COMMENT 317915P
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2012-09-09 10:44 AM |
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224P, here is some information on temperament testing standards. http://atts.org/about-temperament/ results by breed are on the site as well. a dog's propensity toward aggression and the amount of damage inflicted during an attack have no correlation whatsoever. the more serious an attack the more likely it is to be reported and documented. an attack involving what can be perceived as a pit bull (very grey lines as to what breeds get referred to as pit bulls) will see an enormous increase in coverage by popular media outlets. the media has ad revenue and ratings to generate, for some sick reason our society loves a pit bull attack story whether it actually involves a pit bull or not doesn't matter.
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COMMENT 317826P
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2012-09-08 09:11 PM |
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I have been harrassed by dogs many times on walks in my own neighborhood and on hiking trails. You need to carry a stick or trekking poles for some protection and even bear spray is not a bad idea. Dogs by nature are territorial and most dogs will be aggressive to a stranger. The most ignorant thing dog owner says is "he won't bite you". One time, a dog owner actually told me that their two dogs attacked me because I was "giving off negative vibes" (no doubt because the dogs scared the heck out of me).. I hope dog owners will control their dogs but most of them don't because they want to see their dog/s run free so just "be prepared".
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-08 05:40 PM |
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Again, would the people claiming the concerns about pit bull aggression are fantasy and paranoia please please clarify- are you really asserting that there is nothing in the makeup of a pitbull that leaves a propensity to be more prone to aggression and/or more prone to do damage if inflicting a bite, than any other dog? It just is incredulous to me that denial and delusion can run so deep.
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COMMENT 317915P
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2012-09-08 04:52 PM |
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sorry, here's the link: http://atts.org/
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COMMENT 317915P
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2012-09-08 04:51 PM |
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here's some data on temperament testing that also do not support the fervor. like 637P stated, i also did some academic research from credible and scientific sources on the subject during my college years. nothing i found supported that the APBT is any more likely to attack humans than the other dog breeds. personally, i feel people who cite sensationalized media stories as fact are an inferior breed of human. they should be mandated to wear dayglo clothing and carry signs that say "my unfounded fears and prejudices cloud my judgment," or be banned from interacting with the rest of society entirely. i really love the "but i searched it on google!" argument the most. you clowns need to be educate yourself on what constitutes empirical research.
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-08 03:54 PM |
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But 637p help me out here please.....are you saying pit bulls do NOT have a propensity to fight nor do they attack and kill at a higher rate then other dogs....just looking for some reality here...im not saying all pits or even the majority.....
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COMMENT 317637P
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2012-09-08 01:37 PM |
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And the Discussion section of the CDC article begins with a statement that rates of bites should be compared and not aggregate numbers. These numbers are aggregate. They can as easily reflect the prevalence of the breed as the temperament of the breed. The article then goes on to discuss issues surrounding breed-specific legislation. I doubt the authors would agree with how their work is being used in this forum.
I spent a lot of time looking into this several years ago and concluded the anti-pit bull ferver is just another example of media hype fear-induced hysteria so prevalent in our culture.
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COMMENT 317541P
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2012-09-08 10:58 AM |
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"I'm so sorry Rocky bit you. He's such a good dog - he's never done that before! You shouldn't have tried to pet him!"
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ANIMALLISTNER
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2012-09-08 10:21 AM |
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ALL dogs need to be leashed when hiking our back county trails. Often times native wildlife is displaced, injured, and mauled to death, because dog owners feel its okay to let their dogs roam the hills, off leash. This is so wrong! Hopefully the owners of the Pitties are charged accordingly.
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COMMENT 317512P
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2012-09-08 09:20 AM |
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The stories of these dogs turning on even their owners are legion. But the most heartbreaking was of the husband who returned home from work in the bay area to find his pregnant wife dead - attacked by their pit bull.
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FLICKA
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2012-09-08 08:25 AM |
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I don't understand why SBLOCALBOYZ was nannied. Poor little minature horse, is it possible to learn more about it's condition?
