For all the pitbull haters - name me a "safe" dog breed.

[BeachBaby]

I want to be educated on breeds that are in NO WAY a threat to a human being.

[Robb]

1. Papillions.

Although one might be forgiven for not knowing they were actually dogs. :D

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. The most obnoxious dog I have ever known was a Papillon.

While he was not especially dangerous physically (my cat handily kicked his ass), his nonstop yapping and leg-humping were hazardous to one's blood pressure.

[Xithras]

129. delete

posted in wrong spot

[mainer]

163. I met a really mean one. They like to bite.

[EmilyAnne]

234. My little papillon is curled up with my cat, fast asleep.

She doesn't yap nor hump, but she can be extremely nervous around strange people because she was rescued out of a condemned puppy mill. She also likes to crap in the bath tub which is always a lovely surprise to wake up, jump in the shower and discover one of her little gifts.

Pit bulls scare me, but I happen to live in a city that is literally overrun with poorly bred pits. This poor animal seems to be the "it" dog of the larger breeds right now, so with that comes some incredibly dangerous breeding methods. I wonder if the reports of attacks mentioned if the animals were neutered rather than the breed, we would see a more meaningful pattern. Every time I hear about a pit bull attack, it seems that it involves either an unneutered male or a female that is guarding her puppies. The pit bulls I have known and loved were all spayed or neutered. Just my observations that could mean absolutely nothing, of course.

[BeachBaby]

11. LOL

Very cute, they are. But, I imagine they could harm someone's big toe, if the mood were to strike. :P

[flvegan]

2. Oh, here we go.

:popcorn:

[Bluebear]

Hater!!!1

[Jamastiene]

46. This thread is going to be enlightening.

:popcorn:

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. I like pit bulls, but I sense a leading question here

Chinese Crested are so damn small you could crush its head between a finger and thumb, so I expect they would be safe.

[goclark]

121. My little Maltese

lived 11 years and never touched anyone ~ :shrug:

[Bluebear]

4. Well, the "percentages" certainly "favor" breeds other than the "pitbull".

Just sayin'.

[randr]

5. Tell me the last time you read of a child being shredded to death

that it was not a pit bull?

[Demoiselle]

37. The "pit bull" label is frequently misused in news reports.

The label itself is a very very loose one, the dogs bred and used for fighting are usually very mutty mixes,intentionally brutalized for fighting. The bastards who do this to dogs should all spend a very long and unpleasant time in prison, in my view. One of the foundation breeds used for this disgusting "sport" is the American Staffordshire Terrier, a dog that, if properly bred, is a friendly, lively, human-loving wagglebutt.
The black and white dog in the Our Gang Comedies (Petey, I think his name was) was a small Staffie.
Please please check out the Bad Rap web site for some sensible information about "pit bulls."
These are the people who fostered all of Michael Vick's surviving dogs, all of whom turned out to be completely acceptable, adoptable, human friendly dogs. ALL of them.
The web address is: www.badrap.com

[DBoon]

64. a pit bull was the only dog promoted to sergeant in the US military

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Stubby

[tabasco]

202. Mutts are the best dogs.

Pure breeds are more inclined to be sick and unstable.

[Demoiselle]

248. Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a pure breed is popularity.

Then everybody breeds em to sell em. And very little attention is paid to sensible healthy breeding standards."Purity" isn't the villain, inbreeding is...the mating of dogs too closely related brings out any inherent weakness in the dog. And unscrupulous or ignorant breeders will continue to breed dogs with obvious weaknesses.
It's sad. There are plenty of very responsible breeders out there who love their dogs and wouldn't dream of wrecking their health or the overall condition of the breed just to make a buck.
And then there are the puppy mills....

[Kalyke]

128. Uhh.... you must not read the news too much.

Rottie: http://www.popeater.com/2010/03/01/ax-men-star-jesse-browning-daughter-killed-by-pet-rottwe/http://www.popeater.com/2010/03/01/ax-men-star-jesse-browning-daughter-killed-by-pet-rottwe/

http://www.newser.com/story/76052/rottweiler-kills-fla-toddler.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=rottweiler+kills+child&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Doberman: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=LCE&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=doberman+kills+child&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

And here is alllllll kinds:

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/OtherBreedBites/AllDogsBite.htm

Heck... there's even a story about those "vicious" cocker spaniels attacking children!

(I have a Cocker Spaniel. He's about as vicious as lamb. I know back in the 80s when they were so popular and puppy-milled, some were violent, but, now that they're back to regular breeding, they're much calmer and sweet as can be. And mine's even a rescue!!!)

[johnaries]

214. Almost all of them.

People mistakenly identify dogs as Pit Bulls all the time. Most attacks are not by Pit Bulls, but by other breeds that witnessess "swear up and down" was a Pit Bull.

Don't believe me. Google it. Actually, Pit Bulls are some of the most gentile and most loyal dogs there are. According to Dog Trainers. Google it.

[randr]

254. I am still waiting for a report of a breed other than Pit Bull

mauling a child.

[Hepburn]

270. Rot...

...one got a kid the other day.

[stray cat]

6. Bichon Frise - now thats a dog that can do real damage!

although the last time they took down someone jogging is a bit hard to remember

[LLStarks]

93. My bichon is a wet noodle. Loves everyone.

[snooper2]

108. Our Bichon loves his mommy, kind of likes me,

protects the baby and will raise holy hell if he sees somebody in the back or front yard or a knock on the door...

They are watch dogs, not guard dogs though. Soon as soembody comes inside he backs up against and stares them down until we tell him it's all okay :)

[Shell Beau]

199. My aunt's beloved bichon bit my brother on the nose and

tried to bite my infant niece at the time. Just sayin'.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I predict this won't end well.

Little:



Big:

[BrklynLiberal]

18. I used to have a Little and a Big.

Sadly..I now have only a Big

and the cats are the boss of him....

Here is my Big with the forever missed Little...Boen is the GSD and Jenna was the mixed breed that looked like a collie.shep mix

[wickerwoman]

44. Holy crap! That's my cat!

That two-timing little bastard! Cheating on me with a German Shepherd!

[BrklynLiberal]

185. Wow! I never knew that Cassie had another identity!

When she was away for days at a time, she told me she had a job that required her to travel.....
:rofl: :rofl:

[uppityperson]

89. My big dog, tuxedo cat, and the "dog bed" photo

[Myrina]

102. He looks like a Lion!!

:loveya: I love that coat!!

[BrklynLiberal]

229. You are right. There is a lot of the look of a lion there.....

[BrklynLiberal]

187. They are soooooo cute when they do this kind of thing, aren't they?

They are both gorgeous. I love tuxedos. I have one of those too. But mine does not have the moustache. :D

What kind of pup is that?

[uppityperson]

223. My dog was so sweet, laid down on the very edge rather than disturb the kitten.

Too funny indeed. The dog is a 100% Purebred Western WA Bronze Retriever, aka pound puppy mutt. We think he's a mix of golden retriever and rottweiler, 95# of fuzz that wants to be with you no matter where you go. He's getting quite old, slowing down, probably his last spring.

[BrklynLiberal]

228. He is adorable. Looks like a love bunny for sure.

Boen also cedes the bed to Cassie...and it is HIS bed!! :D

[Javaman]

131. I feel a lock coming on. LOL nt

[Ptah]

8. .

[azmouse]

9. Lhasa Apso.

They'll just love ya to death.

[PADemD]

68. Agreed

[GrantDem]

12. Beagles...

[Writer]

13. ...

[quinnox]

14. meh, I don't like dogs

Pit Bulls are just as bad if not worse than the rest of them. I'm a cat person, dogs disgust me. I especially hate the ones that bark all the time and raise hell so people can't have peace and quite in their homes.

[Bluebear]

15. Why do dogs digust you? Besides the peace & quite thing?

Just curious.

[cherokeeprogressive]

51. I have a year and a half old Golden Retriever. I haven't heard her bark 20 times.

That's not 20 barking episodes I'm talking about, it's twenty individual WOOFS. My 10 month old Chihuahua is the same way (hard to believe if you know Chihuahuas) because all she's ever known is a silent partner in the Golden Retriever.

My cat? My male cat? He's not above sitting downstairs at two in the morning and fucking HOWLING. Sometimes I imagine myself putting him in the cat carrier and driving him twenty miles away and letting him out. Then I imagine my wife divorcing me and thinking better of it.

[Kalyke]

136. My Chihuahua doesn't bark much, either.

My Golden Retriever, Mutt and Cocker Spaniel do, but only when people or cats come in the yard.

