Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 449
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
|
10-14-09 08:32 PM - Post#97565
Great, I had a new neighbor move in two houses down and wouldn't you know it, the guy owns a pit bull. So much for the kids playing outside in the front yard anymore...
|
Jay J
enthusiast
Posts: 325
Reg: 11-09-05
|
10-14-09 08:47 PM - Post#97566
In response to Pirate
Don't feel bad, the neighbor behind us had a couple of Labs, but I guessed they passed on, so now he has a pair of young Doberman's, that bark at any little leaf that falls from a tree, day and night!
Plus his fence is in a perpetual state of repair, so the next big storm will more than likely take down a portion of it (as the last one did) and let them out to roam free.
|
denisew
enthusiast
Posts: 7128
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
|
10-14-09 08:49 PM - Post#97567
In response to Jay J
Jay J - This might come in handy to report that fence problem: http://cityofallen.publisharea.net/forms/code-viol...
Pirate - As long as the dogs are kept on leash and behind a strong fence, they shouldn't be a problem. Any breed can be a problem, although this breed is more known for its aggressive behavior.
|
Abby
member
Posts: 62
Reg: 01-10-03
|
10-14-09 09:06 PM - Post#97571
In response to denisew
Dobies are great dogs if properly trained and have a good owner. But they do take training! Any breed can be a bad if the owner is bad.
Former Dobie owner!
|
Maurice
enthusiast
Posts: 2500
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 12-03-01
|
10-15-09 12:03 AM - Post#97582
In response to Abby
Pit bulls are great dogs and make excellent family dogs if the owner is a good one. The breed has gotten a very bad rep more due to bad ownership than anything else.
|
gaylonlee
member
Posts: 84
Reg: 03-06-06
|
10-15-09 06:36 AM - Post#97586
In response to Maurice
There's a reason "bad owners" like them. They can rip an animal to shreds in a short time, and they take very little motivation to do so.
|
vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 395
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
|
10-15-09 06:39 AM - Post#97587
In response to Maurice
Yes, dogs are like children. Although children are brought up right, they may stray a little also, both are unpredictable at times.
|
ChrisH
enthusiast
Posts: 242
Reg: 07-30-08
|
10-15-09 08:09 AM - Post#97590
In response to gaylonlee
There's a reason "bad owners" like them. They can rip an animal to shreds in a short time, and they take very little motivation to do so.
Just get a mule. It would tear a pit bull to shreds. 
|
Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 449
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
|
10-15-09 09:03 AM - Post#97592
In response to denisew
...Pirate - As long as the dogs are kept on leash and behind a strong fence, they shouldn't be a problem. Any breed can be a problem, although this breed is more known for its aggressive behavior.
Well, besides the obvious concern for my own kids, this house sits on a corner lot and there is a bus stop directly across the street.
I know people have different opinions about this specific breed and the "they are not bad dogs, but bad owners" arguement gets thrown around alot, well I've personally seen this breed attack with no provocation.
I remember back when I was a kid and we were visiting my uncle who lived on a farm and we were sitting around the table on his patio and his pit bull was lying there next to him and as we were sitting there chatting, my uncle was patting and stroking the dog and all of a sudden, the dog jumped up and grabbed my uncle by the arm and would not let go. My uncle had to put the dog down while the dog still had his jaws clamped around his arm - I'll never forget that.
I also remember a story down in San Antonio not too long ago. This grandmother was babysitting her granddaughter and the grandmother had a pit bull who was raised as an indoor dog. The grandmother stepped out of the room only to return a few seconds later to find the dog with it's jaws around the 2 year old's neck.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 484
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
10-15-09 09:22 AM - Post#97594
In response to Pirate
When I was a kid, the scariest dogs in our neighborhood were two black standard poodles (they shredded balls kicked over their fence), an airedale, and a golden retriever. The golden was the most ferocious dog I'd ever seen. The family that kept it was the nicest family ever, and they ended up having to get rid of the dog because it was so dangerous. It was huge and it would chase after everyone and try to bite them. It was horrible.
My family has a pit bull/boxer mix, and she's like a cat. She's afraid of everything, and likes to hide in the closet and shiver.
I think any dog breed can be dangerous. Maybe see what the dog is like. It could be very docile. You never know.
|
TC2112
enthusiast
Posts: 601
Reg: 08-16-07
|
10-15-09 10:28 AM - Post#97600
In response to Maurice
Pit bulls are inherently dangerous, regardless of training. Any notion that they can be family dogs is rendered moot by empirical data.
| January 20, 2009. The end of an error. |
|
Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 449
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
|
10-15-09 10:36 AM - Post#97601
In response to StacyLynn624
...I think any dog breed can be dangerous. Maybe see what the dog is like. It could be very docile. You never know.
I think it's a given that any breed "can" be dangerous, but this specific breed is notorious for sudden, unprovoked attacks.
Wait to see what this dog is like? I can't risk my children's well being while I wait to see if this dog is docile or not, so I guess we'll be taking every precaution we can and not let the kids play in the front yard anymore.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 484
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
10-15-09 12:44 PM - Post#97608
In response to Pirate
I'm just saying, if you're that concerned about it, go over there, meet the new neighbors and meet the dog in question before you start making generalizations on a community message board about the temperment of that particular animal.
I think that's fair.
TC- I know that there are dangerous pit bulls, but there are also very nice and calm pit bulls. Not all pit bulls are dangerous. There are many other breeds that can be just as menacing (rotts, german shephards, dobermans), but I've also seen animals of those breeds be docile. In our case, our pit/boxer mix is very nice and doesn't even come near strangers. She keeps a 25 foot distance at all times. She was a rescue dog, and it took her about 6 months to be comfortable with us. She didn't even bark for a year.
