Can't even walk

I am very pro-pitbull, but I also am totally aware that they have been bred for generations to fight other dogs. I walk my three dogs and if I were to come across a PB, I would just about have a heart attack, too. Any offleash dog makes me very nervous, but pits are powerful dogs who can do a lot of damage if they do attack my dogs. Plus two of my dogs are marshmallows and the one who is protective is 11 years old, so they'd never stand a chance if they were attacked.

Having said all that, my next door neighbor's DIL has a pit who is a wonderful dog. I love her to death. She's very sweet. But I would not have my dogs out in the yard with her. It's just common sense and any long term pit owner will tell you that you have to be cautious about DA in pits. Normally if it's going to develop, it will happen between 18 and 24 months of age.

Thank You!
I am a dog lover. I have always had a dog, many different breeds.
I know what these dogs are capable of. Last summer right outback of my house a woman my age was walking her dog when a pitbull who lives in a house out back from me, pushed open the gate and grabbed the womans dog by the neck and would not let go.
Everyone was screaming and yelling but no one would go near the thing for fear it would attack them too. The poor woman was terrified. I tried to get her come into my yard but she would not let go of her beloved dog. It was a large dog, collie and lab mix. One of the neighbors ran to the owners house and one of her kids came out and called the dog like it was nothing. Finally the dog let go and walked away. The poor woman was traumatized. The dog got over 50 stiches. The pitbulls owner never came out to see if either of them were ok.
I seen with my own eyes what these dogs can do. Just because it doesn't hurt anyone in your family, doesn't mean they are a safe breed. You will never convince me and I will always be affraid of them.

Just because it's a Pitbull doesn't mean it's vicious. You can train your Husky to do the exact same thing.

This^ Hell, I could train my sausage dog & Chiwauwau to maul your feet off if I wanted too.

I noticed that you weren't attacking pit bulls, you just simply stated that that particular time it was a pit and followed up with being afraid of someone getting mauled by a DOG and not just a pit bull. The best thing you can do is get a CPL (concealed pistol license), if that dog comes at you aggressively you put a bullet in it's head, I know, I've had to do it. Also, by having a CPL and using it for your own protection, you cannot get fined for shooting within city limits, again, I know from personal experience. I've had to shoot 3 dogs, and Akita, a German Shepherd, and a Pit Bull. I firmly believe that the actions of a dog are either the owners fault or sometimes your own. I'm not trigger happy by any means, but I believe that everyone has the right to defend themselves. Especially in your case. I wish you the best of luck.

Never been gladder to live in Ireland. Very rare to see any dog out on its own here, certainly not in the city. I live in the 'burbs and I occasionally see one of my neighbours dogs out yipping (Yorkie, not trained and as a result I don't like it) It seems insane that you have to resort to carrying a gun though! A GUN! You've personally shot three dogs? I can tell you now if I shot that stupid Yorkie, even if it had bitten a lump out of my face, EVEN with a licence, I'd be in the station for a loooong time before they let me out. And I'd probably have to move as all the neighbours would ostracise me. Sorry, diet website - totally off the point and all, but this is just too crazy.

I don't have my CPL because of dogs, I have my CPL because I am a female and I have to frequent Flint and Detroit Michigan a lot for my job while having a large amount of money on my person. I would be stupid not to have a CPL.

Guns. Buy lots of guns and ammo.

If I had one that dog would have been missing it's F(^*&%N head along with it's owner. I promise you that.

Seriously? What a horrible thing to say. If that dog wanted to attack, trust me, it would have. Especially if you picked up your dog and walked away from it.

This. 100%.

I'm not anti pit bull. I understand that it is how a dog is trained and / or treated that makes it vicious.
However, telling a woman she is wrong to be afraid of pit bulls the same week that a man in Chicago loses his leg to an attack by stray pit bulls is uncompassionate.
The story about the man who was attacked can be found at
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8508858

wow... please read the entire thread before posting.

