All dogs, no matter their size or breed, are extremely territorial when it comes to their home space, food, or those it considers its pack or family. Knock on the door of any home that has a dog in residence and more often or not it will begin to bark. Walk by a yard where a dog is tethered and he or she will let you know that this is their territory and you'd better not come in without permission.
Any dog has to be properly trained by its owner to ensure of its compliance with your wishes. The trouble is very few people seem to want to make that effort. For whatever the reason, either laziness or some misguided belief that training is bad, the result is the same: an uncontrollable animal.
How many times have you been threatened by some teeny tot of a dog? Everyone laughs and says how cute. But that means the owner hasn't trained it. Translate that mentality to a large dog like a pit bull and what happens? What was cute in the Yorkshire terrier is potentially fatal in a pit bull.
How many times have you or someone you known been nipped by your pet? Dogs bite people all the time, but it hardly ever develops into an issue and the breed isn't labelled a "killer" or a danger. Compare the jaws of the majority of breeds and a pit bulls. What would be passed off as a nip when performed by any other animal develops into a serious injury when delivered by a pit bull.
Their jaws are designed to lock in place when they clamp down. These are the descendants of animals that were used in that delightful old pastime of bear baiting. They were genetically bred for the ability to get a tenacious grip upon an animal more than twice its size and not let go under any circumstances.
For every responsible dog owner, there is an equal number, if not greater, of irresponsible ones who cannot be bothered to properly train their animals. They think that their duty to the animal ends with feeding and maybe taking it for a walk once in a while. Of course there are the owners who pretty much ignore their animal and leave it tied up outside all the time.
I'm sure every neighbourhood has one of these unfortunate creatures whose howls and cries can be heard at most times of day or night. Dogs are social creatures and need company or they get lonely and miserable. A dog left outside is an unhappy dog; an unhappy dog can easily turn into a dangerous animal.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
Well said gypsyman. I used to own a staffordshire bull terrier, a related breed and she was a gorgeous, gentle-tempered dog - if a bit stubborn if she got it into her head to do something. And we used to regularly see another staffie down the park with a group of kids who was wonderful with them, taking even rough handling from the toddlers without complaint.
But staffies are not infrequently mentioned in dog attacks; almost certainly the ones owned by the type of young males you describe, and sometimes even ones that have been forced into illegal dogfighting.
2 - Lori
Great comment, except for the locking jaw part.
Pit bull breeds have been bred to be dog aggressive. It's the human owners that have created the monster. I say legislate ownership. I own an English Staff. It is a sad day for humans when we decide to exterminate a breed. Again, humans have failed as we continue to destroy what we cannot understand or control.
3 - Chady Boutros
It’s a sad day for all pit bulls and they are such amazing dogs. I have a handicapped Texas red nose; she’s small and was born with a bad front leg. She gets around quite easily, can walk for hours and can even run. The problem occurs when it’s humid outside because she has a hard time cooling off.
I fear that with a muzzle I will not be able to walk her as long, because she won’t be able to cool off is efficiently. She already has a difficult time because of the handicap. It’s too bad you couldn’t put your dog through a certain kind of training and receive a certificate so that you don’t have to adhere to the muzzle law. Check out her pictures in the enclosed link. She’s a beauty.
4 - Purple Tigress
I use a wire muzzle on one of my dogs and I live in So. Cal. I use the muzzle because she chews on herself when the weather is hot which is most of the time in Los Angeles.
I would debate that definition territorialism. Not every breed is territorial in the same manner. Many breeds make good watch dogs and not good guard dogs, meaning they might bark and lead the intruder to the family silver service. Some dog breeds are neither good watch dogs nor guard dogs.
The term pit bull covers several breeds: American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or any dogs displaying characteristics of those breeds.
The problem is, of course, not with the breed itself, but with the breeders and owners.
