Dog Showing Aggression to Certain People

[Cycsk]

Lol, 254 total deaths over 12 years. Man, that's pretty dangerous!

How many tens of thousands of pit bulls are out there again?

It would be interesting to know a little bit about the owners of the pit bulls who killed the 254 people. Anybody want to bet on who has killed more people? The owners or the dogs?

P.S. I'm not saying that most pit bull owners are killers. Just that dogs that kill people may be likely to have irresponsible owners.

 

[CloneGuy8]

~20 deaths a year seems high?

Of all things that inadvertently kill people on this planet, we are concerned about banning a dog? Seriously now.

In 2016, you had a better chance at being killed by a lightning strike than a pitbull in the US
https://weather.com/news/news/lightning-fatalities-2016-tie-2015-total

 

[ZB4CY]

In 2016, you had a better chance at being killed by a lightning strike than a pitbull in the US
https://weather.com/news/news/lightning-fatalities-2016-tie-2015-total

Yeah.. sooo ban lightening.

 

[dtISU]

When a certain breed has a propensity to do something (herd, retrieve, guard, etc.) they can be wonderful dogs. Yes, I've known some great pit bulls, but you're going to be working against years of ingrained behavior in their training. Why not find a rescue that fits your lifestyle, age, and surroundings instead of working against heredity?

As I've mentioned before, I have a retriever. I could have a pit bull also. Same owner, same environment. By sheer evolution, there is a greater chance that the pit bull will snap at or bite another person. If that's the lifestyle you want, more power to you.

 

[cdnlngld]

Well then, ban cocker spaniels. They wait until your back is turned and bite your heels & ankles.

My sons' stepmother LOVED her little sheltie. That thing tried to herd the boys whenever they went to visit their dad. Yipping & nipping constantly. Ban shelties.

My sister had a very affectionate Irish setter that loved to put its paws up on shoulders and lick people's faces. My boys were toddlers when she was alive. She was always knocking them down. Ban Irish setters.

Instead of banning breeds, focus on irresponsible breeders & owners.

God, I hate cocker spaniels!

We had a real a-hole cocker in our neighborhood when I was a kid.

 

[55dB]

When a certain breed has a propensity to do something (herd, retrieve, guard, etc.) they can be wonderful dogs. Yes, I've known some great pit bulls, but you're going to be working against years of ingrained behavior in their training. Why not find a rescue that fits your lifestyle, age, and surroundings instead of working against heredity?

I don't believe in advocating for banning any certain breed, but I do believe certain dogs would do better in certain homes/environments.

I know someone who had to re-home their corgi (herding dog) because it was growling at their newborn. Corgi are not inherently aggressive, but herding dogs with small children aren't the best combination. The same could be said for bully breeds.

 

[0u812]

I swear my black lab is a drug dog (say meth dog)....any tweakers that he has encountered he flips out....must smell funny.....*dead serious*

 

[dtISU]

I don't believe in advocating for banning any certain breed, but I do believe certain dogs would do better in certain homes/environments.

I know someone who had to re-home their corgi (herding dog) because it was growling at their newborn. Corgi are not inherently aggressive, but herding dogs with small children aren't the best combination. The same could be said for bully breeds.

I'm not saying we ban them. My point is that if that is the breed you love, be prepared for the level of responsibility involved.

 

[IceCyIce]

I didn't read the whole thing but the fact is you get one dog bite on your home owners policy. I had a 10-11 year old lab that showed the same tendencies. Started biting when you invaded his area (dog box or kennel). Fact is it don't matter, dogs can do serious damage. You should talk to the vet and get his/her opinion. If there is another issue time to put it down.

 

[CycloneWanderer]

I believe there are some 30+ breeds of dog mislabelled as "pit bulls." That does a number on the reported statistics (especially if it's a loose dog not immediately captured). From what I've seen, if a dog might potentialy look like a "pit bull," even if it's a lab/hound mix and has not a drop of terrier blood, there's a good chance it will get reported officially as a pit bull if it bites someone. I'm just not sure the pit bull statistics can be appropriately compared to real dog breeds. It's like the catch-all description when the exact breed isn't known.

