Originally Posted by Far-L

I have a pit mix - at the free range kennel where she is boarded when we go out of town she is known as "The Peacemaker" because of her calming influence on other dogs. My dog is highly trained and very socialized with not only other dogs but cats too, in fact, she won't even chase a squirrel unless she gets the A-OK.

Many breeds are more agressive than pits. Dachsunds are extremely agressive but of course they don't have the power to do much harm. However, any breed that is overly bred by irresponsible breeders is going to have issues. Two decades ago German Shepards and Dobies had the rep that pits have now. Then Ratts and pits... but whatever... Akitas are probably next. The fact is that much of the animosity toward any of these dogs is propaganda that is heavily biased and often based on racial profiling that is obviously prejudiced.

Any breeding that focuses on agressive traits will create issues of course but the problem is humans that want agressive animals and don't know how to respect those behaviours and disregard the obvious risks inherent.

However, the truth is that Staffordshire Terriers have historically been considered one of the SAFEST pets around kids. But folks that don't know better recoil from them like they are going to lose their marbles at any second and attack. Which is just not the case. Your average human has no idea between an American Bull Terrier bred for fighting though and a family friendly Staff so there you go.

In reality, the breed is considered a working breed though and not a fighting dog; they were used primarily by people that couldn't afford horses to pull carts.( you can't sell apples from a cart people were scared to approach now could you... ) In truth, pits have been glamourized as fighting dogs but they are too small and bull mastifs and Akitas have a much longer history as fighting dogs.

I agree with Lady Mischief... humans should be required to have licenses to own pets.