Pit Bull attacks small dog

**love to travel** · 12-05-2011, 08:03 AM

31st and girard at the grasses knoll last week. Pit Bull not on leash came out of no where and grabed small gray dog ,ripping him up . Thank god he lived .Now small dog is so afraid to be near any dogs . Of course owner of bit pull did not pay for vet .bill ( what's new ).

**gideon** · 12-05-2011, 02:33 PM

can we get a description of the dog and its owners? i avoid the knoll for that reason. when i do there, i come prepared.

**The Count** · 12-05-2011, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by gideon

can we get a description of the dog and its owners? i avoid the knoll for that reason. when i do there, i come prepared.

Description of Dog: Pitbull, (ie physically unattractive and menacing looking).

Description of Owner: Looks like a loser. Most likely trending towards to the "Thug Wannabe" look. Will swear up and down that his/her pitbull is afraid of church mice and would NEVER cause a problem.

**TeddyP27** · 12-05-2011, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by The Count

Description of Dog: Pitbull, (ie physically unattractive and menacing looking).

Description of Owner: Looks like a loser. Most likely trending towards to the "Thug Wannabe" look. Will swear up and down that his/her pitbull is afraid of church mice and would NEVER cause a problem.

Wow.. most Pitties I see are more like ADHD kids without medication: all over the place and usually quite playful. I think info aboutcolor/markings/special collar, etc, was requested. On that lot the owners are quite diverse (I know the big "Thug Wannabe" guy that walks this little foofy white dog up htere is quite secure in his self esteem...)

**ColeenH** · 12-05-2011, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by TeddyP27

Wow.. most Pitties I see are more like ADHD kids without medication: all over the place and usually quite playful. I think info aboutcolor/markings/special collar, etc, was requested. On that lot the owners are quite diverse (I know the big "Thug Wannabe" guy that walks this little foofy white dog up htere is quite secure in his self esteem...)

Don't pay attention to The Count. He makes sweeping generalizations about the millions of pit-bull-type dogs based on the actions of a few dogs unfortunate enough to have irresponsible owners, and wants to punish the responsible owners by banning any dog that looks like a "pit bull."

**catperson87** · 12-05-2011, 05:03 PM

I walk dogs in the Square and if I'm not mistaken, another small dog was attacked a few months back. I'm not sure of the breed that attacked him/her, but I do recall being told that the attacking dog was off leash.

As for the ridiculous generalizations about pit bulls, I've been walking dogs for a year and a half and the worst biting/attacking offenders that I've been exposed to have been the little breeds. The pits that I've walked and come in contact with have all been goofy lugs who may not know how to tone down their playfulness but have not been malicious. Not to say pits can't be malicious, but any breed can be aggressive.

In any case, these avoidable attacks really emphasize how important leash laws are.

**love to travel** · 12-06-2011, 08:10 AM

We really need a dog park . My little dog loves to run run run . I guess to get rid of pined up energy . We need a place that he can do this without being harmed

**Burholme06** · 12-06-2011, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by catperson87

Not to say pits can't be malicious, but any breed can be aggressive.

Fair enough but at the same time, a small breed doesn't have the ability to kill my small breed or my two year old child for that matter, with one bite.

**The Count** · 12-06-2011, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Burholme06

Fair enough but at the same time, a small breed doesn't have the ability to kill my small breed or my two year old child for that matter, with one bite.

This is a simple fact that is lost on most pitbull, (excuse me "pittie" - gotta make them sound cute right?), owners.

**Gladys** · 12-06-2011, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by love to travel

We really need a dog park . My little dog loves to run run run . I guess to get rid of pined up energy . We need a place that he can do this without being harmed

there is a quiz on animal planet that matches breeds with owners. one of the things about having a terrier or other small dogs is they must run - and space to do that is something that needs t be taken into consideration before getting the dog. this quiz does a pretty good job matching up people. their circumstances, with breeds. It's a good idea to take it so you know the breed requirements before getting it.

Dog Breed Selector : Animal Planet

i'm sure your dog is great, and hope you can find a place, remember, dog parks can be just as dangerous so be wary there, doubly so.

this place teaches agility which is a great sport for a dog like yours.

