My dogs and I were attacked by a pitt bull this morning (we're OK)

[skyon]

To quote below - Even breeders who own up to fighting, the dogs were bred to be handled by humans and even the battle scarred ones, wag their tails , so I totally understand why vet techs say the same.

However, as another vet tech noted , it’s the numbers being brought in regarding dog-on-dog that are changing to have pit listed.

Studies are claiming to show that pits can view submission in other dogs as a sign of weakness in which to make an attack.

Also, it’s the ER doctors that have to document when people brought in and what caused it.

If those numbers are totally different regarding why a dog/human had to receive treatment, then own it.

[QUOTE=Belmont;8887803]
I work in a vet clinic.

I would rather do a room with a pit ANYDAY vs doing one with a German Shepherd. It’s not always the Shep’s fault… They are just generally SUPER nervous when they come in, and I swear NONE of them like their temp taken. We don’t have many bite incidents (once that were actually bites not just snaps), however the ones we have had in the multiple years since I’ve worked here were these:

3 - GSD (2 required medical attention)
2 - Chi’s (Barely broke skin)
2 - Terrier (1 bruised the tech, 1 had no teeth but again WOULD have broken skin had he had teeth… He is literally one of the most vicious dogs we get in.)
1 - Shih Tzu (He has no teeth… So really it’s hard pressed to call a bite incident, but he would have broken skin if he had teeth).
1 - Heeler (that broke skin… many snappers)

and of course angry/feral cats…

If I counted snapping incidents or when we needed to muzzle, chi’s would win. Also, our Rabies Quarantine dogs are a LARGE majority GSD.

So tell me again it’s the breed?[/QUOTE]

[Belmont]

[QUOTE=ASBJumper;8887917]
CdnTrotter, save your breath. We keep repeating the same point ad nauseum, over and over, and they’re just.not.getting.it.

I feel you.

https://dogbitelaw.com/images/pdf/breeds-causing-DBRFs.pdf

GSDs, eh? GSDs account for less than a THIRD of the fatal dog attacks in the USA since 1979 vs Pitties.

Holy freaking DENIAL batman.

I would LOVE it if somehow you could pass a law banning the breeding of these animals unless you’re licensed, accredited, inspected, regulated up the yin yang - but that is NEVER going to happen… so in the absence of that (which yes, makes much more sense), BSL it is. If it prevents even ONE irresponsible person from acquiring a Pittie, then it’s worth it.[/QUOTE]

Holy denial? You literally just linked an article from 16 years ago that proves there are more aggressive breeds (ie Rotties) out there. A GSD’s aggression was my point that there are others out there than can and will maul, as per CanTrot’s request. They are also the most aggressive dogs I deal with, however their owners are generally much more responsible.

[QUOTE=Sswor;8887948]The vet techs, kennel workers, shelter volunteers that all insist the pits are fine to deal with are purposely ignoring the fact that these dogs are incredibly DOG aggressive and pose a massive threat to everyone else’s pets in the neighborhood.

Like the OP, most of us would put our lives on the line to protect our pets. The OP was knocked off her feet by the pit bull attacking her beloved dog and she sheltered her dog with her own body to protect him/her. OP is INCREDIBLY lucky. This exact scenario can and does end in death or mutilation of both victim dog and owner.

I just fail to see how those of us, minding our own business, being responsible, ordinary citizen pet owners, taking a stroll in our neighborhoods with our lovely dogs, should ACCEPT this potential threat as just life----so that people who own pit bulls can go about their merry way, unencumbered. That, my friends, is intrinsically unfair and unjust.

I don’t know what to do about it, but those of us who walk our dogs must take this risk on a daily basis and frankly, it sucks. I will probably have a nice, routine, peaceful walk. But tonight, I MIGHT watch my beloved dog get mauled to death by a monster in a horrific attack, right there on the public, neighborhood street. Roll the dice. All so you-general pit owners can enjoy YOUR pets. Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

No, I am not out there walking my dog everyday in a neighborhood. However, I am dealing with 100s of dogs in a weekly basis. I will never deny that a dog might have other dog aggression or is prey driven. Yes, there are many pits with dog aggression. You are absolutely correct! However, I also had a catahoula in two days ago with bad dog aggression, a lab with severe prey drive (went after our clinic cat), and a doberman that went after men (but was a lap dog around our female doctor and techs). One of our techs has a pit that is the sweetest dog to all animals and people. I see a lot of dog aggressive dogs everyday and they range from all breeds and sizes.

