Dangerous Breed Bans - Where do you stand?

[Athena]

As the owner of a dangerous breed, I am solidly against such bans. My dog is well trained, well-supervised and part of my family. I should not be forced to move or give her away simply because other people were irresponsible with their dogs.

Group calls for pit bull ban after West Seattle attack

http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/newslink/thumbnail/www.king5.com/088/ki_022108pitbullattack5_10_7138-t240.jpg

05:39 PM PST on Thursday, February 21, 2008

By LINDA BRILL / KING 5 News

Pit bull attack leaves girl with facial wounds SEATTLE - A pit bull attack in Seattle has left a girl with serious facial wounds, and rekindled the debate over dangerous dogs in the city.

The pit bull, now locked up at the Seattle Animal Shelter, attacked 9-year-old Maysia Smith-Moore, ripping off part of her lip. It happened Monday in a West Seattle backyard.

The dog's owner left Cain with relatives. When Maysia - who is also part of the family - walked next door, Cain got loose and attacked.

"When she ran to me she was holding her mouth and blood was everywhere," said Cheryl Moore, Maysia's aunt.

In Seattle, it's a misdemeanor to own a dangerous dog. Families against Fighting Breeds wants more bite in the law. They're calling for a ban on pit bulls, with mandatory sterilization and restrictions on new pit bull licenses.

"The real concept behind a fighting breed ban it to stop an attack before it happens," said Colleen Lynn, of Families Against Fighting Breeds.

But, many believe banning specific breeds is not the solution.

"All it does is cause impounding of innocent dogs," said Glen Bui, of the American Canine Foundation. "It's doing nothing to target the owners."

Because it was within the family, it's unlikely the prosecutor will press charges.

The dog's fate is in the hands of Animal Control, and they are seriously considering putting him down.

The overwhelming majority of dog bites in Seattle are from pit bull or pit bull mixes. Second to pit bulls are Labrador retrievers, according to Seattle Animal Control office statistics.

------------

Things happen when you allow an animal into your home. People should exercise personal responsibility for their animals.

[swivel]

I own a Pitt Bull. It is the sweetest dog I've ever been around. Well-trained and all that. But, even though the dog sleeps all day, it is a very strong beast. She does not feel pain. And it is for these traits that the breed is chosen by people who want to create a fierce animal.

I liken all breeds to knives. Most of them are dull. A few breeds are razor-sharp. It is still up to the owner of the knife to decide what they want to do with it, but the knife has properties that lend it to doing certain things very well.

I actually have a pretty extreme view of dog-ownership. I don't think just anyone should be able to own a dog. Just as I don't think anybody should be able to own an aligator, or a lion. The latter, because you have to know what you are doing as an owner and a trainer. The former, because you have to know what you are doing as an owner and a trainer.

There are too many dogs. Too many dog-owners. And the vast majority don't know how to own a dog. That you can not treat them like little humans. They prefer to be told what to do, and get anxious when you give them freedoms and choices, the opposite of adult humans. For this reason, I would support a massive cut-back in the number of dogs. I would get rid of the obsession with breeds, which does harm to the health of animals, and you would need to get a license to own a dog, just as you need one to get a gun.

Frankly, I think it is bizarre to realize, all of a sudden, that I have a large mammal living in my house with me. Think about how crazy that is.

[taintfutcha]

i have always had staffordshire terriers and labs. bar none-staffs are the best dogs ever. nothing but loving pets of the most forgiving nature-easier to keep and train than a lab-and that's saying something.

when my last staff passed and with the new bullshit about pitbulls etc-we got a boxer. lovely dog. but i miss my staffs. they have so much of everything i look for in a dog; athleticism, joyful nature, ease of training, ease of care. damn sad the breed took a turn for being bred for even more aggression and sold to asshats who don't know the first thing about dogs let alone big dogs intended for hunting large game.

the big block breeding should be better managed and reputable breeders encouraged heartily to notify authorities about faulty breeding and selling practices.

i am a militant type when it comes to people owning pets in general. any large breed can kill a human easily. a labrador skull next to a black bear skull shows there isnt much difference in the ammunition dept.. people who treat dogs as if they are people, bug me out. dogs are dogs and need to know their place in the pack. any dog not respecting humans as their dominant entity, can and probably will become a "problem".

it is very unfortunate that foolish owners have let pitbulls make a bad name.

there are just as many asshole chow, akita, alsation etc. owners-

as all of us bull type lovers always say-tis the lackey owner at fault-not the dog.

having said all that; some little dogs scare the shite outa me-hahahha-

some jack russells will rearrange your face without a second thought.

i'm usually against any law telling me what i can and can't do-if i wasnt married to a fretful lawyer-i'd probably still have staffs.

[Rotten Apple]

I think an outright ban is wrong.

However, because the breed is abused so much, I think that maybe some way to keep track of the animals should be implemented. These dogs are very attractive to the criminal element. It is unfortunate, but you can not guarantee that everyone will be a responsible owner and how many children's lives are we willing to put at risk?

My sister raises pits. She had two that she loved very dearly. They were raised as family pets, inside the house with her young daughter. They had all the traits desirable for that breed. Beautiful, but intimidating looking animals.

One day, they were stolen. She cried like a family member had died. She never got the female back, but when the male was returned, it was obvious that he had been fought. She was forced to put him down because she knew she could not trust him not to hurt someone or another animal.

The wrong person can make the friendliest animal into a vicious one. Two years of hand raising and love were wiped away with one week away from home. It is disgusting.

The breed has had some unfair publicity. I still cringe when ever my daughter plays with the blue pit my sister has now when the dog has never done anything to hint at being aggressive.

My dog on the other hand, is small and has snapped at my daughter more than once. But I still feel she is safer. It doesn't make sense.

Probably because she is so freaking CUTE.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/kapesetsky/Maggiebow2.jpghttp://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/kapesetsky/smMaggieJan07.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/kapesetsky/WitchMaggie.jpg

[ThreeOnAMeathook]

I'm against dangerous breed bans.

Abused/stray pitbulls are the ones that cause the most trouble. What we need is an animal control reform, not an animal control inquisition.

Stricter leash laws, animal rehabilitation, better registration, etc.

I don't know logistics of animal control, but I completely agree with the notion that an outright ban is too much.

[Athena]

Swivel - Did you purposely obtain a pit, or just happen upon one?

When I went to get a dog, I knew I wanted a working breed and thought I'd hit up the pound. That's where I found Elke ("Angel", at that time), my Rott/G. Shepherd mix. She was 9 months. Now, she's going on 5. She was easy to train and is very obediant and quite intelligent. I couldn't have asked for a better dog. She's well cared for; because of breed restrictions at my apartment, she has to stay with the ex, but I get "visitation".

She's well-socialised, great with people and children, even tolerates cats. That being said, she's a killer and is treated as such. People get too comfortable with their pets, and that's when they become lawsuits on four legs.

Little dogs have to be pretty exceptional to be okay in my book. I have a scar on my face from a bite from a terrier when I was 2; perhaps that contributes to my general distain for anything under 40 lbs. Either way, many of them bark entirely too much (my dog only barks when warranted) and aren't good for anything (my dog carries her own supplies when we go camping). Of course, there are always exceptions to that rule.

[swivel]

Athena, I guess you could say I "stumbled" on her. I married her owner when she was just about a year old. She has become "my" dog (our dog, but she has really bonded with me since I spend more time at home with her). I've never been so attached to an animal before, and that is saying a lot. I've always had animals and pets ever since I can remember.

This dog is just a treasure. Click on the bars above the pics for a bigger photo.

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2036/dscn1266ne8.jpg

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4443/dscn1347na6.jpg

[taintfutcha]

la-she very closely resembles my favorite dog of all time-taken from me too early in her life. even the same collar-which i still have hanging on a nail. if she loves you, there must be merit somewhere.

she is beautiful

[Athena]

Wow. VERY attractive dog. How old is she, now?

[swivel]

la-she very closely resembles my favorite dog of all time-taken from me too early in her life. even the same collar-which i still have hanging on a nail. if she loves you, there must be merit somewhere.

she is beautiful

I am sad for your loss. Truly.

I wish you could spend some time with my dog. Everywhere we go, people just marvel at how well-behaved and lovable she is. She goes into Lowes with me, into my local comicbook store, and when I am back at my original hometown, she sits in the local coffeeshop and chills with me all day long. Her favorite thing is to go on rides with me in the pickup, spotting for cattle, and laying her head in my lap when she gets tired of the wind flapping her cheeks.

I think all the time about how hard it is going to be when she dies. But I keep that in mind so I can really cherish her while she is around. And my wife and I will name our boat after her, and go traveling around the world and never forget her.


Edit: Athena, she is almost 7.

[taintfutcha]

I am sad for your loss. Truly.

I wish you could spend some time with my dog. Everywhere we go, people just marvel at how well-behaved and lovable she is. She goes into Lowes with me, into my local comicbook store, and when I am back at my original hometown, she sits in the local coffeeshop and chills with me all day long. Her favorite thing is to go on rides with me in the pickup, spotting for cattle, and laying her head in my lap when she gets tired of the wind flapping her cheeks.

I think all the time about how hard it is going to be when she dies. But I keep that in mind so I can really cherish her while she is around. And my wife and I will name our boat after her, and go traveling around the world and never forget her.


Edit: Athena, she is almost 7.

lovely and touching. i usually have 2-3 dogs at any one time because the losing of
one is so crushing and leaves me so vacant-i have sworn never to get another-i must have the pups to comfort and keep me. the dogs always load up in the truck even just to run errands. they are my constant shadows. all of them lap dogs.
i do have to say, the only thing that comes close is having mini ponies. mine come in the house and are so incredibly lovable and kind-visitors are always amazed how well behaved my wee ponies are. useful as well-lovely lawnmowers. cheaper to keep than dogs.
thanks for sharing your beautiful girl

[Athena]

I've devised a plan to get them to accept Elke living with me.

Elke - 120lb Rott/Shepherd (banned by the breed restriction, which names pits, rotts and G. shepherds):

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g168/azulevic/MyPuppy.jpg

An Australian Kelpie (not banned):

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/124757157_50d4eaa908.jpg

I figure, these people are in the apartment business, not the dog business, right? Now, a quick search about the Kelpie will tell you that they max out around 40lbs...But these people might not know...and based just off the markings, they're a dead ringer.

It might just be crazy enough to work.

*Sigh* I'm desperate. Weekends just aren't good enough for me. :(

[TXChris]

Personally, the thought of a "Dangerous Breed Ban" is crazy. It fails from the same arbitrary b.s. that all laws attempting to justify the end results, regardless of the means, comes from; arbitrarity. The word "dangerous" is arbitrary. Sure, one could do studies and find out which dogs are responsible for the most attacks, but that doesn't solve the real problem, which is the attack of dogs to begin with. Swivel's idea of a license seems somewhat reasonable. At least it's a hell of a lot less arbitrary than deciding what dog qualifies as "dangerous." That being said, I've been fortunate to own a German Shepherd and a Rottweiler at previous times in my life. Both were fantastic dogs and never hurt anyone. My latest dog was a Red Heeler named Kyra.

http://a286.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/24/l_9d2ac650a6f5e7f5bfc7b170b4fc6ebd.jpg

For those that does not understand the Heelers, they are very aggressive breed. Though she will not really grow over about 30 lbs. she easily takes out dogs many times her size. They are bred with the sole purpose of working cattle, and they are VERY GOOD at it. They are extremely intelligent and, unfortunately, if not trained properly can be pretty aggressive towards strangers, which actually makes them really good watch dogs also.

[swivel]

Pretty breed. I love cattle dogs. Aussies are one of my favorite breeds. Just too much hair for my liking.

Some of the smartest dogs, though. And loyal to a fault.

[kakihara]

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4443/dscn1347na6.jpg

Holy shit! I never knew!

http://www.solarnavigator.net/images/anthony_hopkins_hannibal_lecter.jpg


My latest dog was a Red Heeler named Kyra.

http://a286.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/24/l_9d2ac650a6f5e7f5bfc7b170b4fc6ebd.jpg

For those that does not understand the Heelers, they are very aggressive breed. Though she will not really grow over about 30 lbs. she easily takes out dogs many times her size. They are bred with the sole purpose of working cattle, and they are VERY GOOD at it. They are extremely intelligent and, unfortunately, if not trained properly can be pretty aggressive towards strangers, which actually makes them really good watch dogs also.

The dog I have ALWAYS wanted is a Blue Heeler. One of these days...

[gprime]

I'll be honest here. My first inclination would be to ban these "dangerous" breeds. But that is based more out of my own fear of dogs than anything else. Realistically, I understand that the law must be objective and protect individual rights. Therefore, regardless of my own personal distaste for them, I am opposed to any ban, and will continue defending the rights of the owners.

[I am Legend]

The dog I have ALWAYS wanted is a Blue Heeler. One of these days...

make sure you have it some room to run outside. i had one before katrina, and that fucker would constantly be nipping at your feet. loved to be outside and loved water.
blue heelers are a sweet breed.

to the topic:
some breeds are predisposed to be meaner. but, the main problem with violent dogs is who their master is and how they were raised. i give all dogs afair shake at birth. from there, i blame the owner if problems arise. and yeah, some people should NOT be allowed to own dogs.

[kakihara]

make sure you have it some room to run outside. i had one before katrina, and that fucker would constantly be nipping at your feet. loved to be outside and loved water.
blue heelers are a sweet breed.

I don't currently own a dog and I will not own one until I have a house with a large yard. I have heard that they are very active which I can understand with them being a cattle dog and all.

[swivel]

I see a lot of people take the stance that dangerous dogs are only the product of owners who trained them to be that way. I couldn't disagree more.

Quite often, the pitt bulls who get loose and hurt someone are family dogs. Indoor dogs. The problem is that they are the alphas of the pack. They are catered to, never told "No", and are adopting a defensive stance for a pack with no leader. This puts dogs in an anxious situation. They are not prepared to be pack-leaders. These aren't wolves. We have bred their leadership skills out of them to make them perfectly domesticated companions. Which means you can create a dangerous dog by doing nothing more than loving it.

Another common scenario is a back-yard dog that gets loose for the first time. These dogs are insane, but the owners do not know it. Hundreds of thousands of years of pack-living, and now they are isolated. They do what lab animals and zoo animals do, they pace, they chew on themselves, they go fucking nuts. But, to an owner, they are just being a dog. They are barking all the time because dogs like to bark. The dog gets out for the first time, and it kills another dog or attacks a human. Which means you can create a dangerous dog just by ignoring it.

I take an interest in these cases, and it seems like the families of these dogs are one of the two types above. They are shocked and horrified that this happened. They love the dog. Since nobody can find a treatment pattern that explains the aggressiveness, they logically assume that it must have been there all along. That it is innate.

This is why I think, if you have to pass a test to drive an automobile, you should have to pass a test to own a dog. Not to restrict the number of people that own dogs, because the DMV doesn't prevent 99% of eligible drivers from driving, but to make sure a little education goes along with this enormous responsibility. And not just for the sake of attack victims, but for the sake of the dogs. Most dogs are not happy, and their owners don't even know it.