My dogs were attacked by a pitbull. I offered the owner to help train the dog which was still under 1 year old at the time. They didn't take up the offer. My dogs were later attacked yet again. Their dogs were impounded. The pitbull was actually sharp-shy and human aggressive. That was lucky for me. I didn't get bit. The owners never paid for my medical bills (did get thrown to the ground and hurt my back). They moved suddenly--in the night.
I wasn't the only person whose dog was attacked. It is sad because I know of people who have well-behaved pit bulls and others who have misbehaving small dogs. The small dog I could punt across the street if it attacked me or my dogs like the pit bull did. I have seen German shepherds who were aggressive because they were untrained. Other dogs were trained to be aggressive because it made the owner feel macho.
Some people should not have been allowed to own the pit bull or perhaps any dogs at all. But we haven't so far legislated that.
When people make mistakes, too often the animal in question suffers. Such is the case with the pit bull.
5 - Phil
I have been around staffordshire bull terriers all my life. Presently i own a dog and bitch, both are six years old. They are not related and completely non agressive towards other dogs or humans.
You must remember that animals only have the capacity to react, good socialisation and humane treatment will develop a tempermentally better dog. I have never had one moment of agreession from any of my dogs. Partly due to the way they are treated and also because they are well bred!! If I had bought a dog from a fighting strain, then it may be almost impossible to curb this agression as it's inbred. The lesson here I feel is to only breed or buy puppies from more placid terriers. As these dogs were made agressive through selective breeding, the reverse is actually easier. It's not the dogs guys, it's the owner!!
6 - r
I really think the problem lies in the way the dogs are bred and the mentality of some of the owners.
A dog purchased from a reputable breeder and raised in a loving environment will most likely show no unnecessary aggression towards people. The problem is dogs like PitBulls and Rotwiellers are over-bred and are, in some cases, owned by small-minded people who want them to be tough and aggressive. They nuture those traits. It's sad, but these dogs are usually associated with criminals and red necks. This probably doesn't do anything for the dog's image and is no fault of theirs.
It's to bad. I've been around Pit Bulls before and they've been friendly. The concern is what breed is next to go?
7 - Travis Whaling
Great article except the locking jaw. They don't lock there jaws are just that strong that they appear to Lock. Your right about everything else. Blame the dead beat wanna-be tough guy who needs a pit bull to show his manhood and leaves him tied up in the back yard with a loggin chain for 16 hrs a day. Instead of inviting this fun loving family dog into his house to show it love and affection.
These dogs have a sixth sense and when they sense danger they will protect there owners. They DO NOT go out looking for trouble and will stay right by there owners side. People who stress these dogs out have no idea. Tie me to a tree in a back yard for 16 hrs and I'll punch your F*in teeth out. No such things as bad dogs just BAD OWNERS. Round up every redneck and wannbe gangster rapper and muzzle them the world would be a much better place even the gay loving attorney general can't disagree with that!!!
8 - cari
I own two pits. One 21/2 year old without papers, and one 6 month blue coat AKC and UKC registered. I'm a University of Toronto student and have hours of countless research on the breed. I am also a victim of poor Ontario legislation that bans all "pit bull" type dogs.
Everything you people are saying is correct. But at the same time we need to be conscious of the fact that pits are genetically dispositioned to carry animal aggression, NOT PEOPLE AGGRESSION. The more people that understand that the better off the breed will be. I do obedience training with both my pits in a school with at least 10 dogs. None of the other's are pits. And I am always conscious and weary of my dogs around other dogs, despite my extensive socialization. i socialized Princess, my oldest pit and now she has recently developed aggression towards certain dogs. it's not a bad thing, it's just characteristic of the breed and something that owners need to be prepared for. The key is to know what you own and NEVER TRUST A PIT NOT TO FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
peace
9 - nonyah
I love pitbulls
10 - brittany
I dont think pit bulls should be exterminated. You can't take all the pit bulls away just because a few have been found vicious. I think people should still be able to own them but to make sure they have them trained. An example would be saying just because five people have black hair and three of them killed someone doesn't make it right to kill the other two does it? I know that sounds funny but thats how it is with pit bulls. Just because some of them have been known to be dangerous doesnt mean you have a right to get rid of them all. I hope they legislative will really think this through and change their mind. Yes im sometimes scared of pit bulls but I know that most of them arent scary at all you have to know them before you judge them..
