Pit Bull Behavior; Born or Raised mean?
Pit Bulls are supposedly an aggressive breed of dog and in places like Oklahoma, and Canada the breed is banned. People treat Pit Bulls like they are criminals and they deserve to be treated as such. However, Pit Bulls are one of the most misunderstood and mistreated breed of dogs, mainly because Pit Bulls are raised by bad people to fight or those old fighting dogs get loose and attack people, thus making their reputation a lot worse based on bad people ruining a good dog and making them aggressive. Pit bulls deserve so much more than they are given in life.
Pit bulls are one of the nicest dog breeds you’ll ever meet, they have the best temperament, and they are so good with kids and yet they are still
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seen as dangerous. “Pit bulls are simply, undeniably, the most outgoing and gentle-spirited of breeds; they don’t even make good guard dogs because they’re so people-friendly” (Advocate). Pit bulls are just misunderstood and deserve to be given a chance before people automatically assume they are bad dogs. According to Rebecca Skloot, “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%)” (Skloot). Clearly, Pit bulls aren’t as bad as everyone is making them out to be and yet they still get banned in cities. According to the article, “It’s unfathomable to me how many strangers will be loving all over our dogs out on the street somewhere but then suddenly recoil in horror when they inquire as to what kind of dog is happily allowing their unruly toddler to “ride” him and stick their stubby little fingers into his mouth” (Advocate). People love playing with dogs they see on the sidewalk or on the street and yet as soon as they know it’s a Pit bull or Pit bull breed they recoil in fear and drag their kids away like their kids were being mauled to death, it’s just unfair to the breed. According to Ben Rehder, “One day, the cat became so bold he wandered in through an open door, and Ezzy was on him in a flash. The cat hunkered down and prepared for the worst. Ezzy began to wrestle playfully with him, in the same way i roughhoused with her. The cat was indignant about the situation, but he came away in one slobbery, confused piece” (Rehder). Pit bulls are believed to be so mean that they would kill anything that comes near it but as can be seen, his Pit bull didn’t hurt that cat. As can be seen so far, Pit bulls are just loving, good temperamented, gentle dogs. They just want to love everyone and everything. Breed bans are slowly taking over popular cities and some countries don't even allow the breed, Pit bulls have a hard time to get adopted out. According to the article, “All but tiny number of the tortured Michael Vick dogs were able to be placed into loving forever homes with kids and other pets, so clearly a case of nurture and circumstance-- not that certain types of dogs are “born bad” P.S.: Their jaws don’t lock: that’s a myth” (Advocate). Pit bulls can be rehabilitated by giving them all the love and time to heal that they need. Very few Pit bulls are given the chance to be rehabilitated to get a forever home. Pit bulls are not born bad, they are raised that way. According to the Current Events article, “Scott and others say a few irresponsible owners give Pit bulls a bad name by raising them to fight. They point to a government study that said laws banning specific breeds are ineffective because any breed of dog can be trained to attack” (Current Events). The Pit bull ban is really stupid because all breeds can be trained to attack, thus, Pit bulls are being banned because bad owners who trained them to fight gave them a terrible reputation and people distrust Pit Bulls based on those peoples actions. According to Rebecca Skloot’s article, “Breed bans don’t work. As with most behavior-related issues-- whether it’s overeating or aggression-- the dogs are rarely the problem. The owners are. A recent study backs this up: owners of “high-risk” breeds are four times as likely to have criminal records as owners of pets other dogs. One study found that nearly 25% of all fatal dog-bite cases, owners had been involved in illegal dog fighting; more than half the time, the dogs are chained, which contributes to aggressive behavior. What we really need is bad-owner bans” (Skloot). Bad-owner bans should honestly be a real thing instead of banning innocent dog breeds from being owned. It’s not the dogs, it’s how the people raised their dogs and treat them as they grew up. Thus, Pitbulls and pitbull breeds shouldn’t be banned. Any dog can be trained to attack and bad owners should be banned not the dog. Pitbulls also don’t have lock jaw, they are just sweet dogs with a bad reputation. In Britain, they are making kill warrants for pitbulls and not giving them any kind of