Pitbulls and Children

Nichole - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Nicole:

Quoting Becky:

Quoting Nichole:

Quoting Becky:

Quoting Jenny:

Well if you read the replies you will see the people who say no don't own a pitbull and make many references to sterotypes and media which makes it clear they don't know what they are talking about.

The people who say yes actually own the breed and have children so are speaking from direct experience. Don't believe the hype, the American Pitbull Terrier is a fabulous breed of dog as evidenced by the many stories in this very thread.

How can you say people who do not own a pitbull dont know what there talking about. What gives you the right ? Just because some people do not want to put there children in that 50-50 chance where a dog any dog could hurt or even kill does not mean we do not know what we are talking about. And there is so much hype because it HAPPENS why put your kids at risk when your job as a parent is to keep your kids from harm.

I so agree with you on this! I wouldn't even risk it! My kids are my life and how would I EVER live with myself if my dog killed my baby? Pits bites are by far worse than any breed and they can cause a lot of damage. Do your homework and read about pit attacks.

Thankyou.

i dont agree.  any dog can bite. pits are not the only breeds that bite, they are not the only ones who attack.
what about  boxers, or dauschunds, or chihuahuas, or any other breed of dog? i have a pit and a dauschund  and my dauschand is more aggresive then my pit.

 so i think you need to do more homework and not just attack the pit breed!

I never said that pits are the only breed to bite. I do know that all breeds can bite. I do know that they have the hardest bite and a bite that can do A LOT more damage, and when they get in the "zone" they don't come out. They are bred to fight and they fight to kill  We def. hear more about a pit bull killing a child than any other breeds. SO thanks.... but I've done plenty of reading to know that I wouldn't leave my child alone with any dog... BUT most of all not a pit bull.

Malee - posted on 02/28/2009

As a licensed veterinary technician I've seen a lot of different breeds of dogs.  For anyone to say that a dog of any breed wouldn't bite is mistaken.  The tendency is always there.  What you need to consider when thinking about a particular breed of dog being around kids is: the reputation of this breed, the jaw size(because ALL DOGS CAN BITE), and if you already questing the breed, that probably should throw up a red flag.  I personally would never have a pitbull around my children.  Just because I've had my share of pitbulls come into the vet. hos. I worked at and the owner assured me he/she would never bite.  I can't tell you the times that I was growled at or snapped at because a dog felt that their space was threatened.  So would a child know when to back off from a dog situation where the dog was feeling threatened. No!

Shana - posted on 02/28/2009

I have two boys. Ive always had a pit and never had any problems. If you research the breed you will find they were actually a very popular family pet. Just buy from a reputable breeder, Let the children, if they are old enough, take part in the feeding, walking and basic care of the dog, that shows the dog that even the little ones are an important part of the "pack". Never raise a hand in anger to it, to avoid associating the hand as a threat. But remember that all dogs are capable of biting, so no matter how much you feel the animal is not aggresive or how sweet it is, when they are in pain, sick, scared, or frusterated, they will let you know. Keep close by when the children are playing with it, since all dogs can bite.

Nicole - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Becky:

Quoting Nichole:

Quoting Becky:

Quoting Jenny:

Well if you read the replies you will see the people who say no don't own a pitbull and make many references to sterotypes and media which makes it clear they don't know what they are talking about.

The people who say yes actually own the breed and have children so are speaking from direct experience. Don't believe the hype, the American Pitbull Terrier is a fabulous breed of dog as evidenced by the many stories in this very thread.

How can you say people who do not own a pitbull dont know what there talking about. What gives you the right ? Just because some people do not want to put there children in that 50-50 chance where a dog any dog could hurt or even kill does not mean we do not know what we are talking about. And there is so much hype because it HAPPENS why put your kids at risk when your job as a parent is to keep your kids from harm.

I so agree with you on this! I wouldn't even risk it! My kids are my life and how would I EVER live with myself if my dog killed my baby? Pits bites are by far worse than any breed and they can cause a lot of damage. Do your homework and read about pit attacks.

Thankyou.

i dont agree.  any dog can bite. pits are not the only breeds that bite, they are not the only ones who attack.
what about  boxers, or dauschunds, or chihuahuas, or any other breed of dog? i have a pit and a dauschund  and my dauschand is more aggresive then my pit.

 so i think you need to do more homework and not just attack the pit breed!

