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PIT
BULLS - Basic Breed Overview
–credit to:www.pbrc.net Pit Bulls are wonderful companions and we at PBRC,
believe they deserve a chance to have a good life like any other dog.
However, it's important to remember that Pit Bulls are not just any other
dog. They can be a little more of everything a dog can be. Pit Bulls have great physical and mental
characteristics that make them excellent partners for responsible, active
and caring owners. On the other hand, these same outstanding qualities can
make them a little difficult to handle for people who don't have a lot of
experience with dog ownership, or those who don't understand the breed
very well. Luckily, Pit Bulls are very responsive to training and eager to
please. It is therefore strongly recommended to take them to obedience
classes as soon as they are up to date with their shots. (Pit Bulls are
prone to distemper and parvo, so it is important that they receive all
their vaccinations before coming into contact with other dogs or being in
places that other dogs frequent.) Well behaved and obedient Pit Bulls are
great ambassadors for the breed and contribute to improve its reputation. Pit Bulls are very adaptable and will even do
well in urban living provided they have enough exercise or other positive
outlets for their energy. Many Pit Bulls are easy going couch potatoes but
can also be quite rambunctious until they mature. Maturity can come pretty
late with this breed (2 to 3 years old in some cases). Pit Bulls remain
playful all their life and have a great sense of humor. These dogs will
make you laugh like no other. Remember that Pit Bulls are very strong,
energetic, agile and powerful dogs. They also are very resourceful, and
"determination" is probably their most notable trait. Whatever
they set out to do, they put their heart and soul into it... Whether it is
escaping an inadequately fenced yard to chase the neighbor's cat, or
destroying your new couch when left home alone, or climbing into your lap
and shower you with kisses! They just don't give up easily. "Stahlkuppe (1995) writes that the American
Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), or the Amstaff, is certainly not the right pet
for everyone. Being a powerful dog, it will require sufficient and
adequate control. Some prospective elderly owners or children, will not be
able to supply that control... A first-time dog owner, in the minds of
many experienced dog breeders, should not buy an APBT or an Amstaff!
(Original Emphasis). An insecure person who wants only an aggressive
dog to bolster some personal human inadequacy should never become an owner
of one of these dogs. An uncaring or negligent person should not buy
an Amstaff or an APBT (or any other dog for that matter). With that said, a very important characteristic
of Pit Bulls is their love of people. These dogs are indeed remarkably
affectionate, and often crave human attention. They are wonderful cuddlers
and nothing beats a belly rub. In fact, most Pit Bulls think they are lap
dogs! Dunbar (1999) writes: "Today, a properly
bred Pit Bull is so exuberantly happy upon meeting her owner's friends (or
even friendly strangers) that new owners sometimes worry that their dog is
too sweet and fun-loving to protect their home and family... A
multitalented companion, the well-trained Pit Bull is suited for a variety
of exciting activities. He excels at obedience, agility and weight-pulling
competitions, events which showcase intelligence, trainability and
strength. In addition, the Pit Bull's pleasant nature makes him an ideal
candidate for therapy work with people. Human aggression, severe shyness, and instability
are not traits typically found and accepted in Pit Bulls. Dogs with these
traits are not good representatives of the breed and should not be placed
into adoptive homes. Like any other breed, Pit bulls could develop
behavior problems if mishandled, abused, poorly bred, unsocialized, etc,
that could result in inappropriate aggression. Any large, strong and
powerful dog whose attack can do a lot of damage. This is why serious
temperament evaluation is so important when dealing with dogs of certain
size and potential. Unlike the myth propagated by the media though, human
aggression is not a problem specific to the Pit Bull breed. In fact, Pit
Bulls tend to do better than average in temperament tests. "According to the American Canine
Temperament Testing Association, 95 percent of the American Pit Bull
Terriers that took its temperament test passed, compared to a 77 percent
passing rate for all breeds on average. Furthermore, APBT’s had a
passing rate that was the fourth highest of all 122 breeds tested!" The ADBA registered 220,000 American Pit Bull
Terriers last year. The APBT is now America's #1 dog! When you look at
actual deaths caused by dog attacks, you'll note that the Pit Bull dogs do
not top the chart. These dogs really do make wonderful, loving and
very loyal companions as long as you understand them well, and know how to
establish your leadership in a positive way. Something very important to
keep in mind with Pit Bull type dogs is their background as fighting dogs.
