Pit Bulls Are Shaped By Their Environment
OK, now it is time to take the test. Would you know a pit bull if you saw one? If you look to the right of this article, you will see a pit bull recognition test – the answers are in the box below.
Here are the facts about pit bulls: They are not a specific breed of dog. This is a term usually used to describe dogs from the heritage of three different breeds: American Staffordshire Terriers (AKC), Staffordshire Bull Terriers (AKC) and the American Pit Bull Terrier (UKC).
The public is consistently exposed to the negative stories in the media. Pit Bulls in loving families who are raised as any other pet dog would be, are wonderful companions. The problem dogs are the ones that are poorly bred and/or raised by irresponsible or unscrupulous owners.
It is true that pit bulls have been bred for decades, if not centuries to fight other dogs; a reprehensible practice. But, in all these years of dog fighting, these dogs were not documented as being human aggressive. This has evolved from human irresponsibility. Dog fighting needs to be stopped, there is no question about this, but this still does not equate to human aggression.
While these dogs have been bred for strength and endurance, there other qualities are immense loyalty and gentleness. Even the terrible people who fight these poor dogs would not tolerate human aggression. While these dogs were used for fighting, they were also the family pet. Dogs that exhibited human aggression were destroyed and only the human friendly dogs were allowed to continue breeding.
Dog aggression does not translate to human aggression. Pit bulls being human aggressive is a myth. Poorly bred and poorly treated dogs, of any breed, leads to aggression towards humans.
Pit bulls by nature crave human companionship. Their whole body will quake with excitement at the approach of someone who will pet them and they love human contact and affection. Many of these poor dogs have endured physical abuse due to the myth that they are human aggressive. Even after abuse, they want nothing more than to be part of a family to love and play with.
As with all breeds there are exceptions to the expected behavior and temperament of the nature of the dog and this is true of humans as well. There are good people and bad people, acceptable behavior and unacceptable behavior.
The other myth is that all pit bulls are animal aggressive. This is also false. It is how any animal is trained and treated that will trigger aggression. This is a human failing, not the failing for the poor animal.
We, as owners, need to be responsible in our treatment of all animals. That is the solution to any aggression issues with pets.
Joanne Schoch is the executive director of the Humane Society of the Nature Coast. Got a pet-related question? Send it to For Pet’s Sake, c/o the Humane Society of the Nature Coast, Inc., P.O. Box 10328, Brooksville, FL 34603.