[Dark Star]

I don't agree with a ban on dogs. I felt that way even before I had a dog. Yes, I have a Pit Bull.
I'll start off saying that I never intended to get a Pit Bull. I know they are an aggressive breed. I'm not going to sit back and say my Pit Bull is harmless. She is 45 lbs of muscle. We got her when she was 16 wks old. Two brothers that work with Mr. Hip grew up with Pit Bulls, their Dad raises them. The one brother had Mia (our doggie) and his wife was pregnant, they already had another full grown male pit so they asked us if we wanted Mia.
We decided we would take her on a trial basis. Let her be around the kids. Test her with the food bowl trick, and see how she did around our cats. I can tell you, Mr. Hip and I did a lot of research on the Bully Breeds, we wanted to be knowledgeable on our dog.
That was the end of October. Mia Louise Pearl is now a permanent member of this family. She is the BEST dog I've ever had, and I've grown up around a lot of dogs. She loves my children, (bullies get very protective over their families and even believe that they are a member of said family), she is good with my cats. She is just wonderful and intelligent. I would hate someone to tell me, "She is a Pit Bull and you have to get rid of her because of that reason". I would cry, I seriously would. This dog is like my best friend.
I am also smart enough to know, with my dog, there are precautions to be taken. We don't leave her to run around on her own outside. We live in the country, but our neighbors have dogs. We know her breed of dog is dominant. She thinks she is better than any other dog. Bully Dogs just think that way. When we go to the vet, they love her, but they also understand her breed and they put us somewhere where other dogs aren't going to be. Other dogs just piss her off. I have had hateful looks at the Vet's office. It bothers me, because I know folks are thinking my dog is some fucking killer, and to me, she is my baby. I also know though, that my dog could rip the fuck out of someone. She is that strong. I know she would protect me and my kids till the death.
Dog owners just need to be responsible. They need to know all about their dogs. Education is the key to raising a good dog.

My Baby back in November... photo taken by my 11 yr old daughter.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/hippienurse/Fall2007047.jpg

[Sea Hag]

one before katrina, and that fucker would constantly be nipping at your feet.
blue heelers are a sweet breed.

My cousin has one and the son of a bitch does the same thing. I'll be rough housing with him, he'd let me pet him and everything would seem cool.

Even after all of that if I walk passed him he'd go to bite my heel.

Those dogs are assholes.

[dop]

I dont agree with breed bans however I fully agree with the idea dog owners should have to get a licence, more so in the case of the violent breeds...

I have a black Labrador and two Pomeranians who are mother and son. Wile Poms are about the gayest seeming dog a guy could own this side of the properly groomed poodles they really are my favorite breed, terribly smart, naturally clean and so tiny I can grab four of em in my arms and take em anywhere...

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6085/rhondadp7.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5127/guatonzx3.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2981/miniog3.jpg

[Miss. Hill]

I don't have Pitt's but find them to be really good looking dogs. My brother has a Pitt named Dozer
he is 8 and a big baby, sweet as could be. I like bigger dogs preferably in the working class.
I have boxers and I love them. My male was a stud for a longtime. He is old now so we have stopped
but he still is a pimp, haha. We have contemplated breeding Neapolitan Mastiffs, they have such
wonderful dispositions and they are soo cute, "I'm such a girl".

The ban should be on the owners that fight and abuse not the dogs, wtf.

Swivel, your dog is beautiful!

Here are my dogs on Halloween. They love to go Trick or treating!

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/deannamhill/IMG_7090.jpg
Devil...Asia
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/deannamhill/IMG_7085.jpg
Big Pimp...Bruno

[swivel]

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6178/dscn1503lu8.jpg

[swivel]

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/511/dscn1258tq1.jpg

[swivel]

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/4111/dscn1416hx6.jpg

[swivel]

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4274/dscn1418bf1.jpg

[swivel]

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/5683/dscn1419kd9.jpg

[swivel]

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3991/dscn1420kw0.jpg

[swivel]

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/3910/dscn0821zp3.jpg

[swivel]

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3170/dscn0913yn8.jpg

[Athena]

So, I'm going to go ahead and assume that's you. More normal than I would have ever expected.

Nice hair.

[swivel]

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6092/dscn0065ar9.jpg

[swivel]

So, I'm going to go ahead and assume that's you. More normal than I would have ever expected.

Nice hair.

I am the most normal person in the universe. Seriously. If you "averaged" every trait from every person on the planet, you would end up with me, physically, emotionally, intellectually, morally.

I am the "Everyman". So incredibly normal that I become spectacular. A shining example of everything that doesn't shine. Plato's mythical "form of man". Vitruvian.

People marvel at my averageness. Everyone asks, "Do I know you from somewhere?". And, "You look JUST like this guy I(used to know/date/am related to)".

I stand out in a crowd because I AM the crowd. But this averageness is my only outstanding trait. Otherwise I am completely forgettable. An echo in a hurricane. Here and gone with no mark left.

[Athena]

Yeah...I don't buy it.

By the way - People tell me that I look just like their (enter random relationship here). ME. The truth is, people are so fucking self-absorbed, they have no clue. They could meet me again in two weeks and think I look like any entirely different (enter random relationship here) of theirs. I wouldn't put any stock in that, if I were you. :p

[Tourbot]

Back at the turn of the last century when we as a people were a little less humane and dog fighting and cock fighting were considered legitimate sports pitbulls were bred to fight. They bred them to be very dog aggressive yet at the same time they were aware that at some point a human would have to step into the ring and separate the dogs or restrain the winner. See where this is going? They also bred the dogs to be very docile toward people. If a dog was not aggressive enough or showed ANY aggression towards humans the dog was not bred or even put down. In othe words it was perfectly safe for a man to step into the ring and separate two dogs without fear of being bitten.

As the sport disappeared the breed remained. Most breeders continued to breed for docility towards humans. When the "sport" reemerged the morons who revived it lacked the comonsence of our forefathers. They beed for aggression and it never occurs to them that they may have to separate the dogs. You see as inhumane as the fights were the point was to fight to a victory, not to the death.

Today many pitbulls retain the characteristics of their ancestors. They are loyal to their families, faithful, and protective. They would not dream of turning against a person even if that person was a child punching, kicking, or biting them. They also retain the dog aggression of their ancestors. To make matters worse today's innercity breeders breed only for aggression. You see the results in the news all the time.

Should the breed be banned. I don't believe they should be. I would like to see them bred only by responsible breeders and bred for their positive characteristics. I do think we should ban breeding the morons who revived the sport and have missbred the dogs to the point of many being dangerous.

[TC-JAV]

I've never owned a pitt bull, but it seems around here most of the dog attacks are from pitt bulls. Not all, but most. These dogs were bred to fight and are used in most(if not all) illegal dog fights. I think it has alot to do with genetics. But alot of people try to make their dogs mean.
I'm sure those of you who own these dogs say they are gentle and kind, and maybe they are. But too many have been trained to be mean, unfortunately.:(

[Lizard]

I was against any sort of breed-specific ban even before I adopted my current two dogs.

Dixie
http://i27.tinypic.com/dwtc9.jpg

Masie
http://i27.tinypic.com/ie485e.jpg

Whenever Dixie sees another dog, she makes a beeline straight for it...and then adopts the head-down butt-in-the-air "let's play!" posture. I never expected a pit bull to so love other dogs! So, she was ecstatic when we brought Masie home.
http://i29.tinypic.com/nybngl.jpg

[impqueen]

My dangerous breed, Pugletus giganticus, call name Sluggo:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/6896/img2769al5.jpg

He likes shedding, naps, his ring, and drooling. His farts are legendary. Also, he weighs 38 pounds, whereas our normal pug, Max, weighs 15. So he's kind of huge and doesn't like to move. Which is also dangerous if you trip over him. But really, it's all in how you raise 'em, I think.

[Athena]

Holy christ, Lizard. That is absolutely ADORABLE. :)


In related news, I'm happy to report that I've found a way around my apartment's breed restriction. It's not AS dishonest as faking papers, either.

I'm pretty much going to wait until they bring her up...and I'm willing to bet they won't. The pet deposit is paid on the apartment and my dog is similar in markings, apparently, to the dog who lived in the apartment before.

So, yeah...I've had my puppy, full time, for over a week, now. I'm smitten.

