90% of Dogs who KILL other Dogs are PITBULLS! (Article by Alexandra Dittmann)

 Recently someone commented on one of my Insta posts something along the lines of "Ah, only 51 pitbull caused human fatalities in 2024 - not oo bad given the millions of pitbulls out there." (?!)

(My post had stated the following facts: In 2024, there were 71 recorded dog attack fatalities in the United States, with pit bulls responsible for 51 of these deaths, accounting for approximately 71% of all fatalities caused by dogs that year; sources listed below)

WHOA. Ok, if that's "not too bad" in your opinion, then consider this:

- The numbers for pitbull-caused maulings and maimings on humans are much higher, just ask your AI of choice to give you the most recent numbers

- What about the canine, feline, equine etc. fatalities? See screenshot here below: 81% of dogs who killed other animals were pitbulls.

Now, before you comment something pro-pit on here, sit back and reflect upon those numbers, those facts and figures. Each of them involves a family who has been traumatized by the horrific loss of a loved one (human or animal), a family member.

Have YOU ever lost a friend or family member to a pitbull attack? NO? Ok then don't come to my socials and think you know better, and that you need to defend pitbulls from people like myself who merely highlight the facts. I'm not hating on the breed here, and I fully respect and support all the responsible pit owners whose dogs are true breed advocates. You know who you are.

Funny how those responsible pit owners never once victim-blame or victim-shame, but on the contrary, do their utmost to help those victims and their families by spreading gofundme-campaigns around on their socials, by making videos about what happened to those victims, and raising awareness to the fact that not everyone (and that's the understatement of the year) should own a pitbull.

Sources: https://www.animals24-7.org/2023/01/04/10-year-totals-pit-bulls-kill-81-of-pets-livestock-animals-killed-by-dogs/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI6YClleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQ0XZbinM7u4Du5FpEcVhce_pga1xOfOKOM1eUbXzOndP_lQGJqZyqeIFw_aem_o78lfmUlnKa0B_fI-Ex95A

https://www.xcaliburchiropracticpc.com/dog-attacks-by-breed-2024-dog-bite-statistics-state-fatality-data?fbclid=IwY2xjawI6YERleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYPm_KN6ZBb5L0SGxPjJwXLevcj8unoCNYvHyPlUl80o1s2GBVKQK24bcQ_aem_HQSHjyghzA5ub1b7YBTkSA

https://www.animals24-7.org/2025/01/05/record-dog-attack-death-count-in-2024-detroit-pit-bull-owner-sent-to-jail/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI6YFBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHd7dAAnugfNOvyL6vjEoxdotv4rCU8rGSEg_CkTWr427SGxczCmBKrfVCw_aem_EXNK85D2o37NFkvAZR3SRg

https://www.fatalpitbullattacks.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI6YFtleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHU8zbJD_RF0szZj8bIqiAh5ccEXLRvMxZ46Oqlt5auUk7VI-IbIPkhtSBQ_aem_wA-BdPiHUDUCkXFofb6uPg

Do NOT get a Pitbull! (Blog by Alexandra Dittmann)

 

We hear far too many stories of heartbreak and severe trauma, injury and d*ath caused by dogs of the Pitbull breed type... Only a couple of years back, I was pro-Pitbull and thought XL American Bullies were gentle giants and lovely family dogs.

Needless to say that, after all the tragedies happened in the past 2 years, I no longer think that. Also, as a dog breed consultant, I can no longer recommend any dog of the Pitbull breed spectrum to anyone.

Why take the RISK?

You want to have an affectionate, loyal canine companion? Awesome! There are appr. 360 perfectly fine registered dog breeds to choose from, so, why would YOU go for the 1 breed type that's almost guaranteed to cause you:
- risk for life & limb for yourself, your family, your friends, and the community you live in
- headaches and heartache
- stress, fear and anxiety
- PTS
- legal problems
- financial burdens
- hate, harrassment and bullying by people fed up with Pitbulls mauling people and pets
- inconvenience (such as, having to install an escape-proof fence and escape-proof windows in your house)
- trouble with your neighbors if your Pit kills their cats, etc.

Be smart - pick a nice, decent, stable and friendly dog instead!

Drastic Increase in Deaths by Pitbull (Blog by Alexandra Dittmann)

Those are some of the numbers (aka, cold, hard facts) which a certain type of supporters of the breed are eager to ignore - and to make the public believe they don't exist.

