My dog, Dixie, is an American Staffordshire Terrier. In other words, she's a fancy-pants "pit bull". She's the best dog I've ever known, but I have to say that lately, I've been increasingly irritated by people's ignorant and unsolicited commentary when the kids and I take her out for a walk.

We do always keep her on a leash because it's true that Am Staffs are potentially dog aggressive (so are many other breeds of dog. Although I know it's part of her genetic make up, Dixie has never bothered another dog except once when she and my sister's Golden got into a spat over some food). But people do not seem to understand that bull terrier-type dogs may tend to dislike other dogs, but this does NOT make them naturally aggressive toward HUMANS. The two are not related in any way.