glad I don't live in Texas!!

[adamanteus]

We have discussed Pit Bulls here before, Natalie. Rather a heated debate because some of our members have them. They are banned in the UK.

[sschind]

I'm might be way off on this but I would guess that 75% or herp owners who also have dogs have either rotties or pits. I would say this goes up if you take out families with kids. In other words, take 18-35 year old herp keeper without kids who also own a dog and I would say in that case it goes up to 90% that the dog is a rottie or a pit.

[rancor_]

Originally Posted by sschind

I'm might be way off on this but I would guess that 75% or herp owners who also have dogs have either rotties or pits. I would say this goes up if you take out families with kids. In other words, take 18-35 year old herp keeper without kids who also own a dog and I would say in that case it goes up to 90% that the dog is a rottie or a pit.

Im 23, no kids, have a dog and he is a brittany.... generalizations are never good... None of the herpers I know with a dog own either....are we the entire 10 percent???

[ssssnakeluvr]

I disagree with banning any breeds....got a different perspective on this than most people...being an animal control officer..... I think they are going waaaaaaaaaaaaay overboard banning all those animals....th ats what happens when you get lawmakers that can't tell a dog from a cat and they are making rules based on stupid ideas that are total bs!! lots think a snake is a snake and they are all deadly....I deal with a lot of this bias at work also....hopefully that stupid ban doesnt take effect......

[enigma200316]

I really didn't want to get in this, but here it is because it always makes me laugh...... Given the right circumstance any dog can turn or do damage or be the best dog you ever had......it also has to do with how the dog is treated and trained......I've seen both sides of how Pits can be
and Rotties and also Dobies, and even German Shepards...........I've even seen a Chihuahua bite the hell out of a kid, so if you blame one dog you must blame them all, even though I know thats not how most people see it, that is my opinion................

[ssssnakeluvr]

yes.....any animal with teeth, given the right circumstances will bite....those of us that work in the animal control field are more wary of chows and shar peis than rotties and pits.

[drache]

Originally Posted by sschind

I'm might be way off on this but I would guess that 75% or herp owners who also have dogs have either rotties or pits. I would say this goes up if you take out families with kids. In other words, take 18-35 year old herp keeper without kids who also own a dog and I would say in that case it goes up to 90% that the dog is a rottie or a pit.

I am curious as to why you leave out families with kids?
in my experience pit bulls in particular are fantastic family dogs
they are loyal, extremely child friendly, and playful in a (would you believe it?) careful way
it's the dog I would get for my daughter over any other ecxept perhaps a pit bull lab mix, because they're strong too and I feel it could be a buddy to her

perhaps those of you who don't know what it actually takes to make a dog go vicious, ought to watch something like "Off the Chain".
there is no dog breed born vicious

[anji1971]

I truly believe that it is the pet owners, not the pet, who are responsible for what kind of animal they are raising. I've seen pit bulls who were the biggest suckybabies in the world, and little "family type" breeds who I wouldn't go near without full body armour!!
I think, barring any strange personality quirks, that animals are born good, and people ruin them. Maybe they should ban certain people from having pets at all, instead of banning the pets.

[drache]

Originally Posted by anji1971

Maybe they should ban certain people from having pets at all, instead of banning the pets.

that's brilliant - more benign than just shooting them and cheaper than locking them up

[ssssnakeluvr]

absolutely!!!!! it's the owner and how they raise the dog!!! I tell people that all the time. some breeds have certain tendencies...but it also depends on how they are raised and trained. I recently had a case....pit bull attacked another dog, the dog died. I was in the owners house and I couldn't get this pit off of me....he was beating everything with his wagging tail, and when I would quit petting him he would jump on me and want more!!! they do make great family pets if raised like a family pet.