Common Misconceptions about American Pit Bull Terriers

In recent years the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) has been a subject of great controversy. There have been many attacks against humans and dogs by APBTs. They have been referred to as being blood thirsty, kid killers, killing machines, and other things that are both unpleasant, and stereotypical. They have been destroyed by mainstream media, and have been outlawed in certain countries and areas of the US. What people seem to forget is, most of these occurrences could have been avoided if the owners had had a better knowledge of the breed, had better prepared for the responsibility of ownership, and had bought the dog for the right reasons.
The breed was made for specific reasons, and owners need to know what
these were, and what genetic tendencies this would give the dogs. American Pit Bull Terriers came into existence from cross breeding of Old English Bulldogs and various Terriers living in the area of the British Isles. Terriers were bred for hunting small game, such as badgers, and weasels. Old English Bulldogs were bred for bull-baiting. This is a sport where an enraged bull is put in a ring with any number of dogs. Then the bull and the dogs would fight until there was only one species alive.
When bull-baiting and dog fighting was outlawed in 1835, illegal dog
fighting became popular because it was easy to hide. Many of these fights are to the death, but not all. Other are stopped by the owners, who usually pry the dogs’ jaws open with a jack, then spray a water hose down their throat. Breeders wanted the dogs to be aggressive towards other dogs, but not towards them, and so they bred for those specific traits. Dog fighting can be very traumatic for dogs, especially because of the way fights end, and since the owners usually beat the dogs before fights. This can cause the dogs to be irrational, and quick to violence (hence the attacks).
There are certain things owners of APBTs should do from the start of their ownership. First of all, they should not practice dog fighting. They should socialize the dog with other dogs, and continue this throughout the dog’s life. They should also practice strict obedience training.
Most of the attacks were done by dogs that were either in bad living condition, were untrained, weren’t socialized, had been beaten, put in dog fights or any combinations that can be made from the many. Because of their history, they have been considered “tough guy dogs”, and are bought by people who think that having a “Pit Pull” enhances their status. These people think that by having a dog that was bred to fight, they become just as tough as the dog. This causes other people to think that the dogs are instinctively mean. There is a phrase that says “attitude reflects leadership”. Well, a dog reflects it’s owner. No matter the breed.
The breed of dog that most commonly bites humans is the Cocker Spaniel. You probably didn’t know that. The reason why is that, when a Cocker spaniel bites someone, nobody hears about it, because they can’t do any real damage, and because they’re just so cute. When an APBT bites someone, it’s all over the eleven o’clock news, because they can do damage, and because they’re so vicious looking.
I have owned an American Pit Bull Terrier for thirteen of my sixteen year long life. My dog’s name is Sweetie. She hasn’t ever deliberately bit me. The closest thing to viciousness that has ever come out of her was when she used to nock me onto my back, so that she could lick my face. Sweetie is annoyingly loving. When a family member is sick, and has fallen asleep on the couch, they are usually woken by Sweetie licking their face. Every night she runs from one family member to the next, wanting to lick them, and be petted.
American Pit Bull Terriers are a loving breed that wants nothing more than to please their owner. It’s the owner’s responsibility to give them a good goal.