4 ms·

This is definitely written by someone who doesn't spend a lot of time with dogs. I would make the following point - as the "owner" of a Staffordshire Bull Terr

This is definitely written by someone who doesn't spend a lot of time with dogs. I would make the following point - as the "owner" of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier (closely related to the Pit Bulls that he speaks of), it is true that bull dogs and bull terriers were originally bred for bull baiting and dog fighting. But, in the late 1800s, in the UK at least, there was a mass cull of bull dogs. This is because these fighting dogs used to live with working class humans - in those days most families lived in a single room, so kids and dogs would share a space. And any bull dog that showed the slightest sign of aggression towards a human was killed. This resulted in dogs that still had their ferocity and desire to fight - but absolutely adored being around humans - traits that are very apparent in Staffies today. This is what earned them their nickname of "Nanny Dogs" in Victorian times as they turned that aggression onto anything that tried to harm their family. My staffie is a rescue - he was around three years old when we got him and has many many issues (severe anxiety, fear of strangers, no knowledge how to interact with other dogs, an inability to stop barking, grunting or snoring). But he's the most loving and affectionate creature with the people that he knows. And he has never shown any aggression towards the animals he has shared his home with (two cats and two guinea pigs). His life is greatly enhanced by living with us - and ours greatly enhanced (although much much more work) by us living with him. Plus he was with the RSPCA, who put their rescues to sleep, so we literally saved his life.

yesco 5y ago
Pitbulls remain the most dangerous dog breeds around, there are tons of breeds for people to choose yet for some reason we still see people with kids go out of their way to get one. There is a reason there are so many of them in dog shelters. Sure maybe your pitbull likes you but as someone who used to work in a family run dog watching business when I was younger, I can assure you that we got more than a few dogs that got very aggressive the second their owners walked out the door. These dogs had to be isolated from the others and they were always fighting dog breeds. > In those days most families lived in a single room, so kids and dogs would share a space Dogs used to be kept outside. > any bull dog that showed the slightest sign of aggression towards a human was killed. This applies to all dog breeds. Dogs that attack humans are culled even to this day, I'm not sure why a "bull dog" would be special in this regard. The only thing unique to fighting breeds is they were bred to be good at killing without reason.
- rahoulb 5y ago
  > Dogs used to be kept outside. I don't know if you've ever seen any Victorian back-to-back terraced housing - but there is no outside. There is the house and then the street. > This applies to all dog breeds. Dogs that attack humans are culled even to this day, I'm not sure why a "bull dog" would be special in this regard. The only thing unique to fighting breeds is they were bred to be good at killing without reason. This was a specific multi-year cull aimed at removing human aggression from the bull breeds. One reference to it is here: https://jackalsoldcountryblood.com/the-history-of-the-staffordshire-bull-terrier/ https://jackalsoldcountryblood.com/the-history-of-the-staffo... (although I'm not too keen on the guy that runs this site who sells really crappy training guides)
wraptile 5y ago
As someone who grew up with healthy dog environment (our family always had a dog) I think the article is spot on. Dogs are eternaly fucked up. In my opinion this animal shouldn't exist and I'm willing to bet money that in not-so-distant future we'll be looking down on ourselves for partaking in such psychological madness. I say this as a rescue dog owner and general animal lover myself. These animals are beyond any sort of healthy, reasonable existance. Unfortunately there's nothing much we can do to fix this other than a cultural revolution but humans are far too selfish for that.

yesco 5y ago

Pitbulls remain the most dangerous dog breeds around, there are tons of breeds for people to choose yet for some reason we still see people with kids go out of their way to get one. There is a reason there are so many of them in dog shelters. Sure maybe your pitbull likes you but as someone who used to work in a family run dog watching business when I was younger, I can assure you that we got more than a few dogs that got very aggressive the second their owners walked out the door. These dogs had to be isolated from the others and they were always fighting dog breeds. > In those days most families lived in a single room, so kids and dogs would share a space Dogs used to be kept outside. > any bull dog that showed the slightest sign of aggression towards a human was killed. This applies to all dog breeds. Dogs that attack humans are culled even to this day, I'm not sure why a "bull dog" would be special in this regard. The only thing unique to fighting breeds is they were bred to be good at killing without reason.

rahoulb 5y ago
> Dogs used to be kept outside. I don't know if you've ever seen any Victorian back-to-back terraced housing - but there is no outside. There is the house and then the street. > This applies to all dog breeds. Dogs that attack humans are culled even to this day, I'm not sure why a "bull dog" would be special in this regard. The only thing unique to fighting breeds is they were bred to be good at killing without reason. This was a specific multi-year cull aimed at removing human aggression from the bull breeds. One reference to it is here: https://jackalsoldcountryblood.com/the-history-of-the-staffordshire-bull-terrier/ https://jackalsoldcountryblood.com/the-history-of-the-staffo... (although I'm not too keen on the guy that runs this site who sells really crappy training guides)

wraptile 5y ago

As someone who grew up with healthy dog environment (our family always had a dog) I think the article is spot on. Dogs are eternaly fucked up. In my opinion this animal shouldn't exist and I'm willing to bet money that in not-so-distant future we'll be looking down on ourselves for partaking in such psychological madness. I say this as a rescue dog owner and general animal lover myself. These animals are beyond any sort of healthy, reasonable existance. Unfortunately there's nothing much we can do to fix this other than a cultural revolution but humans are far too selfish for that.