Thursday night, we went to a fundraiser for
Hotwater Rescue (opens in new window), held at a local restaurant. The folks at Hotwater work with misunderstood breeds; they receive mainly Pit Bulls. We've had the chance to work with and/or meet a number of their dogs. It was a good time, spent with some great people.
Hotwater Rescue works with some of the breeds many tend to rule out as adoption prospects - Pit Bulls, Rotweillers, American Bulldogs, and Cane Corsos among them. Of those breeds, it is the Pit Bull that seems to find itself most often in need of a new home.
Unfortunately, Pitties have gotten a really bad reputation, and most of it is undeserved. Just like any other breed, there are well-behaved Pits, aggressive Pits, fearful Pits, and lazy Pits. Illegal dog fighting has thrust them into the headlines, and the media keeps the sensationalism way up (any "dog attack" headline graphic I've ever seen on tv has been the image of a snarling Pit Bull, even if the dog was some other breed).
Among the myths about the breed:
Pitties lock their jaws when they bite:
Not so. Physiologically speaking, there is no difference in the jaw of a pit bull and the jaw of any other breed.
Pit Bulls have a higher bite pressure than any other breed:
Also a myth. In fact, no scientific evidence exists for this, because no comprehensive study of bite pressure has ever been performed.
Pit Bulls are naturally aggressive:
Many do have a tendency to display aggression towards other dogs (a tendency that spans most terrier breeds). However, well-bred and well-raised Pit Bulls do not have a tendency for aggression towards humans - this is actually a desired trait in Pits and part of selective breeding. As an example, the all-time obedience trial record is held by Maddy, an American Pit Bull Terrier.
Pit Bulls are unpredictable:
No dog is unpredictable if you know what to look for. It is true that many Pit Bulls do not telegraph their intentions as dramatically as many other breeds, but they do give warnings. Aggression without any signs whatsoever is usually an indication of a medical issue.
Anyone looking to buy or adopt a particular breed of dog should learn about the traits of the breed before hand. With Pitties, this is probably even more true, as a Pittie owner also has to contend with society's perceptions. This manifests itself most notably in breed banning, practiced by many insurance companies and some localities.
While we've never bought into breed banning, worth noting is the fact that while Pitties have been the unfortunate victims of most of these bans, even the CDC doesn't have statistics on the breeds of dogs most likely to bite. They do list "Pit Bull-type" dogs and Rottweilers as the breeds most likely to be involved in fatal attacks, but as with any statistic, the numbers don't necessarily take into account a number of factors. How many Pit Bulls are owned? How many Rottweilers. If more houses own Pits than own, say, Afghan hounds, the Pit is obviously going to be more likely to be involved in a fatal attack than an Afghan hound. How many Pits are owned by people that don't get training for their dog? Fail to train your Min-Pin, versus fail to train your Pit. Which breed do YOU think is more likely to be involved in a fatal attack?
From my own experience growing up in a neighborhood filled with dogs, and as a trainer, I will tell you that if the CDC based its statistics on my encounters with dogs, you'd all see small fluffy white dogs banned - the bites I've received in training have come largely from Malteses, Westies, and the like. I always joke that it's not the Pits that scare me - it's the tiny harmless-looking dogs. Does that mean that all small fluffy white breeds are more dangerous? Of course not.
Some dogs are inherently more willing to enforce their intentions - usually because that's what they were bred to do. In many, this translates to a willingness to bite or otherwise use physical force if need be. A tendency to bite has a lot more to do with the owner than it does the dog. Responsible dog owners provide training and structure for their dogs, and deal with behavioral issues. Any dog can bite, and any dog will bite under the right circumstances. The simple fact is that a larger dog, like a Pit Bull, can cause far more damage than a smaller dog, say, a Teacup Yorkie.
Sadly, some of the Pit Bull's most wonderful traits have been completely ignored. Here are a few things I'll bet you didn't know (from
austinlostpets.com):
Pit Bulls serve as therapy/service dogs. The Chako Rescue Association has Pit Bull therapy dogs in Texas, Utah and California. Helen Keller even had a Pit Bull as her canine companion and helper. Cheyenne and Dakota are a team of hard-working Search-and-Rescue Pit Bulls in Sacramento, California. They play an important role in their community by locating missing people in conjunction with the local Sheriff. In their off-duty hours, they do charity work as therapy dogs.
Petey, the faithful dog on the TV show, The Little Rascals, was a Pit Bull. He spent countless hours with children day after day and never hurt anyone. He was one of the most intelligent Hollywood dogs of all time.
There are quite a few celebrities who have Pit Bulls as members of their family including: Rosie Perez, The Crocodile Hunter, Judd Nelson, Usher, Alicia Silverstone, Cassandra Creech, Sinbad, John Stuart, Amy Jo Johnson, Linda Blair, Vin Diesel, and Bernadette Peters.
Pit Bulls are heroes! America's first war dog was a Pit Bull named Stubby. He earned several medals during World War I and was honored at the White House. The Ken-L-Ration dog hero of 1993 was a Pit Bull named Weela. She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during a flood in Southern California. A Pit Bull named Bogart saved a four-year-old child from drowning in a swimming pool in Florida. Dixie, the Pit Bull, was inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame after she saved some children from a Cottonmouth snake.
Pit Bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in existence. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds, and Pit Bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95% passing rate!
Many insurance companies are now abandoning breed banning (largely due to the impact of customer feedback and breed advocacy). For those that still do, achievement of the Canine Good Citizen designation may mitigate the ban. And as for Pitties who were fighting dogs, who many deem impossible to rehabilitate, there's no better response than
this video of one of Michael Vick's former dogs - now a therapy dog (link opens in new window).
So if you're willing to consider the facts about this versatile breed rather than the suspicion and stereotyping, if you're willing to be a responsible pet owner, and if you've got a place in your heart for bully breeds, you might want to consider adding a Pittie to your family. And if you live in CT, you might find that special new friend at Hotwater Rescue.
If you're not ready to permanently adopt a new friend, how about fostering?
In any case, please consider donating to this special rescue program for misunderstood breeds.
You can visit them at
http://www.hotwaterrescue.com
Rocky
Maybel
