In the beginning: Pit bull type dogs were originally bred in England to “bait” bulls as
a form of entertainment. Eventually outlawed for cruelty, bull baiting was replaced by
sport dog fighting. While many pit bulls were trained to act aggressively towards other
dogs in the ring, they were also carefully bred with an extremely strong bite inhibition
towards humans. This was a crucial characteristic that handlers selectively bred into
their dogs. Handlers needed to be able to step directly into the ring and separate
fighting dogs without the threat of being bitten by their own
dog. This selective breeding led to a population of dogs that
were known for their dependability and trustworthy nature
with people. Pit bulls weren’t seen as just sporting dogs in
England; they often lived as family members and their
reliability with children earned them the nickname
“nursemaid’s dog” or “nanny dog”.
Life in America: Pit bulls made the voyage across the
Atlantic and settled in America, where they were considered
excellent farm workers and family dogs. The brave, loyal,
friendly image of the pit bull became synonymous with that of
our nation and by Word War I, the pit bull had even become
our mascot. Overwhelmingly respected, the pit bull was
chosen by the U.S. Military to represent our country on war posters that touted our
country’s strength and fearlessness. At the end of WWI, Sergeant Stubby, a pit bull,
became the most decorated war dog in United Sates history. Because of this positive
image, pit bulls were used in all sorts of advertisements and posters during this time
period. They appeared along side Buster Brown in shoe ads, as “Petey” in the Little
Rascals, and on the cover of Life Magazine.
Unfortunately for pit bulls, they became the fad dog for criminals in the 1980s and their
positive image was tarnished by the actions of their abusers. Today they are among
the most abused and misused dogs in the country and desperately need our help.
As we work to rebuild the image of pit bulls,
it’s helpful to remember all the good things about
this misunderstood breed…
Clowns and Cuddlers: Pit bulls are known as
clowns by those of us lucky enough to share out
lives with them. They are goofy, expressive,
intelligent, and affectionate dogs that make us
laugh! Quick to crawl into your lap, pit bulls are big
cuddlers that shower their people with love. Their
athleticism and intelligence make them excellent
working dogs too. However, not every family is cut
out for life with a pit bull because, while owning a pit
bull is a rewarding experience, it also comes with
the added responsibility of being a spokesperson
for a misunderstood breed. If you’re thinking about
sharing your couch with a “pibble”, consider the
following aspects of living with pit bulls to see if it’s
the right choice for you:
Training: Taking your dog through a basic obedience class is highly recommended,
particularly with a trainer who has experience with pit bulls. Be warned - pit bulls can
be stubborn! They need to learn household rules through consistent, positive
training. Without rules to follow, your pit bull will walk right over you. Training helps to
teach your dog polite manners while interacting with new people, dogs and other
animals. Ultimately, try striving for a higher goal of training with the Canine Good
Citizen certification or through the American Temperament Test Society so your dog
can be an Ambassador for the breed.
Control: When you have your pit bull around the general public it is extremely
important that your dog be under your control at all times. A pit bull that’s pulling and
jumping at the end of the leash is viewed as “out of control”, while other breeds doing
the same thing are just “overly friendly”. And for goodness sake, please don’t let your
dog roam your neighborhood unsupervised. Containment methods, from
fences, to dog crates, are important to consider when owning any canine, but crucial to
living with pit bulls.
Socialization and Play: Dogs should be socialized as young as possible, but it’s
never too late to start. Better social behavior is an important aspect of debunking
certain myths about the breed. Pit bulls must be socialized in a controlled setting to
make sure play is friendly and appropriate. Keeping dogs separate from each other
when they cannot be supervised in one way to control any unwanted behaviors. Older
dogs that have passed their puppy stages will require introductions in a calm, positive
environment.
Eliminate or limit time spent in dog parks, or off leash areas, with any mature pit bull.
Even if you bring a well-socialized dog to the park, that doesn’t necessarily mean the
other dogs will be well behaved. Dog fights are common occurrences at dog parks.
Even if your pit bull doesn’t start the fight, they are more likely to be blamed for the
skirmish than other breeds involved, thereby increasing negative perception of the pit
bulls.
Be comfortable with the fact that your pit bull may not want to interact with other dogs.
While many pit bulls live successfully with cats and dogs, just as many pit bulls prefer to
be the only pet in a household.
Exercise: Pit bulls were bred as performance dogs and have high energy needs. If
you own a pit bull, you’ll need to commit time every day to exercise your dog. Not only
will your dog enjoy this positive outlet with you, but as the old saying goes: A tired dog
is a good dog. When dogs channel their energy into an appropriate outlet, such as
running or playing, they are less likely to chew your furniture!
