Are All Pit Bulls Bad?

austin@sitmeanssit.com | tel: 512.942.RUFF [7833]

Because of a few, but highly visibility incidents involving Pit Bulls, I am more frequently I hear about trainers that will not train Pit Bulls, apartments that  will not accept Pit Bulls and politicians feeling compelled to introduce bills that would make it a misdemeanor to own, possess or sell one of these dogs. I wholeheartedly disagreed with this notion. As a professional Sit Means Sit dog trainer, I’ve heard the question time and time again:

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”What do you think about Pit Bulls?”

My answer is that the Pit Bull is a marvelous breed. As with any other dog, a certain degree of commitment is a given, and proper training is essential to enjoy a well-balanced pet. Generally speaking, when a dog owner takes the time from the beginning, to do what is required, the result is a happy, well-balanced, obedient dog, that behaves well around people and most other dogs. Just as we do not fall in love with every person that crosses our path or enters our life, we know that not every dog is going to be best pals with each other. With that said, we all were taught early on in life, the concept of, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.” Many call this “showing good manners,” we can teach our dogs the exact same lesson. The all too common problem nowadays, is that people get a dog for the wrong reason(s), including:

1. My friend has/had one 2. I like the way it looks 3. ________has one (fill in the blank with the name of any celebrity) 4. I saw one on television 5. I saw one in a movie   6. They’re so cool.

What many people don’t realize, is that most dogs were bred for a purpose. Before buying one, you should do a little homework to find out what your preferred breed of dog is meant to do. The information is readily available on the internet, as well as, books and magazines. You may also solicit the opinions of professionals in the industry (e.g. veterinarians or dog trainers). Trust me, it’s worth it. The American Pit Bull Terrier is officially called the American Staffordshire Terrier by the American Kennel Club.  Every Dog’s Legal Guide, by Mary Randolph, J.D., stated, “Pit bulls, in fact, were the epitome of the all-American dog in the early part of this century.  Pete the Pup, in the old “Our Gang” movies, was a pit bull.  Teddy Roosevelt had a pit bull in the White House.  And on a World War I poster that used dogs to symbolize the various nations, America was a pit bull-stalwart, unafraid, but not belligerent.”

I have always strongly maintained that while certain traits can be common to certain breeds, it is ludicrous to try to force the Pit Bull to shoulder the burden for dog bite horror stories.  I can say without a doubt that I’ve been bitten by more small dogs than larger varieties, including Pit Bulls. In fact, in 2008 the Netherlands lifted a 15 year ban on Pit Bulls, citing that there was no reduction in the number of dog biting incidents during the time the ban was active (since1993).

The following is taken directly from the AKC website: ”The Am Staff” is a people-oriented dog that thrives when he is made part of the family and given a job to do. Although friendly, this breed is loyal to his family and will protect them from any threat. His short coat is low-maintenance, but regular exercise and training is necessary.” The last sentence in that paragraph is crucial. Some people think they can just buy a dog, tie it up and expect it to be happy just because it’s getting food and water. Nothing could be further from the truth. That’s like taking a trained pilot and making him sit in the airport terminal all the time. He’s not going to be happy because he’s not being allowed to do what he feels he is supposed to be doing, nor is he being set up for success. Rather than bash innocent dogs, I think that we should enact guidelines to ensure the development of more responsible dog owners.  Our suggestion would be a simple certification program for new dog (all dogs, not just Pit Bull) buyers/owners, similar to the ones you need to take before purchasing a firearm. If more citizens were knowledgeable in the healthy ways of dog ownership, dog bite incidents would be reduced dramatically. The byproduct of this could easily be a decrease in the number of dogs turned in to shelters due to behavioral problems. Mary Randolph, J.D. also points out in Every Dog’s Legal Guide, “Any dog’s temperament is influenced by its breeding, its health, its socialization, and its environment.”

We recently had a client who owns a Pit Bull. Before he started training with Sit Means Sit, the dog had some behavioral issues (e.g. jumping on people, aggression towards other dogs, etc.) Our client was told by three different people that his dog was “not trainable.” Yet, during the first lesson, we had this particular Pit Bull sitting calmly while other dogs walked past him. Our client summed up what he saw that night in one word, “AMAZING.”

The point of this story is not to boast about our Sit Means Sit training skills. What we want to highlight in this scenario, is the fact that at least three individuals assumed this dog was not trainable. Would they have had the same opinion if the dog was a Pomeranian? I highly doubt it. I think it’s safe to say they came to their conclusion because of their preconceived notions about the Pit Bull breed in general. Our perspective when it comes to any Pit Bull is that it’s just another dog, that needs to learn the benefits of structure and balance in the home with their owner. For the record, we love Pit Bulls and do not view them as an aggressive breed that certain members of society make it out to be.

When a dog (or almost any animal) is suppressed (versus being given proper ways to channel its energy,) its survival instincts kick in, which can result in negative issues. These issues can manifest themselves in a number of ways, one of which is aggression. Training (not punishment,) exercise (not frustration,) discipline (not yelling) and love (not over feeding) almost invariably prevent and/or control unwanted behavior. It’s a very simple formula, and it works! To enact a law banning Pit Bulls based on fear and ignorance is a huge mistake, and it can create a divide among all animal lovers. It is a knee-jerk reaction to a situation created by irresponsible, uneducated dog owners. To punish countless others (as well as the Pit Bull breed) for the careless actions of a select few, is extremely unfair and discriminatory. The keys to progress among all dog owners starts with education and proper training. With dog ownership on the rise, creating public awareness is always the more sensible approach.

At Sit Means Sit Austin, we take pride in helping dog owners of all breeds create healthy relationships with their dogs. To get started, just give us a call at (512) 942-RUFF [7833] to set up your FREE demonstration with your dog!