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| Pit Bulls - Fact vs. Fiction |
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Until the last 20 years, Pit Bulls were America's sweetheart and were loved by a wide variety of people. Some of the most famous Pit Bulls include Tige from Buster Brown shoe advertisements, Nipper the RCA mascot, Petey with the Little Rascals, and they were also loved by such notables as President Theodore Roosevelt, President Woodrow Wilson, and Helen Keller. Pit Bulls were even used as the mascot on government patriotic posters.  Unfortunately the Pit Bull has become popular with the gang-subculture who have exploited this breed by forcing them into dog fighting rings, and breeding and training them to be aggressive. Today, many people automatically associate the Pit Bull with crime, gangs, and poverty, when in fact, most Pit Bulls are owned by your average upstanding citizens. With the expolsion of Pit Bull breeders, thousands of Pit Bulls are ending up in shelters across the country topping the list of the most euthanized pet. The fact is, millions of Pit Bulls are living peacefully in homes throughout the country, while a relatively low number of incidences have led to media mass-hysteria and Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) banning the dogs from cities, counties and even countries. Do you know what a Pit Bull looks like? Take the Find the Pit Bull Test to see if you can pick out a Pit Bull from several pictures of different dog breeds. Below are facts and fiction about Pit Bulls along with some great Pit Bull resources and information on Breed Specific Legislation. |
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Fact vs. Fiction 1. Pit Bulls have locking jaws - FICTION Pit Bulls can't lock their jaws. Their jaws are constructed just like any other dog. In fact if you take the x-ray of a Chihuahua and compare it to that of a Pit Bull, you will see that they are both the same except for the size difference. 2. Pit Bulls are unpredictable and more likely to bite than other dogs - FICTION Pit Bulls are no more vicious than Golden Retrievers, Beagles or other popular dogs! In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), Pit Bulls achieved a passing rate of 83.9%. That's as good or better than Beagles ... 78.2%, and Golden Retrievers ... 83.2%. How did your favorite breed do? See for yourself - go to: www.ATTS.org  3. Are Pit Bulls good with children? - FACTPit Bulls always test high as one of the most stable breeds of dogs in the country. These statistics can be found with the American Temperament Test Society of the United States, where they always fall as one of the top five most stable dogs. Because of this, they are extremely patient and tolerant of children. 4. All Pit Bulls will "snap" and attack a person sooner or later - FICTION Pit Bulls are a very popular breed and rarely attack. Pit Bulls are very powerful animals, so when something does go wrong, it usually makes the news. Almost all Pit Bull attacks have involved unaltered Pit Bulls, so it is very important to have your Pit Bull spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Additionally, serious Pit Bull attacks rarely involve spayed/neutered Pit Bulls who have received proper training and socialization. 5. Are Pit Bulls good for first time dog owners? - FICTION Although this breed is fantastic with people, they can be a challenge. They are extremely strong and athletic dogs and unless the owner is prepared to attend a training program and have a secure and structured living environment, I would not recommend this breed for your first dog. |
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6. Are Pit Bulls good dogs for apt./condo living? - FACT Though Pit Bulls are athletic and love to get out and play, if they had their druthers, they would be sleeping on the couch, 24/7. They are short coated dogs and do not do well outside in the cold weather or very hot weather. They don't shed too much and are easily groomed, thus making them the ultimate indoor dog. 7. Are "red nose" Pit Bulls more aggressive? - FICTION Are blondes dumb? Do redheads have a quicker temper? Of course not. "Red nose" is simply a color/style. They have a lighter pigment such as a pinkish nose with yellow/green eyes. They act no different than black, brindle, or white Pit Bulls. 8. Are Pit Bulls easy to train? - FACT Extremely easy to train. All they want to do is please you. As they are so sensitive to your feelings, verbal training comes easily with this breed.  9. Pit Bulls cannot be with other dogs and/or cats - FICTIONThis is probably the biggest misconception and biggest misunderstanding when it comes to this breed. With proper training and handling, your Pit Bull can learn to live peacefully in the company of other dogs and often cats as well. |
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Pit Bull Resources
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| Breed Specific Legislation (BLS) |
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