Newsweek: Owners, Not Pit Bulls, Are Problem

[peace]

I've seen those who adopt these dogs for all the wrong reasons. The fearful might get a pit because they want a great guard dog. (Pits make lousy guard dogs. A well-bred pit is just too human-friendly to protect your property.) Some get a pit because Rachael Ray has one and they want to rescue a dog. (Why didn't you take up cooking instead of getting a dog that you know nothing about?) And the trendiest pet owners spend thousands of dollars for a "blue" pit because the dogs are rare. (No, they aren't, and you just got swindled by an unethical breeder who contributed to the overpopulation problem.) But pets aren't purses, and people who jump into pit-bull ownership without the requisite training and education can often do more harm than good. That's why when I see a pit off-leash and I'm walking Turk, my 20-pound schnoodle, I'm scared.

Let's face it: pit bulls are public enemy No. 1. That's quite a comedown for a pup once considered "America's dog." They were owned by the likes of Helen Keller and Teddy Roosevelt, and when I was a kid, a wiry American pit-bull terrier named Sam endured the indignity of being called a "horsy" as he pulled me around in a wagon on an upstate New York farm. But in talking with pit-bull experts, it's clear that some current owners are too easy to spook, are too ill-informed, and have unrealistic expectations of what pit bulls can do.

Full article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/220497?GT1=43002

[mollymegan]

Teen boys and pit bulls are a big problem where i live. I wish there was some sort of law on who can own a pit bull and who cannot. In fact there might be, but its clearly not working.

I feel so sorry for these dogs, they have such a bad name because of the inexperienced owners who are not able to train them properly. I've see teen boys kicking their dogs to make them 'stronger' and they can hardly walk them without being dragged along the street. Its pathetic! Its definately a competition (around here anyway) of who has the strongest, scariest looking dog. There is one up my street who ran out and tried to attack my little Shih Tzu/Lhasa Apso dog! Shes tiny! I still dont blame the dogs though.

Most dogs go for other dogs, but because the pit bull is much bigger and stronger than most breeds, it gets its bad name.. wheras if my little Shih Tzu went for another dog.. it wouldnt be much of an issue.

[Yamato]

Dogs as status symbols is pathetic.

[Alicia Avocado]

It amazes me how many pit bulls I see sitting in yards bored as hell with their job of 'watch dog.'

Nice article.

[das_nut]

There are several pit bulls in my apartment building.

All the ones I've known seem to be friendly and nice.

[Kibbleforlola]

Around here, if the shelter picks up a pit bull, they are on the list of dogs to put down right away instead of being adopted out, because of their reputation. It's so sad. I have a dog that could be considered a 'dangerous' breed, and she's a 90 pound lickasourus. It really is peoples' fault that certain dogs get a bad rap.

[Doktormartini]

Thanks for finding this article! It's a good read, and I'm sending it to my friends.

[Marie]

I missed the : when I first glanced at this thread. Hehe.

[Wolfie]

Great article.

pibbles =

[penny79]

Seems obvious, but the average person doesn't get it.