That may be so, but they are not banned in this Country.....Pitbulls are!!

I am sure there are some fabulously passive pitbulls bred well and bred to fit into lovign homes,,, if we had that privalagde here than maybe things may be different..


But they are not, they are bred by the criminal to either fight or be a protection dog. so in that, its highly likey they will be more dangerous...

But the question is not about their status in the UK. The question is "are they dangerous" and the fact still remains that even when bred by the criminal element, they're still bred to be passive to humans, who have to jump into the ring to get them out without being bitten. Over here in the States many dogs bred for fighting have been successfully rehomed. Some are even therapy dogs, going into schools with kids to help them read, or going to nursing homes or hospitals. These were dogs who WERE bred by criminals to be aggressive to other dogs, yet they're completely passive with people.

Also, just from knowing several people in the UK. There are more of them around than you realize. They just cover it up by calling them one of the breeds that AREN'T banned. They look an awful lot alike and most people can't tell them apart.

As I live here in the UK, I know the extent of the problem only to well.

I also agree with the highlighted..many an innocent dog will suffer under the "pitbull" label.

If a dog is aggressive towards humans then we have laws to deal with that.

BSL makes a criminal offence out of looking a certain way. It's got nothing to do with aggression. It doesn't reduce the banned population and it doesn't reduce dog attacks.

Bullbreeds are, by nature, people-focused and easily biddable. Guarding and herding breeds are more reactive and more easily raised to present a danger to people than bullbreeds. I don't mean that bans should be extended to guarding and herding breeds but that the notion that pit bulls represent a special class of risk is just not supported by any data or logical argument.

Careful, Jackbox!

(That's awful close to saying that things would be better without the ban)

I'd like to say (very quietly) that I know a couple of pit bulls (ahem!), just about as close to APBT or American Staffs as you could get. I'd rather take my chances giving them a cuddle than a lot of the legally owned dogs round here. I'd like to echo some of the other statements too that a lot of herding and guarding breeds pose far more of a risk to humans than bull breeds, which sometimes are only a problem with other animals (and even then not always).

but those nasty sick people will use any large breed, not just pit bulls. that programme... 'my choice of weapon is a dog' or something along those lines, showed many people with legally owned breeds who they trained to show human aggression, and one guy actually taught his rottweiler to attack so it is clearly not just pit bulls who that can happen to.

Let me try and get my head around what your sayin here jackbox.

Are you saying that as a breed the pitbull is not dangerous but the lines we have here are?

Also i can agree that some people will be attracted to them just cos they are banned but im VERY atracted to them andits not just for a status dog. I just would really love to own one

Mmmmmmmmmm, not sure I have ever said it wouldn`t be, but the facts are they are banned and as such are bred by then not so desirable, so in that respect , they will have a poorer start to life , than any of the guarding breeds you have mentioned.

And by the way, I would also like to add, that I would not like to see some of these primitive guarding breeds become popular here either.........otherwise we may see the same situation arise ,, the wrong type owning a dog for its reputation.


Just so you don't think I am pitbull biased



No its not just pits that fall into the wrong hands, but those other breeds are legal here, so its rather a moot point, I don't think I ever said the situation was clear cut or an easy one.

Let me try and get my head around what your sayin here jackbox.

Are you saying that as a breed the pitbull is not dangerous but the lines we have here are?

Also i can agree that some people will be attracted to them just cos they are banned but im VERY atracted to them andits not just for a status dog. I just would really love to own one

Just to make it clear for you,

What I am saying is... that the pit bull if well bred will be as less likely to be dangerous than any other breed.

But, given they are a breed/type , that has been smuggled in across the continent through Ireland, for the purpose of the fighting rings..(generally) on would assume they have been bred from fighting stock, not pet stock.

So given the heritage of them, then the lines will be from dubious breeders.

Unless of cause you know of good reputable breeders who are breeding a well bred dog to fit into society and family life...

Oh but then, they would be breaking the law would`t they!!

I have no problem with the dog, they are a fine looking breed, but tell me this, would you if you found the above type of breeder , (reputable) would you buy a dog from them, given they are still banned.