Asked in Dog BreedsDog BehaviorAnimal LifePit Bulls
Dog Breeds
Dog Behavior
Animal Life
Pit Bulls
How many people in the US have pit bulls?
Answer

Wiki User
March 09, 2008 11:15PM
Almost a quarter of people in the US have pit bulls!
Related Questions
Asked in Pit Bulls
What is the badest pitbull in the US?

there is no bad pit bulls i have one it is so nice people think
they are mean because people fight them .Well people can make any
dog mean and fight them. They are nice and fun to play with and i
have to kittens and she is pretty gentle with them pit bulls are
sweet and protective they look scary but they are like big
Babbies.
Asked in Dog Breeds, Dog Behavior
Pitbull attacks in the US?

Probably not NEARLY as many as you would think. They are great,
loyal, friendly dogs when they are in the right hands but the media
only talks about the aggressive pit bulls that who have
irresponsible and even cruel owners.
I'll put things in perspective for you:
Average People killed by:
Cigarettes-440,000
Automobiles- 42,366
2nd hand smoke- 29338
Other people(2008 statistic)-16,272
Pit bulls- 3
Aren't there better things to ban?
Asked in Dog Breeds, Dog Behavior, Pit Bulls
What dog breed has most reported bites in US?

It is very difficult to get an accurate count in dog bite
statistics because most of the time they are not reported and if
they are reported it is often not known what the breed of dog is.
However, the statistics that are available do not show pit bulls as
most likely to bite. In fact, when tests were conducted by the
American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), Pit Bulls received a
passing score better than some breeds who are considered nice dogs,
such as Beagles and Golden Retrievers! Also, as stated above, there
are several dog
breeds commonly referred to as pit bulls. So, based on that
alone, they are much more likely to be blamed for an attack than
other breeds because the number of dogs called pit bulls is skewed
far higher than the actual number of American Pit Bulls Terriers
there really are
Asked in Dog Breeds, Pit Bulls
What about blue buffalo for pit bulls?

Awesome food. My pits did wonderful on it. I like it because
it's all human grade, made and sourced in US (with the exception of
their new zealand lamb) and better cooking procedures that maintain
nutrient quality. There regular food is great, and they also offer
a high protein grain free that many pit people at the pet store I
work at swear by.
Asked in Domestic Dogs, Dog Behavior
What kind of dog bit the most people in 2008?

Pitbull. You may not believe me but pitbulls are highly lethal.
So stay away!
________________________________________________________
Dog bite deaths and maimings US and Canada (1982-2007)
By compiling US and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and
2007, Animal People News determined the types of breeds most
responsible for death and serious injury.
The combination of pit bulls, rottweilers and wolf hybrids:
77% of attacks that induce bodily harm
73% of attacks to children
83% of attack to adults
70% of attacks that result in fatalities
77% that result in maiming
Interesting fact about pit bulls:
Pit bulls attack adults nearly as often as they attack children,
a characteristic not found in any other breed.
Dog bite fatalites in the US (1979-1998)
Researchers reviewed a 20-year period from 1979 to 1998 to
determine the types of breeds most responsible for US dog bite
fatalities.
At least 25 breeds of dogs were involved in 238 human dog bite
related fatalities during this time span. Pit bulls and rottweilers
were involved in over half of these fatalities and from 1997-1998,
over 60%.
Researchers note that it is extremely unlikely that pit bulls
and rottweilers accounted for 60% of dogs in US households during
this period thus, there appeared to be a breed-specific problem
with fatalities.
Which dogs bite?
The city of Denver did a study that focused on the type of dog
most likely to bite. Pit bulls were not included in the report. In
the city of Denver pit bulls are banned.
Biters are 6.2 times as likely to be male than female
Biters are 2.6 times as likely to be intact than neutered
Biters are 2.8 times as likely to be chained as unchained
although pitbulls head the list, the bytes are allmost allways
owner negligence and not related to their fighiting other dogs
capabilities.
Asked in Law & Legal Issues, Dog Breeds, Dog Behavior
Are American pit bulls illegal?