Nicole - posted on 02/28/2009

we always had pit bulls around our kids and i have 2 kids. you know some times when you turn on the news and hear that there was another kid bit by a pit bull what are you to think? me when i hear things like that i always look at the situation on where the dog was and how he was treated. if you live by a school you can only imagine how school age kids tease the dog on the way home from school. i remember kids doing that. idk i think it just depends on how the dog is raised cuz any dog can be raise to be aggressave.

Roxanne - posted on 02/28/2009

I have a pitbull & a dachsund pitbull mix, & both are great with my son. They watch over him & sneak kisses whenever possible. Both dogs are from rescue agencies. I had them before my baby & neither became jealous. If you rescue a pitbull or any dog, keep an eye on their reactions to your children. Kids can torment dogs & if the dog isn't patient they could snap. If you get a puppy, it's all about how you raise them. They are by far excellent family dogs. The stories you see on the news they never report what has been done to the dog for him to snap. Of course a family isn't going to admit that their teenage son used to hit the dog, or any type of abuse. Dogs do not snap without reason. Rescue dogs can be risky if you don't know the history. Not every rescue pitbull who has been abused will attack. My pitbull is the most laid back dog. I recommend rescuing a pitbull to anyone. Also teach your children the proper way to treat a dog.

Becky - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Nichole:

Quoting Becky:

Quoting Jenny:

Well if you read the replies you will see the people who say no don't own a pitbull and make many references to sterotypes and media which makes it clear they don't know what they are talking about.

The people who say yes actually own the breed and have children so are speaking from direct experience. Don't believe the hype, the American Pitbull Terrier is a fabulous breed of dog as evidenced by the many stories in this very thread.

How can you say people who do not own a pitbull dont know what there talking about. What gives you the right ? Just because some people do not want to put there children in that 50-50 chance where a dog any dog could hurt or even kill does not mean we do not know what we are talking about. And there is so much hype because it HAPPENS why put your kids at risk when your job as a parent is to keep your kids from harm.

I so agree with you on this! I wouldn't even risk it! My kids are my life and how would I EVER live with myself if my dog killed my baby? Pits bites are by far worse than any breed and they can cause a lot of damage. Do your homework and read about pit attacks.

Thankyou.

Nichole - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Becky:

Quoting Jenny:

Well if you read the replies you will see the people who say no don't own a pitbull and make many references to sterotypes and media which makes it clear they don't know what they are talking about.

The people who say yes actually own the breed and have children so are speaking from direct experience. Don't believe the hype, the American Pitbull Terrier is a fabulous breed of dog as evidenced by the many stories in this very thread.

How can you say people who do not own a pitbull dont know what there talking about. What gives you the right ? Just because some people do not want to put there children in that 50-50 chance where a dog any dog could hurt or even kill does not mean we do not know what we are talking about. And there is so much hype because it HAPPENS why put your kids at risk when your job as a parent is to keep your kids from harm.

I so agree with you on this! I wouldn't even risk it! My kids are my life and how would I EVER live with myself if my dog killed my baby? Pits bites are by far worse than any breed and they can cause a lot of damage. Do your homework and read about pit attacks.

Kristy - posted on 02/28/2009

I think it really depends on the dog. I have sen pits that are the sweetest things, and some that are mean. However, from my own experience... my son was bitten in the face by a seven pound chihuahua that required a trip to the emergency room. We have two rotti-shepherd mixes raised around our kids. So it really just depends on each individual dog and how it is raised.

Janette - posted on 02/28/2009

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS ! 

Kelly - posted on 02/28/2009

NOT NEVER!!! Pitbulls are know to turn on you especially children, and it has nothing to do with how you train them, they are vicious competitive dog and its in their blood. a friend of mine had a pitbull and the dog turned and attacked her daughter 9 months right in the face, her lip was almost completely ripped off, he ear was dangling and need hours and hours of surgery for her poor little face!! so if you r considering please dont do it

Jenny - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Becky:

Quoting Jenny:

Well if you read the replies you will see the people who say no don't own a pitbull and make many references to sterotypes and media which makes it clear they don't know what they are talking about.

