Pit Bulls: What's the appeal?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

They're ugly, ill-tempered, dangerous and, I imagine, probably smell quite bad. Why do people like them?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:30 (9 years ago) Permalink

Because they look hard.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

they bite people and never let go.

― The Luge (Horace Mann), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

And they make you look hard.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

calum

― The Luge (Horace Mann), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

If you are Princess Anne, it makes you better looking than your pets, just. And better-tempered, just.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

You're wrong! Pit bulls scored in the top tier for temperament testing.

My sister has one. We've had many dogs in our family, and I've never encountered a more well-behaved and loving dog. A long time ago, German Shepherds were the scapegoat - then Dobermans, Rotties and now Pits.

And they're adorable and fun.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

Here's Mack , my sister's dog. That's me in the second picture.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

Cos pitbull pups are cute!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

Also, a lot of ppl think that these are pitbulls...

but they're bull terriers & these are pitbulls...

They are pretty cute, but I really don't think i could ever have one.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

These little ones belong to erstwhile Killing Joke bassist, Paul Raven, who raises them.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

See, they are too cute!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:45 (9 years ago) Permalink

Do AmStaffs count?
I briefly had one and she was the best. Because she was mine. But she was extremely gentle.

― The Luge (Horace Mann), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:46 (9 years ago) Permalink

They are strong independant dogs that are very protective of their owners & will be fiercely loyal, but sadly they have a reputation as agressive dogs. Of course they can be, but alot of ppl can live with pitbulls in their family and things are fine. Obviously their notorioty as fighting dogs preceeds them.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:47 (9 years ago) Permalink

I knew this was an Alex thread.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:47 (9 years ago) Permalink

I love staffs myself.
Awww!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

AmStaffs were bred from the American Pit Bull Terrier. It has something to do with people wanting to show the dog and having a more strict breed standard.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

She used to drag my nephew around the yard by his socks!

― The Luge (Horace Mann), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

Well, they start out cute, and then turn into these....

...and then do something like this to ya...

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

Agreed that is not a particularly nice looking dog & obv, when dogs injure humans, it is awful. You need to be a responsible dog owner if you are going to chose a dog like this. Sometimes dog will turn no matter what. I have been bitten by both dogs that we had & they certainly weren't big dogs or anything, but it really hurts & knocks your confidence in dogs. With the bigger, stronger breeds (that have this so called agressive instinct inbred) the risk is greater. Hence why I wouldn't have one, as much as the dog's benefit as mine, as I don't think I am a strong enough dog owner.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

Now is it just me or does that dog look like...

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

Any dog that is vicious should obv be put down. The attack stories from pit bulls are emphasized to a point where they form an inaccurate stereotype. Pit bulls, when bred and raised right (and oftentimes despite this), are generally very sweet and affectionate dogs. Because they're very strong and very intelligent, they need owners who are dedicated to training them right. I've heard many stories of once stray or abandoned pit bulls being adopted out to families with kids, and very successfully.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

They only 'turn' if they're mistreated and conditioned to be afraid of people. Check the facts - one of the lowest bit rates and highest temperament test rating.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

I wasn't saying it was the dogs fault (i am all for pitbulls as domestic dogs) it usually is the owners.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'm sorry - I was responding to Alex. I should have clarified that.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:15 (9 years ago) Permalink

My uncle's friend had a pit bull for years. One day, the dog bit the guy's lower lip right off. The dog had to be put down, the lip had to be re-attached, and the family was distraught...over the dog, natch. That's my pit bull story.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

I should point out that I am not, nor have I ever been "a dog person". I just don't understand what the attraction to this particular breed of dog is, especially given their violent track record.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

Because to know them is to love them. They are extremely affectionate, good-natured, playful and VERY obedient.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

i don't like them either. i'm a beagle booster.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

Some dogs will just turn even though they have had a good upbringing. This is not confined to pitbulls or so-called agressive breeds. it can happen.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

I don't know about 'turning' - I haven't seen any of this in the literature.

Some dogs are dog-aggressive and some are people-aggressive. These traits are not limited to one breed by any means. The problem is that when a pit is people-aggressive, it can do a lot of damage, because it is so strong. The important thing is to spend time with the dog before adopting it, and to take obedience classes with it so that it can learn to socialize.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

i was attacked by one as a teenager. they are loaded guns with legs.
they + their owners should all be shot.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:47 (9 years ago) Permalink

Okay, I'll tell my sister that. I seriously will.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:48 (9 years ago) Permalink

please. also tell her "eat my assleavings" for me.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

Is that a death threat?

