Pit bulls Get Bad Rap
By Laura Maloney
The pit bull dog conjures up many emotions and opinions among New Orleans
residents. Most of the people I encounter think of them as dangerous or
untrustworthy and would never consider adopting one. Is this a result of
media attention, dogfighting sport phenomena, or truth?
The truth about pit bulls is that they are affectionate, loyal, tough,
playful, athletic, intelligent, and exhibit a strong drive to please their
owners. It was once the most popular dog in America. You may remember Our
Gang on Little Rascals television show. Their beloved dog was a pit bull.
Teddy Roosevelt had a pit as well as Helen Keller. The most decorated World
War I dog was Stubby a dutiful pit bull. Pit bulls, or bulldogs as they were
called in the late 1800s, were bred for their devotion to people. They enjoy
children and will play happily with them for hours.
A pit bull rescue organization in San Francisco, BAD RAP (www.badrap.org)
advises that In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament
Testing Association (ATT), pit bulls achieved a passing rate of 81.7% which
is as good as or better than beagles (78.7%), and golden retrievers (81.1%).
In these tests, a dog is put through a series of confrontational situations.
Any sign of panic or aggression leads to failure of the test. The
achievement of the pit bull in this study disproves once and for all the old
tired belief that pit bulls are inherently aggressive to people. On the flip
side, pit bulls do tend to be animal aggressive.
Pit bulls were first bred to bait bulls. When the sport was outlawed in
England in the mid 1800s, dog fighting was born. Animal aggression in pit
bulls is common and 100% manageable, and cannot be "trained out" with
behavior modification. The dog is simply displaying the results of hundreds
of years of selective breeding. Managing this trait is what separates the
responsible owners from the irresponsible reports BAD RAP.
Many of the pit bulls in New Orleans are the result of uneducated back yard
breeders, which lower the quality of the dog and may fuel the negative trait
responsible owners are trying to manage. Urban dwellers across the country
see these dogs as money makers and a fashion statement. The dogs become an
extension of the person, a type of self-expression. Walking down the street
with a pit bull on a chain can get the same response as walking down the
street with a shotgun. People move to the other side of the walkway;
precisely what the owners are hoping.
Although pit bulls can be animal aggressive, they typically dont make great
guard dogs as theyre people lovers. They may bark, but when it comes down to
it, they would much rather lick your hand than bite it. For more information
about this impressive breed, check out www.badrap.org. Their site is
comprehensive and balanced.