Pitbull Mix vs. Kids' Safety Quandry - Page 2

[starrlamia]

no animals have locking jaws it is a myth, however they have been bred to bite and hold so it can be difficult to open their jaws.

[foreverinbluejeans]

I have been a foster with several rescue groups in Tucson. Pit Bulls are very common in Tucson and are a problem. Most rescue organizations won't take Pit Bulls or dogs that even look like they might be Pit Bull mixed breeds. Groups raise money so that any Pit Bull owners can have their dogs spayed or neutered for free to try to halt the growth of the Pit Bull population. The animal shelter usually doesn't adopt Pit Bulls out. If a Pit Bull rescue organization doesn't take them they are euthanized.

There are people that say wonderful things about Pit Bulls. The thing is there are so many other dogs. A family with children does not need to take the risk of having a Pit Bull. There are people that will try to make you feel guilty if you give up a dog because they believe if you have a dog you must be the forever home. Children are more important than dogs. If you have a Pit Bull, if you are concerned your dog is not safe, if your dog is making your life difficult, there is nothing wrong with rehoming the dog or turning it over to a rescue organization or shelter.

[starrlamia]

Here is the problem I have with this: You are singling out one breed of dog who is no more inherently dangerous toward people then most other breeds of dogs. There is no more risk to your family when you take on a pit bull then with any other dog. There are other breeds who are more at risk then biting then the pit bull. The fact of the matter is, most people who have pit bulls who are aggressive have either A- gotten one from a terrible breeder, b- not trained it, c- possibly abused it or d- did not manage their dog properly. If you actually read through most newspaper articles and bite reports, they almost always happen with dogs who are left alone with children, are not properly socialized, dont know dog language and/or ignore warnings or are let run at large. If you dont train, exercise and manage your dog you are the problem not the dogs.

I can find you articles of labs and retreivers mauling and biting, I can find you articles of shih tzu's biting, etc, they just dont get publicity in the press.

I take huge issue with people who take on a dog and then decide that they just cant be bothered training or caring for the dog for one reason or another. That is how so many dogs end up in shelters and most of these dogs are euthanized, it doesnt even matter the breed of dog. I am involved with many rescue people and the irresponsibility of people with their dogs is overwhelming. Dont be part of the problem, if you take on a pet then you should be willing to keep it for life, figure out a way to give it the time it deserves before risking it's life by handing it over to a shelter or rehoming. If the dog has true human aggressive tendencies then that is a whole different ballpark, but deciding a dog you have had for years is too much work now that you decided to have children or that you didnt actually think the decision through before getting a dog, is just plain selfish and irresponsible.

/gets off soapbox.
 

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans 

I have been a foster with several rescue groups in Tucson. Pit Bulls are very common in Tucson and are a problem. Most rescue organizations won't take Pit Bulls or dogs that even look like they might be Pit Bull mixed breeds. Groups raise money so that any Pit Bull owners can have their dogs spayed or neutered for free to try to halt the growth of the Pit Bull population. The animal shelter usually doesn't adopt Pit Bulls out. If a Pit Bull rescue organization doesn't take them they are euthanized.

There are people that say wonderful things about Pit Bulls. The thing is there are so many other dogs. A family with children does not need to take the risk of having a Pit Bull. There are people that will try to make you feel guilty if you give up a dog because they believe if you have a dog you must be the forever home. Children are more important than dogs. If you have a Pit Bull, if you are concerned your dog is not safe, if your dog is making your life difficult, there is nothing wrong with rehoming the dog or turning it over to a rescue organization or shelter.

[Tjej]

Originally Posted by starrlamia 

Dog aggression is normal for pit bulls, they are a breed that was bred for hundreds of years to fight other dogs. That has nothing to do with human aggression, they are 2 completely seperate traits that do not overlap. Again, pit bulls were bred to be extremely human focused, to a fault, I know several pit bulls who just chilled out while their house was being robbed. However you shouldnt let your kids around a dog you dont know well. And especially never let them around any dog unsupervised.
 

But where is the guarantee that the dog recognizes a child as a human?  I know my dogs didn't until the first kid started walking. 

I understand your desire to defend the dogs that have done nothing wrong.  But I think you cannot deny that the reputation of pit bulls has influenced the breeding and upbringing of many of them in a negative way. 

I also understand that pit bulls may well have been bred to attack dogs.  I am still beside myself with gladness that we made our dd ride in the stroller that night and not walk, because I don't know if that unsocialized pit bull dog would have recognized her as human either and may well have killed her.

OP, you know your dog and your kids and your lifestyle.  If you really think you can properly train and supervise your dog, go for it.  But if you know that you really don't have the time and presence to do it, it does everyone (including the dog) a favor to acknowledge it sooner rather than later.  A 7mo pup can well be rehomed.

Tjej
 

[starrlamia]

Dogs are not dumb, they recognize children as not being dogs, whether they equate them as human or not, they do know they are not other dogs, hence dog aggression having nothing to do with people aggression. If you really want me to dig up articles by professional canine behaviourists and scientific study, I will do that. Pit bulls do not view humans much differently then any other breed of dog and the big difference is that pit bulls are much friendlier toward people then most breeds, this includes children.

http://www.pitbullproject.ca/myths.htm

Rehoming a dog and securing a responsible home is extremely difficult. If you dont care where your dog goes then it is all fine and dandy, it could end up abused, dead or fighting. There are rescues who have had dogs in their care for years because homes are just not available. Only 1 in 600 pit bulls in the shelter world find a home. Thats 599 dogs who are either waiting or being euthanized. OP if you do decide to rehome your dog please contact a reputable rescue to help you screen homes. I can help you find one if that is the route you are going.
 

