Sunday, May 20, 2012

Nanny Dogs?

I always cringe when I hear the "nanny dog" propaganda being dutifully regurgitated. The idea that a breed specifically created to maul other dogs to death in the pit - to attack with zero warning, to bite down with maximum force and never let go, to continue biting and tearing regardless of injury suffered - could have ever been entrusted with the care of small children, is simply astonishing, defying all logic. The nanny dog myth has been thoroughly debunked here and elsewhere, but the compendium of brutal surprise attacks on innocent children by these so-called "nanny dogs" should drive home the point even more clearly that these creatures are dangerous and unpredictable. 


There will always be fool-hardy individuals who play Russian roulette and giddily exclaim "Ha ha, I'm still alive!' "See, everything's fine, I know what I'm doing!" To tell someone in the grip of such a fever that they are taking foolish risk is usually pointless, as they will dismiss your concerns, but the bloody aftermath of a failed turn at the game provides a stark testimony of what was at stake.

Whenever I see a photo of a baby with a pit bull I think of the Russian roulette player. Unfortunately, the parents in such cases are holding the gun not to their own heads, but to the head of their own child. Naturally, a number of these children will survive the Russian roulette, emboldening the parents, and enhancing their disdain for the concerns of others. Such parents will often say "The baby was in no danger because I was right there."

If the pit bull suddenly attacks, it makes no difference whether the parent is there or not. Parents of children suddenly attacked by "the family pit bull" have found out the hard way that the pit bull will continue shredding the flesh of their child, tail wagging, undeterred by blows from a baseball bat, hammer, shovel, or crow bar. By the time they can inflict enough trauma to stop the pit bull attack, the child's frame has been irrevocably damaged, often fatally.

Please, read the following article by blogger Vintage which reviews "nanny dog" attacks on children. It is well researched and quite informative. I hope the reader will take the time to consider the information presented.



craven desires: Nanny Dogs?:

'via Blog this'

46 comments:

  1. It's crazy to think of a pit bull as a nanny dog. A pit bull would actually be more like a big bad wolf trying to deceive someone. Why millions of people risk everything for the sake of owning a certain breed of dog is beyond me. Not everyone can own the 1 in a million dog that isn't aggressive.

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    1. I stumbled across this blog by per accident. Over the years many people have blamed many dogs for attacks and deaths. What amazes me is when a breed such as the Labrador, Cocker spaniel, Austrian Shepard etc., who have also bitten and even killed children never make news. A true definition of a “Pit” dog is any breed of dog that is trained in the manner of fighting or killing of other animals. The irresponsible individuals who decide to own an animal and contribute to incorrect breeding and illegal activities should suffer the same as a victim.
      I have owned and raised the APBT and Amstaff for over 25 years. I have also been involved in rescuing this breed. Unfortunately I will no longer due rescues because of the inbreeding, and mixing of this particular breed. Unfortunately for 90% of the dogs had to be culled due to aggression. Aggression is arises from the owner and the neglect of proper breeding.
      There is a line of the Amstaff that has been properly and genetic breed for the temperament, companionship, loyalty and nonaggressive. I have two lines of dog that can be traced back before 1973 when the registry opened back up. None of our dogs will be line breed or inbreed. If an individual cannot show me proof of a lineage going back to when the registry opened I will not agree to breed or purchase that animal. These dogs have a very high cortisol level that insures pain resistance. Cross breeding and inbreeding can cause the levels to not work properly within dog. Causing quick aggression without the animal being able to control the emotions or judgment which leads to all unfortunate outcomes.
      I have a true Nanny dog line and cringe whenever I hear someone say they have a nanny dog, but know nothing about the lineage, which sex the animal should be or history of that particular animal. I have two children and never as babies do any of my dogs ever have access without me holding that child. When my child starts to walk, then you introduce this line when the animal is at least six months of age, in order for the child and dog to become bonded. A Nanny dog is also a female who will be spayed at this age. At age one both of my children and their companion begin sleeping together with in my room. They are both three years old now and are inseparable. I have full trust within both of them, but being a responsible parent there is always supervision even among, my in-laws black lab who I trust the least.
      My male APBT is two years old and is in training for a Service Animal for special medical needs. With responsible human these animals will strive among the others. I also have a male who is registered and performing search and rescue. Americans have forgotten the past. At one point we used this breed as a symbol that we are strong and will fight to the death. Now since the irresponsibly of humans and professional athletes has taken a rise in the 90’s this breed has become the more looked at, inbreed animal I have ever seen. What the agencies should be doing is looking at the people not the dog.

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    2. This pure ignorance, wtf do you think you are accomplishing by spreading slies about these Dogs, truth is there are far more breeds that have done more damage statistically speaking, but no one hears south those breeds, besides, you are categorizing several breeds into one btw, if the chihuahua were as large as pit bull, we would have half the population we do today

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    3. Hey herzeleid, how bout u shut the FUCK UP U LITTLE CUNT! It's not the animal that's mean it's the owner that makes it mean u fucking shit head, I hope a pit bull bites your nuts off so go suck a fucking dick you price of fucking shithead. You're amotherfucking fuck for brain. So stop posting shit you don't know about u fucking mother fucker!!!

