Vault: Aggressive dogs should be leashed

Summary

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The Bert Show

Episode: Vault: Aggressive dogs should be leashed

Air Date: June 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode revisits a heated debate on the topic of aggressive dog breeds—specifically pit bulls—sparked by recent local news about dog attacks in Atlanta. The Bert Show cast (Burt, Melissa, Jamie) and callers discuss whether certain breeds should be treated with extra caution, how bias and public perception influence the conversation, and the often polarizing responses from listeners. This episode is a candid, emotional, and occasionally humorous look at a subject with passionate viewpoints on both sides.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recent Dog Attack in Atlanta (01:32–02:28)

• A caller references a news story about a seven-year-old girl attacked by two dogs initially labeled as pit bulls, adding a sense of urgency and irony to the ongoing conversation.
  • (01:32) Caller: “...there was a seven-year-old in Atlanta last night who... got attacked by two pits yesterday and she's in critical condition right now at the hospital.”
• Burt clarifies that news initially called the dogs pit bulls, but further details suggested they were actually Staffordshire terriers.
• Jamie points out confusion and misidentification of dog breeds in media reporting.
  • (02:28) Jamie: “They actually weren't pit bulls. I think there was some initial thought that they were pit bulls, but they were Staffordshire terriers...”

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2. Data & Medical Perspective: Are Certain Breeds More Dangerous? (02:42–06:53)

• Jamie and Melissa recount recent local attacks and refer to conversations with medical professionals.
  • (02:42) Jamie: “This was one of several dog attacks in the past couple weeks on Atlantans... the majority of severe dog bite injuries come from pit bulls.”
• Listeners and breeders critique the show's comments, some responding with personal attacks, others with factual corrections (e.g., about jaw-locking myths and Michael Vick's rehabilitated dogs).
  • (04:55) “By the way, their jaws do not lock. No dogs jaws lock... only one [Vick dog] was euthanized because of human aggression. In reality, Michael Vick actually shined a spotlight on how great these dogs can actually be.”
• Burt reads from an Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) article:
  • (05:37–06:53) "No place for pit bulls, Rottweilers around children... according to the Clifton study... Pit bulls, Rottweilers and presa canarios and their mixes are responsible for 74% of attacks and 68% of the attacks upon Shell.”

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3. Breed Stereotype vs. Individual Dog Behavior (06:53–08:34)

• Jamie expresses frustration that breed-specific risk is hard for some owners/breeders to acknowledge.
  • (07:11) Jamie: “And the fact that these pit bull owners cannot acknowledge that breed as a whole ... statistically ... it's more violent.”
• Burt presents a hypothetical: if someone unfamiliar with dogs visited a dog park, pit bulls might still appear more aggressive by demeanor alone.
  • (08:06) Burt: “...You would be able to look at the pit bulls and go, that dog's got kind of a crappy attitude right there.”

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4. Listener & Breeder Reactions (08:34–09:38)

• The cast discusses the tone and aggression of emails from breeders, noting irony in aggressive human behavior while defending the breed.
  • (09:05) Jamie: “Don't be human aggressive when you're telling me your dog's not human aggressive.”
  • (09:08) Melissa: “Yes, the breeders are human aggressive, but they're claiming that the dogs they breed are not. Well, I'm starting to see a correlation.”

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5. Live Caller – Breeder Perspective (09:38–10:44)

