Read allot of stuff on pits, and the group of dogs known as the bully breeds.
Are they dangerous? Yes, AND paired with the wrong owner IMO VERY YES!!! But so are the others breeds mentioned here. Rotties, Chows, Dob's, German Shepards, etc... are or can be very dangerous. Recently read about a pack of chows that killed a little girl. If one looks around one can find an instance of such in all the afore mentioned breeds. I've seen many stories and read or heard so many opinions..... WHY? ..... IMHO it's a combination of the dogs breeding and the owner's attitude.
Among my various dogs, which include Brittiny Spaniels, German Shepards, and just plan mutts, I've had 5 pitbulls.
IMO the pit bull is VERY not for everyone.
My son, after being around my very best pit wanted, and now has one.
His pit is IMO more dangerous then the pits I have owned! IMO if a pitbull puppy ever offers to put his or her teeth on you, then you don't want that pitbull puppy. Might even be wise to put it down. Test their breeding. Test this by offering your finger to the puppy. Do this after they are weened not before! If the puppy puts his/her teeth on that finger and trys to chew on that finger then DO NOT pick that puppy, it does not have the correct breeding, OR you better now what your doing and pay very close attention to that animal and what it is doing ALL the time and be very aware of it's moods. (see below re the best pit I ever owned)
According to what I've read prior to the late 60's early 70's if a pit EVER offered to bite a human they were usually put down. I'm told responsible breeders at one time took that attitude.
IMO The breeding of pits got WAY out of control in the mid to late 70's and has gotten worse since. Allot of people breed em and sell em and some don't even get em their shots, they just want the money.
Had a small female that insisted on going on the living room carpet. She quickly became an outside dog. She woke me one morning. I heard a rattle rattle ting wop wop clang bang clunk. Looked out the window and she had a galvinized bucket she was playing with. She would grab it, run with it, shake it, then throw it into the air and run under it and hit it with her head when it came down?!?!?
She got stolen. As did 3 of the 5 I've owned.
The last pit I had was a fence chewer and got out over and over.
Finally he got out one day and attacked another dog.
When everything was over I was very happy I had insurance.
It cost over $16,000!
The best pitbull I ever had would NOT open his mouth for or at me. Would not lick me. I had to force my fingers into his mouth to give him the medication the Vet prescribed. He was extremely well behaved all the time.
He had only one problem. He hated cats. He ran up to one and wanted to play. The cat scratched him on his nose. He paused for about a second and then went after the cat. I managed to get him off and away from the cat. But after that he seemed to never forget the attack on his nose.
My entire family loved that dog! In fact everyone that ever got to know him thought very highly of him.
I would take him to the river and throw a rock into the water he would dive into the water and ALWAYS came back with a rock. Usually wasn't the rock I had thrown, mind you, but he always came back with a rock. He was NEVER trained to be mean or attack anything or anyone!
He was trained to behave himself and to be as calm as possible and to ALWAYS obey all commands. Example ... If I told him to sit he better not move until I told him he could. Much attention and reward was given him when he obeyed and when he disobeyed he was informed about his trangression. He hated to displease, he hated to hear BAAAAD!!!!! He would do the i'm so sorry act and try to do what was desired even harder.
Everything I've read thus far says Pits very much NEED to be with/around their owners, if possible ALL the time. It is claimed they require constant attention and reassurance that they matter to you. In my expeirence with em this seems to be the case. The best pit I ever had got this and was content and very well behaved. They are not a yard dog in the sense that you can leave em in the yard and ignore em. They seem to become very unhappy and get wierd. Don't know if it's a pack mentallity thing or what.
Oh well that's my $0.02 put forward because I like pit's and find them very intellegent but ....... they are not for everyone, possibly even not for most.