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    4. @ thanks for sharing your thoughts "fuck people who think pits are bad" aka "hunter cooley" -

      It just so happens that yet another toddler died today of horrendous injuries inflicted in a surprise attack by a well treated pit bull, and all you can do is scream profanities at those who are merely pointing out the problem:


      Another child killed by "the family pit bull"

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  2. Really? Have you people even looked at the statistics? Pitbulls get along with people better than almost every dog out there! Any dog can bite someone, so why is it just the pitbull that gets the bad rap? They are not even on the top ten list of dogs that bite people. You idiots have obviously never been around this breed or know anything about them, or else you would not say these things. Obviously there are always bad apples, but that happens in every breed. And guess what, its not the dogs fault, its the peoples fault! So quit being so ignorant and do your research before posting such derogatory things about such a wonderful dog. All you are doing is feeding the misinformed public more propaganda that is leading to more deaths of a great PEOPLE FRIENDLY breed!!!!!!

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    1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/georgia-student-rebecca-c_n_1798037.html

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  3. Wow, beautifully written post. You sure know how to turn a phrase... You are so right. I can't believe the insanity of parents that expose their kids to the whims of any large dog, but especially pit bulls.

    I have an 8 lb. dog who loves everybody and every animal in the world, knows 70 tricks (performs on stage), hikes, will play fetch for hours, and has 1/4" teeth. Why can't everybody have a breed as harmless and fun as this? What is with these pit nutters that they see 400 breeds to choose from in the world, and pick the one bred to kill?

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    1. Ignorant people like you need to get a life and should never own a dog. This breed is actually bred to be DOG aggressive not HUMAN aggressive. Saying that they can be trained to be dog friendly but what I'm saying is that they are the came second in a temperament test (golden retrievers first) and you will often find that smaller dogs are more likely to attack. They have teeth like nails that can cause serious damage too. Any breed of dog can be dangerous if they are brought up to be. These people that you call insane are looking at the true Pit Bull not the lie that the media says and small minded people like you believe. You are just ignorant. There are Pit Bulls that are guide dogs, look after the elderly, care for people with mental diseases such as autism so stop spreading lies and talking out of your bum because no good will come from it.

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    2. First of all, you disgust me with your idea that it's just fine that pit bulls are dog aggressive. Sweet, innocent, docile animals are tortured and killed every single day, often in their own yards or their own houses, by pit bulls. That is not acceptable, it's an outrage. And yet, despite your contention that they are not human aggressive, pit bulls still manage to maim and kill more humans than all other breeds combined. Large retrievers are the most common type of dog, and the Labrador retriever specifically is the most popular breed in North America. But it has been calculated that you are 2500 times more likely to be mauled to death by a pit bull than by a lab.

      You're clueless about the so-called temperament test. You're no doubt referring to the ATTS, which was a test devised for schutzhund work, to measure a dog's boldness. If only pit bulls were less bold - perhaps then they wouldn't go into other people's yards and houses to torture and kill the innocent animals living there.

      "Any breed of dog can be dangerous", you say. What the fuck is your point? The fact is, pit bulls are actually dangerous. On the other hand, there has not been a single fatal or disfiguring attack from an Irish Setter in the 31 years that the animal people have been tracking dog attacks on humans.

      Livestock guardians are larger and stronger than pit bulls, with higher bite force - but we don't have a livestock guardian problem. LSGs have been keeping livestock safe from predators for centuries, and they can and do kill attacking pit bulls in the line of duty. But when was the last time a livestock guardian was involved in a serious attack on a human? Such incidents are damn rare, I can tell you. Meanwhile, pit bulls are mauling an american to death about every 13 days on average.

      Like all pit freaks, I see you're attacking and insulting those who speak of what pit bulls do. "small minded" eh? You come here spouting the same old tired, discredited pit bull advocacy talking points while calling us ignorant? Oh, that's ironic.

      Ah, glad you mentioned "spreading lies" - you sociopath fucktards are getting people killed with your "nanny dog" myths and other misinformation. A pit bull guide dog? That's fucking insane, a ticking time bomb! You may or may not be aware that there is a real problem with pit bulls attacking legitimate guide dogs and service dogs. The fake pit bull "service" dog is a dangerous scam crying out for regulation. Using a livestock torturer breed with a track record of sudden, random unpredictable violence for any type of guide or service dog work is the most idiotic fucking thing I've ever heard of.

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    3. Anna:

      While other dogs can also bite, NONE can inflict the damage that a pit bull can; please read the remarks of a pathologist who has autopsied several victims of pit bull attacks...

      I am a pathologist. I have attended the autopsy of 3 different individuals within a 8 year period whose deaths are directly attributable to pit bulls. They were in two different states. To have encountered 3 deaths due to dog attacks is extremely rare considering that frankly in numbers of fatalities of deaths resulting in these accidents is statistically nil. This in no way minimizes the loss of the people and children that have died as a result of these vicious dog attacks.

