I used to have three pitbulls and now I have a chihuahua and let me just say that I’ve been bitten and attacked by her a couple of times! Point is when I used to have the three of those pitbulls they never once showed any agression towards me, they were the most kind and loving dogs that I have ever had.

I completely agree-I’ve got many friends and relatives with pitbulls, and they’re some of the most loving animals I’ve met- and a friend of a friend’s dachshund, supposedly a ‘cute, harmless little breed’ bit through my pants and into my leg last month upon my mere entering her house…the stereotypes placed on certain breeds is horrendous. Hopefully people’s attitudes will change once more and more people begin to realize that the breed is not at fault for its reputation, but the people fostering that reputation. Though there certainly are those dogs who just aren’t the friendliest, a little common sense can spare us a majority of the self-defense lash outs many animals exhibit on those who mock them. A little positive media could be exactly what they need to boost the awareness of these reeds’ capacity for kjndness…maybe Disney or the likes could whip out a little ‘Lovable, Teary-Eyed Rottweiler Looking for an Adoring Companion Home’ flick. Either way, these supposedly violent breeds deserve a chance to be recognized for their sweet attributes!

I would say 98% of the dog attacks are provoked in some way but many people just don’t spot the signs. Of course, there’s the 2% of attacks that are just random and couldn’t have been prevented at all.

Unfortunately people who want violent ‘status’ dogs are the ones that cause breeds to get and keep bad reputations

I grew up with a pitbull for 14 years of my life. She was the sweetest dog I’ve ever had Granted, she did attack a few animals, but I feel like that could happen with any breed of dog. I think the reason people are so afraid of pitbulls is because of all the negative things the media has to say about this specific breed and the fact that they so seldom see how wonderful pitbulls can be

I’m very sorry to hear that, that must have been very traumatizing
I hope I didn’t offend you. I didn’t mean to suggest that -all- dog attacks are provoked, I know in some cases it is spontaneous – I just meant to say that of all the cases reported of random dog attacks, it is very unlikely that they were -all- random, and also that breed has very little to do with it.

Styna…. in response to you saying “we hear stories all the time of rotts and pitbulls randomly attacking “for no reason”. Family dogs that just -decided- one day to eat a kids face.
I CALL SHENANIGANS!” me and my partner had an american bulldog not too long ago whilst we lived with his mum an sister… and the dog nearly killed her. She was in hospital for ages and needed over 100 stitches…. She had never done a wrong thing to that dog, in fact she loved it to bits and wouldn’t hear a bad word said about it when it barked at 4am… but it just got it in its mind one day to rip her head off and it damn near managed it. She wasn’t arguing with anyone, she wasn’t eating (someone suggested food might have caused it to attack) she was just sat reading a book. I can think of no reason (and believe me I have spent a long time thinking) why that dog would try and kill my sister…. but it did. I don’t agree that every supposed “no reason” attack happens for no reason, but I do believe that sometimes, it genuinely does.

I posted something like this about bully breeds not long ago on my facebook, because my boyfriends grandpa found out I have a rottweiler and said I should “put her down”. JUST BECAUSE SHE IS A ROTT!
the amount of criticism I got from people who didn’t have any experience with the breed was startling. Granted, I’d never had experience with a rottweiler either, but it is so unfair to judge a dog purely based on their breed.
When I lived in Columbus, my neighbors in the apartment building had a Pitbull named Bella, and we used to babysit her every once in a while. She was such a sweet dog!
Pitts, Rotts, and Dobermans have gotten a -horrible- reputation, but it’s not their fault. It’s because horrible humans chose those breeds to fight. Since there are stories of mean ones, many people assume they are all mean.
But thats like saying one person from New York is bad, so they are ALL bad. It’s completely unfair. Every dog has it’s own personality, and dogs naturally want to be loyal and loving – but they need loyalty and love in return. It isn’t until humans deprive them of that, and replace it with anger, pain, and abuse that the dogs develop often violent personalities.

In this area, we hear stories all the time of rotts and pitbulls randomly attacking “for no reason”. Family dogs that just -decided- one day to eat a kids face.
I CALL SHENANIGANS!
Besides the fact that ANY dog, regardless of it’s breed, is fully capable of randomly “snapping”, more often than not the dog is provoked in some way. If a kid is kicking the dog, pulling on it’s ears, what have you – the dog may feel the need, eventually, to defend itself. In that case, I believe it is the childs fault for provoking a dog, as well as the parents fault for not properly educating the child how to treat and respect dogs.
But of course, in a parents eyes, if it comes down to a dog or their child, they will most likely wont blame their child.

What shocks me most is how often we hear of stories about these breeds, but never about others.
Columbus Children’s hospital mentioned that the most common dog attacks they see are actually from Golden Retrievers. So much so that they have nicknamed them Golden Deceivers.

The problem is that people think dogs should obey them no matter what they, or their kids, do to the dogs. That simply isn’t true. A dog should have just as much right to protect itself if it feels wronged as a human, and we should respect them.

When I was very young, my grandparents had a Collie that bit me. They “got rid of him” the next day, which I learned years later meant that they SHOT him.
Chances are, as a small kid, I did something that provoked him. It wasn’t his fault. I should have -known- better. He definitely didn’t deserve to die for nipping at me!
My first experience with learning to respect animals came that same year. I was a frisky child, and I used to tease our cat to no end. Eventually, she wisened up and SMACKED THE HELL out of me. One of her claws even became lodged in my knee.
Naturally, I went crying to my mom.
Now… we didn’t punish the cat. We didn’t get rid of her. My mom simply said “That is what you get for messing with the cat!”
From that day forward, that cat and I became very good friends, and I never mistreated another animal because I understood that it was wrong. That animals were capable of feeling wronged, and that they were able to (and had the right to) react accordingly.
It is unfair to blame animals for the faults of humans, the faults of the people who are -supposed- to be taking care of them and loving them. Animals don’t get to choose their homes. They aren’t able to say “please stop”.
“Bully breeds” have the shortest end of the stick, I’m afraid, and it is purely the fault of humans that this is so.
I’m very happy to be able to physically show people that rottweilers aren’t -bad-. My grandma was TERRIFIED when I told her I took in a rottweiler, especially a 3 year old one. But once she met her, her mindset changed COMPLETELY. she adores this dog, and I think she realizes now that dogs shouldn’t be defined by their breed.
If her mind could be changed, I fully believe anyone’s mind can be. And it is our responsibility to show them The dogs need our help

Ive grown up with pitbulls my entire life, i even volunteer at my local animal shelter and we mainly have pitbulls puppies or adults in there, and i keep seeing to get the people that always have something negetive to say about the breed. society has made a sterotype of pits that they are aggressive mean dogs and there not, they are actually very smart, sweet and easiest(personally) dogs to train, just want to see what my fellow animal lovers think about this or what things have you heard about this beautiful breed =]