Are pitbulls bad dogs or do people make them bad?

Question

my pitbull has never been bad unless i didnt like someone. i think certain pitbulls are mean cuz the owners are mean to them.

Answer 1

its all in how the owners treat them, i've know some pitbulls who were the most loving dogs, even to strangers., i've never seen a dog "turn" on anyone.

Answer 2

People make pitbulls mean. As long as you raise them to protect you and not attack others just for the fun of it. they will be your best friend lol.

Answer 3

My lab loves to fetch stuff; it's in her nature.  Her Breed has been developed for generations to retrieve things.

Bloodhounds love to track things.  They get out in the yard and spend a long time tracking down smells.

Man has invested a lot of time and effort in breeding dogs to behave a certain way, and pit bulls were bred for fighting.  Your dog may be very sweet, but it's in his nature to fight and kill things.

Will he?  Probably not, but you need to keep a sharp eye on him, because what he does is your responsibility, and he can do a lot of damage.

Good luck.

Answer 4

People make them bad. They were just designed for fighting.

Answer 5

I think people tend to forget that this is a dog we're talking about and he or she is still an animal that has certain instincts.  The media loves to focus on pit bulls because they have such a bad reputation...just like the media loves to focus on a certain type of neighborhood that's known for robberies, murders, car-jackings, etc...they tend to forget that it isn't like that all the time.  With dogs, something has to trigger that aggression because it truly is all in how you raise them.  If the dog feels threatened in any way, regardless of it's a chihuahua or a St. Bernard, it's going to attack.  People shouldn't let the media fool them into believing that pits are bad dogs because they're truly not; they can be extremely good dogs, loving dogs and the greatest beloved family pet.  

We as a society need to better teach kids to fear and respect those animals or else they're going to get bit one day.  I'm not saying that random attacks don't happen, I'm sure they do.  But I bet it's a lot more rare than we think it is.

Answer 6

I used to have a black and white pitbull named Sugar. They aren't bad at all, it's just a stupid stereotype.

Answer 7

that is true, pits are note a "bad" breed, or even a vicious one.  they are naturally gentle to humans, and aggressive to other dogs.  this doesnt mean it will necesarily be aggressive to other dogs or animals, but it is common.  

my dog loves other dogs and he is a pit.

the fact that they are one of the stronger breeds, and were used for fighting other dogs has made people scared of them, and when people are scared they tend to tell stories.  over 20 different breeds are commonly mistaken for pits, and anytime one of those breeds "attack"  it is called a pit and this adds to the fear.

a lot of people dont know that animal on animal aggression has nothing to do with animal on person aggresssion.  just because it is in the dogs nature to be aggressive to an animal, means absolutly nothing to the aggression to a human, or lack of aggression in this matter.

these dogs are horrible guard dogs, because of the fact that they are so kind to humans and so welcoming.

however, they do sense danger and have been known to protect their owners during attacks of some sort, but shouldnt attack a stranger if there is no sense of danger, if that makes sense..sorry im not good at explaining things lol

Answer 8

People turn pit bulls mean...pit bulls are cute dogs if you are loving to them...

Answer 9

It's the owners that make them bad, by negleting them...My boyfriends mother has both a Pitbull and a Rottweiler, and BOTH are big babies..Try to imagine a I swear and it feels like it, a 100 pound rottie AND a Pitt come bounding to you, JUST to sit on your lap...True story...Besides ANY dog can bite you, whether he's nice or not...

Answer 10

Pit bulls were bred to be fighting dogs. They were put into pits to fight bulls (hence the name). All dogs have it in them to be violent animals, it just depends on their environment. People do treat them harshly and cause them to attack, but there are those who treat them kindly, and they get kindness back. But just because they seem kind now, doesn't mean they won't turn. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the dog is harmless because he hasn't harmed anyone YET. It could happen, so it would be safer to keep it away from strangers, and allow the animal to approach them on their own terms, and tell those who would come near to be still and not go towards the animal. It could interpret the movement as an attack on itself (which is an excellent reason to keep small children away from dogs like these).

Edit: I'm not sure why the thumbs down...I speak from experience with dogs.

Answer 11

People can make any dog mean. Pit Bulls get a bad rap from there lock jaw. I have a pit who has never bit anyone or any animal, but I have been bit by a german shepard,boston terrier,rottweiler,poodle(the larger ones) and a chiwawa. And those dogs are not on the 'hit list'.

Answer 12

They were bred to be aggressive so it is both a matter of nature AND nurture.  The same can be said for rottweilers.  My friend raised one as a family pet and in the end had to lock herself and her children in the bathroom and call the police to have it destroyed when it turned on the family.

Answer 13

Both.

Answer 14

People for not training there dogs right or abusing the dogs.

Answer 15

My oldest son has two pitbulls and they are such sweet dogs.  They can be protective but they were protective over me and not my son.  lol  They weren't agressive towards anyone that came up to them.

I was bitten by a collie when I was 10 years old.  He jumped up and bit me in the face.  That dog had bitten 9 people including me.  I've never liked that breed since.  There are many breeds that are known biters.

I believe that any dog can be made to be mean.

Answer 16

pit bulls,i think, would respond to violence the same way small children would. the see violence and are raised around it , they grow up violent! children&pitbulls can bouth be used for distrouction&compaionship!