We condemn stereotyping people, so why not dogs?
It takes the fault of a human to wield a weapon, so why does that not apply to dogs?
Why do we insist another species comply with human social standards and rules, when they cannot comprehend human morality? Then blame them for what they cannot understand?
A devastating amount of pressure has been misplaced on the dogs, when the responsibility lies with the humans. Dogs are highly intelligent animals, but they come nowhere near human intelligence. We need to stop asking for what cannot be given, and learn to ask for what can be given.
That is why I am speaking to the humans. Why we are all screaming from the rooftops until we are blue in the face. Bully breeds need our voices, and they need our support. We are quite literally what stands between them and the needle.
October is Pitbull Awareness Month, and every ounce of awareness we raise matters.
Truth be told, its not just the pit bulls that need our voices and awareness. It’s all restricted breeds. Yet, despite an unfortunately long list of restricted breeds, pit bulls have found themselves with the worst rap of all.
The History of Pit Bulls
The breed history of bullies is a wild ride, but it is crucial we look at all of it. It is the entirety of the pit bull’s history that proves their innocence in a system come to be rigged against them.
Pit bulls were originally bred in the UK in the 1800’s (the irony is truly unmatched). Pit bulls are a descendant of Old English Bulldogs. They were first bred for the English blood sport of baiting bulls (hence the origin of their name) in replacement of the bulldogs. Their breeding was, at first, based solely on traits that heightened their champion or “hero” status, as it came to be referred to. This is part of why now, they come in all different shapes, sizes, and mixes.
Once bull-baiting was outlawed, pit bulls were then shortly used for ratting before that wasn’t enough for human sadism, thus birthing dog fighting. Pit bulls were quite literally bred for the sole purpose of humans gaining pleasure from other creatures’ pain. Unfortunately, they still fall victim to that same fate, both in dog fighting, and in the hateful prejudice against the breed. Really think about the latter part of that sentence.
Before we move into the next phase of their history, there is something important to note about their original dog fighting days. As with all breeding, dogs with the apex of certain qualities are selected to reproduce. In this case, the best fighters were celebrated and bred. HOWEVER, that was not the pit bull’s only chosen breeding trait.
The handlers encouraged, trained, and bred high bite inhibition towards humans. Bite inhibition is a dog’s ability to control the force of their bite, and the pressure exerted by their mouth. The handlers of fighting pit bulls had to be able to handle them without concern of being bit themselves. To take that even further, dogs that did bite humans were typically put down. As a result, pit bulls actually gained a reputation for their trustworthy nature with humans.
When immigrants brought their dogs over to America with them, specifically those with pit bulls, it was not their fighting traits that were prized and held onto. Rather, it was their trustworthy nature and their ability to be trained and to work. Their obedience and work ethic was also encouraged and bred through their generations, even if it was being misplaced by humans in the fighting ring.
In early America, pit bulls served a variety of purposes for their families. They protected their homestead from predators, helped with vital tasks on the farms, aided in hunts, and were loyal companions to the family children. Pit bulls were cherished as family dogs, gaining the term we still hear today, “nanny dogs.” They lost their reputation as fighting dogs and became just like any other cherished family dog. Word has it, Helen Keller and Theodore Roosevelt both had pit bulls!
Pit bulls were even employed, alongside other breeds, on the WWI battlefield, saving the lives of soldiers.
Unfortunately, in the 1980’s, pit bulls had all this stripped from them. Only to be forcefully returned to a reputation of fighting dogs. Human assholery really couldn’t help itself, resulting in the return of dog fighting and the new association of pit bulls with ‘thugs’ and crime. This, in addition to the media’s foul portrayal of pit bulls, was devastating to the breed. This is what led to breed specific laws and breed restrictions.
Bottom left photo: WWI propaganda poster
Where Are Pit Bulls Now?
Pit bulls have been fighting for their lives ever since the eighties.
Since the UK instituted their XL bully ban, becoming official only 10 months ago, OVER 400 XL Bullys were put down. Dogs that had no history of dog fighting, and were nothing but loving companions. Dogs that had never committed a ‘crime’ or even considered such. Dogs that were murdered.
I’m going to need you to really buckle in for this next one.
Worldwide, the most prevalent breed in shelters is pit bulls.
Approximately ONE MILLION pit bulls are euthanized in the United States ANNUALLY.
There are many with loving homes, but unfortunately, there are not enough loving and welcoming homes for all the pit bulls to escape their fate. There is also too much breeding, and more importantly purchasing from breeders, as opposed to rescue and adoption.
The fate that has been wrongfully bestowed upon countless pittie babies is not the fault of their own. It is the fault of humans. In case I haven’t made that clear enough, I’m more than happy to explain further…
Humans are The Bullies
Pit bulls were taught aggression. Yes, dogs are inherently born with the emotional capability of aggression, as are human beings. However, they are taught to use that aggression. Otherwise, it is only present for primal, survival instincts and purposes, as one would see in a coyote or a wolf.
When dog fighting, they are placed in an environment in which they are forced into aggression. Their primal and survival instinct is ignited and they have no choice but to fight for their life or die. Getting rewarded for their winnings in dog fighting, as well as the more historically recent rewarding of aggressive protection, has taught pit bulls that aggression is the right thing to do.
This is actually the case with any breed of dog. If you teach them to use aggression and reward them for it, that is exactly what they will exhibit. The dogs you are using to stereotype the entirety of pit bulls have been taught and trained to be aggressive BY HUMANS.
Pit bulls are not the problem.
Restricted breeds are not the problem.
Dogs are not the problem.
Humans are the problem.
If you raise a pit bull the same way you do a lab, with no semblance of aggression, they will turn out just as loving and just as good of a dog. The genetics of a dog only go so far. Yes, they do play a role and yes, they do have an effect. But the way you raise, nurture, and train that dog – regardless of its breed – is everything. Let’s also not forget that pit bulls were not actually bred to be aggressive, but forced and taught. Yes, the best fighters were bred, but it was their strength and stamina that made them that. It was their obedience and resilience.
Humanity has done a deep injustice to pit bulls – to all bully breeds.
There are no bad dogs, only bad owners.
Even the roughest of dogs can be rehabilitated with the right love, dedication and training. Much like humans. We can not give up on them.
End Bullying
I’m not asking you to own one if you are not ready. I am simply asking you to understand them, and understand the hand we had in making them, and still do to this day. Every single dog is trainable and every single dog is a good dog if set up for success, regardless of the breed.
I am asking for your awareness and your support.
The pit bulls are asking for your awareness and your support. They’re asking for a voice.
And if you can give it, they would be endlessly grateful for a loving home they can dedicate their love to.
All of this is coming from a pit bull momma and an animal care professional (someone who has worked with dogs for over a decade). I love my pittie baby more than words and damn, would I fight for him if I had to…
But my goal, is that we never have to fight again. Pitties have had enough fighting. It’s time for them to return to the regular, loving, trustworthy, family dogs they were and still are.
It’s time for this fight to end.
Ban bad owners, not dogs.
With endless love, good vibes, and hope,
Ash and Riley
To really finish this out with a good pull on the heart strings, check out my original poem, An Open Letter from the Bully Breeds.
Sources:
https://badrap.org/breed-info/
https://love-a-bull.org/resources/the-history-of-pit-bulls/
Two vintage images found on google & two from Wikepedia.
Over a decade of working with dogs & owning a pit bull <3
