There's a lot of stuff out there about the pit bull "debate." Doing volunteer work I hear no shortage of pit bull "facts" and am constantly amazed at the amount of misinformation there is. People tend to get really worked up about the issue (and I readily admit to being someone who gets worked up by it) so it's sometimes difficult to find a reasoned, objective take on pits as pets. But in the interest of putting out "real" information, I'll give you the straight-up truth:
THEY'RE JUST DOGS
That's it. They are only dogs. No better or worse than any other dog.
Does a labrador's jaw lock? No. A pit bull's doesn't either.
Will a golden retriever suddenly "snap" and attack for no reason? No. A pit bull won't either.
Pit bulls were not bestowed with special powers beyond those of any other dog. Just like any other dog, each pit bull has his own personality. They can be energetic or lazy, love or hate cats, play fetch, jump, be stubborn or have any other of the hundreds of personality traits you might find in a dog. But they're still just dogs and like any other dog, they need homes and companions and families to be a part of.
Sure, just like any other breed they're inclined towards certain traits. Like any other terrier breed (and there are a lot of them) they're more inclined to have a higher prey drive (and a high prey drive is for animals, not people), but that's certainly not a hard and fast rule. Heidi loves cats and seems to take it as a personal insult that the squirrels don't want to actually play with her. But pits have also been bred over many many generationsto be affectionate and loyal towards humans. Pit bulls love people. That's why Nemo tolerates all the stupid things I dress him up in. He likes me and I give him lots of love for his patience.
So, in short, a pit bull doesn't deserve all the hype his fat, square head gets him. In the dog world, he's really nothing special.
Okay, fine ... maybe he's just a little bit special...
Does a labrador's jaw lock? No. A pit bull's doesn't either.
Will a golden retriever suddenly "snap" and attack for no reason? No. A pit bull won't either.
Pit bulls were not bestowed with special powers beyond those of any other dog. Just like any other dog, each pit bull has his own personality. They can be energetic or lazy, love or hate cats, play fetch, jump, be stubborn or have any other of the hundreds of personality traits you might find in a dog. But they're still just dogs and like any other dog, they need homes and companions and families to be a part of.
Sure, just like any other breed they're inclined towards certain traits. Like any other terrier breed (and there are a lot of them) they're more inclined to have a higher prey drive (and a high prey drive is for animals, not people), but that's certainly not a hard and fast rule. Heidi loves cats and seems to take it as a personal insult that the squirrels don't want to actually play with her. But pits have also been bred over many many generationsto be affectionate and loyal towards humans. Pit bulls love people. That's why Nemo tolerates all the stupid things I dress him up in. He likes me and I give him lots of love for his patience.
So, in short, a pit bull doesn't deserve all the hype his fat, square head gets him. In the dog world, he's really nothing special.
Okay, fine ... maybe he's just a little bit special...
p.s. Interested in statistics? Here's one you can toss around in conversation: In temperament tests pits tested better than other "family friendly" breeds like beagles, chihuahuas, and corgis. So next time you meet the Queen you can tell her with authority she should have gone for a pittie instead. ;)
I hear you, Kate!
ReplyDeleteWhen we told people we were getting a doberman, the questions poured in... Why? They're dangerous. etc. etc. Then they meet Eddie and understand.
You can always tell who the knowledgable dog people are. When we bring him to the outdoor mall, there are inevitably people that will turn down a different path just to dodge him, but there are ALWAYS at least a few people that know better and stop to pet him and love on him...
Ignorance...
Love your post today! I can't tell you how many people my husband and I have informed that pits can't lock their jaws, ridiculous. We take Molly EVERYWHERE and I love when we get the opportunity to talk about her being a rescue and let people see how sweet and non-vicious she is. A little girl at pet-co screamed PITBULL and ran away from her, I took this as an opportunity to show the girl how sweet Molly is so I found the little girl and said she is not mean do you want to pet her? When Molly sat sweetly to have her ears scratched the little girl was giddy :) one person converted!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I have only met loving and totally affectionate pit bulls and would willingly adopt one in the future. They are total love bugs :)
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post--I especially love the photo of Nemo from Halloween! He makes a cute cowardly lion :)
ReplyDeleteI've never owned a pit bull but have known many people who do and love them! It's especially funny to me that people don't bat an eye at buying a bulldog but shy away from pitbulls when they share much of the same DNA and ancestors! Dogs are dogs...how they are taken care of has a lot more to do with their personality than anything else!
Aww, I love this post. And wow- I'd never heard that jaw-locking thing! Who comes up with this stuff?! I love pit bulls just like I love all other dogs and I wish that they didn't get such a bad wrap.
ReplyDeleteHi - thanks for visiting my blog. New follower to yours!
ReplyDeleteAmanda - I <3 Dobies! We used to live next one and he was so funny! We get the people who cross the street from us too... their loss if they don't get to meet our super awesome fantastic dogs!
ReplyDeleteA&A - That's so great that Molly is out there changing minds! She's such a cutie pie I think she'll have the world on her side in no time!
Mrs. Foot - They totally are! I think one would fit in with Aspen and Mac's champion sleep abilities :)
KT - He does make a good little lion. Mr. T gave me guff for dressing him up as a feline but I think it still suits ;)
Amanda - I really wonder where the jaw locking thing originated. It's not like you can confuse an alligator and a dog...
Cheri - THANK YOU!! :)
I agree, so much misinformation. I would not mind adopting one but everyone has giving them such a bad rep, my husband said no. It's sad. Ironically we adopted a Jack Russell 3yrs ago after i kept reading they are great dogs for kids, and super friendly. Well that great dog for my kid ended up biting him in the face. We returned the dog and I begged them not to put him to sleep but to only let someone with no kids adopt him. Don't know what happened to him I was to sad to find out. Most people are surprised when I tell them it was a Jack Russell NOT A PITT!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said. When my sister got her now ex-boyfriend a Shar Pei for his birthday, quite a few people we know freaked.