[Jaded]

This is my dangerous breed....

http://i25.tinypic.com/30uu81w.jpg

Don't let that furry little muzzle fool you. This little shit can bite clear through a computer monitor cable and completely knock out phone service to an entire house. Not only that...but he is good at making your heart palpitate abnormally when he jumps out of the kitchen cupboard, in the dark, while you're in the kitchen filling up on munchies for the latest scary movie. The worst thing is...he's a sock hoarder. And I always thought the dryer was eating the other sock.

[Mom of 4]

Impqueen OMG your dog is adorable!

Here are my girls Jessie (Rottweiller) and Molly (Boxer) and my hubby (sexy beast :love: ) LOL

http://i32.tinypic.com/16j084n.jpg

[Mom of 4]

My girls love to play together.......

http://i25.tinypic.com/m7gdx4.jpg

and rest together......

http://i28.tinypic.com/2ikuub.jpg

[Athena]

You make me want another dog. :p

*Sigh*...not 'til I buy a house, though. The one huge dog is enough for an apartment.

[Dark Star]

This is my dangerous breed....

http://i25.tinypic.com/30uu81w.jpg

Don't let that furry little muzzle fool you. This little shit can bite clear through a computer monitor cable and completely knock out phone service to an entire house. Not only that...but he is good at making your heart palpitate abnormally when he jumps out of the kitchen cupboard, in the dark, while you're in the kitchen filling up on munchies for the latest scary movie. The worst thing is...he's a sock hoarder. And I always thought the dryer was eating the other sock.

OMFG I laughed so hard when I read this!!!! I love it!. Thanks for sharing a picture of that vicious bunny rabbit.:D

[Mom of 4]

You make me want another dog. :p

*Sigh*...not 'til I buy a house, though. The one huge dog is enough for an apartment.


I know what you mean Athena. We had 2 rottweillers and for 2 years after our oldest one Justice died the kids and I bugged about getting another dog but hubby just wasn't up for it. I was surfing the web one day and found Molly, she was 3 months old and it was a newly married couple who had just had a baby and the baby was allergic to Molly. They lived in the same city and I knew my hubby well enough to know after I went and saw Molly that he was going to fall in love with her like I did the moment I met her. They let me bring her home to meet the family and of course Jessie to make sure they would get along......within 2 hours hubby drove over to their house and paid them cash for her! Jessie has always been very affectionate and lays at my feet wherever i am. Molly is like having a toddler because she still follows me all over the house...even to the damn bathroom! When i soak in the tub she lays her head on the side the whole time. My life would not be complete without them thats for sure.

[maryhaze]

i'm late on this one, but this is one of my pet peeves. i run a dog rescue. i specialize in dogs that have a previous bite record. my 16 house dogs have probably 75 bites between them. it's not the breed, it's how they were raised! the most hands-down dangerous dog i have in the house right now is the labradoodle. this guy has been seriously abused & seen domestic violence. my dh can't even yell for the kids without this dog going into attack mode. i've been doing this about 10 yrs with over 500 dogs & i've never been bit. & i have no formal schooling in rehabbing "bad" dogs. i've never had a problem with any pit i've ever owned or fostered being aggressive towards humans. dogs sometimes, but not people. Breed Specific Legislation are Bull Shit Laws!!!!!:mad:

[Lizard]

I was over at the paper for Bogalusa, Louisiana, checking out what they had to say on the arrest of Lindsey Daigle, and there's a photo of two pit bulls on the site's main page today.

http://www.edailynews.info/

The caption reads: DAILY NEWS PHOTO/Jacob Brooks Bogalusa dogs, Tiger (left) and Snoop, are pit bulls, but are not vicious, said their owner. The dogs did not oppose their photo being taken, and even licked the photographer.

My GOD, a pit bull that doesn't OBJECT to being photographed? I thought they were bred to fly into a rage at the site of a camera. And licking the photographer? Eh, the photog must've had something aromatic for lunch.

[Harley_Tech]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w11/s2rider/Hank.jpg

I sure do miss Hank. I gave him up in the divorce so he would not have to live in a small apartment or with the boarder while I traveled for work. He died a few years later probably thinking that I had abandoned him. That part makes me very sad.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w11/s2rider/HankSleeping.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w11/s2rider/MVC-004S-1.jpg

[Lizard]

He died a few years later probably thinking that I had abandoned him.

I can't believe that. RIP Hank, say hi to my Yoki.

[Lizard]

So, yeah...I've had my puppy, full time, for over a week, now. I'm smitten.

Athena, how's it going with your puppy?

[Lizard]

Boy Gets 100 Stitches After Dog Attack

Not a pit bull this time (German Shepherd).

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/15728000/detail.html

[swivel]

Not a pit bull this time (German Shepherd).

I'm surprised it was reported.

[Athena]

Athena, how's it going with your puppy?

Fantastic! Thanks for asking. :)

Although, I'm so happy to have her back, I've been spoiling the shit out of her. New toys, treats all the time...I've even been letting her sleep in my bed.

It's awesome. :p

[Lizard]

I've even been letting her sleep in my bed.



OMG! Are you saying there are dogs that don't get to sleep in the bed with their humans?!

[Athena]

Well, she's a bigass dog! There's only room for her because I'm single, now. The last ex could barely tolerate her in the house, much less the bedroom. But, even if he had appreciated her like I do, there just wouldn't have been room. I've got a queen and she takes up a solid half of it. :p

[maryhaze]

Boy Gets 100 Stitches After Dog Attack

Not a pit bull this time (German Shepherd).

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/15728000/detail.html

if i had room, i'd take this dog in a heartbeat. also, going by past experience, i'm betting the kid did just walk into the house. gsds are very protective of their family & territory & don't usually attack a kid sitting still putting on his shoes. if the dog was like that, he'd have had a long history of previous bites. & another reason i don't ever have play-dates for my kids at my house. JMO

[impqueen]

My dangerous fierce beast-in-law, Nikita. She is my sister in law's service dog and is possibly the best behaved animal I have ever met. My s-i-l, who is hearing impaired, trained Nikki herself to respond to looks and signs as well as environmental cues. Nikki also lets me dress her up and take annoying photographs:

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3045/img1475hi0.jpg

[Mom of 4]

OMG! Are you saying there are dogs that don't get to sleep in the bed with their humans?!



Not in my house.......:no:


http://i32.tinypic.com/1zpk6zq.jpg

[swivel]

Awwww! I love that pic ^^^

[Rotten Apple]

Look, they are trying to ban pit bulls near me.

http://www.wyff4.com/news/15864537/detail.html


The proposal would ban new pit bulls from being brought into the city. Anyone who currently owns one of the dogs would be able to keep it, but would be subject to regulations.

Among the new rules are requirements that the dogs be muzzled at all times, that anyone who walks the dog be over 18, that owners have a $100,000 liability and bodily insurance policy on the property where the dog is kept and that they notify the city of the dog's presence.

Violators would face a fine of up to $500 or 30 days in jail.

Many of the owners will not be able to afford the insurance required. I have a feeling alot of otherwise innocent dogs are going to be euthanised.

[GoldenChild20k]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v126/GoldenChild/Mirri.jpg

My boy, red heeler cross staffy. He's an absolute angel with the kids, and has never shown a hint of aggression towards people.

Rabbits are a different story lol. He also thought one day he'd chase my cat.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v126/GoldenChild/PICT1991.jpg

(Excuse the clothing, my daughter dressed her up.) This cat grew up in a house with a huge rottie. She was not at all perturbed by the dog charging her, just waited for him to get close enough, and beat the shit out of him. For the next three or four days, she stalked him lol, and periodically to this day from time to time she'll bash him again, just to remind him that she's the boss.

In the past, I've had a rottie/german shepherd cross like Athena's, just more fluffy, and with a very rottie head; he was a darling, sweet dumb pooch. My favourite dog I ever had was a dingo/german shepherd cross. Best dog I ever had, but very much a one man (woman) dog only.

[Athena]

In the past, I've had a rottie/german shepherd cross like Athena's, just more fluffy, and with a very rottie head; he was a darling, sweet dumb pooch. My favourite dog I ever had was a dingo/german shepherd cross. Best dog I ever had, but very much a one man (woman) dog only.

