To report someone who has a pitbull?

[IAmNotLego]

They boast about it being a pitbull, in IRL and on Facebook. Told me they weren't going to have it neutered (so it would continue to grow as big as possible), but had registered it. Surely it would need to be neutered? As part of this?

They told me they have it muzzled in public.

Second conversation. They've said it attacked 2 dogs, so has now been neutered.

I've seen the dog out in public without a muzzle and off lead..

I'm sure some will tell me to mind my own business. But I'd feel awful if something happened to another dog/animal or a child and it could have been prevented.

Do you know or have you just been told?

The sort of moron that boasts they have a Pitbull is the sort of moron that boasts they have attacked people and dogs when they haven’t

In the interests of balance, of the many dogs I’ve had, the absolute one I would not trust around other people and dogs (supervised or otherwise) is the chichuhua - utterly vile to strangers and strange dogs, totally consumed by small dog syndrome and had to be watched constantly whilst on a walk - literally the angriest dog I’ve ever encountered.

Notable walks included the time when a large mastiff type sat down completely un-reactive whilst the chi pretty much hung off its jowls - unfortunately it’s incredibly difficult to get a muzzle in tiny dog size - we ended up not being able to walk it.

As a general rule I believe in deed not breed but the chi defied all that - she had the same training and background as the staffy, boxer, westie etc that we’d had previously but she was MEAN.

My point is that, as a breed, pit bulls are no more dangerous than labradors, which are commonly touted on here as amazing family pets who are soppy as anything and amazingly tolerant of children.

The statistics show that that's not the case.

I don't know which statistics you're referring to. Deaths by mauling are not favourable towards bull terriers, neither are dog bite statistics categorised by level of damage. The only statistic about labs as far as I know is that they are the most often claimed against, which obviously distorts the pool as it is limited to insured dogs, i.e. a generally responsible pool of owners.

Report your suspicion to police.
They have dog experts who can come out and assess if it’s a banned breed, if it is they will seize.
There’s a reason it’s a banned breed and if this dog has already bitten then it could be a child or baby next time

As someone who deals with dangerous dogs for a living and had to wrestle two frenzied out of control pit bulls only yesterday from the back of a police van...give me an out of control Labrador over a bull breed any day.

Labrador out of control managable, a whole different kettle of fish to a ‘pit bull’.
Pit bull/bull breed out of control fucking terrifying and I speak from 10 years of experience on this and seen the damage that can be caused.

Funnily enough I don’t own bull breeds after some of the dogs I’ve dealt with

Do you not think that perhaps the reason that perhaps the reason for pit bull types being responsible for the most deaths in the UK is precisely because they're illegal and therefore totally unregulated?

And therefore likely to be owned by people who are highly irresponsible to start with? And therefore are not properly cared for, exercised and trained?

Funnily enough I don’t own bull breeds after some of the dogs I’ve dealt with

Can this not become an anti bull breed thread? Pitbulls are a banned breed but there are many bull breeds that aren't. I know a lot of them that are well trained, loving family pets that don't deserve the stigmatism attached to their breeds.
It used to be dobermans, then german shepherds that everyone thought were devil dogs, don't forget.

YABVU

The level of damage that can be caused by pit bulls/pit type breeds far exceeds what could be done by a smaller dog though, whatever their usual temperament. I've just made the mistake of reading the Wikipedia link on dog attack deaths someone posted and wish I hadn't. if you're in doubt and the dog is aggressive then report it. I understand that how dogs are raised and cared for plays a part however pit bulls were originally bred and raised for fighting, and are more likely to cause significant damage to someone. it's not worth taking the risk imho, every time I hear about a dog attack death I feel incredibly sad but even more than that I feel so incredibly angry that it was able to happen.

Do you not think that perhaps the reason that perhaps the reason for pit bull types being responsible for the most deaths in the UK is precisely because they're illegal and therefore totally unregulated?

I don't care. I have seen them attack, twice, and they are capable of damage that other dogs are not.

It used to be dobermans, then german shepherds that everyone thought were devil dogs, don't forget.

I give them a wide berth too.

Mind your own business

I would report on the basis that the dog is aggressive and the owner seems irresponsible.

I currently live in the US though where pitbulls seem the most common dog to own, they are absolutely everywhere, all without muzzles and coming from a country where they are also illegal and have a bad reputation I admit I was often terrified to walk past one (especially if with a stroller or a child) but they are just dogs when in the hands of responsible owners and I have never ever even seen two pitbulls bark at each other in a park or else. Now I am sad that these brands have been banned in some countries due to terrible owners who turned them into aggressive dogs.

Can this not become an anti bull breed thread?

This is your response to the opinion of someone who works with dangerous dogs for a living? .

