Pit Bulls - Savage, aggressive, killing machines?

The Pit Bull Terrier is one of the most maligned animals in today's society. In a world where we are taught not to judge fellow humans on race, creed, religion, color sexuality etc, it seems strange that many, including those in authority, will make prejudgments about our best friends based on their breed.

The Pit Bull, bred for strength and stamina, does indeed have the capability to inflict serious damage, but this doesn't mean that each and every one actually will. When it comes to attacking a human, a Pit Bull is no more likely to attack than any other breed. In fact, those that are bred to fight would be less likely to attack a human!!

How so? you may ask, after all they are bred to fight, to be savage. Yes some are bred to fight, but not to be savage, particularly to their handlers.

Consider this. Most medium to large dogs don't fully mature until around two years of age. I don't know for sure at what age these unfortunate dogs first enter the fighting ring, but I couldn't imagine it being too far before 1 year of age and possibly up to two years of age.

So that means that the handlers of these dogs invest anywhere from 1 to 2 years in raising and training these dogs. How is that relevant? It means that dog fights are not necessarily fights to the death. Think about it who would invest that much time and money into something, that mathematically, 1/2 will die in their first fight.

Yes, dogs do regularly die in the fighting ring, or afterwoods due to the horrendous injuries they receive. The fights though are not specifically to the death, but until one dog can not, or will not continue. Yes, that often is death, but not always. The end point of the fight is not always the death of one dog

What this means, is that humans have to separate these  dogs once a winner is declared, and the last thing you want in this situation is a human aggressive dog. In fact you want the opposite. Anyone who has had to break up fighting dogs knows just how easily it is to get bitten by a dog in such a heightened state. These fights have the handlers in the ring as well, encouraging their dogs. Have a look at the countless videos on the Humane Society website. See how close these people get to the action. No, these dog fighters would not want dogs that have a predisposition to attack humans.

Don't believe me? Have at look at these 'savage killing machines' rescued from a life of fighting. See just how these trained killers respond to the strangers invading their territory.

Again, if you go to the Humane Society website, you wil see more video of rescued Pit Bull terriers. Despite being bred for and forced into fighting by man, very few show any aggressive tendencies towards humans, even strangers. Further proof that the breed is not by nature an aggressive breed.

The problem is that when you do get an aggressive Pitty, they are much more capable of causing newsworthy damage than an aggressive lap dog. In both cases though, it more than likely it is the humans responsible for the way these dogs turn out.

Those who propogate ignorant prejudgments about particlar breeds are actually being counterproductive in the efforts to reduce dog attacks/bites. While all the attention is centered around certain breeds, the real problem is being ignored - people who through ignorance or plain stupidity, don't know how, or refuse, to raise their dog's responsibly.

As usual, animals end up paying the price for humans being blundering buffoons.

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