The people who say yes actually own the breed and have children so are speaking from direct experience. Don't believe the hype, the American Pitbull Terrier is a fabulous breed of dog as evidenced by the many stories in this very thread.

How can you say people who do not own a pitbull dont know what there talking about. What gives you the right ? Just because some people do not want to put there children in that 50-50 chance where a dog any dog could hurt or even kill does not mean we do not know what we are talking about. And there is so much hype because it HAPPENS why put your kids at risk when your job as a parent is to keep your kids from harm.

What gives me the right? I have 10 years experience with the breed including showing and have met and handled hundreds of pitbulls and seen them interact with children. I currently own two pitbulls, ages 5 and 6 and they interact daily with my kids and other people's children. I say that is worth more than someone who says "I only hear of pit attacks on the news" or "they have locking jaws" or "well if you want to take a chance with your baby's life" Those types of comments are nothing but uneducated fear mongering.

Michelle - posted on 02/28/2009

Any large dog can be dangerous around children, especially very small children.  No dog, n matter what the size, should ever be left unattended with a baby or toddler. That being said, I am a veterinarian, and have spent a lot of time around pit bulls.  I find them to be, on average, very sweet, protective, and confident dogs.  Many of them are extremely high energy, and they all require a firm, experienced hand for obedience training.  They can be wonderful dogs for families, but you need to have enough time and energy for them.

Nicky - posted on 02/28/2009

i would be inclined to say its not the breed but the way they are brought up! if you have the dog from a pup and teach it well then why should there be a problem but if you teach it to be a fighter then you will have problems!!!! i was told do not have jack russells with kids because they are snappy dogs my youngest son lays on the sofa with both my jack russells and they love it!!! so my point is treat the dog well and not teach it to be nasty and you could have whatever breed of dog really!!!! however i would never take on an older dog as you don't know how it was treated previously!!!!!

Tana - posted on 02/28/2009

I think having a pit-bull around a child is fine. I had my dog for 2 years before I had my daughter, although my pit-bull got jealous of my daughter when I first had her, I never worried about her doing anything to my daughter. She's loved her since the day she was born. My daughter would pull her tail & everything, but my pit-bull would just lay down & let her. I think pit-bulls are perfectly safe around babies & children.

Furaha - posted on 02/28/2009

you are a nitwit.

Furaha - posted on 02/28/2009

you are soooooooooooo wrong. yes, he adores them and kisses them, but it is in his nature to aggressive, it is not a taught behavior. it's in his dna. i pray your luck continues to hold.

Furaha - posted on 02/28/2009

Don't!!! Pitts have a nature like no other dog. They can be fun, good with the kids and then turn on them. Recently on Judge Judy there was a case such as this. The pitt turned on the father and tore part of his head out and other maiming. The pitt had never done this before. Also, if it attacks another, you are responsible!! (p.s. the pitt had been chained and got loose) you have cute kids, you want them to stay that way. Sadly my daughter had a pitt and I had to put him to sleep. It tore my heart and still does. Good luck

Anna - posted on 02/28/2009

any breed can attack, i agree with most of the other mom's on here, it is all in the way they are trained. Mt brother breeds and raises pits with some of his friends and they all have children. And you could not find sweeter dogs. I'm all for having a family dog, we don't have a pitt but i would not be hesitant on getting one through. Good Luck!

Amanda - posted on 02/28/2009

I was one of the people who said that they would never ever own a pit until I walked into the shelter and fell in love with this little playful puppy. Turns out he was a pit and the woman at the shelter said that they were great dogs and that she had 3 herself and even told us about a training class. We took him to the class at pet smart and he is the best dog ever we even got a second one a few months later. I now have an 11 month old son and it has not once crossed my mind to not let him around the dogs. the dogs are so gentle with him it is amazing. I don;t think it is right to judge a dog just because of his breed there are plenty of other dogs that attack and kill children but the media loves to publicize the pit ull attacks why i don't know. As long as you trust the dog i don;t see a problem with having it around chilren no matter what the breed. Get all the information about the breed first before you start amking judgements dont jsut look at the negativity. I am sure if i google small dog attacks i would find some information about plenty of other breeds too. Sorry if i rambled it is jsut something i feel very strongly about. I LOVE my Pits!!