11 - gypsyman
Brittany:
Unfortunately it doesn't look like there have been too many people who are willing to rise to the defence of the percieved public enemy. Thanks for witing.
gypsyman
12 - raul and rocco
i own two dogs. 2 staffies. they are brilliant all round. any dog can be dangerous, its how u rase them. they follow there masters. u good they good, u feed them... so really they would have to do what you want them to do. a previous owned dog can not be trusted unless its history is known. you can bring up any breed of dog, big or small, and yes it can be tought to be nasty. just like there owners. i think they should ban people who are in dog fighting trade for life for keeping dogs, not just a couple of years. ban them from keeping any animals altogether. yes there are a few sick people about. my dogs are my best friends, what about yours!!!
13 - sr
Richard, What is the cost for hunting pit bull's in Ontario? Did the hunt in Placerville Ca not long ago. Do you have to sign up for a special hunt tag for Ontario? Let me know.
Excellent blog dude.
sr
14 - Jasmine Lee Mcquillan
Hi i just want to say the ban on the american pitbull terrier and other so called vicious dogs
is rediculous,Dogs that are classed as vicious
are because of the owners not bringing them up right and because of cruelty,Dogs behave the way you treet them,My partner owns a nine and a half year old rottweiler cross and he has never bitten anyone,We'd also like to own a pitbull for my son to grow up around,Pitbulls are very friendly breed of dog I think the name pitbull makes everyone think they sound bad but really there not.
15 - Jasmine Lee Mcquillan
Pitbulls are cute why ban innocent dogs Ban the cruel bad owners
16 - Amy
i think that this whole pit bull extermination thing is really retarded where i work we get dogs especially pit bulls in almost every week and i can put my face right nexted to there and they wont do anything how can they say these animals are dangerous i would have to say they are a bunch of balonega and i think they are only brought up to be aggressive that they are not born that way at all!
17 - Lori
Hello. Just to let some of you know, I live in South Carolina. I'm originally from Delaware, but my husband is pretty much a "redneck" from around here. I have 2 Pit bulls, female 75 pounds and male 100 pounds, 2 Huskey-wolf hybrids, each 110 pounds and a German Shepherd with top dollar German bloodlines, 150 pounds respectively. I also have cats too. About 7 of them, and they all get along with each other without any problem. My point is you don't have to be a "redneck" or even a "wanna be gangsta thug" To have a mean pit bull. Yes the majority of the bad owners are wanna be thugs, but I've seen upscale respectable people with uncontrolable pits. So to sit there and say that all "rednecks" or "wanna be thugs" are responsible for Pits having a bad name is just as wrong and unintelligent as saying that Pit bulls are bad just because they're Pit Bulls. Which I think is totally unfair. I saw the comment above and just wanted to say that. Thanks for letting me ramble.
18 - kreator
The thing i can't understand i have a pitbull the most loyal dog in the world always by my side and my childs side the goverment wants to terminate them LOL why don't they terminate the rapists and pedifiles they seem to put them in jail and then they are out in a couple months and then they are back on the news again for rapping or what ever there sick minds think so i kno that can't be help so terminate them , that is my thoughts ..... LEAVE THE PITBULLS ALONE
19 - Gibbo
luk yea it shuid be the owners that shud get punished for making there pits nasty not the dog pits can be as soft as any dog
20 - Dawg
For update on this Legislation visit this site.
Heads to Ontario Superior Appeal Court Sept 15th and 16th 2008
21 - Dog Lover
I don't like this law. If you ban any Pitbull type it's like banning African American people because they make up most of our gangs. I'm African American,and this appauls me. Being sterotyped !!!!!!!!!!