You know, just this weekend, we were talking about how Elke would look the other way around, with a Rott head and more German Shepherd body. If you've got any pics, I'd love to see them. :)

[GoldenChild20k]

Will have to pull out my old photo albums (first find them though) and have a look through them. It was years ago now, but I know I have some photos somewhere.

[maryhaze]

i wish i could find some pix of my rottie/irish wolfhound mix. she's looks like a dobie on steriods having a really bad hair day.:p

[Raq me darkly]

I think Pit Bulls and other "dangerous breeds" get a bum rap.

I am a cat person. I don't expect to have a dog as they don't really mesh with me. But, I don't hate dogs either. I judge them on a puppy by puppy basis and if one comes up to me with that full body wag, I'm willing to see if it's really a nice dog.

At my old place, I would sit outside with my cat (she is leash trained) and chat with the neighbors. My girl is a blue point siamese, a breed that is often termed "nasty" when talking about cats. The neighbor (who liked to rob me, see other thread) had a pit bull puppy. This dog was probably 3-4 times the size of my girl (she tops out at 6 lbs). It had never seen a cat before and had no idea what this creature on the leash was. It came over and snuffed at her. And snuffed at her. And snuffed at her. She finally got annoyed and stood up and said "ENOUGH!" (in that delicate voice Siamese have). Tail between its legs, the puppy quickly left. (I already had met the puppy and knew that it was a wuss, just not how big of a one it was.)

[Athena]

Article: (http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/04/09/black.dog.syndrome.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText) Big Black Dog Syndrome leaves them homeless.

http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/04/09/black.dog.syndrome.ap/art.dog.ap.jpg

[quote]NEW YORK (AP) -- When Aaron Jones walks Gozer, his Rottweiler-hound mix, people cross the street to avoid them. Mothers scoop up their children. A lost motorist once rolled up the windows and drove off after spotting the dog. One woman screamed.

"He's the nicest dog I know," said Jones, 33, of Oakland, California. "It's hard to understand all the fear."

Gozer isn't aggressive and doesn't look mean or bark, Jones insists -- people are afraid of the dog purely because it's big and black. As a puppy, Gozer was passed over for at least a month before Jones took him home.

According to animal shelter officials, big, black dogs like Gozer have more trouble finding a happy home than do other dogs. Some shelters even have a name for it: "Big black dog syndrome."[/url]

-------------

I've definitely experienced it.

Well, two families moved in to the duplex across the driveway from us. One owns three little dogs, almost like Scotty dogs, with waivy hair and beards. Friendly little dudes. Elke met them yesterday. Made their owner real nervous, but Elke didn't eat any of them, so all is well. The other couple owns an Akita and a Jack Russel. I'm a little more hesitant to introduce Elke to them. The reason is rather ironic, though - Akitas can be aggressive. :p

[Lizard]

Some shelters even have a name for it: "Big black dog syndrome."

Hell, they go even further than that; I've heard of them referred to as simply "BBDs."

[maryhaze]

my very first dog (as an adult) is a BBD. he's a gsd/dobie mix & the reason i do rescue to this day. it was his last day at the shelter when i got him. he had been hung (it's supposed to be a training method) to break his spirit & he was a moody prick back then. it's been over 10 yrs & now he's just a trouble-making prick. bastard keeps getting into the trash compactor & pulling the bag out for all his buddies. we've gone thru 4 locks & he keeps figuring them out. we had a cancer scare last month & when he passes, i'll be posting from whatever asylum they put me in.

[momof2boys]

I too believe an outright "dangerous breed" ban would be going to far. I myself have a chow-sharpei mix and he is the gentlest dog I have ever had. He seems to have no mean bone in his body. My two boys who are 3 and 5, can pretty much do anything to him and he hasn't a care in the world.

I believe that "bad" dogs get a terrible rap. It is all in how you raise and train your animals. Animals are not born into this world asking to be a fighting dog, or abused. Animals have feelings just as humans do and they want to be loved and cared for. With proper training and handling they can grow to be very gentle loyal animals.

We did have a Lhaso as well, but had to give him away. He bit me, and I was his favorite. He did not like men at all. When he finally snapped at me, I said enough was enough I was not going to chance him biting one of my kids. Small dogs can sometimes be worse than a big bad dog, they don't realize they are so small.

[celtic friend]

I am against breed bans.
I have 2 pit bulls right now, most loving things ever. One sleeps with my one son, the other with my other son. Nana and Chance are their names, she is 4 and he is 3. She was living in a cat crate in a basement in a very bad neighborhood in the city, he was living in an auto garage.
As a precaution, not that I feel I really need to, I still put them in their cages when kids come over and hang out in the basement w/ the kids. Chance does jump on people, that is his only vice. Not out on anger but excitement, and he is a heavy dog.
In my circle, there are plenty of dogs, plenty of little yappers and they are never leashed on their lawn. That is so absolutely annoying when we walk our dogs.

[Lizard]

Nana and Chance are their names, she is 4 and he is 3.

Please post photos of them in this thread! You'll also find my two pitty mixes (Masie and Dixie), Hippiepoet's pitty Mia, and swivel's pitty (name escapes me).

[celtic friend]

Please post photos of them in this thread! You'll also find my two pitty mixes (Masie and Dixie), Hippiepoet's pitty Mia, and swivel's pitty (name escapes me).
If I could email them to you and then maybe you could put them up? I can NOT get pics to post for me. FYI, Chance is a tan male, Nana is a black and brown brindle female.

[Lizard]

On behalf of celticfriend, I present you with her beautiful furbabies:

http://i26.tinypic.com/20ie6bs.jpg

http://i25.tinypic.com/20k8604.jpg

[celtic friend]

http://a502.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/58/l_8999918474d0097d707522ad6052dce5

[Athena]

In my circle, there are plenty of dogs, plenty of little yappers and they are never leashed on their lawn. That is so absolutely annoying when we walk our dogs.

FUCK, man! I hate that shit! The little bastards come flying over, yapping and harassing my dog, and then it's owner freaks out when my dog gets aggressive! Grrrrr! Leash your fucking dog if you're going to be a pansy. Goddamn.

My dog's an okay girl. We've gone out of our way to socialize her (thanks to the billion off-leash dog parks in Seattle) and she has never bitten another dog. But, let's be real - I got this dog because she's intimidating. I don't want her to be totally docile. She's good with humans who don't pose a threat to me, and that's what's important. Her particular mix is not exactly known for a tendency to play nice with other dogs, and, frankly, I'd be awful tempted to let her tear the shit out of some punt-sized dog that bites her (which has only happened once and I didn't let her eat the dog). /rant :p

[celtic friend]

FUCK, man! I hate that shit! The little bastards come flying over, yapping and harassing my dog, and then it's owner freaks out when my dog gets aggressive! Grrrrr! Leash your fucking dog if you're going to be a pansy. Goddamn.

My dog's an okay girl. We've gone out of our way to socialize her (thanks to the billion off-leash dog parks in Seattle) and she has never bitten another dog. But, let's be real - I got this dog because she's intimidating. I don't want her to be totally docile. She's good with humans who don't pose a threat to me, and that's what's important. Her particular mix is not exactly known for a tendency to play nice with other dogs, and, frankly, I'd be awful tempted to let her tear the shit out of some punt-sized dog that bites her (which has only happened once and I didn't let her eat the dog). /rant :p
My son was walking my dogs a few months ago, and the one main offender went up to my dogs and started to follow them. My dogs went nuts, my son could not hold them and let them go. They attacked this dog with licks and slobbery play, this dog was getting a full on bath. My neighbor finally came out, yelled at my dogs, they ran home. My neighbor called me and told me what happened and said that Earl the little pomeranian was shitting all over her house, and his little heart was pounding. He was soaked from head to toe, no harm really done though. I asked her if Earl was on a leash? She replied No, end of story in my book.
My son does not walk the dogs together anymore, I was not sure why he even did that day.
What sucks is that I don't think she sees how she was the irresponsible one, sure he should never have been walking both of them, but she clearly should have had her dog on a leash not wandering free in the neighborhood.

