Intro:
No other dog receives more negative attention or media coverage than
the American Pit Bull Terrier. For many years the media has led many to believe that pit bulls are a dangerous breed of dog. It seems like whenever a story of a dog attack is released it's about someone being a victim of a pit bull. The breed is the victim of careless owners and cruel breeders. This had led to the unfair stereotype put upon pit bulls.
History:
The pit bull was not always labeled as an aggressive dog. In the 1900s pit bulls were often called "nanny dogs" because they were loving and gentle, especially with children. They were left to protect homes from unwanted guests and helped on farms. They were often used to hunt and catch hogs. Many World War 1 posters displayed pictures of the pit bull as symbols of bravery.
Breeding:
Throughout many years the pit bulls' strength and willingness to please people was taken advantage of and the once loved and loving breed Was bred for fighting and aggression. In the same way labs were bred to retrieve birds. Even though they have been bred to do a certain task not
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mean every dog does that task. For example, Labrador Retrievers were originally bred to retrieve birds, but not every lab will bring back a bird unless it's trained by it's owner to. The same theory applies to pit bulls. Their ancestors may have been raised to kill other dogs but a pit bull raised under appropriate conditions can be a loving and affectionate family pet. Stereotypes: 1. Pit Bulls are a threat to humans: With pit bulls history to fight other dogs in dog fighting rings, humans had to be sure that the dogs wouldn't be a risk to the people attending the fight. In many fights the pit bulls owners are in the ring with the dog and present no harm. But any dog can attack if provoked. 2. All pit bulls are badly behaved: Pits are typically more energetic than other breeds. This can cause problems if the dog is kept locked up or goes without exercise for long periods of time. All of their pent up energy needs to be refocused into something positive and productive. It is recommended with all high energy dogs that they are put into training as a puppy. With pit bulls very high intelligence and desire to obey makes them one of the easiest and quickest dogs to train. 3.
All pit bulls are fighters: According to the American Temperament Test Society, out of the 870 American Pit Bull Terriers tested,755 passed. Giving pit bulls an 86.8% overall temperament pass rate. It is proven that pit bulls give more "kisses" than any other type of dog. They love humans and interaction with humans. They are friendly animals who love to goof around.
4. Pit Bulls have "Locking Jaws": The jaws of the Pit Bull are functionally
the same as the jaws of any other breed. The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of Pit Bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure is no different than that of any other breed of dog. There is absolutely not evidence for the existence of any kind of "locking mechanism."
"Breed Specific" Legislation
(BSL): "Breed-specific" legislation is the term used to define laws that regulate or ban certain breeds in the hopes of reducing dog attacks on humans and other dogs. There is no evidence that these costly and hard to enforce breed-specific laws make an area safer for people or animals. One county alone spends more than $250,000 a year to have a ban on pit bulls. Although protecting a city, county or state from dangerous dogs sounds like a great idea there are lot of flaws to this system. It causes difficulties to responsible owners who have friendly and well behaved dogs who happen to be a part the banned or regulated breed. Even though these owners have done nothing to endanger the community, they have to obey these rules. Along with hardships of dog owners, the dogs themselves have to go into hiding. In order to keep their pets, owners have to stop their dog's exercise and socializing. Since they cannot legally take their dogS to the vet, many dogs go without being microchipped and veterinary care. This includes spay and neuter surgery and necessary vaccinations. Conclusion: The United States Humane Society reported that pit bull and pit bull mixes make up approximately 75% of all dogs euthanized in shelters and 25% of all reported abuse cases in history. No dog is born mean. TV shows such as Animal Planet's "Pit Bulls and Parolees" do an excellent job of showing this. The pit bulls rescue center the show follows has recused hundreds of abandoned, beaten and neglected pit bulls. Although not every dog can bounce back from the abuse of their owners, many dogs are rehabilitated and adopted into loving homes. If people continue to educate the public about this misunderstood breed, one day we will stop pit bull discrimination. Sources http://atts.org/breed-statistics/statistics-page1/ https://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/dog-fighting/breed-specific-legislation http://www.pittieloverescue.org/breed-info/faqs/
The reason why Pit Bulls are aggressive is because it’s their nature and that’s the way they’re born. Everyone that is afraid of Pit Bulls says it’s the dog's fault and that it's their nature to fight and kill, but honestly it’s the owners fault for making them that way. “‘Though Pit Bulls have strong jaws and, like most dogs will hold onto their prey after biting it. There is no evidence that a Pit Bulls jaw are anatomically different from those of other breeds’”(Lallanilla). They are more likely than any other breeds to grab a hold of something and shake it. The reason why
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 is a protector to children and the bulky build of pit bulls makes them a very easy breed to target. These opinions have severely skewed the reputation of pit bulls that were originally bred to be nanny dogs and take care of small children....
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there is a “great deal of confusion associated with the label ‘Pit Bull,’” as it does not refer to a single breed of dog, but rather to a group of breeds with similar characteristics1. These characteristics include short hair, a wide skull and shoulders, muscle definition, stocky build and a deep jawline, the combination of which create a dog that manages to strike fear into a perfect stranger. The term ‘Pit Bull’ is derived from the bulldog, which was originally bred as a hunting dog for large game, but has since developed into a “loyal companion rather than a working dog.”1 Their history as “gripping dogs” for hunters follows them into modern society, as many of these dogs have been inhumanely pitted against one another as well as other animals for sport and for human entertainment1. It is because of these illegal fighting rings that ‘Pit Bull’ type breeds have become the subje...
