Has the pit bull breed gotten a bad wrap?

They have gotten a bad rap. If you really look at the statistics for dog bites, etc, pitbulls are not in the clear lead on the list in most cases. But they make the news because reporters think its more sensational to talk about a pitbull that bites than a lab mix or a chihuahua. Most of the time, though, you will see a huge trend that the dogs that are involved in maulings or attacks of "innocent bystanders" are by and large unneutered male dogs. The problem isn't pit bulls, it is not spaying and neutering dogs and letting them roam free. I am not saying a pitbull is a dog for everyone. They require a lot of exercise and do best when they are a part of a family - not chained outside, and get to go on long hikes or their people and otherwise get the exercise they need. I say long hikes is because the exercise involving stamina is what they were bred for originally. In past decades, they were army dogs that could last all day walking with their soldier, etc. Because of their jaw that can "grab" they have even pulled their soldier to safety where another breed dog couldn't do. There are dogs in WWI that were pit bulls who were considered heros. Just like a herding who will chase its tail and go a little mental when a family doesn't understand the herding instinct and that the dog needs to get exercise, a pitbull needs a family that will let them hop in the car when they go hiking in the woods or go to the beach.

I agree with the saying "there are no bad breeds, just bad owners". Pitbulls have definitely got a bad rap thanks to bad owners. Unfortunately that same reputation for being vicious and aggressive is what attracts bad owners in the first place, so people have a long way to go with fixing the breed's image. I've met some very sweet-natured, well-behaved pitbulls. Responsible pitbull breeders never breed for aggressiveness, and will make sure their puppies go to a good owner. People who breed pitbulls to be aggressive are most likely using and selling them as fighting dogs. I think we need to have stronger regulations on dogfighting and animal cruelty, rather than on owning specific breeds.

They definately have a bad reputation, but it's the damn owners fault. I see a lot of them chained outside-which will cause aggression in any breed of dogs. But idiots think that it's cool or something to do that to pits. It seems like there is always a cycle of "bad" dogs, once upon a time the beloved German Shepherd was considered dangerous-also Rotweilers and Chows come to mind too as being considered "bad" at one point. I've had my friends pit bull play with my infant son (now older), and they did great. But he is always playing with his pit bull and training him, it's like his own child!

I know that it is the owner of the dog, and not just a breed factor that is the issue. I have never seen one fight simply because it is a pit bull. I have only seen them fight after humans have pushed them to. Many years ago there was a man I knew that had several. His brother, whom I was dating at the time also had one. My boyfriend's dog was very sweet and gentle, very loving. His brother's dogs had been taught to fight. One day while we were away they took the sweet dog and put her in with the primary fighting dog. She didn't know what to do. She tried to get away and only fought to protect herself. It was terrible. I wanted to wring the mans neck. I currently have a pit bull. I actually have 7 dogs. I have more trouble with a lab/collie mix than any of the other dogs. I have had to get after him for picking at the pit bull. Some years back I had a german shepard I was fostering and decided to keep because he grew up with my rottie mix. One day I heard a loud commotion and ran out to find the german shepard had the rottie by the neck flinging her around the pen. If he had drawn blood I would have put him down. Instead I found him a home as an only pet. The rottie didn't even try to defend herself. All dogs are capable of being vicious. It's the owners.