Pit Bulls And Liabilty Insurance

[abfleck]

ANYONE THAT HAVE PIT BULLS HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANYS AND GETTING COVERAGE FOR THE LIABILTY.....JUST IN CASE YOUR DOG BITES AND YOU GET SUED? MY INSURANCE COMPANY SEEMED TO BE COOL. I JUST CALLED THEM TODAY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS COVERED. WHAT A RELIEF :angel6:

TAKE CARE ALL

FLECK

[Roz]

I have never owned a Pit Bull, nor a dog that would concern my insurance company. However, I have definitely heard of people having problems. Pitbulls have, unfortunately, been given a bad reputation. A lot of insurance companies are scared away by the words "pit bull."

Hm, I wonder if they feel the same about Staffordshire Terriers, who are very alike, yet don't have the bad reputation (unless they're mistaken for a Pit Bull.)

Glad to hear your insurance has no problems with Mackenzie. :)

[abfleck]

THANKS ROZ......I DO AGGREE THAT THE PIT BULLS HAVE GOTTEN A BAD REPUTATION ONLY BECAUSE THE ONES THAT ARE MEAN AND THAT DO ATTACK ARE THE ONES THAT WERE TRAINED TO DO SO. PEOPLE JUST ASSUME THAT THESE DOGS ARE JUST A DANGEROUS BREED, BECAUSE THEY HEAR THE BAD THINGS. I BELIVE YOU CAN TRAIN ANY DOG TO BE MEAN AND AGGRESSIVE. ITS ALL ABOUT HOW THEY ATE BROUGHT UP. TAKE CARE ROZ AND THANK YOU FOR YOU RESPONSES

TAKE CARE ALL

FLECK :bouncy:

[Roz]

I have seen Poodles in the wrong hands turn into vicious dogs. Yes, Pit Bulls are more aggressive, due to their breeding. But even a little Teacup Poodle can be downright vicious, when with the wrong people. The problem is that people don't take little dogs seriously, and the Pit Bull is a dog big and strong enough to do serious harm, especially to a child. If the Pit Bull only weighed 5 lbs. no one would care that they were "mean." Funny how that is, hm?

Take care, AJ.

[abfleck]

I have seen Poodles in the wrong hands turn into vicious dogs. Yes, Pit Bulls are more aggressive, due to their breeding. But even a little Teacup Poodle can be downright vicious, when with the wrong people. The problem is that people don't take little dogs seriously, and the Pit Bull is a dog big and strong enough to do serious harm, especially to a child. If the Pit Bull only weighed 5 lbs. no one would care that they were "mean." Funny how that is, hm?

Take care, AJ.


I AGREE

FLECK :bouncy:

[Kayl]

The Pit Bull is the latest "bad dog" in the media. It used to be Chows, Dobermans, Rotties, German Shepherds, St. Bernards....*grumbles* The problem is that the media latches onto any story that they can say a Pit Bull "attacked" or "ravaged" or "some other sensational word" a human. There have been mixes that have been called Pit Bulls in the papers that have no Pit Bull in them and don't even look like a pit. If a dog vaguely resembles a pit bull, it's a pit bull as far as the media is concerned. They also never print stories where pits saved people, or if they do they don't print the breed. The Pit Bull is a dog that is very eager to please--so a pit in the hands of a person who encourages him to attack humans will attack humans. A pit who has been bred from a bad line will have aggression problems. The idiot gang members and teenagers/young guys who want a big tough dog do things to the dogs to make them mean, especially once they find out that pits are by nature sweet to humans. They had to be--in the original breeding programs, any fighting dog who bit a human was shot. They had to be handled by strangers, and they had to be able to be handled even in the middle of a fight. Not to mention they were family pets. But nowadays, the news says things like "To train a fighting dog, all they have to do is get a kitten or a puppy and get the dog to attack it" or some other rubbish like that, and the people who want a violent dog and don't know the first thing about training follow the instructions (it's called a self fulfilling prophecy).

I actually got into a bit of an argument with a friend about pits vs other dogs being aggressive because she half believes the tripe that's spread and used my collie as an example. Taffy is a sweetheart, very submissive and wouldn't hurt a fly--now. If someone had gotten her as a pup and hurt her and encouraged her to fight and bite, she would have been vicious because her nervousness would have turned into fear biting.