Spay/neuter your dog, don't keep it chained up, take time to train it while discouraging aggressive behavior, supervise it in new situations and around children, use a leash while walking it or when introducing it to new people, and don't abuse it / show it love and socialize it. Do that well enough and you are probably good regardless the breed of dog.

 

[ClonesFTW]

Do you realize that over 15x more people die in car accidents each day than died by pit bull attacks during the twelve years represented by your chart? I mean, if you are going to choose to be afraid of something...

Lol you're barking up the wrong tree, guy... I love all dogs. All the chart says is that its more likely to be bit by a pitbull than any other breed.

 

[Thefullmonte]

I didn't read the whole thing but the fact is you get one dog bite on your home owners policy.

Some HomeOwners Policies exclude certain breeds of dogs.

I'm probably in the minority by a lot, but I've always thought it idiotic to have a pitbull.

I also think that getting a pitbull from a shelter is about 1000 times more idiotic.

For the most part, a pitbull is at the shelter because it's a problem dog or its owners were horrible enough to get a dog they weren't committed enough to keep, which pretty much guarantees they raised the dog poorly.

Either way, you're basically buying an alligator who has shown violent tendencies or has been abandoned by a horrible person who likely treated the dog like crap.

There are certain types of people who would own a pitbull. Most of them are morons.

To the OP: you don't even have the ability to give the most common post-mauling phrase of "he'd never done anything like that before."

Kill the dog.

 

[Thefullmonte]

Pitbulls owners are trying to fulfill some weird need to own something dangerous or at least perceived to be dangerous. Essentially, they're trying to look like a badass.

It's the ultimate dog for guy's with a small penis.

Oh, and get one from the shelter for sure!! That way you're more likely to get one that's shown violent tendencies, but the owner said "doesn't like our cat."

Idiots.

 

[VeloClone]

Pitbulls owners are trying to fulfill some weird need to own something dangerous or at least perceived to be dangerous. Essentially, they're trying to look like a badass.

It's the ultimate dog for guy's with a small penis.

Oh, and get one from the shelter for sure!! That way you're more likely to get one that's shown violent tendencies, but the owner said "doesn't like our cat."

Idiots.

Your presentation could use a little work.

 

[NorthCyd]

I do agree, when you raise/adopt a Pit-Bull you need to put a little bit more time and value into it. But I don't believe for one second that the fighting/killing instinct is in their DNA.

They learn those behaviors just like your little poodle learns to not pee in the house.

I'm not talking about pitbulls specifically, but temperament is absolutely part of breeding, even aggressive temperament. It's not even debatable.

 

[CycloneSarah]

Timely story after reading this thread yesterday: I went to the vet last night to pick up meds and walked in and a guy with 2 lab-looking dogs was at the counter. They both wanted to come sniff me and seemed friendly but I ignored them for the most part and walked up to the counter next to him. Not even 2 minutes later another lady comes in by herself and the 2 labs almost immediately started growling/barking, bearing their teeth and lunging at her for seemingly no reason. They had to move the dogs to an exam room as the guy could barely keep them restrained by their collars. So weird to see how they reacted completely differently to 2 people for seemingly no reason.

 

[ZB4CY]

I'm not talking about pitbulls specifically, but temperament is absolutely part of breeding, even aggressive temperament. It's not even debatable.

I agree as well, but I think you can control that aggressiveness with how you raise it.

Like I noted I have 2 boxers, and one is a larger male. He doesn't even bark at strangers anymore because he knows he will get in trouble. Granted, not too many boxers are known for their aggressiveness anyway, but when an 85 pound dog barks at anyone, they could feel uncomfortable.

 

[dtISU]

I'm not talking about pitbulls specifically, but temperament is absolutely part of breeding, even aggressive temperament. It's not even debatable.

Fully agree. Why do you think pits are the breed (or "type") of dog chosen by dog fighters? It's their temperament/tendency to be aggressive.

 

[VeloClone]

View attachment 52043

Looks like a cold blooded killer!

I agree, absolutely adorable. So are a lot of babies in the animal world.

Just because something is a cute baby doesn't mean that it can't grow up to be dangerous.

 

[ZB4CY]

I agree, absolutely adorable. So are a lot of babies in the animal world.

Just because something is a cute baby doesn't mean that it can't grow up to be dangerous.

Lets compare dogs to ...lions, tigers, HIPPOS?!.. Alligators.