Pit Bulls: What's the appeal?

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Did I ever once claim NOT to have an opinion on this subject matter? Look at the language in the question, for pete's sakes, it quite obviously takes assumes a dismissive/derisive tone towards the animals. That said, I am still honestly and legitimate puzzled by the appeal of owning such an animal. As to why I continue to be puzzled, hasn't there ever been an instance in your life wherein someone handed you an explanation that you SIMPLY DIDN'T BUY? or at least simply didn't fathom?

I don't hide it under the guise of demonization and persecution.

Because Oops was getting frustrated by the mere fact that I still hadn't changed my tune and joined the happy I love Pit bulls club, he resorted to petty character assasination and Luna implied that I'm needlessly argumentative. Maybe "demonization" and "persecution" are too weighty terms for that, but I found it a bit unnecessary.

You're getting this response because people are getting frustrated with trying to discuss this with you (and, uh, certain others on this thread--like I said, if you let one bad experience color your entire perspective on a species, breed, whatever and those that associate with them, that's your own issue to be dealt with, no one else's). You can't possibly tell anyone that you don't enjoy this just a little bit, no?

I don't enjoy being reduced to a cliche, thanks very much. Perhaps I should have titled this thread: DEFEND THE INDEFENSIBLE: PIT BULLS! Would that have made my predisposition about the topic clearer?

They're Delicious!

I am suspicious of the categorical nature of that statement when there is ample evidence to suggest otherwise. But, maybe I'm just being Sammy Safety.

I worked at a kennel for a while and the only injury I had was from a toy poodle. The dog I adopted was a mastiff/pitbull/rottweiler mix mutt, he was the best pet available there.

If you are worried about pit bulls then you will poop a log when you hear this- check it out, a guy I know owns a 600lb Siberian Tiger. He drives it around in a limo, it sleeps in his bed every night. I got to draw it a bunch of times when he brought it to my school as a drawing model. Bringing that in a school full of students dangerous maybe? Well, they did it without worrying about liability and there's even a testimonial letter on the website.
http://qadesh.com/

They're GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRATE!

No Toronto. Who's that guy! Is he who whut I thunk I heard about that dude who tried to keep a tiger in a house without permits or anything?

Also, for the record, my parents own a German Shepard/Rottweiler mix (we think), and though he can be a little feisty sometimes, he's a generally a sweetheart. They adopted him after finding him abandoned in the woods near their friends' cabin. What would've been a better choice for them? To leave him in the woods where he'd starve? (He was, by the behavior he exhibited, obviously already domesticated.)

also, here is some stuff about dog attacks.

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.

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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?