Becky - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Kerri:

Quoting Darlene:

pitbulls are very dangerous animals- no matter trained or not! Pit bulls especially are a breed of aggressive dogs.....remember animals are animals- they have instincts as animals do---do not listen to anyone about "trained" animals- please! I wouldnt trust any pitbull around any child---even after years of being pleasant....people treat their animals as theri own family member which i totally agree with---BUT don't forget they are animals not people!

You are retarded and obivously dont know how to raise animals and there is a reason you shouldnt have animals!!!

That is out of order you can not call someone retarded.

Becky - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Jenny:

Well if you read the replies you will see the people who say no don't own a pitbull and make many references to sterotypes and media which makes it clear they don't know what they are talking about.

The people who say yes actually own the breed and have children so are speaking from direct experience. Don't believe the hype, the American Pitbull Terrier is a fabulous breed of dog as evidenced by the many stories in this very thread.

How can you say people who do not own a pitbull dont know what there talking about. What gives you the right ? Just because some people do not want to put there children in that 50-50 chance where a dog any dog could hurt or even kill does not mean we do not know what we are talking about. And there is so much hype because it HAPPENS why put your kids at risk when your job as a parent is to keep your kids from harm.

Dot - posted on 02/27/2009

Don't know a lot about dogs, but it seems to me that a dog being very protective of the child/family could be a very bad thing. Well, at least for all your friends and neighbors that is. Maybe, and I emphasize the maybe, they might not turn on you, but what about when you or your kids get into disagreements that are bound to happen, especially amongst children? I never would trust any breed of "protective" dog. And just be wary when you say, "My dog would never......" Them's biting words. j/k well, sorta. Just don't become complacent and always be vigilant. I'd hate to hear of any family experiencing an attack of any kind, no matter how small. It is scary!

Emmalena - posted on 02/27/2009

i am wondering the same...i was thinkin of getting a pitbull but hten this question came up im still not toos but im thinking  if the pitbull is trained well then they are there isnt anymore concern thank any other aggressive bread to have around  and people are fine with have those breads around kids i think as long as you get the pitbull when its ready to leave the mom and train it from the start then it should be fine...

Amy - posted on 02/27/2009

i have one crossed with a boxer and she's an angel. she has taken her fair share of pokes and pulls from small babies she's even been bitten by a toddler and she didn't do anything. she's awesome with children she doesn't take their food she doesn't jump, but it took a lot of work to get her trained cause she's stubborn. hope this helped?

Caroline - posted on 02/27/2009

Quoting Shannon:

Never, ever, not EVER. As an pediatric ER nurse I have seen some devastating situations involving children and pit bulls. Can other breeds be unpredictable and bite? Sure...but a chihuahua doesn't rip your face off. Yes rotties, shepherds, and dobermans can also leave a nasty bite, but pit bulls are genetically built for biting and locking their jaws into their target. I can't tell you the damage I've seen. For those who say it's just in the way they're trained and "I've never had one problem with my dog around my 10 month old", I say thank God. But why would you risk the most precious thing in your life on the unpredictability of an animal? Some people don't buckle their kids into carseats either and can say "I've never had a wreck"...does this make it safe/right/or good parenting? Not even close...

I just want to point out that Pits do not have locking jaws.  Yes they are strong dogs, but that does not mean they have locking jaws.  And I also wanted to know how you know that every bite wound you saw when the parent/child said it was from a Pit that they were right?  Most people don't even know what kind of dog they are dealing with and when they are asked, they are just going to say whatever comes to their mind.  If it was a big dog, they will go with what they hear about and just assume that every dog that bites is a Pit.  I know that they don't bring the dog to the ER to prove that is what it was, so how do you know they are telling the truth?  We had several people bring dogs into the vet for biting someone and in atleast 90% of the cases, the person that was bit would tell the doctors/nurses at the hospital that it was a Pit that bit them and that was never true.  We always had to call and report it and then follow up with whatever doctor treated the bite wound and every time we had to explain to the doctor that it was not a Pit.   We actually had one person tell the doctor that a Pit bite her when it was actually a Poodle.  I have no idea how anyone can think a Poodle looks like a Pit, but that just prooves my point that you can't go by what everyone says. 