[Arkansas Granny]

142. My little mutt is 11 years old and she barks so seldom that when she does

I always go outside and investigate. It's nearly always a possum or skunk in or near her fenced in area of the yard. She doesn't bark at humans, other dogs or the neighborhood cats. She greets me in the evening when I come home with a few little yips and yodels and that's the last you hear out of her until the next evening. You can probably guess, she is useless as a watchdog.

[Kalyke]

135. And I hate cats that come into my yard and rile up my dogs, making

them bark all the time so that neither of us have peace and QUIET (not quite).

There should be leash laws for cats, as well as dogs.

[Shell Beau]

204. Ick.

Anyone who "hates" dogs is no friend of mine. Silly? Maybe. I can understand not preferring dogs, but hating them? I can't like a dog hater.

[zbdent]

16. Stuffed and freeze-dried ...

[leftstreet]

17. Snoopy

:beer:

[lame54]

48. tell that to the Red Baron

[salguine]

19. The breed known as "The North American not a pit bull".

[donco6]

20. Dumb.

Yeah, yeah, even ants can bite. It stings.

But I doubt one could tear the throat out of a little girl in 4 seconds.

[my2sense]

21. Maltese n/t

[MichaelHarris]

22. mutts need homes

mine died last week.

[Catshrink]

26. So sorry for your loss.

:grouphug:

[MichaelHarris]

54. thank you

it's been so much harder than I thought it would be.

[alittlelark]

40. I'm also a big fan of mutts - I've had 3, all wonderful.

I know how hard it is to lose one. One day at a time....

:cry: :hug:

[MichaelHarris]

52. thank you

the house is so quiet now, the dog hair is also gone. I would take the noise and the hair all over my clothes back in a minute if I could.

[Kalyke]

137. Awww...

When you're ready, go rescue a life at the local animal shelter. They have lots of good mutts. My mutt came from there. My other three pure-breeds came from rescues.

[CitizenLeft]

149. I'm so sorry.

In mourning myself. Good advice above - rescue another mutt when you're ready and spoil 'im silly.

:hug:

[zanana1]

95. I don't see many mutts anymore...

People seem to want "designer" dogs now. I, too, am a mutt lover. I miss them. I have three cats so no dogs, but there must be something wrong with me because I love both. Maybe I'm just a "puppycat" person.

[Arkansas Granny]

148. Yes, they want "designer" dogs and then complain about the puppy mills

that result from so many people wanting to own the current popular dog. I prefer to choose a dog because of their temperament and personality instead of looks, so a mutt suits me just fine. In addition, the range of coloring, type of coat, size and overall looks may make that mutt a one of a kind. How cool is that?

[JuniperLea]

178. My Cooper has been gone almost seven years...

And I cry every time I think of him... so precious... only another dog lover could understand.

:hug:

Go get another mutt... they are the best... smarter, stronger, healthier, IMHO.

It's hard to love this short life creatures only to lose them... but I'll never be without if I can help it.

RIP Cooper... and Michael's dog...

[Catshrink]

23. My neighbor has a pit bull

she's a very sweet dog. I prefer my wiener dogs - they are the coolest, funniest, goofiest, sweetest, most cuddly loving dogs evah!

Come on, look at this face and tell me you aren't in love with my baby!

[blueamy66]

106. What's your baby's name?

cute!

[Catshrink]

209. Bratwurst

because he's a wiener. Such a good boy (when he's not killing birds!).

[blueamy66]

241. That is hysterical!

best name ever for a weiner dog

[Catshrink]

246. He is the most awesome creature!

[blueamy66]

247. We were gonna go

with Oscar...for Oscar Meyer Weiner. Yeah, I know it's trite, but still cute.

I'm still on the fence about gettting dogs though.

Push me over the edge....tell me why I should get a few. :-)

[Catshrink]

249. I'd say at least two

so they can keep each other company. Cats can be solitary creatures, but dogs are much more social. Cats don't seem to care too much when I walk in the door from work - the dogs are eager for kisses and hugs and are so happy to see me! They like to ride in the car, go for walks, and are always up for anything fun. Dogs raise your spirits. The dachshunds have just the right amount of energy for me and I can't imagine how I lived so many years without a dog. We always had them as kids but I had cats for years. Now I have both.

[Contrary1]

24. If you could see the 8 inch scratch that runs from the base of my neck

to the middle of my chest, it would be all too clear what the most dangerous pet on the planet is.

Here she is...all 5 pounds of her.



Damn, she got me good.

[Bobbie Jo]

31. Awww....that sweet little thing?

Gotta love 'em, I know.

[zanana1]

96. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...

Don't you love how innocent they look when they're sleeping? We know better. I had a mammogram last week and the technician said "How did you get those scratches"? I couldn't come up with anything believable, so I had to tell her the truth.
Awkward moment.

[Blue_Tires]

25. we had an Old English Sheepdog years ago...

big, lovable, energetic, craves human attention, great with children and doesn't have a malicious bone in their bodies

of course i may be biased

[virgogal]

27. Shelties. That said,a dog is a dog.

[PSzymeczek]

63. My husband's aunt's Sheltie

bit him on the upper lip. Hubster required stitches.

[ladywnch]

113. my mother was attacked by a sheltie

that lunged at her and bit down on her right thumb as she attempted to defend herself. when the dog bit down she tried using her left hand to pry the dog loose only to have it clamp down on her left thumb biting down to the bone on both thumbs.

As with any child who has a negligent parent can become a violent criminal so can dogs become violent without proper ownership. I've seen it dozens of times. most people should NOT be dog owners.

I've seen local breed bans on poodles, goldens, labs, bichons, shelties as well as chows, dobbies, Shepard's, siberians, malamutes, rot ties, pits, Akita's, heelers, and more.

on any given day a human being can snap, grab a gun, find a clock tower and kill people and a dog can snap and tear up someone. I don't see anyone banning procreation on the off chance that that can happen.

[My Good Babushka]

28. There are no dogs that are 100% guaranteed not to attack

I wouldn't trust any size dog alone with a small child or infant.

[BeachBaby]

193. Totally agree. n/t.

[LaydeeBug]

29. shitzu. nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

30. haven't heard about malicious chocolate labs, really

Seriously, any dog can turn bad, but for whatever reason, pit bulls have taken on a pretty negative connotation. I know our family steers clear of them, as unwarranted as it probably is....just too many pit bull attack news items, I suppose.

[Missy Vixen]

225. Oh, I was told earlier today that chocolate Labs are vicious

Here's our Moose. Eighteen months old, and eighty pounds of "Willya scratch my belly? Willya? I really like it when you stroke my ears, too. Ahhh. Thanks, Mom."



I might add that due to the fact he's still an excitable puppy (and we rescued him from an owner that did not socialize him,) we are very careful when he is around others, especially kids. It was really fun to watch him play with a couple of little boys at the dog park on Sunday.

[Lifelong Protester]

32. We loved our American Water Spaniel

most all spaniels are pretty mellow.

And I think any dog can be so maltreated as to become a 'bad dog', American Bulls, American Staffordshire, whatever.

[madmom]

85. Yep we used to have a cocker, extremely laid back. We used to say if he was any more laid

back, he'd be in a coma. He was my baby, snif, I miss him.:cry:

[Brickbat]

33. I treat every dog like it could freak at any given time. And that includes my own dogs.

I'm not afraid of them, but nor do I fool myself into thinking that they think like people do.

[pipi_k]

35. Exactly!

People should NEVER assume their dogs "wouldn't bite".

Under the right (or wrong) circumstances, they could bite...including my own. I'm not afraid of mine, either, but I do get a little nervous when other people are around. They can sound very scary when they want to.

[pipi_k]

34. Oscar Mayer

Never saw one bite anyone yet....

:7




Seriously though...I don't hate Pitbulls.

[Dappleganger]

38. If you're talking about weiner dogs...

they're known biters and often listed as such, but they're small so can't do as much damage.

I have two mini-dapple doxies and adore the breed, however (and both are in my lap keeping the laptop warm).

[pipi_k]

112. Nope

I meant this kind of wiener dogs...






ha ha

[hughee99]

36. Beagles are good, I'm a big fan of mine.

http://www.dogbitelaw.com/Dog%20Attacks%201982%20to%202006%20Clifton.pdf

According to this, the only beagle related fatality was because the beagle was tugging on a leash that was wrapped around a child's neck.

[nomaco-10]

167. I'm fostering a two year old right now. She is lovely...

smart, sweet natured and totally trusting even after months of neglect and abuse.

I think I may have found her a home, but they must be checked out a little further.

[bamademo]

39. Golden Retrievers and Labs

They will bark at intruders and then love you to death. Great therapy dogs.

