Jamie cowan 4/28/25
Stereotypes don’t only apply to people; Unfortunately pit bulls experience the effects of this too. Myths about Pitbulls have been spread for decades, causing them to be neglected, abused, abandoned, and killed. This all seems to be morally excused because of their rumored aggressiveness. But how true are these myths? Why are people so weary of pitbulls? And why is the abuse towards them ignored?
Why the bad rap?
Dog breeds are bred for their different behavioral and physical traits. A dog can be bred to be better at the task they are supposed to do, and that they can learn it quicker and easier than other breeds. That said, originally, pitbulls were bred to bite and hold large mammals. But then baiting large animals became illegal in the 1800s. Pitbulls were then used to fight against each other in dog fighting rings. This can mean that a pitbull may be more likely to fight other dogs; as they originally were bred for that.
No, they are not naturally violent
Though they were bred to fight originally they later would be used as family pets, known for their gentleness and loving nature and loyalty. Pitbulls do not attack humans unless they have been provoked or have endured trauma that may have caused them to be more aggressive. so even though they are more likely to be aggressive towards other dogs that does not apply to humans.
Why are there so many?
Pitbull’s are overbred, due to a multitude of reasons such as; neglecting neutering them, breeding pitbulls casually for profit, the large litter size of pitbulls, and their rising popularity. Though they are overbred, about 33% of dogs in shelters classify as pitbulls. People are creating new pitbulls when there are almost a million in the US without homes, who will, most likely, be put down when they get to the shelter.
Yes, they were originally bred to bite. (Two-Hundred years ago)
Pitbull’s are not only their genetics. As we said before dogs are bred for specific jobs, so they in some ways can be considered more likely to bite other animals. BUT a dog’s demeanor is much related much more to how they have been treated. A pitbull who has been left on a chain outside for half their life will not act the same as one who was treated with love. Since pitbulls get such a bad rap it is not uncommon to see abuse, whether in the form of dog fighting rings, being left outside on a chain to ‘protect’ the property, or just abandoned on the streets. As you might expect, after experiences like this they can exhibit unhealthy behaviors. Those are not always aggression, it can be fear, depression, and many other things. They react to trauma similarly to a human, it can change them. Though not all pitbulls have been through these experiences it’s still important to keep in mind when you hear someone claiming that pitbulls are just generally violent.
Conclusion-How you can help
The mistreatment of pitbulls has gone on for too long. Though the myths around them have been debunked, the stigma still exists and continues to affect the breed as a whole. We need to talk about this, so others can learn and change their approach to pitbulls. Not everyone can own or foster a dog, due to various reasons. But you can still donate to organizations made to help pitbulls and other breeds of dogs. You can volunteer to help at your local animal shelter, even just spreading the information can make a true impact. We need to stop ignoring the mistreatment of pitbulls and take the steps to fix it.