Agatha - posted on 02/27/2009

Hmmm...lots of interesting opinions here.  I have both.  Kids and a Pit Bull.  She's a loving, devoted, gentle dog.  My twins are 6 1/2 months old and just now getting to like to poke eachother in the eyes ears etc. and are starting to squeal & laugh at the dog.  I anticipate that one day they will have a mutually respectful, loyal & loving relationship.  Until that time they won't be together unattended.  Both will be trained (dog is already) on how to respect, handle, treat eachother.  I believe that is important with ANY breed.   Good luck, and please do your homework with ANY breed of dog you plan to bring into your lives!!!!!

Diana - posted on 02/27/2009

Quoting Shannon:

Never, ever, not EVER. As an pediatric ER nurse I have seen some devastating situations involving children and pit bulls. Can other breeds be unpredictable and bite? Sure...but a chihuahua doesn't rip your face off. Yes rotties, shepherds, and dobermans can also leave a nasty bite, but pit bulls are genetically built for biting and locking their jaws into their target. I can't tell you the damage I've seen. For those who say it's just in the way they're trained and "I've never had one problem with my dog around my 10 month old", I say thank God. But why would you risk the most precious thing in your life on the unpredictability of an animal? Some people don't buckle their kids into carseats either and can say "I've never had a wreck"...does this make it safe/right/or good parenting? Not even close...

This is a myth.  Pit bulls do not have a "locking jaw."  They have strong bite pressure because of the size of their jaw and the muscles therein, but their jaw does not lock.  I realize that you are seeing bad dog bites, and that they do happen-but many times, the person who has been attacked and/or other observers call the dog a pit with it is not.  There are lots of breeds, including boxers, mastiffs, and bulldogs, (not to mention mixed breeds) that are often mistaken for pit bulls, which is one reason bite/attack statistics are unreliable.  Another reason is one that you pointed out-there are breeds of dogs that cause less damage, and so do not always get reported.  With proper care, supervision, responsiblity, socialization, and training (for dog and owner and children) a dog of any breed can be a great family pet-provided the owners treat the dog well and take the time to do all of the above steps to make things safe for the entire family.

Kathlene - posted on 02/27/2009

you know i'm a vet tech and i work with a lot of pitbull. i can say there a good and bad with pits. there are so i would trust my life with and so i wouldn't let another dog around. they say it is all how the dog is trained, in some dogs its their manner and so just are evil.  So know what you are working with.  but i would have one if it were a puppy....

Kathlene - posted on 02/27/2009

you know i'm a vet tech and i work with a lot of pitbull. i can say there a good and bad with pits. there are so i would trust my life with and so i wouldn't let another dog around. they say it is all how the dog is trained, in some dogs its their manner and so just are evil.  So know what you are working with.  but i would have one if it were a puppy....

Lisa - posted on 02/27/2009

i am a FIRM believer in a dog is what the owner raises it to be. my parents started raising & breeding pitbulls in 1982 (i was 1) and since then there has always been at least one (or more) in their house. my parents have 18 grand children & they all spend LOTS of time at my parents and in 27 years there has never been an incident. however my sister was bit by my aunts yorkie & had to have plastic surgery on her face...

Errynne - posted on 02/27/2009

I grew up with pit bulls and they can be wonderful gentel dogs, but because many irresponsible people have bred them to be aggresive its diificult to know that you're that you're going to get one that has not had agressive lines. If you want a buuy breed find a responible breeder. Oten times you can meet one at a dog show. I had two rottwillers when my kids were small and they were awsom. Our male dog was a bit over protective and wouldn't let unfamilliar adalts near any child that was in my house. They put up with some serious abuse from foster kids that lived with us. Both dogs were bit many times by one of the kids, we ended up having to keep the kids and dog seperate for the dogs safty. Both dogs allerted me when the yongest child, who had health issues, had seizures or an episode of apnia. Neither dog ever snaped at a child even when they were old and arthritic and they got jumped on. Sadly they are both gone now but I would hesitate to have either a pit or a rott around my kids provided they came from responsible breeders and have been well socialized.