No. The Pit Bull is a recognized breed in the U.S. Due to their
mis-handling, mis-use and mis-training by some people and the
unfortunate reputation the breed has received in the media, they
have received 'bad press' all out of proportion to their real
threat to the general population. SOME jurisdictions DO have laws
that apply to the breed but they are not universal, and the breed
is legal in the US.
Asked in Dog Breeds, Dog Behavior, Pit Bulls
What dog is smarter rottweiler or pit-bull?

Historically pit bulls have been a favorite companion and friend
to children and tend to like the excitement of being with kids. As
long as they are socialized and trained properly, pit bulls are the
perfect dog breed to withstand the rough play of kids.
A pit bull named Dakota is a search and rescue dog that searched
for the remains of the astronauts who lost their lives in explosion
of the space shuttle Columbia and the fact that a rescued pit bull
in South Los Angeles was County Fire Station 14′s mascot for years
tell us how smart they are.
A Pit Bull named Weela saved 30 people, several dogs, horses and
a cat during a flood in Southern California. After a dam broke on
the Tijuana River stranding several dogs and a cat on an island,
Weela crossed the river to take food to them for an entire month
until they could be rescued. She also led a rescue team to a bunch
of stranded horses and ran back and forth barking to warn a group
of 30 people of the deep water they were attempting to cross. For
her bravery, Weela was award the Ken-L-Ration Dog Hero of the Year
in 1993.
The faithful dog on the TV show "The Little Rascals" was a Pit
Bull named Petey. He spent countless hours with children day after
day on the set of the show. It has been said that he was one of the
most intelligent dogs in Hollywood. Pit Bulls have also been in
many other television shows, movies, and music videos over the
years.
The first official war dog in the United States was a Pit Bull
named Stubby. He served in World War I and was honored with medals
and even got to visit the White House. He then went on to inspire
the United States Military K-9 Corp.
Pit Bulls have long served as therapy dogs for people in need.
In fact, Helen Keller had a Pit Bull for her canine helper.
Organizations such as the Chako Rescue Association have Pit Bull
therapy dogs all across the country.
Asked in Dog Breeds, Dog Behavior, Pit Bulls
What is special bout the pit bull ruffian bloodline?

Do not get caught up in bloodlines. Many owners of pit bulls do
not even know how to read pedigrees, and they make up stuff to try
to impress someone into buying their dog. A bloodline is the kennel
that a dog came from. An Americah Pit Bull Terrier is an American
Pit Bull Terrier no matter what bloodline he/she came from.If a dog
is 50% Razor's Edge then 50% of that dogs ancestors came from
Razor's Edge Kennels. It is important, especially if you may want
to show a dog, to pay close attention to pedigrees but do not base
your purchase on someone telling you all the different bloodlines
of a pit bull. I have listed our dogs bloodlines above if you are
interested but that is not why I want someone to purchase our dogs.
I want people to buy from us for the quality of our dogs.
Asked in Animal Rights and Abuse, Pit Bulls
Why do you fight are pit bull dogs?

