulls started coming. One pit came in through the gate with his owner, saw me and started running. He sped about 100 yards to me, jumped on me and knocked me over. The stupid owner was yelling for the dog, but obviously had no control. Over the course of the next half an hour, about 10 more pits came to the park. Out of all the pit owners there, I would say that only 3 of them had any control over their pitbulls at all, and dogfights were erupting right and left.
I have nothing against pitbulls (although quite frankly, they terrify me), but these owners are just nuts. We know pits are very strong animals, so why don't they have some measures in place to ensure that only people who know how to handle them can own them?
95- Mrvoodoo
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I think that those who don't like dogs in general would say the same of all dog owners, pitbull or not.
I previously worked with an autistic guy that was terrified of all dogs, but he liked to go for walks on the beach. The amount of times he'd be scared senseless when somebody's dog came bounding over while it's owner (several hundred meters back) stood waving and smiling, and calling out to a dog they blatantly had no control over.
Personally I love dogs, but I was been bitten by one when I was a child, by exactly the sort of dog that owners allow to run up to small children, whilst they say 'oh don't worry, he doesn't bite!'
94- Eaglekiwi
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Yep like they should not be allowed to breed ,like in some other countries!
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- lrohner
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Mrvoodoo wrote:
I think that those who don't like dogs in general would say the same of all dog owners, pitbull or not.
I previously worked with an autistic guy that was terrified of all dogs, but he liked to go for walks on the beach. The amount of times he'd be scared senseless when somebody's dog came bounding over while it's owner (several hundred meters back) stood waving and smiling, and calling out to a dog they blatantly had no control over.
Personally I love dogs, but I was been bitten by one when I was a child, by exactly the sort of dog that owners allow to run up to small children, whilst they say 'oh don't worry, he doesn't bite!'Very much agreed. And so sad for the autistic fellow.
But there would be a world of difference between my 4 lb. teacup chihuahua biting someone and a fully grown pitbull. - 92
- lrohner
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Eaglekiwi wrote:
Yep like they should not be allowed to breed ,like in some other countries!
The pitbulls, or the owners?
98- SweetiePie
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From past experiences I have learned that the dog owners usually determine how the dogs behave. I was always too scared to go anywhere with too many dogs because my Siberian Husky used to pull on the lead too hard in those situations. Personally I would just take my dogs for a walk and avoid the dog parks, or try to go at times of day when there are less people.
84- tksensei
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Some people swear by them, but I think they are a very bad choice in pet.
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- lrohner
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tksensei wrote:
Some people swear by them, but I think they are a very bad choice in pet.
Ya think?
95- Beth100
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Pets are a reflection of their owners. Any dog whether large, small, purebred or mixed, can be a nuisance if it has not had the proper training from the beginnings as a puppy. I breed Rottweilers and have never had any problems with my dogs simply because I train them to be obedient to me, without any excuses. I am alpha. Period.
Any dog breed and size can become aggressive, dangerous, disobedient and unruly if the owner is not willing to learn how to be the alpha dog, whether through self education or obedience classes. I have had run ins with small dogs who are more dangerous than large breed dogs.
It is not the breed or the dog that causes the problem. It is the responsibility of the owner and it is his fault if he has a disobedient dog.
The only law that should be enforced is that with every puppy/dog purchased, the owner MUST attend obedience classes with their pet and pass the grade.- 94
- Eaglekiwi
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lrohner wrote:
Eaglekiwi wrote:
Yep like they should not be allowed to breed ,like in some other countries!
The pitbulls, or the owners?
lol,juries still out
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- Eaglekiwi
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lrohner wrote:
Mrvoodoo wrote:
I think that those who don't like dogs in general would say the same of all dog owners, pitbull or not.
I previously worked with an autistic guy that was terrified of all dogs, but he liked to go for walks on the beach. The amount of times he'd be scared senseless when somebody's dog came bounding over while it's owner (several hundred meters back) stood waving and smiling, and calling out to a dog they blatantly had no control over.
Personally I love dogs, but I was been bitten by one when I was a child, by exactly the sort of dog that owners allow to run up to small children, whilst they say 'oh don't worry, he doesn't bite!'Very much agreed. And so sad for the autistic fellow.
But there would be a world of difference between my 4 lb. teacup chihuahua biting someone and a fully grown pitbull.No actually thats not true for me, I do like dogs alot and I do not say that about every breed.
I have owned dogs.
But the American Pitbull Terrier is on the banned list of dogs not allowed to be imported in New Zealand,and I am sure that is not the only dog nor the only country.
