The Misunderstood Pit Bull

The mere mention of the words ‘Pit bull’ and you have a controversial subject.  Those who have owned a pit bull love the breed and those who have not tend to let the negative press and media make the decision for them.  It’s hard not to listen to the media when the only dog attacks stories one hears about involve a Pit bull.  For example, if a non-Pit bull (say a husky for example) kills or attacks a child it will make the local paper.  The paper may even do a follow-up story, but the story pretty much dies.  If a Pit bull kills or attacks a child it will: make the front page of every newspaper state wide; be picked up by national news channels; be covered by journalists throughout the development of the story; lead to charges against the irresponsible pet owner whose case will be reported on thoroughly; cause media to put out related links to other Pit bull attacks; and inspire politicians to call for BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) and ban Pit bulls.  (To read an actual example of this process, check out StopBSL.com.)

Consider the story of Lennox, a bulldog lab mix.  In May 2010, Lennox was removed from his home in Belfast, North Ireland. The United Kingdom has a ban on Pit bull type dogs, and after Lennox displayed protective behaviors when strangers entered his home, the dog warden determined Lennox was a Pit bull type dog and would be removed from the home and euthanized. Lennox's family has made legal appeals in an attempt to prevent his execution.   A DNA test proved that Lennox was actually a bulldog lab mix, not a Pit bull, but the test has not been allowed to be submitted to the court as evidence. Professional dog trainers and animal behaviorists, Victoria Stillwell and Mic Martin, have spoken on behalf of Lennox, noting that his behavior is typical of any dog protecting their home.

Pit bulls have become the scapegoat for all ill-behaved dogs; being judged solely based on their looks and not based on their actions.  The fact is that Pit bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs.  The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested the temperament of 122 breeds and Pit bulls placed 4^th highest with a 95% passing rate.  So how did Pit bulls get such a bad rep?  Let’s investigate 3 main misconceptions about the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) to see if we can’t find a little understanding.

Misconception 1. Pit bulls are vicious people-haters and people-eaters.

Actually, these dogs tend to be aggressive toward other dogs and animals, not people.  The APBT has a strong instinct to please his/her owner.  The APBT is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet, good with kids and adults.  The APBT is courageous, intelligent and extremely protective of his/her owner and owner’s property, which is why they make such good guard dogs.  In addition to its loyalty and eagerness to please its owner, the APBT will fight any enemy to the death.  Illegal dog fighting exploits these traits and continue to hurt the reputation of the breed.

Misconception 2. Pit bulls are stupid, stubborn, uncontrollable, and cannot be trained.

On the contrary, APBT’s are very intelligent and with the right owner can accomplish many feats.  The APBT has a very strong personality and therefore requires a strong owner.  By strong, I mean someone who understands dog psychology and knows how to properly raise and treat a dog.  If an APBT is raised by a meek owner the dog will come to believe he is boss of the house.  This is when the big problems start to occur, like aggression.  If an APBT has a strong pack leader and a balanced life (training, exercise, socialization) he/she will not only be perfectly behaved in public but will behave well with other animals too.  Many APBT’s are therapy and service dogs, cheering up sick patients and saving lives.  Helen Keller had a Pit bull as her canine companion and helper.  Several APBT’s work on Search-and-Rescue teams across the U.S.  The Little Rascals faithful dog, Petey, was a Pit bull and is referred to as one of the most intelligent Hollywood dogs of all time.  America’s first war dog, Stubby, was a Pit bull who earned several medals during WWI and was honored at the White House.   

Misconception 3. Pit bulls are unsafe around children.

APBT’s can and do make great family pets.  They have a high tolerance for pain so they don’t mind children playing rough with them.  Problems arise when the dog feels the child is a threat, and if this problem isn’t addressed immediately it will quickly escalate.  And as with any breed, no dog should be left alone with an unfamiliar child.  But many families have APBT’s as pets and never have a problem.  As mentioned earlier, the dog from The Little Rascals, Petey, was a Pit bull.  He was around children day after day for countless hours and never hurt anyone.  

We see that Pit bulls get a bad rap because they are a strong breed that needs a strong owner.  When a Pit bull gets into the wrong hands it can mean disaster and unfortunately those few incidents are the ones we hear about, making the American Pit Bull Terrier sound like an unruly breed.  And like any breed, Pit bulls are not right for every household.  Before adding a new dog to your family determine what breed is best for your lifestyle and schedule.  Before adding an American Pit Bull Terrier to your family, do your research on the breed and think about how much experience you have as a dog owner and successful pack leader.  Pit bulls are amazing dogs and can be a great addition to any family, so don't be so quick to judge a book by its cover.