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I recently checked out the San Diego Doggie Street Festival, a really cool new annual event in town, and was in doggie-lover heaven the entire time. There were tons of rescue groups on site with all kinds of dogs for adoption, from puppies to older dogs and specific breeds to totally mixed up mutts. I even caught a performance by the very talented frisbee-chasing Disc Dogs in Southern California.
German Shepherd puppy
Me and "Callie"
But when I called my dad later to tell him about the event, I was a little disheartened by his reaction to my excitement over the pit puppies.
My dad is a dog-lover just like me. I’ve never seen him meet one he didn’t love immediately. But one of the first things he said was, “Lisa, don’t you dare come home with a Pit Bull.”
What!? But Daddy, why not?
In talking about it more over the weekend, my step-mom said she probably wouldn’t come to my home if I had a Pit Bull and certainly wouldn’t let my two-year-old niece (her granddaughter) around one either.
Since working at PETCO, I’ve learned a little bit about these so-called “bully breeds” and the extraordinary numbers of them that wind up unwanted and homeless every year. Clearly, Callie and her sisters are a perfect example.
I understand they’re strong animals and could be dangerous if they turn aggressive, but isn’t that true of most larger dogs? And can’t proper training, socializatoin, love and care by responsible pet parents make that a less likely thing to worry about? Are the reactions of my parents based on reality, or on misconceptions perpetuated by the media and horror stories like Michael Vick’s?
Pit Bull puppy
As a future responsible pet parent, I’d like to know the truth:
Why do Pit Bulls get such a bad rap?
I have a pittbull -Her name is Abby. She is my child. I have two children and I would leave her alone with them – and feel safer then having a babysitter. My kids are older but still she is the best dog I have ever owned. This past sunday a off duty cop and his wife pulled up to my house while I was outside watching my 9 year old daughter ride her bike. They told me that my dog was out and that they just shot her in her face with pepper spray. My heart sunk- I felt like I was going to pass out. I asked them what happened and he said that Abby attacked him. His wife told me I was trash and that the state should take my kids away from me. He told me he was getting his gone and was going to come back to my home and blow my dogs face off. I was horrified. In the middle of all of this I looked towards my house and there was my precious Abby standing at the door wagging her tail and smiling like she always does. I got confused and said ” is she the dog that you are talking aobut” He said ya that is her – and the wife said ” your dog is dea..I wont stop till that disgusting animal is destroyed and rest assure by the end of this night your dog is going to be DEAD. I called the police and come to find out the dog that “attacked” them was a boxer that lives 2 streets over from us. The dog really does not even look like Abby except maybe the coloring – but the dog they found was much bigger them my Abby. I was horrified. I cannot believe that people are that inhuman – that people are that evil to think just because my dog is a “pittbull” that she is an evil or aggressive dog. She is my baby girl. She is loyal. She sleeps on her own pillow with her own special blanket. There is nothing mean or aggressive about her. It hurts to think that people really do feel this way about people who own pittbulls. I wish that everyone would take time to go to a shelter or to a pittbull rescue and take the time to experience what they are like before making judgement calls like that. I will NEVER own any other kind of Dog again in my life and I will fight for the rights of pittbulls because they are by far the most unfairly judged dog in the world …..
Laura,
I can understand your anger as you are one of the owners that has raised your dog with love, care, and obedience. But the reason these “bully breeds” get the bad rep they do is because of “that neighbor” two streets down who isn’t taking car of their dog, who isn’t training them in obedience, who is neglecting them and in all technicality abusing their dog. Which in turn makes the dog out of control.
These “bully” breeds, Pitts, Shepards, Boxers, Rottweilers, are like children. They need to be taught right from wrong, taught manners, taught to behave and be obedient. They will throw temper tantrums just like children too.
I currently own a 3 year old rottweiler and am getting my second rottweiler this week. I have never had a problem with my girl and doubt I ever will. I have trained her in German, Italian, and English as well as spent the time giving her the exercise she needs to stay healthy. I can safely take Sadie into a busy crowd at car shows and not have to leash her and she knows how she is to act. This is all because I gave her the time she needed and deserves.
So Lisa to answer your question on why these dogs have a bad rep. It is because of bad owners. People who don’t take the time to care for the needs this breed has to have. With the proper training and time Pitts are the sweetest and most loyal dogs out there. They have been used as Search & Rescue dogs, Police dogs, Narcotics dogs, therapy dogs, etc. Being mean is not bred into these dogs, it is taught to them by the cruel heartless owners some of these dogs sadly get.
As for the media, think about it. Are they gonna share a story of how a Cocker Spaniel or Chihuahua bit a new born or are they gonna share a story about how a Pitt or Rottie bit someone for trespassing. Little dogs are known to bite so much more then larger dogs, the only difference is when a large dog bites it naturally does more damage. And media loves making large breed dogs looks bad, and little dogs innocent and cute.
