Pit Bulls Are Popular in LA

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed)
Aug 14th 2006 at 6:01PM

Vogue may have picked the Dandie Dinmont Terrier as the top dog for the summer, but celebrities and celeb-wannabes in Los Angeles all seem to be picking up Pit Bulls instead. Jamie Foxx has two and one even has a staring role on the TV show Veronica Mars. The dogs are being welcomed with open arms by the dog-loving community in the city, and registrations have doubled in the past few years. But unlike the toy dogs that can be simply tucked away in a bag if they misbehave, pit bulls require excellent training and many precautions in their care before they make safe pets - and hopefully the trendy pooch lovers will keep this in mind before getting their own.

Tags: breed, dog, dog breed, dogs, la, los angeles, pet, pit bull, PitBull, trend, trendy

Filed under: Pets, Celebrity Shopping

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

max Aug 14th 2006 7:32PM

Lets just hope the trendy pooch lovers visit their local animal shelter before buying an expensive puppy. I know that over 70% of the dogs in the North Hollywood shelter are either pure or mix of pitbull.

Rebecca Aug 14th 2006 8:00PM

I agree about the shelters, but I also hope that this doesn't entice more people to run out and get one just because it is the "cool" thing to do. This happens way too much, and "pit bulls" don't really need any more irresponsible and ignorant owners! I am always glad to read positive stories about the breed, but hate to see them publicized as a trendy status symbol. It is bad enough that Chihuahuas and Maltese are acquired by those who want a doggie fashion accessry.

Jennyjenny Aug 14th 2006 9:14PM

Pit bulls can make EXCELLENT pets and family MEMBERS. It's all in the upbringing and training. Check out "Pit Bull Rescue Central" before buying any pit bull! It's an excellent virtual rescue center.

olivia Aug 14th 2006 11:39PM

This is a reply to person that thinks these animals make wonderful pets if trained properly. Perhaps so....but there sure are a lot of horror stories about this breed. I think they are dangerous, especially for children.

Semone Aug 15th 2006 12:53AM

Im sure the papparazi loves that!

Linda-Marie Tisdail Aug 15th 2006 1:12AM

I have a full pit and a half pit/half French Mastiff. They are both wonderful, loving dogs and I can't imagine having another pooch that would love us as much. But, we keep an eye on them at all times when they're around someone new or around ANY kids. Even the ones in the neighborhood they swim and play with. As much as I love my two dogs, I also know what they may be capable of. I trust them, but I keep my eye on them...

Kurt Aug 15th 2006 1:38AM

This bred is dangerous. I have a Pit and he can not be trusted around small children. I believe it's a natural behavior in the bred, to be dominate IF the leader is away. I love my dog but NEVER leave him alone with children under 10 or 12. The small one's are the one's he doesn't care for. BUT it you own one then you taking in the chance that he'll bite and you should make ever consideration to prevent this from happening. The same goes for ALL dogs are they ALL can bote and will bite. It's the owners responsibility to make sure that IF the animal is around people that he assumes the responsibility of getting sued. Take care and nothing will come. Be irresponsibil and you get what you had coming

Lori Murray Aug 15th 2006 1:43AM

I live in Arlington Hts., IL and our local paper has been running a story for the past 3 days about a home of 3 pit bulls that went on a rampage in their neighborhood after an 11 yr old boy and his 10 yr old female friend knocked on the owners door selling cookies and wrapping paper. The 3 pits completely mauled the young boy who is in his second yr of surgeries and rehab to repair his wounds, severely wounded the young girl, attacked their owner who was trying to subdue them, and attacked the boys father and another neighbor who was hitting them with a baseball bat trying to stop the attack. All three dogs were finally killed by police after almost a solid hour of attacking people. They were known as good dogs in the neighborhood and the young boy they almost killed had known them and played with them for nearly 2 years before the attack. The mother pit - named "Good Girl" started the attack completely unprovoked except for the knock on the door - the other dogs immediately "packed" with her and joined in the attack.

This is a prime example of how the most friendly and loving pit bull can become a killing machine at the slightest provocation

I have owned dogs all of my life from purebreed to mutts and i would NEVER allow a pit bull to be in my home or around my children. I can only hope the never ending stories of pit bull abuse and novel ownership can be halted by the responsible ownership of pet lovers who can comprehend the danger involved in these animals. No human being should have to endure such attacks - and no dogs should have to be slaughtered in their own yards because they should not be living in our family communities.

