DogsBite Blog ::

dog bite statistics

Monday, August 4, 2008


Triggers: What Prompts a Pit Bull to Attack?

DogsBite.org - We've placed together a list of pit bull attack triggers, routine activities that launch a pit bull into a full-fledged attack. Due to selective breeding for the purposes of dogfighting1 -- pit bulls were artificially selected to attack unpredictably, to "hold on and shake,"2 and to hide warning signals before an attack -- the pit bull breed often demonstrates "hair trigger" arousal. Pit bull owners often try to blame these mundane activities on explosive pit bull aggression.3

Triggers that Prompt a Pit Bull to Attack:

being an animal control officer
being a mail carrier
being a gas worker
being a landscaper
being a police officer
being a public works employee
being in a wheelchair
being pregnant 
burrowing a blender
disciplining your dog
driving a vehicle
dropping a glass
falling down
feeding the dog
getting neutered
getting off a bus
getting the mail
getting the newspaper
handing someone a phone
hanging decorations
having a dog on your lap
having a seizure
having a smoke
hearing an argument
hearing thunder
holding a clipboard
holding a mailbag
holding a stuffed animal
hopping off a couch
jumping on a trampoline
knocking on a front door
letting your dog out
mowing your lawn
opening a car door
opening your front door
playing in your backyard
playing in your front yard
playing on a playground
playing on a swing set
reaching for your purse
remodeling your home
running from bees
saving a family from a fire
seeing a cat run up tree
seeing a dog inside a house
seeing a horse
seeing a squirrel run up tree
seeing a leashed dog
seeing an unleashed dog
sitting on a bed
sitting on your spouse's lap
showing your spouse affection
sitting in a stroller
sitting in a tire swing
sitting in a wagon
sitting on your porch
slipping on ice
smelling "baby formula"
standing in your backyard
standing in your garage
stepping on an ant pile
the act of bicycling
the act of driving
the act of gardening
the act of sex
the act of jogging
the act of sleeping
the sound of clapping
the sound of screaming
taking out the trash
walking on a beach
walking down a path
walking down a road
walking down a sidewalk
walking a snack sized dog
undergoing dialysis
unloading bags from a car
watching TV
waiting for a bus

1The abnormal behavior of "dogs bred for fighting" is well documented. Page 133 of Lockwood's "The Ethology and Epidemiology of Canine Aggression," is an excellent example.
2In the medical study, "Pit Bull Attack: Case Report and Literature," the doctors note the "hold and shake" bite style of the breed and liken a pit bull attack to a shark attack.
3We also ran across one person who said she saw a pit bull attack a plastic statue of a dog in a PetSmart.

Labels: ,


posted by   |  permalink  |  10 comments  | email  |icon subscribe  |icon comment rss 
« View Older Posts      View Newer Posts »

10 comments:

Anonymous Anonymous  |  8/04/2008 11:39 AM  |  Flag  
Point made yet again, DON'T scream and flail around a pit bull!

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=86440&catid=8

Anonymous Trigger  |  8/04/2008 6:15 PM  |  Flag  
Particularly an ADOPTED pit bull! Who knows where he came from? Think the agency told the family: By the way, a child SCREAMING can launch a pit into attack mode?

Anonymous Anonymous  |  8/04/2008 7:49 PM  |  Flag  
The response my dog has to a screaming, crying child is to come over, wagging his tail, bowing submissively, and lick, lick, licking the upset and crying child until the child stops crying or starts laughing...whichever comes first.

But then my dog is not a pit bull.....

Anonymous Anonymous  |  8/05/2008 5:14 AM  |  Flag  
Thats one confused Nanny Dog!...The nutters are probably rationalizing that the dog was trying to get the ants off the child.

Let's hope the adopting agency carefully evaluates this placement.

Anonymous Mrs.Poodle  |  8/05/2008 8:32 AM  |  Flag  
There is only one reason and that is a gene that causes a defect in the brain which expresses itself in aggressive behavior and the inability to control this behavior. It's not how you raise them, it's not what you do or don't do, it's in their genes.

Anonymous Anonymous  |  8/06/2008 5:52 AM  |  Flag  
Add calling kids in for dinner:

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=8792832

Anonymous Anonymous  |  8/06/2008 6:05 AM  |  Flag  
Another gardening frenzy:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19894844&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

Anonymous Anonymous  |  8/07/2008 10:38 AM  |  Flag  
The list continues to increase for pit bull triggers. This time it is a man talking (talking not yelling) at his wife.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/NEWS03/743916320/-1/NEWS

Blogger vintage  |  9/25/2011 3:41 AM  |  Flag  
Add swarm of bees...

http://www.cbs8.com/story/15524392/december-trial-date-set-for-mother-and-daughter-charged-in-pit-bull-attack?redirected=true

Blogger Anne in Decatur  |  12/26/2011 10:25 PM  |  Flag  
Add being a storm door. A pit bull came up out of nowhere and started chewing at my door, it was trying to get in my house. I was so scared it was going to get in, and I had my 9 month old son with me.

Post a Comment »

archives: