When anyone says the word “Pit Bull” most people tend to picture this big, vicious, growling attack dog. That couldn’t be any further from the truth about these animals. Don’t get me wrong, there are people out there who have taken these beautiful dogs and trained them to lust for blood just so they can profit, but that is the fault of the owner, not the breed or the individual animal. A pit bull is simply a mix breed of a English Bulldog and an English Terrier. They were bred to be more intelligent and aggressive to fight but also to remain neutral towards their owners. Most often, if a pit bull did attack it’s handler or any other person, it would be put to death. Because of the bad rap that these animal have acquired, many cities and even countries have banned pit bulls, you may have to pay a fine for simply owning one. Also some home insurance companies will not insure your home if you own a pit bull.
A common myth about pit bulls is that they have a locking jaw and once they bite down they are unable to let go. That is completely false. A pit bulls jaw structure and functionality is no different than any other canine. They are very strong, muscular animals and perhaps this is why people think they can’t let go.
Not everyone believes that these animals are monsters, though. Pit bulls are used for sniffing out drugs at customs and for search and rescue missions. As I said before, they are very intelligent. Most pit bulls are very tolerant of children. They can sense aggression and that is when they choose to fight. A small child doesn’t give off any sign of aggressiveness and therefore the dog does not feel threatened.
I’m sure you have realized by now that I am the proud owner of a pit bull. Her name is Kandy and she is a beautiful Brindle color. We acquired Kandy after someone carelessly abandoned her near the home of one of my co-workers. When he told me there was a pit bull puppy living under his house I immediately said I wanted it. He spent about two weeks trying to coax her out because she was so frightened. When he finally got her and called to tell me the whole family went to pick her up. She was shaking from fear but she didn’t try to nip at us, she only licked our faces and hands. She was very stand-offish for the first couple of weeks but she soon came to realize that she was now part of our family and we were only here to love her. My children love to play with her and she is very careful an gentle with all of them, even the baby who is only two years old. She has became a great watch dog all on her own, she knows who is welcome at our home and who is a stranger. With alot of love and affection these dogs can be great for families. They will protect their owners and are very loyal. So, the next time someone mentions “pit bull”, don’t freak out, just picture the beautiful, smiling dog in the photo.