I am the poster and I want to say, "It is not about any breed it was about FEAR"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am an older woman! I was scared to death! The DOG JUST HAPPENEDTO BE A PIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not my fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
End of story. I just had to tell someone and no one else is around. I will not make that mistake again.

I want to add to everyone who understood what I was trying to say, Thank you for your understanding and kind words.

Deary me, ive read nearly all the posts and people do go on... I know the point you were making. I'm in my 30's and ive encountered the same issue in my neighbourhood over here in England. A dog not on a leash is scary. An animal, no matter how you dress it up - is still an animal at the end of the day.

Everyone - calm down. It was just a thread about a womans fear, not a personal attack on all your 4 legged friends. Lets show some love here..........

Guns. Buy lots of guns and ammo.

If I had one that dog would have been missing it's F(^*&%N head along with it's owner. I promise you that.

Seriously? What a horrible thing to say. If that dog wanted to attack, trust me, it would have. Especially if you picked up your dog and walked away from it.

This. 100%.

Just curious. Does anyone KNOW how to read? The woman ran. The dog was in an attack stance. She is an experienced woman obviously, she KNEW it wasn't in happy tra-la-la stance. If the majority of these people are illiterate, why are you guys on threads...lol.... YEAH LET ME STAND HERE AND TRY TO PET IT!!!!!!!

Guns. Buy lots of guns and ammo.

If I had one that dog would have been missing it's F(^*&%N head along with it's owner. I promise you that.

Seriously? What a horrible thing to say. If that dog wanted to attack, trust me, it would have. Especially if you picked up your dog and walked away from it.

This. 100%.

Just curious. Does anyone KNOW how to read? The woman ran. The dog was in an attack stance. She is an experienced woman obviously, she KNEW it wasn't in happy tra-la-la stance. If the majority of these people are illiterate, why are you guys on threads...lol.... YEAH LET ME STAND HERE AND TRY TO PET IT!!!!!!!

I read the entire thing dear. We're just saying that a vicious dog who is in "attack" stance is going to attack regardless of whether or not you run away from it.

PRETTY sure that's not the case. But you were there with her, you would know. Let's argue some more and remain off OP's topic, please. It's very fun.

I noticed that you weren't attacking pit bulls, you just simply stated that that particular time it was a pit and followed up with being afraid of someone getting mauled by a DOG and not just a pit bull. The best thing you can do is get a CPL (concealed pistol license), if that dog comes at you aggressively you put a bullet in it's head, I know, I've had to do it. Also, by having a CPL and using it for your own protection, you cannot get fined for shooting within city limits, again, I know from personal experience. I've had to shoot 3 dogs, and Akita, a German Shepherd, and a Pit Bull. I firmly believe that the actions of a dog are either the owners fault or sometimes your own. I'm not trigger happy by any means, but I believe that everyone has the right to defend themselves. Especially in your case. I wish you the best of luck.

Oh, good on you! You've shot three dogs. You know, you could protect yourself exactly the same with a bottle of pepper spray, and oh wait! The dog could still live.

Actually no, they wouldn't. When I was bitten by all three dogs that gave them a permanent death sentence not only with my gun but with the State of Michigan.

If you had pepper spray, you could spray before they even have a chance of attacking.
But you keep feeling powerful while you're killing animals.

and why should you HAVE to carry pepper spray to protect yourself from getting bit by a dog? That's just ridiculous!
other than that I am not agreeing or disagreeing with anything here.

Not at all

I'm afraid of strange dogs, so I feel you. I wonder if all these people would have made such a big deal if you said a poodle looked like it was going to attack you? The sad fact is, a lot of people get pit bulls and don't train them well. Or they train them to be aggressive (to fight and/or protect). They can be wonderful animals, but it's hard to separate the sweet ones from the one who would bite your hand off at their first opportunity, especially when they're in an aggressive stance. Good luck finding a safe place from all the unleashed dogs out there!

