problem dogs or problem owners?

I've been working in pet rescue for the last fifteen years, and I can honestly say that it's not a bad dog, but a bad owner.

I've worked with several animals who came out of abusive situations. Of them, the doberman was quickest to be potty trained, gentle, and over-all a wonderful dog (she adored my small children).

I once to was one of the people that did not liek pit bulls. I have always loved the way they look, but was very scared of the breed, Oh how dumb I really was. I meet my husband who had a 6 year old pit, who from the min I meet her loved me to death. To this day that dog would lay down her life for me if needed. She is not a bad dog or mean, a big baby. I had a 4 month old daughter at the time, When my husband and I got married even thought I loved his dog we both were scared to have her around the baby, as she had never been around one. When my daughter started walking the dog took to her right away, loves my daughter with all her heart. She stood up to my husband(the guy who had been with her since she was a puppy) because he was going to spank my little girl . So yes I think it is all how you raise a dog that makes it good or bad. Those bad should not own those sweet babies......

Ashley who said.....Well there is a reason pit bulls are not allowed anymore. And anyone who breeds them will have their dog put to sleep. So I am not sure how you have a pit bull anyways....

Pits arent allowed where? I dont know where you live but where I live there is nothign that says you cant have or raise pits.

Here look at this!!!!!! I bet if you go take the test you will not even know what a pit is!!!

If every single dog bite was reported, you'd be surprised to see that American Pit Bull Terriers would not even be on the list. The American Temperment Test Society tests breeds every month of every year and comes up with percentage scores out of 100%. The American Pit Bull Terrier scored an 84.1% - The Golden Retriever, America's most loved breed, scored an 83.8% ! Hmmmm.....That's interesting isn't it? How did your favorite breed score? Check it out here:

http://www.atts.org/statistics.html

Another interesting tidbit: Majority of domestic violence cases in the United States are caused by MEN. Are all men considered dangerous?? No! So then why would all American Pit Bull Terriers be dangerous because of a few bad owners?

If you want to see some more interesting stories and those that were corrected due to incorrectly identifying the breed of dog - actually, the news people always know what breed it is, but they know it gets more attention if the term "pit bull" is used - so they're always more than willing to retract it later - the news has already been run and the American Pit Bull Terrier's name already been dragged through the mud! Most of the time, the headline will read "Pit Bull Attack" and then the story will say it was a Lab mix - what the news people will do to drum up some interest.So take a look at the 20 pictures and click on the one you think is the American Pit Bull Terrier! It's fun. Found another one too.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.ht...

My god --- I come down pretty hard on stupid dog owners on this site but you are FAR from that and I sincerely hope you do not take any notice of Claire. There is a whole lot of difference between someone having a dog for the first time and asking for advice or just wanting reassurance (like you) to some of the pure selfish or ignorant questions we get on here. Just see if you can find a training club that you are happy to go to for a while as at 5 months old he is shortly going to go into his adolescent stage which is always the hardest for any owner, and even more so an owner that has not had him from young and who has not owned a dog before. You have a good breed to learn on which is exactly what a first time owner should get. Best of luck with him and please ask anything you wish on here. You bet you're ready for this but always ask before things become a problem.

There are exceptions to the rule but the majority of Pitt Bulls are not dependable, trustworthy dogs !

I hear people all the time say that if you treat your dog good he will be a good dog. That is a lot of Bull Crap ! ! !

Due to the way that most are bred to be fighting dogs. This training starts when the dame is pregnant. And the babies she is carrying go through the same emotional disstress as she is agitated & kept in a constant state of daily torment. These pups are born with the same state the mother was kept in while she was pregnant. This can also be carried in the genetics of these pups. If for some reason they aren't what they wanted for fighting, the pups are sold as pets. Sever emotional disorders develop as the pups grow. At the age of 3 or so their temperament changes, just as a teen ager matures their attude, temperament, views all are completely different while they were growing up.

A Pitt Bull that is not tormented durning gestation is a calmer more dependable dog. The traits that are bred into a fighting Pitt can be passed on generations later as a recessive gene. & could pop it's ugly head in a pup generations later.

So it is & can be both the dog &/or the owner.

It is not just the Pitt that matures & hase a temperament change. The Dalmation is one. So it is not always how a dog is treated (good or bad) the genetic's play a major roll too. A very major roll.

