Pit Bulls Are Not the Problem

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) targets Pit Bulls more often than any other breed. However, in cases of dog aggression and biting, the problem lies more often with the owner than the animal.

Responsible ownership is important with any dog. For any breed this includes regular exercise for your pet, proper socialization and training at an early age, observing leash laws, proper supervision and confinement, and getting you dog spayed or neutered. Without this any breed can become an aggressive or unfriendly animal, not just Pit Bulls.

It is also important to understand that Pit Bulls, like many other breeds, are large, strong dogs. If provoked to aggression, they can hurt someone. This is true of any large breed, but because of the perception and social stigma attached to Pit Bulls, it is necessary with them more than anyone else. If a Pit Bull is provoked to aggression, compared to a Labrador or a large Hound, the blame will be put on the breed. With another kind of dog, blame would be placed with the individual animal or the owner, where it belongs.

Owners of all dogs, especially Pit Bulls, need to understand the impact their actions have on the temperament of their animal. Without proper socialization at a young age, a dog can be fearful of people and other animals. For puppies, play with other dogs is a learning experience. They learn how hard is too hard to bite, and how to be friendly towards other dogs. Dogs also need plenty of exercise. Without it, they can become bored and have pent-up energy that can lead to undesirable behaviors. A lack of exercise can also lead a dog to escape and roam, which is frequently when a dog gets into trouble.

This also emphasizes the importance of proper confinement and supervision. A dog should never be left outdoors unsupervised. This provides them with an easy escape. When a dog is roaming free, they can be involved in an accident, be provoked to aggression, or, if unaltered, become pregnant if female or impregnate another dog if male. It is also a simply unfriendly and irresponsible action to leave your dog permanently outside. It leaves them more susceptible to diseases, especially heartworms, which are carried by mosquitoes. Also, dogs are social creatures and being alone in a backyard all the time takes a toll on them psychologically. To live their life like this can be compared to a person spending their life in solitary confinement in prison. This mental damage is another factor that can lead to aggression.

One of the easiest ways to prevent aggression in any dog is to have it spayed or neutered. In both sexes, an unaltered animal can be more aggressive than an altered one. In females, they will become aggressive toward other females, especially during heat. Males will become aggressive when a female in heat is nearby. They will also become territorial, which includes aggression and the spraying of urine to mark their territory. Both sexes will also be more likely to escape from their owners in their quest to find a mate. A male dog can sense a female in heat from over a two-mile radius. In order to prevent aggression and overpopulation, a responsible owner should have their animal altered prior to six months of age. If the animal is adopted at an older age, it should be neutered or spayed immediately.

The societal misconceptions about Pit Bulls are cyclical. Pit Bulls are seen as tough, aggressive, and dangerous, and this is what attracts some people to them. Unfortunately, these people are the most likely to be irresponsible Pit Bull owners. People who get Pit Bulls so that they can seem "tough" are the exact people that will allow aggressive behavior, and not have their dog altered. They will see their unaltered dog growling and baring teeth at another dog or a person, and instead of correcting the behavior, they may allow or even encourage it. This then contributes to the stereotype of the breed.

People need to be educated on proper pet ownership. Restrictions should be placed on owners, not breeds. Perhaps a better solution to dog aggression problems would be to require some sort of licensing for dog ownership (of any breed), with strict punishments and heavy fines if an unlicensed person is found in possession of a dog. Mandatory sterilization would be another helpful solution. If a dog is adopted, the new owner should have a window of a few short months in which to have the animal altered. If the dog is to be used for breeding then a license would need to be obtained in that window of time. A similar law is in the process of going into effect in California and it can be hoped that more states will soon follow.

Pit Bulls were the United States unofficial mascot in World Wars I and II. In those days, they were a popular breed and were seen as loving family pets. Unfortunately, today that image has changed into one of a tough, aggressive killer, making it hard for Pit Bulls to be seen for what they really are: loyal pets. The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) rates Pit Bulls with a passing rate of 84% on their temperament tests, which is higher than the Beagle (79%), the Great Dane (78%), the Golden Retriever (83%), the Chihuahua (71%), and the Miniature Pinscher (81%). These data show that the breed does not have an inherent problem with behavior. Once Pit Bulls are in the hands of irresponsible owners, they are made into the aggressive creatures that society views them as.

Simply banning the breed will not help. This will lead a high volume of innocent animals being euthanized, but it will not end dog aggression. People need to be educated on responsible ownership. If they are not, they will move from Pit Bulls to another breed to have a "tough-guy" dog. This breed will then bear the weight of social stigma and the cycle will continue. This will not end until people learn how to care for their animals.