It is well understood that Pit Bull and American Pit Bull are generally aggressive towards other dogs. Unfortunately, it is often assumed that Pit Bull and American Pit Bull are inherently dangerous to people because they have been bred to fight other dogs. This logic is flawed for a number of reasons. First, if it were true that a history of dog-fighting makes a breed dangerous to people, then it also stands to reason that being bred to kill wolves and coyotes should make a breed dangerous to humans. Yet the Anatolian Shepherd, Kuvasz, Great Pyrenees, Tibetan Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound have never been considered inherently dangerous to people, then it also stands to reason that being bred to kill wolves and coyotes should make a breed dangerous to humans.
Yet the Anatolian Shepherd, Kuvasz, Great Pyrenees, Tibetan Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound have never been considered inherently dangerous to people. In fact, of the breeds most commonly assumed to be dangerous to people, the Bull-and-Terrier is the only one with a dog-fighting history. The Rottweiler was used to drive cattle, and the Doberman was developed to guard the tax collections of their creator, Louis Doberman. In the 1970s the Saint Bernard breed was fingered as the instigator of a number of attacks, even though this breed had been developed to rescue humans in avalanches. Finally, Bull-and-Terriers had been bred to fight dogs for more than twohundred years yet have only been labeled ‘dangerous’ in the last twenty years. Clearly, a history of ‘dog fighting’ does not ensure that all individuals of a breed are inherently dangerous to humans.
On the contrary, it has been argued that a history of dog (PitBul, Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier) fighting is partly responsible for the breed’s friendliness to people because for centuries Bull-and-Terrier breeders culled dogs that showed aggression towards humans. This was done for a number of reasons. First, Bull-and Terriers were the breadwinners of poor coal-mining families that could not afford many dogs. When not winning dogfights, these dogs lived inside the home as a family pet.
Second, dogs that showed aggression towards humans were usually fearful animals that performed poorly in dog-fights. Third, the nature of the sport required a great deal of contact between dogs and people. For example, to ensure that no foul tasting or poisonous substances had been placed on the fur, each dog was checked over by the opposition before, during and after a fight. Also, the rules of the fight required the dogs to be separated a number of times throughout the round to determine if both were still willing to continue.
This involved pulling the dogs to a corner of the ring and releasing them to see if they were still willing to cross over the scratch line and fight. Any aggression towards strangers, even in the middle of adog-fight, would not have been tolerated. Some Pit Bull, Pit Bull Terrier and American Pit Bull Terriers, by reason of poor genetics and/or poor ownership, do show aggression to people and are extremely dangerous to society. All signs of aggression should be taken seriously. Keep a muzzle on your dog and ask your Veterinarian for advice about the most responsible course of action and/or to help you find a professional trainer right away.
The frequency of ‘Pitbull attacks’, as portrayed by the media, could be inaccurate for a number of reasons. First, the media may tend to over-report stories about Bull-and-Terriers by giving them a level of press attention that other breeds do not receive. Second, Bull-and-Terriers are difficult to identify. It may be that any short-haired, medium sized dog involved in an aggressive incident is likely to be reported as a ‘Pitbull’. It is not uncommon for newspaper stories about aggressive ‘Pitbulls’ to be accompanied with photos of Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, and even Boston Terriers.
Third, attacks may appear disproportionately common for this breed because the number of Pit Bull and Terriers is underreported in official records. Reportedly, Bull and Terrier owners are reluctant to register their dogs as ‘pitbulls’ to avoid scrutiny and/or to avoid paying the increased license fees often enforced by cities with breed-specific legislation.
It is not true that PitBull and Terriers are just like any other breed. Most breeds are different from one another, and have very different capabilities. Bull and Terriers have been selectively bred, by humans, to fight with other dogs. It is irresponsible to ignore this fact. Bull and Terrier owners need to accept the fact that they do not have the same freedoms as the owners of other breeds. They should not expect their dog to play with other dogs. They should not expect to visit off-leash parks. In fact they should not expect to ever let their dogs off a leash unless confined safely on their own property.
Of course there are always exceptions to these rules. Those Pit Bull and Terriers adopted at a young age, and well socialised may have one or two ‘friends’ that they can still play with (only opposite sex). However, remember never to let them interact unsupervised. If they begin to fight, do not ‘let them work it out on their own’. Separate them and do not let them interact in the future. PitBull and-Terrier owners should beprepared for occasional adverse reactionsfrom people. You cannot blame them if they have not had the good fortune of meeting a well-behaved individual. Your actions will represent all Pit Bull, Pit Bull Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier owners so it is important to ignore negative comments and let your well-behaved dog speak for itself. Get out there and show him/her off.
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