Pit Bulls: What's the appeal?

What part of Jersey you live in, Bill? And do you know anybody who needs a friendly pit as a play partner?

http://www.war-online.org/whowants_WB.jpg

I take the tact that if people ask if it's a pit, it's a pit.

First of all, it's "tack". Like in sailing.

Second, I don't really catch your drift...? If people ask if it's a pit, and it's not, they're just not very familiar with that kind of dog, surely. How can another person's ignorance reflect on your pet?

I live in Morristown.

That test is kind of disingenuous, because while most of those dogs are not pits, a good portion are bred to be fighting/personal protection dogs (also the pics are not exactly clear ones.) I mean people uncomfortable with Pits shouldn't be exactly relieved when you tell 'em your dog is a Presa Canario (these were the dogs that killed the lady here in SF a couple of years ago.)

That's true! But any bad feeling about those dogs shouldn't be transferred to pits, and shouldn't be fueling things like a state- or city-wide ban on one breed based on people's feelings about "guard" dogs in general.

i thought maybe that was the point of the test - that the "dangerous" dogs shown, which might be mistaken for pits, aren't actually pit bulls at all. several of the breeds shown i would consid much more dangerous than pits and are still bred more for guarding/fighting than for being pets.

xpost

(oops - consider, not consid!)

"That's true! But any bad feeling about those dogs shouldn't be transferred to pits, and shouldn't be fueling things like a state- or city-wide ban on one breed based on people's feelings about "guard" dogs in general."

I totally agree. The issue here is really more function than breed, but because a large portion of fighting dogs in the US are pits, it's an easy leap for people to make.

Most of the dogs in that pic that are most pit-like are basically pits by another name and they are not terribly common here in the states outside of dog-fighting circles (not that they are common there either.)

Anybody who breeds dogs to fight, or uses a dog to look tough, should be put through the grinder they use to make dog food.

"A little boy came in the store with curiositeeeeeeee....he gave the crank a heck of a yank and Johnny Goodbank was meat."

Anybody who breeds dogs to fight, or uses a dog to look tough, should be put through the grinder they use to make dog food.

-- Bill Magill, Friday, May 16, 2008 12:12 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Link

why do ilx's woman-hating types always get so defensive of pets

I didn't realize you were defensive of pets, Ethan.

I was always under the impression that these things were pretty dangerous, but I went to visit my uncle in Phoenix, who has a pit and a rottweiler (Cooter and Babu, respectively), and oh man are they a couple of harmless dopes! Loved those two.

But man they look fuckin mean so nobody breaks into their house.

What's wrong with lookin tough? Not that *I* could pull it off or anything...

I _really_ don't wanna get in an argument about semantics in a pit bull conversation, but "tack" signifies direction and "tact" suggests an attempt to mollify (as an abbreviation of "tactic", I presume). I'm of the opinion that you could use either, but "tact" is more what I'm going for here: people who ask if a dog is a pit bull have already decided that it is and will actually argue that they know better if you say she's mixed or a mutt or whatever.

Anyways, the only people who seem to care about this stuff are breed fascists and breed banners; both of whom can fuck right off. Banjo, by all my reading and discussion, seems to be most if not all pit but I don't consider that any more a mark of pride or shame than the fact that she's a snorer.

I always found the "my pit bull makes me a man" front to be paper thin. You do realize that you are literally carrying a bitch around on a string, right?

I love rotties too. Got to meet my first rottie when some friends of the Ethiopian roomie at a house that I had just moved into flew home and left their dog with us while they were overseas. I was often the only one around the house and I discovered that we were housing the dog when, without explanation, she showed up sitting in front of the door of my room. Apparently the friend used to live in my space and the dog was protective. Once we made friends, I ended up using her as a couch and reading books while leaning on her. Great dog.

I love when random thug-types are all saying they wish they had my pitbull-bassett because they want a tough-looking dog:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/igotabeefpastry/lapsnit.jpg

...buh?

Man. Big dogs that think they are lapdogs - CLASSIC.

Except when your legs fall asleep.

Or want to get another beer.

Abbott, your dog is awesome.

My uncle's rottweiler is kinda that way. Has no concept of his size and is always leaping up on you playfully and knocking you around.

forks seconded

He's totes rad, thx, he just doesn't look like a vicious killer.

Sure he does! Look:

<Img src=http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/igotabeefpastry/lapsnit.jpg>;
"Who I trust? Who I trust? Me, that who."

Wow, way to fuck up, Austin.

"Who I trust? Who I trust? Me, that who."

HAHAHAHAHA oh man :D

i love rottweilers.

LOLZ, my gal just wrote me to say that this rhino video reminded her of our pup: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/species/about_species/species_factsheets/rhinoceros/asian_rhinos/index.cfm

tofu's wrong abt "tact" btw, even if like e.g. "case and point" or "could care less" it's working its way into the lexicon based on sheer volume of misuse. Hint: even the logic is flawed, since it's not idiomatic to say a tactic is "taken".

