Are pit bulls safe family dogs? What to Know

True: How an animal is raised is a better gauge of its personality.

The period between two and seven weeks is critical for pets as the ideal time for socialization. That means exposing your dog or cat to new people, places, and other animals, if applicable. However, it doesn’t end there. A study published in Scientific Reports found that dogs that are active and socialized are less likely to be anxious or fearful. It also boils down to the owner-pet relationship.

You don’t have to be a dog owner long to know how to read your pet’s emotions. The same thing applies when you look at the question from your pup’s point of view. Often, they’ll mirror your feelings. A study published in the Journal of Forensic Science took this information one step further by looking at the owner’s personality and aggression in their pets.

The researchers found a compelling correlation between individuals demonstrating criminal behavior and the viciousness of their dogs. It’s another unfortunate and unintended consequence of the Pitbull’s past.

Robin Rock is the founder and director of Measle’s Animal Haven Pit Bull Rescue, a 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue and sanctuary consisting of foster homes in Central Ohio. Robin has been rescuing, rehabilitating and advocating for Pit Bulls for over 10 years, and she has worked with thousands of Pit Bulls. She lives with her husband Joe, their five children, adopted dogs and cats and various foster dogs.

These are just a few reasons why adding a pit bull is a great decision if you’re looking to adopt a dog. Once you have welcomed your new friend into your family, make sure to bring your pit bull to us to make sure it has all the shots it needs to be an active, healthy, happy member of your family for years to come!

Other than attitude, there are a number of other advantages to adopting a pit bull that makes it a great choice for your home.

3. Pit bulls like to please. People assume pit bulls are a dangerous breed because they are associated with fighting and law enforcement. Pit bulls make great dog cops because they are loyal to humans, not because they are aggressive. Pit bulls like to please humans. The reason why so many of them work with cops is because they are so easy to train.

Pit bulls get a bad rap. Those who don’t know much about the breed assume that pit bulls are aggressive, mean dogs. That couldn’t be further from the truth. With any breed of dog, their attitude comes from their environment. If you treat a pit bull well, you will have one of the most loyal dogs that you can find. Studies have shown that pit bulls have a lower temperament than other breeds of popular dogs, including beagles and chihuahuas.

4. Pit bulls like snuggle time. While many dogs view hugging as an aggressive sign of dominance, pit bulls love to be held by humans. They are the most likely breed to curl up with you and willingly like to snuggle up with you. They are very affectionate and like when you show them affection as well.

THE TRUTH ABOUT PITBULLS | murderers or family dogs?

Doberman pinschers, rottweilers, and German shepherds topped lists of dogs some considered dangerous in the not-too-distant past.

These days, pit bulls often make headlines and it’s rarely good news. If it isn’t about an attack on a child or a shooting by police, it’s a tale of neglect or abuse. The heat of such reports has forged a frightening of the pit bull as having a hair-trigger temper and a lock-jawed bite.

But pit bull advocates and some experts say the dogs get a bad rap. They say the dogs are not inherently aggressive, but in many cases suffer at the hands of irresponsible owners drawn to the dogs macho who encourage aggression for fighting and protection.

Indeed, the ASPCA web site gives the breed an endorsement that could fit a golden retriever. It says, “A well-socialized and well-trained pit bull is one of the most delightful, intelligent, and gentle dogs imaginable.”

In general, pit bulls aren’t aggressive with people but are “less tolerant” of other dogs than many other breeds, says Pamela Reid, PhD, vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal Behavior Center in New York. They also have “great tenacity. They put their mind to something, and they do it. That’s what makes them great dogs for sports like weight pulling. They are very strong, athletic animals,” Reid says.

Owning a pit bull should not be taken lightly. Some cities and towns have banned the breed. You also may face rising insurance rates or cancellation of your policy, difficulty renting, and the watchful eye of neighbors and passersby.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is technically the only true pit bull, although the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier are often referred to as pit bulls. So are a handful of other breeds and mixed breeds.

Pit bulls were originally used for bull- and bear-baiting, and later were bred to fight dogs in an arena. They had “a fabulous reputation early on and were considered the ideal family pet because they were so good with people,” Reid says.

“Petey” from The Little Rascals was a pit bull. Helen Keller, President Theodore Roosevelt, and Fred Astaire all had the breed as family pets.

But the tide turned in the late 1990s, when pit bulls became popular among people who “weren’t focused on the positive attributes of the breed – they were looking for a strong, scary-looking dog,” Reid says.

The abuse of pit bulls drew national attention in 2007, when Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to running a dog-fighting operation. He spent nearly two years in federal prison.

Jim Gorant, a Sports Illustrated senior editor and author of The Lost Dogs, a book that documents Vick’s dogs and their path to redemption, says pit bulls are caught in a self-perpetuating cycle of incrimination and bad ownership.

“Every dog is an individual,” Gorant says. “Pit bulls are just dogs and if they are not raised properly and socialized and treated right, they can have behavior problems. But they aren’t any more problematic than any other breed by nature.”

Opponents argue that pit bulls are more likely to attack. But the ASPCA, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and some other groups have recommend against breed-specific laws. They cite a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association on Sept. 15, 2000.

The study, which focused on fatal dog attacks, notes difficulties identifying various breeds (particularly mixed breeds) and in calculating a bite rate. The researchers noted that there isn’t consistent data on breed populations and bites, especially when the injury isn’t serious enough to require an ER visit.

Reid says many things can lead to a tendency toward aggression. That includes breeding dogs for protection, dog fighting, social status, or financial gain. Abuse, neglect, chaining, tethering, and inadequate obedience training and supervision also make the list.

They have locking jaws. There’s nothing anatomically different about a pit bulls’ jaw – “they cannot lock,” Reid says. But like other terriers, “they are more likely than other breeds to grab a hold of something and to shake.” It doesn’t mean they won’t let go, but owners need to know how to break up a fight.

They can tolerate huge amounts of pain. “Pit bulls are incredibly wimpy in many respects – they don’t like to go in the cold and rain,” Reid says. But when aroused or agitated, they may be less responsive to pain.

They’re unpredictable. The popular notion is that pit bulls can be fine their entire lives and suddenly snap and turn on their owner. Reid says that’s no more likely to happen with pit bulls than it is with any other breed.

You’ll need to do more than the average dog owner to counteract negative perceptions. Socializing the dog with people and other animals is key. Here are some other tips:

Responsible pet ownership includes spaying or neutering your pet. That will help decrease some undesirable behavior, such as male dominance aggression.

Awareness about pit bulls is growing and more are being adopted, says Stacey Coleman, executive director of the Animal Farm Foundation Inc., a Bangall, N.Y. pit bull advocacy group.

“It has gotten much better for the dogs,” Coleman says. “People have seen that these dogs are out there and deserve help right now.”

Of the 51 pit bulls seized from Vick’s kennels, about 17 have been adopted. About a dozen of those adopted dogs have passed their AKC Canine Good Citizen test and several have become therapy dogs.

Among them is Hector, a dog that is covered with physical scars but is “just great with other dogs, great with kids, and great with people,” Gorant says. Hector frequently visits hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

If there’s an upside to the Vick case, Gorant hopes it helps sway public opinion because it helps people see pit bulls as victims. But he admits, there’s still “a long way to go.”

“On any given day, probably 10 people get bit by a dog,” Gorant says. “But it’s only news when it’s a pit bull.”