Walmart Service Dog discrimination PLEASE READ

[The Lost Manatee]

This is legitimate question, not bashing here. Why is it that when you hear of vicious dog attacks that it is almost always a pit bull?

Because sometimes the media doesn't know the difference between a pit bull, a bull dog, a mutt and any other breed. Much like when CBS reported that the battleship USS Cole was attacked in Yeman. Just so you know, the USS Cole is not a battleship. Or the times that it will show a picture or footage of armored personel carriers and call them tanks. Frequently reporters don't worry about the details being accurate, they go with the quick and easy labels.

[carolinagirl]

This is legitimate question, not bashing here. Why is it that when you hear of vicious dog attacks that it is almost always a pit bull?

Because sometimes the media doesn't know the difference between a pit bull, a bull dog, a mutt and any other breed. Much like when CBS reported that the battleship USS Cole was attacked in Yeman. Just so you know, the USS Cole is not a battleship. Or the times that it will show a picture or footage of armored personel carriers and call them tanks. Frequently reporters don't worry about the details being accurate, they go with the quick and easy labels.

WRONG!!!

That's a cop-out answer. Good reporters are the most detail-oriented people on earth. Pit bulls attack more than other breeds. Do the photographs lie?

I have an aggressive breed of dog, chow chow. I know he has inbred aggressive tendencies. I work with him daily to stay in control. I nearly turned him in to the shelter when I got him as a puppy because I'm a collie-type of person and never liked having a dog that people can't trust. I know I can't trust him out of my control, so I keep in under my control.

Still, I would be enraged at Walmart's response. This was a specially trained dog, and it was not a danger to anyone in the store!

[The Lost Manatee]

This is legitimate question, not bashing here. Why is it that when you hear of vicious dog attacks that it is almost always a pit bull?

Because sometimes the media doesn't know the difference between a pit bull, a bull dog, a mutt and any other breed. Much like when CBS reported that the battleship USS Cole was attacked in Yeman. Just so you know, the USS Cole is not a battleship. Or the times that it will show a picture or footage of armored personel carriers and call them tanks. Frequently reporters don't worry about the details being accurate, they go with the quick and easy labels.

WRONG!!!

That's a cop-out answer. Good reporters are the most detail-oriented people on earth. Pit bulls attack more than other breeds. Do the photographs lie?

I have an aggressive breed of dog, chow chow. I know he has inbred aggressive tendencies. I work with him daily to stay in control. I nearly turned him in to the shelter when I got him as a puppy because I'm a collie-type of person and never liked having a dog that people can't trust. I know I can't trust him out of my control, so I keep in under my control.

Still, I would be enraged at Walmart's response. This was a specially trained dog, and it was not a danger to anyone in the store!

This is no cop out. It is reality whether you like to admit it or not. The key to your entire statement is "Good Reporters". Regretfully, like so many industries, there are good and there are bad and there are those that are indifferent.

Pictures do lie or perhaps lie is the wrong word, they can be very misleading. Can you always tell if a dog is of a given breed just by looking at a picture? No, it may be a mix but it appears to be of a certain breed. Also do you or does the vast majority of people know the difference between an American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier just by looking at them? The media continues to report both as being Pit Bulls, along with various mixed breeds and mutts. I know that last year two "pit bulls" were shot to death by the local police. The media reported as pit bulls and it turn that one was a rotti mix and the other was a APBT mix.

I won't deny that APBT are agressive but the fact remains that the term pit bull is applied across many breeds and mixes by members of the media, as well as the general public.

I think it is great that you have worked with your Chow to help insure that you can control his/her aggression. That shows that not only are you a responsible dog owner, it shows that you really love your dog and are willing to put in the work to make sure that you dog is a good member of society. I wish more dog owners would do that because then we would have fewer dog/people issues.

I have always had German Shepherds in my life. They can be aggressive if not trained, socialized and exercised. Once they bond with their family they are loyal, protective and loving and I trust them with in reason. Do I trust them not to bite someone that they don't know who is chasing a family member, even in fun? No, because I know the breed, they are likely to nip the person chasing their family member. Do I trust them with my daughter? 100% of the time, both know who is the boss and who isn't.

[carey24]

Pictures do lie or perhaps lie is the wrong word, they can be very misleading. Can you always tell if a dog is of a given breed just by looking at a picture? No, it may be a mix but it appears to be of a certain breed. Also do you or does the vast majority of people know the difference between an American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier just by looking at them?

