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Alondra Sanchez
Ms. Gongora-2
English 12
October 12, 2015
The American Pit Bull has been talked about lately through media when it involves dog
attacks, the media display a negative view rather than a positive view about the breed. Many
people see this breed as a threat due to the information that media has been filtering out to the
public. The views on Pit Bulls should be improving by educating those who do not understand
the original breeding jobs, training and socializing the breed it can make the animal more tame
and approachable to those in the community. Having people understand how this breed has been
designed through breeding can affect the views on the public and seeing how this dog works can
help stop the stereotypical advances in thinking that this breed is dangerous from the way they
are built physically. Like all dogs training always a good tip to use when teaching ones dog to
become obedient it shows loyalty and makes the breed easier to control in public. Socializing can
help the dog become more confident and less afraid of foreign objects or people, the reactions of
any breed are more calming and when other people are around. Pit bulls breed can be tame and
loyal with time and dedication it can have the temperament of any other breed.
Pit Bull are now being thought of as various breeds generalizing any dog with similar
characteristics to the American Pit Bull is automatically thought of as a pit when they are a breed
all their own and their history may be only slightly similar to those dogs of its supposed category.
Their original functions included bull baiting, dog fighting, farm work, guard duty, watch dogs,
protection dogs, drug and bomb-sniffing dogs as well as service animals for hearing impaired
and disabled people. They also continue their tradition of livestock herding.(Morgan) Not only

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can Pits be used in dog fights, they can also be used for other jobs that are not meant to harm
people or other breeds. This breed was traditionally bred for livestock herding which is pretty
much a farm working job where dogs round up cows, lambs, or any other livestock. Knowing
that this breed was bred for a job that was not meant to be dangerous can allow the media to
show to the community that Pits are not all bad by having seen that their reputation has been
faltered by seeing the dark side of the animal. Releasing stories about good deeds that pit bulls
have in the community about productive jobs that this dog can obtain can help show that the dog
is not vicious at heart.
American Pit Bulls have been given a negative name with in the media, when an animal
attack occurs involving a dog bite the canine that are usually presented are pit bulls. Knowing
that pits have a strong emotional connection to people whether or not it is positive or even a
negative effect. Some emotions negative to this breed have extended to even court cases where a
dog had bit and injured a child badly. I got what is a purebred boxer surrendered because the
landlord thought it liked like a pit bullThe court modified its ruling to exempt cross-breed pit
bulls (dogs who are part pit bull and part some other breed of domestic dog) - a change that
advocates say would offer little relief.(Brian GeorgeShelter) This shows that after finding out
that the breed that actually attacked the child was not a pit but a different breed altogether.
Instead of the court addressing the mistake of a simple observation, they had modified what
really was reviled and still treated the case as if it was addressing a pit bull. Even Eric Berthal, a
lawyer and resident of Maryland recognized the prejudice over the pit bull breed based on a
physical stereotype instead of having the counsel look over the facts instead. The word Pit bull
has become a term out of the generalization and similarities between breeds of terrier and now
the generalization in the term have crossed other breeds not known as the bully breed.

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A pit bull can be trained just like any other breed but certain steps need to be taken when
interacting with this type of breed. Pits are very smart and are relatively easier to train than other
breeds. They need tons of directed exercise, lots of games and at least 15 minutes of directed
remaining every day. They excel especially at agility and other interactive games (Morgan). Pits
are always full energy and if they do not get the necessary exercise they can sadly become
destructive. Playtime often has the best results of training compared to other dogs which is a
totally separate interaction and feel then when playing. One of the best ways to train and exhaust
a pit is to have them play fetch this allows them to run back and forth and get tired and every
time he or she returns the ball to his or her owner they will recognize who is the boss of whom.
Fetch helps show the dog how to hit and be obedient in trying to gain positive attention. Playing
fetch with pits helps them get their own energy out.
Pits can be trained to be either obedient and or can be trained to be vicious. Pits will do
anything to please their owners and training is away for them to show off what they can do. It is
the humans that raise Pit bulls that should be held responsible for any of the bad traits that have
developed in this breed. Most dogs regardless of the breed will respond to a kind loving
environment and the proper training.(Editor) All dogs are raised differently and just because a
pit has been given a negative reputation we should not blame the dog but the owner for allowing
and not teaching their animal how to obey and not be destructive. A dog in a loving home with a
family who makes time for their animal and allows them to learn how to act and who to obey
there will be positive reaction. Otherwise, if the dog is in an environment that is negative the dog
will not know how to act and it will end up doing whatever it wants to and it will be negative
because the dog will not know how to react in certain situations. Dog training is important for all

