For the Love of Pit Bulls

By Tamara Sevigny

"In my opinion, Pit bulls are the least likely to be human aggressive. On the whole, you have to do a lot of work to make them aggressive to people," says Sue Frisch, Dessin Animal Shelter manager, Honedale, PA. There is no doubt that this breed was bred to fight, but Pits were bred to fight dogs, not people. Pits actually love their people and are very dedicated pets. But as an owner of a Pit you too need to be just as dedicated to them as they are to you, they require lots of attention and exercise. According to dog trainer, Rob Mullin of K-9 Wizard & Co., Trumbell, "Pit bulls are especially good at pleasing people since they are strong and smart, they learn quickly and they are very adaptable." Those Pits who have gotten bad press are unfortunate victims of bad breeding, training or abuse.

The muscular look, powerful body, deep chest and strong wide jaws are intimidating. Pits are built to fight. And it is a mistake to think that the fighting nature can be trained or loved out of a Pit. Even the most loving, trained dog can be provoked to fight, and their determination will keep it fighting to the end. You can’t blame a dog for acting on its ancestor’s instincts. Not unlike the digging instinct of Terriers or urge to run in Greyhounds.

This is why it takes a dedicated owner to have a Pit. As with many breeds they require lots of proper training and exercise from the time they are puppies. Owners must be aware of the signs that a fight might occur and be willing to separate it if a fight starts. Because Pits are bred to be dog aggressive and may even show a prowler impulse towards small animals it is important to have Pits in a very controlled environment.

The fact that Pits were breed to fight immediately gives them a bad rap. It gets worse for the breed when a Pit is abused or trained to be human aggressive and succeeds; their life ending in a press frenzy, even when the injuries are minor.
Pit owners are insistent that the loyalty and personalities of the breed outweigh the drawbacks. They love the outgoing Pit that might seem overwhelming to elders and young children. And they don’t mind the extra training and commitment needed because of the reward of love and devotion they get in return. They know that their loving furry friend might find his way out of that fence they thought was secure if left to be bored or restless. But that sneaky Pit will have them laughing in no time when he tries to climb in their lap later on!

As with any breed it is important to research before committing to it. Pit bulls might require too much training and exercise for a busy family but are just right for someone looking for a loyal companion to spend weekends and daily play times with. Pits seem all too often to end up in the wrong places because of bad breed choice. City of Hartford Animal Shelter sees many of these cases. They see Pit bulls come in almost everyday. The dogs at the shelter are only kept 8 days before being euthanized. Not many of the imprisoned dogs find homes and end up being sentenced to death.

As long as the dog is not human-aggressive and with the right training and attention many abandoned dogs could find their way into the heart and homes of the right owner. If you are looking for a Pit to adopt contact City of Hartford Animal Shelter at http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/CT141.html, 860-722-8301, or visit Connecticut Pit bull Rescue at http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/CT51.html.