[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by RonE

"Any dog will bite under particular circumstances, but he hasn't bitten anyone in the five years that I've known him and it seems more likely that I would bite you myself."

That is pretty funny though...I could see myself saying that to someone, although I may mean it in a different way lol. But hey it's true I would be much more likely to bite some ignorant person than Bridgette would be.

[Inga]

Alpha, Hades is gorgous. I understand why people deny they own a pitbull or a am staff or any of the bully or mastiff breeds. It is because they don't want to be judged. More importantly they don't want their dog to be judged. Especially unfairly judged, which is so often the case. I am in an area with a rather large amount of fighting. I dealt with the results of all that fighting. I have seen animals in many stages of torment from this evil past time of fighting dogs. Amazingly more often then not the dogs are wonderful and sweet. It is a shame that people that are loving, kind owners have to be afraid or embarrassed for loving such a wonderful breed of dog. I hope people will get smart soon and realize it is the abuse, neglect, irresponsibility of humans that make these dogs dangerous, not the breed alone. These dogs will unfortunatly do anything their owners ask of them. That is why they are so great, and at the same time that is why they have been so victimized. Bad people ask them to do bad things and they obey.

I understand the need to deny you own a pitbull or pit mix or any bully or mastiff type breed. People mis judge you and your dog because of the bad press given to this wonderful breed of dog. I have worked with literally over a hundred pitbulls and most of them were wonderful. The ones that were scary were ussually ones that had been fought, were pulled out of drug houses or bad situations. In most cases, even those were wonderful. I think that is a true testament to the breed. Unfortunately it is so hard to keep hearing peoples critisisms of your dog and denial is sometimes easier. I have the same problem with my Rottweilers. I have had children petting my dog and jumping around by them and they were great and a parent asks what kind of dog it is and when I say Rottweiler they pull there child away like the dog that had just accepted their childs behavior would suddenly go crazy and attack.

[Orange County Ca]

Originally Posted by CrzyBritNAmerica

...I would be much more likely to bite some ignorant person than (her dog)...

I've actually made that point with numerous people who claim they know for a fact that their dog doesen't bite. I tell them they cannot predict what I will do next set aside a animal.

We can't read any facial expressions, body language is minimal compared to ours and their growls mean a myrid of different stages of anger or even fear.

99% of dogs will bite although the owner may have not seen the correct situation yet.

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by Orange County Ca

I've actually made that point with numerous people who claim they know for a fact that their dog doesen't bite. I tell them they cannot predict what I will do next set aside a animal.

We can't read any facial expressions, body language is minimal compared to ours and their growls mean a myrid of different stages of anger or even fear.

99% of dogs will bite although the owner may have not seen the correct situation yet.

I think that is the point here...ANY dog could bite someone. But 99% of all dogs in the world will bite?? I doubt the number is that high...

[DogAdvocat]

Originally Posted by Orange County Ca

We can't read any facial expressions, body language is minimal compared to ours and their growls mean a myrid of different stages of anger or even fear.

And play, don't forget play. Dog's can also growl when they are playing. And I've seen far too many people freak out because of a play growl.

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

Originally Posted by DogAdvocat

And play, don't forget play. Dog's can also growl when they are playing. And I've seen far too many people freak out because of a play growl.

Me too! Huskies are one of the most vocal breeds I've ever met. I am pretty sure I haven't seen a Husky at the dog park that didn't growl or make some strange noise while playing with other dogs...they weren't being mean, just loud! LOL.

[Jen D]

While in rescue I would sign some of the dogs up for obedience classes so I could see how they were around other dogs as well as people. I had this one dog that was about 140lbs named Jackson, we walked into the class and this women just let out a scream. I looked down at her little dog and looked back up not moving and the instrutor told me she is afraid of dogs. She piped back in saying more so with Pit Bulls, the instructor knew me well, told the women it was an American Bulldog. I just smiled walked past her and said they do look like over size Pits don't they and Jackson would be looking for a new home soon!

[Chloef_2799]

There is a guy that lives near me and he has a black pit bull but insists that it is a boxer and lab cross. I know it is a pit bull and he is a good dog to but everytime someone asks him what it is he gives this big long story about how the dog looks like a pit bull but really isnt and he got it from a rescue that destroys pit bulls so he is definitely not a pit.....but he most certainly is. You can tell by his head, chest, his size...he is all pit. Hes a great dog...I am sure that the guy just doesn't want to deal with people being rude to him or his dog because of breed.

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

So ironically I had a 'pit bull' incident yesterday. I went to the dog park and I don't know something like 15 minutes after we got there a guy asked me 'what kind of dog is that?' I said 'She's a dalmatian/pit bull mix'. He was walking out as he asked me and he continued with 'yeah I thought she looked like a pit, is she friendly with dogs?' I actually didn't know what to say at this point. I made a very obvious glance over to where she was VERY playfully romping with a lab and said 'Um, yeah.'

I have no idea if he was actually leaving because of us...considering it was 15 minutes after we arrived; and i completely understand why people might be cautious just in case I wasn't responsible and all, but COME ON she's in the middle of playing with a few other dogs...how could she not like them?? It was really bizarre.