Celly Aug 15th 2006 4:13AM

I have a full blooded female pit bull and have had her since she was a puppy, and I have never had one single problem with her. She has never bitten anyone and is completely friendly around anyone who wants2pet her or play with her. It all depends on the upbringing of the dog and also I think that the blood line has a little something to do with it also. The breed Pit Bull should not be completely labeled as a dangerous breed because not every pit bull is like thew stereotypical "dangerous pit". Oh, and for someone to say that everyone wants the dogs now in LA and that they are a trend, this is not true. Look all throughout South Central LA and surrounding areas, the dogs have been a favorite along with Rotweilers and K9's for MANY MANY MANY years.

Marena Aug 15th 2006 5:34AM

I was discusing Pit Bulls with my husband last night. They are fascinating and beautiful....but I don't think I would want to adopt one. I wouldn't feel safe. I'm not sure when it would go off.

Gnom Aug 15th 2006 7:11AM

Pit bulls is favorite to me

cag Aug 15th 2006 10:49AM

No one should ever own a dog that they're not comfortable with. On the same token, we shouldn't stereotype dogs using the sound bites we hear from the media. I'm careful with all of my dogs, not just my pit. I also have a Border Collie, an Australian Shepherd, and a Parson Russell. Responsible ownership is key.

Great info on pits: http://www.badrap.org/rescue/myths.cfm

Pit attacks are no more common than those of Goldens, but Goldens don't make for good TV. From the BAD RAP site:

"Aren't (American) Pit Bulls MEAN and VICIOUS?

No more vicious than golden retrievers, beagles or other popular dogs! In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATT), pit bulls achieved a passing rate of 83.9%. That's as good or better than beagles ... 78.2%, and golden retrievers ... 83.2%. How did your favorite breed do? See the 2005 report here: http://www.atts.org/statistics.html ". Chows, Doxies, Spaniels, Lhasas all had lower scores because they bit more often in the ATT tests.

Kelly Aug 17th 2006 10:05AM

Well this is a good way to get the breed banned. They are not nice dogs who are unpredictable and vicious.

cag Aug 17th 2006 2:15PM

Kelly,

Check the post above yours for important information. It's worth a read and might change your opinion.

cag

Curtis Aug 17th 2006 2:45PM

Linda Marie- if you "trust them but keep your eye on them", you're lying about trusting them.

Linda-Marie Tisdail Aug 18th 2006 12:37PM

Curtis,

I'm not lying about trusting them...I'm being careful. Isn't that what this whole thread is about, trusting your dog? I trust that my pitbull will hide under the covers when someone breaks into my house because she's done that before. I trust that my mix pit/mastiff will bark at anyone running by the house but will wag her tail so much she falls over when ANYONE comes to the door because she always does this. I trust that my two dogs will bark furiously at the trees when the wind blows and then run into the back room if we try to let them out to see what's bothering them. I trust that both my dogs will run out of the house and down the street to the neighbor's to steal a ball and play with it because that's what they always do. I have never left them alone with a baby, because you should never leave a baby alone with any dog. Why not? Because I don't know what they'd do. Do I think they would bite the baby? NO, but do I want to find out? NO. If a small child were to wander into our yard, would they bite the child? Probably not, but do I really want to find out? NO!! I guarantee you if that child had food or any kind of toy, they would both go after the toy before they ever went after any food. Do I trust them to not take off a hand while grabbing for the toy? No, because I've seen them go after toys before. So you ask, do I trust them? Yes. Do I keep an eye on them around kids? Yes. So, does that make me a liar? I trust my dogs more than the Chihuahuas in Orange County that attacked a Police Officer's ankles and bit him more than 30 times...

stacey Sep 2nd 2006 1:02PM

i own a full blooded male pitbull. he is the best dog i ever owned. i have a 22 month old grandbaby he has never as much as looked at her wrong. he is very gentle around her,amazing isn't it? so to all the pitbull haters until you've owned one you shouldn't pass any judgement. no one talks about all the little dogs that attack people, it's only the pitts you hear about. people always have to complain about something.i will never own anything but a pitt.

show cars Sep 22nd 2006 4:35AM

Pitbulls are great dogs, but I own a FANTASTIC rottweiler. This dog is amazing. It act like a very cute kid.

I had dogs since I was 6 years old, but this is the best dog which a man can have.