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...
Pit bulls are believed to have originated in the late 1700’s, when the terriers, typically small dogs bred to catch vermin, were crossbred with bulldogs, a stockier dog whose duty was to catch stray cattle. This produced a dog with a high prey drive with a medium-sized, stocky build and powerful jaws. Contrary to popular belief, the dogs were originally used in the sport of bull-baiting, where dogs would attack the cattle - not other dogs. Since the sport was executed in a pit, the dogs were dubbed ‘pit bulls’ and that name has stuck since. When the sport was banned in 1835, the people who relied on these dogs for an income turned the dogs against each other.
To say “pit bull,” however, is a vague reference to several pit bull types, which are considered separate breeds by registries like the American Kennel Club (AKC). Each type has a slightly different breeding history; many began with the breeding of bulldogs with terriers to produce a loyal, compact and tenacious breed (“American Pit Bull Terrier”). The standard three pit bull types most often mentioned by name in breed-specific legislation include the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. That is not the extent of the legislation, however, which also includes dogs that “substantially conform to the breed standards established by the American Ken...
Thesis Statement: Pit bulls are like any breed of dogs that needs to be handled properly by their owners because they can be taught to be less aggressive and more loyal.
...ports Illustrated cover photo of a pit bull (Pit Bull Rescue Central, "Breed Information”). Dog fighting made a comeback during the 1980s and the pit bull became the favorite macho dog for dog fighters. The dogs were trained to kill or be killed. Pit bulls were also the preferred guard dog for gangs, thugs and criminals. Since the supporters and detractors of pit bulls hold such disparate opinions regarding the ferocity of the breeds, it is only hoped that further discussion and education will help resolve the sad fate that awaits these unfortunate animals. Simply placing all the blame on the breeds will not solve the problems of dog fighting, overbreeding, aggressive training, and excessive euthanizations. Lastly, the biased, sensationalistic publicity of horrific dog attacks which has destroyed the reputation of the once beloved All American Dog must cease.
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)
The name pit bull is used loosely to categorize many “bully breeds” of dogs. Several breeds that are often referred to as pit bulls are the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, Bull Terrier and most commonly, the American Pit Bull Terrier. When statistics on “pit bulls” are taken, people are actually comparing a group of dogs rather than individual breeds. Several communities have enacted BSL, and many have repealed this legislation because it simply does not work. Topeka, Ks.
Yet, the studies that have been done on the temperament of pit bulls show otherwise. One study done by The American Temperament Test Society showed that 86.8% of the American pit bull terriers passed the test. Their pass rate was higher than the golden retriever which only 85.2% passed or beagles in where only 78.2% passed. The average pass rate for all breeds combined was 83% (American Temperament Test Society). Another study done by Stefanie Ott showed that there was no indication of extreme aggression behavior in the bull terrier bloodline to be found. Additionally, there were no significant differences when they compared bull terriers to golden retrievers and other breeds concerning aggression towards human beings. The study actually found that the dogs possessed excellent social skills and the ability to communicate competently and to solve conflicts (132-137). These studies help to prove the group of breeds that fall into the pit bull classification do not have a genetic predisposition to violence and actually have a great temperament. The first study even shows that they have a better temperament than the average
Imagine your a little child sitting on your driveway, and then a pit bull comes up and attacks you. You have to go to the hospital, doesn't sound fun for an eight year old, does it? A lot of people think that pit bulls should be banned for that reason, they are dangerous. A lot of people also think that pit bulls are important too, and they shouldn't be banned. A ban on pit bulls is the best way to keep people safe.
Proof of this is in a newspaper editorial called The Media and the Pit Bull it said “The media intentionally over-reports incidents involving pit bulls, while keeping silent on attacks commited by dogs with better reputations, such as labradors.” It also said “If a dogs breed is unknown news media will often call it a pit bull.” Since they do this it makes pit bulls seem even worse and more likely to need to be banned. Would you like it if someone said that a pit bull attack happened near you and maybe a rottweiler or even some small little chihuahua did it? Then people might think that anyone that has a pit bull in the area that that was their dog when it
A lot of people misunderstand the pit bull breeds. They are mistreated and put down for their looks and background. When someone thinks of a pit bull they think of this bad dog who's going the bite them, but really its all on how they are raised. Many of pit bulls are just big babies, and love the attention to cuddle, and give lots of kisses. Any dog can bite you or get into a fight with another dog. Based on researchers decisions and calculations the most aggressive breed is the Dachshund. They also discovered that that one in five have bitten or attempted to bite someone they did not know and one in twelve have went after their owners. Chihuahuas were in second place, and Jack Russells were the third most aggressive
A stigma has been created of hostile qualities being correlated with pit bulls. Before this stigma, the breed was being used to fulfill tasks the owners needed assistance with— like hunting down predators on farms. Many are also unaware of the history of pit bulls and how they were originally bred to protect households. The reputation of pit bulls went downhill when people decided to exploit their protective nature and use them for dog fights. Eventually, people believed that these animals were dangerous because of the stories and the name “pit bull” became tainted. The dog shouldn’t be punished, the owner who caused the harmful behavior should be.