Training Dogs to Fight
Please note that dog fighting and the training of any breed of
dog to fight is illegal in all 50 US states, and in many other
developed countries around the world. Dogs that have been bred for
hundreds of years for a single purpose know what to when the time
comes. professionals of the sport do not 'train' them to fight. the
dogs are pre-programmed and know what they are doing. dog fighter
can 'condition' a dog FOR a fight, but that's about it.
Answer
You don't train any dogs to fight, it is an ability stores in
their genes to be enhanced by owners like bird dogs, they have it
in them, most will, but some won't, all must be treated with
respect and trained to enhance abilities. Think about all the
categories in dog shows (sporting and herding group); show group
all of these dogs in these groups had the abilities by genes to put
them in their categories enhanced by owners to compete in
competitions.
HISTORY OF THE PIT BULL
The Pit Bull came from the bull dogs and terriers of England. In
the Elizabethan England Pit Bull's were used as 'blood sport' and
fought with others of their own breed, also paced against bulls or
bears. This act of cruelty was abolished in 1835. These dogs were
brought in by the Celts and bred to have a strong muscular body as
well as holding on to their subject such as a bull or bear. They
were trained for farming purposes to bring in the bulls for
castration. The Pit Bull would latch onto the nose of the bull
until it relented. This was a more efficient and safe way for the
owner of bulls. The Pit Bull was also trained for battle (war) and
during WWI there was a propaganda poster in the United States
depicting a Pit Bull. The sport of dog fighting became more
popular. Since the Bull Dog was uninterested in dog fighting they
were crossed Between English White and Black/Tan Terriers and bred
to be intelligent and level headed during fights and remain non
aggressive towards their owners. The owner was able to walk into
the ring and able to break the death grip from his dog without
injury to himself. During the mid 1800s immigration allowed these
breeds into America from Ireland and England and most of these
breeds went mainly to Boston where they were bred to be larger and
more muscular so they could work farms in the West and also be used
as fighting dogs (gambling) in the city. The Pit Bull became
popular as family pets and in the early 1900s these dogs began to
appear in movies such as 'Pete the Pup' from 'Our Gang.' The Pit
Bull is the only dog to have appeared on the cover of Life Magazine
three times in a row.
Dog Bites by Pit Bulls vs Humans:
A study was compiled by the Journal of American Veterinary
Medicine in September 2000 (20 year study .. 1979 - 1998.) Pit Bull
'type' dogs and Rottweilers were involved in one half of
approximately 300 dog bites in the U.S. Yet another study of
American and Canadian dog bit fatalities from 1982 - 2006 revealed
the same results and that Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios
and their mixes were responsible for 65% of fatal attacks. It was
highly noted that Pit Bulls were high on the list for attacking
adults as frequently as they attacked children. The brunt of the
responsibility of the Pit Bull breeds should go towards the breeder
(who should know better) and, also the owner should know their
history of the Pit Bull. In the U.S. and Canada dog shelters are
over run with Pit Bulls and some have to be put to death due to the
stigma associated with the breed or overcrowding.
Are Pit Bulls Suitable For Family Pets?
Pit Bulls that are well bred and the owners are trained along
with their their family pet find that these breeds make wonderful
pets. The American Temperament Testing Society gives the American
Pit Bull 84.1% (the average of all breeds being 81.5%.) However
100% of the responsibility of this breed is up to the owner by
having the dog well trained, socialized with humans and other dogs
and to bring the dog up with love and attention and not used as
guard dogs, dog fighting and these breeds do not do well when
neglected. It is the owner who is responsible for the attacks by
this breed. You just 'don't buy' a cute Pit Bull and think all the
love you give them is enough. It is imperative these dogs are
well-trained along with the owner and a professional trainer. If
this is not done then these dogs can become extremely dangerous and
will attack humans, children or other dogs. No owner of any breed
can vouch for their dogs behavior 100% and the owner should be on
the alert for the signs of aggression in their dog (even small
dogs.) Many countries have banned Pit Bulls and in Canada some
Provinces, while other Provinces in Canada will allow Pit Bulls
only if they are spayed or neutered and are leashed as well as
muzzled. Not all States in America have banned Pit Bulls and there
is 'the great debate' as to what to do about banning laws. However,
many towns in the U.S. have banned Pit Bulls. If you ban Pit Bulls
then you are also banning other breeds of Terriers as well as
Dobermans, etc. The Veterinary Assoc., feels that the
responsibility should fall on the owner of their Pit Bull or an
owner of any breed who has a pet that has aggressive
tendencies.
MYTHS REGARDING PIT BULL
Locking jaw.' Dr. I. Brisbin has studied the skull, most
specifically the jaw area and of course the teeth and came to the
conclusion that Pit Bulls were no different than many other larger
breeds. He said the Pit Bull was doing what it was trained to do
(remember herding of bulls.) However, police officers disagree and
have had many encounters with Pit Bulls 'gone wild' and say that
once the dog has a grip on something even after it has been 'darted
to sedate' or shot it refuses to let go. Pit Bulls DO feel pain and
have the same nervous system as any other breed, but, the Pit Bull
has the tolerance to ignore the pain to continue on with the task
at hand. The ignoring of pain can also be proven regarding many
herding dogs and it's been seen where herding dogs that have broken