[CorruptedMistress]

I must say that I am against the 'Dangerous' Breed ban. I know many people with pitbulls who ended up being the sweetest dog I have ever met. I believe it is truly how you raise your dog and it isn't about what they were born as.

I have three dogs currently.

Brandi -
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll113/CorruptedMistress/2005_1009Image0010.jpg

She is a fox red Labrador. Lovely dog, very smart.

Zeus-
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll113/CorruptedMistress/l_afbe6cbc1c63b23fc9615928f5731c7a.jpg

He is supposedly a mixture of Pit bull, bull mastiff, and labrador. My aunt's roommate left him behind and he is just a baby, only a year old. This is the BEST dog I have ever owned. And I have had many wonderful dogs but this dog has the best personality over all.

And lastly, Zeke -
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll113/CorruptedMistress/807882e2.jpg

He is half Golden Retriever and half Lab. This dog is probably the meanest dog I have ever owned. He hates men and has sent many to the hospital who have crossed him the wrong way. I have had many people tell me to put him down because of it, but I find it unfair as many times he is provoked. He loves children and women, I would bet money that he was probably abused by a male sometime in his past which is ashame because otherwise he is a great dog, just don't come on his territory (and yes, he is sleeping on a coffee table up there).

The sad thing is, if I have my dogs in my car, people actually walk around and as far from the car as possible if I have Zeus. If I have Zeke in my car, people instantly will come up to the car thinking it is all fine and dandy and don't expect the bark they are about to get. It's ashame that they avoid Zeus simply because of what he looks like and not what he really is. When I first got him, he never even barked! It was the funniest thing, people would knock and he would just sleep, sometimes picking his head up, but never bothered. Until he met Brandi, he was very quiet but he never barks when we are outside of the home , he just sits there wagging his tail.

I fully believe that they should punish the deed and not the breed!

[Athena]

What sucks is that I don't think she sees how she was the irresponsible one, sure he should never have been walking both of them, but she clearly should have had her dog on a leash not wandering free in the neighborhood.

Amen, sistah. There's nothing more frustrating when a person doesn't even realize their own responsibility for a situation. I've found that little dog owners tend to feel like I am automatically liable simply because I have a big dog. :rolleyes:

[maryhaze]

i agree with Athena. my dogs can be friendly with someone i invite in the house, but otherwise, they aren't. on the rare occasions i can walk outside, i always have a gsd with me. i've had tourists pull up & say "what a pretty dog, does he bite" & my answer is that he hasn't yet today. these dogs are not happy with strange men around me, most of them have been abused & most of the abusers are male. the 10 dogs i sleep with aren't even crazy about my hubby coming in my room. yes, he has his own room with his own dogs. the only ones they let in my room with no growling are the kids. tho that might change as the boys get older. they've known my 15 yr old foster/stalker for years & are starting to look at him a little differently since he's getting bigger.

& you don't even want to get me started on those little rats on a rope type dogs that can be sooooo nasty.

oh yeah, i also wanted to say that you guys have some beautiful dogs!

[Lizard]

Talk about people with dog-breed issues. The freakiest damn thing happened to me this morning.

My dog Dixie--who is some sort of mix but certainly would be called a "pit bull"--did her little fence-climbing trick this morning and took off. So I put Puppy--who may have some "pit bull" in her but doesn't really look like one to my eyes--on a leash, grabbed another leash, and started strolling the neighborhood.

About I block away from home, I spot Dixie and call her name. Naturally, she runs AWAY. Puppy and I cut through an apartment complex courtyard into an alley, where I stop and stand still, listening for Dixie's tags. The neighborhood was really quiet and the weather was quite pleasant, so I wasn't even particularly irked with Dixie. About half a block away, 2 guys walking 2 German Shepherds and a lab pass. I hear one of them yell something but am still listening for Dixie's tags. After they pass out of my line of sight, one actually comes back, looks down the alley, and screams, "It's a goddamned pit bull!"

I'm perplexed. Have they spotted Dixie? Did they see the extra leash I have and are telling me I need to come get her lest there's some altercation with their dogs?

So I make my way to the end of the alley and start up the street, back toward my house. I'm about a block from the guys and their dogs, no sight of Dixie. One of the guys turns and yells at me, "Take your fucking dog some other way!"

Puppy? I think. They're talking about PUPPY?

"You're saying I can't walk down this street to my own goddamned house?" I shouted back, while pointing at my house.

"Not when we're walking this way!" yells Uber Asshole.

Bear in mind, we were all going the same way. There was no way I was going to overtake them, and their dogs didn't even show the slightest bit of interest in me or Puppy.

They turned the corner, passing in front of my house and then turning down an alley about half a block from my house. I took Puppy into my yard, went in the house, and burst into tears.

Less than 5 minutes later, a very nice older neighbor brought Dixie home and consoled this sobbing wreck for a few minutes.

So, I guess all's well that end's well, but WTF?

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Puppy? The cat dog? If they think Puppy looks like a pit, they probably thought they were walking a couple Shi Tzus and a wiener dog.

Pay them no nevermind.

[runecire]

Dammit, I thought we were discussing banning certain types of human breeds. Ya know...like assies, pervies, molesties, and murderies.

As for dogs, it's all in the owners they belong to. No need to ban the dogs, ban the owners.

[Pixie]

Talk about people with dog-breed issues. The freakiest damn thing happened to me this morning.

My dog Dixie--who is some sort of mix but certainly would be called a "pit bull"--did her little fence-climbing trick this morning and took off. So I put Puppy--who may have some "pit bull" in her but doesn't really look like one to my eyes--on a leash, grabbed another leash, and started strolling the neighborhood.

About I block away from home, I spot Dixie and call her name. Naturally, she runs AWAY. Puppy and I cut through an apartment complex courtyard into an alley, where I stop and stand still, listening for Dixie's tags. The neighborhood was really quiet and the weather was quite pleasant, so I wasn't even particularly irked with Dixie. About half a block away, 2 guys walking 2 German Shepherds and a lab pass. I hear one of them yell something but am still listening for Dixie's tags. After they pass out of my line of sight, one actually comes back, looks down the alley, and screams, "It's a goddamned pit bull!"

I'm perplexed. Have they spotted Dixie? Did they see the extra leash I have and are telling me I need to come get her lest there's some altercation with their dogs?

So I make my way to the end of the alley and start up the street, back toward my house. I'm about a block from the guys and their dogs, no sight of Dixie. One of the guys turns and yells at me, "Take your fucking dog some other way!"

Puppy? I think. They're talking about PUPPY?

"You're saying I can't walk down this street to my own goddamned house?" I shouted back, while pointing at my house.

"Not when we're walking this way!" yells Uber Asshole.

Bear in mind, we were all going the same way. There was no way I was going to overtake them, and their dogs didn't even show the slightest bit of interest in me or Puppy.

They turned the corner, passing in front of my house and then turning down an alley about half a block from my house. I took Puppy into my yard, went in the house, and burst into tears.

Less than 5 minutes later, a very nice older neighbor brought Dixie home and consoled this sobbing wreck for a few minutes.

So, I guess all's well that end's well, but WTF?


Aww Liz! That is so SAD! Why do you make the pregnant lady cry?! Poor Puppy.

[Steph]

Lizard - you should start walking down that street every freaking day. How dare those jackasses.

I have a sort of similar story, also an example of the "BBD" discussed above. I have a 6 year old Doberman/hound mix, Nigel. He's about 60 pounds, stands right above my knee (I'm 5'7 ish). When I got him, the rescue thought he was dobie/rottie and would be about 120, so I started training every single day - the result is an exceptionally well behaved 60 pound dog.

