BSL is totally awesome and makes a ton of sense...

[bloatedsack]

When I had my pitbull I was asked if he should go on vet records as an American Pitbull Terrier or if he should be marked as an American Staffordshire Terrier. Same dog, different but for "breed standards," the AKC won't register pitbulls but will happily register them as AmStaffs.

Anyways, the funny thing is that pitbulls are genetically dispositioned to be human friendly, and in fact were the first breed with detailed lineage records (for fighters) and cullign in the case of dogs that were human aggressive. It's an easily defended position, too, for people who refuse to acknowledge it: Pitbulls were bred as dog fighters (from bull-baiting dogs, where the idea of bull breeds comes). Anyways, in teh case of a dog fight, two breeders bring their dogs together, swap dogs to make sure there's no hidden tricks, then put their two animals in the ring where they fight.

When it's time to stop a fight, the owners would step into a ring. The dogs were trained to never bite the handlers, and any pitbull that showed signs of human aggression were culled. You didn't step into a dog pit with two unrestrained killers, that would make no sense. What pitbulls do have is called "gameness," the willing desire to do what they want to do 'til they physically can't anymore, and a prey drive that does push them to attack smaller animals, but simply not humans.

Anyways, pitbulls have a long and distingushed track record of being wonderful family animals and a true American breed. It was only in the '80s when the urban-myth of killer dogs sprung up and people started to breed in giant, and more aggressive, breeds to APBT lines that things got weird.

Mine was the sweetest, dumbest, dog you'd ever meet. 85# of bone, muscle, and slobbery kisses. They're a surprisingly good breed maligned by shitty publicity. There are far worse dog species, many of which are kept without the stigma of aggression (just about any herding dog, small dogs, and things like Chows and Akitas).

[jrfox92]

The scariest dog moment I've had was on the way home from the bar one night on my bike a golden retriever started chasing me and kept up with me for 3 blocks trying to take a chunk out of my leg. Bet they won't be on those lists.

Had the exact same experience when I was a kid which led me to be fairly skittish around dogs in general.
I think the nicest dog I've ever dealt with was a friend's Rottweiler who was an aggressive fucker, but even the aggression was out of love for humans.

[D.o.S.]

I'd say that the pitbull thing, unfortunately, is a byproduct of the owners who tend to gravitate toward owning stereotypically 'aggressive' dogs.

[Iommic Pope]

Those dicks are certainly out there in abundance but perhaps screen for assholes as opposed to kill a whole breed?

[D.o.S.]

Unless you mean kill all the assholes.

[Iommic Pope]

Ok I do actually mean that.

[D.o.S.]

All for it.

But yes, I agree with you that would be a significantly better method. It is also too nuanced to work as a government project, sadly.

[Iommic Pope]

Yeah it's a pity.
Carpet bomb Costco.

[Disarm D'arcy]

Should we do the same with hard tuned cars? And sports supporters?

[D.o.S.]

Hey now you're messing with my gravy train.

I do support the idea of a hooligan thunderdome though.

[Disarm D'arcy]

Should you nuke DoS's gravy train?

[D.o.S.]

[sears]

There are far worse dog species, many of which are kept without the stigma of aggression (just about any herding dog, small dogs, and things like Chows and Akitas).

go on

[bloatedsack]

go on

[Invisible Man]

Black Society Label