I often use this metaphor to describe why I, for example, cross the street when seeing a pack of young pitbulls on the sidewalk ahead of me. "Not every pitbull!" they say, but, as statistics (and personal experience) amply show, enough.
The issue of course is that the suicidal empathy (of those who encourage pitbull migration and native breeding programs) isn't restricted to their own self-destruction, it affects the entire country.
One statistic you left out - most dog bites happen to children, and most dog bites are to the face and head.
When I walked my dachshund in parks I had my hands full keeping children from running up to him to hug him as if he were a stuffed animal on a leash. Moms got mad at me for telling their kids to stay away. He never bit a kid but he could have easily bit many children had I not been a knowledgable and responsible dog owner. When kids asked me "Does he bite?" I answered, "All dogs bite."
I fed my 18-lb doxie raw chicken legs, which he bit into pieces before swallowing, bones and all. He could eat the raw bone out of a T-bone steak. A dachshund's teeth and jaw strength can easily do this. People are woefully uneducated about dogs, dog bites and the number of children maimed by dogs each year. Pit Bulls should be banned - no question.
Never interacted with a purebred pittie. Just ones with mixed with golden retriever or yellow lab. Still, those dogs are not ones I’ve ever felt comfortable to be around my kid. Statistics prove my instinct correct.
There is a very real issue with the statistics and it’s that there isn’t a universal definition of a pit bull which is generally a type of dog as opposed to an actual breed of dog. American Pitbull Terrier isn’t recognized by the AKC but is by the UKC, the AKC doesn’t allow APBT to be registered as American Staffordshire Terriers but the UKC lets Am Staffs be registered as ABPT. On top of that most APBT are not registered and most that are registered are registered through specific breed registries and not the UKC.
Multiple studies have shown that people are very bad at identifying dogs as being even vaguely related to pit bulls. Studies also show that professionals that work with dogs are as bad at it as the general public and that trying to train people how to spot one actually makes them worse at it. One study showed that most dogs identified as “pit bulls” were in fact boxer and lab mixes. Sometimes purebreds that are decidedly not pit bulls like Cane Corsos, English Bulldogs, and Boxers are counted as pit bulls. Location also has a lot to do with what gets counted as a pit bull. I had a hunting dog in college and in rural areas everyone knew he was a hunting dog but when I had him in urban areas people called him a pit bull.
It’s kind of like looking at a study concerning the prevalence of porn but they include any depiction of human genitalia as porn, including classic works of art and medical texts and photos.
Now I realize this article is not predominantly concerned with the pit bull problem but “beware of the crappy statistics you’re given” is a good rule of thumb.
“A selective breeding mistake.” Not defending the dogs, but humans also appear to be a selective breeding mistake, based on my lifetime of observation. Most interesting. Are humans possibly the selective breeding mistake of a, so far, unidentified species? Just wild brain ramblings….
I’m old enough to remember when this storyline targeted Dobermans. Lots of past stories about how Dobermans would simply turn on their owners.
That said, I don’t completely disagree. Responsible dog owners that understand their animal’s temperament are essential. Pitties are strong and stubborn dogs who physically were bred for fighting. When they bite they do lots of damage. However, I believe smaller dogs bite at a far greater frequency…are just too small to be fatal.
We need a much better system for the breeding and raising of dogs in this country. My rescue has issues likely because he was taken from his mom at only four weeks. Back yard breeders eager to cash in not only over breed, but sell them way too early.
Also, many of these animals are high energy social animals. A cooped up and bored dog gets twitchy. A chained up animal without socialization gets weird.
Many factors add to the danger of a dog that snaps.
Written by a moron that has no clue as to the history of the breed and how it has been usurped by some moronic owners and breeders. I've had pitbulls or variations for 4 decades, have never been bitten or attacked, have never had one of my many dogs attack anyone for any reason. Have many friends who also owned pits with the same results, in fact none of the pit owners among my friends have ever had a dog attack anyone. My pits have all been loving family members, just like my Kangals, Belgian Malinois, Dobermans, Afghans and St. Bernards. If you train your animals properly the risk is non-existent. You sound like you'd be better served owning cats.
Ummm if you read the entire article you would have realized it really has nothing to do with pit bulls and is instead a social and political commentary.
I often use this metaphor to describe why I, for example, cross the street when seeing a pack of young pitbulls on the sidewalk ahead of me. "Not every pitbull!" they say, but, as statistics (and personal experience) amply show, enough.
