Bad Rap : Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls

A San Francisco Tragedy

PLEASE NOTE The exact circumstances have yet to be determined in the mauling case of young Nicholas Faibish. We caution readers to avoid overreacting until a full investigation confirms the hows and whys of this tragic fatality.

Printable Hand Outs on Pit bull Specifics:

Monster Myths - PDF 1
Temperament - PDF 2
Responsible Owners - PDF 3

Why did this happen?

Without witnesses, we can only speculate and wait for more information to surface. But because we DO know that temperament-correct pit bulls do not present a danger to people, we believe that the Faibish dogs represent the type of troubled, unstable misbreds that source from disreputable breeders 'Backyard Breeders'

One way to learn about dogs' thresholds is to temperament test them to see how they react when highly aroused. We call it 'pushing their buttons.' Pit bulls have been selectively bred to be people-soft in all situations, including times of high arousal and extreme stress. Their resiliency and responsiveness to people are admirable qualities that help the breed earn its top marks in the American Temperament Test Society scores ATTS.org. It seems clear that the Faibish dogs lacked this essential breed trait. Regrettably, we won't have the opportunity to learn about the female dog's dispostion (she was shot dead by a SFPD officer who felt she was acting aggressively). With some luck, maybe we'll be able to learn where the family bought these troubled dogs.

Did the dogs just snap? ----- Dogs don't just suddenly "snap and turn" against people. Bad apples with sketchy temperaments and/or troubled dogs that can be provoked to bite show clear warning signs well in advance of causing harm. Pit bulls in particular are a very ‘What you see is what you get' breed and knowledgeable dog handlers find them easy to read. Unstable examples of all breeds give off plenty of signals way in advance of escalating to human-directed aggression.

Not all dog owners recognize these signs however, and some try to excuse their problem dog's problems away ("Oh, he's just afraid of men." or "He growls because he was abused.") Unresolved problems can push a dog to escalate from a mild warning to a nip or actual bite or worse. Sadly, some dog owners hold the mistaken belief that human-directed aggression is something to expect from the breed. Historically, human aggression (i.e.'man biters') has been considered an intolerable defect. We fully support the humane euthanasia of any pit bulls that show clearly defective temperaments.

But the dogs’ veterinarian believes they weren’t aggressive. What did he miss? ----- We believe the vet may have seen the dogs when they were still puppyish and most likely, when they were relatively relaxed and under the control of their key handler. Problem dogs generally don’t show clear signs of temperament faults until they’re nearing maturity and then, not unless they’re sufficiently provoked or aroused.

What do we know that helps explain this tragedy? ----- We do know that the dogs' owner planned to breed them to earn some extra money and that the female was in heat. We know that the dogs were not contained or separated from each other. The boy's mother has stated that she locked her son in the basement to keep him safe from the dogs while she was away. locked in basement All signs point to irresponsible ownership and an acknowledgment that the dog(s) presented a known risk to Nicholas. Stable pit bulls do not present a danger to people. even during breedings. Defective dogs, however can be sufficiently triggered in this state.

The boy's mother has told authorities that one of her dogs bit her son the morning of the attack. Troubled dogs always offer warning signs.

Research shows that overwhelmingly, the dogs involved in fatal attacks 1) are typically unaltered males and 2) are generally owned by ill-prepared and/or irresponsible owners. We also know that boys aged one to twelve years old are 2.5 times more likely to be the victim of a fatal dog attack than girls of the same age.

This kind of information helps us understand why these things happen, and more importantly, how similar tragedies can be prevented. For your research: Fatal Dog Attacks

Should I be worried about my pit bull? ----- Know your breed! The UKC breed standard for temperament states,

"APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children...The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable."
Official UKC Breed Standards

If you're concerned that your dog has issues with people, or that his personality is very different from the breed standard for temperament, we recommend contacting a pit bull experienced trainer or behaviorist for an evaluation. (Please Note: Some degree of dog-dog aggression is normal for the breed and it's very manageable. It does not indicate that your dog has a temperament problem.)

How can families avoid bringing home a problem dog? ----- As always, shop wisely! Purchasing or adopting a new dog should involve careful research. Avoid amateur ‘backyard breeders’ like the plague. Shady breeders advertise on online websites like Craigslist.org and in the newspapers. Reputable breeders health test their dogs and have attained at least one working or show title. They also have wait lists for their dogs, screen homes carefully, produce very few litters, fix non-show puppies, draw up careful contracts and take back any dogs that fail in their homes.

Another way to get a good dog is via reputable breed rescues or shelters that know the dogs well and temperament test them. In BAD RAP, our dogs are poked, prodded and thoroughly screened and then home fostered so we know them inside and out by the time they become available for adoption. Because we visit many different bay area shelters, we can select the cream of the crop and help match homes with dependable dogs that meet their skill level and their expectations.

What can we DO to prevent this kind of tragedy? ----- Nicholas's death is a wake up call for all of us. Dog lovers MUST learn the importance of choosing dogs wisely and managing them responsibly. On the other side of the coin, we have to ask our community leaders to take a long hard look at ways to slow our pet overpopulation crisis and to curb sloppy backyard breeding. We need accessible spay & neuter resources and affordable owner education programs. Parents need support in teaching their children how to behave around all types of dogs. In total, we all need to raise our awareness of dog issues so senseless tragedies can be prevented.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of young Nicholas.