Welcome to Y2K9s

Op Barks - Dog Training - Dog Behavior Problems - locations

Canine Gym | Indoor Dog Training

**Gladys** · 12-06-2011, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by Burholme06

Fair enough but at the same time, a small breed doesn't have the ability to kill my small breed or my two year old child for that matter, with one bite.

depends on where they bite them. an aggressive small breed can do serious damage.

Which Dog Breeds are the Most Aggressive?

**Ho Chi Minh** · 12-06-2011, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by Gladys

depends on where they bite them. an aggressive small breed can do serious damage.

That's a bit of a stretch. If a small dog latches on to my kid, I can easily break its neck and end the attack. By the time I'm able to beat a Pittbull off, IF I'm even able to do so, my kid could easily be dead.

Being aggressive is not the defining problem. Hell, bears usually aren't aggressive, so they must be safe to be around...

**6enny** · 12-06-2011, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by love to travel

We really need a dog park . My little dog loves to run run run . I guess to get rid of pined up energy . We need a place that he can do this without being harmed

I just want to point out that this would, in effect, require 2 dog parks. One for big dogs and one for small dogs.

Even then, that's not to say that somebody won't bring a crazy aggressive small dog.

**ColeenH** · 12-06-2011, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Ho Chi Minh

That's a bit of a stretch. If a small dog latches on to my kid, I can easily break its neck and end the attack. By the time I'm able to beat a Pittbull off, IF I'm even able to do so, my kid could easily be dead.

Being aggressive is not the defining problem. Hell, bears usually aren't aggressive, so they must be safe to be around...

But a pit-bull-type dog doesn't have any greater "bite pressure" than any other breed or mix of similar size. Bigger dogs (giant breeds like Great Danes, mastiffs, St. Bernard's) can do more damage than pit bull-type dogs.

Any dog can bite. Any dog can kill (as I've posted before, a Pomeranian killed an infant in California). Be a responsible owner, obey the leash law, and nag others to do so as well.

**rjj** · 12-06-2011, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by 6enny

I just want to point out that this would, in effect, require 2 dog parks. One for big dogs and one for small dogs.

Even then, that's not to say that somebody won't bring a crazy aggressive small dog.

it will be tough to find space for 1, no chance for 2. you make all dogs go through an evaluation by a professional and charge a fee to all the users.

**Ho Chi Minh** · 12-06-2011, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by ColeenH

But a pit-bull-type dog doesn't have any greater "bite pressure" than any other breed or mix of similar size. Bigger dogs (giant breeds like Great Danes, mastiffs, St. Bernard's) can do more damage than pit bull-type dogs.

Not so. Anatomy plays a huge role. Pitbulls have been genetically bred to have more bite pressure than most dogs. A 60 pound Whippet is not going to bite like a 60 pound Pitbull. Not to mention retrievers which have been selectively bred to LOW bite pressure as to ensure they do not damage the game animal they are retrieving.

**catperson87** · 12-06-2011, 02:22 PM

Hell, bears usually aren't aggressive, so they must be safe to be around...

Sure, let's compare a domesticated animal with a non-domesticated one. That's going to be a fair comparison.

**Ho Chi Minh** · 12-06-2011, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by catperson87

Sure, let's compare a domesticated animal with a non-domesticated one. That's going to be a fair comparison.

hy-per-bo-le.

Recognize it. It is more usefull than an emoticon.

**gideon** · 12-06-2011, 03:28 PM

Again, to the OP, please provide a description of the dog (markings) and a description of the owners if you can.

**MareMcHenry** · 12-06-2011, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Ho Chi Minh

Not so. Anatomy plays a huge role. Pitbulls have been genetically bred to have more bite pressure than most dogs. A 60 pound Whippet is not going to bite like a 60 pound Pitbull. Not to mention retrievers which have been selectively bred to LOW bite pressure as to ensure they do not damage the game animal they are retrieving.

American Pit Bull Terriers, Germans Sheperds and Rottweilers have a bite index of 235 to 328, with the Rottie on the high end. The broader the jaw and larger the dog the more bite pressure. Pits have been bred not to let go. So they latch on doing the most damage in the first bite. As opposed to other breeds which I have seen (and sadly experienced) biting several times in succession. When people try to separate them the flesh of the dog on the receiving end of the bite can tear causing further damage.

I saw 3 people today walking their dogs with the leashes in their hands. What would be the most polite way of reminding them of leash laws? From what I have read and experienced, many situations could be prevented by just following the law.