[/rant]

Sorry...have a bit of a thing about the medias stance on pits--and PETA as well! The "animals are people and we should love and cherish every single one of them" organization printed a letter or editorial or something about how all Pit Bulls should be destroyed. Stupid people...

Anyway, hopefully we'll get through this pit bull ban thing, like we did with the other breeds. Then some other hapless breed who is bred irresponsibly and treated badly can get breed-specific legislation against it. Maybe the Golden Retriever, or the Lab or the German Shepherd. They bite more than pits do.

[abfleck]

The Pit Bull is the latest "bad dog" in the media. It used to be Chows, Dobermans, Rotties, German Shepherds, St. Bernards....*grumbles* The problem is that the media latches onto any story that they can say a Pit Bull "attacked" or "ravaged" or "some other sensational word" a human. There have been mixes that have been called Pit Bulls in the papers that have no Pit Bull in them and don't even look like a pit. If a dog vaguely resembles a pit bull, it's a pit bull as far as the media is concerned. They also never print stories where pits saved people, or if they do they don't print the breed. The Pit Bull is a dog that is very eager to please--so a pit in the hands of a person who encourages him to attack humans will attack humans. A pit who has been bred from a bad line will have aggression problems. The idiot gang members and teenagers/young guys who want a big tough dog do things to the dogs to make them mean, especially once they find out that pits are by nature sweet to humans. They had to be--in the original breeding programs, any fighting dog who bit a human was shot. They had to be handled by strangers, and they had to be able to be handled even in the middle of a fight. Not to mention they were family pets. But nowadays, the news says things like "To train a fighting dog, all they have to do is get a kitten or a puppy and get the dog to attack it" or some other rubbish like that, and the people who want a violent dog and don't know the first thing about training follow the instructions (it's called a self fulfilling prophecy).

I actually got into a bit of an argument with a friend about pits vs other dogs being aggressive because she half believes the tripe that's spread and used my collie as an example. Taffy is a sweetheart, very submissive and wouldn't hurt a fly--now. If someone had gotten her as a pup and hurt her and encouraged her to fight and bite, she would have been vicious because her nervousness would have turned into fear biting.

[/rant]

Sorry...have a bit of a thing about the medias stance on pits--and PETA as well! The "animals are people and we should love and cherish every single one of them" organization printed a letter or editorial or something about how all Pit Bulls should be destroyed. Stupid people...

Anyway, hopefully we'll get through this pit bull ban thing, like we did with the other breeds. Then some other hapless breed who is bred irresponsibly and treated badly can get breed-specific legislation against it. Maybe the Golden Retriever, or the Lab or the German Shepherd. They bite more than pits do.

THANKS FOR THE GREAT ARTICLE ON PIT BULLS. I HAVE TO AGREE 100% WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE SAID IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE.

[Kayl]

You're welcome, and I'm glad you agree. It irritates me beyond belief how people think of pits, rotties, and dobes as a breed, without realizing that it's the individual dogs that are the problem, and it's the owners who are at fault. I mean, Aussie's best friend is a Pit Bull named Cash! We joke about it. We've got the dangerous mutts--a pit bull and a dingo. ^_^

[Roz]

Taffy is a sweetheart, very submissive and wouldn't hurt a fly--now. If someone had gotten her as a pup and hurt her and encouraged her to fight and bite, she would have been vicious because her nervousness would have turned into fear biting.

You're so right. And to an untrained eye, fear biters can seem every bit the "vicious killer," which can be a serious problem...for both the dog and the people involved. Fear biting Pit Bulls have it worse...

[Cat Cavy]

Hi, just piping up to agree.

It's the same here in Norway too. Every time there is a story on a biting dog, the breed gets focused. Currently, I think Pit bull terriers, and American Staffordshire terriers are actually banned here (you're allowed to keep the ones you have, but not breed or import new ones). (If I'm wrong about the ban - I hope someone will correct me...). Wrong or right, it's the individual owners, not the breed that are the problem. We had a Golden Retriever when I was young, she was the sweetest thing, so meek and gentle, but (at that time) they were on the top of the biting-statistics. Because people won't leave them alone! I think Amstaffs are lovely, and the most beautiful dog (looks and personality!) I've ever seen was a cross between a dingo and a blue heeler (Australia). Now that was a Dog with a capital D.

