Pit Bull family pet Mauls 4 year old in Texas - Page 11

Ramgsd,

Thanks for bring up what the GSD was bred for - Herding - Yes - I do have sheep and Yes - my GSD Kati is working sheep. She also has a CD and we are working on her CDX. Not everyone does Schutzhund or Ringsport witha GSD

As for Pits, it should be a personal choice from responsible dogowners whether or not to have a Pitbull

you are welcome GOOD SHEPHERD. i thought it funny how people here thought just because a breed  wasn't used for it's original purpose anymore how it has no worth. the majority of breeds including the shepherd aren't used for there original purpose anymore but make great pets, sporting dogs... do you have any pics of yours doing their herding work? would love to see them.

ProudShepherdPoppa the American Pitbull Terrier is a recognized breed in the USA. The APBT has beed registered with the United Kennel Club since 1898, and registered with the American Dog Breeders Assoc. since 1909. The UKC puts out BLOODLINES Magazine, and the ADBA puts out the Pitbull Gazette. Both registries hold bench shows, and have standards both regarding appearance as well as temperments. If anyone is interested, the link below is quite informative.

http://www.riospitbull.com/origin_of_apbt.htm

I dont want to argue with anyone, and I hesitated getting involved in this thread. People have their own ideas regarding Pitbulls and nothing posted on a message board is going to change anyone's beliefs. Gameness has nothing to do with aggression. Most all of the Pitbulls that bite humans are not game dogs, or gamebred dogs. There are far too many Pitbulls and the majority are owned by irresponsible people. This Michael Vick situation will just make it worse. The wrong people will now be even more attracted to the Pitbull.  The sad truth is, once a Pitbull that could be trusted with a child was the norm. Now a Pitbull that can be trusted with a child is the Exception.

Can some one tell me if pits are at the top of the list in number of attacks? Are they at the top for fatal attacks?

http://www.chako.org/dogblog/forums/8/ShowForum.aspx

Okay, I GOTTA get my two cents in here. I was a building inspector in some of the worst neighborhoods of the Monongahela River Valley south of Pittsburgh.  Old steel towns which have been deserted by most businesses and have become overrun with section 8 housing and drug lords.  There was very little new construction, mostly condemnation of dilapidated structures.  Although there are still pockets of nicer neighborhoods strewn in, there is crime running rampant.  The dog of choice in these places is the Pit Bull Terrier.  The ones that are used for fighting, if they survive, are bred for aggression and are also used to protect drug territories (they have also been known to use large snakes and occasionally an alligator).  EVERY time there was a crisis at one of these buildings animal control was always on call to remove the dogs before I or the police could enter the structure.  These animals were so neglected, abused and poorly bred to begin with there was nothing anybody could do for them.  They start off badly and usually the end is not good, it's just surprising how little attacks there are considering the number of animals used for these purposes.  I also live very close to a neighborhood where most people can't afford to go but a decent dog (even pay the fees at the pound) so they get a free puppy from Joe dog fighter or Joe drug dealer who lives up the street.  These are NOT the ideal pet and are usually toted off to the pound within a month or two.  My whole point here is that the Pit Bull Terriers in low income neighborhoods HAVE been bred for the most aggression and NOTHING ELSE.  I do not believe these are true representatives of the breed, they are the worst of the worst.  I would be willing to lay money on the fact that even the Pits who are family pets and are well taken care of but end up mauling a child or even an adult have not come from a reputable breeder but from the pound or the friend of a friend of a friend and their background is sketchy at best.  I go to PetSmart and see lots of these morons (from these same neighborhoods, whose child wanted a pet) who know nothing about dogs in general with a Pit PUPPY on the end of a leash, never an adult dog, and it's because they are not kept longer than a couple of months.  THESE are the ones who end up at the pound and some well meaning sucker picks out this "cute little puppy" with no idea of it's history.  99% of the Pit Bulls from the pound have come from these kinds of situations and should probably be euthanized on the spot.  On the other hand, reputable breeders should keep track of where their dogs are going and try a little harder to overcome the hardships caused by cruel, uneducated people out to make an illegal dollar in the slums of the US of A.  These dogs can be loving companions and are really comedians if BRED, CARED FOR and trained PROPERLY.

Okay, so it was more than two cents, I just saw a little more than most people where this all comes from and it's frustrating as hell.

Cindi