Comments on: Yet another Pit Bull ban

By: Pookie

Pookie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:46:59 +0000

Hey look someone who can be civil!

By: The Dog Lady

The Dog Lady — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:50:16 +0000

Well-said, Robert!

By: Robert Worrall

Robert Worrall — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:50:34 +0000

I have always been an advocate of the owner dictating the dog. In the UK every couple of years a child is savaged by a pit bull or pit bull mix. In all the instances I remember the dogs have been owned by people that do not know how to look after a dog. They see them as a status symbol for their tough reputation. They keep them separated, hit them and in one instance train them to fight. I have never heard of an instance of a well brought up dog savaging any one.

That is not to say I treat them anthropomorphically, Beth is right they are not human and should not be treated as such. But I trust my dog as much as an old friend with certain limitations (I could not ask him to watch the dinner, he would just let me down). There are also plenty of humans with aggressive traits and as long as we understand the limits to allowable trust, then instances where they let us down are reduced.

As for banning pit bulls. People who previously raised violent pit bulls would raise say violent German Shepards. So do we licence these animals? Who would pay the cost of policing this service? The answers are not clear. I do believe that a licensing system is nearer to the answer. The UK did have such a system but it was abandoned over 20 years ago. Policing of this system would allow animals at risk to be removed from their environment. I am unsure what could be done with them if they are too much of a risk to re-homed and I would not advocate large number of animals being destroyed.

That is enough of me ranting… what do you think?

By: The Dog Lady

The Dog Lady — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:09:35 +0000

OK, Alex. I just figured out you were talking about the commenter, not about me. I still don’t agree with the bashing, but I take back the evil thoughts I was having about you.

By: Pookie

Pookie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:07:59 +0000

Excuse me, I never said I agreed with Beth and I definitely don’t think Pits should be banned anywhere (A direct quote from my comment up above: “I entirely disagree with the bans”) I also said that any issue you MIGHT come across owning a Pit can be dealt with with “reasonable ease” (from a later comment I made). I worked in a rescue shelter and 90% of our dogs were Pits, the ones with unfortunate backgrounds, and they were all the sweetest dogs you’d ever meet. If you kept up with this blog you’d know that I am always right there defending the breed. I’d also like to clarify that I was defending Beth the Dog Lady because I didn’t see that the person who commented above was ALSO named Beth. And I don’t think you actually sat down and read what I said thoroughly because there is no way I condoned anything commenter Beth said and I actually agreed with Beth the Dog Lady in saying “dominant traits of aggression” don’t really have a clear meaning.
And Gail, read what I said about the number of pits: there are 2.5 times more pits than people in the US so I’m sorry yours had issues, but the fact that only a few are like that relative to the total Pit populous isn’t surprising. I don’t understand how ONE bad experience is enough to destroy an entire breed in your eyes.
Breed biases are like racism, one bad experience with a race turning you against that race is wrong, and it’s the same with dogs,

By: The Dog Lady

The Dog Lady — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:43:29 +0000

Wow! Such venom! Did you actually read the article Alex? I am not advocating any such thing! I am simply reporting the news that the Marine Corps has banned aggressive breeds at some of its bases. I hope when you calm down you will read the entire article and reconsider your opinion of both me and Pookie.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:38:26 +0000

All I’ve got to say is this: Who the fuck is this cunt Beth to think that we should ban an entire breed. And who the hell is this Pookie to defend her as a PB lover, even though she CLEARLY stated they should be banned nationwide. You people need to be FIXED.

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:26:18 +0000

I want all of you pitbull advocates to get mauled by a pitbull like I did, by a dog who was raised in the most loving environment – then you can say whatever you want, pro or con……my physical scars will fade; but the emotional ones – probably never. So stupid to proliferate a breed that is so deadly – I don’t care what you say……

By: Pookie

Pookie — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:03:52 +0000

Another breed I’ve heard of issues with is German Shepherds. Well I work with dogs and where I work we have a trio that comes in, two German Shepherds and a weenie dog. The weenie dog is dominant and the size of a paw of the Shepherds. When you walk up to their gate the weenie dog sticks her head under and licks your feet while the Shepherds jump up and lick your face. So what’s the issue? I was attacked by a Shepherd as a small child, as I remember it, but I was 8, but a few years later I saw a Shultzhund demonstration and understand better now dog “aggression” and psychology and it is rare to find a dog that intimidates me these days. I think that if people knew or understood half of what they think they know and understand we would not have the controversy we have now.
Idlehands brings up an excellent point that many people are unaware of or overlook, that pit bulls are terriers. The owner of any terrier will agree that they tend to have quite an edge of stubbornness, if not tenacity, not that it cannot be dealt with effectively and with reasonable ease.

By: Idlehands

Idlehands — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:04:16 +0000

From I was a kid I have always had a bull terrier of some kind. I had a big red pit bull terrier and he was quite placid, good with the kids, and quite clever. At about 50Lb he was a big boy too.
I had a couple of English bull terriers they were saints, Very placid too, but not much affection showed they always kept up their decorum, and could dismiss any potential problem with a look and a snort. They shared with a mini weener dog and he was the boss. I didn’t have these guys from pup, I looked after them for a lady when her husband died. They were probably about 8 years old when I got them, and to be honest I reckon the weener kept them right.
What I have noticed or think I have noticed over this past 30 years or so is that there are combinations of breed that don’t mix well. For example a jack russell terrier living with a staffordshire is probably about the worst combination you can get. The little russell is almost always a dominant aggressive little tearaway , and the staffy is happy to have someone else be dominant and follow along regardless..
Pit bulls are terriers and have to be handled as terriers, they don’t have much reasoning ability beyond instinct or habit and although they are quick to learn and obedient, without consistant proper handling they are quick to forget too.
Those snow dogs and husky types frighten the shit out of me.