Pit Bulls

According to the ASPCA, among the top 5 most frequently abandoned dogs are Pit Bulls. Pit Bull is a generic term that many use to include the Bull Mastiff, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Bull Terrier. In addition, many people call any mean dog, regardless of breed, a Pit Bull.

Because Pits have had so much bad press, just seeing them causes anxiety and hostility in most humans. Because dogs sense what people are feeling, the Pits react with to human anxiety and hostility with hostility of their own. How unfortunate that bad will occurs all around when Pit Bulls can be among the most loving and rewarding of all dog breeds.

Pit Bulls were originally bred to attack bulls and to fight with other dogs. The dogs that survived had a fierce determination, low pain threshold, and no inhibition against biting. Still, they were domesticated dogs, which means they evolved to live peacefully with humans. So, our modern Pit Bulls have inherited both the capacity to be ferocious and the capacity to be loving with their families. Which of these characteristics predominates is determined by how the dogs are bred, treated, and fed.

Some people may think they can’t influence breeding, but that is exactly what we do when we insist on meeting the parent dogs before purchasing a puppy. If the bitch and stud dog are not well socialized and docile, it’s not likely their puppies will be. We influence breeding by refusing to purchase these puppies.

A dog may have started out life with good genetics, but even a well-bred dog can become aggressive if it is disciplined harshly or inconsistently. Harsh and inconsistent discipline teaches dogs to be stubborn and aggressive. Thus, many pets are abandoned because they have not been taught with soft, consistent, firmness how to behave.

Dogs are also abandoned because they receive poor nutrition. Without proper nutrition the dog’s brain isn’t nourished. A brain that doesn’t work makes it difficult for a dog to learn and understand what is being asked of them. Another major behavior influence of nutrition is the effect of flour, corn meal, dextrose, sucrose, propylene glycol, and other simple carbohydrates included in inexpensive food and treats. Pit Bulls eating too many simple carbohydrates become hyper, just as children do when they have too much sugar. For Pit Bulls to learn and behave appropriately, they need foods high in flax, fish and Omega 3 fatty acids to nourish the brain and set the dog up to be able to think and act reasonably.

Who should have a Pit Bull?
Families that do best with Pit Bulls have experience disciplining strong, fierce dogs using a kind, consistent approach. Because it’s difficult for most pet owners to develop these training skills, it may be wise to limit ownership of Pit Bulls to those qualified to care for them. If we screened adopting families and selected those with skills to nourish a Pit, it would become obvious to everyone that Pits are truly wonderful dogs.