• Jamie invites a pit bull breeder to share their view in 30 seconds:
  • (09:45) Caller: “It is how they are raised. I got raised pit bulls. They won't even bite you to get a biscuit out of your hand. And if you'll check, Chihuahuas failed more personality tests than a pit bull. They just don't have the strength or the oof...”
• Jamie asks directly for breed comparison:
  • (10:00) Jamie: “So as a pit bull breeder, can you acknowledge that a pit bull is a more aggressive animal than a Chihuahua?”
  • (10:08) Caller: “No temper wise. No chihuahua has a worse temper than a pit bull... pit bull has the strength...”
• Melissa follows up:
  • (10:20) Melissa: “Would you put a child in front of a chihuahua or a pit bull first?”
  • (10:28) Caller: “Would I? Yes, a pit bull.”
• Cast expresses disbelief at the breeder’s response, calling it representative of the polarized feedback they've received for 48 hours.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (03:39) Burt: “These angry pit bull owners that were emailing us yesterday and breeders that just won't. I mean, look at the statistics.”
• (04:43) Melissa: “It's fascinating how... it touched a nerve because the emails that we received were just personal and angry and off.”
• (07:11) Jamie: “...these pit bull owners cannot acknowledge that that breed as a whole... is more violent.”
• (08:06) Burt: “If you didn't know anything about dogs at all... You would be able to look at the pit bulls and go, that dog's got kind of a crappy attitude right there.”
• (09:05) Jamie: “Don't be human aggressive when you're telling me your dog's not human aggressive.”
• (10:28) Caller: “Would I? Yes, a pit bull.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:32 – Listener calls in about the Atlanta child dog attack news story
• 02:28 – Mislabeling and breed confusion discussion
• 02:42 – Recent dog attacks in local area; medical professional perspectives
• 05:37 – AJC article: Statistical overview of dog attack injuries by breed
• 07:11 – Jamie’s frustration with breed minimization by owners
• 08:06 – Burt’s “dog park” hypothetical
• 09:05 – Cast discusses tone/aggression of breeder feedback
• 09:43 – Pit bull breeder caller segment and exchange on temperament
• 10:28 – Breeder’s answer on child safety with pit bull vs. chihuahua

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Final Thoughts

The Bert Show closes the segment exhausted but firm in their opinions: breed statistics point to higher risk with certain dogs, while responses from pro-pit bull listeners and breeders are “angry” and sometimes aggressive themselves. The episode underscores the emotion and misunderstanding that fuel this controversial topic.

“You got your opinion, we have ours — over it.”
— Burt (09:23)

Listeners are left with the impression that, while individual dogs can be wonderful companions regardless of breed, the cast believes the larger issue of breed-associated risk can’t be ignored, especially where children are concerned.

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Transcript

[Melissa]

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[Caller]

I know y' all probably don't want to talk about this again, but last night when I turned on the news, there was a seven year old in Atlanta last night who it was just really ironic that got attacked by two pits yesterday and she's in critical condition right now at the hospital. So I just wanted to make sure. I mean, that lady yesterday who said that pits are aggressive towards people are absolutely wrong, her pits might not be, but that's not all tits because obviously, you know, there's a girl in critical condition right now because of two pits that attacked her last night.

[Burt]

Were those pit bulls? Because I got a bunch of emails and tweets and stuff and on Facebook they were saying pit bulls. And then I looked up the story and I didn't think it was a pit bull.

[Caller]

Yeah, there's so I'm sorry, but when I had turned it on and it was there was a story as soon as I turned it on and it like after about 10 seconds it said it was two pits and my mom was in the kitchen and she even said what kind of dogs were that? And I said pit. And I'm like, oh my gosh, I wish I could call the bird show right now because it ironic That y' all were talking about that and then it happened.

[Jamie]

They actually weren't pit bulls. I think there was some initial thought that they were pit bulls, but they were Staffordshire terriers, which is that it seems like a dog that would bring you tea.

[Burt]

Yeah, Right.

[Jamie]

But what was interesting or ironic about the conversations that we've had over the past two days was that this was one of several dog attacks in the past couple weeks on Atlantins. So they went to a doctor and this doctor, I almost thought it might have been the same doctor that Melissa was having dinner with the other night who gave the statistic that the majority of severe dog bite injuries come from pit bulls. Because this doctor said the same exact statistics.

[Melissa]

And it's about them clamping down and not letting go.