A few months ago, we were walking around our Brooklyn neighborhood and headed into my favorite bodega and passed by a typical hipster bitch tying her chihuaha up outside the store. The little dog is just barking away at us, pulling at the end of his tie and snapping. Nigel and I walk by him w/out a glance, pick out our items, and wait in line. Nigel sits right down next to me, and we're waiting patiently. Then there's a tap tap on my shoulder. It's the hipster. She proceeds to nastily tell me to walk the other direction when I leave b/c Nigel "upset" her dog and she doesn't want her dog to get bit by mine. I wanted to punch her, but remembering my southern roots, I smile sweetly and respond "Well, perhaps you should see about getting some training and socializing for your dog. My dog didn't even look at yours while yours was snapping away." She cuts me off with a "you shouldn't even have your dog here." I smile again, take the dog treat offered by the owner of the store, and while Nigel is chewing tell her again "my dog is a canine good citizen. My dog can go from sitting in a chair across from me while I eat brunch in the east village, to running around a horse farm with me when I go home, to kayaking. I suggest you look up a trainer and actually do some work with your dog because I'm really sick of ankle biters who have no training b/c their dumbass owners don't think they need to be trained. Also, I suggest not leaving him tied up outside b/c dog thefts of toy breeds for use as bait and training in dog fighting is way up. Have a lovely day" and walked out.

Needless to say - I am extremely against banning any breed entirely. The pit attacks are the ones the media picks up on b/c they can promote hysteria, but there are just as many attacks perpetrated by small breeds. Owners need to be responsible, but a ban won't do that.

[Athena]

Wait - they're walking German Shepherds and they're worried about your potential Pit mix?!?

The stupidity boils my blood. They're just behind Pits on the list of dogs most responsible for fatalities. I can't even imagine how I would have responded to that situation, but I probably would have jogged ahead of them and held them hostage with my "scary dog" while I angrily forced statistics down their throats.

Fellow dog owners can be infuriatingly retarded sometimes, and I've come close to physical altercation more than once. Glad Dixie got home alright.

[Pete Bondurant]

Does this ban extend to black people or Comanches?

[Lizard]

This is Puppy.

http://i44.tinypic.com/nwlb2v.jpg

[Athena]

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Now, the dog on the right (Dixie, perhaps?) looks more ominously "Pit" judging solely on the portion of jaw line I can see. Still, nobody to fear, by the looks of it.

I've only been scared of two Pits in my life. Both were huge males, both were kept tied up on the end of long, THICK chains. One belonged to my drug dealer many moons ago (although, come to find out, the toy Chihuahua they owned totally ran that Pit, who's name was Charlie), the other had broken its chain off whatever it was tied to, as was dragging its thick ass chain around the neighborhood.

Still, both dogs were sweethearts after getting to know them.

[Lizard]

Yes, that's Dixie. There are photos of her (and Puppy) on my profile. She definitely has the "pit bull" head and jaws. Body-wise, she's a solid little tank.

[Rockin Ma]

I have to get another pic, this is the one I always post, but she's still cute.

She made this mess while I was out. She can't stand being left alone. She will tear anything up while I'm gone. In this case it was papertowels, mail left on the table and she opened the cupboards in her reach.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff83/kidomaou/Alexmakesmesses.jpg

[Nerdzilla]

I am absolutely against dangerous breed bans.
And this is my baby, a 2 year old male great dane. He's reached full height and should fill out some more over the next year or so. He's well trained, but he absolutely thinks he's part of the family (and a lapdog, to boot):
Sleeping with my husband one afternoon:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/Picture120.jpg
Trying to get his big ole tongue in a bottle of beer:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/Picture049.jpg
Watching my friend's baby in our swing:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/jakeluke006.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/Brooklynandegonhangingout.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/eandb.jpg

[Pixie]

I am absolutely against dangerous breed bans.
And this is my baby, a 2 year old male great dane. He's reached full height and should fill out some more over the next year or so. He's well trained, but he absolutely thinks he's part of the family (and a lapdog, to boot):
Sleeping with my husband one afternoon:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/Picture120.jpg
Trying to get his big ole tongue in a bottle of beer:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/Picture049.jpg
Watching my friend's baby in our swing:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/jakeluke006.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/Brooklynandegonhangingout.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/nerdzilla78/Egon/eandb.jpg

He's gorgeous. I love how he scoots closer and closer to the baby in each frame.

[maryhaze]

Wait - they're walking German Shepherds and they're worried about your potential Pit mix?!?

The stupidity boils my blood. They're just behind Pits on the list of dogs most responsible for fatalities. I can't even imagine how I would have responded to that situation, but I probably would have jogged ahead of them and held them hostage with my "scary dog" while I angrily forced statistics down their throats.

Fellow dog owners can be infuriatingly retarded sometimes, and I've come close to physical altercation more than once. Glad Dixie got home alright.

i think all of you know how much i love my gsds & i've devoted my life to them. that being said, they are WAY more dangerous to humans than any pit i've ever known. i'm not sure what it is about the shepherds that attracts me, but they are definately my favorite breed & definately NOT for everyone.

[goddess]

i've devised a plan to get them to accept elke living with me.

Elke - 120lb rott/shepherd (banned by the breed restriction, which names pits, rotts and g. Shepherds):

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g168/azulevic/mypuppy.jpg

an australian kelpie (not banned):

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/124757157_50d4eaa908.jpg

i figure, these people are in the apartment business, not the dog business, right? Now, a quick search about the kelpie will tell you that they max out around 40lbs...but these people might not know...and based just off the markings, they're a dead ringer.

It might just be crazy enough to work.

*sigh* i'm desperate. Weekends just aren't good enough for me. :(




he kinda of looks like my old kane!!!! But this on has more brown in it

[goddess]

This is Puppy.

http://i44.tinypic.com/nwlb2v.jpg


HE IS SO CUTE!!!!

[maryhaze]

nerdzilla, that Dane just couldn't be any more gorgeous! i love a dark brindle.

[FlightForm]

I'm against breed bans. Although I will say - it has always made me a bit nervous when there's a pit running loose in the street near my house. Much more nervous than if it were, say, a beagle or a golden retriever.
I owned a black & white inbred pitbull several years ago. It was the biggest luvable teddy bear you could ask for. I never once heard him growl/bark/act aggressive to anyone. When the doorbell would ring, he would look around the room quickly for one of his toys, pick it up and carry it to the door, where he'd sit patiently with his tail wagging back and forth. (play with me!!) When my daughter was in time out or in the corner, he'd go with her, turn around so he was facing me, give me pitiful looks and whine until she was set free.
I also once owned a Rott/Shepherd mix. We did have a little bit of trouble with her, only because she became intensely protective of the children, especially my son, who was a baby at the time. Anyone who didn't live in the home was not allowed near them in our home (in public, like at the park, it was ok, but not in our house). She would sit by my son's crib/high chair/bouncy seat, and when people took steps towards him, she would let out a low warning growl. She also decided that her job was to be their nanny, and would do things like put their fallen teddy bears back in bed with them. We tried hard to socialize her, but in the end, we wound up moving and had to rehome her with a good family friend. (he was a bachelor who owned a big ranch, and I'm sure she is having a good life).
I know my experiences aren't everyone's experiences. (it's just fun to share doggy memories....). But I don't believe that a breed should be punished because of some people's irresponsibility. On the flipside, and this may make me a hypocrite, I will be the first to call the cops if a pittbull lingers in my street and me & the kids need to go out to the car.

[Lizard]

And FlightForm, calling the police would be exactly the right thing to do if it were my pitty running the streets. When she gets out, I call the non-emergency 911 number, tell them exactly what she and her collar look like, what neighborhood she's likely to be in, and what her disposition is like. (Most of the times she's climbed the fence, she's been brought back by neighbors because she ran over to them and did the happy doggie dance/rollover for them. What's difficult is that our home phone number is on her tag, and if my husband isn't home, I can't look for her AND stay by the phone.