You are making a case “well you aren’t walking your dogs out everyday” but a lot of people are. I’m not blind that there is a problem, but I think that problem comes from a TON of other factors than “it’s a bad pit bull”.

I agree, there should be some sort of rule that you can’t own ANY dog without some sort of accreditation or something, especially a breed that tends to be more aggressive. There are so many people that SHOULDN’T have dogs that do. Ultimately, it comes down to irresponsible pet owning on all counts, IMHO.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Belmont;8887973]
Holy denial? You literally just linked an article from 16 years ago that proves there are more aggressive breeds (ie Rotties) out there. A GSD’s aggression was my point that there are others out there than can and will maul, as per CanTrot’s request. They are also the most aggressive dogs I deal with, however their owners are generally much more responsible.

No, I am not out there walking my dog everyday in a neighborhood. However, I am dealing with 100s of dogs in a weekly basis. I will never deny that a dog might have other dog aggression or is prey driven. Yes, there are many pits with dog aggression. You are absolutely correct! However, I also had a catahoula in two days ago with bad dog aggression, a lab with severe prey drive (went after our clinic cat), and a doberman that went after men (but was a lap dog around our female doctor and techs). One of our techs has a pit that is the sweetest dog to all animals and people. I see a lot of dog aggressive dogs everyday and they range from all breeds and sizes.

You are making a case “well you aren’t walking your dogs out everyday” but a lot of people are. I’m not blind that there is a problem, but I think that problem comes from a TON of other factors than “it’s a bad pit bull”.

I agree, there should be some sort of rule that you can’t own ANY dog without some sort of accreditation or something. There are so many people that SHOULDN’T have dogs that do. Ultimately, it comes down to irresponsible pet owning on all counts, IMHO.[/QUOTE]

In addition to this, it is also important to understand that PBs and PB types (falsely identified or otherwise) far outnumber dogs like GSDs, Rotties, etc - so while the incidence of a “PB-type” being involved in an attack/bite/mauling might seem like a fairly often occurrence, in reality in terms of population size vs ‘aggressive occurrence’, the percentage of violent PBs is much lower than in other breeds… Factor in the erroneous mislabeling of anything that is mixed breed as a Pitbull and you have a huge population pool that cannot be reliably extracted from when the media and layperson labels anything with a blocky head as a PB. Meanwhile, there is information out there on specific BREEDS of ‘pit-type’ terriers from Am-Staff to Bull Terriers… and that information collected is pretty important. It’s simple statistics: if 1 out of 1,000,000 dogs is aggressive vs 1 out of 100, which has a higher incidence of aggression?

Of course, people who are anti-PB will deny this.

The fact that there is no concrete peer-reviewed evidence out there that ‘pit bull breeds’ are more aggressive than other dog breeds is telling. Meanwhile, there is evidence that points to the contrary - that many types of pit-breeds are more tolerant of human advances than popular breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers…

[yellowbritches]

If I’m understanding some of you right, you don’t care if a pittie is proven to be sweet, kind, and well socialized with humans and dogs, and that is also well handled and cared for. They shouldn’t be here. Because it is of a breeding that you find distasteful, it is a dangerous animal (even though it plays nicely with other dogs and can be trusted with other animals and has never even looked sideways at a human). And, despite the thousands of pitties that fit this description, including many that have come from dog fighting rings, either as fighters or bait dogs, they are still totally unacceptable and should be wiped from the planet. Is that what I’m getting?

I have NO ISSUE with dangerous dogs getting a needle and I have even less of an issue with irresponsible owners getting the book thrown at them. Hell, if I hadn’t had the run ins with my neighbor’s dogs on their property (I was invited, with my dogs), I would have been sending AC after them. But saying that all dogs of a certain breed, no matter how good they prove they are, is a bad egg, is just ridiculous. NO dog should be loose, menacing a neighborhood, whether it’s a 10lb chi or a 50lb pittie. And no one should breed ANY breed Willy nilly. That’s all there is to it. A whole breed and the people who love them and care for them responsibly shouldn’t be punished for the asshats of the world.