      I can share with you that the bites of these animals (based only on my observations of the 3 autopsies that I attended) are indeed vicious. The way that the tearing of skin, muscle, tendons and bones looked very similar to someone who had an injury from an auger from a farm accident. Complete devastation. All of the deaths are a result of blood loss due to the attack. All three of the victims were male. Two were boys- 4 and 8, the older male was in his late 40's.

      I have eluded to the trauma that each body experienced with these dogs. Each incident was one pit bull. Verified by the bite marks that were attained from the wounds and from orthodontic cast moldings from the suspected animal. People read the word "mauled" by dogs. They do not understand the truly outlandish, macabre wounds inflicted by these dogs. I've been a pathologist for 9 years and in that time I have attended for those deceased on all manners of death imaginable. These 3 deaths are still the top 5 of the most horrifying because of the destruction. I'm trying to refrain in the details simply because for heaven's sake it's Saturday morning and you've probably not yet ate breakfast. But for any pathologist we have those deaths we've attended that are memorable. All of us have a story. All of us have our demons that haunt us at night, to say that THREE of my top 5 is from 1 breed- the pit bull-- attack says volumes. It's the severity of the wounds, from the head injuries and in one case all the way to the bottom of the feet. I recall the death investigator coming into my office and telling me that the neighbors in one of the child attacks said that they heard nothing. They did not hear the child screaming (death was quick with this attack as the pit bull went literally for the jugular first; all other wounds on this child was post-mortem). But the silence was also from the pit bull. The child was within only 14 feet of a neighbors home, they're windows were open, the reporter (neighbor) did not have his T.V. on. It was all stealth, quiet, secretive almost. If I could I would absolutely be able to put up for a case of at least manslaughter. But alas I can not, but thankfully each dog in this instance was sentenced appropriately to death shortly after our investigation(s) concluded.

      There are way too many incidences of deaths and maiming that is directly as a result of pit bulls (and some other aggressive dogs) that the bite marks and the trauma inflicted shows the power, furiosity and cruelty to me shows that perhaps it would not be a bad idea for these dogs to become extinct. Either by hook or crook, I care not. I have no doubt that some of these pit bulls are nothing but lovebugs but to me and anyone else in attendance at these type of deaths would conclude they have no place in our society. None. Yes, very much a zero tolerance policy. After observing what I have, any other logical, sane human being would agree. This is not a complete 'owner is to blame' this is genetic, inbred instinct in these types of animals that can not be culled simply due to the fact it's been a part of their breeding/stock for multiple generations.

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  4. Very thought provoking post. I was attacked by a pit that belonged to a family friend. Had gone walking with the owner and seen the dog everynight. One night it flipped and tried to kill me. Very unstable breed. I don't quite believe in BSL, however the current lunacy is making it tempting.

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  5. @amber -

    Is your post some sort of prank? Are you actually serious? If so, I'm not sure where to start but I'll give it a try. Let's take your sentences in order:

    amber: "Have you people even looked at the statistics?"

    The term "you people" is rather ambiguous, but yes, we've looked at the statistics. And as dog lovers, we're horrified at what is happening to our dogs. Beloved family pets are killed every day, in their own yards and homes, by pit bulls. As for stats on serious dog attacks against humans, those are particularly damning to the pit lobby. Pit bulls are attacking people daily, and I mean multiple serious attacks every day.

    A US citizen is mauled to death by a pit bull every 2 weeks on average. Over the last few years, pit bulls killed more people than all other breeds combined, and the numbers are getting worse every year.

    amber: "Pitbulls get along with people better than almost every dog out there!"

    Well, if by "get along with people" you mean "maul them to death" then that is true. Pit bulls are 6 times more likely than other breeds to attack their owners, and killing the owner in a surprise attack is pretty much a pit bull specialty.

    amber: "Any dog can bite someone, so why is it just the pitbull that gets the bad rap?"

    Any dog can "bite" someone, but using the term "bite" to describe a brutal, sustained pit bull attack is rather dishonest, don't you think? A normal dog bites and retreats, but a pit bull doesn't let go. To refer to a 20 minute mauling, where a pit bull rips flesh from bone regardless of injury suffered, inflicting life altering injuries, as "a bite" is an attempt at deception.

    I could go on, but it is very tedious to wade through your indignant accusations and canned talking points, and I think I've made my point. But here is my question to you: Why is is that those who shout "educate yourself" are the very ones who don't want to hear the facts?

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    1. You get 'em, Jake! Great reply to Amber... who I think must have stumbled into the wrong blog by accident. :-)

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    2. Jake, this Amber is only quoting Ian Dunbar (or at any rate his message, in her own words). At:

      http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/05/an-interview-with-ian-dunbar/

      "ID: In spite of their reputation, bully breeds are in fact among the friendliest, most playful dogs there are. Should I ever have kids in my family again, I would love a Rottweiler or Pit Bull, which would be among my first choices, because they are so accepting of children."

      The strange thing is that Dunbar says a bit earlier in this same interview:

      "ID: ...serious dog bites are very rare, and almost always due to the egregious incompetence of their owners. ... Almost without exception, each incident is a case of amazing negligence directly attributable to the parents of those children."