I cannot tell you how many people stop me, pet and play with Balto and tell me how sweet and cute he is. Then they ask what type of dog he is. Most, when told he is a pit mix, immediately retreat, back away, and say "Oh". I can immediately identify experienced dog owners because they usually keep playing with him and tell me how great the breed is.

[flyboy55]

I do think some of the bad press that "pit bulls" have received is hype.

But aren't there breeds chosen for particular purposes based on the typical temperament of the breed?

Why are most police dogs German Shepherds?

Maybe the other factor that makes pit bull attacks noteworthy is the nature of their bite. They have very powerful jaws and can clamp down hard and hang on.

Having said that, the nastiest dog I ever knew was a Daschund named "Snuffy".

[Soraya]

I cannot tell you how many people stop me, pet and play with Balto and tell me how sweet and cute he is. Then they ask what type of dog he is. Most, when told he is a pit mix, immediately retreat, back away, and say "Oh". I can immediately identify experienced dog owners because they usually keep playing with him and tell me how great the breed is.

Lovely pup!! Your story reminds me of the first pit bull I ever met in the mid 80s when much of the hype started....it was a boyfriend's neighbor's dog...never left outside for long....well cared for, friendly....I'd talk to the dog every day and after a bit, I judged it friendly enough to approach.

Well, I was petting her when the owner came out the back door said hello, etc etc....we talked about the dog, her name was Isis. By this time I am sitting on the ground with Isis on her back getting a belly rub and playing tug with a toy.

I asked the owner what sort of dog it was, because she certainly wasn't a mutt, but I wasn't familiar with the breed. The owner laughs, says, "Don't freak out, that dog you have your hand in it's mouth (we were playing with a ball), is a pit bull."

Ever since then I've judged the individual dog....not the breed as a whole.

[ph4ever]

What I'm curious about is why hasn't the dog's owner filed a complaint with the US Justice Department regarding this? After all that's the agency that investigates infractions of the ADA. The web page stated what actions have been taken so far and that was not listed.


The ONE thing about the pit breed that bothers me the most- if you go to petfinder, I know that in my area it seems as if most of the dogs in the shelters are pits. That's alarming to me. Other than that I've been around pits and my dog's nearest playmate is a pit however I still have mixed emotions regarding the breed.

[Quiet and Shy]

Look, if you want to tell me how dangerous a breed is, do some research first. And just for future reference, the pit bull was originally bred for the same reason as a bull dog; the British would use the animal to go and round up the bull, not to fight other dogs.

You told me to look up some more facts so I did. I was quite puzzled about your claim that bull dogs were originally bred for rounding up bulls...(because anyone who knows anything about cattle knows you don't herd bulls....)

Several online sources consistently stated that bull dogs were originally bred for "bull baiting" which is now an outlawed sport (for obvious reasons): The formerly popular sport of setting dogs to attack a chained bull and especially to seize it by the nose.

Anyway, I stand by my original point; genetics plays a role in the animals' behavior. Originally desired characteristics such as tenacity and endurance definately play a part in who/what the animal is and/or will become. That does not mean these characteristics will violently surface in all pit bulls, but the potential for this within these animals is greater than within animals that have not been bred with these characteristics (and original fighting intentions) in mind.

[buffettbride]

I go back and forth on this issue every time I think about.

Came across this link today, though, from my local news station:
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=65161

[krusin1]

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As an aggie who's done some work with genetics, I can confirm what is stated above.

I guess my thinking is this... there are a lot of breeds that can perform well as service dogs. I'm assuming you have a special attachment to pit bulls, and I can understand wanting to have yours serve as an "ambassador."

However... if you're going to intentionally select a breed that is known (right or wrong) for aggressive tendencies, you should also be understanding of all the folks out there (especially with little kids) who aren't as impressed with your selection of a pit bull service dog.

By choosing a pit bull, you've set yourself up for some situations in which people aren't thrilled to have your dog around. Instead of getting indignant, IMHO, you'll be far better served by being gracious and nonconfrontational while explaining about the desirable characteristics your dog displays.

It's kind of like driving a Hummer in a "blue" state. By choosing the Hummer, you've increased the odds of having people give you the finger. No use getting indignant about it - just comes with your vehicle of choice.