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

no, my assleaving are non-leathal.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

Look - bad owners need to be prosecuted. The pit bull people are all for this. They are also in favor of the euthanizing of bad dogs. But it is simply incorrect to blame the entire breed for what a few dogs have done. As I said, there was a similar hysteria about German Shepherds about 30 years ago, and in the eighties and early nineties, it was Rottweilers.

I myself had a chunk taken out of my leg by a Fox Terrier.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

wow. assleavings. Just wow.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:04 (9 years ago) Permalink

i apologies for my flippant remarks.
after i was attacked i let the owner off the hook (i do think the father of the family treated the thing poorly). less than a year later the dog took a run at some children in the park - they weren't hurt - only terrified. i felt terrible for not suing the owner + having that dog put down. had anything happened to the kids i don't think i could've handled the guilt. i don't understand why anyone (who's not a thug) would get a dog with such a poor reputation (i don't really care about your stupid facts). i'm sure they're loyal dogs and good to their families - they are v. protective and deadly if you're a stranger.
i was just some guy standing on a side walk at the wrong time.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

Good owners get the dogs because they're familiar with them and because they've checked the "stupid facts". You should have cracked down on the owner.

At one time, it was the most popular dog in the US. Petey from the Little Rascals was a pit. So was Nipper, the RCA dog. And Sergeant Stubby was a WWI hero. Also, pits worked at the World Trade Center site after 9/11. They're used as police and therapy dogs.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

I just don't understand what the attraction to this particular breed of dog is, especially given their violent track record.

Keep in mind their violent track record is akin to that rash in kidnappings last year that the media created. Any large working dog can be made dangerous by years of neglect and abuse.

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

So, it's the media's fault, is it?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:42 (9 years ago) Permalink

Pardon my polite incredulity.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

Because the media overblowing a story is so hard to believe...? How about that string of shark attacks last year, what were there... like 2 or 3 of 'em?

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:46 (9 years ago) Permalink

come to think of it, alex - it was the media that attacked me + nearly crushed my hand.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

It's a good thing you've never been robbed by a black person, dyson, you might have to join the kkk.

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 26 January 2004 18:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

Dog owners who seem to me like inhuman assholes encourage the sort of behavior in their dogs that creates the reputation of pitbulls, which is augmented by the tendencies of the media. I'm just saying exactly what bnw said two posts ago. Oh well. (xp)

Dyson, I hope that eventually the owners were held accountable for their irresponsibility in owning such an aggressive dog. Those sort of dogs (of ANY breed) should be put down, and their owners deserve punishment.

(xp again)

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 26 January 2004 18:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

there are local rescue centers for pit bulls between here & detroit. my friends got a coupla dogs from there and they're just as lovable as any other.

heh. this thread is, of course, "the anecdotal evidence thread."

― Huggy Dork (Kingfish), Monday, 26 January 2004 18:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

actually, the owner of said dog was the biggest racist fuck i've ever met + used to (according to his sons) be in the clan.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 18:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

They're less susceptible to attacking people than other dogs, but because they're a walking muscle, when they do attack, it's usually pretty bad. But I've seen many pit bulls and I've never come across one that wasn't well-mannered.

PIT: Spot of tea, good chap?

GEAR: Thanks, Pitty.

PIT: Anytime.

See?

― Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 26 January 2004 18:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 1066 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Adorable.

Our office dog is afraid of salt shakers and other small bottles, and she reacts like that if you set down a treat and the salt shaker next to each other.

― (*・_・)ノ⌒ ☆ (Je55e), Wednesday, 26 December 2012 15:20 (4 months ago) Permalink

3 weeks pass...

― The New Jack Mormons! (kingfish), Saturday, 19 January 2013 18:39 (4 months ago) Permalink

What's the appeal of pit bulls?

It has been my observation over a lot of decades that the breeds which are most often trained to be 'attack dogs', such as pit bulls, german shepards and dobermann pinschers have personalities that tend to form very deep and very loyal attachments.

They're extremely sensitive to their owners and they both mirror and magnify how their owners treat other people. How these dogs are socialized is ultra-critical to how they act as adults. They're just as likely to be emo as vicious, depending on how they were brought up. As a rule, though, they will react strongly to how they much of a threat to their owner they think you are.

This makes me very wary of them, but it makes me very aware of how their owners act, too. And if their owner isn't visibly around, this makes me super-wary of them.

― Aimless, Saturday, 19 January 2013 19:11 (4 months ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

http://www.heatworld.com/Celeb-News/2013/03/GALLERY-31-pictures-of-Tom-Hardy-playing-with-a-dog-Whats-not-to-like/

― The New Jack Mormons! (kingfish), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 02:33 (1 month ago) Permalink

I don't know who that man is but I've seen those pics and that dog is cuuuuuute.