      Which seems to indicate that he'll blame the parents of any mauled or killed child for believing him on 'accepting of children'...and for thus being maybe two feet away when the pit bull flipped.

      Hmmm, or maybe I'm confusing who came first. Maybe Dunbar is quoting people like Amber? That would be a bit strange, seeing as he's got a PhD, but I guess anything is possible?

      CID studios a bit further down here is only quoting the hairdresser, I guess everyone got that one.

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    3. Stumbled across this blog by accident and had to add my two cents, for the sake of presenting a dissening opinion to your anti-pit bull stance.

      @ Jake: "...but yes, we've looked at the statistics. And as dog lovers, we're horrified at what is happening to our dogs. Beloved family pets are killed every day, in their own yards and homes, by pit bulls."

      Really now? Pit bulls just come into peoples homes of their own free will and start attacking things, every single day? Please. Somehow I doubt that occurrence is as common as you make it out to be...as the lack of a source leads me to believe. I will agree, dog/animal aggression is a trait of this breed that needs to be managed carefully, but I doubt they just come into peoples homes specifically seeking to kill their pets. If it happens in a public place, then it's the dog's owners fault for not keeping their animal under proper control. It's the same with any high prey-drive dog; you have to make sure they are properly socialized and under their handlers control at all times.

      "Pit bulls are attacking people daily, and I mean multiple serious attacks every day.
      A US citizen is mauled to death by a pit bull every 2 weeks on average. Over the last few years, pit bulls killed more people than all other breeds combined, and the numbers are getting worse every year."

      Please, do show me your sources for this information. Because according to the American Temperament Test Society, the American pit bull terrier scored an overall temperament rating of 83.9%, vs the 77% score of the general dog population. (source: http://www.examiner.com/article/pit-bulls-score-better-on-temperament-tests-than-the-general-dog-population).

      "Pit bulls are 6 times more likely than other breeds to attack their owners, and killing the owner in a surprise attack is pretty much a pit bull specialty."

      Again, source please? Pit bulls are NOT known for having human aggression as a breed trait; pit bulls were originally bred for DOG aggression, which is a completely separate thing from human aggression. Dog fighters had no desire to breed unstable dogs that would attack their owners in the pits, and usually Pits with human aggression were killed by their 'handlers' (I use that term very lightly, dog fighters are pieces of shit don't deserve such a title). I'm not going to say they are TEH BEST BREED EVUR but they aren't overly aggressive with people, no more so than any other large breed with their sort of history. Most dog attacks are either owner-related (such as with abused dogs), provoked, or due to a bad strain of genetics, which can happen with any breed of dog.

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    4. @ Jake: "Any dog can "bite" someone, but using the term "bite" to describe a brutal, sustained pit bull attack is rather dishonest, don't you think? A normal dog bites and retreats, but a pit bull doesn't let go. To refer to a 20 minute mauling, where a pit bull rips flesh from bone regardless of injury suffered, inflicting life altering injuries, as "a bite" is an attempt at deception."

      True, when any dog from the Molosser family attacks a human, it is much more severe due to the PSI of their bite. But that doesn't mean these attacks are happening more frequently, it just means they're more likely to be reported than if say, a Labrador or golden retriever bites someone. You claim these attacks are happening on a daily basis (which I do not believe to be an actual researched statistic), but there are many other bite cases involving other breeds that do not make the evening news. It doesn't mean they aren't happening, but the lack of even reporting makes the percentage seem skewed.
      An example of this:
      "“August 18, 2007 — A Labrador mix attacked a 70-year-old man, sending him to the hospital in critical condition. Police officers arrived at the scene and the dog was shot after charging the officers. This incident was reported in one article in the local paper.

      August 19, 2007 — A 16-month-old child received fatal head and neck injuries after being attacked by a mixed-breed dog. This attack was reported on twice by the local paper.

      August 20, 2007 — A six-year-old boy was hospitalized after having his ear torn off and receiving a severe bite to the head by a medium-sized, mixed-breed dog. This incident was reported in one article in the local paper.

      August 21, 2007 — A 59-year-old woman was attacked in her home by two pit bulls and was hospitalized with severe, but not fatal, injuries. This attack was reported in over 230 articles in national and international newspapers, as well as major television news networks including CNN, MSNBC and Fox.” (source: http://blog.timesunion.com/dogs/pit-bulls-and-the-media/3597/).

      I'm sure I'm not going to change your opinion on this breed, and I don't particularly care to. But if you're going to spout all this nonsense about Pit bulls, at least have some actual research to back it up instead of stating biased opinions like they are real facts.

      Also, to be clear, I don't think pit bulls are 'nanny dogs' and that myth is utterly ridiculous (using ANY dog as a babysitter is an incredibly stupid idea) and they should never be left unsupervised around children, but that goes for every breed out there, not just pits.

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    5. The only possible reply is that it's not worth replying to this clearly troubled man (assuming Msr Nick isn't a pseudonym a woman is hiding behind).

