Seeing all these British pit bulls that look like what pit bulls are supposed to look like has raised my hackles on the entire issue. A minority of morons with more testeosterone than sense have mutilated the breed, especially in America. Since everyone seems to have forgotten, this is what a pit bull should look like:
This is what a select few dumbies have made it into. But make no mistake, this type of pit bull is not the ONLY type of pit bull.
The pit bull is a smallish breed with strong facial features and a lean but sturdy profile. It should NOT A) be wider than it is tall, or B) have a head the size of a canoe. If you want those features, then go get yourself an American Bully, the bastardized version of the pit bull that's currently being marketed as its own breed (finally!):
It makes me so mad. For every mean dimwit who fights his dog, there are 5 good owners with perfectly polite pit bulls, and they lose out every time the general public gets into a frenzied witch hunt against the breed and screams "BAN THEM!"
The problem is not with the breed. It's with people. Proof of this: 25 or 30 years ago, Dobermans were the "scary dog." They were the ones you couldn't trust, the ones who would supposedly rip your child's face off in the dead of night. Then it was German Shepherds. Then it was Rottweilers. We've since gotten our act together and realized that German Shepherds are excellent police dogs, Dobermans are fine as family dogs, and Rottweilers are big goofballs unless trained otherwise.
We've moved onto the pit bull, but we're neglecting one important fact: There were bad Dobes, and bad German Shepherds, and bad Rottweilers - the unfortunate few who got owned and "trained" by neglectful, ignorant people who did things like leave their animals out on a chain 24/7 or intentionally antagonize them into being mean so that they'd be "better guard dogs." Now we've got a whole new generation of idiots raising "tough dogs" just because they want to look cool, or because they want a dog to fight. They essentially have the same ideals as the old idiots: Don't bother to train the dog, push it around, make it mean. THEY'RE THE PROBLEM. Come down on them like a ton of bricks, and the problem of "dangerous dogs" will be fixed!
Pit bulls are not inherently dangerous. In fact, they are often great family dogs. They tolerate pain well, so they're good with children. They are affectionate and sweet. They are terriers and most terriers have some degree of animal aggression, however. You need to do more work with a pit to get it dog-friendly than you might with, say, a Papillon. But that doesn't mean that it's a killer at heart, it just means that it has instincts that you need to be aware of. Plenty of pits have learned to co-exist with cats and other dogs - they simply need thoughtful training.
That's why it's so annoying that Britain has a breed ban against pit bulls. Hey, guess what Parliament? I saw 10 pitties walking around Oxford yesterday! One was so viscious he leapt up at me and whined for treats while wagging his whole butt! I nearly got licked to death, better call Scotland Yard....
That first pit bull is son darn cute!
ReplyDeleteDon't even think about bringing one home.
Seriously, though, I agree with your point. It is always easier to just jump on a bandwagon, then to do a little research and come to a conclusion on your own. I blame the media, too.
ReplyDeleteAm I crazy, or does that first one look a little like your Dad?
ReplyDeleteNow Warren, why would you insult that nice dog. You know that dog is much better looking then you, but at least your house trained. Well, almost anyway.
ReplyDelete