Pit Bulls are loyal dogs but misconceived and discriminated by today’s society. Statistics show that pit bulls do not have the most fatal attacks. No breed of dog has been more talked about or misunderstood than the American Pit Bull Terrier. Just the words “Pit Bull” brings out fear in the average person. Tales of the Pit Bulls’ reputation have been heard in almost every community around the world. For example, tales about their "locking jaws", destructive fighting abilities, poor social skills with children, and attacking their owners, are widely spread. Most of these just rumors passed on from one ignorant person to another. For the kind of people that choose to believe and spread the rumors about the American Pit Bull Terrier, I would want …show more content…
them to take time to research the origins of this breed, the blood sports in which the breed was involved, and the good companionship of today’s modern breed. Although many breeds are known mainly as "Pit Bulls," only the American Pit Bull Terrier includes the term in its official name. (Stahlkuppe 26) Also known as the Yankee Terrier, Half and Half, and American Bull Terrier, these dogs were originally bred as a cross between the English Bull Dog and various Terriers for blood sports. The cross between these two breeds of dog produced the first Pit Bulls, which met all the expectations of the breeders. It was bred for aggression towards other dogs, unrelenting bravery, a superior blood clotting ability, and a strong, well- built frame. (Stahlkuppe) Blood Sports were a part of every day life in England around 1800. All classes of people, from royalty to the poor, enjoyed the brutal events. Bull baiting was a cruel sport in which a bull would be brought to the market for slaughter and was attacked by dogs. The notion was that this would tenderize the bull’s meat, but in reality the people would want to see which dog could bring the bull to its knees and pin it. American pit bulls, are they really vicious? The truth is that when they are trained to fight viciously, then of course, they will be violent dogs. Generally, an American Pit Bull Terrier is not a violent dog. pit bulls are one of the best dogs you could have for a pet. If you think of common dogs as pets, golden retriever, a Labrador, even a poodle. The American Temperament Testing Association proved that the native temperament of a pit bull is better than all of these dogs. This means that as a pet, a pit bull can be nicer than a Retriever! And you should never have any worries about them being near children. The ATTA proved that it is not inheritive to show aggression or be violent towards humans. There are many myths about these dogs that exist that simply aren’t true.
For example, pit bulls do not have locking jaws. This stuff is not only foolish, but scientifically proven to be impossible within this species because to have a so called ‘locking jaw’ you need at least 2000 lbs per sq. in. of pressure in the jaw area; the WHS has proven and tested that this is not so in pit bulls. You should follow one rule when talking or listening about pit bulls; don’t believe most of what you hear. Although many things can be considered this way, not to believe most of what you hear, pit bulls are something that you want to be even more careful about. Pit bulls are commonly mistaken for wild, vicious and merciless animals that will automatically attack other animals and humans due to their vicious nature. In fact, the main cause of the pit bulls false image is the wild, vicious and merciless owner or trainer. Look at humans for example, the type of people who commit crimes and attack people grew up and were “trained” in a poor household. The same concept goes for these wonderful little dogs. As puppies grow, they should be trained and have necessary discipline when they misbehave and should be rewarded for behaving well. The owner is the one responsible for discipline, they are the ones in control and should take full responsibility for the way their dog behaves. Just as one does not want to be judged by their race, appearance or their past, pit bulls are being discriminated against due to their appearance, and a nasty reputation owners chose tocreate for entertainment. Too often, the pit-bull breed is misunderstood due to myths and lack of knowledge, although facts and statistics prove the pit-bull is indeed a misunderstood breed. It is clear laws restricting pit-bulls are not based on accurate
information.
Pit bulls, like any other dog, grow into their temperament. The way the dog is raised rounds out their character and general temperament. According to the “American Temperament Test Society: Pit bulls pass temperament tests 84.1% of the time, which ranks them slightly better than golden retrievers (83.8%) and cocker spaniels (81.7%), and well above miniature schnauzers (78.6%),” (The Biting Truth). Myths have generated atrocious attitudes towards this breed for years. The nature of the dog to be a protector to children and the bulky build of pit bulls makes them a very easy breed to target. These opinions ...
The misrepresentation of Pit Bull breeds in the media has been reflected in American culture. As these dogs were incorporated into World War I propaganda, they were perceived as symbols of courage and strength, the archetype of American dog breeds5. When, in the 1920s and 1930s, American Staffordshire Terrier “Pete the Pup” starred in the comedy Our Gang, later known as The Little Rascals, Pit Bulls were considered “nanny dogs” and family-friendly pets7. When the media focused heavily on illegal dog fighting rings and gang culture in the 1970s and 1980s, Pit Bulls were called demonic and unpredictable. Through their many roles, they have shown versatility and resilience, and lately they have suffered greatly.
Many people associate a negative connotation with the dog breed “pit bull.” These dogs are thought to be dangerous and problematic. However, much of this can be attributed to the mass amounts of negative media attention that pit bull breeds receive as opposed to other breeds of dogs that can be just as dangerous. For example, The National Canine Research Council did a four-day study on dog-bite repo...
If all other breeds are not judged for attacking people, then why are all pit bulls being unfairly judged? Pitbulls are being banned in different counties because they are being wrongly accused of being dangerous. Pit Bulls should not be banned because they can be helpful, the media has given them a bad reputation, and they are only mean if trained that way.
Perhaps the reason why pit bulls are feared by society is because we are afraid of what they are associated with. Pit bulls are often thought of as a gangster’s pet, a role in violent and illegal activities. People stereotype this breed because of the unfortunate acts of few. In contrast, society needs to understand that they are being racist towards a breed of dog. Denver’s systematic killing of pit bulls could be compared to the actions of the Nazis during the Holocaust.
