Yet again. When are people going to learn?

[Reservoir_Dog]

This breed needs to be eliminated. Period.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/pregnant-san-f ... 34927.html

[Pudfark]

Been saying that for 25 years...
Been doing it since...

[callmeslick]

I disagree. It isn't the breed, it is the owners. Certain owners raise these animals to be vicious, but I can think of dozens, at the least, that I have encountered who were docile, obedient dogs their entire lives.

[Reservoir_Dog]

I disagree. It isn't the breed, it is the owners. Certain owners raise these animals to be vicious, but I can think of dozens, at the least, that I have encountered who were docile, obedient dogs their entire lives.

Yeah. You always hear that. After a Pit kills someone there's always a bunch of people standing around saying, "You know, I just don't understand it. It was always such a docile, obedient dog. Right up until it tore Fred's throat out. I just don't understand it".
It's the breed. Pits have an inherent ability to simply "snap". Something in their brain goes click....and a human dies. It's inside them. It's in their DNA. And they all have it.
Sure, there's a huge number of Pits that live out their lives and never come close to attacking a human. But that doesn't mean that each and every one of those dogs doesn't possess that same switch inside their brain. They ALL have it. They are ALL potential killers. Some switches just never get thrown. Some do.
You simply don't see this overall ability to "snap" in other dog breeds. It's singular to Pit Bulls. It's in their genes.
Every single living Pit Bull is a time bomb that can go off at any second if it's particular switch gets thrown. Regardless of how docile or obedient that dog may be, if it's switch gets thrown, someone dies.
It's the breed.

[Pudfark]

Exactly.....R_D.

[callmeslick]

Exactly wrong, RD. Other breeds can, and do, 'snap', in exactly the same way. Now, of course, due to the jaw strength of the breed, and overall size, is a Pit Bull liable to do more damage than, say, a Maltese? Of course. But, a quick search will find adequate examples of attacks and serious injuries caused by most any middle to large breed you can name, from Rottwielers and Dobies(which would be predictable) to supposedly docile breeds such as Collies or Standard Poodles. It is training, and knowing the characteristics of the breed you own. Few owners bother, with any breed.

[Pudfark]

Responsible people and I strongly emphasize responsible.
That own Pit bull dogs...know the blood lines...the history...the proclivities of the breed,
as a general rule...have few, if any problems.

However, dipshits, that own them have a record as well... Where I worked for years?
It was the ghetto status symbol. Replete, with the problems the breed is known to cause.

If my memory serves me correctly, I believe there were/are seven breeds of dogs, if owned, your
homeowners insurance will not cover or if they do? A larger premium is charged. A pit bull is among
them.

In all of my years of work, I have never observed any breed of dog, tear up, maim and cripple a human
being...as the pit bull does...and if it "snaps", will. One irresponsible person owning this breed of dog?
Is one to many in my experience.

I live out in the country...I have two Pomeranian's..."Trouble" & "Osso"...When, the wife and I, take them for a walk....I am armed, to protect my dogs...from dipshits and their dogs...

[callmeslick]

essentially, Pud, you reinforce my point. It's the owners, and to my mind, the owners of these dogs should be held criminally responsible for any harm done. Essentially, some of these fools are leaving a weapon around unguarded.

As for the Pomerainians, you have a smaller cousin of our preferred breed, American Eskimos. In either case, neither of us owns what could be called a manly dog. And, I suspect, neither of us feels overly insecure due to that fact.