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO TELL HIM B/C SCARY PIT!

Mmmmmaybe you're right...? I've been using it in that fashion for years and this is the first time anybody's ever said anything.
This looks like a job for Will Safire.

William Safire's Rules for Writers:

* Always pick on the correct idiom.

"why do ilx's woman-hating types always get so defensive of pets"

This is a little strange.

I wouldn't pay too much attention there.
On the way up was a bridge over a cascading stream they had to cross; and under the bridge lived a great ugly troll , with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker.

Also: I will shy away from tack/tact in future.

I've been using it in that fashion for years and this is the first time anybody's ever said anything.

OTM.

http://www.house.state.oh.us/graphics/reps/h33.jpg
I HATE Pit Bulls!

Ohio House Bill 568 to ban Pit Bulls:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_HB_568

"...to prohibit the owning, keeping, or harboring of pit bull dogs beginning ninety days after the effective date of the act and to require specified officers to seize all pit bull dogs after that date.

... (A) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, no person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog that belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.

(B) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a person who owns, keeps, or harbors a pit bull dog on the effective date of this section shall surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(C)(1) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, if an officer has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, the officer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant. The court shall issue a search warrant for the purposes requested if there is probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog.

(2) After obtaining a search warrant, an officer shall seize the pit bull dog and surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog. "

Write your Rep:
http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Representatives.jsp

Pretty ridiculous bill. and nowhere does it say that they have to prove that the dog is a pit bull. (as if it matters.)

well this is just stupid.

all of the pits i have ever met are rescue doggs and they are pretty much across the board the goofiest friendliest dogs i have ever met.

hey dog owners: how much does your guy/gal run you a month/year? i really, REALLY want to get a puppy, but I'm not sure if my budget will allow, and i don't want to be one of those assholes that has to return a pup to the pound because he couldn't put food on the table

hey dog owners: how much does your guy/gal run you a month/year? i really, REALLY want to get a puppy, but I'm not sure if my budget will allow, and i don't want to be one of those assholes that has to return a pup to the pound because he couldn't put food on the table

^^^this

i want a yorkie, they're wonderful

granted i bet the looming cutback in my alcohol consumption (lol med school) ought to cover it, but still. gimme data, dog fanciers

xp u r correct

i want a dog big enough to rough house with, but small enough to fit in my messenger bag

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1016/1286957573_5cd602da7c.jpg?v=0

this guy's out.

6 months old there, wtf

basically i want an awesome terrier/sheepdog mutt, who i will name Neil Young

i want a yorkie, they're wonderful

One of the few small dogs that I endorse wholeheartedly. Adorable and spunky! Go teacup!

Other acceptable small dogs:

Shiba Inu and...

i want a dog big enough to rough house with, but small enough to fit in my messenger bag

You have selected: Jack Russell Terrier

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/PTGPOD/631706.jpg

http://www.dailypuppy.com/dog/Curtis_4812

http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/cute-puppy-pictures-joy.jpg

Okay, I'll capitulate cash flow, bear in mind that it's for an untrained puppy from scratch.

We probably spent about five to seven hundred dollars on start up dog expenses: license, shots, vet physical, crate, first toys, nature's miracle (don't miss this stuff), cash to replace stuff she destroyed (she ate two wii games and two pairs of shoes), first food, first bowls, first leash, nail clippers, doggie shampoo, first collar, first harness, doggie bed, bones, treats, etc. etc. etc.

If you don't work at home or have a back yard and it's a rambunctious dog that you don't want to/can't leave in the house, you're gonna have to do doggie day care or dog walking services. We pay thirty bucks a day, five days a week for that in Jersey; they do pick up and drop off and let her play with other dogs all day and feed her. It's a nice facility. It wouldn't be less than 20 to get her walked twice daily; probably more.

We set aside (my girl and I collectively) about 200 a month. 100 goes to food, treats, new toys, new stuff that she chews up. The other hundred goes into the medical emergency fund; we've already agreed that we can't go into debt for the dog if she gets badly ill, so this is to supplement the "up-to-a-thousand-but-that's-it" limit we put on her when we got her. We probably spend a couple extra bucks beyond that on impulse treats.

Your milage may vary (we definitely spoil her), but for a city dweller I find that owning a dog is roughly as expensive as owning a car.

hello little child substitute:
http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v258/146/19/1202589090/n1202589090_46735_4410.jpg

Your dog is absolutely darling.

In not Pit Bull news, that crazy lady w/ the Presa Canario's that mauled the lady here in SF just got 15 years:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/09/22/state/n104833D43.DTL&feed=rss.news

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/index.html