chance. According to Newsweek, “The canines in question are called, in Britain, “American” pit bull terriers (as distinguished from the ever-so-patriotic- British bulldog). Class, too, came into play… John Dougall, chairman of the upper-crust London Kennel Club, sniffed that his organization, certainly, “has never recognized this breed and can see no merit in it.” So? Bring out the death warrants” (Newsweek). Pit bulls don’t deserve to be killed just because the chairman of upper-crust London Kennel Club doesn’t recognize the breed and doesn’t care if they are killed. Now, according to Newsweek, “A top official of the Royal Society of the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals said his staff would not be used as “state executioners,” while animal lovers expressed worries that this notion of the canine muzzling might get out of control” (Newsweek). The official that refuses to be used as a executioners for all those dogs is a good man because Pit bulls aren’t that bad. According to the article, “...the British government suddenly decreed last week that all members of the breed should be dealt with like an American werewolf in London and, yes, killed. That’s right: 10,000 dogs on death row...The decision was provoked by horrific press accounts of two incidents in which young children were mauled by the beasts. “Such dogs,” declared Prime Minister John Major, “have no place in our homes” (Newsweek). It’s unbelievably messed up they are going to kill 10,000 dogs because they are Pit bulls, they are truly not as aggressive as everyone thinks they are. Britain needs to finally recognize Pit bulls as a breed and stop creating kill warrants for the breed based on what they assume will happen with the Pits. Thus, in Britain they are banning Pitbulls and having them killed because they just don’t recognize the breed; however, killing or even thinking about killing over 10,000 Pitbulls over there is really unfair. The cops in Denver, Miami, and Cincinnati are looking for Pit bulls because of their bans. The gentle nature of Pitbulls is not really recognized when it should be. According to the Current Events, “The cops are on the lookout for Pit bulls, stocky dogs with big necks and wide jaws. The dogs are popular pets that were originally bred in the 17th century for fighting. But Pit bulls aren’t always furry friends. Some have fatally attacked people. Denver officials say Pit bulls are a menace to society-- and they’re banned dogs as a result. Miami, Cincinnati, and a handful of other cities and towns have also banned the breed. Oklahoma officials are even discussing a statewide ban” (Current Events). Pitbulls shouldn’t be banned in Oklahoma, Denver, Miami, or cincinnati or anywhere else because the breed wasn’t born to hurt human. Pitbulls have no human aggression when they are born, if they are aggressive towards people then something going on in that dogs life made it that way because no pit bull is human aggressive unless made that way. According to Ben Rehder, “Would this dog--this sweet, frisky pup--rip my throat open while i was sleeping? Would she terrorize toddlers or attack my mailman? It’s bred into them, right? The killer instinct? Well, no. Not this one, anyway. What she did do was annoy my visitors with her over affectionate personality” (Rehder). Pitbulls are good dogs and its seen clearly in this article written by Ben. According to the Current Events, “...animal lovers are doggone mad. They say that Pitbulls are smart, lovable dogs -- and that the bans are misdirected and unfair” (Current Events). Pitbulls are being banned all over the countries and even other countries because of the few who are actually aggressive and caused such a bad name for them. The ban on Pitbulls is ridiculous and absolutely unfair because any dogs can be trained to hurt people and yet Pitbulls are the only target, yet, chihuahuas bite people four times more than any other dog breed. According to Rehder, “As Ezzy grew older, she turned into quite an impressive specimen: 70 pounds of barrel-chested muscle, with a head like a chunk of granite. Was her massive jaws intimidating? Absolutely. Could she have wreaked havoc if she’d been so inclined? Without question. But she didn’t have it in her” (Rehder). His Pitbull looked really intimidating but yet she isn’t because she doesn’t have it in her to be mean to anyone or anything. Thus, Pitbulls are being taken out of people's homes and euthanized for just being pitbulls, and people who are responsible don’t have anything against them at all. Pitbulls deserve a much better life than they are given. In Conclusion, Pitbulls are being banned in places like Cincinnati, Miami, Denver, England, and more because of bad owners making their dogs aggressive; thus making the outlook on Pitbulls and bully breeds look very bad.