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8887993]
In addition to this, it is also important to understand that PBs and PB types (falsely identified or otherwise) far outnumber dogs like GSDs, Rotties, etc - so while the incidence of a “PB-type” being involved in an attack/bite/mauling might seem like a fairly often occurrence, in reality in terms of population size vs ‘aggressive occurrence’, the percentage of violent PBs is much lower than in other breeds… Factor in the erroneous mislabeling of anything that is mixed breed as a Pitbull and you have a huge population pool that cannot be reliably extracted from when the media and layperson labels anything with a blocky head as a PB. Meanwhile, there is information out there on specific BREEDS of ‘pit-type’ terriers from Am-Staff to Bull Terriers… and that information collected is pretty important. It’s simple statistics: if 1 out of 1,000,000 dogs is aggressive vs 1 out of 100, which has a higher incidence of aggression?

Of course, people who are anti-PB will deny this.

The fact that there is no concrete peer-reviewed evidence out there that ‘pit bull breeds’ are more aggressive than other dog breeds is telling. Meanwhile, there is evidence that points to the contrary - that many types of pit-breeds are more tolerant of human advances than popular breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers…[/QUOTE]

Two things, you are trying to apply math principles in an equation where two of the factors are unknowns and attempting to use it to prove something.

Second, the OP was about dog aggression and the threat that this type of dog poses to all other pet owners and their pets. How is it fair/just that I have to accept the risk that my dogs may or may not be mauled to death in an unprovoked ambush attack in my own neighborhood while I simply enjoy the evening with my pets? All so pit bull enthusiasts can enjoy their animals unencumbered by any sort of restrictive legislation? Is that not placing pit bull enthusiasts interests over the interests of everyone else?

[yellowbritches]

Second, the OP was about dog aggression and the threat that this type of dog poses to all other pet owners and their pets. How is it fair/just that I have to accept the risk that my dogs may or may not be mauled to death in an unprovoked ambush attack in my own neighborhood while I simply enjoy the evening with my pets? All so pit bull enthusiasts can enjoy their animals unencumbered by any sort of restrictive legislation? Is that not placing pit bull enthusiasts interests over the interests of everyone else?

It’s the general whit washing of the dog and the owners. Someone who owns a well behaved and socialized dog that is properly restrained should not suffer. There is no reason to live in fear of your neighbor’s pittie that wears a happy smile and loves to play with other dogs and walks nicely on a leash or plays in its fenced in backyard. That’s ridiculous. If you have neighbors that have aggressive dogs that aren’t properly managed, then the authorities should be called in to deal with them. But a blanket BSL is not the answer.

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=yellowbritches;8888044]
It’s the general whit washing of the dog and the owners. Someone who owns a well behaved and socialized dog that is properly restrained should not suffer. There is no reason to live in fear of your neighbor’s pittie that wears a happy smile and loves to play with other dogs and walks nicely on a leash or plays in its fenced in backyard. That’s ridiculous. If you have neighbors that have aggressive dogs that aren’t properly managed, then the authorities should be called in to deal with them. But a blanket BSL is not the answer.[/QUOTE]

I don’t disagree.

I think the problem lies in the seriousness in which complaints calls/reports are regarded. Most frequently, no action is taken UNTIL someone’s pet ends up mauled and/or killed. Even then, thanks to the pit bull fanatics screaming from social media to save the life of the killer, nothing gets done.

So the rest of us are stuck. We have to take the chance, every day, to provide proper care and exercise and mental stimulation for our own pets. We roll the dice, we take the chance, and we walk. Are you surprised that we are not happy about it? Perhaps even a little bitter? Surely there should be no surprise.