a leg will continue to herd. Pit Bulls are not affected by pepper
spray. This is true, but also Bull Mastiffs, Rottweilers, German
Shepherds (also including Police K-9s.) It's a myth that a Pit Bull
is the only dog that will continue to attack after a fatal gunshot
wound, but Rottweilers, Mastiffs and German Shepherds have the same
capacity.
INSURANCE PROBLEMS IF YOU OWN CERTAIN AGGRESSIVE BREEDS:
Many Insurance Companies are reluctant in the U.S., to give
owners of dogs that considered a dangerous breed any insurance.
Allstate (depending on the State) may not insure homes with Pit
Bulls, Boxers, Akita's, Chow Chows, Dobermans, Rottweilers or Wolfe
hybrids. The Automobile Club of Southern California refuse to
insure the homeowner if the dog even resembles a Pit Bull. If a Pit
Bull or other large aggressive dogs have received the 'Canine Good
Citizen award some insurance companies will waiver 'no insurance
laws' and not see the breed as a risk. The CDC estimates 368,245
person were treated in U.S. hospitals for nonfatal dog bites in
2001 and 2% of the U.S. population is attacked by dogs per year.
Most attacks occur on the owner's property. If one has an
aggressive dog then they should be kept indoors. There is the
mailman, or possibly guests coming that may provoke an aggressive
dog. Also, it is to be noted that owners should watch out for
children poking sticks through the fence to provoke the dog, or,
some children love dogs and will 'walk in' to your yard to 'pet the
puppy' even if it is an adult dog. Most breeds of dogs are very
protective of their owners and any property such as land, vehicles,
etc. Some breeds just give warnings, while a great many larger dogs
will attack and the outcome can sometimes be fatal or the homeowner
is faced with a large law suit not to mention hospital bills for
the injured party or, having to put their beloved pet down through
court order.
Constitutional challenges re Pit Bull legislation in the
U.S.
In 1991 Colorado Supreme Court case outlines the basic arguments
against Pit Bull specific legislation. It incorporated cases from
Arkansas, Ohio, New Mexico, Florida, etc., and several federal
district courts, which upheld similar statutes. Basically they are
asking the United Kennel Club to define the characteristics of the
breed. NOTE: A fine point to make in regards to banning a
particular breed of dog is the fact the owner is irresponsible and
the Pit Bull although not inherently dangerous, the owner
definitely needs knowledge and a committed handler to work along
with them, as well as other breeds that have a tendency to attack
or even bite. Muzzle laws should be put into effect even if 'our
cute Daisy would never bite.' Never say never! No owner knows their
dog 100%. This also includes smaller breeds. I own a Cockapoo (part
Cocker Spaniel) who is neutered, but true to his Spaniel nature he
can be aggressive towards dogs of any size. I see this an one
dangerous sign and so my husband and I are cooperating with a
professional trainer to break our pet of this. It is OUR duty to
control this behavior in our pet (and we treat our pets like
children!)
PIT BULL DOG FIGHTS
Unfortunately, the most popular breed for dog fighting is the
Pit Bull due to their strength, toleration of pain and courage. Dog
fighting is illegal in the U.S., but still practiced and almost
always includes gambling. The laws against this if caught vary from
State to State.
PROS FOR OWNING A PIT BULL
Pit Bulls have an abundance of energy and nonviolent athletics
such as weight pulling competitions or obedience competitions help
this breed to excel in a more positive way. Some Pit Bulls work in
hospital and care facilities as certified therapy dogs. They are
often well loved family pets. They have been noted for saving
people's lives (not taking lives.) In Feb. 2007 a Pit Bull named
'Chief' rescued it's owners from a spitting cobra by taking the
deadly bite itself and unfortunately died from the venom 30 minutes
later. Pit Bulls are used as rescue animals. 'Dakota' was one of
the most active search and rescue dogs in the country as was on the
search for the missing Laci Peterson and also was involved in the
search for the remains of the astronauts who lost their lives in
the explosion of the Space Shuttle Columbia. 'Nevil' is a Pit Bull
and trained as a police dog. They are trained and employed by U.S.
Customs as police k9s. Example: A rescued Pit Bull called
'Popsicle' in the U.S. is a Customs dog and famous for sniffing out
one of the biggest cocaine busts in history. Some reports have
shown that Pit Bulls will often adopt another specie of animals
such as a squirrel, kitten and the Pit Bull has been given the
nickname of 'nanny dog.' If well trained the Pit Bull has a great
love for children.
Although I would never own a Pit Bull and simply don't trust
certain breeds because I always study the history of certain breeds
before I obtain a pet, but do feel high priority should be put on
the breeders of Pit Bulls as well as high fines and prison time for
those that breed Pit Bulls from their home without proper papers as
to whom the parents are. Their should be leash laws and a muzzle
should be put on the Pit Bull (or any aggressive breed) while
walking your pet. I must admit I have come across some very nice
Pit Bulls, but, I wouldn't turn my back on them. The are very
protective of family so one false step from someone else touching a
family member could set aggressive breeds off. I do not believe Pit
Bulls should be the ones to get the brunt of being poorly treated
or abused in any way by an owner. It is renowned in British
Columbia, Canada that drug dealers and grow ops often use Pit Bulls
to protect the property and many of these dogs either are shot by
the police or are at the SPCA to be euthanized. What a waste of a
beautiful dog!
Asked in Domestic Dogs, Dog Breeds
How can pit bulls be the most biting dog breed if German shepperds bites people the most it says it right at the bottom of this page?

