Breed specific legislation

[draggar]

Florida's state senate is looking to remove the law prohibiting breed specific legislation. I've been trying to contact my local senator's office (Senator Jeremy Ring) but each time I call or email them the assistant is busy, on the phone, away, traveling, and rarely responds to my emails (and his responses are pretty much "give us a call at the office").

Apparently Senator Jeremy Ring doesn't mind having the impression that he doesn't care about the people who hired him in the first place.

It looks like that I am not going to vote for Senator Jeremy Ring in the next election.

[crashhelmet]

The thing is that "Pit Bulls" are not an AKC recognized breed. There are no standard of size. So I say this. If you are going to own a dog that can be considered a powerful breed then you have to register it, train it, and have it pass a "Good canine citizen" test. I would love it if all dogs would have to go through this. I can't tell you how often I have dealt with small dogs that scared me because it was so unpredictable.

If you don't want to go through all of this work then don't get a dog. I hear statues make nice yard ordainments.

I admit I love the more powerful breed but I do not have the following: time, energy, yard, and patients. If I would get a dog right now I would end up having my house chewed up, cats chased, and when my front door opened that dog would be gone.

But they are recognized and registered within the UKC. In addition, you can take your American Pitt Bull Terrier, call it a Staffordshire Terrier and the American Kennel Club WILL recognize and register it.

CH

[radiocerk]

You can only call it a Staffordshire if it is one. "Pit Bulls" are usually one of three or four breeds of dog (or of course, any mix with a blocky head, wide chest, and outgoing demeanor, whether aggressive, or just overly friendly). Staffordshire, Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, I've seen Boxers, Bulldogs, and once a Great Dane/Lab mix called a "Pit Bull".

I definitely support training for any large dog, but most pit bull mixes range from about 40 - 70 pounds, far from the 100 lb mark. I made sure to get my large dog to obedience training, even if I never got him his CGC (Canine Good Citizenship) award. In fact, I never insisted he learn to heel, he didn't need to. My Saint Bernard is twice the size of any pit bull, but no one's ever been threatened by him past first "god that's a big dog" glance.

Breed specific legislation is stupid, hands down. We need to keep breeding out of the hands of people looking to make a quick buck, mandate sterilization for those who are not breeding (it decreases aggression dramatically), and get people educated. Not only dog owners, but people who think it's a good idea to tease dogs, and children who approach every dog under the sun to pet it. They are still animals, and can be unpredictable, but that isn't necessarily a failing.

Sorry for the long, and the rambling, pets are one of the subjects I wax passionate on.

[AdminAssistant]

I definitely support training for any large dog, but most pit bull mixes range from about 40 - 70 pounds, far from the 100 lb mark. I made sure to get my large dog to obedience training, even if I never got him his CGC (Canine Good Citizenship) award. In fact, I never insisted he learn to heel, he didn't need to. My Saint Bernard is twice the size of any pit bull, but no one's ever been threatened by him past first "god that's a big dog" glance.

Most big dogs (Great Danes, St. Bernard's, etc.) are also known for being very docile. One of my professors has a Rhodesian Ridgeback that is just a big baby - a very sweet, very big, dog. I feel more threatened by a yappy chihuahua than a big, sweet, horse dog. Maybe that's just because I grew up around big dogs.

People do need to be educated and know how to do basic training for their dogs. I've never been around many pit bulls, but they just look so sweet. Why would anyone want to torture a dog like that until it became a fighting machine?

And sometimes dogs just...change. We had to get rid of our Aussie Blue Heeler because he got really aggressive and bit Dad one too many times. A family friend was suddenly attacked by his bloodhound and nearly died. (The dog bit his neck and nearly punctured his jugular vein.)

[jedimaster91]

My Saint Bernard is twice the size of any pit bull, but no one's ever been threatened by him past first "god that's a big dog" glance.

When I took my new puppy to the vet there was a guy there with a Giant Schnauzer. That's not a dog; it's a bear. And that Schnauzer was the most well behaved dog in the place (certainly better behaved than my overly excitable hounds).

Most big dogs (Great Danes, St. Bernard's, etc.) are also known for being very docile. One of my professors has a Rhodesian Ridgeback that is just a big baby - a very sweet, very big, dog. I feel more threatened by a yappy chihuahua than a big, sweet, horse dog. Maybe that's just because I grew up around big dogs.

On that vein, my 5 month old coonhound is much calmer and more laid back than my 2 year old beagle. Tag LOVES to just lay at your feet and cuddle. The only time Ziggy is cuddly at all is if she's really, REALLY tired.