Marty
07-10-2005, 10:04 AM
Albany, OR -- Would you have a pit bull in your home?
For many dog lovers, this question is becoming increasingly difficult to answer. Reports of dogs attacking humans often involve the American pit bull terrier, a strong breed originally bred for human companionship and later for fighting with other dogs. As the pit, which is also called an American Staffordshire terrier, has become more trendy as a guard or protection dog, it has been increasingly misbred for aggressive tendencies, rather than good temperament.
As a society, we've seen this happen before. Rottweilers, Dobermans and German shepherds have been labeled the "most dangerous breed" in past decades, mostly due to poor breeding and owners that value having a tough, aggressive dog over having a pet that can fit into the family and the community.
Some say the media reports of these attack cases involving pit bulls have been overly hyped, leading people to believe the entire breed is flawed because of a few bad apples. Indeed, pit bulls can be extremely loyal and loving companions.
Let's look at the good news: Pit bulls can be bred and raised to be wonderful dogs. Even dogs that are not well-bred can be good pets in the right household. Do you remember the case last year of former Trail Blazer Qyntel Woods owning and abusing fighting dogs? According to a KGW News report, the two dogs were placed with experienced dog owners — one in the Bend area and one in the Portland area — and have become good family members. The dog in Bend even lives with two cats and does very well.
Most professionals in the animal care field don't see pit bulls as being more aggressive toward humans than other breeds. In fact, a pit bull that has gone through strict temperament evaluations may be one of the best breeds for a family with small children, because they are sturdy dogs that tolerate a lot of handling, grabbing, and attention without reacting negatively.
But there's no question that some pit bulls, without good breeding or upbringing, or under certain circumstances, can be aggressive. These dogs attack other dogs, small animals and even humans. What can you do to lower the risk?
If you own a pit bull or a pit bull mix, recognize that these dogs can be more aggressive, especially to other pets. Take precautions to protect your neighbors and their pets, even if your dog has never misbehaved, by making sure your dog never leaves its fenced yard or kennel without a collar or harness and leash. You may never have an issue with your dog, but you cannot afford to take that risk.
Most attacks, such as one that happened recently in Lebanon, involve a pit bull escaping from the house and going after a smaller dog. In this case, the owner of the smaller dog saw the pit bull coming and protected his own dog with his body. He received bite wounds from the pit bull. The pit bull's owner never meant for him to get out of the house.
Also, it's extremely important that you get your pit bull spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Many veterinarians can perform the surgery on puppies, so there's no excuse whatever the age of your dog. Most dogs involved in attacks are not altered, as in the case of a 12-year-old boy in the San Francisco area killed earlier this month by the family's two pit bulls. Authorities speculate that because the female was in heat, the male dog may have been more aggressive.
As well, spaying and neutering prevents litters of unwanted puppies. If you think you are going to make money breeding pit bulls, it's not the truth. People who want pit bulls can find them easily in the newspaper's classified ads or at shelters. And if you don't know exactly what you're doing, you are likely to produce animals with poor health or temperament.
Are you thinking about getting a pit bull as a pet? Make absolutely sure you do your homework. Good places to start are www.realpitbull.com and www.pitbullsontheweb.com. These sites go into more depth on the good and bad aspects of pit bull ownership and whether the breed is right for you and your situation.
Look for an adult pit bull that has been temperament tested and aced those tests. Local humane societies have these dogs and staff there can tell you exactly what happens during the tests and how the dog performed. Pit bulls that show signs of aggression are not accepted for placement or are euthanized, depending on the shelter's policy, so you're going to find animals least likely to end up with behavior problems. And adults evaluated in this way are more stable than puppies, which may have aggressive tendencies that come to the forefront as the dog grows.
If you own or end up owning a pit bull that has ever exhibited aggressive tendencies, you have a very high responsibility to make sure that dog never comes into a situation that will trigger its aggression. If the dog reacts to other dogs or cats, fine; keep it away from those other animals. But if the dog has behaved aggressively to people, it's time to make a tough decision. Can you realistically keep your dog happy and everyone in your house safe? An unhappy dog that can no longer be allowed outside or on walks may become even more aggressive.
Sometimes, the decision to euthanize has to be made. While this is tragic, it may be necessary for the safety of other members of your family and your community. If more people gave this option thoughtful consideration, and made the hard choice when necessary, we would have fewer attacks from all dog breeds.