[salin]

62. have lived with 4 goldens... never had a snapper (post puppy nipping)

and never heard of a story of a golden turning dangerous. Doesn't mean it hasn't happened, but if so - pretty rare. Can't count on my hands the number of stories I have read or heard about per pittbull attacks. At least one of our goldens was difficult - per training - but never a safety issue.

[smirkymonkey]

139. I agree - of course it's not completely impossible, but it's

EXTREMELY rare for Goldens to bite or attack (except for the little puppy love bites!) My family has grown up w/ Beagles, Goldens and Labs and none of them has ever been the slightest bit aggressive, even when we have accidentally hurt them or the children in the family pull them selves up by using the dogs tail.

They are just the most loving, affectionate breeds. My sister also had a Rottweiler, who I loved - I was one of the people she "protected", but she did growl at people and bit a few. Not enough to cause any real harm, more of a warning. She could have done some real damage if she wanted to.

[Shell Beau]

210. I love goldens and labs, I have had both. All so extremely sweet.

But one of my friend's mom was mauled by a lab. She had lots of stitches in her vagina and head. This was the neighbor's pet.

[The River]

41. I Don't Think So

"I want to be educated on breeds that are in NO WAY a threat to a human being."

All dogs can nip, bite or become aggressive when threatened but as up-thread posters have noted,
why is it nearly always PB's that kill kids and old ladies?

Bogus OP that should be locked if it weren't for the nice woozle pics.

[BeachBaby]

47. It's an honest question.

IMO, ANY dog has the propensity to harm a human being.

But you don't see thread after thread about the maiming that German Shepherds are capable of, do you?

Or Rottweilers. Or Akitas. Or Chows. Or Neopolitan Mastiffs. The list goes on.

Is it because these dogs are "prettier" by society definition?

Btw, my best friend had a piece of her earlobe bitten off by a Pomeranian.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Violet_Crumble]

239. No, it wasn't...

There's clearly have an agenda and the language used like 'haters' made that very obvious...

btw, my dog is one that definately can't harm anyone. She's a Chihuahua/Foxy cross and so micro that if she ever did bite anyone, her teeth wouldn't even be able to break anyone's skin. I guess it could be possible to trip over her when she goes all manic and does cartwheels everywhere when I'm getting her dinner out, but I gather the thread is about dogs attacking, not small dogs getting caught under yr feet...

[BeachBaby]

266. Yes, it was.

I started this thread, in reaction to an earlier thread about pitbulls.

People are so eager, ready and willing to ban a breed. They're not thinking.

I love dogs. I am more attached to large dogs, than small ones. In my experience, I have found large dogs to be more in control of themselves than small ones.

For the very high population of pitbulls in this country, there are a handful (in comparison) that have caused harm to humans or to other animals.

For many years, I worked in a defense firm. While personal injury wasn't our forte, we did handle those kinds of cases, from time to time. I remember one specific case, where a 15-year-old girl was walking home from school, when a pit came out of an alley, knocked her down, and ripped the right side of her face off. He also bit off 3 of her fingers when she held up her hands to protect her face.

We had to defend the owner of the dog. She was a very nice woman who had adopted this dog from a shelter in Philadelphia. After completing some discovery, we found out that the dog's history included being chained to a tree and used for fights. She felt that because she had no children, she could "rehabilitate" this dog. To her, the dog was very friendly - he just needed a lot of love. She happened to be a white woman. The prior owner of the pit was a black man, and the girl who was attacked was a black girl. I remember my boss surmising that, if the dog associated abuse with black people, he was going to attack any black person he saw - since the pit showed absolutely no aggression toward his new owner, nor the new owner's brother and mother. We'll never know.

All of that to say, we also covered a case where a White Shepherd ripped out the calf muscle of a pre-teen boy, with his teeth. One of my best friends had to have his German Shepherd put to sleep, because she attacked a little girl riding her Big Wheel down the sidewalk. My neighbor was attacked by an Akita, while jogging through his development. He had to have 4 surgeries on his forearm to repair all the damage.

That is the point of my OP. It isn't about the breed. It's about each and every dog's ability to harm, if improper breeding/training and/or negligence/abuse are involved.

Humans are to blame here. Not the dogs.

[LiberalFighter]

42. I've been bitten twice by poodles. One mine when I first got her.

The second, the day after she was spayed and I picked her up. Been bit by a Pom too.

Those are the only times I've been bitten where it broke skin. Other bites have been did not break skin or even scratch. Some probably think that all Chihuahuas are monsters but I all that I have fostered have been sweethearts.


As for the pit bull issue it isn't the dog but the owner. Sure there may be issues with the dog but there will always be issues with any dog.


You have to consider the risks you want to take. Both personally and in court. And the purpose and how much you want to invest in the dog. If you are just looking for companionship primarily or for protection. Either will require some training with protection requiring more.

Then you need to decide what type of personality you want with the dog.


Your request for breeds that are no threat to humans... There are none! There are degrees of threat from just harm all the way to serious injury or death.

[elias49]

43. Labrador retreivers

I have a chocolate and a black. Both sweethearts.
Rarely bark, never chewed things up as pups. I don't know what I'd do without them.

[petronius]

45. I don't think anyone has claimed that any dogs are perfectly safe

But the fact that no dogs are perfectly safe does not mean that some are not less safe than others. You're setting up a strawman - the potential risks of some dog types are irrelevant in assessing the risks of other dog types....

[protocol rv]

49. Chi hua hua

Pekinese, Labrador, Boxer, Doberman, Akita.

The question, of course, is irrelevant, so I gave you an irrelevant answer.

The question I ask, and I am sure other rational, mature individuals ask, is which breeds are disproportionately prone to attack, and have the capacity to maim the victim? Evidently a chihuahua is fairly inoffensive - if you are not familiar with it, it's like small rodent.

If you want to own an animal which can cause so much damage, then you should have a very large insurance policy to cover the potential damages. I would guess about $5 million should do it.

[BeachBaby]

55. Wow. Really?

Just in the 7 years I worked in shelters, we had several "bite cases" involving Akitas, Dobermans and Boxers. IIRC, the Akita ripped a little girl's hand off at the wrist.

[XemaSab]

78. I got bit by a chihuahua when I was 2

:(

[FLyellowdog]

50. Why do you hate America?nt

[malakai2]

53. Pound Puppies

Hot dogs, unless ingested. Sun dogs, provided you're not also staring at the sun. Hush puppies. Mudpuppies. Prairie dogs are pretty safe unless you go sticking your arm down their burrows.

[DBoon]

67. You forgot "bubble puppies"

Perfectly safe '60s garage rock - never bit anyone nor growled in anger

[malakai2]

71. The king of diamonds in the back there

He looks potentially aggressive. I don't know if he's pitbull on the scale of potential aggressiveness, but he's certainly somewhere north of golden retriever. I'm guessing cravat there on the right is more golden retriever. The poodle on the left may in fact be a poodle on the aggressivity scale, I'm just going to go with it. The pale sun god down in front looks kinda like a skinny terrier who's owner dressed him up in a ridiculous shirt-like article of clothing and a funny hairdo, and I swear I've seen dogs with murder in their eyes when made to parade around in public like that.

[Tailormyst]

56. All dogs can bite, not all dogs can easily kill

Big powerful dogs need owners who know how to be an Alpha. IMHO, the owners are the problem and all owners of large breeds should be required to take a special course. That would eliminate many irresponsible owners.

[spoony]

124. A very reasonable post

...what's THAT doing in a pit bull thread! :P

[ZombieHorde]

57. Pugs. nt

[slampoet]

61. + 1 most of their teeth are sideways and often their mouths are too small

to be threatening.

I suppose their paws could give you a good scratch.

[JCMach1]

69. Yep MOSTLY HARMLESS

[ZombieHorde]

58. Naughty little dupe. nt

[PSzymeczek]

60. I had an Aussie Shepherd mix.

Highly intelligent, very protective, but I never saw her bite anyone.

[LWolf]

100. My aussie bit me once.

A gentle nip on the ankle, because I wasn't heading the direction she wanted to go. She found the "obedience" class full of other dogs highly stressful. So many other dogs to establish her authority over, and I wasn't letting her approach.

Aussies are herding dogs, and WILL nip to herd or to keep their pack in line. They are highly territorial, as well, and need careful socialization as puppies.

Mine was growling at people coming over to the house at 12 weeks old. She learned not to growl, but will still "push" people to keep them away from me, if allowed to get away with it. She "pushes" cheerfully; smiling, wiggling, and leaning into the legs to encourage people to step back.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

65. Well, actually, some of the sweetest dogs I have ever met were Pitbulls

On the other hand, my little Shi-Tzu, Bonnie, all 8 pounds of her, has been known to successfully take on Presia Caneriou. She cracks me up! She is the tinyist little, most loving baby you could ever imagine. With her hair grown in, she looks like an Ewock, but, if a female dog gets anywhere near her, Oh My God! I have never seen such agression! I'm not sure what's going on in her little mind. Usually she just trips on things like butterflys but, I swear to God, I've owned dogs all my life, or more approperiatly, they have had me as their servant, and I have never owned a dog badder than Bonnie!