Michelle - posted on 02/27/2009

Its kinda of crazy for me to read everyones' opinions of whether or not you should have a pit bull in the home with your child. I am currently 4 months pregnant with my first and most likely only child. Throughout the past few years my like has been quite diffucult, and my pit has been my constant. As a juvenile diabetic I have bben known to suffer from low blood sugar which can be a very serious and crazy thing. For anyone who has seen a diabetic reaction or had one themselves would understand....any way it has been my pit bull that has helped and made me aware at times when I could hardly help myself. She knew I was pregnant before I did. She is and always has been very protective of me, I work in a daycare center where she is allowed to come and visit, and she is the most gentle dog I have ever been around. I have no doubt that when my child arrives, my pit bull will be just as protective of him/her as she is of me. It is NOT the breed... it all has to do with how your dog is raised and if YOU TRUST your own dog.

Mary - posted on 02/27/2009

Okay - here it is... I have worked in veterinary medicine for over 18 years now. Pit Bulls aren't the problem, people are. Any dog can be viscious and attack a child. It is just unfortunate that most of the idiots out there that abuse their dogs own breeds such as Pit Bulls & Rottweilers. I have had 4 pits or pit mixes in my lifetime and I have two children. We used to baby sit for other children at my home. One of the children actually bit my Pit! He looked at me as if to say please make him stop! But never, and I mean NEVER would he have hurt a child. My son still mourns for him. His "best dog ever" is what he says. I currently have a 1 and 1/2 year old pit bull female that I rescued from a shelter. She is awesome! My son loves her, too. I would never own a dog that I didn't trust with my children or my friends children. That's that! Educate yourself on different breeds. Some dogs require more exercise than others. A bored dog can cause more harm than good.

Shannon - posted on 02/27/2009

Never, ever, not EVER. As an pediatric ER nurse I have seen some devastating situations involving children and pit bulls. Can other breeds be unpredictable and bite? Sure...but a chihuahua doesn't rip your face off. Yes rotties, shepherds, and dobermans can also leave a nasty bite, but pit bulls are genetically built for biting and locking their jaws into their target. I can't tell you the damage I've seen. For those who say it's just in the way they're trained and "I've never had one problem with my dog around my 10 month old", I say thank God. But why would you risk the most precious thing in your life on the unpredictability of an animal? Some people don't buckle their kids into carseats either and can say "I've never had a wreck"...does this make it safe/right/or good parenting? Not even close...

Jenny - posted on 02/27/2009

Kaia's Daddy IS A PIT BULL and she doesn't seem to mind - Grrrrr!!!



Sorry (This is Daddy) - Mommy left her Facebook open and I had to do some work on her computer ... Muhahahahah!!!!



;-)

Piper - posted on 02/27/2009

i have a 4 and 5 year old with a pitbull and he is great with my kids.  they can tug and pull on him all they want and he has never snapped at my kids or anything.  i think its all on how the owner treats the pitbull.   my kids love our pitbull.

Leah - posted on 02/27/2009

i have 2 pit bulls and 3 kids my boys are 8 and 13 and they play rough with my 2 dogs and they are fine, my dogs are 21 months and 9 months, have been to obedience school and are very gentle and loving, but i do believe it is the personality of all dogs that need to be watched when i was 5 a beagle bit my face and i still have a scar there, so i think it is the individual dog not even a specific breed.

Melanie - posted on 02/27/2009

I would say whats more important your kids or the dog.  Its no comparison.  i think its not worth taking the risk, especially as any dog is capable of killing or seriously injuring a child, but these type have a history of suddenly turning.  i had a dog growning up and she bit me one day just below my eye,  she had previously show no sign of aggression towards me, and was not provoke.although i was not seriously injured, i was never aloud to be alone with her again.  my father's dog is always growling at my son and i would never trust her to be alone with him either. You have to think about whether you really are ready to take that risk.