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COMMENT 317473P
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2012-09-08 07:27 AM |
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When I was applying for home owners insurance two companies told me that having a Pitt Bull was an automatic denial. Says something.
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COMMENT 317448P
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2012-09-08 06:32 AM |
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Pit bulls are beautiful creatures. So are lions. You need a special license for a lion. Generally speaking lion owners appear to be quite intelligent. GENERALLY speaking, pit bull owners appear to have low IQ, bad grades, or emotional trauma and which they severely overcompensate for by attempting to be "Tough" and "protected". Hmmmmm... If I wanted to be protected I personally would get a Mastiff, and I would study and train like my life depended on it.
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MTNDRIVER
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2012-09-07 06:38 PM |
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Sorry, Pit Bull, not Pitt. Because, of course, they were bred to fight in pits. Some people talk about dog breeds as if they evolved independently in nature. They're all a "creation" of human beings. People intentionally bred them to emphasize particular characteristics. These dogs were bred to fight, to hold on, to be aggressive. That CDC paper is worth looking at, thanks for linking to it, 341P. The study is almost 15 years old, but it's pretty telling.
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MTNDRIVER
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2012-09-07 06:20 PM |
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Thanks for the balanced view, 326P. From what you say, it seems Pitts should always be on leash. Those huge heads with the steel jaw muscles.....really, to call that a family dog is just not realistic. I've never been bitten, but have been lunged at by growling, snarling Pitt Bulls from behind fences on many occasions. There's one on a property adjoining ours that lunges at the fence every single time someone walks past her on our driveway, 30 feet away. She runs along the entire length of her back yard, barking and growling very aggressively the whole time. They scare the bejesus out of me, frankly. Much more than Rottweilers or German Shepherds--and quite a bit more than Doberman Pinschers.
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COMMENT 317391P
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2012-09-07 05:02 PM |
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@349 - he stated "National Forest" - Not "National Park". Big difference. We all know you are not allowed to do anything in a Nat'l Park - except contract the Hanta....
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COMMENT 317349P
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2012-09-07 02:54 PM |
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243 - please check your facts on unleashed dogs in national parks. This is from all of the pet sites for the parks:
"In general, pets are only permitted in National Parks along roadways, in developed areas and in campgrounds, and must be restrained on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length, caged or crated at all times. Pets are not permitted inside buildings, on most trails, on beaches, or in the backcountry." What makes you think that it is legal to have unleashed dogs on the trails in the national parks? By the way, I have a mixed breed pit who is friendly to all humans, but I never ever have him out of my yard off leash.
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-07 02:31 PM |
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Here is a Center for Disease Control study. http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/images/dogbreeds-a.pdf
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-07 02:28 PM |
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330P-- so I'm curious- are the news articles on that site fabrications? cause when I search google news I come up with the same ones
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-07 02:13 PM |
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326p. Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
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COMMENT 317637P
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2012-09-07 02:09 PM |
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http://www.dogsbite.org is not a valid website. I did some research a few years ago. You can find peer-reviewed scientific studies if you try. I did. This bias against pit bulls is irrational, anecdotal and indicative of a general decline in reasoning abilities among the U.S. population. People would rather be right than go do the hard work of really investigating the facts.
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COMMENT 317326P
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2012-09-07 02:00 PM |
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I have been around pit bulls most of my life. I used breed and raise them as family pets. Every dog I had during those years was sweet with all members of our family. When we decided to stop breeding we kept one female dog. She was with us for years, raised around our family and children. We never taught her to fight and she never had experiences that would cause her to be a fighting dog. Once she reached about 5 years old her prey drive kicked into overdrive. She was spayed from the time she was a puppy and we consulted specialists to help train her not to behave that way. Sadly she never overcame that behavior. We had to take extra precautions to keep everyone safe. Years later we heard from our friends that their pit puppies played tug of war with their cat. Pits may not be apt to bite in all situations. They are certainly less likely to bite than a small dog with a fear issue. But when they do bite they cause damage. A chihuaua may bite ten times as much and cause far less damage than one pit bite. Also when pits bite they do not let go. Their ability to ignore pain and cause damage is what made them good fighters. If you truely love this breed, which I do, do not deny the facts. These are beautiful loving animals that need a certain type of owner that knows about their tendencies and behaviors. This is not a beginner's dog. It is not fair to send a pit home with someone and tell them they are just like other breeds, they are not. This does not mean they should be demonized but you better respect their abilities and constantly temperment check the dogs in your care.
