I guess the thing is when you study animal behaviour and dog behaviour (I did for 3+years and ran puppy schools for over 10 years), you learn that 1/3 of dog behaviour is genetics and 1/3 is what happens in the first 6 weeks, the last 1/3 is the environment they are living in. Pit bulls have been bred over years and years to be fighting dogs, not house dogs. With that history, there is a large majority of them which have been brought up in homes which have 2/3 of their behaviour being totally out of the control of the owners, add to that the people who tend to be attracted to fighting dogs and you have a very dangerous combination on your hands.

Having said that, after working with dogs for over 10 years, I would say ALL dogs have the ability to bite. I learnt from a dog trainer once that ALL DOGS BITE. Its very true. I've seen dogs that you couldn't think would possibly bite, attack. Even labradors... I think that everyone needs to be conscious of this fact. Its up to you and me, as to what you decide your children are safe with. There is no way on earth you could expect a neighbours dog to come into your house and attack your children. Its unexpected, and even if I knew that I had a pit bull next door, it isn't something I would expect.

I have a labrador and a rescue dog who was abused before. Have I left my children alone with them, yes. Will I continue to do so? No. BUT I have had both my dogs behaviour tested and I myself have tested them. Now that my oldest dog is 13, I will not be letting my children alone with her, she is old and going senile and I just can't trust that what I've known for the past 12 years will continue.

I can't say how many dogs I have had to help put to sleep due to aggression towards children. Every different breed and every different sort of family... i've seen the scars on the families and comforted the tears... its a tragedy EVERYTIME. Its not the dogs fault, they are bred one way, we treat them another....

I refuse to be the one to encourage one way or another, but I just want everyone to understand that the issue is so much deeper than the 1/3 of behaviour which is breed. Would I personally own a pitbull? No, but I wouldn't judge one who does....