Maybe owners of pit bulls can answer this question for us: how do you determine the lineage of the dog so you know they have not been bred for aggression? I am not in favor of banning any breed, but I know you have to be careful of how the pit bulls are bred, besides how they are raised. Are there particular requirements so that you know you can depend on the breeders?

I personally think it is all about how you raise and treat your animals, if you raise them to be attack dogs, that is what they will be. Then again if you raise them to be a loving part of the family ( family dog ) then that is what they will be. It has alot to do with how you raise them, whether it be with LOVE or with the intention to hurt other animals and humans. I do not believe there is a "bad" breed of dogs, or any other animal!

I have to agree with SpoiledAngel for the most part I think it has a lot to do with the way that they are raised as well as how young that raising starts. Your chances of getting a non aggressive animal will be far better if you raise it in a loving family environment from the time that it is a puppy.

(15-08-2008 01:52 AM)SusanK1951 Wrote:  Maybe owners of pit bulls can answer this question for us: how do you determine the lineage of the dog so you know they have not been bred for aggression? I am not in favor of banning any breed, but I know you have to be careful of how the pit bulls are bred, besides how they are raised. Are there particular requirements so that you know you can depend on the breeders?

As a Pit Bull owner I think I can speak for all of us when I say that aggression is not a trait typical of Pit Bulls, and any dog, Pit Bull or not, showing signs of HUMAN aggression should be evaluated by a medical professional. Human aggression and aggression towards animals are two separate traits, however. And it is natural for dogs to show a prey drive or aggression toward other animals.

At the end of the day, the way a dog is trained and raised goes a long way - for example, look at the way the Mike Vick dogs were rehabilitated.

I agree, it is how you raise them , i have a staffie and he is lovely wouldnt hurt a fly, he has been brought up in a loving environment,