bad owners and bad press

the media likes to tell stories about pitbulls killing people and animals while they aren't the most aggressive dogs out there

The media keeps forgetting to remind their viewers that its NOT the dogs fault is the people that poorly train the dog

Their reputation. They are used as fighting dogs and are bred that way. You don't hear when a German Shepherd bites someone but Denver CO outlawed Pitts even though GS bit more people then pitts. Cockers bit more people then pitts too but they weren't banned. Chihuauas bite more then pitts. Its the reputation. The nicest sweetest dogs I've met are pitts. Hopefully someday dog fighting will be completly wiped out and this poor breed will be seen as the wonderfull dogs they are. Until then people are prejudice

They think that because people would train them to kill other dogs, and humans, and now people think that they're dangerous, but before petting one, ask if you can pet it.

Definitely the media. Also part of the problem is that 'pit bull' is a really loose term and the coverage of bites and attacks is often not even of a specific breed.

Those must have been huge pit bulls!

It's because people don't understand the difference between dog aggression and human aggression. These dogs were bred to fight other dogs, not to harm a human. The dogs are pulled from the fighting pit by hand, so a dog that would bite his handler is a serious fault, and usually destroyed. Human aggression is not a standard in pit bulls, while DOG aggression is.

Here's a great website to learn about the REAL pit bull:

unfortunately, bad dog owners have given them this reputation by mistreating them and forcing them to fight each other. if they are raised properly and trained they are the most wonderful dogs to own. personally, i've had a very bad experience with a pit bull. a pit bull attacked my dog when it was in the front yard. it clamped its jaws shut on my dogs throat and wouldn't let go. it's sad but some people just don't know how to treat or take care of their dogs and unfortunately, it's given the entire breed a bad rep. i suggest, be careful around them if you don't know who they belong to. but if you know the owner and the owner trusts them (and if the owner is present) there really shouldn't be a problem. a pit bull's nature is to PLEASE its owner, not be violent.

Not everyone…just people that dont know any better.

Too many bad owners. Often you'll see specific types of owners with pit bulls, training them to be aggressive. Too many bad incidents. The dogs are too hard to insure (house, apartment, liability, etc.). Or too many regular owners who are wimpy and don't take control of their dogs.

I live in an area where PB's are banned.

Its because everyone relies on what the media says about them. The problem is that people dont realize that its the owner thats the problem…not the dog. Pits are a breed often trained for illegal fighting, so when one attacks a person, the breed is blamed, not the owner. Unfortunately, my family acts the same way your mom does and time and time again I have to remind them that its not the breed, its the owner.

Both my sets of g-parents live in the same neighborhood, and a lady across the street adopted a pit mix. As soon as I recognized it was a pit, both my grandparents and my dad gave me very worried looks. It really pissed me off, needless to say. I have worked with hundreds of pits at shelters and they are the sweetest dogs there! So never believe someone who says they are bad dogs to have. They LOVE people and are very loyal to their owners.

First off if the dogs was 110 pounds it was not a pit bull it was a mutt.

A reputability bred APBT wont ever get over 65. The ones larger are most likely mixed with other mastiff breeds.

They have a bad name because a lot of bad people own them. They train them to be mean or they don't socialize them. In the real world APBTs are very loving, loyal, eager to please dogs.

Its a serio type. People who said this have never owned or been a around a well trained APBT. They are a strong breed with a high prey drive so they automatically think they are bad.

One dog does something because of an irresponsible owner, and then the whole breed gets tarred with the same brush.

I don't hate pitbulls. Never have and never will, even though they are banned in UK. It is the owners that cause the problems and if the dog turns out bad, I really feel sorry for the dog.

Media and irresponsible owner. It's actually quit funny that these irresponsible owner buy these dogs for protection-they were never met to be HUMAN aggressive.

Whenever i take my pitbull on a walk, and another dog owner with their dog is coming down the street, they always turn back or go a different direction and stay as far from us as possible. My pitbull is sooooo sweet! People have made them that way which is very sad! and the press and news doesnt help!!! Pitbulls are some of the most loving dogs around. People just look at the breed and not their character!

well it's because they were bred like that but it's mostly the peoples fault for training them like that you know dog fights that's what make's them so agressive But if you know how to handle them get one just be aware they take training so they dont get so agressive to kids or anyone else but if you can train propurly they should be just fine good luck if you get one

Your right everyone thinks pitbulls are agressive but really if there raised well they are amazing but the reason is its just there nature

Because the media and people are just to stupid to realize that the owners are bad and not the dog. people like to provoke the dogs which makes them seem bad. You have to try to get to know them first. Don't judge book by it's cover. I bet if people started to fight labs or goldens they would get a bad rap too. I'm saying it will happen but you know what i mean it is just not fair to judge them like that.

because they are..one minute they can be big babies…the next minute attacking and killing anything they can..

because the media only reports the bad things that pit bulls do not the good services that some do

I read on this pitbull advocacy website that pitbulls are known to be dog aggressive, but are people pleasers. That's why humans usually have good experiences with them. However, if you ask (non-pitbull) dog owners who walk their dogs regularly, you find many of them are more cautious to keep their dogs away from pitbulls.

because in the sounthern states people mostly blacks, fight pits and it is animal abuse when if ever u see that again u can call the cops or tell a parent cuz them dogs can turn back on the owner and kill her