The Pitbulls already there are not allowed to be bred.
They just have had too many incidences where they mamed children or were a risk to the public.(despite having good owners)
They are favoured by gangs because of their aggressive natures, and natural strength.
So imagine how much more dangerous they become defending their patch, once trained. - 84
- tksensei
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Beth100 wrote:
Any dog breed and size can become aggressive, dangerous, disobedient and unruly if the owner is not willing to learn how to be the alpha dog, whether through self education or obedience classes. I have had run ins with small dogs who are more dangerous than large breed dogs.
It is not the breed or the dog that causes the problem. It is the responsibility of the owner and it is his fault if he has a disobedient dog.It's both, but the fact is that some breeds are more capable and likely to harm humans. That is an important distinction no matter how it is argued.
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- lrohner
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tksensei wrote:
It's both, but the fact is that some breeds are more capable and likely to harm humans. That is an important distinction no matter how it is argued.How true. I have to admit that if I was about to be attacked by a dog, I would rather it be a Rottie or Shephard than a Pitbull. At least I would know I had a chance.
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- Beth100
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tksensei wrote:
Beth100 wrote:
Any dog breed and size can become aggressive, dangerous, disobedient and unruly if the owner is not willing to learn how to be the alpha dog, whether through self education or obedience classes. I have had run ins with small dogs who are more dangerous than large breed dogs.
It is not the breed or the dog that causes the problem. It is the responsibility of the owner and it is his fault if he has a disobedient dog.It's both, but the fact is that some breeds are more capable and likely to harm humans. That is an important distinction no matter how it is argued.
They are more capable because the chosen traits of agression and size has been bred into them. We also have to remember the roots of the dog: they are descendents of wild wolves that humans have tamed. Therefore, they are genetically speaking, going to retain the wildness in them no matter how we tame, treat, or teach them. This leads to the question of whether or not wild animals can be domesticated to extent that they are harmless to humans.
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- tksensei
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Dogs and humans have had a cooperative relationship with each other for tens of thousands of years. That's why there is a unique type and degree of communication between the species. We have 'evolved' together - if you will. Now, animals are animals, and it is pretty obvious that humans are the more violent, aggressive, and unpredictable of the two, but the fact remains that some breeds of dog are more potentially dangerous to humans than others. There is no reason a human gets a dog as a pet that cannot be better and more safely met with another breed than pitbull. Dogs do nothing inherently 'wrong' by following their nature, but humans very often do.
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- lrohner
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tksensei wrote:
Dogs and humans have had a cooperative relationship with each other for tens of thousands of years. That's why there is a unique type and degree of communication between the species. We have 'evolved' together - if you will. Now, animals are animals, and it is pretty obvious that humans are the more violent, aggressive, and unpredictable of the two, but the fact remains that some breeds of dog are more potentially dangerous to humans than others. There is no reason a human gets a dog as a pet that cannot be better and more safely met with another breed than pitbull. Dogs do nothing inherently 'wrong' by following their nature, but humans very often do.
Very well put, TK. Most of the time when folks are looking to get a dog, they research the different breeds and pick the one best suited for their lifestyle. Like I would love to own a border collie, but it needs more exercise than I would be able to give it. Or if I lived on a farm, I probably wouldn't own an Akita. Bottom line, what is it that makes people want to go out and get a pitbull???
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- tksensei
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lrohner wrote:
Very well put, TK. Most of the time when folks are looking to get a dog, they research the different breeds and pick the one best suited for their lifestyle. Like I would love to own a border collie, but it needs more exercise than I would be able to give it. Or if I lived on a farm, I probably wouldn't own an Akita. Bottom line, what is it that makes people want to go out and get a pitbull???Some people love the breed, some want to look 'tough' (one of the worse reasons for doing anything), some fight them for 'fun' and profit (a special place in hell for them), and some are literally guarding a drug business. Very little good can come from any of them.
Why does responsibility have to depend on breed? If your dog is disruptive and hurts others, then you should be held responsible. If your dog is well-behaved, then taking it out in public should be okay.
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- tksensei
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Aya Katz wrote:
Why does responsibility have to depend on breed?
For the same reason there are laws controlling automatic weapons and not pointy sticks.
tksensei wrote:
Aya Katz wrote:
Why does responsibility have to depend on breed?
For the same reason there are laws controlling automatic weapons and not pointy sticks.
I don't support such laws. If you get killed by a pointy stick, are you an less dead?