      Best is (I think) to ignore this kind of Chatty Cathy (you pull the string and the doll says one of her recorded speeches) attention junky. Not sure why 17Barks bothered to post this predictable BS here...

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    6. Nick, the numbers you are asking for come from year end dog bite related fatality totals. In 2011, 31 Americans were killed by dogs, of that number 24 Americans were killed by pit bulls (25 if you count the unborn child of vocal pit bull advocate Darla Napora.) Three hundred and sixty five days in a year divided by 24 (the number of pit bull fatalities) on my calculator, works out to one pit bull fatality every 15.2 days, roughly one every two weeks. See how easy math is?

      When you cite the ATTS results you show that you do not understand the test. The ATTS does not certify a dog safe, or even pleasant. The test was devised for schutzhund enthusiasts and police work. The test is breed specific, and it rewards boldness. Having said that, pit bulls scores are very middle of the pack, Labs bury pit bulls, Irish Setters beat pit bulls, lots of breeds do. I have done this test with my Poodle, she passed and we received a certificate in the mail. The certificate just said the dog passed the test, no certification of her character, nobody's life changed over a simple certificate.

      The claim that pit bulls are not aggressive because manbiters were culled is a silly fallacy. Dog fighters did not cull dogs that were profitable. Please do some research on this issue, look for Bolio, Honeybunch, Zebo, Virgil, Yellow John. Colby, the grand old man of the dogfighter world had a pit bull that killed his own sister's two year old son. Colby kept the dog.

      Regarding your claim that most dog attacks are either owner related (such as with abused dogs) provoked, or due to a bad strain of genetics. I can only agree with the last part. The desire to attack unprovoked, and to continue that behavior until death occurs was the criteria for inclusion into the pit bull gene pool. Pit bull owners are always shocked when pittie has a DNA driven moment and mauls or kills something "he never did that before" is the standard remark. The only frequently noted change in that remark is when the pit bull owner is the target of the attack and police arrive with guns drawn... then the pit bull owner is very clear in his demand "SHOOT HIM!!!!"

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    7. M. Nick,

      Indeed, let's just reduce it all to "Bad genetics" which can affect any breed, in this case, an inbred ability to rip, shred, tear, and crush bone and the inbred desire to never give up and never let go. Pit bulls are the poster child of "bad genetics". Thanks for the great comment!

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    8. M. Nick,

      Indeed, let's just reduce it all to "Bad genetics" which can affect any breed, in this case, an inbred ability to rip, shred, tear, and crush bone and the inbred desire to never give up and never let go. Pit bulls are the poster child of "bad genetics". Thanks for the great comment!

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    9. Nick, you don't know how DEAD on TARGET you are with the statement "Most dog attacks are either owner-related (such as with abused dogs), provoked, or due to a bad strain of genetics, which can happen with any breed of dog."

      especially with the bad strain of genetics. Pit bulls are the poster child of bad genetics, you can't train or love it away, and then other factors such as owner-related mismanagement, which usually starts with an attitude such as yours with the "any dog breed"....these poor dogs are so misunderstood by their owners, who don't empathize with what the dog is....and then some trigger is provoked, and pitty's D.N.A. comes into play!

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  6. Pit bulls rip off children's faces this is not Fiction it's a damn fact.

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    1. However they came second in a tolerance test? (to see which breed was most tolerant to children)

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    2. "tolerance test"? Are you kidding me? The ATTS is a test devised to measure the boldness of dogs for schutzhund work. Bold dogs do well, timid dogs fail.

      Let's talk about the real world "tolerance test", shall we? pit bulls maim and kill more children than all other breeds combined. Those are the only results that matter, you ignorant tool.

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  7. I think this post was the most ridiculous thing ever written. I own 4 pits and never had an incident. The author is a complete idiot and only goes by what generated by the media. Unless you ever own one you'll never know. As far as the comment about being attacked by a family members dogs, it's a rare incident but he was obviously protecting something or somebody. There had to have been something in your energy that triggered the attack.

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    1. Ahhh, so owning four pit bulls (likely made up, but okay) means you're an authority on what's happening in the wider world, and of course on normal behavior in the non-pit-bull domestic dog in general...geeze, I never woulda suspected until you told us. Until this moment I thought a degree in animal behavior and/or behavioral biology, plus experience with a large range of breeds and a huge number of dogs, including more than four pit bulls, was a necessary prerequisite to being an expert. So all we have to do is buy a pit bull, then we're the ultimate authority on dogs? So sorry I wasted all that time and money on getting degrees and so on.

      Ooooo, and it's all in the ENERGY of the victim, nothing to do with the genes of the pit bull, oh, I'm so glad you inform us of this.

      I'd like it if you'd also explain, which you surely can since you're so sure of your insight, what exactly the physics are of this energy transmission? And please also the biology that allows this energy transmission to take place? Thank you in advance.

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    2. Well CIP, 4 pet pits and no incidents? I'd call you lucky, among other things, but owning 4 of a particular breed does not make you an expert. Blind maybe. And as to owning one to know one, thanks, but I'll pass and continue to read about the unfortunate owners in the news.

