Why is everyone praising pitbulls

if they are so gentle and it all depends on the owner why don't people have the guts to see how it works and provoke one. i doubt the result would be the same if they provoked a poodle.

( I have nothing against pits who are on the leash and also have a muzzle. I know quite some responsible owners who do this because they say the pits can kill you/or your dog if they feel threatened - that includes sensing that you are afraid of them. so, these are the only kind of people I respect because they treat their dogs in a good way but are always careful for the sake of others' safety.)

You are absolutely right; it DOES NOT all depend on the owner: genetics play a HUGE part of the pit bull temperment. Pit bulls weren't bred for human aggression, but dog agression is a problem with pits (and breeds that fall under this umbrella). Human aggression was a very undesirable trait for pit bulls, and it makes sense considering their history. Pit fighters needed a dog that would be viscious in the pit with another dog and win, but that would allow its handler to reach in the middle of a fight without getting bit himself. A pit bull fits this description, and so any human aggession tendencies were bred out.

So to answer your post (not really a question per se), if a pit is threatened by a human, I believe it would defend itself and its handler/family within reason. But, if challenged by another dog, you are certainly right; it would not react the same as a poodle. A pit will accept the challenge gladly, and even if it did not start the fight, you can be sure it will finish it. Never trust your bully breed dog not to fight!