Pit Bulls Were Once America's Babysitter

How did America's "babysitter", the pit bull, become one of the most misunderstood and feared dogs in today's society? The behavior and temperament of the dog hasn't changed over the years, but our perception of the dog has. Bad dog owners, irresponsible breeders and fear are the biggest threat to the survival of pit bulls today. Thoughtless dog owners and unscrupulous breeders who breed for negative characteristics of the pit bull have effectively soiled the reputation of a stable and easy going dog and given them an unfair vicious attack dog image.

The media is as much to blame as irresponsible owners when they sensationalize dog attack stories with all the sorted details of an out of control pit bull regardless of whether the dog was a pit bull or not. How many headlines have you seen that cry out in horror, "Chihuahua attacks kids?" Small dogs can and do attack and are just as capable of injuring children, but it's not as juicy of a headline to bring in readers or viewers. The pit bull of yesterday (remember Petey from the "Little Rascals") promoted war bonds, fought alongside our troops overseas and was at one time the most popular "nanny dog" in America.

Dogs are not born mean; humans teach them that behavior. All dogs must be controlled by his/her owner at all times regardless of the dog's size and breed. Controlling a powerful dog originally bred to fight bulls and bears is accomplished with positive reinforcement, commitment, compassion and respect. Pit bulls have never been bred to attack humans. They are people friendly because of responsible selective breeding. Learn the facts about the dog before spreading unfounded fear. Learn how to tell the difference between dog breeds before writing headlines condemning innocent dogs to death. Pit bulls are not the problem; we are and we have failed a dog who has always had a kid friendly temperament. We've taken "America's babysitter" and vilified them as demon dogs with unfair press coverage, irresponsible breeders, a misguided perception of the dog and lazy dog owners who won't properly train their dog and can't control a powerful, loving, devoted, intelligent and tolerant dog that is second only to the Golden Retriever. Critics argue pit bulls can't be trusted around children. No dog breed should ever be trusted around children and any dog, regardless of his breed and size, can be dangerous with the wrong owner and the wrong training.

Reading a dog's body language isn't hard to learn, but they give crucial subtle hints as well that are too often missed or misinterpreted. There's usually always a reason why a dog bites or attacks. All dogs have a prey drive and when you run from a dog; he will chase you. Dogs have shared our world for centuries and too many people, including dog owners, don't know how to act around a dog and what to do if a dog does attack. Banning any dog breed will not solve the problem of a naive public and uneducated dog owners who chose the wrong dog for their lifestyle. Responsible dog owners who properly train, socialize and love a pit bull understand why they were once America's babysitter.

" I had an amazing pit who was more gentle and good with my kids than any other dog I've ever had. He thought he was one of the kids, he never quite grew into his feet and he ran sideways. He never needed to be put on a leash in our yard, he stayed right next to my leg or one of the kids at all times. His name was Max and we had him from the time he was 6 weeks old. Dogs aren't bad, the way they are raised makes a huge difference!" - Sass Louisa, VA

" My 10 year old's friend has a pit bull that her family rescued as a puppy from the pound. He is well trained, good natured and great with kids. I don't worry when she visits or plays with the dog. Any dog, regardless of breed, can be dangerous when not properly trained and given a good home." - Lisa Austin, TX

" Our girl is a rescue pit. She's fun loving, affectionate and has excellent manners. She hangs right with us, off leash, and is obedient under voice commands. I've had all kinds of breeds as pets and our pit is the sweetest, most gentle dog I've ever had. I trust her in any situation. Don't hate the breed, hate the deed." - Langley, Charleston, SC

" When I was a kid, my neighbor's pit regularly chased us and one time even attacked me, leaving a long scratch on my thigh. I eventually realized that he had been trained to be aggressive. My neighbor down the street has a pit mix who is one of the biggest babies I have ever met. Everyone on the street loves him and lets their kids wrestle with him. He was a rescue who learned how to love because he was treated with love." - Andrea Rochester, NY

" I am the proud owner of a pit bull/German Shepherd mix. He is the most loyal dog I could ask for. He is gentle with my three sons and overall a very sweet dog." - Amanda Philadelphia, PA

" I have personally met over 15 pit bulls in my life and every single one has been the sweetest, most gentle dog. I know some people make their dogs (pits) mean and so, of course, there are mean ones, but I know for a fact that pit bulls respond to the atmosphere they are brought up in. Pit bulls are very sensitive and have a great range of emotion and if you treat them sweetly, they are really nothing more than big, sloppy marshmallows. Pit bulls are passionate; maybe even more so than other dogs, which simply means their capacities are greater for becoming what their guardians cultivate in them." - Alyssa Eugene, OR

" We have a pit bull/lab mix. She's a great watchdog, but super patient with the little ones. My son has a full-blooded pit that is so friendly, he's useless as a watchdog. I've only heard him bark once." - Rebecca Knoxville, TN

" My kids can get my pit down on the floor on his back and he doesn't move. He lets them love on him and cuddle him and loves it! He has never once gone after my kids or I. He is our protector. He is the best dog I have ever owned. He is a love." - Sarah Fairfield, IA

Humans teach dogs aggression through bad or improper training, abuse and neglect. If you tie up a pit bull or any other dog in the backyard and ignore him, you won't have a well socialized pet. Dogs need exercise, love and attention to be safe pets. Don't blame pit bulls because their owners aren't responsible and can't handle them. Don't euthanize pit bulls because of false accusations. Don't allow local governments to adopt BSL laws that don't address the problem of bad dog owners. We need responsible legislation that protects people while protecting the pit bull from biased and unfair persecution with harsher laws for irresponsible dog owners that won't excuse them from their commitment to properly and humanely care for their dogs. The owner must be held responsible for the dog's behavior and actions; not the dog.

At one time, pit bulls were considered America's babysitter because of their personality, loyalty, gentle and tolerant nature around kids. If you don't treat a dog with respect, you can't expect to have it returned to you. When fear guides decisions; innocent lives are destroyed.

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