[ASBJumper]

[QUOTE=yellowbritches;8888044]
It’s the general whit washing of the dog and the owners. Someone who owns a well behaved and socialized dog that is properly restrained should not suffer. There is no reason to live in fear of your neighbor’s pittie that wears a happy smile and loves to play with other dogs and walks nicely on a leash or plays in its fenced in backyard. That’s ridiculous. If you have neighbors that have aggressive dogs that aren’t properly managed, then the authorities should be called in to deal with them. But a blanket BSL is not the answer.[/QUOTE]

That’s just it - with BSL the people who ALREADY own good, socialized, well-behaved pitties did not “suffer” - they were grandfathered in under Ontario’s BSL as long as it was clear they already owned the pitbull when the ban came into effect (easy enough to verify with vet records, assumnig the owner was being responsible about their dog ownership). Nobody is having their dogs taken away or needled, they are just asked to muzzle them when in public places (again, soooo NOT a bad thing). However - BSL prevents people in the future from acquiring pitties in Ontario, which I’m sorry, is not a bad thing. The masses are uneducated and lazy, as a general rule, even if well-intentioned. So it just means dog lovers will have to choose another type of dog, from the bazillion types available, rather than acquire a pitbull. It’s not that big of a deal.

For every ONE responsible, capable person who wants a pittie, there are 50 irresponsible idiots who also want one. Sometimes you have to regulate the majority, not the precious few.

[beowulf]

@Sswor;8888021

Two things, you are trying to apply math principles in an equation where two of the factors are unknowns and attempting to use it to prove something.

Wrong. I am pointing out the BREED studies, which has been done and points out that certain Pit BREEDS (Am-Staff, Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, etc) are less likely to bite than breeds like BC, Goldens, Labs. Not talking about any unknowns WRT that.

As someone who has worked with Am-staffs I can tell you their bite inhibition is MUCH better than many vogue breeds. It’s why most professionals (vets, groomers, vet techs, shelter-workers) would rather work with them over labs, goldens and GSDs…

What IS unknown is how many PBs are actually out there, how many mauling-dogs are actually PB, and what THAT statistic is. Which is what I was trying to point out. All these anti-PB people are slavering at the mouth to outlaw “all PBs” when they can’t even agree with what a PB is, and most of them can’t even identify what a PB looks like beyond “blocky head”. Guess what else has blocky heads? Hounds! Pariah dogs!

@Sswor;8888021

Second, the OP was about dog aggression and the threat that this type of dog poses to all other pet owners and their pets. How is it fair/just that I have to accept the risk that my dogs may or may not be mauled to death in an unprovoked ambush attack in my own neighborhood while I simply enjoy the evening with my pets? All so pit bull enthusiasts can enjoy their animals unencumbered by any sort of restrictive legislation? Is that not placing pit bull enthusiasts interests over the interests of everyone else?

How is it fair that my two PBs and my family’s many PBs have to be persecuted when they have never once shown aggression to other people and dogs? You are trying to pigeon-hole an entire subset of very different breeds into one locale but cannot point to EVIDENCE that shows Am-Staffs, BTs, and other pit-type terriers are more aggressive/dangerous than other dogs.

Show me the proof, is all I’m saying.

Like YB, I have no problem with actual dangerous dogs being euthanized… But I do have a problem with anti-PB hysterics wanting to see ALL ‘PB types’ (vague or otherwise) suffer for the action of a few individuals that are not representative of the breed.

[yellowbritches]

[QUOTE=Sswor;8888058]
I don’t disagree.

I think the problem lies in the seriousness in which complaints calls/reports are regarded. Most frequently, no action is taken UNTIL someone’s pet ends up mauled and/or killed. Even then, thanks to the pit bull fanatics screaming from social media to save the life of the killer, nothing gets done.

So the rest of us are stuck. We have to take the chance, every day, to provide proper care and exercise and mental stimulation for our own pets. We roll the dice, we take the chance, and we walk. Are you surprised that we are not happy about it? Perhaps even a little bitter? Surely there should be no surprise.[/QUOTE]
I know A LOT of advocates, and I can’t think of a single one that would advocate saving a confirmed killer. They will work tirelessly to rehab dog fighting rescues (look at all the work that Bad Rap Reacue did with the Vick dogs), but I don’t know a one that would stand by a dog that could not safely go into a pet home.

But I think we are, more or less, saying the same things from different ends. Authorities should take aggressive dogs and irresponsible owners extremely seriously. Breeding should be a licensed endeavor for ALL breeds, and owners should be educated on dog handling and body language to minimize the risk of issues.

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I don’t believe Breed bans work. I live in Ottawa, Canada and we have the ban. Not sure where the other poster from Ottawa has been that says they see no difference, unless they are talking about; no difference, pit bulls are still everywhere, I can find an ad for “Pitbull” pups at least once a day being sold right here in Ottawa. The law is not enforced per say, unless there is a complaint.