― lets just remember to blame the patriarchy for (in orbit), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 02:44 (1 month ago) Permalink

Lisa Watkins
I wish I was that puppy@.
Reply · Like · Follow Post · 20 March at 13:07

Lisa Watkins
I wish I was that puppy.
Reply · Like · Follow Post · 20 March at 13:07

Lisa Watkins
I wish I was that puppy!
Reply · Like · Follow Post · 20 March at 13:07

― This is called money bags. (zachlyon), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 02:46 (1 month ago) Permalink

Ew. Maybe if he shaved. Otherwise I am not willing to contemplate getting that close to that mouth beard.

― lets just remember to blame the patriarchy for (in orbit), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 02:48 (1 month ago) Permalink

here, even the puppy is not a fan of the scraggle on his face:

http://www.avclub.com/articles/tom-hardy-forced-to-eat-puppies-to-maintain-physiq,94195/

― The New Jack Mormons! (kingfish), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 02:52 (1 month ago) Permalink

Well thank god at least someone is thinking clearly.

― lets just remember to blame the patriarchy for (in orbit), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 02:58 (1 month ago) Permalink

ok that is pretty cute

my friend who is a hairdresser adopted a 2-year-old pit bull a couple of month ago and has somehow managed to make her the softest dog ever, like silk this dog's fur

the other pit bull in my life is less soft but very cute and sweet and jumps really high when catching frisbees
i am still more of a cat person though, prob can't really change that...

― obliquity of the ecliptic (rrrobyn), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 03:13 (1 month ago) Permalink

that puppy rules <3

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 03:21 (1 month ago) Permalink

my arm, a content pit bull:

― obliquity of the ecliptic (rrrobyn), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 03:23 (1 month ago) Permalink

*melts*

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 03:24 (1 month ago) Permalink

my next door neighbors have an increasingly well-trained pit and he is such a good guy

saw a bunch of pits on the border of the seedy part of SF this weekend including the cuetest puppy

― ☠ ☃ ☠ (mh), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 03:49 (1 month ago) Permalink

― The New Jack Mormons! (kingfish), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 20:51 (1 month ago) Permalink

http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/2013/03/chihuahua-helps-thwart-pitbull-attack-on-bc-girl.html?cmp=rss

― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 27 March 2013 12:57 (1 month ago) Permalink

Chihuahuas - what's the appeal?!

― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:00 (1 month ago) Permalink

I don't understand the appeal either.

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:24 (1 month ago) Permalink

people who dock/clip the ears on pit bulls are savages imo

― ☠ ☃ ☠ (mh), Wednesday, 27 March 2013 14:46 (1 month ago) Permalink

― The New Jack Mormons! (kingfish), Thursday, 28 March 2013 04:01 (1 month ago) Permalink

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/28/17504438-georgia-toddler-mauled-to-death-by-familys-pack-of-dogs?lite

:((

― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Thursday, 28 March 2013 21:14 (1 month ago) Permalink

hooooly...

― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 28 March 2013 21:51 (1 month ago) Permalink

yikes.

but also: so there's FIVE people home and the 12 year old is assigned to watch the toddler?

...

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 28 March 2013 21:54 (1 month ago) Permalink

and they have seven free-roaming dogs

― ☠ ☃ ☠ (mh), Thursday, 28 March 2013 21:56 (1 month ago) Permalink

my parents old neighbors raised these russell terriers and those little assholes would occasionally come over and terrorize my parents' rottweiler! if she was on a leash in the back yard they'd gang up and nip at her from multiple sides.

gangs of dogs are dicks, mostly regardless of breed

― ☠ ☃ ☠ (mh), Thursday, 28 March 2013 21:58 (1 month ago) Permalink

i think it's more that you you have to be SUPER on your training game to manage a group of dogs, whether it's several breeds or multiple of the same breed. they can be good, and manageable, but only with heavy owner-involvement.

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 28 March 2013 22:08 (1 month ago) Permalink

my inlaws have always had multiple dogs -- from st bernards and a pitbull to german shepherd, mastiff and great pyrenees...never any problems but BiL and SiL were vigilant about making sure the dogs were social 'face dogs' (ie you could put your face right up in their face and they wouldn't blink an eye) and not aggressive from the time they were puppies.

