Why is the pit bull one of the worst breeds?

1. 48

   bekahthomasposted 12 years ago

   Why is the pit bull one of the worst breeds?
   
   I find your article about the best and worst dog temperaments TOTALLY inaccurate! Do your research on pits! Number one dogs in America and they have a better temperament than most dogs Says highly educated studies done by top colleges around the world! Many famous figures of our past either owed a pit bull or they were a pit bull! Look up Stubby the pit bull.  And if pits were such bad dogs then why are they used as service dogs for physical and mental handicapped people! oh and pits have a fully functional Nervous system THUS beings their pain threshold is the same as other dogs!your ignorant

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2. 58

   BrilliantlyDullposted 12 years ago

   Trouble is, Daxman, that "pit bull" isn't even a dog breed.
   
   There's the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Pit Bull Terrier, the Bull Terrier, and various other breeds that are either logically or illogically dubbed the pit bulll. For example, people who aren't experienced with dogs (or even someone who is, but who's upset or confused after a dog attack) could easily mistake a Boxer, American Bulldog, Mastiff, or Labrador for a Pit Bull.
   
   It isn't very surprising to me that "pit bulls" have bit the most people, especially when I consider that I read about someone whose pug - yes, a pug - was assumed to be a pit bull.
   
   (I'm not experienced enough with dogs to respond to your other arguments, though; I just wanted to throw that out.)

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3. 62

   DailyDriveposted 12 years ago

   Cesar Milan, the internationally acclaimed 'Dog Whisperer," put it best:
   
   "My kids are around pit bulls every day. In the '70s they blamed Dobermans, in the '80s they blamed German shepherds, in the '90s they blamed the Rottweiler. Now they blame the pit bull. When will they start blaming the people?"
   
   - Cesar Milan
   
   I have known a large number of "pit bulls" who were kinder, gentler, and better trained than many labs or golden retrievers.  Obedience training is necessary for this breed, as it is for all dogs. Any breed can be a "good canine citizen" if the people are willing to educate themselves regarding the needs and tendencies of whatever breed they bring into their lives.

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4. 60

   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 12 years ago

   I disagree that pit bulls are one of the "worst" breeds. I do not like to see any breed stereotyped. As for Dr. Lachman, he is a psychologist, not a veterinarian, and I do not believe all of his ideas are well founded.
   
   Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia wrote, "The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."
   
   In regard to claims of massive 1200 P.S.I., 1500 P.S.I., 1800 P.S.I. jaw strength he says, "To the best of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would allow any meaningful comparision to be made of the biting power of various breeds of dogs.  There are, moreover, compelling technical reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of 'pounds per square inch' can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no foundation in factual data."
   
   Many organizations are against breed specific legislation, including that which targets pit bulls, including the National Animal Control Association, Association of Pet Dog Trainers, American Kennel Club, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
   
   In a 2011 study conducted in Spain and published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior the researchers found that the larger the dog, the less likely it was to behave aggressively and that breeds typically identified as "dangerous" were no more likely to be aggressive than those not identified as dangerous.
   
   In a study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania a few years ago the dachshund was the most aggressive dog, followed by the Chihuahua and the Jack Russell Terrier. While a Dachsund may do less damage than a larger dog, small dogs can still cause fatal injuries to babies and small children and they are probably more likely to bite, according to the Spain study.

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