I'm not speaking about the genuinely decent person who is an amazing, responsible dog owner, loves their Pitbull-type dog, raises and trains them well, and does their utmost to keep them, and everyone around them, safe. Those dog owners deserve our respect and our support!

Instead, I'm speaking about the kind of people who'll resort to vile insults and racist comments if anyone speaks up and presents facts such as these presented right here. However, the truth will not be silenced - it speaks for itself, and it speaks loud and clear indeed. There is a staggering increase in the number of fatalities since 2013, compared to the years between 1991 and 1998. The question is, WHY? What could have caused such a drastic increase in Pitbull / Pitbull-Type / Pitbull-Mix related deaths?

"U.S. fatal pit bull attacks have surpassed 400 since 1998; the last year the CDC studied fatal dog attack data by breed. In the last 8-year period of the CDC study (1991 to 1998), pit bulls averaged 2.9 deaths per year. From 2013 to 2020, pit bulls averaged 28.4 deaths per year, an increase of over 850%."

Source: https://www.fatalpitbullattacks.com

FACTS: Pitbulls Routinely Maim & Kill other Dogs! (Blog by Alexandra Dittmann)

So, I'm a crossover trainer and have 3 personal dogs (2 Beagles and an Estrela Mountain Dog), but what I'm seriously struggling with in the force-free dog training world is the wide-spread misunderstanding of dogs of this certain breed type despite the statistics - yes, I'm talking about the "maulers", as literally, that's what they were bred to do for hundreds of years now. And we all know how powerful genetics are, especially in combination with owners who don't understand just how crazy strong the drive to maul and kill is in those animals.

I'm mind-boggled by the continued advocacy by alleged dog lovers for a type of dog that continues to attack and maul other dogs. Other people's beloved companions and best friends. Their lap dogs, their kids' playmates and family members. Mauled to death so often, or gravely injured. I just posted the screenshot to give an example of how even famous trainers can't prevent maulers from mauling... I had watched that video a few years back, and the scene where the Pit goes after that poor other dog still haunts me... That Shepherd needed emergency veterinary treatment after.

I guess I'm biased from personal experience: Twice in my young teenage years, I had to get an AmStaff off a German Shepherd, simply because the "dog lovers" in charge (the local shelter staff) did nothing but scream and freeze when the AmStaff tried to unalive that poor Shepherd.

Who needed emergency care as well, but luckily survived. Another experience, in the same shelter I volunteered in, was the death of my favorite dog there, a small Schnauzer-Mix called "Max", who was mauled and killed by "Angel" the shitbull.... Still gets me emotional just thinking about it. I wasn't there when it happened, and the staff member in charge took a knife to the fight, but was too late to safe Max. Needless to say that the shelter had a bad rep for the sheer incompetence of the staff, but then again in their defense: Had both attacking maulers been of almost any other breed type, none of this would have happened. A scuffle perhaps, and stitches needed in the worst case, but not tragedy like this.

I sincerely wish that potential owners of the breed type will find this group and take the time to read what is being presented. If they fully grasp the facts and carefully study the incidents that have been recorded and are accessible on social media... I don't think they'll go for a dog of the breed type. I hope they won't. The issue I'm seeing is that "Pittie Moms" are seeing those canine dog-killers through rose-tinted glasses. "It's how you raise them". "If they're socialized from puppyhood onward, they'll be safe". "It's the owner, not the dog". "Just let them meet plenty of other dogs when they are young and they'll be fine." NO! This is just simply not true. No amount of humane, force-free training (for which I fully advocate) can take the insane drives to chase, grab, maul and kill, out of dogs that were selectively bred to do just that.

And before anyone from the training world goes into the balanced vs. force-free controversy: The difference in opinion we have when it comes to training methods are not relevant to the subject-matter. I don't believe that any training style can "train out" those exaggerated drives; some aversive methods may suppress them for a while, but what happens if the dog gets triggered and driven into killing-mode by someone's pet - and the trainer or owner isn't there, or doesn't have certain equipment on the dog when the triggering happens...

(This blog post doesn't even encompass the incidents with humans and other non-canine victims - I just wanted to focus on the "dog lovers love dogs who kill other dogs" topic.)