[Hello_Kitty]

70. We have a Chihuahua-Poodle mix who is the same way.

4 pounds of badass! We also have a female Sheltie. The girls have a wary truce, for the most part, but every once in a while the Chi-Poo will try to hump the Sheltie to show her who's boss. She's not big enough to mount the back of the Sheltie so she tries to do it from the side. The Sheltie looks up at us like "WTF is her problem?" :rofl:

[Blue_In_AK]

66. Our Shih-tzu is pretty cool,

although she does like to jump on people when they first come in the house.

[nightrain]

72. Siberian Husky

[Bonobo]

73. Labrador retriever. nt

[TZ]

231. Not true.

Labs have been known to bite and hurt people from time to time. How do I know this? I had a friend who's lab bit someone.

[KamaAina]

74. Cat.

:P

One of my first canine friends was a standard bull terrier. I can just imagine her human Tanna trying to explain to everyone in this era of breed hysteria, "No, no! Kittzer's not a pit bull! She's a standard bull terrier!"

[REP]

75. Hush puppies?

(I don't hate any breed, and understand that "big aggressive dog" = pit bull to sloppy reporters)

[Gman]

76. Yorkies come to mind

[opihimoimoi]

77. Sammys...Samoyeds

[Hepburn]

271. The nastiest, meanest dog I EVER met -- a Samoyed.

Lived across the street from me when I was a kid. Beautiful -- but deadly. I always wondered why in the hell the people kept him. He bit everyone in the family. Some times the dad, a huge man, would be out in the driveway with this monster dog and trying to control him. It took every bit of his strength and the whole time this was going on, the dog sounded like Cujo. We are talking a total red zone dog. I love dogs and I rarely have ever feared any dog -- but this one was a mega exception to that rule. That dog scared the hell out of me. I was surprised the dog did not eat the dad's Mercedes sports car. Totally crazy dog that would attack the mail box if there was no human around to munch on.

:scared:

[underseasurveyor]

79. No such thing as a "safe" dog.

There may be "safer" breeds but no animal, beit a canine, feline, equine, bovine, etc. can be considered "safe" or in any way "no threat" to a human.

OK MAYBE sea-monkeys are "safe" but that's it;-)

[SmileyRose]

91. No such thing as a safe ANYTHING.

It's amazing how many different ways humans can figure out how to maim or murder themselves.....

[beevul]

80. Well, I was going to say pomeranian, but......

Seriously though...i have no problem with pit bulls.

Our dearly departed millie (pit/lab mix) was the sweetest of them.

[Lochloosa]

115. My Pom will kick any dogs ass. 4lbs thinking he's 100lbs.

[beevul]

125. Hahahaha.

I know what you mean.

We have 6 of the little devils.

It never ceases to amazes me how so much dog, and such big hearts, can fit into such tiny bodies.




Its just one of the things that make them so special.

[Lochloosa]

130. Do yours sing? Mine LOVES Opera.

[beevul]

147. Sing? No, but they DO exhibit some other interesting traits...

We were watching some program about grizzly bears, and there was a film shot of one walking toward the camera, and they charged the television. All of them. Like they were all on the same page.

Fearless little things they are.

And intelligent. Human like intelligent.




We love them.

[pipi_k]

197. I had a Chihuahua that tried kicking a Doberman's ass one time

Don't know if he was brave or just really stupid.

But the Doberman did end up running back home....


:7

[carlyhippy]

81. Basset Hound...they are too lazy to bite anyone

C

[Shell Beau]

217. I really bad want one. When my Lolly goes (unfortunately that

will be sooner rather than later), we will find a basset hound to adopt, that is if I don't get taken in once again by those crazy animal people at PetsMart. :P My last 2 dogs were adopted at PetsMart while I innocently only went in for dog and fish food!!!! I really want a Bassett though. I already have a name for him or her. Floyd for a boy and Flo for a girl!

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

82. Golden Retriever

[DesertRat]

99. +1000

[grantcart]

211. + 1000 (we should have our own forum)

[jberryhill]

83. Corn dogs

[underseasurveyor]

86. Nope, VERY dangerous

They're so tempting and tasty and easy to eat that you eat too many of em and next thing you know, boom... dead from a heart-attack.

Sneeky little bastards those corn dogs:evilgrin:

[timo]

84. blue heelers

blue heelers, red heelers!!!!

I hated doing it but had to kill a pit for attacking my dog in front of my kids, wouldnt hesitate to do it again and again, the owners are to blame!!

[KonaKane]

87. Here's one.....

Unless you count a few brushes he's had with the law, he's pretty harmless.

[Turborama]

88. My rescue and her daughter

The brown one, Josh, turned up at my door looking lost and confused one night. She was an 8 week old puppy with distemper - the reason we called her Josh is because I thought she was a boy until the vet informed us otherwise but by then she was answering to Josh so it was too late. It took 2 months of intensive care to keep her alive but she miraculously managed to pull through. She escaped one day while she was on heat before we had her neutered and 6 weeks later Sophie (the black and white one) was born. About 3 months ago during the night I heard a squealing from outside the garden and thought it was an insect or something. The next day I went out to investigate and it was a tiny kitten that was clinging for dear life onto a rock on the side of the fast flowing stream outside my house. We named him Henry. It's amuch longer story than this and I've been meaning to post it as an OP in the pets group with photos like this and video of Henry play fighting with his new sisters.

[quaker bill]

90. My pomeranian

While she is 7 pounds of fluff and noise, she is not much of a threat.

[conspirator]

146. You brought a Pomeranian bowling ? nt

[quaker bill]

179. She is not heavy enough

but if barking alone would knock them over, she might prove quite useful. The only threat she poses is the possibility of tripping over her, but generally she is way too alert and fast for that.

[CBR]

92. I love when pit bulls, labs and other boxers are at the dog park.

They are the only ones that really play with my boxer enough to wear him out.

[marmar]

94. Cartoon great danes

[distantearlywarning]

97. My childhood best friend was bitten quite badly by my grandmother's spaniel

Otherwise she seemed like a harmless, sweet, friendly "family" type of dog, the kind you wouldn't be afraid of if you met her on the street.

On the other hand, the sweetest, most loving, loyal dog I ever had the pleasure of meeting was a huge, ferocious looking female pit bull.

[tabasco]

219. LOL.

"bitten quite badly by my grandmother's spaniel"

:rofl:

[Mudoria]

98. Italian Greyhound

It may lick your face till you die tho :)

[old mark]

101. It is the HUMANS, not the dogs. I have seen many Pits abused by evil people,

the same people who abuse their kids. 2 pits live next door, and they are both sweet dogs, play with the neighborhood kids all day and have big grins.
Yet friends who routinely rescue dogs had to have a pit destroyed because he was had been so abused by previous owners he could not be trusted with other dogs or even humans...they could not remove his fear and pain.

It's not the dogs, it's fucking PEOPLE....as usual.

mark

[Myrina]

104. +100, from a Rescue-foster mom.

Spot on.

[BeachBaby]

107. I just KNEW there was a damned good reason why I like you!

You see the obvious, AND you're a Phillies fan. ;)

GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!11

[old mark]

118. I'm also cute as all hell....

for an old bald guy...


mark

[Tailormyst]

111. and its not just abuse, it's also the ignorance of large breeds that causes damage

To many people get large and potentially dangerous dogs and have ZERO knowledge of how to control or socialize the animal properly. Instead the dog or worse, little pack of dogs, ends up completely in charge. Then the owner is shocked when the dog acts like an alpha male.

[old mark]

120. Agreed- our dog is a Doberman/Dane mix, what was once called

a "King Doberman". He is marked like a Dobe - black and tan-but weighs about 110 pounds and is very large. He is extremely smart, has a strong personality and wants to run the world as he sees it. We have to be on top of a lot of his tricks, and control him rather than the other way around, but he is the sweetest dog I ever knew, and is a joy to be around. BUT he spent some of his early life in a pound because people were scared of him - he is big and black and did what he wanted to do. ( He IS a dog, after all!!!)

Some people think a dog is a toy, or don't think much at all.

mark

[Tailormyst]

166. Your last sentence is spot on

People think of them as a toy or an accessory and rarely think what the dog needs as a DOG. My fiance had Alaskan Malamutes. Gorgeous dogs, but very strong, very smart and need owners that are very alpha. His dogs were amazing, but in the wrong hands (mine included as I am a rather shy and timid person) they would be really scary.

