And that pretty much sums up the reason NOT to get a pitbull. Do you want a good pet that is safe around kids and cats or do you want a dog that you think will make you some sort of poseur badass because you have it?

My mother was the head of the local animal shelter for quite some time and I have been around/working with/training dogs for a long time. Let me tell you, every pit bull that came into the shelter was immediately put to sleep while other breeds went out for adoption. And this was from people who devote their lives to saving animals. The vast majority of pits were so nasty that they were not worth the shelter's time and effort to try and rescue. If somebody adopted the dog and then it shredded their kids the shelter would be sued out of existance.

Can pit bulls be good dogs? Sure they can with a good owner. But even then there is always that little tiny chance of them flipping out and killing your neighbors dog or cat or worse yet, kid. Probably never happen but why even take that small chance? With all the wonderful dog breeds out there that you could get that will never cause you any trouble with at least minimal training, why get a dog you have watch like a hawk?

Real life example, my brother-in-law's 16 year old, blind, deaf, miniature poodle was attacked by a pit bull in the waiting room of the vet last week. Absolutely NO warning. Little poodle just sitting on the floor. Pit Bull walked into room and immediately lunged. Owner was too slow, weak to pull it off in time. Poodle required immediate surgery to save it's life. Pit bull owner got to pay that big ass vet bill. Yeah, great pet.

 

wow.. thanks for all the great responses. It looks like I am leaning towards the boxer. But the experiences I've had with a Boxer aren't good ones (it didnt attack me or anything). My best friend while I was growing up had a Boxer and it was PITA. It was ruining all his mom's plants and anything that he left in the backyard. He ended up giving that boxer away, he said it was "stupid", and getting a new one that was much better than his first one. Would a Boxer protect my house if an intruder came in my backyard? I don't know too much about Boxers so any more info would be appreciated. And if anyone knows any breeders/other places i can get one in the LA area can you let me know. Thanks.

 

Most dogs while puppies will ruin plants and shoes etc if not trained/ watched. My very intellegent yellow lab does that expecially when he's bored. He doesn't know any better, he's a dog doing dog things. Would a boxer protect your house if he were in your back yard? I told you mine could scale a 9 foot fence. Trust me if a Boxer were looking at me and barking I'd go nowhere near it even knowing how loving they can be. The are big and mean looking with their pug faces and muscular bodies.

 

All dogs can bite.

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