[Jamie]

Right. And being more violent attackers.

[Burt]

Yeah. Let's go through this just one more time and then let's be done with it. Cause we got again so many emails yesterday.

[Melissa]

You guys are angry.

[Burt]

I mean, because it's a ridiculous argument. I mean, these angry pit bull owners that were emailing us yesterday and breeders that just won't. I mean, look at the statistics.

[Jamie]

Here's what I've learned. Pit bull owners are human aggressive.

[Melissa]

Yeah, it's true.

[Caller]

It is.

[Melissa]

When you say exhausting, it's just. It's fascinating how. I mean, obviously it touched a nerve because the emails that we received were just personal and angry and off. But talking about what we just said, it was actually a pediatric nurse that was at my home that talked about the statistic of the worst injuries she's ever seen or from pit bulls. And one of the pit bull breeders called her a dip s word nurse and did personal attacks on her for her opinion. And then also a Birch show listener wrote that Melissa stated that people like Michael Vick are hurting the breed's reputation. However, it is also untrue comments by people on a highly listened to morning show that hurt and perpetuate untruths about the breed. Meliss stated that people who get pits get them for guard dogs. Pits by breed are not good guard dogs and are not, as a breed, human aggressive. While Melissa stated that the Michael Vicks of the world are what is helping add to the reputation, it is also people who don't do their research on the breed and make untrue statements. By the way, their jaws do not lock. No dogs jaws lock. I'm wondering if you are aware of all 49 of the pits rescued from Michael Vick's fighting ring. Only one was euthanized because of human aggression. In reality, Michael Vick actually shined a spotlight on how great these dogs can actually be. And then another person talked about how loving and affectionate the pit bulls are. And they are not human aggressive. And they said that that was the consistent theme through all the pit bull owners and all the pit bull breeders. Because I made the statement that people who get pit bulls want them as guard dogs, and that. That seemed to offend so many people and told me I was an idiot.

[Burt]

Well, initially, you didn't say you want them as guard dogs. You said wanted them to be perceived as aggressive dogs for guard dogs.

[Melissa]

You know what you're getting into? Yes, you. And that's. And I still stand by my statement that I don't. I really. If a person is going into a situation in which they're like, you know, what, am I gonna get a toy poodle or am I gonna get a pit bull? I don't usually think that that's in the same breath.

[Burt]

This is an article in the AJC this morning.

[Jamie]

Ajc Flawed.

[Burt]

You can go and read it yourself. And it's not written by ajc, it's not written by Melissa Carter, and it's not written by Burt Weiss. But the title, the. I mean, it says, the lead is no place for pit bulls, Rottweilers around children. Tuesday morning, two pit bulls chased an elderly Marietta woman in an apartment complex. The woman sustained minor injuries. The dogs were later caught and the owner was cited. The death of a five day old Rockdale newborn by the family's pit bull heightens the need for people to use extreme caution with having certain dog breeds near children. Says there's no place for pit bulls or Rottweilers around children. This comes from Mark Wolkin. He's a doctor at Emory. Actually, he's a children's healthcare surgeon.

[Jamie]

What does he know?

[Burt]

Surgeon and an associate professor at Emory.

[Jamie]

Unless your name's Gupta, you got no

[Burt]

credibility with that or Oz as far as children are concerned. This is right from the ajc. Wilkins said pit bulls and Rottweilers in particular are responsible for the most severe injuries with German shepherds. They bite you and then that's it. He said pit bulls and Rottweilers, once they go, they go for the kill. Which is what Melissa's nurse friend was saying the other day. According to the Clifton study. This is not a Melissa Carter or Burt Weiss study.

[Melissa]

Nope.

[Burt]

Pit bulls, Rottweilers and presa canarios and their mixes are responsible for 74% of attacks and 68% of the attacks upon Shell.