ReplyDeleteJust because some of these breads weren't raised properly, doesn't mean they all are bad. Isn't it the same for us as human's? Both of my parent's went awol, but that doesn't make me or my siblings the same. I don't own a pit, but I know several people who do. They're an amazing, fun, sweet bread and I hope they are seen a much better light.
I think pit bulls are amazingly perfect dogs :)
ReplyDeleteKari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
i love this post! we have an adopted chow and an adopted pit. there is *so* much misinformation about both. i actually had a co-worker ask me not to bring my pit bull into our dog-friendly office because she was sure he was vicious... the most harmful thing he does is lick toes.
ReplyDeleteas someone with a pit mix puppy and a rottie mix adult dog, I love this post more than words can say.
ReplyDeleteBri - That's a really sad story :( I'm sorry that happened. I hope you're able to keep showing your husband that the negative hype around pits is just that - hype! Hopefully over time he'll start to feel differently.
ReplyDeleteJen - I'm constantly amazed by the breeds that get people riled up. Shar peis? Really? Have those people ever seen a shar pei puppy? They're like the cutest most wrinkly things ever.
Kari - I totally agree :)
Emily - I've heard the similar bias regarding chows and I don't get it. To be honest I think they just look like teddy bears so I can't take their bad reputation seriously, haha. That's total crap about your co-worker. I think I'm really lucky that I've been able to convert just about everyone I work with.
DM - Thank you :) That really means a lot, you made my week :)
I think they are quite possibly the most beautiful of all dogs and I also think they can be wonderful family best. It's really too bad that they have such a stigma attached to them.. My boston terrier is likely more of an a*s than most pitties:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog btw!
Well said! I think it is funny that people feel this way and have never even met a pitbull. How much would this change if everyone just got a chance to spend time with a pitbull and see what they're really like?
ReplyDeleteYou are so smart, savvy and of course beautiful. I also own 3 Pitties and a German Shepard. They are wonderful each with heir own distinct personality.
ReplyDeleteamen, sister! i love when my buddies preach this important message!!
ReplyDeleteJane - My step-brother has a boston terrier. He's a cool dog, but he rules that house! haha.
ReplyDeletePitties - It's really true. As soon as someone meets them I think it sinks in that they are "just dogs."
Tim - Thanks. It's amazing that I also have 3 pitties and a GSD ... ;)
loveandaleash - I'm trying to spread the word!!
I have no idea if you received my comment or not. If so, please delete this one. Stupid computer. *kicks it*
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say this is the best post I have read on the pitbull subject in a long time and I fully intend on passing it on every chance I get!
So glad you posted this! I have really grown fond of pit bulls ever since we adopted our dog last summer - and he is only part pit! :) They are so cute, and yours especially are adorable!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Kristine from Rescued Insanity said you wrote a great piece and I SO agree! There is such an over-inflated mythology that surrounds this breed. I can only say that I have had experience with a lot of dogs at our shelter and every dog has a it's own traits and personality. To judge a dog by a breed is too simplistic, but considering we humans tend to apply stereotypes to specific races tells you we have a penchant for categorizing people and dogs.
ReplyDeleteBTW - I have had two different pitties rush me while out walking a dog and twice I have been able to send them home by simply shouting "Go Home!" If they really wanted to hurt me and the dog I was walking they could have, but they didn't. So once again the stereotype does not fit.
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ReplyDelete(Sorry - had to rewrite my last comment due to all my typos!)
ReplyDeleteAs an added note, I actually knew a Golden Retriever who did bite without warning. She was seen by a behaviorist at the U of M and she recommended that she be put down. It was genetics in this case, but there is some evidence that Goldens are becoming more aggressive because the gene line is so polluted with bad genetics due to overbreeding. Notice it's not the pitbull that suffers this malaise. They just suffer from disinformation.
Daisy's Mom - Thanks! It just goes to show, it's about the dog, not the breed.
ReplyDeleteAnd I admit, I lol'ed a little about retyping b/c of typos - I'm the same way! :)
Well put, Kate. Since we've gotten Dozer he has never shown any aggression or intimidating behavior towards a human. I'm constantly surprised by how many people are scared of him! No ones scared of Gidge, but she's some kind of pure-bred freak of nature.
ReplyDeleteYes, pit bulls can generally be good dogs. However, I think you're "statistics" on the temperament test are flawed. The intention of the test is a lot different than what most people expect. And the results depend on the judge's breed preference as well as perception of the temperament of the breed standard from what I understand.
ReplyDeletePlease do not delete this comment. I know it doesn't agree with your opinion on the matter, but it would be nice if you were open-minded on the matter. :)
Yes, many pits are good or decent pets, but that ATTS test is a flawed one which really says little to nothing about the breed, or any breed of dog for that matter.
I would also like to add. A friend of mine has a pit bull that loves to scoot bumble bees on his nose. It's rather cute! We call him "stinger" Haha. But he doesn't get stung. He's really gentle.
ReplyDeleteJust To Note: I didn't delete your comments, they just got caught in my spam filter (I think it was just because you submitted a few in a row). I've "released" the comments that seemed to include everything you were trying to say.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughts on the ATTS test. I read the post you linked to and I think we'll just have to agree to disagree about the test, but I'm glad you're supportive of pits in general - your friend's dog sounds super cute!
in love with this post-- and that hilarious outfit :)
ReplyDelete