I'm indifferent with them just as I am with a number of other breeds. Don't care either way. I've seen people raise them as a dog like people do with any other breed and not some sort of statement of being a hard *** and the dogs have turned out fine. I had a family member who had one and she was the sweetest thing you could ever come across. You literally couldn't get her out of your lap because she wanted to be your best friend and have you pet her all day. I haven't actually met a pit bull that was threatening. Then again, I think dogs largely reflect their owner in terms of personality and I wouldn't hang around someone who owned the thing solely because they wanted a "tough dog" to act tough or make them appear like some hero bad ***.
For some reason I'm more nervous around German Shepherds. I had one charge me when I was a kid and if it weren't for it's owner calling it back it would have bitten me. Also a buddy of mine had a shepherd mix that was a little off and often times wouldn't remember who you were from one visit to the next. She looked just like a German but was smaller in size and for whatever reason she was always in patrol-mode when someone came over. I was at my friend's house multiple times a week after school, spanning multiple years, and there was always the awkward meet and greet with his dog until she got comfortable. Once she realized you were okay, or remembered you were there yesterday, she was a teddy bear in your lap.
Probably all the cop shows as well where those things tear down people running. I dunno, whatever it is I'm skittish around German Shepherds.
I've seen to much from seemingly normal Pits in real life to feel comfortable with them around my 5 year old son.
No doubt though, there are some that can be real sweethearts.
I just know too many cases where something sets them off. Maybe the American version of the gene pool is too corrupted at this point to where ever well raised ones have the potential
Have you ever owned one or just going off the negative view?
Several years ago, a neighbors 4 year old nearly lost her life to one that was supposedly a "sweetie-pie".
Another time, I was at a park and girl was jogging with her little dog and a pit killed it on the spot. People were hitting and kicking it...but no chance that dog was letting go. Killed that poor screaming girls dog right in front of her.
Just two months ago a pit killed a neighbors dog. The owner claims nothing like that has ever happened.That neighbors that lost the dog were mortified (and furious) but also relieved as they have two very young kids who could just as easily have been killed.
I have a work mate who owns a really nice Pit, but sorry, no chance I would ever leave my 5 year old son alone with it.
And if his dog were to tear my son's throat out in some very brief freak out moment, for sure I'm killing the owner right then and there.
No reason whatsoever to own one, imo. And I do know many are very good pets.
