Change the way you look at Pit Bulls

The word “pit bull’ usually conjures up two distinctly different reactions: fear of the breed or the sentiment that they are misunderstood.   I have been in this field for 12 years and although I have always had a healthy respect for pit bulls, they have never been my favorite breed.  So why am I writing an article about pit bulls?  One reason is because October 27^th is National Pit Bull appreciation day which was created to help bring the breed to a more positive light and the second being that I have recently changed my personal opinion about the breed.  

Today, pit bulls or their mixes are the number one breed seen in shelters and a result it is estimated that about 1 million are euthanized across the country each year, mainly because of how they look.  This surge in the breed started about 10 years ago when we would see many used as backyard dogs or fighting dogs. 

Over the years I have been taught a lot about the breed and the main message was fear. From trainers to executive directors, to behaviorists alike, the messaging was the same.  Don’t house them together, no cats, no kids, first time pet owners cannot adopt.  Pit bulls were different and they were not a normal dog.  So, what changed my mind?   I recently attended a conference where I was speaking on our no kill programs in hopes of encouraging others but at this conference I learned something that changed my whole perspective.  Another workshop was on how to increase your pit bull adoptions.  I learned that Pit bulls are often mislabeled in shelters.  Recent studies of DNA, by Dr. Victoria Voith and others have proven that dogs commonly identified as pit bulls are quite often a mix of multiple breeds, so breed identification by appearance alone is now considered to be inaccurate and misleading.  Another recent scientific study done by Western University says only 6 out of 19,000 genes determine a dog’s appearance.  Dr. Kristopher Irizary, Assistant Professor of Genetics says that a dog’s appearance does not predict how it behaves.  

The presenter suggested that we begin looking at pit bulls as individuals just like any other dog.  We should house them with other dogs, have play groups, and allow them the same privileges as any dog.  Prior to my attending this conference, we never housed pit bulls with other dogs because of the fear of dog fights as the breed was thought to be dog aggressive.  After the conference we began to house them with other dogs once proper screening took place to make sure they would get along.  How many dog fights involving pit bulls have happened?  Not a single one since we began pairing them with other dogs.  Not one!

So why do we see so many reports of damaging bites from pit bulls?  Yes, they happen.  Yes, they can be very bad as with any dog bite.  But here is a thought.  There are two different kinds of dogs. One is the resident dog that is generally not integrated into the family but lives outside in a yard, or pen or worse on a chain and they don’t get much interaction from people but live there to protect the residence.  Then there is the family dog, these dogs are integrated into the home, have relationships with the family and are afforded the lessons on appropriate behavior in order to live harmoniously.  Those cases where a person is harmed, it is usually the resident type dogs, which have become aggressive due to their circumstances.  And unfortunately most of these resident dogs are pit bulls.

But things are changing.  We now see very few fighting dogs in the shelter but rather misplaced family pets.  More families are adopting because they are generally very people-oriented, loyal and make wonderful dogs for anyone.  Each one has its own personality so you will find coach potatoes, running partners, companions for other dogs and cats.   Pit bulls that love everyone including kids and that just want to be with you every moment of the day.  They are just dogs- dogs asking us to judge them by their personality and behavior not their appearance.  Like any other dog, they are looking for a person to love them.  In order to showcase how wonderful pit bulls are in our community the Lynchburg HumaneSociety has two videos on our YouTube channel to show  just how many friends, co-workers, family members and people of all kind have pit bulls and love them. 

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change, Wayne Dyer.