Pit Bulls: What's the appeal?

However I was curious as to what the demographic were on dog attacks and then found this handy web page at the Center For Disease Control. There's some interesting reading there - it appears that pit bulls and rottweilers are involved in more biting incidents, however it's potentially that's because of owners/breeders choosing more aggressive dogs than something inherent to the breed. Guess there's just a lot of meth labs out there that need defending.

Some interesting stats from Australia though - I had no idea American pit bulls were banned (maybe just in Adelaide though)

http://www.mrmodels.co.nz/diecast/1_43rdscalediecast/Corgi%20501%20%20Buick-Kojak%20Car.jpg

a couple months ago (around thanksgiving), a friend of mine witnessed a pitbull (off-leash) attack a policewoman riding a horse in golden gate park in san francisco. the pitbull took a bite out of horses leg and stomach, the policewoman was thrown from the horse, and the dog's owner was kicked in the face by the horse. the horse sprinted off and another police officer chased down the dog and shot it twice in the head.

my main problem with pitbulls is that they attract some of the worst/irresponsible pet owners but that's been mentioned upthread many times.

http://www.pbrc.net/breedspecific.html

Check it out.

Unfortunately, I think that responsible and humane pit bull owners are in the minority, but demonizing the entire breed isn't going to change things.

So the fatal dog attack stats showed an average of 12 a year for the past 36 years, the great majority on little kids left unsupervised with dogs... I can think of much bigger household hazards (drownings in buckets?) but I concede there were no lab or golden retriever attacks listed there and powerful dogs are more dangerous.

Overwhelmingly, the dogs involved in fatal dog attacks were unaltered males.

The CDC page, upon a quick glance, seems to have at least one article saying the same thing. Male dogs that aren't fixed are much more aggressive.

Responsible dog owners who aren't planning on breeding get their dogs fixed. For lots of reasons. I have a strong opinion on this obv, and it's a whole separate issue. But it can make a big difference with behavior/aggression.

Some who are otherwise very responsible are total dumbasses about this because they don't want to imagine that snipping process. But I could especially see how those looking for the dog-as-macho-image-enhancer would especially want a male, uncastrated dog.

This whole post doesn't really make much difference, it's just one more angle on the gripe that there are far too many irresponsible people who own powerful breeds of dogs.

There's also ample evidence for both! However, the negative stories about pits are always going to get all the attention because that's just how media work. You'd never see something like this:

THIS JUST IN: A pitbull was seen in the park today playing gently and acting like a goofball with its owner and his 5 years old son. More news as it develops.

It's the same reason why people overestimate the risk of flying, space heaters, escalators, using drugs, walking around in S Central LA, electric blankets, you name it. If you prefer to error on the side of caution, that's fine and dandy, but don't think you're actually any more knowledgeable or wiser than those who choose otherwise.

I'm no fun, am I?

However, dog breeds have been created by selective breeding - owners selecting specific traits, including temperament. Isn't it possible that the irresponsible owners have been irresponsibly breeding - selecting extra aggressive dogs for breeding - thus warping the breed into one that has a more aggressive temperament over the years?

When you buy a breed of dog, you are told that there are risks of genetic problems. I think that Cocker Spaniels have a couple, including a kidney problem and a blindness problem that breeders are specifically trying to eliminate. There is also some sort of 'rage' syndrome in a very small minority of the breed that the breeders are actively investigating and trying to eliminate by not allowing these dogs to breed, and also not allowing dogs related to them to breed. Are pit bull breeders doing any of this?

Also, with regards to having dogs 'fixed' is interesting. We were told to 'fix' our first dog to curb his agression, but he became more agressive. Our second dog, a poodle, (not our choice, it belonged to a relative) was the sweetest dog who was boisterous but placid & not agressive at all. We had her spayed as it is healthier for female dogs & have nearly had to have her put down. She has turned completly viscious as she no longer has any female hormone to repress the male agressive hormone in her. I would rather have a bigger dog as in my experience they are not as agressive as smaller dogs. I am keen to get a dog when I have children. Possibly a staffy/doberman/rott but I wouldn't get a pit. I have had nothing at all to do with this breed & maybe if I'd had more contact with them I may feel differently. They can be beautiful dogs & apparently very affectionate. You just don't tend to see pits here at all. I always thought an Amstaff was an apbt. I'd love to actually meet someone who owned a friendly pit so that I could get used to them & get rid of any mistrust that I have in my head.

Have you ever been to Britain, stence? Are you just talking about pit-bulls, or any kind of dog? I am baffled by this comment.

http://webpages.charter.net/cmvenuti/images/george.jpg

Well, Jeezum Crowe, Elvis, where in blazes were you yesterday when i was almost fed to the kennel by these frothingly mad-dog-loving zealots?

Pit bull owners here say that the pit bull as a breed is not any more aggressive than any other dog This is also bullshit - I own two pit mixes, and I would never presume to say anything like that.

The bigger picture here is that Alex asked what the appeal is, people have explained their points of view, he doesn't agree, and everyone is fine. The end.

OK I only lived there 99-02 going to school and was a hermit so I really don't know any of the town. Except apparently people there are so god damn useless they have nothing to do but hang out in the parking lot of Coffee Time on Trafalgar and show off their dumb cars. The place was also really gross inside but that didn't stop me from going like 3 times every night for more caffeine.

I posted yesterday!