When most people today see a pitbull they see it as a monster who could snap at any moment. Something that they should protect themselves and their family from; but that is not necessarily true. Is any one man or woman exactly like the last? A human being’s personality along with their capacity for violence is molded by their past and how they were treated growing up; pit bulls are no different. In today’s society pitbulls are unfairly discriminated against because they are favored among street gangs and dog fighting rings, leaving a staggering number of loyal and loving dogs homeless or mistreated.
Currently, pit bulls have been reported by the media with very horrific and disturbing news of having attacked a child or being shot by a police due to aggression while some are reported to have been abused or neglected by its owners (Forderer and Unkelbach 534). And because the reports keep coming with heated discussions, more and more people have forged a frightening image of pit bulls even to the extreme of refusing to take care of such breed. Pit bull advocates claim that the dogs get a bad reputation considering that people should learn the dogs are not inherently aggressive. What the pit bull advocates would like to point is that the owners of the pit bulls should be considered guilty for mishandling of their own dogs. There are owners of pit bulls that even encourage the dog to be aggressive in order to fight and protect them in a wrong manner and wrong degree of training (Forderer and Unkelbach 536). Pit bull advocates claimed that a well socialized and well trained pit bull would be very intelligent and could be one of the gentle dogs imaginable.
Just the sight of a pit bull instills apprehension and even fear in some people, who believe the dog may attack them for no reason and not let go. Many communities have placed this ostracized breed under severe restrictions; some municipalities have implemented bans outlawing ownership of the breed. Today’s society regards the pit bull as the most vicious and unpredictable of all dog breeds, whereas admirers of the pit bull believe this misconception stems from irresponsible owners and the inflammatory and negative publicity concerning this breed.
Pit Bulls are without a doubt my favorite dog, I adore them. Pit Bulls are very well tempered, loyal, and resilient animals. Bred for big game hunting, Pit Bulls are strong, fierce animals and people who have the wrong intentions for ownership should never own them. I am a strong believer that a potential pet owner should do lots of research before getting any type of animal, without exception. Owners should do as much research before getting a dog as they do in planning for a new home or any other new family member. One of the main things to really think about and understand is your intentions for your selection of an animal with the breeding of the Pit Bull. If you choose a dog with the wrong intentions, specifically a Pit Bull, you will get a dog that behaves aggressively and is dangerous. This owner behavior is what has caused the current plight of the Pit Bull today, where laws have been passed in thirteen states and hundreds of municipalities, as well as every U. S. Military base, banning the ownership of the breed and forcing shelters to euphonize Pit Bulls within 24 hours. These laws are unjust and cruel, and victimize the breed based on the owners’ behavior. I also argue that the blame for the epidemic proportions that the laws have reached is 100% the fault of owners who purposely acquired the Pit Bull with the intention to abuse and fight the dogs, and that these owners are the ones who should be punished, not the dogs. (Davis)
What do you think of when I say the word pitbull? Do you picture a cute happy dog, wagging its tail happy to see you? Or do you see a mad dog, foaming mouth lunging at small child? If you are a owner of a pitbull then you probably see the happy cute dog. But if you don't own one then chances are you see pitbulls as mean dogs who are a threat to society. The media has painted a picture in our heads that it's in a pitbulls blood to be aggressive. Due to this false accusation, certain cities have banned breeds labeled as “aggressive”. If someone is caught owning a banned breed, the dog is usually euthanized. This is known as Breed Specific Laws or otherwise known as BSL.
Pit Bull-Beauty or Beast? Are pit bulls the best breed of dogs to keep around the house? Pit bulls are the majority of dog attacks that have been covered by news stations. The news coverage has made people really nervous about these animals. People are afraid to let these dogs be around their families and friends.
It is the bad owners that give the pit bull a bad name. Contrary to that popular belief, dangerous animal behavior is the function of inherently dangerous dog owners, not inherently dangerous dogs. One fact that supports this is that pit bulls are the dogs most often shot during drug raids(TELLINGS v. Toledo). Besides the pit bulls that are owned by drug dealers for status symbols and protection, many pit bulls are owned by people that breed them for fighting. These poor dogs have a very slim chance of living a normal and happy life. This is not the fault of the dog, but the fault of the owners that should not have the dog, or should care for them better. The dogs that are forced to fight and are conditioned to defend themselves or die. When these dogs get loose, everything is a threat to them and they defend themselves in the name of survival. If golden retrievers were bred and raised with the sole purpose of fighting to the death, they would be just as dangerous as pit bulls. On the contrary, if all pit bulls were bred and treated as family dogs, they would have the same reputation as golden retrievers, if not better as the statistics found in the temperament test above
As Rollin claims, “people who want to own vicious dogs will own them, regardless of what breed they are. Almost any animal can be made mindlessly aggressive by agitating it, tying it to a short lead, disallowing positive human contact, using poor genetic selection, and employing training methods that evoke paranoia or hostility” (Rollin). Before the nineteen-eighties, pit bulls were a staple of America.
Do you think that pitbull should be pet or should they be banned. A Lot of people think that pitbull should be banned and should not be pets but why? Why do people think pitbulls should be banned if another dog can do anything a pitbull can do so if they banned pitbulls why don't they banned all dogs.
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is a term used to describe laws banning or restricting certain breeds of dogs, with hopes of reducing dog bites and attacks. It also deals with aggression, an extremely broad subject area. There are many problems that come with BSL including, but not limited to, blaming the breed, blaming the dog(s), and banning some innocent dogs. Some people feel safer in an area where BSL is in effect, despite that, BSL does not work as there is no such thing as a mean dog breed and evidence it makes things worse.