Pit Bulls & Bully Breeds

Just My Opinion

Pit Bulls and Bully BreedsI have been defending bigotry against any specific breed for over 40 years. One time it was the Doberman Pincers that were labeled ‘vicious’. Then it was the German Shepard's, Rottweilers and mixes labeled as Pit Bulls. I have been involved in dog training and behavior since 1957. I treat all kinds of behavior problems with dogs of many different breeds. Probably 80% of my private practice is aggression. And, I have seen many dogs of the ‘bully breeds’ that are not aggressive and are wonderful pets.

There is a Danger

I do want to be real and recognize that there is a danger. A bite from a dog, especially a large dog or a dog with a locking jaw can be painful and dangerous.

Where to Focus?

The focus, however, is in the wrong place. It’s not the breed that counts. It’s the breeder and the dog-owner and the enforcers of existing dog laws.

Some backyard breeders purposely breed a vicious dog for protection and for dog fighting. But responsible professional pet and show breeders breed dogs of appropriate non-aggressive temperament. The American Staffordshire Terrier (sometimes referred to as a Pit Bull) is carefully bred to be a non-aggressive wonderful canine companion. In fact, many of the dogs in shelters that were thought to be Pit Bulls do not carry the DNA of any of the breeds usually classified as Pit Bulls. So how can a hard-to-identify breed be singled out legislatively?

Even a well-bred puppy or dog can become aggressive if an owner trains for aggression, fails to be proactive with non-aggression training or doesn’t seek help after a dog acts out aggressively. Dogs whose owners regularly take them to their veterinarian on a regular basis are not the dogs we need to be concerned about, especially if veterinarians are required to report any dog they deem vicious. Primarily it is the dogs that are not cared for or who are underground in the world of guard dogs, fighting dogs etc. that give one or more specific breeds a bad name. Yet it is the good dogs that are penalized. And, even within a litter of well-bred pups, there may be an individual dog that may show aggression. If that’s the case, the owner should be held responsible for getting the help needed to modify that dog’s temperament.

Legislation

Dogs (regardless of breed), if considered to be vicious, should have to be registered (like gun owners or automobile drivers) and would have to take a test, (for example, Canine Good Citizen test). The owner or driver of the potentially harmful gun, car or dog should be held responsible. I also think there should be stronger penalties for any dog owner who has a dog (of any breed) that has shown aggression and does not seek help to assess, successfully manage and/or change that behavior.

Let’s not bully a breed. Let’s go for responsible pet ownership.

Just my opinion... something to think about.

*The term bully breeds refers to bull-dog related breeds such as American Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Boxer, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Bull Mastiff.