this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2025
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I watch dogs as a job. I've had many pit bulls. I have had one that got aggressive, who responded to being yelled at. There were no other issues, and that was one of the best playmates I've seen.
If anything, pit bulls are commonly gentler than other breeds. I'm watching one right now who likes to give my dog kisses. A friend has a family pit bull who is one of the most timid dogs I've seen. I have only had pit bulls that are wonderful to be around. This is why eliminating the breed seems unacceptable to me.
It is learned behaviour--and, granted, it is easier to teach. Instead, acquiring the breed should require a licence.
I had one with an outburst who responded to me, then got along extremely well. I have had many dogs with outbursts. I had a small Yorkshire that went out of their way to lunge at other dogs, that did not respond.
This is hardly a point.
Weird guess tbh and probably just flat wrong. You think the professional dogwatcher who is probably watching multiple dogs a day has interacted with less than 100 pit bulls lifetime? Sounds like you need to reassess reality.
I've worked in animal rescues, shelters, and at a veterinary clinic. I've interacted with probably hundreds of pit bulls in my life over the years, and I've fostered more than ten of them. My fosters were all lovely with me, other people (especially children), my resident dogs, and all my cats. One went on to become a service dog for a little boy with autism, and my last foster is now a support dog for a young adult with severe autism.
While I have met some pits with behavioral issues and different types of aggression, they are few and far between. There are many, many other breeds that have a higher percentage of individuals with dangerous behavioral issues than pit bulls.
I would encourage anyone who has such patently false ideas about these dogs to volunteer at their local shelter and get some actual experience with bully breeds. If that's too big an ask, have a conversation with the vet techs and doctor assistants at your veterinary clinic, and ask them which breeds they have the most difficulty with during appointments. It won't be put bulls. There is a reason that very few people that work with dogs share your opinion.
I’ve interacted with less than 100 but the highly trained pit mix rescue across the street still broke her leash, ran down my corgi and picked her up and shook her. The owner tackled her and our corgi was mostly ok (needed stitches on her neck, but no life threatening injury) and the owner readily payed the bill directly, but t by that dog had had months of interventional training by no-expense-spared training and still went nuts on a dog on the street across from its house.
Please listen to the people with experience working with or handling dogs. Pitbulls and other breeds aren't the problem. Irresponsible pet owners are