[Cowpunk]

184. You can't ignore the idiot factor in an honest assessment of risk

If a certain dog breed is more likely to become violent when mistreated, that is an important factor to consider. We do this when assessing the safety of anything. If an Apple computer is twenty times more likely to explode when mishandled than a Dell computer, that is a factor that cannot be ignored. Would it be OK for Apple to say, "It's the fucking PEOPLE!"? Of course not.

I don't know how you could humanely test this propensity in a dog breed. I am simply making the argument that "It's the fucking PEOPLE" is too simplistic an answer to this complicated issue.

[H2O Man]

103. Legalize Lonnie Anderson's hair.

[blueamy66]

105. Basset Hound and Dachshund

sweet lovable babies

[galileoreloaded]

109. Shih-Tzu. n/t

[mod mom]

110. Labs

Have you ever met or heard of a mean lab/ they're big and lovable-imho

[ecstatic]

114. I like chihuahuas because they are great guard dogs,

but if one were to ever go crazy, the damage would be limited.

[L0oniX]

116. grrrrr

http://houndbound.com/dogblog/2010/01/17/the-worlds-smallest-dogs/

[TwilightGardener]

117. All dogs can bite. That said, I don't understand the impulse to own

any breed that will not only bite, but can maul a person to death. And no, please don't tell me that basset hounds and pugs have been known to maul people to death (here is where someone will pull up a decade-old article about a beagle or yellow lab that ate a baby, I'm sure). Unless you have a particular reason to need a serious-ass guard dog, there's really no reason to own certain breeds if all you want is a companion. This is what I don't get. Yeah, I'm sure the vast majority of pits, Rotties, etc. would never hurt so much as a kitten, IN THE RIGHT OWNER'S HANDS. I really don't doubt that. But why own one, and take even the tiniest chance that the dog will lunge at a child or meter-reader and seriously mess them up, when you can own any number of other breeds/mutts that are EQUALLY sweet and loveable and just don't have a history of serious injury and death? What is the thrill of owning these particular dogs? What is the appeal? Why not a golden retriever? Or a weimaraner? That people are generally scared of it, until you show them pics of it licking a kitten, then you can tell everybody what a sweet baby it is, contrary to popular belief? A sort of status symbol ("Look at me, I handle a dog that most of you can't!)?? That seems to be the pattern of these breeds' advocates.

[LynneSin]

122. My best friend adopted a pit bull

It was the sweetest dog - I remember the dog would curl up into my lap like a lil baby wanting her belly rubbed. She really made me believe that all the hype about pitbulls was just that.

Then on vacation she kennelled her 2 dogs, the pitbull along with a lab-daschund mix (don't ask how that happened). Those 2 dogs lived together for well over a year and were the best buddies you'd ever meet. So she thought it was ok to put them into the same runner cage. I mean ever night those 2 dogs would snuggle up together at the edge of her bed like one mutatated giant dog. So of course they would be happy sharing a runner together. The kennel was a good kennel, the runner was spacious and during the day they would have plenty of free time outside of the runner cage.

Four days later she got the call that the pit mauled the other dog to death. Who knows what tripped the pitbull but it did and it killed a dog that she was best friends with day in and day out for a year.

Pitbulls can be wonderful dogs but the issue is simple - you never know what will trip a pit and if it does trip you don't want to be on the receiving end. That jaw is extremely powerful and cause great damage.

But it's a free world. I just ask that if a pitbull is around me that it's on a leash or behind a door where it can't get near me - I simply do not trust them.

[TwilightGardener]

123. That's a sad story. Wonder if the kennel environment brought out some

sort of change in the "pack" dynamic between those two buddies, and set the dog off. I am a firm believer that you have to take what dogs were bred for VERY seriously, rather than deny those characteristics, or hope you never see those characteristics in action. Labs were bred to use soft-mouth retrieval of game birds. Therefore, they tend to be very trainable, very attuned to what the owner wants. Of course, they're also kind of overactive and hyper in my experience, like most sporting breeds. Dachshunds were bred to flush out badgers. This makes them kind of full of themselves (badgers are mean, takes courage to go at them) and not afraid to bite to defend themselves--which is why wieners can sometimes be snappy if not trained right. Bassets are bred to pick up a scent and follow it--so they wander off and tend to ignore their owners when something smells lovely to them. Dogs that are bred to fight other dogs or guard against intruders, I stay away from--just don't need that sort of potential trouble, even if the animal can be trained or controlled to buck those impulses.

[JonLP24]

242. Depending on the specific breed

"Pit bull" can refer to a APBT or Staffordshire Terrier as well as other dogs part of the Molassar family, they were not bred to fight other dogs or be guard dogs.

My dog the APBT was originally used for catching prey, hunting(baiting certain animals), and driving livestock.

Anyways my dog is very sweet and loyal. A very intelligent dog as well, most intelligent dog I ever had. She loves to lay next to me all the time like she is doing right now.

You can be scared all you want of them but odds are much higher that you'll die because of another human than you will with any dog. As flawed as the statistics are, they only represent 1% of the breed's population in the US.

[Arkansas Granny]

145. That's a very good answer. Over the years I've met many "pitbulls".

Some were very good dogs and apparently made good family pets. Some of them, however, were never treated as family pets, were poorly socialized or were trained to be a badass dog because that's what their owner wanted. Most of the people I know who own dogs that they refer to as "pitbulls" brag about how tough or mean their dog is. I don't know why, but they do. I consider these dogs to be dangerous, I don't trust them and I don't want to be around them. I don't know how many of them would actually bite, but if they did, the damage they could do would be considerable. I suppose the same is true of many large breeds with powerful jaws, but around this part of the country the powerful breed of choice appears to be the "pitbull".

[fishbulb703]

152. Aesthetics, my pit looks awesome. nt

[LynneSin]

119. I was bit by a standard poodle - nasty things

But I will say my step-sister's family got a Boxer and that's just the sweetest dog you'll find.

[Kalyke]

126. Any dog properly loved and trained.

Duh.

[baldguy]

258. +1000

The most dangerous animal is the human who wants, seeks out & trains a dog - ANY DOG - to be violent & aggressive toward humans and other dogs.

[MrCoffee]

127. Dogs suck.

All dogs are one missed nap away from chewing your face off.

[truebrit71]

134. Wow..that's a pile of steaming bollocks..

..:wtf:

[Kalyke]

140. I'm sorry the last dog you had was your pack leader.

When you learn to be the pack leader, yourself, they will not chew your face off - they will follow you.

:eyes: What a load of garbage you posted.

Dogs are God/Yahweh/Allah/Nature's gift to humans everywhere. Loyal and beautiful.

[beevul]

151. Well said.

"When you learn to be the pack leader, yourself, they will not chew your face off - they will follow you."


Well said indeed.


And, most people have absolutely no idea how true that is.


Sometimes, I think people need to spend time with a pack of dogs of the icelandic variety, and that packs leader, to understand how it works. We have poms and american eskimo (not our only breeds, but it manifests the strongest with them), and with those breeds one MUST be pack leader, or be walked all over.

As with anything, knowledge and understanding is the key.

[Kalyke]

153. Thank you!

I've trained dogs since practically birth (my family bred and raised cocker spaniels on a small, very small, scale - no puppy mills!)

When "The Dog Whisperer" shows first came on, I never really watched them, but started watching them over this past winter when I happened to leave it on NetGeo after watching something else I'd planned to see. Once I heard Cesar Millan announce that YOU must be your dog's pack leader, I knew I was dealing with someone - on the BOOB TUBE, no less - that actually knew what he was talking about.

As the Pack Leader of four dogs - all of whom were rescued - it's my duty and obligation to watch his show and learn how to cope with their many idiosyncrasies as a result of the various abusive and neglectful events some mean, useless human put them through. Cesar even provides some reduced-cost and/or free training online to people who rescue dogs because he feels they've already done a tremendous service and should have to pay even more.

Even though I have trained numerous cocker spaniels throughout my life, I still learn something from watching his show - things no other trainer I trained under ever taught me - things that WORK.

[Javaman]

141. Sounds like some people I know. LOL nt

[Cali_Democrat]

172. LOL

Not true at all, but very funny nonetheless. :rofl:

[johnaries]

218. I've found that dogs are excellent judges of nature.

If most dogs want to chew your face off... then there is probably a very good reason.

[Kalyke]

233. YES!!!

I think we should have juries comprised of humans and dogs. The dogs know a fake on sight. Can't say the same about human juries. ;)

[Xithras]

132. 2005-2009. 148 American dogbite fatalities. 103 are by rottweilers and pit bulls.