As Sayhellotothings says: Pitbulls are not a breed so there is no such thing as a pedigree pitbull! A ‘pitbull‘ is any type of bull terrier (American, Staffordshire etc) crossed with anything that results in a high number of legally defined characteristics. Both parents could technically be well bred KC reg dogs of different breeds that are completely legal but if any of the resulting offspring of that crossing end up falling within the defined characteristics as a result then those dogs will go on to be deemed pitbull type even though the parents themselves weren’t and can still legally be bred. It is illegal to breed from any dog that is deemed to be of pitbull type however it is not entirely illegal to own one, you can apply for a licence / exemption certificate. Under the licensing regulation the dog must be microchipped, insured, neutered and on a lead wearing a muzzle at all times in any public place.

I’m a huge advocate of deed not breed and think these types get a lot of unnessisary bad press but if you have genuine concerns that the dog is dangerous and you can prove that they are breeching licence conditions then I would report it.

This is your response to the opinion of someone who works with dangerous dogs for a living?

Yes, as I work with all sorts of dogs for a living including ones with behavioural issues. Believe it or not, the breeds really vary.

These are mainly Dobermans German sheps and Rottweilers ? Your point ?

I'm sure you appreciate that no one has tried to parameterise your posts, then.

Any dog is capable of anything it's the way u bring them up I had a pit bull from 8 weeks old and it's people like u that had her put down police didn't even muzzle her as she just licked them your all wrong it's like kids it's the way they are brought up!!!!

That's very true

Definitely reporr

Report

Sayhellotothethings I did not say that no other dogs attack. All dogs could attack.

However, the difference between say a Labrador/collie attack and an attack from say an American bull are incomparable. I can’t even describe how scary it can be to be faced with a 40kg bull breed in full attack mode. I’ve dealt with shepherds/huskies and all manner of little shits but it’s not even in the same league.

Anyway, I do love all dogs believe it or not and don’t hate any breed but the OP asked if it was reasonable to report an out of control sounding dog and she absoloutley shouldn’t feel bad for voicing concerns. If it was a dog of my own preferred breed I would say the same and would rather it was checked out and all fine than someones child/dog be injured by an irresponsibly owned dog.

Annebell I’m sorry but that’s not true at all and it’s a dangerous thing to say because people thing love and cuddles will make a good dog and it simply isn’t always true.
Genetics make a dog, this is why you go to reputable breeders. Dogs bred from weak lined or nervous dogs tend to be the same themselves.

Genetics determine temperament, drive, instinct. Literally everything.

I’ve faced the same predicament recently with a beautician who quite clearly got a pitbull and intentionally encourages aggression in the dog which is asking for trouble. Pitbulls aren’t actually really a breed but a dog that has some characteristics that they will claim is pitbull like. Pitbull refers to bully breeds that range from American pitbull terrier to bulldogs. In England when they say pitbull they really mean a dog like the American pitbull terrier. For example they’re bigger than staffies and their body frame is more square from the side. They’re a lot more athletic looking than staffies but smaller than boxers and they’re beefier. Pitbulls are not aggressive. They are simply desperate to please their owners and they’re very very intense with anything their owners want from them. They’re extremely loving and will shower you with love if that’s what you want from them or they’re extremely playful if you’re playing with them and they will play until they pass out or they can be extremely aggressive because their owners have encouraged that behaviour intentionally or unintentionally and they will fight till they kill or they are pulled off. It’s really disappointing to see people label the dog aggressive when they are not. Chihuahuas are FAR more aggressive but they simply can’t do the same amount of damage and bad people don’t get chihuahuas as a status dog like the same people who get pitbull like dogs.

That ended up longer than I thought but in short don’t just report a pitbull for being a pitbull. The dog you’re describing needs reporting though as soon as possible. They will kill. Especially when their owners encourage such dangerous behaviour. Just try to make sure it’s as anonymously as possible because the same people in this country who get pitbulls intentionally are usually people who can’t behave appropriately in many areas of their lives and you don’t want them trying to get back at you if the dog gets taken away.

I would report it.

I don't think pit bulls, generically, are a dangerous breed. I've had them, I have also known people who have. I think they are often, very often, in the wrong hands and therefore have strong potential to be very dangerous. I wouldn't walk my current dog anywhere where I knew a pit to be, for the simple reason that I could guarantee the owner to be a clueless prick with no control.

I love dogs, much more than people. I was one of those people who said (on that infamous thread) that I'd save my own dog over a random child in a fire, if that helps with context.

@IAmNotLego
I would say report.. because you are essentially reporting against the irresponsible owners, not the dog.
I am in a similar situation, in my case it is a blue nose pitbull, and I don't really know the owner i just know they are in one of the apartment building across the street. The dog has chased me once, luckily i was just coming to my home and got in before it reached me. It was just wandering up and down the street for some time before the owner (i assume) came out of the nearby pocket park and took it to the apartment building. Idiot me didn't think of taking a video or anything.. was just really scared. I have seen it twice more without a lead on our street where there is a council notice saying "dogs on leash always". With a nursery/primary school at the end of our street I am worried of what may happen and was thinking of just calling up council to report.