Pit bulls tend to have a bad name especially when it comes to
the media. I have never met a Pit that has bitten someone without
some form of self defense or abuse involved. For the most part,
they are very loyal dogs and will only lash out when they are
neglected.
My brother breeds Pit bulls and has been for 17 years now. Not
once has any of his dogs bit someone unless they felt forced. There
are a few breeders out there that have pit mixes that they sell as
pure breds. You can tell by their size and shape that they are not
pits. Pits range from 50-80 pounds and are usually not aggressive
whatsoever. When you mix a pit with any type of dog, especially
another dog that has a tendency to attack, can make it ten times
worse. Any pit with the proper training and the right amount of
love (whether it's a mix or not) won't attack unless protecting
it's owner.
Every Pit is different but they all have the same amount of
loyalty, love and trust for their owners. Once the trust is broken,
so is the love and loyalty and that's what leads them to attack.
Next time you hear about a Pit bull biting someone, think about
what the owner is doing to it. I've heard a lot of stories about
Pit bull attacks and when you talk to the neighbors, a lot of them
will say that they've seen the dog being mistreated.
My brother once told me that he had a friend that trained his
Pit to fight by locking it in a closet for weeks. He said that the
guy only let the dog out to go to the bathroom and put the food and
water right in the closet with it. A Pit cannot be locked up like
that. They can't even be chained up for too long unless it's a long
chain where they can roam almost freely. They need to be walked or
taken for a run for at least a half a mile to a mile every day.
They need love and affection. That's how a lot of these Pit bulls
became aggressive, they weren't being taken care of correctly.
Nowadays, there's a lot of people who don't buy Pits for who
they are but for what they are. People want to look tough and so
they buy a pit. There's also a lot of us Pit owners who love the
breed for who they are and try to let everyone know AND see that
the breed is in fact a beautiful breed to have.
REMEMBER, any dog that is mistreated will eventually lash out,
the Pit Bull breed just won't put up with it for very long. read it
through and take note on the end of it.
Hope this answered your question :)