Many pit bulls are punished for the wrongdoings of their owners. Though pit bulls are a fighting dog they are not always dangerous. Pit bulls are rejected from society because their owners teach them to fight and to maim. In a position statement on pit bulls it exclaims, “Dogs used for fighting needed to be routinely handled by people; therefore aggression toward people was not tolerated. Any dog that behaved aggressively toward a person was culled or killed, to avoid passing on such an undesirable trait,”(Position Statement on Pit bulls). For a pit bull to be a nasty harmful dog they have to be pressured and trained by their owners to fight. Though it sounds barbarous it still happens. Dog fighting is an illegal sport and pit bulls are the …show more content…
Pit bulls are actually bred for companionship and comfort. An article talks about this, it states, “They were descended from the original English bull-baiting dogs, which were which were bred to take on animals much larger than themselves, including bulls and bears. Nowadays though, they are commonly bred for work and companionship,”(Blame the Breeder, not the Breed. Pit bulls deserve a good life (COLUMN)). Pit bulls aren’t originally vicious. On a website article on how pit bulls got such a bad reputation it pronounces, “There’s no mention of pit bulls as vicious and no call for a ban of the breed, just a human who is held responsible for inducing the dogs to attack. Ironically, though, it is in Florida forty years after this incident that the first breed-specific ban is enacted,”(2017). When you look at a pit bull what do you think? That is a vicious disgusting creature who’ll kill on command but, if you look at a pug you think that it’s so cute. The percentage of a pug biting you is higher than a pit bull. On a website article, it says, “While more Pit Bulls bit someone, they weren’t more likely to bite
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.
Has society unfairly ostracized the entire breed or is the vicious reputation true? Critics claim that pit bulls attack indiscriminately and often without warning. In a study taken from U.S. and Canada press reports between 1982 and 2014, Merritt Clifton, editor of Animals 24-7, found that pit bulls were the most responsible for inflicting bodily harm (as cited by DogsBite.org). However, it should be noted that attacks involving pit bulls often are catastrophic and result in responses from police and paramedics and news media reporters. According to news reports studied by DogsBite.org for “the 10-year period from 2005 to 2014, pit bulls killed 203 Americans and accounted for 62% of the total recorded deaths” (DogsBite.org). All of the pit bull breeds possess powerful jaws, and Nicholas Dodman, author of Dogs Behaving Badly, reports “when they do chomp down, it can be a bloodbath” (as quoted by Rivenburg).
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
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.
Are all pit bulls subjected to the life of gangs or forced into a fighting ring? No, but it is the dogs that are and have become violent because of their mistreatment that get in the media which leads to the public fearing all pit bulls. There are often cases of apartment buildings, rental homes or even whole towns banning the breeds without question. A case that is reaching media today is in Moreauville Louisiana, the town passed a ban that originally stated that everyone who owned a Pitt bull (or Rottweiler) had to get rid of their animals before the first of December or the “vicious” animals will be confiscated for "further disposition” and the owners will be forced to pay a fine. One of the dogs who is in danger from this ban is Zeus, a pitt bull who acts as a therapy dog for his owner O’Hera Owens who has severe neck problems that leave her in a brace and wheel chair. (Greenquist) Zeus is a loving member of his family who is being discriminated against just for his breed. Is it fair for a family to lose someone they love just because of how other dogs have acted? Or how the monster’s at the ends of their leashes forced them to act? Zeus is a prime example of two things, one that bans are doing more harm than good and that with the right upbringing pitt bulls can be sweet and loving animals once given the chance. However not all pitts even get that chance to have a loving home like Zeus – shelters across the country are full of Pit bull terriers who need homes but rarely get them because of their
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...
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)
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 ...
Roughly about 30% of all dogs are pit bulls that are taken to shelters which depending on the area that figure can raise up to 60%. Not every pit bull rescued were a part of dog fighting but John Goodwin, of the Humane Society, says most of the dogs have scars and marks to show for their fights. The fate of these dogs remain to a judge that determines whether the fight dogs need to be euthanized. Since these dogs were trained to be aggressive and attacks other animals 9 times out of 10 they are to be put down. The dogs that haven’t been a part of dog fighting fit into a family and shows no sign of
Even though pit bulls are the majority of dog attacks anybody hears about, they are loyal and caring dogs. All they want is the love and approval of their owners. They will do anything that they are told to do. Their strength, stamina, and speed fuel the passion they have for their owners. Pit bulls are not vicious by nature; they are good guard dogs fueled by the love for their family; and, they are definitely loyal friends. They have a lower temperament than many other well-known breeds; therefore, they are not vicious by nature at all. They are very strong guard dogs. Pit bulls are known to be a scary breed, so people stay away from them. They have an amazing amount of speed and stamina that they can use to chase predators away, too. Pit bulls are the best friends anyone could ask for. They are loyal and loving creatures that just want to please their family. They are good dogs to train to be around children. If the children are a part of the dog’s family, then the dog will protect the child at all costs. Pit bulls are a good breed to have as a family
One known thing about Pits are that they are called the nanny dogs because of their love for children. These dogs are also used for therapy dogs because they have excellent temperaments. They are used for rescue work and protecting work because of their higher pain tolerance and durability. One article about Pit Bulls states, “Dogs not breed or trained for dog fighting usually display defeat in combat by rolling over and exposing a light underside”(Gladwell, 2016). That shows submissiveness and understanding about who the top dog or owner is. This also proves that it’s how you train and treat your Pit Bull. If you raise your dog aggressively or even play with him aggressively, no doubt the dog will show later signs of aggressiveness. That goes for any dog. It also shows that you have to be careful. Some Pits have been raised fighting and that’s all they know. You must be kind and understand the history of your pet. But all in all, these are great dogs. In over 28 States, Pit Bulls are ranked favorite
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
Pit bulls and several other breeds of dogs that are thought to be overly aggressive and violent are being banned in cities and towns. Are pit bulls a dangerous breed or are they just like any other dog? Many people believe that they are in fact dangerous and aggressive by nature but this is not true. Pitt bulls are being falsely accused for being a violent breed and because of the negative aspects associated with the breed, such as dog fights and vicious attacks, they are being unfairly targeted in breed specific bans.
Most people only read the bad things that other people write about Pit-Bulls, that they can’t see the good. People made myths about the Pit-Bulls powerful jaw and how they can lock them. Some of the Pit-Bulls are trained to fight humans and other dogs by their owners who are interested in making money and providing entertainment for other people. “Mistrust leads to suspicious attention, which leads to the breed being implicated in more negative activity than other breeds, which worsens and perpetuates the breed's reputation (Paul Ciampanelli).” A lot of people believe that they are bad dogs, but it is mostly the owners and media to
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.