Tough Skin: Owners of pit bulls need to be suited to deal with the negative image
other people may have of their dog. There will always be people wary of you walking
down the street with your pit bull. Take the time to make sure others are educated
about the breed and to show off your dog’s natural people loving personality. You’ll be
a true breed ambassador in no time!
a form of entertainment. Eventually outlawed for cruelty, bull baiting was replaced by
sport dog fighting. While many pit bulls were trained to act aggressively towards other
dogs in the ring, they were also carefully bred with an extremely strong bite inhibition
towards humans. This was a crucial characteristic that handlers selectively bred into
their dogs. Handlers needed to be able to step directly into the ring and separate
fighting dogs without the threat of being bitten by their own
dog. This selective breeding led to a population of dogs that
were known for their dependability and trustworthy nature
with people. Pit bulls weren’t seen as just sporting dogs in
England; they often lived as family members and their
reliability with children earned them the nickname
“nursemaid’s dog” or “nanny dog”.
Life in America: Pit bulls made the voyage across the
Atlantic and settled in America, where they were considered
excellent farm workers and family dogs. The brave, loyal,
friendly image of the pit bull became synonymous with that of
our nation and by Word War I, the pit bull had even become
our mascot. Overwhelmingly respected, the pit bull was
chosen by the U.S. Military to represent our country on war posters that touted our
country’s strength and fearlessness. At the end of WWI, Sergeant Stubby, a pit bull,
became the most decorated war dog in United Sates history. Because of this positive
image, pit bulls were used in all sorts of advertisements and posters during this time
period. They appeared along side Buster Brown in shoe ads, as “Petey” in the Little
Rascals, and on the cover of Life Magazine.
Unfortunately for pit bulls, they became the fad dog for criminals in the 1980s and their
positive image was tarnished by the actions of their abusers. Today they are among
the most abused and misused dogs in the country and desperately need our help.
As we work to rebuild the image of pit bulls,
it’s helpful to remember all the good things about
this misunderstood breed…
Clowns and Cuddlers: Pit bulls are known as
clowns by those of us lucky enough to share out
lives with them. They are goofy, expressive,
intelligent, and affectionate dogs that make us
laugh! Quick to crawl into your lap, pit bulls are big
cuddlers that shower their people with love. Their
athleticism and intelligence make them excellent
working dogs too. However, not every family is cut
out for life with a pit bull because, while owning a pit
bull is a rewarding experience, it also comes with
the added responsibility of being a spokesperson
for a misunderstood breed. If you’re thinking about
sharing your couch with a “pibble”, consider the
following aspects of living with pit bulls to see if it’s
the right choice for you:
Training: Taking your dog through a basic obedience class is highly recommended,
particularly with a trainer who has experience with pit bulls. Be warned - pit bulls can
be stubborn! They need to learn household rules through consistent, positive
training. Without rules to follow, your pit bull will walk right over you. Training helps to
teach your dog polite manners while interacting with new people, dogs and other
animals. Ultimately, try striving for a higher goal of training with the Canine Good
Citizen certification or through the American Temperament Test Society so your dog
can be an Ambassador for the breed.
Control: When you have your pit bull around the general public it is extremely
important that your dog be under your control at all times. A pit bull that’s pulling and
jumping at the end of the leash is viewed as “out of control”, while other breeds doing
the same thing are just “overly friendly”. And for goodness sake, please don’t let your
dog roam your neighborhood unsupervised. Containment methods, from
fences, to dog crates, are important to consider when owning any canine, but crucial to
living with pit bulls.
Socialization and Play: Dogs should be socialized as young as possible, but it’s
never too late to start. Better social behavior is an important aspect of debunking
certain myths about the breed. Pit bulls must be socialized in a controlled setting to
make sure play is friendly and appropriate. Keeping dogs separate from each other
when they cannot be supervised in one way to control any unwanted behaviors. Older
dogs that have passed their puppy stages will require introductions in a calm, positive
environment.
Eliminate or limit time spent in dog parks, or off leash areas, with any mature pit bull.
Even if you bring a well-socialized dog to the park, that doesn’t necessarily mean the
other dogs will be well behaved. Dog fights are common occurrences at dog parks.
Even if your pit bull doesn’t start the fight, they are more likely to be blamed for the
skirmish than other breeds involved, thereby increasing negative perception of the pit
bulls.
Be comfortable with the fact that your pit bull may not want to interact with other dogs.
While many pit bulls live successfully with cats and dogs, just as many pit bulls prefer to
be the only pet in a household.
Exercise: Pit bulls were bred as performance dogs and have high energy needs. If
you own a pit bull, you’ll need to commit time every day to exercise your dog. Not only
will your dog enjoy this positive outlet with you, but as the old saying goes: A tired dog
is a good dog. When dogs channel their energy into an appropriate outlet, such as
running or playing, they are less likely to chew your furniture!
Tough Skin: Owners of pit bulls need to be suited to deal with the negative image
other people may have of their dog. There will always be people wary of you walking
down the street with your pit bull. Take the time to make sure others are educated
about the breed and to show off your dog’s natural people loving personality. You’ll be
a true breed ambassador in no time!
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