Understanding why a well bred Pitbull is a wonderful pet, and a poorly bred one is gasoline near a fire.

Over the years like everyone I have heard about every Pitbull Argument there is, like most people I was ignorant as to the history of the breed, talking to a championship Great Dane Breeder once who said "it is not a well bred animal that is the problem, it is those who are not properly bred who are a threat" His words always stuck with me so being curious I did some research, this is what I found.

The history of the Pit is interesting and its exact origins are unknown, the breed we associate to pits was actually raised as a fighting dog, that much is true. They were bred for their ferocity, strength and ability to withstand damage and give it, that is all true. The dogs were so dangerous that if one showed the slightest aggression to a Human they put a bullet instantly in their head, breeding old west style, the result was what happens with any select breed, a Dog which did exactly what the breeder wanted.
Think of it like this, a retriever will always want to retrieve, a guard dog will always want to guard, a pit? well it has fighting DNA, it can like any breed be controlled but that DNA is its inherent characteristic. A pit who is well bred and worked with from its youth will be tolerant and get along fine with other dogs, with some oversight.

The breeding went so well that a Pitbull became known as a Nanny dog, it gained fame as "Petey" on the little rascals and even as Helen Kellers Dog. IT went to war and arguably one of the most famous Dogs in American History is a Pit bull with the name of Stubby. They went on to have great fame as the Nanny dog, often the dog of choice for watching over children and taking care of disabled as a guide, being known for intelligence & incredible devotion, then came the problem.

An attack from a Pittbull was almost unheard of until the late 1980s, since then they not only dominate the Media, but dog maul/kill statistics by leaps and bounds, so much so that all other of the top fifteen dangerous dogs still do not add up to the deaths of a Pit. What happened you ask? Simple, just as the start, breeding has become the problem.

In the 80s breeding the dogs again for fighting became popular and unlike the breeders from over 100 years ago, they simply began top breed any dog which showed aggression, sadly those aggressive strains have made it into our living room. They carry the "loving traits" as well but unlike other dogs an attack is savage and often debilitating. Many people believe they can simply be present around their children and can react fast enough, no, not in your wildest dreams with any animal. Dogs attack at a blistering fast pace and you being a few feet away the damage will be done, with a Pit, that damage is beyond Severe and often life changing. Even if you are fast enough to be there, then what? do you have the strength to control the Animal? can you withstand a bite yourself? Then what? It is a breed which strong consideration, actually any breed should be of careful consideration before bringing into your home.

In conclusion while a well Bred Pitt is indeed an Amazing wonderful dog, those bred in the background, who need rescue, or come from questionable ownership should be avoided at all costs. While odds are you should have a long life, the danger is simply to great as they are known to be a wonderful pet and then one day, in an instant, they "Snap" that instant is all it takes to injure to kill someone you love. My father was an old Ranch boy, had zero fear of any dog, or animal for that matter and was built like the typical old school ranch boy, big meaty powerful hands, while trying to break up a dog fight he suffered a bite from a Rot which nearly left his hand usless, something to think about as I seriously doubt the average person has near the power, nor the ability to withstand a bite as someone who was raised in a biting/kicking somewhat abusive environment.

For my friends and family who think differently, I certainly respect your decision to own one, however since the only dog in my life I was ever unable to control was a pit who tried to attack me, I will respectfully decline a visit. If I know you spent some serious cash for a well bred wonderful animal, I will stop by, however without knowing it is not worth a confrontation with myself, or especially my loved one. Oh yea, one last thing if you are going to say "well poodles bite more often" that is true, but when is the last time you heard of someone losing a finger, eye, or their life to a poodle? A Golden Retriever, or any other breed for that matter?