Katie - posted on 02/27/2009

the thing with pitbulls is that unless you have had them since they were a puppy and you trained them to b around children, then they are not necessarily the best family dog. however if you have had them since they were lil and they were raised properly and not abused then they are THE BEST! my 3 year old spends a lot of time with his grandmother and if she didnt have her dog (pit chow mix) i wouldnt be as comfortable with him being there as often as he is. that dog will put up with anything, and i know is protective of my son. if anything was to ever happen i trust that max would keep my son safe

Katie - posted on 02/27/2009

the thing with pitbulls is that unless you have had them since they were a puppy and you trained them to b around children, then they are not necessarily the best family dog. however if you have had them since they were lil and they were raised properly and not abused then they are THE BEST! my 3 year old spends a lot of time with his grandmother and if she didnt have her dog (pit chow mix) i wouldnt be as comfortable with him being there as often as he is. that dog will put up with anything, and i know is protective of my son. if anything was to ever happen i trust that max would keep my son safe

Caroline - posted on 02/27/2009

Quoting Lauren:

You don't usually hear of a child being killed by any other dog!

That has changed here.  People for a while were calling every dog a Pit, simply bc that is what everyone figured a Pit would do and nobody wanted to believe that other dogs would.  Well, just in the last two weeks we have had stories on the news about a Golden Retriever attacking a kid, a Chihuahua attacking someone,  and many more.  You can't trust any animal 100%, simply bc you never know what they will do- no matter how much training you do with them.  Just like people, every animal has it's own personalitly.  Unfortunately you can't understand what an animal is saying to you and I have a feeling right before the animal attacks when it starts "talking" to you, it is telling you to get out of the way or to leave it alone just like a person tells you to back off. 

Tara - posted on 02/27/2009

Pitt bulls are great with children when raised correctly. Our pitt bull is the biggest baby in the house, we all love her. She is excellent with children, even enjoys letting the toddlers ride her like a pony. I trust her with the little ones way more than I trust most smaller dogs. That has to be one of the most misunderstood animals.

Heather - posted on 02/27/2009

Quoting Amy:

I agree TOTALLY with Mrs. Lehman! Pits get a bad rap all the time and personally it makes me ill! I've had a pit for 2 1/2 years and out of our 4 dogs he is the most well-mannered and friendly.All of our dogs are trained well and given lots of love and attention.My Chiuahuah likes to play with the pit and jump up and bite him on the butt and Blue has NEVER been aggressive.He's very protective and warms up easily to people who are invited into our home.Most of the time he thinks hes a lap dog and we have to make him lay in the floor. He is also a house dog and has always made us aware of anything going on in or around the house. I have had him since he was 7 weeks old and would not trade him for anything in the world.I have a teenage daughter and she always has friends at the house and 2 young granddaughters that Blue LOVES because of all the attention he gets.As long as they are fed well and given love you couldn't ask for a better pet!!!

As for all of the negative stories that you hear about pits there is also almost always a REASON for attacks!They heve either been trained to do so or something has set them off. You hear more about this breed because of the physical power they posess.I have seen and heard of several injuries caused by "ankle biters" as well.(talk to your mailman!) I am a Dog Lover ( of all dogs) and a dogs temperment has more to do with it's environment than it does it's breeding.Make sure that you know who you are getting your dog from and what kind of place the dogs are coming from.Puppy mill dogs are often the ones people have trouble with because of lack of socialization and inbreeding.It would be most wise to get a dog from reputable breeders or owners and better yet to adopt from a shelter.These are often evaluated and/or rehabilitated for the purpose of finding a loving home!

I love funny animals playing stories. My first pit, Capone, and one of the three ferrets I had at the time were best friends. They would play all the time. We would take them in the backyard to play, and Timone, the ferret, would "attack" him and he'd move his head while she hung on and she would fly a few feet and come running back. It was a trip! Just wanted to throw that out there.

Amy - posted on 02/27/2009

Quoting Jennifer:

Quoting Kelly:

Pitbulls and Children

I just wanted to see what everyones opinions were on having a pitbull around children?

When you ask about something as controversial as Pit Bulls then you are opening up a huge debate.Most people (especially pit owners) are VERY passionate and touchy about this subject!ANY dog owner that has children has a huge responsibility to the child AND the dog.Dogs need food, love, socialization and excercise just like a child does to maintain a healthy attitude and temper!