Yes I've heard this many times too. The smaller dogs are more aggressive. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've Been bitten by Miniature and toy poodles, Chihuahua's, Min pins, Cocker spaniels, Miniature Schnauzers, Bichon Frise's to name a few. I've only been bitten once by big dog and it was only because i was breaking up a dog fight and got in the middle of it. I used to work at the animal shelter and they are trying to make it no Kill and they have a rule that no dog should be euthanized if if shorter than your knee. They call it "No E below the knee". My boss thought that was the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard. They say that the smaller dog are less likely to cause as much damage when they bite or attack. They say they can't maul you like a big dog can and that's why they have that new rule. I had a 90 lb. American Bulldog/Pit mix that i rescued from the shelter and he was the best dog i ever had. I had him for 15 years. I believe that people that own Pitbulls, Rottweilers, etc. are the ones that give them a bad name because they train them to be mean and think its cool to have a dog like that, that fights. I think thats stupid. They basically own a walking lawsuit. But i do believe to that the Pitbull, Rottweiler, Doberman's that are mean too could be caused by poor breeding by too many back yard breeders.

I absolutely agree, I used to have a pit and she was the biggest baby ever. She never attacked anything and was the sweetest thing in the world. It's definitely the owners fault if they've not trained their dog properly. Pit bull's have that reputation because of stupid people who make their dogs that way. It's all in how they are raised. As for the stereotype, that won't change, you know you home owner's insurance goes up with those kind of dogs too? Ridiculous!

YEP!!!

The trouble is the owners. They know nothing before they get a dog. They do not think about the breed or "mix of breeds" they get. They get a puppy because it is "oh so cute" and dress it up. Or they get a dog because it has such a macho charisma and put some stupid spiked collar on it. They assume a puppy will magically just know and become a perfect housepet (which is funny because even HUMAN babies have to learn) But people expect MORE from a dog!

They are clueless as to what a dog really is. They do not want to put any effort into the training of a dog. They complain that the puppy pees on the floor (but a baby would too) they complain because the dog "talks", they complain because it sheds, they complain because it runs away if not on a leash...

"You will only get out what you are willing to put in".

PLEASE..................do your homework!

Well there is a reason pit bulls are not allowed anymore. And anyone who breeds them will have their dog put to sleep. So I am not sure how you have a pit bull anyways....

I certainly do buy into the fact that dogs such as rotties and pit bulls attack. I was bit by a pit bull (when I was younger) not to the point where he clamped down and locked his jaw though.

Just because you have trained your dog not to attack doesn't mean that it won't. It is in its genes to attack. If I were you I would consider a different pet.

EDIT:

I included the link. I live in Canada but I assumed since we are right on this issue that everyone would have followed!!!

But I guess that is the US for you.

There are very few "problem" dogs but many problem dog-owners. I have had Dobermans for many years. Only one of these was a problem, and he was rescued as an adult. He had neurological problems and his prior owners never addressed his behavioral issues. Thus, I acquired a problem dog, but due to poor breeding and poor socialization and care. I now have a dobe-mix and a pit-mix; both are absolute babies.

Responsible dog owners -- regardless of the breed they have -- will make sure their dogs are trained and socialized. My pit-mix (a rescue) was encouraged to jump and to play roughly. I am working with her to correct this bad behavior, but I can also tell she is confused when I correct her and try to redirect her. She is basically a sweet dog that has had the misfortune of being raised by problem owners, then being tossed aside for becoming the product of their poor handling.

So I say the problem is with the owners, not the dog, and certainly NOT the breed. JMO

I commend you for socializing and training your Pit. When we train owners, sometimes we get people who want tough looking dogs, and don't know how to teach them Bite inhibition.

However, most people get Pits, Dobies, and Rotts because they like the breed. We sometimes have minor issues with Dobies that want to be left alone... but they tend to hide behind their owners, rather than growl.

On the other hand, we find that Labs have a vicious tail that waps anyone within reach... And the Pits and Rott will sometimes step on people on knock into them.... as they go about their rough, but non-aggressive, play.

On the other hand, I am ambivalent about any dog that bites for any reason. If a child runs up to a dog from behind and hugs a dog, then I only hope that the owner has really socialized the poor startled dog not to snap.

But when a biter comes at me, I want the option of legal recourse .... to the fullest extent of the law... regardless of size.