Research Paper on Pit Bulls and How They Are Good Pets

Introduction

Pit bulls are breed of dogs that are common in many parts of the world. In the United States, about half of the population owns dogs; however, only 6% of the people prefer having pit bulls. Pit bulls dogs have a bigger mouth than other small dog breeds, and thus people associate them with the danger of bigger bites (Morgan). Dogs that are labeled pit bulls have led to a rejection of adoption leading to a more extended stay in shelters. They have a higher rate of dying in shelters than other dogs since most people do not want to adopt these dogs (Gunter et al. 1). The United Kennel club has regarded pit bulls as an excellent human friend if properly handled (United Kennel Club). This paper will discuss the view that pit bulls are friendly dogs and not menace and should be embraced by humans as part of their families to reduce their euthanize rate in shelters.

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Contrary to most people's notion, pit bulls are temperate dogs and not as aggressive as portrayed in the media. They have passed the temperate test in three tests that scored 84%, 85% and 83.9%. These rates are relatively lower than other common dogs such as Chihuahua, beagle and Golden Retriever that are considered as temperate and preferred by humans (Medlin 1296). The temperate levels mean that the chance of these dogs biting humans are significantly lower than the dogs that most people consider as friendly and safer to keep in their homes. The problem with the pit bulls seems to be connected to human behavior. Pit dogs will not bite unprovoked, and with proper handling, bites are significantly reduced. They have been banned in public in several states in the United States due to their association with danger of biting. The authority banning dogs cites several factors for the ban. These factors include genetics factors, breed of the dog, training, sex, socialization, victim's behavior among other numerous factors. In pit bulls, the only factor that seems relevant is the genetics carried in the dogs. Despite this assumption, dogs' genes in all breeds increase the risk of bites. All the other factors that make dogs aggressive and bite are related to human factors (Medlin 1297). Thus, any dog that is inappropriately handled can bite, but when properly managed, cases of bites will be highly reduced.

Pit bulls are associated with powerful jaw owing to their strong jaws. The anatomical structure of their mouth makes pit bulls appear as dogs which have a potential of causing severe bite compared to other dogs. Although they might cause severe bites than other small dogs, people seem to forget that there are bigger dogs such as German shepherd and rottweiler that are more aggressive and have a potential of causing severe bites and even deaths of humans. While pit bulls usually make a single bite without the ability to lock their jaw, other big dogs make several bites which are mainly characterized with locked jaw after the bite. Despite these factors, people tend to keep the bigger dogs with the ability to cause severe bites than pit bulls. In essence, people keep dogs that are more dangerous than the pit bulls. According to a survey by Duffy et al (441), dog owners reported that pit bulls are less aggressive towards human although they might be more aggressive towards other dogs as well as other animals. The study also ranked pit bulls among the dogs with the least aggression towards owners and strangers. People have confused the aggressive behavior of pit bulls by assuming that they are aggressive to humans in a similar way they show aggression towards other dogs or smaller animals. On the contrary, aggression towards people and animals are two distinct aspects that should not be confused. Unless the specific pit bull is specially trained to be aggressive towards humans or poorly handled, they are usually lovely and have warm reception towards people making them one of the ideal human companions (Rock).

Proper training and ownership are not associated with aggressive pit bulls. Humans have domesticated dogs for many years. While domesticating each breed, roles have emerged in association with distinct breeds depending on the intended use. The owner behavior, training and use are the main determinants of how a dog behaves regardless of the breed and history of domestication (Medlin 1298). Among the small dogs, pit bulls are used for security and in some cases used in dogfighting. In this connection, pit bulls are likely to be in the hands of irresponsible owners who acquire them for other purposes other than keeping then as pets. While other dogs are trained to be human friends and used for the companionship, the pit bull might be trained for fighting or security, and this makes the difference. Subsequently, some people tend to obtain pet bulls as a status symbol. As a result, these dogs are not taught enough socialization abilities and can eventually cause more bites than other dogs. In this notion, a well-trained pit bull will not be dangerous to humans. The dog should be trained from the start on how to socialize with humans and become part of the family. The owner should also learn how to handle them without abuse.

People intending to adopt dogs from the shelters have the attitude that it is better to adopt a dog with a known history other than acquiring then from the shelter or dog rescues. As a result, people tend to acquire pit bull dogs from a breeder (Rock). This notion is just a myth since the temperament of a dog is specific to each dog and judgment should be based on the current situation other than the history. Even dogs from a breeder can become aggressive if the owner does not correctly handle them. Pit bulls from the shelters will behave depending on how the owner will handle them. They can become friendly to the new family especially when handled with care. According to Robin Rock who is a pit bull rescuer, these kinds of dogs have one of the highest likelihood of changing their aggressive behavior to become the most friendly and royal family companion. Moreover, shelter handlers usually evaluate the history of the dogs as well as their temperament before adoption. They subsequently adopt only the dogs that are deemed appropriate and hence the chances of acquiring a dangerous pit bull from the shelters are significantly low (Rock).

Most people prefer adopting a pit bull puppy as opposed to an adult mainly found in the shelters. This notion is based on the myth that the puppy is likely to become more temperate than the adults which are presumed to be aggressive. Although puppies appear docile and attractive with few signs of aggression, they also grow to adults and as they grow, major changes are witnessed. The puppy that appears friendly might turn out to be aggressive during the adult stage (United Kennel Club). This assumption means that it would be ideal to acquire an adult pit bull from the shelter since they are usually adults that have been rescued and have documented records of behavior. Nevertheless, the pit bull puppy will grow to become a friendly dog as long as they are properly nurtured and thus they should also be adopted.

Conclusion

It is clear that pit bull dogs are good pets just like any other pets that are kept by people as part of their families. Contrary to most people's assumptions that pit bulls are aggressive and can easily bite is a myth. They are less dangerous than most dogs that are kept as a pet in most homes. If properly handled, they are temperate, and can be one of man's best friends. People should not fear pit bulls, and instead, they should adopt them from the shelters and incorporate them in their families as pets. This will significantly reduce their deaths rates in the shelters. The notion that pit bulls from the shelter are dangerous and violent than the dogs from breeders should be discarded since behavior is unique to each dog. Puppies are also not a surety that they will be docile as compared to adult dogs from the shelters. The puppies might grow to be more aggressive than the ones acquired from the shelters.

Works Cited

Duffy, DL et al. "Breed differences in canine aggression." Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol.114 no. (3-4), (2008), pp.441-460.

Gunter, LM et al.: What's in a Name? Effect of Breed Perceptions & Labeling on Attractiveness, Adoptions & Length of Stay for Pit-Bull-Type Dogs. PlosOne, Vol.11, no.3, (2016), pp.1-19.

Medlin, Jamey. "Pit Bull Bans and the Human Factors Affecting Canine Behavior." DePaul Law Review, vol. 56, no.4, (2007), pp.1285-1319.

Morgan, Flynn. (2017). Reliable information limited regarding Pit Bulls and safety. Wkyc. [online] Available at: https://www.wkyc.com/article/life/pets/reliable-information-limited-regarding-pit-bulls-and-safety/95-466535344 [Accessed 28 Nov. 2018].

Rock, Robin. (2018). Myths and Facts About Pit Bulls. Pet finder. [online] Available at: https://www.petfinder.com/pet-adoption/dog-adoption/myths-and-facts-about-pit-bulls/ [Accessed 28 Nov. 2018].

United Kennel Club. (2017). Breed Standards: American Pit Bull Terrier. [online] Available at: https://www.ukcdogs.com/american-pit-bull-terrier [Accessed 28 Nov. 2018].