If you think that Pit Bulls are dangerous, aggressive, then you might have been the victim of a socially constructed misconception. I bet most of you not know that there are actually many wrong conceptions about Pit Bulls.
First of all, Pit Bull is actually not a dog breed, and even if they are regarded as a dog breed, they are not aggressive at all.
- Pit Bull is not a dog breed? My whole life has been a lie?
Yes, you read it right. Pit Bull is actually not a dog breed per se. Indeed, Pit Bull actually refers to a group of dogs that have similar physical traits. But while they are grouped based on their physical traits, it is tougher to recognize individual breeds amongst the Pit Bull group, and this is really because of the extensive crossbreeding across generations, and hence the genes in each of the offspring becomes complicated.
If that is the case, how would you know if the dog belongs to the Pit Bull group then?
How to identify a Pit Bull?
Before we can do this, we will need to understand just a bit of the Pit Bull’s history. Well, in the 18th century, one of the most popular sport is actually the dogfights, where owners will bring along their dogs to trash and fight it out in the ring, much a like to our MMAs now, and owners will go to extreme lengths just to ensure that their dog wins the match.
And to do this, the key is to choose a dog breed that is strong, ferocious and tough. After years of crossbreeding, the Pit Bull was finally discovered when owners start to allow terriers and bulldogs to mate with each other, hence producing the winning ‘machine’. These dogs were chosen as the strength of the Bulldog and the agility of the Terrier were deemed as crucial traits to ensure that the dog wins during the dogfights. Though such fights are illegal now, the misconception, sadly, follows the Pit Bull from then on.
What are some of the common traits of the Pit Bull
As mentioned earlier, it can be tough trying to identify a Pit Bull these days due to extensive crossbreeding. However, there are still some distinctive feature of the Pit Bull that is unmistakable.
- Jaw: The Pit Bull does have a square-shaped head with a strong, defined jaw.
- Body: Pit Bulls do have a strong, muscular body that resembles the Bulldog’s.
- Hair: Most Pit Bull variants have short hair, and this is actually a desirable trait for most dog owners.
- Pit Bulls are not aggressive
As mentioned earlier, Pit Bulls are actually not aggressive by nature. Most Pit Bull owners will just tell you that the dogs are actually very loving and silly, which is true. You will need to understand, that the Pit Bulls are deliberately designed and evolved to be aggressive, but this is just a perceived aggressive that is grossly misrepresented by the media, presumably because of the dog’s intimidating posture.
Pit Bulls are extremely good with families as they are loyal and fun to be with around due to their goofiness!
14 comments
Jane Kendra Truett – In reality, that can happen with ANY breed of dog. A friend of mine had 4 Greyhounds that had been together for years with absolutely no problem of any kind. She went out to dinner one night (Christmas Eve!) & came home to the same sight as you, blood everywhere! Her oldest Greyhound had her whole side ripped open. Luckily, she was able to get her to a vet and stitched up. Greyhounds are one of the most docile breeds, too. She has no idea what happened to cause this. It just shows that ANY breed of dog can lose control, not just Pitties.
Great Blog
Pitts are the best dogs out there! We had one for 13 yrs and cried like a baby when she passed! Then a month later we got a rescue that was 7 months old and now she’s 2 ! The best thing we did , the memories never go away but the new dog has brought us so much joy as well!😊
I know that Bullies get a bad wrap, they always have. That is just because of the owners. They were abused and trained to fight by big redneck idiots. Or, people like Michael Vik. The owners that mistreated them should be put down, not the dogs. My Dad had a pit bull that was a big baby, and my son had a male and female pit bull, as they are called. They loved and played with his children and let them crawl and lay all over them. Years ago they were popular for babysitting children. My son passed away from cancer 2 years ago, and they were with him until the end. His fiance couldn’t part with them, so she has them. I know sometimes it is a hardship on her, but she says they are her children, and she will keep them.
I agree with you ,that most people think that their not safe, that they will turn on you and not be around children. My husband and I have a RV and like to travel, But ALL camping resorts will NOT allow pit-bulls. Even airlines will not accept pit bulls.