I'm afraid of strange dogs, so I feel you. I wonder if all these people would have made such a big deal if you said a poodle looked like it was going to attack you? The sad fact is, a lot of people get pit bulls and don't train them well. Or they train them to be aggressive (to fight and/or protect). They can be wonderful animals, but it's hard to separate the sweet ones from the one who would bite your hand off at their first opportunity, especially when they're in an aggressive stance. Good luck finding a safe place from all the unleashed dogs out there!

very well put everyone got all worked up on the breed (i was one of them)

I'm not going to read 6 pages of replies..

Learn to protect yourself. Harm is lurking no matter where you live, whether it's a drunk driver, a loose dog, a serial killer, a robber, a rapist, etc. No matter if you live in a small quiet town or a sprawling city.

As far as loose dogs go, i'll never understand people who straight up flip out and run fleeing when they see a loose dog. I've encountered many many loose dogs in my life and several of them weren't in the least bit friendly but I reacted calmly and collectively and defused the situation.


and for those of you who are all OMG A LOOSE PIT BULL. I promise you most of the dogs that assume are a pit bull probably aren't even one.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

U mad bro?

how is it that what you have to say is any more important than anyone else. How can you go and call us all illiterate when you talk like that? Let me correct that statement for you.

Are you mad? (lose the Bro 1. your not a "thug" 2. she is a she... thus not your brother)

I'm pretty sure I did not say "everyone". It's all about tone of voice hun. Sorry my sarcasm offends you Learn to thread, plz-thx.

its all about tone? did you honestly just say that? how is it that you can pull tone out of writing? Can you please advise me of this because i am sure it would save countless text issues amongst thousands of people.

U mad bro?

how is it that what you have to say is any more important than anyone else. How can you go and call us all illiterate when you talk like that? Let me correct that statement for you.

Are you mad? (lose the Bro 1. your not a "thug" 2. she is a she... thus not your brother)

I'm pretty sure I did not say "everyone". It's all about tone of voice hun. Sorry my sarcasm offends you Learn to thread, plz-thx.

its all about tone? did you honestly just say that? how is it that you can pull tone out of writing? Can you please advise me of this because i am sure it would save countless text issues amongst thousands of people.

Yes, hun. There is a tone when texting or writing in threads. Sarcasm does not translate into text for people who do not understand it. I can dedicate a thread on "Thread Ethics" if you'd like. This is not the right place for me to enlighten you, love.

To the OP... I am so very sorry you feel unsafe in your own neighbourhood. That is unfair. A person has a right to feel safe when they go outside their home. Encountering a dog of any breed or size that is not accompanied by an owner or safely within its own yard can be terrifying, especially when it takes the stance you described. Kudos to you for calmly picking up your dog and walking away, no matter how scared you felt inside. You had a RIGHT to your feelings, and it makes me sad that some posters have forgotten that in this thread.
My dog, Charlie, is a rescue. The previous owners tried for the first 7 months of his life to train him to be a guard dog. They dumped him at the pound when he didn't live up to their expectations. He is a golden lab/retriever cross, and 98 lbs of love. His favorite sleeping buddies are his two cat brothers. Having said that....because of his large size, small children and adults who don't know him can be intimidated. He is NEVER out of the yard without being on a leash and with either hubby or myself.
Last week we were out for a walk, and encountered another dog and it's owner coming towards us. The other dog slipped off its leash and attacked my dog for no reason whatsoever. That dog was half of Charlie's size, and not provoked in any way. My dog was scared, I was terrified, but even in my fear, you can bet I kicked the attacker as many times as I could and screamed my head off until the owner arrived and quickly grabbed his dog and took off. Leaving me with a scared, bleeding pet. He required a good deal of stitches.
Again, I say, we have the RIGHT to walk our dog on a leash down our own street and feel safe from other animals. It isn't fair that you had to go through that experience, and I understand you needed to vent to get it out. Our dogs are family and they have the right to be safe too. I hope you are feeling better, OP. Be safe.