Yeah, I know someone who has a pitbull who is the sweetest most patient dog ever. This dog will let several toddlers play with her somewhat roughly (they're not so good at remembering "be gentle" yet), and she doesn't seem to mind at all. A few weeks ago, one of the toddlers stuck her fingers up the dog's butt (no idea what she thought she was doing), and the dog looked rather startled, but didn't even snap at her.

A few weeks ago, one of the toddlers stuck her fingers up the dog's butt (no idea what she thought she was doing), and the dog looked rather startled, but didn't even snap at her.

Yeowch.

That list is really disturbing.

There have also been articles about how dog attacks are sometimes misrepresented as pit bull attacks, even when they're other breeds.

My understanding is that "pitt bull" is a pretty fuzzy breed to begin with, so it wouldn't surprise me if mutts who bite people are frequently identified as pitts regardless of actual parentage.

This is an article I read.

[link]

Breed misidentification plays a significant role in the stigma attached to pit bulls. It’s difficult even for experts to properly identify a breed of dog. A study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science ($$) found that “87.5% of the dogs identified by an adoption agency as having specific breeds in their ancestry did not have all of those breeds detected by DNA analysis.”

That problem is compounded by media sensationalism. Karen Delise studied every fatal dog bite reported in the years between 2002-2005, and found that “eleven dogs involved in fatal attacks with no Pitbull characteristics were counted as Pitbulls, while their ‘true’ breeds were not reported, and three dogs that were clearly not Rottweilers were identified as Rottweilers.”

I finally caught up on Scandal. The very end has me on board for next season, I think, that was good.

I am losing my zen with my job, a little bit, in that I seem to be feeling responsible about whether there will be enough inventory for July orders. I don't know if I will even still be there in July, I should not be responsible for anything!

But one pair of my new glasses came in and they are cute AND I can see more clearly, so the day is ending up pretty good, all things considered.

Isn't the Little Rascals' dog a pit?

Isn't the Little Rascals' dog a pit?

Yep.

Also, I spent some time in the vet's waiting room with a Presa Canario who was the most scared dog I've ever seen. Enormous, and kind of terrifying looking, until you looked at how she was trying to hide behind her mom's legs. I can see where dogs with bad reputations get into trouble because of other people acting badly.

"Shoot, if we'd known we could have put in your lunch order with ours!". Seriously: hugs.

Wow, that's pretty awesome! Yay.

I do not have an opinion on dogs, other than I like smallish to medium sized ones best. Big ones are freaky to me, and take up too much space. But tiny ones are also freaky. Chihuahuas and super tiny Yorkies freak me out.

HOWEVER, it is KITTEN SEASON. And the Humane Society sent out a long list of sets of kittens they have or are getting in who need fostering for a couple weeks (until they're old enough to adopt out). I emailed back, and i really hope they pick me, pick me! I WANT KITTENS!!!

I believe dogs are individuals and that nurture is much stronger than nature. I've known pitbulls who are the sweetest, dumbest goofballs, and rotties who will rest all their weight on you if given a pet because that's how they melt with love. I've met kind German Shepherds and mean viscious ones. I'll always approach a new strange dog with respect and the back of my hand for sniffs, but I've had too many people react in fear to our boxers with fear to take that seriously. They might love you to death if you're a foot and half tall by accident.

And I will never ever ever own a dog, because I believe that they need a lot of attention and love as pack animals, which I can't give. Even at my parents, where the dog gets the run of an entire state park, he still needs interaction that even they, with my mother retired, can't give. Also, dogs smell funny.