Pitbulls & Dog Bites

As soon as you hear the would pit bull most people immediately jump on the bandwagon about how they are aggressive dogs, they bite and so on, but so does the innocent little Jack Russell or Husky. So what the deal with the double sided effect of dogs?

The deal with pit bulls is that they have a bad rap for biting and being aggressive because they have been used for attack dogs and dogfighting. Now that aside any dog can be aggressive if trained in an improper way, example, police dogs, the innocent looking German Shepard. Yes, the dog was developed for being a fighting dog but how could it be any different than your neighbors little yappy dog that snaps at your ankles? The difference is that pit bulls actually are not bad tempered dogs. They actually do make a great family pet.

The pit bulls aggressive look comes from the dogs that are used to create this "monster" of a dog, often used where bull baiting dogs and terriers. Pit bull type dogs include the following types of dogs: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and sometimes the American Bully. When searching about recent dog bites all you can find are pit bulls, but does this have something to do with how they are portrayed or how they are trained?

I have basic knowledge on aggressive dogs so why am I not seeing other aggressive breeds pop up when I search? This makes me begin to wonder if its people looking so deeply into making these dogs appear aggressive that my search is full of the "horrible" acts committed by these dogs.

I have personally met a few pit bulls in my time and I can say they are extremely well-mannered, compared to smaller breeds with "not so aggressive" wrap sheets. Now my accounts don't count for everyone but the way you train your dog has a larger impact on how your dog will behave. Any dog bite can cause damage, whether the dog is larger or smaller. Training your dog can help substantially, and if your dog has a history of biting, muzzle it.

Knowing your dog can reduce the number of attacks; they do unfortunately still happen whether that be from bad training or aggravating the dog to the point of a bite. If you know your dog had a dislike for men or children then it is your job to inform those around you of the danger of your dog.

Abuse or mistreating a dog can play a large part in why that dog bites. If your dog has been abused or mistreated, there is a greater chance the dog will lash out and bite. Sheltered pit bulls are hit and miss, they are clearly in there for a reason. As a responsible dog owner, they should be aware and know what the dog they are housing has done or had done to it. Knowing what has been done to your dog can help you plan the next steps of helping your dog get better and reducing the risk of an attack.

So in my opinion, the pit bull has a rap sheet that doesn't cover all dogs in the class, just some. Take a chance with a pit bull and ask to pet it. See for yourself that not all pits are aggressive and "monster" dogs. Who knows it might change your mind on how you see this dog. Remember that when approaching someone’s dog that you make sure to ask the important questions such as: “Does your dog bite?” “Am I safe to pet your dog?” “Does your dog have a preferred spot or way I pet him?” They might seem like silly questions but they can help reduce bites and attacks from perhaps dangerous dogs.