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Why We Chose To Adopt a Pitbull
Authored by Jenny B.
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My daughter brought home a Pitbull several years ago and I nearly hit the roof, given the reports in the media on Pits attacking humans. If it’s on the news, then it must be true, right? Wrong. I did quite a bit of research on the breed and was reassured. And Scamp forever changed my mind about this very special, and very maligned breed.
Scamp turned out to be the most loving, gentle, tenderhearted dog I've ever met...with humans, other dogs, and even small animals. I couldn't raise my voice to him without him getting upset and being sad for the rest of the day. He was our family's Buddha. When anyone in the family was hurt or upset, Scamp's concern and attention made everything better. One could say since knowing Scamp, and other Pits, as well as reading a lot about the breeds, I've been on a mission to advocate on behalf them.
Unfortunately, Scamp died a year ago and it crushed our entire family. So, when we were ready for a new dog, I wanted to find a Pit that needed a home. There are so many great Pits at the local animal shelters being put down these days.
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We adopted an 11- month old male Pit whom we've named Barney. He was a stray at Animal Control, and he is wonderful. We did not let the fact that he was a stray with no known history dissuade us; his good nature was obvious at the kennel, where he befriended everyone. He's very laid back, friendly to all, very eager to please, and quite a cuddler.
Katie (our daughter's female Pit) is enamored with him and even her other dog Chief, a Shepherd/Chihuahua mix, is tolerating him. He sleeps in his bed next to Rob's and mine and rarely pushes the limits. While he still has some puppy characteristics and loves to play hard, he is gentle with small critters including the many toads we have in our yard. He's seems to be particularly curious about and fond of toads, but only nudges them gently with his nose.
Contrary to the public perception, Pitbulls (aka American Pit Bull Terriers or American Staffordshire Terriers) can be wonderful dogs and are less likely to bite or be human aggressive than many dogs of very popular breeds, per the "canine temperament testing" groups. (Please go to
http://www.atts.org for more info.) They tend to have very stable temperaments, when treated with kindness. Many vets and vet techs I've known have had "pits" or pit mixes and think they're great dogs.
More About Pitbulls:
They thrive on human companionship. They are great clowns with fun personalities, have a good sense of humor. They have short hair coats, shed very little, and are easy to housetrain. They are usually a nice medium-sized dog, although there is quite a range of sizes from 30-80 lbs. Our beloved Scamp was a gentle 80-pounder.
They are by nature, VERY sweet-hearted, intelligent, and want nothing more than to please their human families. When spayed/neutered, they are not territorial and don’t tend to roam, because of their particularly strong attachment to their family. In fact, because they are usually friendly to human strangers they are fairly easy to steal from a fenced in yard. Therefore, often it is the dog that needs protection from humans. Unlike many breeds, they are said to be especially discerning with regard to a real threat, versus a situation where many dogs might unnecessarily "perceive" threat.
ANY dog can bite. ANY dog, regardless of breed, that is aggressive is dangerous. After all I’ve said, you may be surprised to hear me say that Pitbulls who bite humans should be put down. They are dangerous. For whatever reason, most probably the fault of humans, they are not being true to their breed.
The History of Bully Breeds:
These dogs were bred for bull-baiting and dog fighting in Europe in the 1700-1800’s, as well as for the quality called “gameness,” meaning a tenacity which enables them to never give up, even at their own peril. They share this heritage with the English Bulldog, American Bulldog, and a multitude of breeds who descend from these bully and terrier lines. Pound for pound, the bully breeds are strong dogs, but they were bred specifically for human friendliness and loyalty because many people had to be able to handle them (in the “pits”) without being bitten. Any human aggressive bully breeds were immediately put down. In England they are called "nanny" dogs because of their love of children and their tolerance of them. Since the 1900’s in the US they have, until recently, been a respected and loved part of many US families. Remember Petey, the Little Rascals dog? And Spuds McKenzie? Bulldogs and Terriers share a long history, and only recently, with their newfound popularity in often unsavory circles, have we seen these breeds succumb to negative publicity.
The Future of the Bully Breeds:
Very unfortunately, the breed has become a favorite of irresponsible and insecure people to use for intimidation and/or protection of drug turfs as well as the horribly inhumane practice of dog fighting. Because of their strength, gameness and willingness to please their humans, many pits have been abused and trained to be aggressive. In the 70’s it was the German Shepherds, in the 80’s it was the Dobermans, and in the 90’s it was the Rottweilers.
The Good News for those breeds is their popularity has leveled out, and they are back to being recognized as the worthy companions they are. But it’s Bad News for the Pitbulls, who have the sad distinction of being the “popular” scary dogs of the 2000’s. Because Pitbulls are so athletic, strong and like many breeds, can be headstrong, they must have responsible people to lead them.
Contrary to popular belief, most Pitbulls are sensitive and thrive on humane positive training. Being the “pack leader” does NOT mean you have to be physically abusive. Care should be taken to socialize them with people and other animals, but because their history includes dog on dog aggression, particular attention needs to be paid to their interactions with other dogs, including those in their household, throughout their life. Additionally, Pitbulls should never be allowed off leash in public places, and even with the best socialization, even from an early age, Pitbulls are probably not dog park candidates after they reach adulthood.
I hope we can get past this decade, and see Pitbulls regain their rightful place as the incredible family pets they were meant to be. In the meantime, I am saddened about how many of these great dogs will be overlooked for adoption, and will die without being given a chance. I look forward to someday seeing my future grandkids raised with Katie my Pit Granddog, and their Pit Uncle Barney.
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Animal Advocates of Howard County |
PO Box 1403 •
Ellicott City, MD 21041
(410) 880-2488 •
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