Tjej- You bring up a good point. I dont blame you for being wary of strange dogs no matter the breed, but your dog in your home should not be the one you are afraid of. If you are there are some serious issues involved, if you are only afraid of them because of their breed and the media then you have some serious reading/researching to do to help clear up some common misconceptions and ignorance.
 

Originally Posted by Tjej 

But where is the guarantee that the dog recognizes a child as a human?  I know my dogs didn't until the first kid started walking. 

I understand your desire to defend the dogs that have done nothing wrong.  But I think you cannot deny that the reputation of pit bulls has influenced the breeding and upbringing of many of them in a negative way. 

I also understand that pit bulls may well have been bred to attack dogs.  I am still beside myself with gladness that we made our dd ride in the stroller that night and not walk, because I don't know if that unsocialized pit bull dog would have recognized her as human either and may well have killed her.

OP, you know your dog and your kids and your lifestyle.  If you really think you can properly train and supervise your dog, go for it.  But if you know that you really don't have the time and presence to do it, it does everyone (including the dog) a favor to acknowledge it sooner rather than later.  A 7mo pup can well be rehomed.

Tjej
 

[Tjej]

I guess I don't care if the strange dogs see my kids as dogs or other non-humans.  If they see them as small and vulnerable (prey, perhaps?), I see them as dangerous.

I am afraid of pit bulls mainly because of my own personal experience.  Believe it or not, we have been attacked by a number of dogs in our rural community through the years (where they are often not well fenced - it is the fenced but not well-fenced ones that cause problems).  The craziest and worst attack was the pit bull.  The others were not fun, but they were a rotti, german shepherd, and poodle.  Man, it sounds like we get attacked all the time.  This is over 8 years.  We don't (and I suppose I should briefly explain that we run our one dog with the bike and I understand this pulls out the prey drive in some dogs and the other attacks were under those circumstances).  Anyway, you can tell me all you want that pit bulls are just as great.  I've seen friendly ones but I'm not going to have my kids around them and I'm not getting one.  I get it, I'm a little paranoid (you can probably find my thread from a couple of years ago about the attack if you want) but I think I've earned the right and I really don't see why I'd need to have a breed I don't want when there are plenty of others out there I do like.  I never said the OP has to feel the same way about the breed as I do. 

I am not afraid of my dogs, and I don't think my advice to the OP has been particularly scare-tactic-y.  I stand by the advice that the OP should exercise her dog well and train it very well.  I think that you are unfairly painting rehoming as a terrible solution.  The dog is still only 7 months old.  It is still a puppy and now would be the best time if it ultimately is too big of a responsibility for the OP.  Yes, it is better to never rehome dogs.  But if a person has a big, active dog they are unable to properly train around small children, it is better to rehome when they are still a pup than to live that - for everyone - people and dog.  Not everyone is out there to torture and fight pit bulls.  There are other people who could love the dog.  But, of course, the OP may well be able to do what needs to be done.  It's a big job, and if she can trust the dog and she has the time to train it, then she should.

Tjej

[starrlamia]

That is a terrible situation to have been in, but I think you are letting your experience cloud the advice you are giving other people. Being attacked by a strange dog is much much different then your own dog. I wasnt trying to paint rehoming as a totally terrible thing, sometime it can be for the best. But i dont think most people realize A- how hard it is and B- giving a dog to a shelter is risking your dogs life. There are thousands of pit bulls for adopt in the USA and I know many rescues who have pit bulls of all ages that are having trouble adopting them out.
 

Originally Posted by Tjej 

I guess I don't care if the strange dogs see my kids as dogs or other non-humans.  If they see them as small and vulnerable (prey, perhaps?), I see them as dangerous.

I am afraid of pit bulls mainly because of my own personal experience.  Believe it or not, we have been attacked by a number of dogs in our rural community through the years (where they are often not well fenced - it is the fenced but not well-fenced ones that cause problems).  The craziest and worst attack was the pit bull.  The others were not fun, but they were a rotti, german shepherd, and poodle.  Man, it sounds like we get attacked all the time.  This is over 8 years.  We don't (and I suppose I should briefly explain that we run our one dog with the bike and I understand this pulls out the prey drive in some dogs and the other attacks were under those circumstances).  Anyway, you can tell me all you want that pit bulls are just as great.  I've seen friendly ones but I'm not going to have my kids around them and I'm not getting one.  I get it, I'm a little paranoid (you can probably find my thread from a couple of years ago about the attack if you want) but I think I've earned the right and I really don't see why I'd need to have a breed I don't want when there are plenty of others out there I do like.  I never said the OP has to feel the same way about the breed as I do. 

I am not afraid of my dogs, and I don't think my advice to the OP has been particularly scare-tactic-y.  I stand by the advice that the OP should exercise her dog well and train it very well.  I think that you are unfairly painting rehoming as a terrible solution.  The dog is still only 7 months old.  It is still a puppy and now would be the best time if it ultimately is too big of a responsibility for the OP.  Yes, it is better to never rehome dogs.  But if a person has a big, active dog they are unable to properly train around small children, it is better to rehome when they are still a pup than to live that - for everyone - people and dog.  Not everyone is out there to torture and fight pit bulls.  There are other people who could love the dog.  But, of course, the OP may well be able to do what needs to be done.  It's a big job, and if she can trust the dog and she has the time to train it, then she should.

Tjej