There was a case a couple of years ago here when a boy was bitten to death by Alaskan Malamutes (or was it Siberian Huskies?). He had been afraid of the dogs for a long time, and the owner had been reported to the police many times because the dogs got loose and would hunt him down on his way from school (imagine how horrible that must be). Well, all the dogs were shot after a pack (not all) of them killed him, and a lot of focus was put on these breeds being dangerous, and hardly any on this idiot woman not taking care of her many dozen dogs. And the solution to the problem is to ban some other breeds of dog? It doesn't make sense.

If the reaction is to pass laws, then it should be that you should have a licence to get a dog, compulsory training/education etc.. People who are serious about their dogs should have no trouble getting the licence, and people who are not able to comply, are the ones who shouldn't have dogs, right?

Take care, everyone. Give them a pat from me...

Cat

[crackerbun37]

Hello, I am new to the board. I recently got a pit bull puppy as a gift for my kids. Since then every time I tell someone about our new family member, they automatically respond with nothing but awful stories about the breed. My puppy's name is Bella. She shows no signs of aggression, however she is only 6 weeks. She seems to act just like any normal puppy and is responding to basic comands. I have been getting worried though about the stories Im hearing about how pit bulls can be loving as all but sometimes they just "snap" for no reason and attack people out of the blue, even their owners. I am getting tired of trying to argue my point about how it depends how they are raised, when I am only getting countered with "that doesnt matter, they just "turn" for no reason". I have heard so many negative things about them that I am seruiously thinking about finding her another home, but with all this negative publicity, who would want her?I dont have the heart to take her to a shelter.Im really just concerned with the "what if..."Any and all replies would be consoling. Thanks.

[Cat Cavy]

Is there a dog-owners' club that you can join? In this country there are courses that you and the dog can take together, so that you get a start on the training. Both experienced and new owners do this with young dogs, and even older. It's a good way to share experience and train the dog to be with other dogs and most importantly other people.

If turning on its owner is true, then I've heard that about Dobermann pinschers, Collies (the Lassie-type), and I suppose anything with a brain can get mentally disturbed... I had a guinea pig that suddenly started biting me for no reason, later I learned she probably had cysts that caused hormonal problems. I would not take her to a shelter, you don't know where she'll end up, and she's probabbly better off with you as a concerned owner.

But: I'm taking it that even if she was a gift for the kids, you are planning to take responsibility yourself. Learn everything you can from experienced owners, books, pit-bull clubs etc.

Good luck with her!

Big pat from Cat

[Kayl]

Crackerbun37, first let me say congratulations for the new addition to your family.

Seondly, let me say that those people had no idea what they were talking about. They were parroting back what the media tells, and the media has it in for pit bulls.

Thirdly, there are two reasons I can think of that a dog would "snap" and bite for no reason. One is Rage Syndrome--pits do not have that. Cockers are prone to it and a few other breeds, but not pits. Second is if the dog develops a tumor that is pressing on the wrong part of the brain. This is another unlikely scenerio. And third is rabies--another unlikely incident.

Now, the reasons a pit might bite: if you don't establish your dominance and the dog does. At that point, the dog may snap or bite if you "contest" his dominance, to put you in your place.

The main reason for dog bites is when children are not properly supervised, with any dog, not just pits, and the dog's prey instinct kicks in and they start chasing the kids. Kids have high pitched voices and quick and unpredictable movements, just like a dog's normal prey, and they react. It's not with malice, it's just instinct and not a reason to get rid of the dog. So supervise your kids and teach your dog to respect your kids. Have them help with training. You didn't say how old they are, but even a toddler can tell a dog to sit and give it a treat.

They also may bite if you let them become food or object aggressive, so get your dog used to people putting their hand in her dish before she gets old enough to become protective and don't let your kids bother her when she's eating.