That's 70% of all fatalities in that period. And pit bulls alone are responsible for the largest share.

The 2009 nationwide fatality count:

[Toucano]

169. Interesting how facts are ignored.

Thanks for the data.

[baldguy]

257. Bullshit chart from a bullshit anti-Pit Bull org.

There are separate bars for each breed listed: Rotts, Huskies, Boxer, etc. But when you scape off all the lies & hatred, the listing at the top is a percentage for "Pit Bull-type dogs". Just what they consider to be "Pit Bull-type dogs" they don't tell you. What they do tell you is the bottom 3% consists of 8 breeds: American Bulldog, Blue Heeler-mix, Chow-mix, Great Dane, Italian Mastiff, Malamute, Collie-mix and Weimaraner. What popular breeds are missing? American Pit Bull Terriers, obviously, Bull Terriers, and standard Bulldogs. I suspect they include these, along with American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. So while other breeds get one slot each, the designation "Pit Bull-type" can be understood to contain at least five different breeds and associated mixes.

44% divided by 5 = 8.8%, an average which is well within the range of other dog breeds.

And that's IF the breed identification is accurate - it generally isn't.

There's also one other glaring omission from those states: one of the 50 most popular breeds which is also considered to be one of the most dangerous - the German Shepherd. Is this breed included in the "Pit Bull-type" designation also? Who knows? dogsbite,org doesn't tell you.

[truebrit71]

133. Border Terriers.

.

[MicaelS]

138. The problems with pit bulls are the owners, not the dogs n/t

[TexasObserver]

143. The question is "which breeds are safer than pit bulls?"

And the answer to that is "virtually all of them."

[reflection]

144. You can usually count on TO for a quick dose of truth.

Good one.

[TexasObserver]

164. The truth is many can't handle the ugly truth about Pit Bulls.

[flvegan]

154. How so?

And do you have anything solid to back that up, or are you stating opinion?

[TexasObserver]

155. Because I rely on facts, not wishful thinking.

I encourage you and all other pit bull owners to take the time to educate yourselves about pit bulls and dog bites, because in many jurisdictions, you will be held to strict liability for their attacks.

" ... the dogs responsible for the bulk of the homicides are pit bulls and Rottweilers."

http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html

[flvegan]

157. Please.

Spare me the "educate yourselves" bit.

And relying on media sources to garner data? Educate YOURself.

[TexasObserver]

162. Do you deny that Pit Bulls or Rottweilers are involved in a majority of fatal attacks?

Some dog breeds are more deadly than others. This is fact, not opinion.

[flvegan]

186. Show me a list of every fatal attack committed by a dog

without provocation where the reporting witness also has some credibility as an expert on dog breeds for each case.

Then I'll let you know.

[LeftyMom]

189. And population stats for various dog breeds.

I don't think anybody's even attempted to establish that pits and pit mixes are disproportionately responsible for attacks compared to their share of the dog population.

[flvegan]

194. That's digging even deeper past the nonsense.

One step at a time, forgoodnesssake.

[TexasObserver]

190. Look it up, if you want to edify yourself on this topic.

I don't care if you believe it or not. You're an advocate who doesn't accept facts or reason.

[flvegan]

192. I'm demanding you prove up your cause.

Which, btw, you can't. As infallible as you must believe our MSM to be.

And it's not my advocacy. It's my inability to suffer fools gladly.

[TexasObserver]

200. As I said, I don't care if you remain ignorant.

[flvegan]

208. I guess I have to speak more slowly.

You asked me a question (scroll up, go ahead, it's right there). I asked you to provide specific data so that I could answer your question. You, in typical "I don't have shit to help my argument" style, you turned it back on me.

So...FAIL.

Enlighten me, oh expert on the interwebs. Help this "ignorant" lamb find his way to your altar of expertise please?

[DatManFromNawlins]

265. Well, here you go

http://www.dogbitelaw.com/Dog%20Attacks%201982%20to%202006%20Clifton.pdf from http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html

Between 1982 and 2006, there were 264 deaths due to dog attacks in the US.

108 were Pitt Bull, 58 were Rottweiler. The next most violent breed in terms of deaths was a wolf hybrid with 18 deaths.

There were 1323 maimings in this country over that period.

608 were Pitt Bulls and 203 were Rottweilers. Next most violent? Wolf hybrid with 43.

The interesting thing is that the the statistics for non-purebred pitbull hybrids and rottweiler hybrids are almost non-existent in the violence department, which would suggest that, amongst other things, that there's a genetic behavioral issue going on here in addition to any environmental issues.

BTW, a Pomeranian actually killed someone. Musta inhaled too deeply and choked on the little fuzzball.

[LeftyMom]

195. You have no idea how funny this is.

Do go on.

[VMI Dem]

181. Correct.

[baldguy]

259. Incorrect.

[DainBramaged]

150. Teacup chihuahuas

[Liberal_in_LA]

158. Shortly after that picture was taken, the dog bit off the finger

[DainBramaged]

250. Right,

:eyes:

[guitar man]

156. a small distinction if I may

"pitbull" is NOT a breed of dog, it is a description that can cover a wide variety of breeds, mutts and mongrels with certain characteristics.

thank you, carry on :hi:

[Rage Inc.]

159. All breeds of animal are safe

It's their asshole human "trainers" who suck!

[BeachBaby]

160. We have a winner!!!!

:woohoo:

And, welcome to DU! :hi:

[dorkulon]

161. sure, that's a fair standard

I guess I should drive a Pinto as long as there are no cars that are 110% safe to smash into a wall.

[nomaco-10]

165. BAN PIT BULLS and here's why....

I'm an animal activist. You might find two-three dogs, several cats, a couple of birds in my home at any given time, I've even fostered monkeys.

Pit bulls should be BANNED PERIOD. Not just because of the breed, but because of the people that want to own them. As an animal lover, I whole heartedly agree that they should be banned because of the mindset of the humans that want to own them. They are an overly inbred species with unpredictable behavior problems. I'm sick to shit of the people on the news that's child has been mauled, disfigured or killed, that proclaim that their precious family dog never showed any aggressive behavior.

Pit bulls should be BANNED FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. They are bought and sold to people that want to use them as a status symbol that screams, I'M A BADASS and SO IS MY DOG. The poor breed is used as a symbol in their sick minds and doesn't need love, nurturing, comfort or safety or even food most of the time, that's the pit bull's job.

The other class of people that are bound and determined to own them, are self absorbed, EGOCENTRIC assholes that want to prove to the rest of society how superior they are because they can change and control them. They think that by simply owning a pit bull, they are special people that can prove that pit bulls are sweet and docile animals.

Pit bulls are dangerous because of the lack of the oversight of how they have been bred, but also because of the people that own them that have an even more dangerous mindset about the breed.

BAN PIT BULLS. They are a breed that should have never been allowed to procreate and flourish by humans that had no idea what they were dealing with and sill don't.

As an animal lover and activist, this breed should cease to exist for humane reasons for the breed itself.

[TexasObserver]

168. That's an interesting viewpoint.

Even if we assume that 10% of the pit bull owners are amazingly wonderful in every sense of the word, and that their dogs would never hurt a family member, or neighbor child, or old lady going to get her mail, there's still that 90% who aren't good owners, don't know beans about dogs, and who own pit bulls for all the wrong reasons.

[nomaco-10]

177. I'm not even talking about ten%. That's way too low....

I'm saying for the good of the poor pitiful breed that has been ill bred and ill owned for too many years. STOP IT.

Declare the breed done.

It was a BAD EXPERIMENT that has cost too much human suffering and TOO MUCH breed suffering.

Just ban the breed for the good of the breed and the humans that have suffered at the the hands of the breed that HUMANS bred them.

[uppityperson]

176. If you ban a breed because some owners are assholes, won't they then still be ah's with another

breed of dog?

Ban a breed because some owners are assholes?

Edited to add: Your argument to ban a breed because some owners are assholes seems rather simplistic as those owners will simply find another type dog. Do we then ban that type? And on and on and on?

"This breed should cease to exist for humane reasons for the breed itself."???? WTF? We need to kill them all to save them? WHAT?

For the rest of your post, read up about pit bulls. Do some learning rather than OMGing about them. Educate yourself rather than simply reading overly dramatic news stories about falsely identified dogs. Ask yourself why newspapers write dramatic stories about OMGPITBULLS that turn out to be retrievers, spaniels, others dogs? Ask yourself why a newspaper would report on sexy news, maybe to sell itself rather than objectively report on the news?

[VMI Dem]

182. Ban the breed.

[flvegan]

191. Jesus, but that was ignorant. n/t

[LeftyMom]

196. I'm sorry, you're not an "animal lover and activist" if you think the solution to human stupidity is

to kill some dogs.