Jennifer Gardner can be reached at jennifer@visualpeople.com.
For many dog lovers, this question is becoming increasingly difficult to answer. Reports of dogs attacking humans often involve the American pit bull terrier, a strong breed originally bred for human companionship and later for fighting with other dogs. As the pit, which is also called an American Staffordshire terrier, has become more trendy as a guard or protection dog, it has been increasingly misbred for aggressive tendencies, rather than good temperament.
As a society, we've seen this happen before. Rottweilers, Dobermans and German shepherds have been labeled the "most dangerous breed" in past decades, mostly due to poor breeding and owners that value having a tough, aggressive dog over having a pet that can fit into the family and the community.
Some say the media reports of these attack cases involving pit bulls have been overly hyped, leading people to believe the entire breed is flawed because of a few bad apples. Indeed, pit bulls can be extremely loyal and loving companions.
Let's look at the good news: Pit bulls can be bred and raised to be wonderful dogs. Even dogs that are not well-bred can be good pets in the right household. Do you remember the case last year of former Trail Blazer Qyntel Woods owning and abusing fighting dogs? According to a KGW News report, the two dogs were placed with experienced dog owners — one in the Bend area and one in the Portland area — and have become good family members. The dog in Bend even lives with two cats and does very well.
Most professionals in the animal care field don't see pit bulls as being more aggressive toward humans than other breeds. In fact, a pit bull that has gone through strict temperament evaluations may be one of the best breeds for a family with small children, because they are sturdy dogs that tolerate a lot of handling, grabbing, and attention without reacting negatively.
But there's no question that some pit bulls, without good breeding or upbringing, or under certain circumstances, can be aggressive. These dogs attack other dogs, small animals and even humans. What can you do to lower the risk?
If you own a pit bull or a pit bull mix, recognize that these dogs can be more aggressive, especially to other pets. Take precautions to protect your neighbors and their pets, even if your dog has never misbehaved, by making sure your dog never leaves its fenced yard or kennel without a collar or harness and leash. You may never have an issue with your dog, but you cannot afford to take that risk.
Most attacks, such as one that happened recently in Lebanon, involve a pit bull escaping from the house and going after a smaller dog. In this case, the owner of the smaller dog saw the pit bull coming and protected his own dog with his body. He received bite wounds from the pit bull. The pit bull's owner never meant for him to get out of the house.
Also, it's extremely important that you get your pit bull spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Many veterinarians can perform the surgery on puppies, so there's no excuse whatever the age of your dog. Most dogs involved in attacks are not altered, as in the case of a 12-year-old boy in the San Francisco area killed earlier this month by the family's two pit bulls. Authorities speculate that because the female was in heat, the male dog may have been more aggressive.
As well, spaying and neutering prevents litters of unwanted puppies. If you think you are going to make money breeding pit bulls, it's not the truth. People who want pit bulls can find them easily in the newspaper's classified ads or at shelters. And if you don't know exactly what you're doing, you are likely to produce animals with poor health or temperament.
Are you thinking about getting a pit bull as a pet? Make absolutely sure you do your homework. Good places to start are www.realpitbull.com and www.pitbullsontheweb.com. These sites go into more depth on the good and bad aspects of pit bull ownership and whether the breed is right for you and your situation.
Look for an adult pit bull that has been temperament tested and aced those tests. Local humane societies have these dogs and staff there can tell you exactly what happens during the tests and how the dog performed. Pit bulls that show signs of aggression are not accepted for placement or are euthanized, depending on the shelter's policy, so you're going to find animals least likely to end up with behavior problems. And adults evaluated in this way are more stable than puppies, which may have aggressive tendencies that come to the forefront as the dog grows.
If you own or end up owning a pit bull that has ever exhibited aggressive tendencies, you have a very high responsibility to make sure that dog never comes into a situation that will trigger its aggression. If the dog reacts to other dogs or cats, fine; keep it away from those other animals. But if the dog has behaved aggressively to people, it's time to make a tough decision. Can you realistically keep your dog happy and everyone in your house safe? An unhappy dog that can no longer be allowed outside or on walks may become even more aggressive.
Sometimes, the decision to euthanize has to be made. While this is tragic, it may be necessary for the safety of other members of your family and your community. If more people gave this option thoughtful consideration, and made the hard choice when necessary, we would have fewer attacks from all dog breeds.
Jennifer Gardner can be reached at jennifer@visualpeople.com.