All of what I've said applies to all dogs, not just pits. The reason people are "scared" of pits is because the media has villified them. Yes, pits do more damage than a Toy Poodle when they decide to bite someone. Their jaws are stronger--no they do not lock like some people like to say--and their mouths are bigger. But a Pomeranian killed someone, so it's not just the big dogs. And a German Shepherd or Belguin Malinois can do as much damage. Yes they were developed as fighting dogs. So were bulldogs. What's not commonly told is that fighting dogs were bred to have no human aggression whatsoever or they were killed, even if they bit in the middle of a fight. Pits bite humans when they've been abused by humans, or when they've simply been taught no manners.

Pit Bulls have an inbred need to please their owners. If their owner gives the impression that they should be aggressive to people, they will be aggressive to people. To prevent that, socialize her, socialize her, socialize her!!! It can not be stressed enough. Take her everywhere. Take her to the petstore, take her to the park, take her to the supermarket and walk her around. Have strange people give her treats--men with beards, people wearing hats and weird coats. Expose her to as much as you can think of as a puppy. And take her to the vet's office just to hang with treats so she associates it with good things--that'll be a help. If someone in your family is a hunter, read up on how hunting dogs are desensitized to guns and do it with her. Get her used to vacuums, car rides, bicycles, everything. Have fun with her. And enroll her in an obediance class that is used to pit bulls. If they're not used to pit bulls, the trainer may not react well. The trainer I used with my ACD had a pit bull, so they're around.

Have fun with your dog, and don't let people's comments turn you off. Pits have been used as service dogs, Search and Rescue dogs, therapy dogs. They scored higher on the national temperment test than Goldens or Labs. They were the fourth highest. Petey from Little Rascals was a pit. The first war dog was a pit. Pits are great. They're smart, they want to please, and you don't need to beat them to teach them something. That will lead to a dog that bites.

Another piece of advice--if it hasn't been done yet, don't get her ears cropped. Floppy eared pits tend to have a better time than cropped ears. Crop ears look more intimidating, but do you really want her to look intimidating? She looks intimidating enough if she gets riled.

Good luck with your pup! You have plenty of people on this board rooting for you--most of us love pits.

[AngelThatKillz]

ANYONE THAT HAVE PIT BULLS HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANYS AND GETTING COVERAGE FOR THE LIABILTY.....JUST IN CASE YOUR DOG BITES AND YOU GET SUED? MY INSURANCE COMPANY SEEMED TO BE COOL. I JUST CALLED THEM TODAY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS COVERED. WHAT A RELIEF :angel6:

TAKE CARE ALL

FLECK



http://www.petinsurance.com/

Pet Insurance that covers ANY pet including exotics such as rats, snakes, mice, chins, gerbils, etc. And EVERY licensed vet accepts it. You can either sign up on the site or call.

[MNDsunflower09]

where the heck did you get that info?

[Kayl]

Whoops... :eek:

Sorry--I didn't write that clearly enough. GSDs and Mals are *not* bred for fighting. I should have started a new paragraph, I think.

Apologies guys.

[Spudnik]

:eek:

Kayl, where have you been?! Welcome back :D

[Kayl]

Thanks Spudnik! Gee, I didn't think anybody would remember me. :o As for where, well...life gets busy.

[K9BOB]

One comment I like to make as a previous Pit owner and professional trainer is that pits have a bad rap for 3 resaons.

I think the most important is that when they become aggressive they are more likely to do more damage than most breeds so when they either are bred/trained to bite or are not properly managed/trained not to bite the spot light on the issue is quite brighter than most breeds on this particular issue.

As we know any breed can be trained or promoted to bite and any owner can fail to provide proper management or training a dog that it is not to bite...

So logically there is a understandable concern and bias especially when it comes to making bussiness decisions from a shareholder or profit aspect in running a comapny who's job it is to try and profile any data point that might be considered high risk...

I have trained some of the most gentle Pits you would never believe and I have trained some of the nastiest golden retrievers you would never want to come into contact with......

Good posts

Good day!

k9Bob

[Spudnik]

Thanks Spudnik! Gee, I didn't think anybody would remember me. :o As for where, well...life gets busy.

I got so excited when I was looking over the forum index and saw your name :o :p

Stick around or else! :cop: