Pit bulls and terrier breeds were created in early 19th century, for the popular spectator sports of bull- and bear-baiting. In 1898 the UKC, Britain's equivalent of the AKC, named these bull dogs the American Pit Bull Terrier. The AKC decided to recognize the breed in the early 1930s--but under a new name. Intending to separate it from its pit-fighting past, the AKC named it the American Staffordshire terrier, also known as a pit bull. These dogs have been used for protection not only in homes but in war, with the police and even with celebrities. Unfortunately, this same breed of dog now has a bad reputation, being called a vicious breed of dog and bully’s. I would have to disagree though, I believe that yes, there are some very mean pit bulls out there but there are also very nice and even famous ones. Not all pit bulls can be bad they aren’t born that way, they are raised that way. Saying a pit bull is born aggressive is kind of like saying a baby is born to hate.…
We all know the terrifying image of a snarling Pit Bull lunging at a dog, or even worse, a person. This image evokes fear and tremendous alarm. For many, any time a person is hurt by a dog, this is the first image to come to mind. Most people don’t see Pit Bulls the way I do. I know them as loving, loyal and funny creatures. Pit Bulls do not deserve their undesirable reputation.…
The National Caine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds of dog and Pit bulls placed the 4th highest with 95% passing rate. With this fact it can only be how the dog is raised. People who own pit bulls should be obligated to train their dog well. With any dog you need to train it so the owner has the upper hand. Owners need to know that they have to be dominant and for their dog to be obedient toward their orders. Dog lovers need to do more to help this breed work toward a better reputation.…
One of the most serious threats that pit bulls face is breed specific legislation (BLS), often referred to as breed banning. A breed ban is a law where certain breeds of dog, often “pit bulls” are banned in certain areas. Breed specific legislation has been “developed as a reaction to the sense of a growing dog bite problem in communities (whether real or perceived)” (Wisch, 2008). American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and mixed-breed dogs with the characteristics of these breeds are all often categorized as pit bulls under these laws. In reality as reported by an article by Erin McCormick and Tom Wallack in the San Francisco Chronicle, “After all, German shepherds killed more people than any other dog in the late 1970s, when many people favored the breed for its fierce reputation. Then, for two…
The existence of animals has been vital to the very development of mankind. Through hunting, fishing, and domestication of certain breeds, man has learned to live, for the most part at least, alongside these creatures. One case in particular, the domesticated wolf and modern-day dog (Canis lupus familiaris) has become a cornerstone of modern families, with an estimated forty-six percent of American households owning at least one dog (Humane Society). Some dogs, like the dogs known as pit-bulls, tend to have a negative implication surrounding them. This idea that pit-bulls are aggressive and dangerous stems from the fact that there are owners who train the dog to be vicious, and to attack, and certain myths surrounding the breed. This has led to the negative reputation that surrounds the breeds commonly classified as pit bulls.…
People say pit-bulls are dangerous and that they are monsters; however, humans are the real danger and the real monsters. Pit-bulls should not be blamed for their owners mistakes; therefore, people should not blame an entire dog breed for the few who have been trained to be aggressive and mean. The owners should be at fault, not the breed of the dog; the breed’s owners have raised them to be aggressive and mean. Although, in certain people’s opinions, they are mean to others, but they are actually great dogs to have as pets. Humans have always been the real monster in these situations, yet most people do not see it that way. Society sees only the worst, they will notice when pit-bulls fight with others dog’s or act aggressively towards a human; however, they never blame the owner. There are owners out there that train their dogs to protect them or be aggressively with others dog’s; thus, due to their idiotic move, society looks…
Humane society’s get 1,500 to 1,600 pit bulls every year and only 2 out of 10 find a home, the rest are put down to be euthanized. Many people associate pit bulls with aggression from the stories the media makes about them. Nobody realizes that most pit bulls are gentle giants. I can vouch for that because I myself had a beautiful pit mix. Although she was only a mix and not a full pit she still had a lot of the characteristics and physical features of a pit bull. She had the wide shoulders and stocky build and big head. She was all white with little brown liver spots all over her body and she had one heavily spotted ear and the warmest brown eyes almost the color of a melted chocolate chip in a chocolate chip cookie just out of the oven. She was my best friend and her name was Sophie. She has passed away she was still an important part of my life as a young kid because like most other pit bulls she was caring and sweet and she lived up to the nickname that pits have of “The nursemaids dog” because they are so nurturing and reliable to kids. All my dog would want to do is lick your face she was like a mother on four legs. She was always looking out for me when I was a kid. Although pit bulls have the means to be dangerous because they are so muscular and stocky nobody really pays attention to the nurture trait they have because so many owners have taken that trait away with breeding so they can fight. So nobody sees that it’s the owners fault for the aggression traits the dogs now possess.…
3. Media’s Influence Over public’s perception of the breed as well as irresponsible owners contribution to this perception (Pit Bull panic – article)…
When you see a pit bull, what is the first thing that goes through your mind for some it’s a sense of fear and for others it is the thought that this breed is misunderstood? Have you ever stopped and thought about if the pit bull breed is really a vicious breed, or are they just miss interpreted due to the reputation that others have given them along with the many myths that are attached to them. What about the owners of these precious animals. Do you ever think that they are the reason that their pit bull may be a vicious dog? Many times people speculate to learn about them they would much rather allow the myths and things they hear through the media to set their mind that the pit bull breed is a vicious breed. Many people do not know the history behind the pit bull or where their reputation comes from. Too often this particular breed becomes a victim for something that they have no control over. Its time to find the fact and finally make a decision based off of the fact that we find. Pit bulls can be as gentle as any other…
Pit Bulls, alongside Terriers, were also very famous in the American military in World War I. Their first unattractive appearance in the news was in 1947 when a dog owner unleashed 27 dogs to attack a woman (Jon Bastian). Again, it began as the dog’s owner’s fault, but the BSL law does not even recognize this fact. Change the law so that it is aimed toward behavior and not breed specificity. Some suggestions I would give to the regulators is to focus more on who they are letting own these animals. Some of these owners are hosting dog fights, which are illegal, and uneducated breeders are breeding aggressive dogs with aggressive dogs. It should be made harder for these people to get these so called “dangerous” breeds of dogs. One way it would be made harder is to present them with more paper work that is detailed and tedious when they come to apply for a dog. Part of the process should include an initial house check before the dog is adopted to make sure there are no home grown puppy mills and/or dog fighting arenas in the home, which some adoption agencies practice currently. Another part of the process should be an educational video that is mandatory to watch at the facility of purchase with a test at the end. To pass the test the potential dog owner has to make a 95% or above to be considered a potential adopter. Another very useful suggestion would…
Sergeant Stubby was his name and he survived being wounded twice, captured a German spy, and lastly saved his platoon from poison gas (A Brief History of the American Pit Bull Terrier). This is what was known and heard about the breed back then and now the media only can talk about how a Pit bull attacked a dog and some kids. The media including television, radio, and social media sources. They never talk about other dog breeds doing the same thing. How about the collie who bit the police officer and not the Pit bull. How about the Pit bulls that are used for therapy dogs at shelters to mentally and emotionally heal abused children? What about the Pit bulls that are helping soldiers that have come home from war cope with post-traumatic stress disorder? There are thousands of stories of Pit bulls doing things, that I guess the media does not find interesting. Here’s one example, Bryan Bickell, a player on the Chicago Blackhawks, started a foundation for Pit bulls that work with abused children and it was only shown on the news because he was raising money at a restaurant. All they show is Bryan Bickell making pitas. There was not one picture of the breed with children or of the breed at all. It just goes to show how the media will shelter the viewers from seeing what the breed can actually…
Despite this common opinion, an experiment was once performed. Fifty Pit Bulls were rescued from a fighting ring. Forty nine of the fifty dogs were rehabilitated. Some went to shelters such as Best Friends and many are well-loved family members today. The testing used to determine these dogs' ability to fit into society was exhaustive, extensive, and carefully carried out. Pit Bulls are different from other dogs and potential owners need to be made aware of the facts before considering rescuing or purchasing one. For example, a dog lover who has had Bichons all her life will be sorely surprised unless she does her homework and understand the bully breeds. Pits need a lot of structure, a very pronounced human alpha, training, exercise and lots of attention. The owner needs consistency, time, energy and quite possibly some…
Pit bulls are not a bad breed of dogs as people say they are. They're nice dogs when treated right. They are only aggressive but they're breeding and training. They can't be bad dogs because they don't have a conscious. Michael Vick proved the dogs could be rehabilitated and put Into good homes. All but one dog was ruled safe from aggression. Would it surprise you to learn that pit bulls used to be America’s darlings? Before the mid-80s, stories of pit bull attacks are practically non-existent. There is even some confusion over exactly which breed of dog is a pit bull — the definition includes the American pit bull terrier, the Staffordshire terrier and, at times, the bulldog. This confusion seems to have dogged the breed from the beginning,…
If we were to say all people are bad because some of us kill people would just look at you stupid, Why is it any different for pit bulls? Pitbulls often get a bad reputation, for many reasons. Some breeds are called pit bulls when they attack and they actually aren't even a pit, Media also draws a lot more attention to the pitbull breed than any other dog breed when they attack. Pit bulls are one of the most trainable dogs, making them a prime choice for fighting dog. No dog breed is born violent, pit bulls are no different.…
Owners used to put their Pit Bulls into illegal fighting, which is part of their bad rep. Also, when reporters do cases on dog attacks, they say that they won’t report it unless it was a Pit Bull, or sometimes they’ll even lie in an article about what breed of dog it is and just say it was a Pit Bull. This is wrong. Pit Bulls should not be mistreated like this!…