Originally Posted by
bmclaughlin807
The problem is that with breeds like pit bulls, rottweillers, etc... when they go bad they go REALLY bad... those jaws can do a HUGE amount of damage...
I used to have a rottie... sweetest, gentlest dog you've ever seen... but I'd have never wanted to see what he'd do to someone that came after me or my wife.
There is nothing different about Pit Bull jaws as opposed to any other breed with a similar sized mouth. Dogs rarely "go bad" but it does happen. For example, there are some lines of Cocker Spaniels that have a genetic predisposition for a rage disorder. This, of course, is something responsible breeders breed away from.
But the vast majority of canine human-aggression is derived from poor breeding practices and poor socialization/training. Sometimes this is intentional, other times it's out of ignorance or laziness. Not that any of that makes a human-aggressive dog any more acceptable.
And there is a huge difference between the protective instinct and genuine human-aggression. Breeds bred for protection are a far cry from breeds bred intentionally for aggression.