      As to your ignorant comment 'something in your energy that triggered the attack.' I think you pit lovers understand innately that there is something very wrong with your choice of breed, that's why you always find a way to blame the victim.

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  8. hey Amber, you sure show your true narcissistic colors when you come onto a blog like this and try and "educate" it's author and it's reader's. You say it's the people's fault, ok, the next time we read about one of your precious wiggly butts killing a child, I'll blame you directly.

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  9. CIP Studios said...

    "There had to have been something in your energy that triggered the attack"

    Why are pit bull advocates driven to blame victims for the attacks that change their lives? It is not "our energy" it is the dog's DNA.

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    1. Okay, I am a pit lover but the comment about energy was pretty dumb. I would like to say that quite a few of those attacks are provoked - obviously not all but some. And also, a problem is that the wrong people are owning them. By that I don't just mean thugs but I mean people without proper experience. Like all terriers they are a handful and are pretty stubborn, they need someone experienced to train them. Even though there are a lot of deaths we can't deny that there are a lot of deaths caused by other breeds but the press likes to blame one breed. You never really hear about attacks/deaths caused by golden retrievers (I have nothing against them) and it's not because there aren't any but because they just aren't as publicised.

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    2. "Like all terriers"? These are bull dogs first and foremost. The characteristics that make them such a horror and a nightmare to other living things are bull dog traits, not terrier traits.

      And are you really claiming that there is a vast conspiracy to suppress news of attacks from non-mutant breeds, and/or to fabricate news of attacks from pit bulls? You really think that's why pit bulls are responsible for more fatal or disfiguring attacks than all other breeds combined? It couldn't possibly be from genetics, from hundreds of years of breeding these particular canines specifically to have a proclivity for violent blood sport?

      When someone is mauled to death by a dog, it will be reported. it takes a special kind of stupid to think attacks by non-pit breeds are kept secret.

      You really should educate yourself about pit bulls. You're helping nobody by spreading this deadly misinformation.

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  10. Owning unpredictable dogs around children is irresponsible as hell.

    Nanny dog? Seriously. As opposed to say, a Newfoundland? I really want to know what the pit apologists are trying to prove here.

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  11. Thanks for writing, Nick - actually, the "stance" here, if you wish to call it that, is not so much an "anti-pit bull stance" as "let the facts speak for themselves stance" - but ultimately it boils down to a "dog lover's stance"

    I'd like to address some of your comments. Let's start with this one - you said:
    "Really now? Pit bulls just come into peoples homes of their own free will and start attacking things, every single day? Please. Somehow I doubt that occurrence is as common as you make it out to be...as the lack of a source leads me to believe"

    First of all, please don't twist my words, Nick - let's get this right:

    I said that pit bulls kill family pets every single day. Let's look at the numbers - Dawn James did a 2 year study of pit bull attacks on animals from June 2009 to June 2011, and among all the other animals casualties were over 1400 dogs. So, at least 1400 attacks in 2 years, how many a day does that come out to? (and those were just the ones that made the news!)

    I also said that Pit bulls quite often kill pets in their own yards, or even in their own homes.

    As for the sources, I thought that was the easy part. Well, I could spoon feed you some links but that gets tedious, right? Better to "teach a man to fish" and all that. Hint: Google news is your friend here. Just as an aside, I personally know of half a dozen people whose sweet dogs were killed in their own yards by pit bulls - but none of their stories ever made the news. So much for the big media conspiracy, eh?

    Here's a typical pit bull home invasion attack - trust me, there are many,many more and they are all heartbreaking The story of Max

    You also said this:
    "Please, do show me your sources for this information. Because according to the American Temperament Test Society, the American pit bull terrier scored an overall temperament rating of 83.9%, vs the 77% score of the general dog population."

    Nick, are you really hearing these things for the first time? the info on dog attacks is readily available to you. (for instance, you could google "pit bull attack" or similar to get more news than you ever wanted to hear).But just off the top of my head, the animal people organization maintains a database of serious injuries and deaths from dog attacks from 1982 onward. dogsbite.org also contains links to numerous studies and reports on dog attacks. One factoid that stands out like a sore thumb is the fact that last year pit bulls killed about three times as many Americans as all other breeds combined.

    Also - I find it interesting that you would cite the ATTS to make a case for pit bulls being unlikely to attack. Have you seen an ATTS test administered? It basically tests the boldness of a dog in a controlled environment. It was certainly never meant for what the pit promoters are trying to say it means. Here is a very informative article on the ATTS you might want to check out - ATTS information

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  12. Stumbled across this post. I owned a Pit once and it was stolen from the yard. Years later I now own a Staffordshire Bull Terrier (the breed I believe to the true epitome of the Nanny dog).
    Allow me to present what I believe to be a fair and balanced view. I researched this breed (SBT, not Pit Bull) for five years before I found the most reputable breeder near me and brought one home. I have children so I was careful in my research. Here is what I have found on the SBT, AST and APBT:

    These breeds are NOT naturally aggressive. The AKC, for example, explains in their breed description that the SBT is not a good watch dog. They are friendly and non-assuming with strangers and would not seek to hurt. An intruder would only get licked. The AST is protective of the family, but they are not foremost guard dogs as is the German Shepherd Dog for instance.