I beleive a pitbull dogs got a very bad rap put on them ,sure they can be mean but so can a German Shepard ,or any other big dog ,we had a chow/ pitbull dog mix that was wonderful and a great watch dog that Never bit me !! you also have to know how to handle one …give him space ,love and he will be very loyal to you and your family ,Jake ,our beloved chow/ pitbull dog lived to be 91 years old in human years ,it all about how you raise them also ,if you treat them mean ,they will be mean /if you treat them like a loved pet they will be puty in your hands ….Brenda
I ‘ve had my bit bull since he was 6 weeks old. The only problem is finding a place to live because they have such a bad reputation. He is my big baby and is 9 years old. He loves children. I have to take extra care because of the reputation of bit bull in Rochester. I’m planning on trying to move again and I know this will be a big problem, finding a place. I had to move out of my apartment because one of the tenants was just afraid of bit bulls. She never even ran into the dog she just knew he lived in her building. He is part of the family and I will keep him until is time is up on this earth. I agree it’s not the dog it’s the owners. All dogs can be aggressive. Sometimes it’s just like people get a bad rap for other people so that’s how it is with bit bulls. I can go on and on I’m so tired of it!!
My son has 3 adult pit bull dogs and our female has just had a litter of 9 blue pit bull puppies. We have raised pit bull puppies and dogs for over 12 years now. They are one of the best, loving, loyal, and trustworthy breeds to have. We would not want any other breed around. We have had so much controversary over this breed from family and friends to neighbors and cops saying thay are mean and visious animals and that they will attack at any given moment. This is so not true. It is all in how you train them and show them the proper love and affection they deserve. I have seen little breeds like the chiwhawha…sorry for the mispelling of this, bite our fuel oil furnace man. I have been personally bitten on my legs and ankles while I was walking down the road for my nightly walk by a little shitshu dog. It ran right out of its yard and keep following nipping at me for about 1/4 mile. I would stop, yell for help from the owner of the dog, I keep on walking trying to ignore the dog and nothing worked until the owner finally heard my yell and came out and called the dog back to its yard. Needless to say I told the owner it had been biting at my ankles and that they needed to keep it on a leash with it beeing so irate of a dog. If we need to keep our pit bulls on leashes with muzzles, in a 6 ft high fenced in yard with a roof on the top of the fence. And we also have to have all this insurance of these dogs…then I feel all these owners with these other supposed to be better breeds need to do a little more of the same deal. It is not the breed that is bad…It is the owner and the way they are raised. Also Society is so dreadfully wrong to wrongfully accuse these pit bull breeds as mean, vicious, flighty type of dog and look past what the dog may look like and look a little deeper at the caring, affectionate, loving, and loyal breed they really truly are.
I worked for a vet for two years in high school, and I never saw a mean pit bull. To the contrary, I handled pit bulls that liked me more than they liked their owners, and showed it. on my 18th birthday at work, a guy brought in a pit bull puppy to get her vaccines. I was the only one in the room the puppy paid any attention to, and she could not get enough of me.
one of my friends has a pit bull that I first saw as a puppy no more than 3 months old. the first time I saw this puppy, she favored me over her owner. she’s an adult now and still favors me over her owner. every time I get back in my car from visiting my friend, she tries to jump in with me.
i have a pitbull he is the nicest thing ever never bitten anybody or anything he is just a big baby i don’t understand why people are so scared of them its all on how u raise them thats my opinion thanks
I felt the same way, that pitts are a bad breed. untill I fell in love with a rednose, razor edge pitt puppy. My brother in law dogs mated & had the prettiest, most colorful pups I’ve ever seen. I had 2 have reesie! She’s only 10 weeks old in just one week, I’ve taught her no, sit, stay, paw, come here & kiss! 2day im introducing potty training. She’s so bright! Everytime, she does what I tell her 2 do @ 10 weeks! She loves 2 play ! And is one of the sweetiest dogs I’ve ever came across. I look 4ward 2 a long, loving, loyal life 2gether, I can’t imagine not having her in my life, she’s stole my heart
I don’t agree with that pit bulls are a bad breed. every pit Ive ever owned wasn’t aggressive to people unless they are messing with someone that lives in my home. i have five now and the biggest one still acts like a puppy.they sleep with my little sisters or at least lay around where they are. All they want to do is love and be loved. I like to play ruff with the three pups i have but they wont play ruff back unless playing with each other. its the owners fault for turning a breed bad not the dog itself. in the earlier days pits where bred for working and protecting peoples personal things not to fight. that’s just peoples stupidity because any dog can be dangerous.
I’m having problems with my pit fighting with another dog in our household,they start out playing then a big fight breaks out,my son & daughter in law want me to get rid of her. I’ve had Sally since she was 5 weeks old.I love her so much she is like one of my kids.I don’t know what to do.