Quote:
Exactly. I won't say breed doesn't play a part, but there are dozens of factors that go into a dog bite/attack that are totally independent of breed. Yes, pit bull type dogs are more likely to be reported in dog bites, particularly dramatic ones. The sensationalization of "pit bull attacks" plays into that. The fact that most people don't know a pit bull from a blocky labrador plays into that. The number of pit bull type dogs out there plays into that. Genetics plays into that, let's face it there are a lot of people getting pit bulls that shouldn't own any breed of dog much less a large powerful one. There are a lot of people mistaking weak temperament and aggressiveness for desirable traits in these breeds and intentionally breeding dogs with these traits. Genetics plays a large part in temperament. If you take a dog with the genetic propensity towards fearfulness or aggressiveness and put it in the right home where it is properly socialized and trained it can be an ok dog, not what I would call a "safe" dog, but not an inherently dangerous dog either. Take that same dog and put it in an uneducated home that doesn't do any socialization or training and you have the makings of an evening news story on a vicious dog attack, that same dog becomes an inherently dangerous dog due to the environment and lack of management.
I've worked in veterinary medicine for 10 years. I can honestly say that 99% of the pit bulls and pit bull type dogs I work with are "safe" dogs. The few I've worked with that weren't were primarily the result of poorly bred dogs placed in uneducated homes where training was minimal and socialization was non-existent. I've been bitten three times. One was an old english sheepdog, out of character for that dog, and my fault (I accidentally cut him with the clippers while shaving). One was a german shepherd that had a questionable temperament to begin with and reacted badly to us cleaning her ears. And one was a tiny two pound chihuahua with an intestinal blockage that was painful in the position I had to put him in to take x-rays. The pit bull with a bullet wound to his foot (domestic violence, girl's ex came looking for her with a gun and the dog got between them) we probably could have x-rayed without a muzzle and was not the least bit aggressive with us when we were flushing the wound. Quite frankly, I've seen far more aggressive chihuahuas, labs, lab mixes, and dachshunds than aggressive pit bulls. Each time I see a dachshund on the schedule that we haven't seen before, I automatically assume it's probably going to try to bite me. I can't say the same for pit bulls or any of the other so-called "dangerous" breeds. My biggest fear with pit bulls is that I'll bend down to pet one and it will jump up to greet me and give me a fat lip with it's big boney head.
