Pit Bulls : Monsters In The Media

Killers, ticking time bombs, viscous monsters, bloodthirsty fighting machines, these are the images that fill the minds of most when they hear the words pit bull. The media floods us with images and stories of pit bull attacks. They paint portraits of monsters incapable of being loved or trusted. However, contrary to popular beliefs pit bulls are not the viscous monsters the media portrays them to be.

Pit bulls are shrouded by myths and misconceptions. Though the media has unending reports of pit bull attacks they are misinformed and lacking real facts. Most of the dogs involved in these attacks are not even pit bulls. Many of them are breeds that are often mistaken for pit bulls such as: Boxers, Cane Corso, Mastiffs,dogo argentino and American Bulldogs, or are simply mix breed mutts. Pit bulls are not even an actual breed; they are a type of dog. Pit bulls are made up of the following breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The media feeds off the many myths that surround these dogs. They fill our minds with pictures of monsters with locking jaws that are only good for fighting and nothing more. Instead of really doing their research they take the easy way out and go with what they believe to be true.

Shockingly pit bulls make excellent family dogs. Sadly; it is true that many pit bulls are bred, raised, trained and conditioned to fight. Yet, even those used for fighting are bred to have no human aggression. Due to the close contact between handler and dog; human aggression is not tolerated. Most human aggressive dogs are never bred from and put down. However, not all pit bulls are used for fighting. These dogs were once known as the nanny dog because they have no human aggression. They were kept in the house with the family, including children. They rank among the top dogs in the American temperament testing. Popular breeds such as Labradors, spaniels and retrievers are statistically more apt to bite than pit bull breeds. Pit bulls were once know as America’s dog and were the top family dog. Pit bulls were featured in propaganda posters for the war. Peaty the pup the companion to the Little Rascals’ was, in fact, a pit bull and everyone wanted a dog like Peaty.

Pit bulls make wonderful working dogs. They have an amazing determination to please their owners. They will work hard to meet expectations and not give up until they do. Two well known working pit bulls are Sgt. Stubby and Popsicle. Sgt. Stubby was a military dog during WWI. He is the most decorated dog in military history. Popsicle was found in a freezer during a drug raid and was turned into a customs dog. Before he died; he was known as the top drug sniffing dog in America. Pit bulls also make wonderful search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs; and service dogs.

Pit bulls are very misunderstood and mistreated dogs. They are made out to be bad dogs. However, they are wonderful, loving, and loyal companions. Like any dog pit bulls need training and socialization. Responsible owners are working hard to change the bad dog stigma the media has placed on them and show the world that they are not monsters.