The Breed's Original purpose We can't blame specialized breeds for behaving
like they were bred to. Certain, specific traits were selectively bred into the dogs
and are now part of the breed character. It's like the digging instinct of
terriers, the herding behavior in Shelties, the compulsion to run in
Greyhounds, etc. Your Pointer may have never spent a day on a real hunt,
but he may still point and flush birds as his ancestors were bred to do.
We don't have to condone or glorify it, but dog-aggression is not uncommon
with Pit Bulls. Owners must recognize and accept this fact or they wont be
able to provide competent ownership and have fun with their dogs. It's a mistake to think the fighting gene can be
easily trained or loved out of these dogs, or that early socialization
will guarantee the dogs will always get along with other animals. Even
though PBRC does not in any way condone animal fighting, it does
acknowledge the importance of understanding the special traits of the
breed, and advocates education about proper and responsible Pit Bull
ownership. You can have all the dog experience in the world, but it is
also essential to understand the distinctive features of the type of dog
you own -- in this case a dog with an important fighting background who
requires extra vigilance and precautions around other pets. There are precautions to take when owning Pit
Bulls, especially in a multiple-dog environment. Unfortunately these
precautions are often viewed as an acceptance for the sport of pit
fighting when nothing could be further from the truth. PBRC believes that
knowing how to avoid a fight, as well as how to break it up if despite all
efforts one strikes, is proof of smart and responsible Pit Bull ownership.
Take note that a fight can strike suddenly and
for no apparent reason. Warning signs can be very subtle with Pit Bulls
and even completely absent in certain cases. Two dogs may be best friends
for years, sleep together, cuddle, play, even eat from the same bowl, and
one day something triggers one of them and boom! Often, the dogs act like
best friends as soon as the fight is over. They might even lick each
other's wounds. It is not necessarily a hate of other dogs that
will cause Pit Bulls to fight, but rather an "URGE" to do so
that has been bred into the breed for many generations. Pit bulls may
fight over hierarchic status, but external stimulus or excitement can also
trigger a fight. Remember that any canines can fight, but Pit Bulls were
bred specifically for it, and therefore will do it with more drive and
intensity than most other breeds. Pit Bull owners must also be aware of the
remarkable fighting abilities of this breed and always keep in mind that
Pit Bulls have the potential to inflict serious injuries to other animals.
A Pit Bull may not even be the one starting the hostilities with another
dog, but chances are he will fight like a pro if he has to. Keep in mind
that Pit Bulls are almost always blamed no matter who started it, and
often end up paying the price at the hands of the authorities. With all that said, some Pit Bulls get along
great with other pets and may live happily with other dogs without any
incidents. We just can't assume that this is true for all of them, or take
it for granted. Pit Bull owners need to have common sense and don't set
their dogs up for failure. Every negative incident involving a Pit Bull adds
to the breed's reputation and jeopardizes our right to own these great
dogs!
In closing, please remember that
animal-aggression and people-aggression should never be confused as they
are two different traits. Unless they have been very poorly bred or
specifically "trained" to attack humans (often through abusive
methods by undesirable individuals), Pit Bulls are by nature very good
with people. They are in fact one of the most loving, loyal, friendly and
dedicated companions. PBRC hopes this article helps people understand why so many of us are deeply dedicated to these wonderful dogs. Not only do Pit Bulls need more help, compassion and understating than other breeds, but they will pay you back with more love and loyalty than you could ever dream of. |