[Sswor]

No hound or pariah dog has the head of a pit bull unless it’s crossed with a pit bull. I would argue it is that head that provides the mechanics of a devastating mauling.

That’s why a pit bull is infinitely more dangerous then a cattle dog. Cattle dog has the temperament to jack you up, but not the mechanics to rip your arm off. That’s where the blocky head comes in. It can do the job quite efficiently.

IF your pit bull stays on the couch or inside your yard, I could care less about it. But the potential for devastating injury/horrific death IF it gets loose is where I start to get uncomfortable.

The poster who previously said that IF your-general pit bull gets loose and mauls her dog, she will sue you-general into poverty–amen, sister. I’m right there with you.

Just to spread the risk around. Fairs fair. If I must accept the potential risk of my pets horrific death occurring on a routine neighborhood walk, then YOU must accept the risk of being sued into poverty for it. I would spend obscene amounts of money litigating for damages if it happened to my dogs.

So, keep them put up and no one will have a problem.

[Sswor]

@yellowbritches;8888079

I know A LOT of advocates, and I can’t think of a single one that would advocate saving a confirmed killer. They will work tirelessly to rehab dog fighting rescues (look at all the work that Bad Rap Reacue did with the Vick dogs), but I don’t know a one that would stand by a dog that could not safely go into a pet home.

You immediately contradicted yourself in two, back to back sentences. Dog fighting dogs are killers yet here we have a “rescue” devoted to saving them. Pardon, but that is madness.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Sswor;8888105]
No hound or pariah dog has the head of a pit bull unless it’s crossed with a pit bull. I would argue it is that head that provides the mechanics of a devastating mauling.

That’s why a pit bull is infinitely more dangerous then a cattle dog. Cattle dog has the temperament to jack you up, but not the mechanics to rip your arm off. That’s where the blocky head comes in. It can do the job quiet efficiently.

IF your pit bull stays on the couch or inside your yard, I could care less about it. But the potential for devastating injury/horrific death IF it gets loose is where I start to get uncomfortable.

The poster who previously said that IF your-general pit bull gets loose and mauls her dog, she will sue you-general into poverty–amen, sister. I’m right there with you.

Just to spread the risk around. Fairs fair. If I must accept the potential risk of my pets horrific death occurring on a routine neighborhood walk, then YOU must accept the risk of being sued into poverty for it. I would spend obscene amounts of money litigating for damages if it happened to my dogs.

So, keep them put up and no one will have a problem.[/QUOTE]

Dude, you’re missing the point - which is not surprising.

People cannot ACCURATELY identify pitbulls because people cannot agree on what a “pit bull” looks like. The term is too broad. Everything from a molosser to a terrier to a hound is mislabeled from the media to shelters, nationwide, as pitbulls. Cattle dogs are mislabeled as PBs. Hounds are. Labs. It’s really not news.

However, specific studies on specific terrier BREEDS (Am-Staff) have shown that they are no more aggressive than other popular dog breeds.

This is a multi-faceted issue and I don’t believe it stems from a breed problem. I believe it’s a owner responsibility issue, a public bias issue, and a mislabeling issue. The facts are simply not there to support that Am-Staffs and other terriers are inherently more violent than other dog breeds.

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8888123]
Dude, you’re missing the point - which is not surprising.

People cannot ACCURATELY identify pitbulls because people cannot agree on what a “pit bull” looks like. Everything from a molosser to a terrier to a hound is mislabeled from the media to shelters, nationwide, as pitbulls.[/QUOTE]

That’s nonsense and a tired, old myth. I wish you hadn’t fallen back on that as it cheapens any legitimate point you may have made up until now.

[khall]

Dangerous dog laws are the answer NOT BSLs. Target the problem dogs and owners, not a type of dog.

FYI the CDC does not put the type or breed of dog in dog bite statistics because of the difficulty in determining breed based on looks of mixed breed dogs.