    However, these dogs ARE indeed dangerous. Let me explain.

    Why are there so many attacks reported? Here are two reasons I think are obvious if you take the time to think about them objectively:

    1. There are MANY owners out there who think their dogs SHOULD be aggressive. They either want a vicious property-defender or they want to fight their dogs. With many owners out there like this, what kind of dog would they most likely purchase or breed? They will find the strongest breeds and TRAIN them to attack. These dogs are not NATURALLY aggressive, but they are both indomitable and blindly loyal. That plus power make them the perfect gladiator (NOT natural "kill instinct" -- that is not true).

    2. Many of these dogs are bred by the above mentioned types. They are bred, and cross-bred and inter-bred in back alleys and homes and sold for cheap to other horrible owners. This is why my APBT was stolen and why my SBT breeder tries her best to keep her breed a secret from the neighborhood kids who she knows would attempt to steal them and fight them. This breeding produces confused and unhealthy dogs.

    3. I wonder how many of the reported attacks are of dogs with a reputable breeder and un-crossed lineage? My guess is very few if any.

    My SBT breeder came to our house and made sure we were not the aggressive types. I love her for that. We have three small children and our SBT is amazing with them. My little one jumps all over him and he just sits there and enjoys it. Once a friend's aggressive dog (a cross-bred poodle) bit my dog on the nose and he did nothing in response. He is gentle because he is both well-bred and well-trained.

    SBTs are the true Nanny dogs. You will find that if you research that breed. They are AMAZING with children.

    One final comment: it is incorrect to assert that the Pit Bull was originally bred to fight other dogs. They were bred to bait actual bulls. There is nothing natural about any dog breed's instinct to gang up on a massive animal like a full grown bull. But these dogs had the power to do it (as a team) and they were loyal and indomitable enough for it to work. It's a disgusting part of the breed's history but they were not instinctively "killer."

    Anyway, my thoughts.

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  13. The Nanny Dog is actually the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

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  14. Just out of curiosity - is this what you mean when you say
    Nanny dogs?

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  15. @Lucas -

    Thanks for commenting. I appreciate that you're not adopting the shrill tone most often used by pit bull advocates. While your post seems reasonable, I must admit that it seems to follow the standard template of pit promoter talking points, albeit delivered in a calm, even-tempered way.

    Here are my thoughts on some of your main points:

    You seem to be saying that you believe pit bulls have no natural inclination to dog aggression, and also apparently believe that pit bulls have to be taught how to fight.

    Obviously I don't agree with that point of view. Various types of dogs have been bred over the years specifically for certain behaviors and characteristics. Pointers have been bred to point. it's in the genes, nobody has to teach a pointer to point, they do it because of their genetic programming. Retrievers have been bred to retrieve. It's in the genes. Shepherds have been bred to shepherd. Have you ever seen how frustrated an Australian Shepherd becomes if he has nothing to herd? If there are no sheep, he will try to herd children. Again, they are not taught this behavior, it is inbred.

    In the same manner, pit bulls were bred specifically to attack and destroy dogs in the fighting pit. A pit bull does not need to be "taught" to fight. It's in the genes. You can't love away or train away the pit bull penchant for sudden, random, totally unpredictable violence.

    You say that pit bulls attack and kill because of their loyalty. I find no evidence for that. Here's a reality check: Why do pit bulls attack, maim and kill their human companions far more often than other breeds? Who is a pit bull trying to please when it mauls its owner to death? No, the far simpler explanation is that pit bulls attack simply for what Dawn James calls the "imbecilic joy" of killing a victim.

    Have you seen a pit bull tearing the face off a screaming victim? The pit is not angry - it's tail is wagging with excitement. It has no idea why it attacked, and when it's done with the victim it typically acts completely normal, cool as a cucumber, as if nothing were wrong.

    You say that SBTs are "amazing with children" and while there may indeed be amazement, it's not necessarily a good thing, because pit bulls maim and kill far more children than all other breeds combined.

    Just to clarify your comment about bear baiting. It was the Bull dogs (not quite the same thing as today's pug-like "bull dogs") were bred to gang up on a de-clawed bear or a de-horned bull and torture the poor beast to death, for the amusement of the sick sadists who invented the bloodsport.

    When bull baiting was outlawed, the sadists turned to pit fighting, dog vs dog. The bulldog was mixed with terrier, to give it more energy, and thus the "pit fighting bull dog" or "pit bull" was created. The bull and terrier cross was called the Staffordshire Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and today's direct descendants are the Staffy, the amstaff, and the apbt.

    There is absolutely no mention of the term "nanny dog" anywhere in history before the 1980s, when a pit bull promoter made the astounding assertion that these purpose bred killers were somehow entrusted with the care of small children. If that is to be believed, then perhaps it's also true that Sharks were often entrusted with the care of baby seals during the 1800s.