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COMMENT 317292
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2012-09-07 11:51 AM |
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In my experience, pit bulls are unpredictable and dangerous.
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COMMENT 317291
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2012-09-07 11:50 AM |
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7261... yes, the dog owner is sometimes euthanized - by the pit bull.
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COMMENT 317288
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2012-09-07 11:45 AM |
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Sure some pit bulls can be adorable and wonderful family members and even service dogs but Aggression is literally bred into them. Like spots are bred into Dalmatians aggression has been bred into pitts. Anyone that disputes that is ignorant of their dogs lineage. Sure an owner can make a dog worse but no one can take in bred aggression out of an animal.
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-07 11:38 AM |
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283- i get what you're saying, believe me. I am a "dog person". yet the logic that you espouse troubles me- every breed has tendencies...regardless of the owner- personalities of labs are distinct from personalities of Jack Russel terriers, etc. While owners and training certainly influence, each, there are certain core qualities- labs want to swim, beagles want to dig, aussies want to work---- so to deny that somewhere in the genetic predisposition of pits is a "fighting" tendency- is, in my opinion, denial at its most dangerous. and perhaps that predisposition has been heightened by stupid human desires-no doubt- but alas there it is and again, to deny it is then to deny any and all breed behavior predispositions.
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COMMENT 317283
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2012-09-07 11:34 AM |
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Every bad behavior by a dog is the owner's responsibility, not the dog nor the breed. Pits are sweet loving dogs, sadly many of them have been bred to fight which is what gives them their bad reputation. We know nothing of this dog, other than it was perhaps, off-leash. Who owns it? What kind of dog owner is this person? Was it trained to fight. or to be aggressive? Please don't condemn the breed, you need to condemn the people who have ruined the breed.
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-07 11:30 AM |
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if "its the owners fault" how about all these attacks by pits upon their owners? Are you saying all of those were bad, evil owners?
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COMMENT 317541P
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2012-09-07 11:29 AM |
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I hope the dog owners get seriously sued and lose everything they own. Time for the victim's attorney to do some serious legal biting.
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-07 11:25 AM |
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261, I merely rely on the facts presented on the site, not the "bias" of the website developer. Easy enough to google these news stories on your own to validate each and every one. Little small bites from small dogs really arent germane to the issue now, are they?
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COMMENT 317270
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2012-09-07 11:17 AM |
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@224P - That's an excellent site of information on dog bite statistics. The information presented is backed up on the site with bibliography links. To the chagrin, I'm guessing, of the pit bull defenders here!
The comment above "it's the owner, not the breed" is the #1 Pit bull myth addressed on the site!
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COMMENT 317268
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2012-09-07 11:10 AM |
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Of course Pit bull attacks lead the statistics... have you been to a shelter lately? Almost every dog there is a pit or pit mix because too may pit owners are ignorant and/or irresponsible and want to keep their dogs fertile for whatever reason. If you want honest data you need attacks by percent of breed, not absolute totals.
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COMMENT 317261
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2012-09-07 10:58 AM |
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This is hardly a credible source for information. It is a bias website run by Colleen Lynn. In June of 2007, Lynn was an unfortunate victim of a dog bite while she was out jogging. Because of the dog bite, by a dog that is said to be a 'pit bull', Lynn decided to create the website dogsbite dot org. What isn't mentioned are the stats from annual ER visits that show that it's small dogs that bite at a much higher rate. Pitts were originally bred NOT as fighting dogs, but as the perfect family pet. I say, euthanize the irresponsible owners ~ not the dogs!