I do agree on targeting pit bulls for altering, make it more difficult to breed them, there are just too many out there who are euthanized because there are not enough homes. One of my fosters is a block headed dog, she has been with me two years now. Same for chi’s who are the next breed that are found most often in the shelters. We do have free spay for pit bull types locally, it is a good thing. Also spay, neuter laws period for any pet dog. Help reduce the unwanted pet population.

As for pit bulls and being aggressive to other dogs, some are, some are not. They very much are terriers, most terriers don’t quit regardless of their size. One of the softest dogs I fostered was a pit bull type, would not hurt a fly. Lives with 3 cats now.

I personally feel that many pit bulls make great dogs with kids because of their lack of doggie social skills. They are hard to offend.

[yellowbritches]

[QUOTE=Sswor;8888114]
You immediately contradicted yourself in two, back to back sentences. Dog fighting dogs are killers yet here we have a “rescue” devoted to saving them. Pardon, but that is madness.[/QUOTE]
Dogs in dog fighting rings are taught and encouraged to fight by the scumbags who own them. If they are too meek to fight they are beaten and tortured or used as bait dogs. These aren’t the same as dogs getting loose and attacking people and dogs unprovoked. Many rescues have gone on to rehab and save dogs found in fighting ring. The ones that were beyond hope are euthanized. Many of Vick’s dogs went on to live long, happy lives with other dogs and animals and kids. They went on to be therapy dogs and breed ambassadors,all while bearing the scars that criminals like Vick subjected them to. They fought because they were made to. Dogs, as usual, often show us what it means to forgive and forget.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Sswor;8888130]
That’s nonsense and a tired, old myth. I wish you hadn’t fallen back on that as it cheapens any legitimate point you may have made up until now.[/QUOTE]

Are you kidding? You really think that the general public knows the difference between every dog type? Really?

So only one physical trait can be accounted for each breed, got it. Dalmations must be the only dogs with spots then. Am-Staffs the only dogs with “blocky heads”.

You must expect the general public can tell an Arabian from a Thoroughbred too.

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8888182]
Are you kidding? You really think that the general public knows the difference between every dog type? Really?

So only one physical trait can be accounted for each breed, got it. Dalmations must be the only dogs with spots then. Am-Staffs the only dogs with “blocky heads”.

You must expect the general public can tell an Arabian from a Thoroughbred too.[/QUOTE]

Most horse people can.

Can you, personally, ID a pit bull type by sight? How?

How do you know that the type of dog you are advocating for are pit bull types? What if you are mistaken and you are completely off the mark–advocating for some other type of dog entirely, whilst pit bull types are indeed wreaking havoc?

I disagree that you and other pit bull enthusiasts are the only ones who can positively ID a pit bull type. Other people are just as smart and perceptive and clever as you, as well as just as educated and observant. Of course, right? Then why fall back on this shaky defense?

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Sswor;8888218]
Most horse people can.

Can you, personally, ID a pit bull type by sight? How?

How do you know that the type of dog you are advocating for are pit bull types? What if you are mistaken and you are completely off the mark–advocating for some other type of dog entirely, whilst pit bull types are indeed wreaking havoc?

I disagree that you and other pit bull enthusiasts are the only ones who can positively ID a pit bull type. Other people are just as smart and perceptive and clever as you, as well as just as educated and observant. Of course, right? Then why fall back on this shaky defense?[/QUOTE]
I generally avoid responding to you because you are consistently deliberately obtuse. You avoid responding to factual posts and hook onto some arbitrary association you have derived yourself from a discussion that never happened - you do it in every post. You completely miss the mark. I said nothing about being great about identifying all PB types (your words). People who are not dog people (aka LAYPEOPLE) are no better at identifying different dog types than people who are not horse people. This is why media and shelters mislabel breeds that are something they are not - this doesn’t just happen to Terriers! Anything that is small and white is a jack russel X, anything with a saddle or upright ears is a GSD, and anything tan is a golden.

If you cannot grasp that “PB type” encompasses too broad a spectrum of very many different breed types from terrier to molosser you are being deliberately dense.

It is not a shaky defense. Authoritative proponents have said time and time again that the dog’s outward appearance is not a reliable indicator of its breed. Period.

Again, BSL is proven to not work - but you will avoid this part of my post too and just argue with some other misconstrued part of mine or someone else’s post.

Target the individual, not the “breed”. Dangerous dogs are a problem. Pit bull types are not.