 

Jennifer - posted on 02/27/2009

I had a Pit Boxer mix who was great with my children. She passed before my now 18 month old was born. She was also good with the neighborhood children but hated other female dogs adn would try to attack them. My oldest daughter who is in college has a Pit who is good with my youngest daughter but wants to jump ect all the time. I personally have to keep the dog away from my 18th month old. I think it all depends on how well this breed of dog or any dog is trained on whether it should be around children. Pits are extremely intelligent and very eager to please their owner. However, they are also very protective. If they choose to bite their jaws are strong and aligned so that they can do alot of damage. Its a personal choice on how well you know your dog and the dogs history.

Amy - posted on 02/27/2009

Thanks for mentioning that Wanda M! I thought of it right after I posted and had planned on making that point after I said "there is usually a reason for the attack" In some stroies you hear about, children have been throwing stuff at the dog or poking at them with sticks...I'm not blaming the child, but I would hold a parent responsible for not teaching them to treat ALL of God's creatures with respect! Achild only learns what it is taught!!

Elizabeth - posted on 02/27/2009

I agree with every response that included that it is individual dogs, not their breeds that need to be considered. I have a female german shepherd and a male pitt. My shepherd is skittish of many people. She really just would rather be with me. She does not even care for my husband ( who brought her home in the first place!) When we took our furry darlings to the vet, he suggested doing baby training on the dogs while I was still pregnant. This included gently pulling ears, tails, feet, lips and tongue. Firm pats all over the body in simulation of a child's hands and gripping skin. My 6 1/2 month old is curious of the dogs naturally and my dogs are trained well.

However, one must remember that no matter how well trained or how domesticated an animal..they are still an animal. They have instincts and fears that cannot be put into words for us to understand. I believe that if you are vigilant in watching your children and animals that both with grow up to respect one another. I love my animals but my child(ren) come first and always will. I want my son to respect animals and I feel that he will.

Wanda - posted on 02/27/2009

I quickly read through the posts here and unless I missed one, I think there's one point everyone is missing.  While I agree that it's 'the owner not the dog' and that the dog has to be well trained but about teaching our kids how to behave around dogs? I grew up with dogs and while my dad trained our dogs very well, my siblings and I were also told how to behave around the dog.  We were taught not to pull fur, ears etc and not to tease the dog.  I currently don't own a dog (I live in an apartment building and firmly believe a dog needs a back yard to run in), I do own two cats and I'm teaching my son (he's one) the same basic ideas.  I hold his hand and show him how to pet properly and make him let go if he grabs a handful of fur.  I know you don't hear about cat attacks on the news but they will scratch and bite if provoked (like any animal).  Once I own a home I'll have a dog again and the breed doesn't matter as long as it's a good dog.

In short I think dogs are great pets - doesn't matter breed  - as long as the dog is trained, children are taught how to behave around it and you have the time to properly care for it.

Amy - posted on 02/27/2009

I agree TOTALLY with Mrs. Lehman! Pits get a bad rap all the time and personally it makes me ill! I've had a pit for 2 1/2 years and out of our 4 dogs he is the most well-mannered and friendly.All of our dogs are trained well and given lots of love and attention.My Chiuahuah likes to play with the pit and jump up and bite him on the butt and Blue has NEVER been aggressive.He's very protective and warms up easily to people who are invited into our home.Most of the time he thinks hes a lap dog and we have to make him lay in the floor. He is also a house dog and has always made us aware of anything going on in or around the house. I have had him since he was 7 weeks old and would not trade him for anything in the world.I have a teenage daughter and she always has friends at the house and 2 young granddaughters that Blue LOVES because of all the attention he gets.As long as they are fed well and given love you couldn't ask for a better pet!!!

As for all of the negative stories that you hear about pits there is also almost always a REASON for attacks!They heve either been trained to do so or something has set them off. You hear more about this breed because of the physical power they posess.I have seen and heard of several injuries caused by "ankle biters" as well.(talk to your mailman!) I am a Dog Lover ( of all dogs) and a dogs temperment has more to do with it's environment than it does it's breeding.Make sure that you know who you are getting your dog from and what kind of place the dogs are coming from.Puppy mill dogs are often the ones people have trouble with because of lack of socialization and inbreeding.It would be most wise to get a dog from reputable breeders or owners and better yet to adopt from a shelter.These are often evaluated and/or rehabilitated for the purpose of finding a loving home!