Pitbulls deserve a better chance at life then what they are given and yet because everyone is afraid of being attacked by Pitbulls thousands are being put to sleep for no reason. Breed ban legislation is ridiculous and shouldn’t be around anymore. Now, Doberman Pinschers were the bad dog of the sixties, German shepards was the bad dogs of the seventies, Rottweilers were the bad dogs of the eighties, and Pitbulls became the bad dog in the nineties. Pitbulls may the bad dogs for right now but it will eventually change to another dog breed. It's a myth that Pitbulls lock their jaws and don’t let go, Pitbulls aren’t born aggressive towards people in the slightest; if a Pitbull becomes aggressive towards people it’s because of something that being taught to the dog or something happening in that dogs life is making it that way. Social media is one of the absolute main reasons people hate Pitbulls and think they are so aggressive, Like in the news or in newspapers, if someone is attacked by a Pitbull then the headline would say something like, “Vicious Pitbull attacks someone”; yet, if someone is attacked by a doberman or a rottweiler the headline would say, “Vicious dog attacks couple”. Pitbulls are being given a terrible reputation and they shouldn’t be because Pitbulls are one of the most well behaved dogs there is and yet no one sees it unless its by people who have actually owned a Pitbull or have worked with them. So Pitbulls deserve to be given a chance before everyone starts deciding that they need to be put to sleep or
banned.
They have twisted the dogs mind into thinking that they have to fight to protect something all the time. Pit bulls are classified as vicious and harmful animals. This is discrimination and is because of media skewing stories, ignorant people that refuse to listen to hard facts, and public attitudes and opinions. These laws against breeds are unconstitutional; there is no legislative basis for these laws. Pit bulls, like any other dog, grow in their temperament.
What words come to mind when one hears the words “pit bull?” How about aggressive, violent, or dangerous? In many cases, this isn’t actually true. Because of the negative media attention for attacks on humans and other dogs that pit bull breeds receive, many Americans place a stigma on pit bulls, tagging them as dangerous and vicious. This stigma typically applies to all pit bulls, not just the ones that are actually dangerous. To remedy the issue of dangerous dogs attacking other beings, the legislative act known as breed-specific legislation is being debated throughout the United States. Gary J. Patronek, a veterinary doctor, defines breed-specific legislation as a law than “bans, restricts, or imposes conditions on ownership of specific breeds or dogs presumed to pose greater risk of biting people” (788). Breed-specific legislation is commonly debated in communities that have recently experienced a dog-bite related injury or fatality (Patronek, Slater, and Marder 788). However, this law would ban all dogs of the pit bull breed or any related dog based solely on their breed, rather than disposition. Therefore, breed-specific legislation should not be enacted throughout the United States because is biased against pit bulls and is ineffective in reducing dog-bite attacks by ignoring other aggressive dog breeds.
Americans have been debating the morality of euthanizing animals for decades, including an impassioned argument about the quickness to kill the Pit Bull breed. Advocates that support euthanization of pit bulls use their aggression and danger to justify the killings. The perception of danger is not based in reality, but rather comes from media exposure. Most pit bulls do not exhibit aggressive behavior and those that do are trained to do so by irresponsible owners. Euthanization is disproportionately higher for pit bulls, and similar breeds, despite a lack of evidence that they are more aggressive than other dogs. Euthanization of pit bulls is not justified because pit bulls are not naturally aggressive, have an inaccurate reputation from media coverage, and do not present any greater danger than other dog breeds that are euthanized at lower rates.
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.
