Anyone have experiences with Pitbulls?

[Porn Shop Clerk]

My GSD chases all cars outside the fence. When he's outside the fence on a leash he could care less about them.

[Anybodyhome]

Fact: Insurance companies are beginning to refuse or cancel homeowner's policies for people who own pit bulls.

Fact: "Pit Bull" is not a breed. It is a generic term used by the public that lumps an entire category of dog characteristics and appearances into one.

Because the pit bull is a true conglomeration of other breeds and that it has been "mis-bred" and "over-bred" it has a genetic disposition to a level of aggression that owners may never be able to overcome and also may never see coming until it's too late.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

i dunno, i think with the proper socialization, any aggressive energy can be redirected. some dogs just require more attention and excercise than others.

and pitbulls require it constantly to keep them from getting aggravated or frustrated or bored

a bored dog is a destructive dog

that being said, kids should never be left alone with any large dog, and they should all be treated with respect and caution unless you are familiar with them

a large out of control dog (and if your dog doesn't come off leash the first time you call him, it is out of control) is just as dangerous as a loaded pistol laying on the coffee table

IF you're gonna have a pit, or a large, energetic dog with aggressive tendencies, it is VERY important that they learn to come when called and heel even while distracted.

i have to work on breaking my GSD's distraction when cars go by the fence

it only takes 30 repetitions to teach an intelligent dog a behavior. it takes 90 repetitions to undo bad behavior in an intelligent dog.

pit bull is not a breed for casual dog owners, and there are too many casual dog owners with pitbulls

[MadHatter]

This has to be a boxer trait, because every single boxer I've ever met, including my own, does the same thing. It took me 6 months to get them to stop attacking my mountain bike when we would go for rides.

I think it is the boxer breed. We had two when I was growing up and both did this. It was funny at first, but then was a reall pain in the ass.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

they're trying to herd the motor vehicle like the would sheep, goats, cattle, etc

also, over exercising a pup (ie jogging, rollerblading, or biking with the pup before they are a year old) can lead to hip problems later in life for the dog

[bleys]

my dog kicks rocks into other dogs faces...

not really, but he's a truly awesome animal.. I really believe a dog should be rescued 1000X over before a dog is bought from a breeder, it's such an incredibly sad situation with how many are being put down.. however, I think it takes a lot of experience/knowledge to take on a rescued Pitbull.. plenty may come out perfectly fine, but as much ignorance/incompetence as we see from people day-to-day.. I question how effective some people can be at owning this breed, particularly if they have been bred poorly.. and that's mainly where the concern comes in.. often times those bred poorly can only be put down, there is no rehabilitation..

knowing what to do next.. having the capacity to handle it.. whether you work a lot, are overly indulgent in social activities, whatever the case may be.. if you can't stay disciplined and knowledgeable, you're destined to have just another sob story..

however, as I type this, my dog is sleeping on my feet and every time I move he wakes up with this look like "wtf man, the world is about to end and you keep waking me up?"

I find these eyes funny.. if they don't get their way it's always the same routine... "dude, really? seriously? the world is coming to an end and you want to pull this poo right now?"

[Porn Shop Clerk]

i know someone with three awesome pits that are very loving and friendly

however she doesn't spend as much time with them as she should and then wonders why she comes home and finds poo torn all to hell

like a pair of scissors with the handles chewed to useless frayed plastic nubs

some breeds require more work than others. best to find a dog that fits your attitude and lifestyle than pick one because they have long pretty fur that you'll be clipping feces out of

also pitbulls and boxers will punk your ass if they even think you might be scared of them

[bleys]

i know someone with three awesome pits that are very loving and friendly

however she doesn't spend as much time with them as she should and then wonders why she comes home and finds poo torn all to hell

like a pair of scissors with the handles chewed to useless frayed plastic nubs

some breeds require more work than others. best to find a dog that fits your attitude and lifestyle than pick one because they have long pretty fur that you'll be clipping feces out of

also pitbulls and boxers will punk your ass if they even think you might be scared of them

lol.. have had quite a few face-offs myself.. always testing boundaries, especially in the beginning..

[Razzy]

Again, like the other dog advice threads, I will suggest that you choose a breed based on your lifestyle and living space and NOT by what you think you want. It will save you time and money in the end.

[o_O]

If you're gonna get a dog do it right the first time around.....

Dobermann's Pinscher

[Kevin Greene]

A lady in my parents neighborhood was attacked by a pit bull was in the hospital for some time.

They should ban the dogs from Meck County.....or people should have to register to own them and have a required insurance policy to pay out damages if their dog causes any.

We looked at a house and saw next door that they were breeding pit bulls. The girl was ok and I told her there was no way in hell I would live next door to a place where my wife and kids could be in constant danger.

No, no. All those Pits that attack and mame or kill people. It's always the owners fault.

[FuzzyPanther]

I have quite a few bad experiences with pits, and only one experience with a friendly one.

Worst/Scariest was summer last year, guy was walking his dog (a lab) in the greenways behind a row of townhouses. 3 pits from a townhouse break the wooden fence behind the townhome, start shredding the lab. The pit owner comes running out, tries to separate them, lab owner tries to separate them, ends up shooting one of the pits 3 times with a .25 pistol, and still gets his shoulder separated in the scuffle. (The lab lived, but like I said, got shredded.)

Dog that was shot is still alive and well, living in the same townhouse with the other two pits, just now have a "Dangerous dog" sign in the front window... Sure makes me feel all warm and safe when I have to walk by it now.

With that said, I don't personally know the owner of the pits, how he treats them, etc... But I know that he cares enough to pay a substantial amount of extra insurance to be able to keep 3 pits after having them legally found as "Dangerous".

For a little perspective, the positive experience I've had with a pit is one that is owned/handled by a K9 police handler, and it was/is a pet that lives with him, not his working dog. That pit is as friendly as any dog I've ever dealt with.

So, the nature/nurture debate continues... (if only in my mind)