I really feel that with all breeds, you have to meet the dog in question before you make these types of statements.
Edited by StacyLynn624 on 10-15-09 12:53 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
monita
enthusiast
Posts: 234
Reg: 06-05-08
|
10-15-09 01:30 PM - Post#97614
In response to StacyLynn624
As the owner of a pitbull, I understand peoples' fears over my dog....It makes me sad because he is such a sweet dog but I understand, dogs are animals after all. I have kids and he is amazing with them. I have never seen an ounce of aggression towards my kids. I have a friend that had a lap dog maul the babies face off all dogs are capable of it. The fact that pits are so strong and people have bred them for dog fights are reason enough for people to be concerned. To each his/ her own we are all entitled to our opinions.
|
denisew
enthusiast
Posts: 7128
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
|
10-15-09 01:33 PM - Post#97615
In response to Pirate
I understand and I'm not defending the breed, just making sure the fence is strong and hopefully they have smart owners who can control them.
I had an incident a few years ago when walking my dogs with my boys and a pit bull charged us and stood ready to attack. Our lab stood between us. I hollered for the owners who were walking just a ways behind the dog and had let the dog off leash. Thank goodness the dog ran back to them and they put it on a leash. This same dog was the one the police officer shot a couple years ago when he witnessed it charging at another resident in our neighborhood who was out walking her dog.
I also had another incident where two loose pits were suddenly hovering over my bassett hound - out of the blue. We don't know where they came from. I was on my way home from walking my boys from school and talking to a neighbor when it happened. She got the kids inside and called Animal Control and at the same time I gingerly walked my own dog home and shooed the two pits away. I've never seen Animal Control get someplace so quickly!
Needless to say, I am very wary of this breed, but since they are not outlawed here, I just have to be cautious if ever confronted by them.
|
Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 449
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
|
10-15-09 01:39 PM - Post#97617
In response to StacyLynn624
I'm just saying, if you're that concerned about it, go over there, meet the new neighbors and meet the dog in question before you start making generalizations on a community message board about the temperment of that particular animal.
I think that's fair.
You need to go back and re-read my posts because I didn't make any comments about the temperment of this particular dog, but rather comments about the breed in general.
It's understandable since your dog is a mixed breed that includes pit bull, why you are going to defend that breed, just like all owners of pit bulls do.
Meet the dog? Don't think so. My uncle had his pit bull for over 5 years before it turned on him and I can't count how many times my brother and I used to play with him before it attacked my uncle, so what good would it do for me to go meet this particular dog?
We are both entitled to our opinions and we'll just have to agree to disagree on this issue.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 484
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
10-15-09 02:33 PM - Post#97623
In response to Pirate
Great, I had a new neighbor move in two houses down and wouldn't you know it, the guy owns a pit bull. So much for the kids playing outside in the front yard anymore...
This implies that you believe that pit bulls are vicious animals without encountering the actual dog in question. It is a generalized statement about the breed. This was the statement that I was refering to. If you are concerned for the safety of your children around this particular dog, go and see for yourself if that particular dog fits your description of typical pit bull temperment or not. It's not a big deal. Their dog may be like mine, or it may not, but you'll never know unless you encounter the dog yourself.
Edited by StacyLynn624 on 10-15-09 02:35 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 449
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
|
10-15-09 03:42 PM - Post#97631
In response to StacyLynn624
I guess I'm not making my point clear. My uncle's dog was a very docile dog. My brother & I used to play with it all the time when ever we went over for a visit. He had the dog for over 5 years before it attacked him out of the blue - we were sitting around a table and my uncle was petting & stroking him when all of a sudden it jumped up and clamped his jaws around my uncle's arm. This happened over 20 years ago, but I can remember it like it happened just yesterday - something I don't think I'll ever forget.
So the point I'm trying to make is that no matter how docile the dog may be today, there is always a risk that it can just snap and attack someone at some point in the future. Now I know this can happen with any breed, but it just seems like this is more prevalent in pit bulls than any other breed, hands down.
Just do a search on pit bull attacks on the internet. In most cases, at some point in the story, the owner is making some type of qualifying statment such as, "he/she was such a gentle dog and never attacked anyone like this before". That may be fine and dandy but does it really matter to the person that was just attacked that the dog was docile for "X" amount of time before the attack?
And just to be fair, there are other dogs in the neighborhood that are not pit bulls that I am leary of too.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 484
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
10-15-09 03:52 PM - Post#97632
In response to Pirate
Apparently, the other dogs in the neighborhood don't bother you as much as this new one does, because your posts say that your kids currently play outside in the front yard.
Is this dog in the front yard, loose or tied to a tree or something? How is their fence constructed? Do they lock their gate? If I was concerned about my children playing outside with this dog living a few houses down, then these are questions that I would attempt to get answered.
How about you just keep your kids inside? Your other neighbors can make their own decisions about letting their kids play outside with that particular dog living on their street.
You should go meet your new neighbor! Maybe he's your new best friend! You never know. Give him a chance first.
Edited by StacyLynn624 on 10-15-09 03:53 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
Pirate
enthusiast
Posts: 449
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 06-20-03
|
10-15-09 04:12 PM - Post#97635
In response to StacyLynn624
If you think I'm being overly paranoid, just take a poll of people who are not pit bull owners and see what they think of the breed. You'll see I'm not alone.
Look, your opinion of this particular breed of dog is based on your personal experience with them, just like mine is. You're not going to change my mind, just like I'm not going to change yours.
And just to answer your question, as long as this guy has this dog, he will NEVER be my best friend.
|