[nomaco-10]

198. I DIDN'T SAY KILL!!! I said......

stop the breeding of them for the sake of the breed. They are ABUSED and MISUSED EVERYDAY in this country. England already has a ban on pit bulls and on guns too.

LISTEN!!!!

[flvegan]

206. That's not what you said.

You said "ban" them, as in BSL (you're an activist, so you know what that means). In Denver, did you know that when they re-passed the ban, they literally went door to door and confiscated anything that resembled a pit bull and euthanized them?

A "ban" can very easily mean eradication.

And just because another area has knee-jerk reaction to perceived public hysteria doesn't mean we should do the same.

[nomaco-10]

213. "BAN" DOES NOT MEAN KILL". It means...

SPAY AND NEUTER TIL THE BREED has been bred out of extinction.

You're either an ass or an idiot.

[flvegan]

216. Really?

Somehow Denver missed your rule of law. Sucks for the animals in Denver, I guess. Miami-Dade, too. They killed lots of dogs there in the 90's.

If only you had been there.

[LeftyMom]

226. No, it doesn't.

A law like that would require a date by which grandfathered-in existing dogs would be permitted to continue to live in the area covered by the law, and no further dogs of the banned breeds/mixes/perceived breeds would be allowed. This would already be a problem with pit bulls because the average idiot thinks any slightly square-headed dog bigger than a bread box and smaller than a Volkswagen is a pit bull. I get that all the time when walking the family boxers. God help anybody who tried to harm them because they were irrationally afraid of a completely different molosser breed.

The problem, or at least one of the more obvious ones, with your approach is that people move. Moving into an area with a breed ban, (which sometimes can't be avoided due to job relocation, military transfers, family obligations, etc) means either a family has to give their dog away (which presumes that somebody responsible and qualified is willing to take said dog, not easy with fearmongering idiots demonizing the breed, as a result many of these animals will wind up in shelters and will die) keep the dog illegally, which is a public safety hazard because a dog that isn't walked or socialized is at much greater risk of being dangerous in the future than a well-socialized dog. Hidden dogs remaining in the jurisdiction of the ban may also not be current on their vet care as their people try to avoid having the dog reported, confiscated and killed, and thus bans can create a danger to the public from dogs that previously posed no threat.

Additionally spay/neuter coverage won't be perfect, as it unfortunately never is, so strays and pups will die just for being (or looking like- it's often hard to identify puppies breed origins precisely) the breed that scares the breed banning idiots.

All a ban of your approach does is delay the killing and avoid the bad publicity of having animal control people go door to door on ban day to kill beloved family dogs. It won't save those dogs in the long term.

[baldguy]

261. People breed GSDs w/ bad hips, Yorkies & Dachshunds w/ bad vertebrea & Great Danes w/ bad hearts

All due to poor breeding practices. Should we "get rid" of these too?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

170. Any dog can kill, if flung with sufficient force...

That said, while there is obviously no breed of dog that is 100% certain not to kill, it *is* the case that some breeds of dog commit a far greater number of serious or fatal attacks on humans per capita than others do, and pitbulls are right up there with the most dangerous.

[baldguy]

262. Dog farts.

Those can kill.

[divvy]

171. I have a little white dog that is pretty darn good.

She's my Good Girl !

[DemoTex]

173. Outer Hebrides Hairy-Headed Hunting Hounds

[BrklynLiberal]

188. Related to the Irish Wolfhound?

[DemoTex]

205. Two islands up and slighly over (east) ..

Smaller, too. The leapin' lizzard version. Eh?

[BrklynLiberal]

227. Hey! Are you and your Lab going to be Fire Watching again this Summer??

[DemoTex]

256. Yeppers! Open up on 5/23.

But he's not a lab. He's an Outer Hebrides Hairy-Headed Hunting Hound!

:rofl:

[MajorChode]

174. Loaded question fail

A samurai sword and a pair of kindergarten scissors can both be used as a weapon. That doesn't mean there isn't differing degrees of lethality between the two.

[JuniperLea]

175. Oh boy...

Cooper was trained as a police dog, but didn't like loud noises, so...
He would "take 'em down" on command, and let 'em go when told he was a good dog. Doberman/Shepherd... two "vicious" breeds... OMG! He looked and sounded very mean, but was a 111 lb. lap puppy of love who never hurt a living being.





Molly, on the other hand, is a Chihuahua/Terrier mix and she will claw your eyes out... not really:) But I do have a little scab on my thumb from where she aggressively accepted a doggie treat last weekend.



Jack and Sedwick love Dog Beach! So does Molly, and she's the most aggressive dog on the beach on any given day... and there are pit bulls, English bulls, all sorts of bulls on that beach every day. I go there almost every weekend, all dogs off leash, and I've never seen anyone hurt. You know damn well they'd close that beach to dogs in a heartbeat if there was the slightest HINT of a problem!



Pit Bulls are strong... as are Dobermans and Shepherds... if you are consistently mean to a strong dog, they will be mean in return. Just like people.

It's just plain ignorant to think the breed is the issue... dumb, stupid, and very very wrong. Spreading that bullshit is beyond the pale.

[Skittles]

180. I've liked every pitbull I've ever known

big lovable critters in my experience

[Cowpunk]

183. Why is the defense of certain breeds so important to people?

I can understand the idea of defending a species from extinction, but dog breeds are just man-engineered sub species. Honestly, what's the big deal, unless you've dedicated your life to propagating a particular breed?

People hate to think of their pets being rounded up and put to death, but obviously there would be no need for this if we decided that a particular breed needed to be retired. All you would have to do is demand that all dogs of that breed be neutered.

[Shell Beau]

201. There is NOT one single dog or animal for that matter that doesn't

pose a threat to humans. Maybe Goldfish don't, but most all animals have instincts that protect them. All dogs can bite. All cats can bite, etc., etc., etc.

[nomaco-10]

203. DU must have the biggest bunch of libertarians .....

this side of free republic.

They're a conflicted bunch, but I guess their minority needs a place to land too.

Whatever. I'm down with anybody that votes dem. I'm just not down with dog abuse.

[Cleita]

207. Labs. They are big dogs, but wouldn't hurt a human even when

kicked and abused. Another neighbor rescued a neighborhood Lab from an abusive owner and adopted him. He was a really big dog and could have had the abusive owner for lunch but he never made an aggressive move. I chased him a couple of times with a broom because he was trying to raid my garbage. Abusive owner didn't bother to feed him that much, yet he was always friendly to me regardless after those days. My family now has a lab and she's also a gentle wolf. They are so affectionate and happy to be loved back.

btw Abused Lab finally died of old age and that neighbor adopted a rescue, a pit bull who is very sweet and not aggressive at all. So go figure.

[flvegan]

215. Hmmm...

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=65161

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14794248?nclick_check=1

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2011482327_port_angeles_--_jack_a.html

BTW, I'm not saying labs are bad dogs. I'm helping prove the OPs point.

[Cleita]

220. That's too bad.

Now Labs have to join the bad press pit bulls get. Sorry I even mentioned my positive experience with this breed.

[flvegan]

222. Don't be.

It's an excellent and very accurate normal portrayal of the lab. I've rescued several myself, and not a one of them ever had an ugly nor mean bone in their bodies. And you're right, of the dog breeds, the lab is famous for just absorbing abuse with nary an ill wish towards those doing them.

I'm glad you mentioned your experience. We need more positive stories about animals, especially formerly abused ones.

[pipi_k]

244. My Black Lab...

One of my three original "old girls" who all passed away within 7 months of each other (at 12, 13, and almost 14 yrs old) came to us at the age of 8 or 12 weeks. She had basically been living "wild", and had an injury to her left eye that rendered her nearly blind.

She was always very loyal to her human family and eventually learned to get along with the other two dogs, but to the end of her days she was always fear-aggressive, no matter how we tried to help her...although she did become a bit less fearful as she got older

She mostly avoided any humans who came to our home, but I know that, if cornered (like one of my dumb-ass sisters tried to do one day) poor Amy probably would have ripped that person's face off.

[lukasahero]

251. My Lab would rip any person who tried to harm me apart

I'm sorry, I adore the breed and volunteer with Lab rescue but you're wrong that they would never hurt a human. They can and do for both good reasons and bad.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=65161

ALL dogs are capable of attack.

Let me add that my Lab watched over the baby bunnies we had living in our yard, he was so gentle so I know how perfectly wonderful they can be.

[Cleita]

253. Well isn't that what the OP is asking for a good and gentle dog for her

family? Sure our Lab barks a lot if strangers approach. I haven't had a Jehovah's Witness or Mormon missionary at my door since we got her. I don't know though if she would rip any of them apart though if they did come through the gate. It seems you would have to train them to do that.