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    Replies
    1. "There is absolutely no mention of the term "nanny dog" anywhere in history before the 1980s, when a pit bull promoter made the astounding assertion that these purpose bred killers were somehow entrusted with the care of small children. If that is to be believed, then perhaps it's also true that Sharks were often entrusted with the care of baby seals during the 1800s."

      You may be right about the timeline for the term "Nanny Dog" but the rest of your post is just more misplaced fear mongering that does nothing to help truly understand this breed.
      http://www.pitbull411.com/history.html
      http://www.ywgrossman.com/photoblog/?p=676


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  16. @alvin -

    I hardly think it "fear mongering" to state the facts of the matter. While you are welcome to your opinion, surely you recognize that the links you posted are heavily slanted pit bull propaganda sources.

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  17. So if pit bulls are so aggressive why was "Petey", the dog from the Little Rascals, allowed to be around children? He was a bully breed. Laura Ingalls Wilder's dog Jack was a pit bull he didn't bite or kill anyone. Theodore Roosevelt had one, it didn't bite or kill anyone. Many people on here comment saying "oh you have 4 pits, that doesn't make you an expert", well have you ever interacted with a pit? I've been bitten by two dogs both labs, and never by the pits that I've meet. Any dog can be aggressive, and test shows that Pitbulls have a higher tolerance to say being poked in the eye or having their tails pulled than a lab does. They score 10% higher than small breed dogs. Most people don't even know what a pit looks like, without their ears cropped and if they have a full tail, some are mistaken as boxers.

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  18. First, I am a dog lover, not a pit lover. However, I do have a rescued pit that I love dearly. I was part of a rescue group that was sent to save several abused and neglected horses. What we found when we arrived was horrific to say the least.
    Over twenty dogs were on chains with no food, water, or shelter. One male had dilating drops put in his eyes daily (with no shelter from the sun) to blind him. A litter of puppies and their mother were found under a piece of scrap metal starving to death. A small feist mix and a lab mix were found locked in a dark shed with a mud pit as a floor. There was no ventilation, effectively making it an oven. This man was holding and crippling these dogs to be used as bait dogs for the fighting dogs.
    My sweet Wills was rescued that day. His vocal cords were cauterized when he was younger to silence him. This made him easier to hide from authorities and even weaker in the pit. I cut the 25lb chain from his neck with bolt cutters, and was terrified.
    Was this dog going to lunge at me? Rip out my throat? Could he "smell my fear"? He did not do any of those things. He also did not lick me or jump for joy. He simply laid his head down, defeated. I will not bore you with the rest of the days events. I am sure you can imagine.
    I grew up with horses and dogs of many breeds, but never a pit. I have always loved animals, but I also hear the varying opinions on the breed. I was cautious, as I'm sure anyone in my situation would have been.
    I was a veterinary technician for years. I am now a behavior analyst that works with children with Autism. Am I a dog behavior expert? No. I am not completely ignorant on the subject either.
    I would like to note that tail wagging does not mean that a dog is "happy". Excited, yes. There is a large difference. A dog that is in an aggressive state is, in fact, excited. Those that list the fact that pits will attack while wagging their tails confuses me.
    So is it nature? Or nurture? I love Wills, my pit. To me he is proof that it is BOTH.

    Fact: All dogs can be aggressive
    A dog that is genetically predisposed to being aggressive, and raised by owners with ill intentions wisps more likely to aggress. Wills was beaten, starved, faught, and abused in ways I cannot think about. Yet that dog has more compassion than most I have ever known combined. He is one big ball of love, and a true representitive if what I believe pit lovers are fighting for.
    That being said, not all of those dogs we saved that day could have been safely and ethically adopted out.
    Wills has every reason to hate the world, but he does not. I have handled labs that had perfectly normal upbringings, but were still aggressive.
    The point to this is simple: consider the human element. No, I'm not blaming people for every pit or dog attack (though I believe they play a large roll). The truth is that some dogs of ANY BREED are predisposed to be aggressive. So just be smart about which particular dog you choose to own. Love it, care for it, work with it. And encourage others to do the same!

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  19. This article is a load of bollocks. All dogs can turn on children/owners etc, anyone read about the Jack Russel who attacked a child few weeks ago? I grew up with Bull Terriers and Staffy's as part of my life - though of course my parents would never leave a very young child alone with these dogs (or any other for that matter) - that is just good parenting. After all, animals are animals - people would do well to remember that.

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  20. @"GODKILLER85", please feel free to present some sort of coherent facts to bolster your assertion that the article is "a load of bollocks" - challenge the facts, if you can. We welcome honest debate here.

    BTW regarding the report of the "Jack Russel" that recently attacked a child, I should probably point out to you that the dog in question actually appeared to be a pit bull mix. Google is your friend, I invite you to do some fact-finding!

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  21. Lucas;
    You describe the pit bull with ,the admiring terms, "indominatable, loyal, " and a " gladiator"...so tell me, which of those heroic, rare, inimitable qualities came into play when a pit bull brutalized and murdered a peaceful old veterinary-office cat? Or the innumerable kittens, puppies, and human babies that have died in the jaws of that fine gladiator? Or are they, for the pit bull, only induging a bit of nostalgia for its Glory Days?

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