I own a Pit Bull and my last dog was a Pit Bull. Both were/are excellent pets- loyal, smart, loving, and neither were aggressive toward people. They were both under voice command and well behaved in public. We are kinda of Yuppies so it is often a surprise to people that we own a Pit Bull. In fact many people comment on what a beautiful, sweet dog she is and when they ask what she is are surprised to learn her breed. Because I realize that people are afraid of the breed--when I walk Zoey I make her sit off the sidewalk when people pass including people with other dogs. Passing dogs may lunge or bark but she sits quietly waiting. I had to stop going to dog parks because she was often harrassed by smaller dogs whose owners allow them to bite and nip---she never bit back...I would call Zoey back and she would sit beside me- I have also been bitten by little dogs trying to get to Zoey. One man even got mad at me saying that Pit Bulls should not be allowed at the park because they invoke aggressiveness...When I reminded him that it was his Jack Russell biting my dog and my leg he continued to rant about Pit Bulls. Any dog- Pit Bull and little dogs included- that shows aggressiveness toward humans and/or other living things regardless of the amount of damage should be put down. It should not be breed specific. As a child I was bitten several times by a neighbors dog (a black lab who was allowed to roam free). My parents complained to them and the police several times but nothing was done. When the dog came into our yard and bit my brother on the face drawing blood from his lip- my father shot it and brought it back to the owners. I do admit that there are a lot of strange people who get Pit Bulls for fighting or bragging rights-animal welfare groups are trying to weed these people out before they adopt. My heart goes out to people injured by any dog due to poor socialization and/or irresponsible owners. In the end it is the owners responsibility to supervise the pet...as wonderful as Zoey is I would never leave her alone with a child of any age that she does not know or play unsupervised with another dog and I would put her down if she ever showed aggression toward a human.

You know my last dog looked EXACTLY like yours save mine had a mask. You can not tell what your pup is right now, too young. By the time my dog was a year old he looked completely different from when he was younger....wait a bit, you will see. By the time my pup was 6 months he had a fluffier tail. Husky and started growing and would not stop - Bull mastiff. Those at the shelter said he was shepherd mix...was not even close. My friends dog was labelled a pit and malinois mix, she was malinois but she also part boxer not pit. I was watching her play one day - she used her front paws for everything and had that great underbite. My friend was stunned and saw exactly what I saw - sometimes behavior will help you figure out lineage. Kudos to you for adopting a mixed breed, Good luck

People bred the pit to be aggressive and now people are upset that they bite. Until laws get passed against the PEOPLE who breed and misuse them nothing will change. If pits are outlawed the idiots will find another big dog to make aggressive. Some people just love the idea of having a big dangerous dog and some sick people get off on watching them fight. I have rescued and euthanized 3 dogs for aggression. Two were pit bulls, one was a German shepherd and all had been abused. Two other equally abused German shepherds are the world's sweetest dogs and my pit girls are dolls. Every dog is different and you just can't lump them together by breed, which is what BSL does. They need to be evaluated as individuals and aggressive dogs do need to be removed and even that gets into that slippery slope of taking away our rights. Izzie, no dog attacks out of the blue. People may not know what the trigger is and we can't ask the dog. I use an animal communicator, something most people scorn. But something made that collie bite the little boy. What a pity it cost so dearly in harm to a child and death for a dog. livvysmom, if you or your children has a friend with one of the breeds who has been known to be aggressive and they do not keep the dog far from the children you should not go there. They are not being responsible and your child is not safe. I KNOW my dogs will not bite. When a child comes over they are not allowed near the child with the exception of 3 of my dogs who I know adore children and then only with supervision. My son was raised with my Dobermans, German shepherds and rescue dogs without incident, but not everyone is so fortunate. By the way, the worst bites I've gotten have been from those yappy little toy dogs. My Shih tzu/Yorkie is the most aggressive dog I've ever owned. Fortunately at only 12 pounds she doesn't do much damage and the big dogs just think she's funny.

My much loved brother is blind to the fact that he has a dangerous dog. He's blinded by how much he loves it, and refuses to see how frightening it is. Ziggy has bitten his mother in law, who required surgery afterwards. No one else has been injured simply because no one will visit. It's a rottie. He's been untrainable and isn't even allowed at the vet any more. On the other side, I had a friend who had a gentle giant of a Rottie. My biggest problem witb him was all of the slobber, lol. One day, Thor was standing at the back patio door and whining, every muscle at alert. Steve went to see what he was upset about...he lived in a rural location and who knows what could be out there! It was a kitten. It was on the porch, rubbing back and forth on the glass right where Thor was standing! Steve opened the door and that kitten ran in and that was that! Thor adopted the kitten right then and there....or was it vice versa? Anyway, those two were inseperable from then on. That cat even went on walks with them, scampering all over the place, teasing the dog because it was on a leash and couldn't chase him. You should have seen them sleep together.