[tabasco]

212. Here's a dog just as vicious as a pit bull

if you're a tennis ball.

SMOKIE THE WONDER DOG !

[johnaries]

221. Smokie! Beautiful dog! And what a great pic!

He/she looks like "I'm ready to play.... throw it!"

And what is it with tennis balls? Is Smokie like my dog? - the fuzz has to come off. And once the fuzz is gone, it has to be crushed and deflated.

I bought a bunch of tennis balls for my Dodger Dog because, for some trange reason, they kept disappearing. I thought he was just losing them. Then one day, I was doing yard work and moved a large rock. Guess what I found underneath? Yep, every tennis ball he had ever "lost"!

[tabasco]

255. The pic is from the first day Smokie arrived home from the shelter

I can see some nervousness in his eyes.

He's been with me for two weeks now and I love the little dustmop.

He's feeling much more comfortable now and I think he knows this is his forever home.

He doesn't eat the fuzz off the ball but made quick work of his brush handle and an old tennis shoe.

Can you post a pic of Dodger Dog? :hi:

[baldguy]

263. How about a tennis ball that squeeks?

[Solly Mack]

224. I don't hate any breed. Not too fond of some owners though.

[HughMoran]

230. Any breed that doesn't sneak up behind me and put a hole in my ass

I've never thought a dog could behave in such a cowardly way until I was jumping up on a car hoping the 3 junkyard pit bulls didn't decide to finish me off.

[TZ]

232. A cat! MEOW!!!

:P :hide:

[burning rain]

235. I'll pass on pets, period.

I find most people intolerably stupid, so obviously I'm not going to have any use for pets. Hell, even George W. Bush is brighter than the smartest dog or cat, and that's just awful.

[eyeofdelphi]

236. There are no "safes"

It really depends on the individual dog and how it is raised. Dogs are just like people, some have the sweet disposition of Mother Theresa, and some are snarling Sean Hannitys.
We used to have the absolute sweetest pit/rotweiller mix. By his appearance, he was the most intimidating dog ever, and we named him Voodoo. But if you so much as looked at him like he had done something wrong, he would get upset and pace and nuzzle you over and over until you pet him or told him it was okay. He was a tad destructive towards personal property, but people, no. I really miss him.

[Vickers]

237. Toy Fox Terrier. n/t

[eyeofdelphi]

238. sort of on subject question

lots of you on here own dogs. so, do all of you own your own homes? how do you find affordable apartments that will accept dogs? we're looking for an apartment to move into at the end of the month, but EVERYONE here hates dogs. first they ask if they're pit bulls. then when we say no, they're total mutts we don't even know what they are, they ask how much they weigh (we have 2 dogs). they're about 45 or 50 pounds. and we get an immediate, no we won't allow dogs. all our dogs do all day long is sleep in our bed and on our clothes. they've stopped 3 break-ins. i'm not getting rid of them. i'm at the point where i'm just going to ommit the fact that we have dogs. but still, this is so stupid. my 2 year old son can cause way more damage than my 2 dogs and 2 cats combined.
and yes, i understand landlords need to protect their property. but we are poor poor. the places we are looking at have already been half destroyed by previous tenants. the landlords are more in danger of having to repair bullet hole damage than anything else.

[jtuck004]

240. I'll tell you the safest breed if you'll tell me the safest model of a gun.

When you try to safeguard yourself from a problem and from the beginning focus on the wrong thing, you will never ever reach a useful conclusion. Dogs, regardless of breed, exist under the control (or lack) of people. Your chances of dying from child abuse, lightning, choking, falling, or a car accident _FAR_ outweigh the odds that you will ever have a serious bite, much less a fatal attack. Yet the way the human mind works attacks from snakes and dogs, especially when they are reinforced by much more frequent media coverage, are "felt" as much more of a threat than they really are. And that gets in the way of useful analysis of a problem.

Simple fact is that people are responsible, and you have to deal with people first. Whether you like it or not.

Cities and towns, even whole countries have made this mistake. For example, Denver banned "pit bulls", yet their animal control says they have more than ever. PBs and some others are are banned or restricted in England - still having bite problems. There is no such law in Calgary, yet nearly no problems, and they barely kill any dogs in their shelters.

If you are interested in learning more, go to http://btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/
On the left hand side look through some of the stuff on how well breed specific legislation really works, and what effect media coverage has on public perception.

At a minimum, most cities have a leash law - in other words the dogs must be confined, or on a lead when they are out of their enclosure. Enforcement is another matter - most municipalities say they do not have the personnel or funds to enforce such laws. Then a bite happens, and in a fit of hysteria that would make a 4 year old in a supermarket aisle proud cities pass yet another unenforceable law trying to "ban the bad thing". It increases their expenses for personnel and court cases and encourages disrespect for the law. Courts have ruled that the city is under the burden of proving the breed so they wind up taking on the expenses of DNA testing, and this does nothing to work with the people who are allowing dogs to misbehave. In city after city Breed Specific Legislation results in an _increase_ in bite reports. In just as many cases the cities save money and increase safety by stepping up enforcement of their existing leash laws. This one step nearly always has a much greater impact on the problem of bites they are trying to solve.

There is no useful answer to the question in the OP because it begins from premise that is useless. You can no more answer which color of human is better than you can choose the safest breed of dog. And even if you disagree that racism cannot be a useful beginning, what is the sample you would base your opinion on? There are millions of dogs you will never see, and huge combinations of variables that could impact outcome beyond that. So unless you can get a statistically relevant survey, you are just guessing.

The safest breed is the one kept by a responsible owner who cares about he welfare of his dog, his neighbors, and the community. The absolute best way to insure that outcome is education, backed by a judicious application of law enforcement when absolutely necessary.

[retread]

243. Unfortunately for your not so cleverly hidden agenda, there are things called statistics or as some

like to call them FACTS.

" Analyzing a sampling of press accounts from Canada and the USA during 1982-2007, researchers pinpointed the dog breeds that are most likely to cause death or serious injury. This research study concluded that, unlike any other breed of dog, Pitbulls attacked adults almost as often as they attacked children. The researchers found that Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Wolf-Dog Hybrids combined to account for:

* 77% of attacks that caused bodily harm to the injured dog bite victims.
* 73% of attacks that harmed children.
* 83% of attacks that injured adults.
* 70% of attacks that resulted in death.
* 77% of attacks that maimed the dog attack victims.

Another study looked at data obtained from incidents where victims were mauled by dogs during 1982-2006 and found that Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Perro de Presa Canario, and their mixes caused 65% of the dog bite deaths during that time period in the United States.

Some sources claim that the six types of dogs commonly identified as the most dangerous or vicious dog breeds are Akitas, Chow-Chows, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Wolf-Dog Hybrids.

Another study looked at a selection of 88 dog attacks from 2006-2008 in the United States, with results ranging from recoverable injuries to death. Of those incidents, it was found that:

* Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and American Bulldogs were responsible for 77% of all deaths.
* Pit Bulls were responsible for 59% of all deaths.
* Pit Bulls killed more adults than children."


http://www.edgarsnyder.com/dog-bite/statistics.html

You do pitbulls no favors by denying the facts. When people fight dogs there are reasons they use pitbulls and not bassett hounds. Same reason police use German Shepards and Dobermans not Greyhounds.

[baldguy]

264. So, for proof of you offer a link to an ad for a lawyer speciallizing in suing over dog bites?

:eyes:

Like going to the Westboro Baptist Church for an opinion on gay rights.

[flvegan]

267. Considering that attorney uses debunked reports to lawyer to...

you know, if the source sucks...

[jtuck004]

268. Just ran across this in a post...

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts.. . for support rather than illumination. " - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

seemed appropriate.

[ThomThom]

245. as we have proved here it is not the dog but how the owner trains

the dog or doesn't train the dog. i cycle and have been chased by many breeds. The little brainless ones don't usually threaten to bite but they are a nuisance. It is hard to avoid them and cars at the same time. Dogs manors are a direct reflection on their owners. Please don't let them chase bicycles or pedestrians. I'm not a play thing for your pet.

[easttexaslefty]

252. I can't think of one

maybe one with no teeth:)
In all seriousness, I had a pit bull and yes I know my breeds come into my yard and attack my aussie and kill my beloved kitty, spot. But I have also been attacked by a rot and another time some crazy ass mixed breed that was usually chained.(probably why he was crazy)

[Supply Side Jesus]

260. Pugs

Sweet little puppy

[Quantess]

269. Beagles are commonly used in animal testing

because they are less likely to put up a struggle.