[Jamie]

And now Bert, again is reading from an article that is in today's Atlanta Journal Constitution that has nothing to do with the random conversation that started. And I'm annoyed by this, and I'm not even involved in. Started when Burt made a comment that they should put someone from the city at the dog park at Piedmont tomorrow. And he, as an aside, said, I saw two pit bulls get in a fight or something like that. And the fact that these pit bull owners cannot acknowledge that that breed as a whole, whether or not it's how it's raised or whatever, that breed statistically and whatever the word is that anecdotally, you know, where it's just whatever. It's more violent. I think if your dog is great, I'll acknowledge you have the most beautiful, peaceful. I love your pit bull. That's great. Oh, cute. That's so nice. But it's still an aggressive breed. You have to acknowledge that.

[Melissa]

They won't.

[Burt]

It's bizarre from a standpoint where I have been in dog parks before, that if you didn't know anything about dogs at all, somebody put you on the earth, okay? And you're 22 years old and you're at. And they put you at a dog park, and you had to observe all the dogs. You didn't know anything. You didn't know what a pit bull was. You didn't know what a German shepherd or a poodle was or a bulldog or a golden lap. And you. You just watched what was going on. You would be able to look at the pit bulls and go, that dog's got kind of a crappy attitude right there. He's sort of looking for a fight right there.

[Melissa]

And my biggest. The past two days, the thing that has just elevated my irritation is the fact that is because personal attacks, personal attacks in these emails by pit bull breeders in particular, that if you really want to help the public relations of the breed, if you want to help your sales as a breeder of the breed, then I think the tactic should have been different. Like, it just. I don't understand why you decide that by you being aggressive, by defending and

[Jamie]

don't be human aggressive when you're telling me your dog's not human aggressive.

[Melissa]

Yes, the breeders are human aggressive, but they're claiming that the dogs they breed are not. Well, I'm starting to see a correlation.

[Burt]

Let's just take one call on this.

[Caller]

And then.

[Burt]

And now we're done with pit bull talk.

[Melissa]

And I'm not gonna answer anything.

[Burt]

And I'm not gonna answer any more. I got it.

[Melissa]

I got it.

[Burt]

You got your opinion, we have ours over it.

[Melissa]

Y' all are exhausted. I know.

[Jamie]

If you read the comments, I put the article up on Facebook so Bert and Melissa could see it attacking me.

[Burt]

Nasty man.

[Jamie]

Stop being aggressive saying that your dog is not aggressive.

[Burt]

Hey, Jamie, I know you're, you're. You raise pit bulls. Can you wrap up your point in 30 seconds?

[Caller]

Absolutely.

[Burt]

Do it.

[Caller]

It is how they are raised. I got raised pit bulls. They won't even bite you to get a biscuit out of your hand. And if you'll check, Chihuahuas failed more personality tests than a pit bull. They just don't have the strength or the oof. To follow through with what their aggression is.

[Jamie]

So as a pit bull breeder, can you acknowledge that a pit bull is a more aggressive animal than a Chihuahua?

[Caller]

No temper wise. No chihuahua has a worse temper than a pit bull. Would you put a pit bull has the strength, you know, in the drive or whatever to follow through with it?

[Melissa]

Would you want a child?

[Caller]

It depends on how they are raised.

[Melissa]

Would you put a child in front of a chihuahua or a pit bull first?

[Caller]

Would I? Yes, a pit bull.

[Burt]

Okay.

[Melissa]

See what I'm saying? That is a drop and she just contradicted it. That's a drop in the bucket of what we have received for 48 hours that are paragraphs long. You would put a pit bull in front of a kid more so than a dog.

[Burt]

That's just like Melissa said. That's just a sample of what we've had to kind of do the last two days.

[Melissa]

One person said to me and used the word F. The haters. She said, I got my pit bull because I wanted protection and I wanted a guard dog. One person.

[Burt]

One person.

[Jamie]

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[Burt]

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[Melissa]

Sorry.

[Burt]

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