Pit bulls are targeted in this ineffective solution to dog attacks. Perhaps the reason why pit bulls are feared by society 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. Although BLS is not even close to being on the same scale as the Holocaust, it is targeting and killing a specific group of living beings. Breed Specific Legislation is genocide of this breed. Denver alone has killed at least 3,500 pit bulls. It’s heart wrenching to think about how many families lost their steadfast companions because of the ignorance of others. A common phrase among pit bull supporters is, “Judge the deed: not the breed”. This rings true; if we are to bring justice to the breed, then we need to abolish BSL. True pit bulls are a far from the monsters they are made to
There are plenty controversial issues about bully breeds and whether they are acceptable or safe dogs to own. In July a woman was mauled in her yard and killed by a dog in Montreal. Due to this unfortunate incident the mayor Denis Coderre created a bill called BSL (Breed-Specific Legislation) which was approved by the legislation. This bill states that determined by their breed or pitbull features “American Pitbull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs or any dog with strains of these breeds” will be unadoptable; they must wear a muzzle in public as well as a leash that’s 4 feet long and in most cases they will be euthanized due to their breed. BSL should be reversed because the real problem is irresponsible dog owners, the irresponsible owners will just switch breeds and any dog has the potential to hurt someone.
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
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.
Owning a pit bull in today’s society people normally have one of two reactions: Either people love them or is frightened of them. There are many myths about pit bulls, which people confuse with the actual truth about this dog breed. A common myth about a pit bull is that they have locking jaws. However, people who fear pit bulls or have little knowledge about them base their opinion off of what others say. But, pit bulls do not have locking jaws, they have powerful muscles in their jaws that enable them to keep it closed an make people believe that it is locked up. Additionally, supporters of pit bulls know that these days are very powerful and have intimidating appearance, but these dogs are not “killer machines” as the media portrays them to be. Pit bulls are just like any other dog. It depends on how a pit bull or any dog is raised by their owner to determine the characteristics of the dog. I have raised my dog CoCo since she was a little puppy and she is just as sweet as she can be.
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)
Since then, there has been a constant argument about whether or not this breed should be allowed to be kept as a pet. No one looks at pit bulls as normal dogs anymore. They are viewed as monsters. They have a crazy amount of strength, speed, and stamina. This can be used against them or for them depending on who is debating the issue of their legality.
The study 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 breed. It is the bad owners that give the pit bull a bad name.
Denver and Miami are among the more than 300 municipalities that ban pit bulls (Tullis 54). One reason that pit bulls are being banned is because of the false ideas that they are violent dogs by nature. Another reason is people’s associate pit bulls with dogfighting and vicious attacks. Although it is true that many people have been attacked by pit bulls, it is unfair to say that pit bulls are the only dogs that attacks people. Debora Bresch of the ASPCA says “laws against individual dog breeds unfairly punish countless dogs that have never caused any trouble”(A Fierce Dog Debate
There are those individuals who may argue that pit bulls are loving pets that only suffer negative publicity from the media, the facts on credible websites speak a different story. In many of the incidents the owners have said that the dog had never done anything like this before. Pit bulls who live with good owners have still hurt and killed people and other dogs. According to the Channel 11 news in Mooresville, North Carolina, “A 5-year-old girl sustained serious injuries Sunday afternoon after she was attacked by her family's pit bull, officials said.” Officers said, “The dog had the child by the head and shoulder and continued to be aggressive when emergency responders arrived.” This was the family pet, just minutes before this the pit bull attacked the little girl, it had killed the neighbor’s dog. If the owner is at fault, then why aren't badly treated Golden Retrievers and Labradors killing and maiming people? The reality is that pit bulls are dangerous dogs. Pit bulls are bred, not trained, to kill, and the statistics speak for themselves. Pit bulls need to be banned. There are so many breeds of dogs, is it worth putting your and others lives in danger for this
Many people have this preconceived notion that Pit bulls are an aggressive dangerous breed of dog that is always ready to turn on anyone at any time even for any reasons. This idea is so ingrained into people's minds that some cities, counties, and home complexes have “Breed Specific Laws” (Also known as BSL) which can prohibit people of owning certain dog breeds in that area. BSL is really a form of discrimination against dogs. Without any knowledge of the dog or how well it has been trained, they are just banned based entirely on the breed of dog.