The issue of course is that the suicidal empathy (of those who encourage pitbull migration and native breeding programs) isn't restricted to their own self-destruction, it affects the entire country.
Hahaha. Indeed
One statistic you left out - most dog bites happen to children, and most dog bites are to the face and head.
When I walked my dachshund in parks I had my hands full keeping children from running up to him to hug him as if he were a stuffed animal on a leash. Moms got mad at me for telling their kids to stay away. He never bit a kid but he could have easily bit many children had I not been a knowledgable and responsible dog owner. When kids asked me "Does he bite?" I answered, "All dogs bite."
I fed my 18-lb doxie raw chicken legs, which he bit into pieces before swallowing, bones and all. He could eat the raw bone out of a T-bone steak. A dachshund's teeth and jaw strength can easily do this. People are woefully uneducated about dogs, dog bites and the number of children maimed by dogs each year. Pit Bulls should be banned - no question.
Never interacted with a purebred pittie. Just ones with mixed with golden retriever or yellow lab. Still, those dogs are not ones I’ve ever felt comfortable to be around my kid. Statistics prove my instinct correct.
There is a very real issue with the statistics and it’s that there isn’t a universal definition of a pit bull which is generally a type of dog as opposed to an actual breed of dog. American Pitbull Terrier isn’t recognized by the AKC but is by the UKC, the AKC doesn’t allow APBT to be registered as American Staffordshire Terriers but the UKC lets Am Staffs be registered as ABPT. On top of that most APBT are not registered and most that are registered are registered through specific breed registries and not the UKC.
Multiple studies have shown that people are very bad at identifying dogs as being even vaguely related to pit bulls. Studies also show that professionals that work with dogs are as bad at it as the general public and that trying to train people how to spot one actually makes them worse at it. One study showed that most dogs identified as “pit bulls” were in fact boxer and lab mixes. Sometimes purebreds that are decidedly not pit bulls like Cane Corsos, English Bulldogs, and Boxers are counted as pit bulls. Location also has a lot to do with what gets counted as a pit bull. I had a hunting dog in college and in rural areas everyone knew he was a hunting dog but when I had him in urban areas people called him a pit bull.
It’s kind of like looking at a study concerning the prevalence of porn but they include any depiction of human genitalia as porn, including classic works of art and medical texts and photos.
Now I realize this article is not predominantly concerned with the pit bull problem but “beware of the crappy statistics you’re given” is a good rule of thumb.
“A selective breeding mistake.” Not defending the dogs, but humans also appear to be a selective breeding mistake, based on my lifetime of observation. Most interesting. Are humans possibly the selective breeding mistake of a, so far, unidentified species? Just wild brain ramblings….
One of the main reasons I leave the house armed is because of this stupid breed and the morons who love their innocent demon dogs.
I’m old enough to remember when this storyline targeted Dobermans. Lots of past stories about how Dobermans would simply turn on their owners.
That said, I don’t completely disagree. Responsible dog owners that understand their animal’s temperament are essential. Pitties are strong and stubborn dogs who physically were bred for fighting. When they bite they do lots of damage. However, I believe smaller dogs bite at a far greater frequency…are just too small to be fatal.
We need a much better system for the breeding and raising of dogs in this country. My rescue has issues likely because he was taken from his mom at only four weeks. Back yard breeders eager to cash in not only over breed, but sell them way too early.
Also, many of these animals are high energy social animals. A cooped up and bored dog gets twitchy. A chained up animal without socialization gets weird.
Many factors add to the danger of a dog that snaps.
Seriously, RW boogaloo types. Owning the nigger of dogs is not a status symbol. Try German Shepherd.
The only reason to have one is to use for a catch dog when hog hunting. That’s all I can think of.
I didn’t know there were Kristi Noem conservatives.
Written by a moron that has no clue as to the history of the breed and how it has been usurped by some moronic owners and breeders. I've had pitbulls or variations for 4 decades, have never been bitten or attacked, have never had one of my many dogs attack anyone for any reason. Have many friends who also owned pits with the same results, in fact none of the pit owners among my friends have ever had a dog attack anyone. My pits have all been loving family members, just like my Kangals, Belgian Malinois, Dobermans, Afghans and St. Bernards. If you train your animals properly the risk is non-existent. You sound like you'd be better served owning cats.
You are literally doing the meme
Ummm if you read the entire article you would have realized it really has nothing to do with pit bulls and is instead a social and political commentary.