Pit Bulls - Good Dogs or Bad? The Irreverent Vets Speaks Out
By: Irreverent Vet
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Pit Bulls – Good Dogs or Bad? The Irreverent Vets Speaks Out
There is nothing more polarizing in many veterinary clinics and shelters than the topic of pit bulls; more specifically, the personality and aggression potential of these dogs. Some pit bull lovers believe they are the best dogs ever, while many other people are leery of them.
I've been a veterinarian for over 20 years and I have to be honest, I'm not a pit bull fan but I know some vets who are.
The other day I was working at a clinic when a pit bull came in. The dog was fine-the problem was minor and there was no signs of aggression or problems with this patient. After he left a fellow veterinarian asked me if I heard about the
59-year-old woman had been killed recently by a pit bull-type dog. I had not, so I found the new story online. Basically, as I understood it, this woman had a pit bull with no history of aggression. She was out in the yard with the dog when he attacked and killed her mother.
Before I go any further, let me introduce myself for those of you that don't know me. I'm the Irreverent Veterinarian and I give you my honest opinion of issues in the animal care world. Some might say that I'm honest to a fault. I speak my mind and I won't sweet-talk you or sugarcoat the truth. I tell it like it is – to you, the drug companies, the pet product manufacturers, professional breeders and pet owners. Some of what I say can be controversial, but that doesn't stop me-it can be hard to hear the truth.
Now, this makes me nervous. Critics will say that an attack of this type can happen with any dog. That may be true, but I've never heard of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel killing a woman.
I believe that pit bulls (which are actually several breeds of dog with similar characteristics, not a single breed) do have the ability to be loving and sweet dogs. When I see one that is well-behaved and socialized, there is almost no sweeter dog. But honestly, I never fully let my guard down. I never fully trust them.
I've personally seen 3 different pitt bull dogs in my career who were nice, loving dogs for years but one day they just snapped. And when they snap, they can cause injury or even kill. They are so strong that it doesn't take much for them to hurt another animal or a person.
Here is an example: I saw a pit bull who lived peacefully with 2 small poodles and 3 cats. They all got along, played, and had a happy home for years. One day the owner went to pick up some groceries and came home to find both poodles and one cat were dead. The dogs had been eviscerated; it seemed that the pit bull snapped just like that and killed three of its friends.
Pit bull owners will tell me that their dog is no more likely to be aggressive and have a problem than any other dog. I disagree. I've never personally seen a cocker spaniel or collie "snap" and if it did, it probably wouldn't kill a 59-year-old woman. It takes a lot of training to handle all their strength and even then, they still have the force necessary to really hurt someone.
My Final Thoughts on "Pit Bulls – Good Dogs or Bad?"
Personally I think you can never fully trust a pit bull. I have no idea what goes on in their heads but I do think there is an instinct that is strong and scary, like they are a loaded gun and you never know if or when it will go off. The best you can do is to train them well and be very careful about how you interact and what situations you put them in.
What do you think: do you think pit bulls can are likely to "snap" or be more aggressive than other dogs? Weigh in on our poll here.
Disclaimer
The Irreverent Vet is a columnist that regularly contributes to PetPlace.com. The goal is to add a balanced and alternative view of some controversial pet issues. As happens with all of us, veterinarians can't always say what they really think without offending some clients. This commentary allows vets to say what they think and give you, the pet owner, the opportunity to consider another point of view. All opinions are those of the Irreverent Vet and not the views of PetPlace.com and are not endorsed by PetPlace.com.
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