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dogs and training them early enough then they are puppies can help speed the process of learning
for this animal.
Pits, like all dogs, need socialization otherwise the dog is not going to know how to react
when unfamiliar people are around. Unfortunately, most owners dont realize the importance of
taking immediate steps toward changing a pups association if he has a bad experience at a young
age. They might think the tincture of time will fix it and hell grow out of it; he wont.
(Miller) Pits will be afraid until they are taught how to react when strange children and or adults
are around. Pits like all dogs will become aggressive as a defense when they feel attacked.
Having a stranger come up to a dog that is not properly socialized can affect how they will act.
Its best to socialize puppies from the age period 3 to 14 weeks, between this time the puppy is
very curious and it is easier correct when and if a negative reaction were to occurs. Pits are very
loving towards their owners and when socialized correctly they become immensely friendly and
will want to attack you with doggie kisses. When pits are socialized and are able to walk out in
public without being fazed by another dog barking at them. Socialization can really help prove
the negative reactions around this breed to be nothing more than just a rumor.
Pits needs socialization to be able to coexist with any other animal, human and or
situations. For this reason Pits that have been rescued need the most of positive and friendly
environments. In the Michael Vick case where some 50 pit bulls were rescued from a fighting
ring. Of those, 49 dogs were rehabilitated. Some went to shelters such as Best Friends and many
are well-loved family members today (10CommonMisconceptionsBulls). Even though some
pits have been in the fighting ring before does not mean that Pits cannot be rehabilitated into
becoming loving members of a house hold. Socialization is very important for these types of pits
if they want to start over and become adopted into a new family who might treat them fairly and

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show them that they are loved to step aside from their dark past that the future could be a
positive change. Having a transition from negative to positive is never easy but it can be done.
These animals need socialization to be able to move on. Sadly, when these animals are rescued
they are taken to shelters. One out of 600 is lucky enough to be adopted; if they are not they end
up being killed.
Pits cannot always be trusted enough to be unsupervised with an unknown child or with a
stranger. These dogs are destructive and will sink their teeth into anything they can find and will
devour the object as if it was a toy to them. Many landlords refuse to rent to families with Pit
Bulls. Many insurance companies allow the denial or cancellation of coverage if a homeowner
owns a Pit Bull (Moore). Pit bulls are very strong when not handled correctly and like other
dogs they can become a reliability from the destruction they cause and the potential injuries they
can cause and for this reason certain insurance companies and landlords will not allow a pit bull
owner to be client or even be a tenant on ones land. These dogs are not easy to control and not
everyone can own a pit. Like all dogs they are unpredictable and they should always be
supervised. Physically these dogs are intimidating due to the fact of muscle mass and the way
their teeth are about one of the most menacing traits that they have. Pits are looked as a
dangerous breed due to the physical appearance that they have but also because the views on
these dogs do not talk about positive stories about them on the media. Professional pit owners try
to convince people how good this breed is but the way they are being spoken about can be
misleading if the person against a pit has been attacked before or even thinks the wording spoken
can be thought of as overwhelming.
Pits do not have positive stories released in the news often. A key point when a Pit is
around or when talking about one is always safety. There are Breed-Specific Legislations that

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ban this breed in multiple states in the U.S. Even the White House has weighed in against laws
that target specific breeds. In a statement issued in 2013, President Obama said [w]e dont
support breed-specific legislations-research shows that the ban of certain types of dogs are
largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources. And the simple fact is that the dog of
any breed can become dangerous when theyre intentionally or unintentionally raised to be
aggressive.(Position StatementPit bulls) The president is against B.S.L. but the banning of a
breed can actually make people safer from that specific breed. Not all dogs are the same but it
can actually keep people at a calmer mind state if they know that they will be at easy knowing a
dog attack will not occur from a specific breed. The breed classification conflict in an attack
could identifying without a problem when one of the main breeds talked about often is out of the
picture and the confusion would subside and will be less likely to offend people who are like that
specific breed.
The importance of this topic is the stereotypes of pits and how they are viewed in society
as bad dogs. Pits are viewed in this manner due to the fact that they are very strong. Readers
should care because stereotyping is not just targeted by humans but by other creatures such as
animals as well. The original breeding for Pits is not what is being conducted now, they were
bred not for fighting but for herding cattle and other types of farm animals. Training helps dogs
obey their masters and it shows discipline so the animal will not be so much of a threat.
Socializations helps pits because they will be less threatened by pedestrians walking on the street
or even alongside the curb of a house so the dog will not have the eager to lunge or attack. Pits
are believe to be dangerous and untrustworthy especially when around children and when they
are left alone with precious objects without supervision. Even though pits are dangerously strong

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when given the right opportunity and training they can become a heartwarming addition to ones
family.

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Works Cited

10 Common Misconceptions About Pit Bulls. Dogster. LLC,. Web. 25 Aug. 2015
Brian George/Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (courtcase)
Editor, Chief. 9 Major Pros and Cons of PitBulls N.p. NLCATP,. Web 11 Sept. 2015
Miller, Pat. Bully Meet World. Training Secrets for Bully Breeds: 31-37. Print.
Moore, Benjamin. Heres Why You See So Many Pit Bulls In Shelters. N.p. BarkPost,.Web.
14 Sept. 2015
Morgan, Diane. Hello Bully! Training Secrets for Bully Breeds: 4-13. Print
Position Statement on Pit Bulls. N.p. ASPCA,. Web. 28 Aug. 2015