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COMMENT 317257
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2012-09-07 10:50 AM |
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Between the years of 2005 and 2011, Pit Bulls killed about one person every 20 days. Rottweilers killed about one person every 88 days. Pit Bulls accounted for 71% of the attacks. However, Pit Bulls make up less than 5% of the total U.S. dog population. Funny how the pit owners on here are saying it's the owners fault, but know nothing about the breed they own.....
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-07 10:46 AM |
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here are simple statistics with factual backup
http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2011.php
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COMMENT 317291
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2012-09-07 10:40 AM |
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Lessee.... what breed has been mentioned more often than any other regarding bites or attacks? PIT BULLS. Is it the liberal media that is singling out this specific breed by ignoring all other lethal, near lethal, or non lethal attacks by other breeds? I don't think so, though if the evidence is presented to contrary I'm all for hearing it. Yes, pits are wonderful animals to their pack but they are bred to be fierce and attack to kill any perceived threat from outside the pack. Claiming otherwise is like claiming it's perfectly safe to have tigers for pets and walk them downtown like any other pet.
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COMMENT 317248P
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2012-09-07 10:30 AM |
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@245....really???
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COMMENT 317245
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2012-09-07 10:18 AM |
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I can't take all of these breedist comments! I didn't realize people with these views resided in this town. I'm sure we'll be hearing next that this race/breed of dog should be thrown through a wood chipper! Or any dog that bites. There needs to be an out reach program for troubles K9's with specially trained therapist, government funded of corse, that can get to whats really bothering these poor pooch's. Or else I'm leaving.
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COMMENT 317243
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2012-09-07 10:17 AM |
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@238: when you google map the trail it sure does look like most of the trail is in National Forrest = completely legal I think you can even open carry firearms in the NF...
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COMMENT 317238
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2012-09-07 10:11 AM |
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237: Actually it is illegal to have your dog unleashed in any place that is not a designated dog park.
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COMMENT 317236
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2012-09-07 10:10 AM |
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This is absurd! Owners should keep their dogs on a leash. Especially a breed that is known to be aggressive and a possible threat.
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COMMENT 317237
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2012-09-07 10:10 AM |
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Thats too bad. I find my dogs are more defensive while on the leash. What I cant understand is how people have their dogs off leash on the local trails. I know it is legal, but the amount of poision oak up there is unreal.
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COMMENT 317268
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2012-09-07 09:58 AM |
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In the 70s German shepherds were evil dogs. In the 80s it was dobermans. In the 90s it was rottweilers and today it is pit bulls. Pitts are not mean, they're powerful and need to be properly lead just as any other dog. Come meet mine - after running away from you initially, she'll lick you to death. Get over it.
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COMMENT 317226
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2012-09-07 09:54 AM |
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This breed needs to be banned ASAP. It's completely absurd and reckless they are currently legally allowed to roam the trials and off leash areas. Accidents waiting to happen.
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COMMENT 317748P
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2012-09-07 09:53 AM |
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oh yes lets start the pit bulls as angels mythmaking. it appears as if the dogs owner did not do the biting, the dog did.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-09-07 09:49 AM |
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The woman called her Husband and he contacted Law Enforcement. Santa Barbara County Sheriff, Animal Control are responding, and possibly medics..
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COMMENT 317243
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2012-09-07 09:49 AM |
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*insert ignorant rant against pit bulls here* remember, it's the owners fault not the breed please.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-09-07 09:49 AM |
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Yes the Dog is a Pitt Bull unleash your fury just be nice.
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ROGER DODGER
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2012-09-07 09:47 AM |
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The Pitt Bull belonged to a couple hiking the trail with two Pitt Bulls it is unknown if the dogs were leashed.
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COMMENT 317257
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2012-09-07 09:44 AM |
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Was it a pit bull?
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