I have nothing against pit bulls, I just don't think they are very attractive

If you are looking for a dog though to adopt they are usually many of the options available. That and chihuahua-terrier mixes.

Ocala, Florida - Pet Adoption. The Humane Society of Marion County has dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens to adopt.

I am very relieved that I have not been accused of dog bigotry.

Look at this discussion, we form opinions about things based on what we know, what we read and our fears.

We are all just people. Most of us with good sense and kind hearts. I prefer people who like dogs and cats, and I like them all generally, if they behave.

But I have opinions about things, based on my experience and watching Wesh2 news every night.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...Ho08lkkBT-l5uI

It does seem a reasonable general fear. My guard is up until I learn about the dog and how much control its owner has over it.

So now people who voice their experience-based preference for gentler breeds are stereotyped and branded as dog 'racists' with their 'victims' being innocent pit bulls.

News Flash: Dogs don't suffer emotional degradation from racial minority defamation. They do, however, keenly learn and respond to the handling and training, or abuse and neglect, they are given.

But now we are seeing humans defending them as victims of 'systemic racism' just like they defended the 'innocent' racial minority guy in Ferguson who attacked a convenience store owner to steal, and then got shot for diving in thru the police car window to grab the officer's weapon from him.

The thinking and priorities are appalling.

Where, pray tell, has anyone here been accused of being racist for not liking a particular breed? I used to judge dogs in confirmation, mainly sight hounds, but occasionally fill in for other judges. I had a cocker bite me. I had several chihuahuas snap at me. I had a mastiff slobber all over me. I had a Rottweiler poop on my foot. I had a poodle barf on my clothes. I had an American Staffordshire Terrier try to lick me to death. Happiest dang dog I ever met in the ring.

I made it a rule that the handler had to hold the dog's mouth for certain breeds, including Rotties, pit bulls, chihuahuas, mastiffs, cockers and certain dogs just because. It wasn't prejudice. It was common sense.

Showing a healthy respect for a dog you don't know is wise. Being afraid simply because of the breed of the dog is, in my opinion, sad. Dogs are as loving as they are bred and raised to be.

A true concern is any dog that is genetically inclined to be protective of its pack. They will attack if they think their family is in danger. Another concern are hunting dogs, especially coursers. They will bolt and chase a running child, small dog, rabbit, etc. These two types of dogs need to be carefully trained and handled.

Thanks again for this reasonable post.

My first pit bull encounter was watching the Little Rascals with Petie..... Here's his training film:

Petie rare Training film, Little Rascals' Pete the Pup, Our Gang - YouTube

I never met a dog I did not like unless it had an ignorant, evil or careless owner.

Pete the Pup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now was the ring around the eye real or not????

I see a corollary. We all prejudge dogs and people. Even if we try not to. And maybe it is harmless and keeps us safe.

It seems to be part of our survivor mode more instinct than thought.

The chihuahua across from the Carroll family in Reno, Nevada colored how I re-act to that breed. I had to go past the dog to walk or bike to Earl Wooster High School. I was within two miles or so and just within the border like that I could not take the bus but a neighborhood 1500 feet away or so was far away that its kids got the bus.

There was another Reno neighbor with a German Shepard that was very protective of its family so I always tried to avoid it. But there have been some quite nice German Shepards at Doggie Doo Run Run over the years. Jake, Heidi, Titan, etc.

If I visit Nevada-California again, I will have to see what the pit bulls my nieces have are like. I do hope they look intimidating as Nevada can be a lot rougher than the Villages.

With people I try to judge by the individual rather than what they look like or what they do or did for a living. I remember driving into a bad part of Los Angeles though in 1984 and my first thought was get me outta here God please I will not go seeing where some road goes for the fun of it again.

I'm going to guess that the Target pit bull's eye ring is not real.[emoji6]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...b8f9247d78.jpg

I heard that he is allowed to use either bathroom.