[TFord]

I have to disagree with most of you. I've had and raised pit bulls in the past and as with any dog it needs training and structure. Pitbulls are naturally friendly and loyal to owners, and usually friendly to strangers...by nature. But its when people are unprepaired to train these dogs, fight these dogs, or use hit these dogs trying to train these dogs, they break their trust for people or become the alpha in the household. This is true for any dog, but the pit is a powerful dog...but more importantly they have very strong determination. This is where the myth when they bite they're jaws lock come from. There is nothing that makes their jaw lock, they're just determined to not open it. For many years these dogs were called nanny dogs, because how good they were with young children and even babies (in the 1800's and early 1900's). It wasn't until the widespread popularity of dog fighting that the dog's rep changed in the mid 1900's.

Here's the discription of the breed from the american kennel club;

The Bull Terrier is a smooth-coated dog with great strength for his size. He is active and agile and comes in six color varieties: solid red, fawn, white, black, blue, or brindle. Today, he serves primarily as a family companion and is seen in the show, obedience and agility rings.

A Look Back
The Bull Terrier draws its character of indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity from his past history. The breed originated in the nineteenth century when coal miners in Staffordshire, England, wanted a small, fast dog. They combined the Bulldog with a small local terrier similar to the Manchester Terrier. The result was the Staffordshire Bull Terrier that we know today.

Right Breed for You?
The Bull Terrier is extremely courageous and obedient, highly intelligent and affectionate with a sense of humor. This, coupled with its affection for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes it a foremost all-purpose dog. He looks forward to daily exercise, and his powerful jaws enjoy a supply of sturdy chew toys. While he is a sweet-tempered, affectionate dog, his strength and determination require an experienced owner who can work with him in a firm, but gentle way. The Staffie’s coat is short and smooth, and needs only a quick brushing once a week.

I had a stroke when I was 24, I was leaving a friends house and his pit was running up to jump on me as he always does. He stopped mid sprint looking at me then cocked his head with a worried/curious look on his face. then the stroke hit, I didn't know I was a stroke so I laid down and his pit stayed by my side and even helped me to the bathroom. He never left my side until I went to the hospital. Now looking back I should have know something serious was going on by how he was acting.

A prime example of people who don't properly take care of dogs are most taco bell dogs, and simular breeds. I've been bit by these dogs more than I can count. People don't realize they actually they require more training and structure than pits and other big breeds. Which is why untrained they bark and bite at everything they're by. But they're small and cute so the owners don't get in trouble for it because I don't have to worry about dying from an attack by an untrained and aggressive chiuaua, swap that out with a pit and its a different story.

Not to take anything away from the tragedy that occured. Pit bulls are a great breed of dog, as any big breed of dog they're potentially dangerous, if they're not trained and take the alpha role in the home, made to fight, and or abused. The most common mistake is see with pits are owners hitting them to train them, this breaks their trust for people.

Sorry for the long write up, everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I love dogs, pits and husky/malamutes in particular, and I've got alot of knowledge and experience with those breeds. If your an experienced dog owner, and you have hatred toward this breed, I challenge you to get one as a puppy and train it properly, give it structure and love it. I guaranty you'll never have a better dog.