17 Things Every Pit Bull Owner Is Sick Of Hearing
Despite the stereotype, we know our dogs are the best.posted on Sept. 16, 2014, at 9:50 a.m.
1. “Pit bulls eventually snap and turn on their owners.”
Getty Images/iStockphoto sanjagrujic
The American Pit Bull Terrier breed profile calls the dogs “outgoing and people loving. Properly socialized dogs are extremely friendly, even with strangers.”
2. “They have locking jaws, which makes them even more dangerous.”
The jaws of a pit bull function just the same as any other breed!
3. “Pit bulls are inherently vicious.”
Photo Credit: russteaches via Compfight cc
This stereotype unfairly generalizes and condemns the whole breed based on the actions of a few bad owners.
4. “They’re aggressive toward humans, especially children.”
In the aggression temperament test run by the ATTS, many of the breeds included under the “pit bull” name scored extremely high. The test measures aggression, reaction to stimuli, and human interaction. The higher the score, the less aggressive the dog.
5. “Pit bulls are more dangerous than any other kind of dog.”
According to the National Canine Research Council, “there is no evidence from the controlled study of dog bites that one kind of dog is more likely to bite a human being than another kind of dog… no group of dogs should be considered disproportionately dangerous.”
6. “Pit bulls should be banned because they’re a danger to the public.”
Breed-specific legislation has been enacted in various regions around the world and it’s only shown that banning a specific breed does not succeed in reducing dog bites.
7. “If pit bulls are so sweet, why do we always hear about attacks?”
Getty Images/iStockphoto Jprine
The pit bull stereotype leads to bias reporting from the media. In addition, “pit bull” isn’t actually breed, but rather a blanket term for many breeds, which means that sometimes dogs are inaccurately identified as pit bulls.
8. “The reason so many pit bulls end up in shelters is because they’re bad dogs.”
There are an estimated 5,000,000 pit bulls and pit bull-type breeds in the United States. With the overflow of breeding combined with bad reputation, many pit bulls end up in shelters. Since pit bulls are used for fighting, shelters are wary of adopting out pit bulls should they end up in the wrong hands. In addition, due to breed bans in communities and apartment complexes, many families are often forced to give up their loving family pets.
9. “It doesn’t matter if the owner is good or bad, pit bulls are unpredictable and dangerous.”
The ASPCA released a position statement on pit bulls in which they say, “The reality is that dogs of many breeds can be selectively bred or trained to develop aggressive traits. Therefore the responsible ownership of any dog requires a commitment to proper socialization, humane training and conscientious supervision.”
10. “They are malicious killing machines.”
Pit bulls are so affectionate toward humans, even strangers, that their breed profile specifically states that they don’t make good guard dogs.
11. “Pit bulls are the most aggressive dog breed.”
According to the American Temperament Test Society, the American Pit Bull Terrier scored better in an aggression test than many dog breeds, including golden retrievers and beagles.
12. “You’re an irresponsible dog owner for getting such a vicious, unpredictable breed.”
A good dog owner understands that every dog needs proper care, exercise, training, and supervision. This stands true regardless of the breed.
13. “Pit bulls will attack even if unprovoked.”
There are reasons behind dog bites, regardless of breed, so it’s important to practice dog bite prevention. It’s also necessary to supervise and understand the behavior of each individual dog you interact with.
14. “Every pit bull is a fighting dog.”
Photo Credit: Rob Swatski via Compfight cc
Pit bulls are a descendent of the “original English bull-baiting dog.” Their role changed after bull-baiting was outlawed and they became “popular family pets, noted for their gentleness, affection, and loyalty.”
15. “Their behavior is genetically determined.”
Genetics contribute to a dog’s behavior in certain ways, but behavior is largely connected to environment and socialization. It can even be linked to things such as “early nutrition, stress levels experienced by the mother during pregnancy, and even temperature in the womb.”
16. “They’re man-eaters.”
The ASPCA says that, “all dogs, including pit bulls, are individuals. Treating them as such, providing them with the care, training and supervision they require, and judging them by their actions and not by their DNA or their physical appearance is the best way to ensure that dogs and people can continue to share safe and happy lives together.”
17. “Some of them may be good dogs for a while…but eventually they all turn into bloodthirsty killers.”
Tons of pit bulls have lived lives as loyal, loving, and happy family pets without snapping on their owners.
No comments:
Post a Comment