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 28 March 2013 22:10 (1 month ago) Permalink

yeah i dogsat for my sister last week and walking her dog w/ my two i was like 'three dogs is too many for me' and we're talking a corgi, skye-yorkie mix, and a maltese here. a pit in town here got put down yesterday, two little boys wrestling in the yard, pit attacks the boy he doesn't know (pretty likely 'defending' his little boy in confused dumb dog mind), adults not supervising, kids needs stitches dog gets euthanized very very sad. pits are super sweet unless they've been trained by some scumbag but pretty much any dog has the capacity to lose control some when riled up and pits have been bred to have super effective jaws for that kind of thing, if you're not crazy responsible or you haven't owned dogs before maybe not the best breed (albeit the most common in shelters sadly), if you're the above and you have children maybe get a basset hound. i can remember a piece on profiling in the nyer a few years (gladwell alas) but in it it mentioned that the 'dangerous breed' w/ the most attacks has changed many times following fashion - pits, rottweilers, dobermans, german shepherds - but what i also remember was that chows were constantly second or third throughout the years for attacks, god help us if that ever becomes the fashionable breed for would-be badass schmucks.

― balls, Thursday, 28 March 2013 22:36 (1 month ago) Permalink

yeah my dogs are 'face dogs' apparently, i often wake up w/ one of their faces inches away staring at me creepy little weirdos.

― balls, Thursday, 28 March 2013 22:37 (1 month ago) Permalink

adults need to be with kids around dogs, period. child-friendly dogs, or guard dogs, or whatever. kids grab and poke and pull and do all kinds of shit that dogs don't like, even placid dogs.

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 28 March 2013 22:40 (1 month ago) Permalink

pitbulls having a 'locking jaw' is a myth. they have a strong jaw, but the whole locking jaw thing has been exaggerated over time and has become accepted 'fact'

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 28 March 2013 22:43 (1 month ago) Permalink

^^^ when I was a kid, there was a party at a house up the road from us, and a guest had left their labrador in the car with the window down. A little kid playing hide and seek popped his head up in front of the window, startled the dog and the dog bit his face pretty badly. Xp

― just1n3, Thursday, 28 March 2013 22:45 (1 month ago) Permalink

yeah i mean these things (ie dogs in general not just pits) have the cognition of a two year old and are carrying a pair of carpet scissors in their mouth which also happens to be their primary method of grasping things. potential for shit happening is there.

― balls, Thursday, 28 March 2013 22:57 (1 month ago) Permalink

chows are crazy skittish, really friendly, though

― ☠ ☃ ☠ (mh), Thursday, 28 March 2013 23:14 (1 month ago) Permalink

yeah there's one around the corner from us that will just pop up on you w/o you knowing (he's fenced in but seriously one second empty yard next second that chow is right beside you and you wouldn't have heard a thing), when i got my first dog he'd pop up on us and i could tell it intimidated her (or, very possibly, she could tell it intimidated me). now my dogs are total bros w/ him, they'll try to drag me to it when we're near and i can see him get excited and do a little dance when we round the corner, i call him boo radley.

― balls, Thursday, 28 March 2013 23:20 (1 month ago) Permalink

Jesus wept people! don't start picking on labradors. I got a black labrador called Dogsby and he gets bullied by cats, is scared of pigeons and he doesn't even understand the concept of biting. I have had to rescue him from the kids at some of my son's birthday parties in the past. I have never seen a dangerous labrador in my life.

http://postimg.org/image/b13yumou1/#codes

― Damo Suzuki's Parrot, Thursday, 28 March 2013 23:21 (1 month ago) Permalink

no-one's picking on labs :) and that's a cute one!!

i think ppl are just trying to illustrate the point that there's no such thing as a 'safe' breed of dog.

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 28 March 2013 23:31 (1 month ago) Permalink

lol actually from the data i've read there is one breed of dog there are apparently no records of having seriously mauled or maybe it was killed anyone.

fucking hippies

― balls, Thursday, 28 March 2013 23:46 (1 month ago) Permalink

lol!

― Damo Suzuki's Parrot, Thursday, 28 March 2013 23:56 (1 month ago) Permalink

Unless they're armed.

― nickn, Thursday, 28 March 2013 23:58 (1 month ago) Permalink

Balls otm, chows will fuck you up

― Look, Brian, about the afro wig... (forksclovetofu), Friday, 29 March 2013 15:16 (1 month ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

― Hockey Drunk (kingfish), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 07:41 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

I see murder in its eyes.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 08:00 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

j/k i wub pitties

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 08:00 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

Also, my parents have a bassett and she is adorbs.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 08:01 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

what a cutie!

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 16:53 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

this thread title has been making me mad for like a decade now.

elderly pit bull content:

ellie dont give a fuck

― adam, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 17:05 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

old pit bulls are the best

― brb buying poppers w/my employee discount (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 17:06 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

Good grief, kingfish! what an adorable dog.

― polyphonic, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 17:06 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

stupid dropbox image. imagine an old pit bull draped over a chair just like what.

― adam, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 17:06 (3 weeks ago) Permalink

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.