Pit Bulls Are Not Intentionally Aggressive
Many people think that pit bulls are naturally aggressive, however this isn’t the case. This thought comes from thinks like myths, fear and lack of acknowledgement from these breeds. It’s often sad to see what these breeds have to go through all because of what people think about them. If individuals did their research and look at the important facts about this breed its very clear that pit bulls are not born aggressive. It all depends on how they are trained, raised, and treated. Indvidual’s often forget that they’re the main cause of their dog’s aggression, however just by taking your time to truly understand what these pit bulls have to go through will give you a better understanding that this breed is not the main issue in this case.
People often say that pit bulls are dangerous because of their breed in general, however there has been no proof found that pit bulls are aggressive because of their breed. It mainly depends on how the dog is brought up and trained. If the dog is being abused and neglect at home by their owners, it’s pretty obvious that they’re going to have a sense of reaction to it. The way they reaction to these types of situations may be attacking other dogs and human being. As Rain mentioned in an article:
There hasn’t been any evidence to show that Pit Bull breeds are more aggressive than other dogs, and in fact, studies actually show the opposite. Temperament tests by the American Temperament Test Society measure each breeds ability to positively interact with humans in different situations, and Pit Bull breeds each scored at 85% or higher, which is better than the general dog population
Many people tend to forget that pit bulls were originally bred to be loyal and hardworking, they’re not meant to be harmful animals. Dogs acts the way they were raised, If the owner isn’t training their dog well enough it may become aggressive no matter what breed the dog is. Some people raise their pit bulls to become street fighting dogs or to scare other people and dogs away, which tends to make it seem like pit bulls are the real problem. The real problem in this situation is the owners of these poor dogs. However, if pit bulls are raised in a caring and loving home none of these allegations would be put on them because they wouldn’t be seen as aggressive dogs, they would be seen as loving and playful dogs instead. Many pit bulls are sweet, calm and good with children as well. Most people probably didn’t know this, but pit bulls also work as therapy dogs, service dogs and even recuse dogs. How a dog of any bred is treated has an impact on how they behave. As Rain explained this factor in an article:
Another study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior compared canine aggression in Golden Retrievers, known for being sweet, docile and loving, with Pit Bull breeds and found no differences whatsoever.
Pit bulls are often seen as strong and muscular dogs, so most likely people are going to assume that these dogs are dangerous and harmful. However, being strong and looking muscular has nothing to do with dogs being dangerous and harmful. Studies show that smaller dogs are actually more likely to bite others than pit bulls. The media also plays apart on how we see these dogs as a bred, if a dog attack happens the media is so quick to make it big news. However, if it were another bred that took part in a dog attack the media wouldn’t give it as much attention as they would with pit bulls. It’s really sad that this bred has to go through this, this tends to create fear, and it starts to spread the idea that pit bulls are dangerous dogs and worse than others. As Eastman stated in an article
One common misconception is that all pit bulls are aggressive or dangerous; however, this could not be further from the truth. In reality, most pit bulls are gentle companions who can make wonderful additions to any family if given proper training and socialization.
Many cities and town like to ban pit bulls so that they can decrease dog attacks. However, research shows that banning pit bulls doesn’t help make communities a safer environment. Instead of banning these breeds for a safer environment Individuals should focus on how to care for their dogs. If anything, the law should hold careless owners accountable for their dogs’ actions. As Kennedy mentioned in an article related to this topic:
critics argue that BSL is ineffective and unfairly targets specific breeds rather than addressing the root causes of aggressive behavior, which often stem from factors such as poor training, neglect, or abuse by irresponsible owners. This is why pit bulls should not be banned, instead, efforts should focus on promoting responsible pet ownership and proper training.
There are many events where pit bulls were seen as great dogs. For example, A pit bull name Sergeant Stubby helped soldiers in the battle and also saved some of their lives. And now pits bulls work as service dogs, therapy dogs, emotional support animals, and in search and rescue teams. Pit bulls also save lives in their homes as well, there has been several cases on the media on how pit bulls would protect children, warn their owners about any fires or danger that take place in the home. Majority of these stories prove that Pitbull’s are loving and caring animals.
In conclusion, Pit bills are not intentionally aggressive by nature. How they act all depends on how they’re treated, just like any other dog. If they’re raised in a caring and loving they can be sweet, loyal, and friendly animals. Instead of blaming pit bulls as a bred, individuals should start focusing on how to take care of their dogs. Pit bulls deserve a chance to show their owners that they are great pets. It’s time to stop judging them unfairly
References
Kim Rain (2021). The Truth About Pit Bulls: Dispelling Myths About This Misunderstood Breed. The Daily Wag
Alexis Kennedy (2024) Why Pit Bulls Should Not Be Banned.
https://woundedpawproject.org/bsl/pit-bulls-should-not-be-banned/
Amanda Eastman (2023) Should Pit Bulls Be Banned? Examining the Pros and Cons.
https://spbr.org/should-pitbulls-be-banned/
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 