[Lizard]

i think all of you know how much i love my gsds & i've devoted my life to them. that being said, they are WAY more dangerous to humans than any pit i've ever known. i'm not sure what it is about the shepherds that attracts me, but they are definately my favorite breed & definately NOT for everyone.

um, cuz you're WAY more dangerous to humans than most other women?

[Silvahalo]

I'm against breed bans. I think as Athena said, "Things happen when you allow an animal into your home. People should exercise personal responsibility for their animals". I'm also against children being killed by animals owned by the very people who we speak of who do NOT exercise personal responsibility.

Strict laws and fines needs need to be enforced and implemented at all times. People who are irresponsible need to be made an example of. Now I'm talking about obvious negligent behavior, like leaving a pet with a baby unsupervised. We have seen time and time again animals reacting often for unknown reasons and attacking a child, many times, even babies. Still we here people say, my pet wouldn't even hurt a fly. Sure, whatever, like your dog is not an animal? animals are unpredictable, so people, and I mean all people have to adhere to laws and common sense without exception.

We know that there are a lot of really smart pet owners but just as many stupid pet owners who neglect, maim and abuse animals. These people should be held at the highest level to the law and punished swiftly and severely. There will always be incidents that could not have been foreseen or predicted even with great care taken. Those case have to be dealt with and weighed differently. We should not entirely ban a breed simply because we are too stupid to take care of the real problem. And I believe that is careless irresponsible humans.

[Lizard]

There's the additional issue related to defining "a breed." "Breed" means "genetics," so unless you're going to shell out the dough to have genetic testing done on my dog, how can you say my dog is "Breed X"? Further, there is no such breed as "pit bull." You have your Staffordshire terriers and your American bulldogs and whatnot, but those breed lines are watched and documented carefully by breeders. I have 2 dogs, both "mutts," but one would definitely be called "pit bull" (and the other was the one called "a goddamned pit bull" earlier this week). Some governmental entity is going to ban said dogs based on WHAT? A whim? A general body build? The shape of a head? And WHO is it making these decisions?

I invite every single one of you to come meet Dixie, who most people would call "a pit bull." And bring your babies. Because when she meets a baby, she rolls over and presents her tummy.

[Nerdzilla]

Thank you for the compliments on my baby. I think he's absolutely beautiful. It's funny, because when he was about a year old, a man came to repair our TV, took one look at the dog behind me, and ran screaming back to his car. No joke. And he's seriously a big ole softy. He's unbelievably gentle and sweet... I don't doubt that he would protect his family, but I also trust him more than many humans. Let's just say that I'd leave my kids with my dog before I'd leave them with many of the people we know, LOL.
His breed has been on the dangerous dog list, too. I'm not sure if it is anymore, but I know it was when we first brought him home. I'm sure there are danes out there that are mean or dangerous, but the vast majority that I've met are sweet, lazy lumps who'd rather let you pick on them than get up and shake you off, LOL. He's a good boy, and he's the ideal pet for our family. He follows us around the house at night, just waiting for us to go to bed. :)
Like Athena (I think) said, anytime you bring a non-human into your home, you run a risk. A responsible owner takes steps to minimize risks (we did-- training, lots of exercise and play, clear "rules" in the house), but the risks are there anyway. I don't know. I'm gonna go ahead and thank the last couple of posts, because they sum it up for me.

[maryhaze]

um, cuz you're WAY more dangerous to humans than most other women?

yeah, you're just buttering up for some obscene act that you want me to perform, i know your reasoning................. (it's working)

[Gidget]

Banning breeds is stupid. Ban the 'tards that neglect their dogs instead.

I have a chow mix, with emphasis on the word "mix." She hates small children. Put a toddler in front of her and her fur stands up on her shoulders as she goes into stalk-and-kill mode.

Unfortunately, she doesn't "look" dangerous and so she attracts children like a pile of dog shit attracts flies. The neighbors' kids know not to pet her, but walking her in the neighborhood is a challenge. I avoid certain streets now because I don't want half a dozen kids (where the hell are their parents?!) running across the street to come stick their hands in front of my dog's face.

Now I just tell them she might bite them so that they leave her alone. She's never actually bitten anyone but I would like it to stay that way.

[Marv]

I owned a Rottie, just as the 'All Rotties are evil, killer devil-dogs' hysteria took off in the late eighties/early nineties. The abuse I got from idiots who judged her on what they read in the tabloids! (BIG mistake on their parts as I am way more of a devil-dog than she ever was!!!! I go for the kill and WONT back down! lol!)

At the same time, I had a very cute, fluffy brown mongrel. People were quite happy to pet her, and to let their kids pet her. She was much more likely to snap at them, as she was a rescue and could be quite unpredictable. Yet she was a magnet to kids. My Rott was a sweetheart, but everyone avoided her like the plague. Go figure.

It pisses me off no end when people just assume they or their kids can come and pet someones dog. I drill it into my kids that they must ask the owner first, not just go up to some strange dog and stroke it. The 4yr old has grasped it, still a ways to go with the 2yr old! But it all comes down to common sense and responsibility.

Dont leave your child alone with ANY dog. Dont let your child think its ok to just approach a dog. Look after your dog and dont abuse or ill-treat it! Keep it on a lead in public. Take it to obedience classes. Small things that could make a big difference.

No breed should be banned. Its like saying that all blond-haired, blue eyed,
6 ft tall men should be locked up because there has been several rapes by blond-haired, blue eyed, 6 ft tall men.

[cisco]

if a dog is properly trained it is safe, if a dog is trained to hurt others it will, it's a domesticated animal that would die off without humans and rely's on it's master to learn how to act.

[Just my luck sucks]

Dangerous Dogs: Attacks On The Rise


http://www.wpxi.com/target11/20147329/detail.html

[coffee achiever]

I'd much rather ban dangerous owners. Any dog can be dangerous in the hands of an abusive or negligent owner.

[Whisper]

I'd much rather ban dangerous owners. Any dog can be dangerous in the hands of an abusive or negligent owner.
I agree! I have a rescue and Windsor put a Pit Bull,Rotti,ban a few yrs ago.I was lucky to link up with A pitbull/Rotti rescue up near London Ontario b/c people were freaking and I also happen to know some rescue began registering the dogs under breeds that were made up but hey saved the dogs!

[mysticviewer]

http://photos-a-0.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs180.snc1/6773_1088461814543_1316372761_235032_5621572_s.jpg

My Baby Girl playing with her Friend when he was a puppy, he's Mastiff and Great Dane

http://photos-g-3.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs126.snc1/5413_1085934231355_1316372761_227022_1707143_s.jpg
My Baby hanging with her Big Puppy lol.

I am with the banning the tard owners....I had American and German Rotties that were great dogs also.

Little dogs are scary to me...Most I have met are biters.

[pissedoffindaytona]

http://photos-a-0.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs180.snc1/6773_1088461814543_1316372761_235032_5621572_s.jpg

My Baby Girl playing with her Friend when he was a puppy, he's Mastiff and Great Dane

http://photos-g-3.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs126.snc1/5413_1085934231355_1316372761_227022_1707143_s.jpg

My Baby hanging with her Big Puppy lol.

I am with the banning the tard owners....I had American and German Rotties that were great dogs also.

Little dogs are scary to me...Most I have met are biters.

yeah, I agree, little dogs are the worst, I have two jacks I saved from certain death, they're crazy, but luckily they love us and we know how to keep them from being snippy, but they sure do thier job on keeping the neighborhood hoodlems at bay, lol

[mysticviewer]

You know I have never thought of Jack Russels as being evil..crazy at times...sure<G>
I picture the taco bell dog or some kind of dog like that...snarling and snapping at folks because someone got to close to them or one of their toys. I seen them on the dog whisperer and he fixes them quite nicely. Its all about the energy. I dont have to say anything out loud and my pitt knows just by a look or a simple hand movement what to do. Like someone elses pitt she always rolls and shows her belly to other animals and children...and kitties...she is a rescued pitt also, rarely barks except when she sees someone walk in front of the house. Which is a good bark. Best dog I have ever owned.