The truth about pit bulls

The truth about pit bulls

No one breed as a whole is bad, the same as no one race of humans is bad. Much has to do with the individual, it's genes, upbringing, and training. In the case of pit bulls, a breed that was created to be especially gentle with people, all of the human aggressive dogs are victims of one or more of the following: poor breeding, bad training, or irresponsible upbringing. There are thousands upon thousands of pit bulls that are loving, loyal, safe pets, who will live and die without ever having bitten a human or another animal. They are the proof that this "born bad" idea is fiction, pure and simple.

It is reported on temperament tests - which include aggression, behavior, emotional stability etc. - conducted by the American Temperament Test Society that pit bulls had a passing rate of 82% or better -- compared to only 77% of the general dog population. (For more information about the test and how your own dog's breed rates, visit http://www.atts.org/)

It may seem to the general public who is constantly bombarded with disturbing reports on pit bull attacks that this breed harms humans with great regularity. However, the fact remains that pit bulls are hot news items. Dogs of all breeds and mixes bite and attack people all the time, but it is mainly the pit bull attacks that get sensationalized. A report about the local golden retriever that attacks and maims a child isn't considered newsworthy. No one wants to believe that fuzzy, cute, popular one-are capable of biting. It's much easier to blow up and sensationalize a story about a vicious dog when it's a member of a breed who's reputation preceeds it. Pit bulls are already considered the demons.

It is true that the pit bull was originally bred to fight other dogs. However the dogs lived at home as a family pet in the late 1800s and lived in the house with the wives and children of the men who fought their dogs for sport, so they needed to be absolutely reliable around people. Dogs that showed human aggression were euthanized and never bred from. These actions have evolved a unique dog personality where animal aggression has absolutlely no correlation to human aggression.  Dog fighting was outlawed in the early 1900's.  Since that time the breeds that go back to the original pit bull of the early 1800s has been raised as a family pet, not a fighter. It is only recently the horrendous sport of pit bull fighting has resurfaced - and by uneducated, ignorant, cruel people that have no idea what they are doing let alone how to do it. It's done for money, and these dogs are TRAINED to fight, TAUGHT to fight, and BRED to be killing machines. Pit bulls are NOT BORN THIS WAY.