Factcheck this: Pitbulls are a dangerous dog breed and shouldn't be pets

Question

There is such a negative stereotype around pitbulls. People are debating whether they should be banned or not, and why they are more dangerous than all the other dog breeds. Why is their reputation so bad, and is it true that people shouldn't have pitbulls as pets?

Answer 1

Although Pit bulls are a cute breed, you might want to do your research before bringing one into your home/family. According to an article by Attorney Kenneth M. Phillips, you should keep in mind that most “Americans believe that pit bulls are at least somewhat dangerous and that a family with small children should not harbor a pit bull”. That being said, they don't have a very good reputation when it comes to behavior. However, they make for great pets if you are a responsible pet owner and have the time and means to own one.

One reason for owning a dog might be for protection. Although Pit bulls can protect people in some instances they can also be the ones attacking. According to an article from the dog bite law website, “pit bulls are less than 6% of all the dogs in the USA. Yet they are responsible for more than half of the fatal dog attacks on women and girls” (Attorney Phillips). Again, this doesn't mean no one should own a Pit bull but depending on your lifestyle and situational needs there might be a better breed of dog that is best for you.

Overall, in his article Pit Bulls: Facts and Figures discusses the dangers of having a Pit bull as a pet. He suggests that the breeding of Pit bulls is an issue and should stop because “over 40% of the USA's pit bulls are homeless”(Attorney Phillips). This information is credible because it came from Kenneth M. Phillips, attorney and author of dogbitelaw.com.

Phillips, K. M. (2023). Pit bulls: Facts and figures. Dog Bite Law. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://dogbitelaw.com/vicious-dogs/pit-bulls-facts-and-figures#:~:text=Pit%20bull%20bites%20are%20more%20deadly%20than%20those%20of%20other%20breeds&text=The%20majority%20of%20these%20studies,%2D%2D%20than%20other%20dog%20breeds.

Comments

Don't forget to add a rating to your fact-checks going forward. For this one, I'm not sure what rating you'd select -- true?

Answer 2

Pitbulls, unfortunately, have a standing reputation that they are aggressive, dangerous animals because of their size, strength, and instinct to protect. This breed is very misunderstood and many people associate negative ideas with these dogs. However, these dogs are much more than their stereotypes, and they can be loving, amazing pets just like any other dog breed. According to the Animal Rescue Professionals Association, "Pitbulls have passed the American Temperament Test Society tests, including aggressiveness, protectiveness, and friendliness. Their scores were even higher than Golden Retrievers and Collies in 2012."

This evidence and more prove that pitbulls can make lovely pets. Just like any other dog, pitbulls can be socialized to be friendly and are capable of being harmonious creatures that can even get along with other pets in a household. It is simply because of an untrue stereotype that pitbulls have been made out to be vicious creatures.

Source: https://.wwwanimalrescueprofessionals.org/general-blog/pit-bulls-stereotypes/

Answer 3

Pitbulls have had a negative stereotype because people have used them as fighting dogs for years. They may appear scary in nature, but most pit bulls are loving and sweet pets. A dog's breed does not make it more susceptible to becoming aggressive. They are more likely reported due to their strength and size. A much smaller dog would not be causing as much damage as a pitbulll.

https://www.dabl.com/cesar-millan/cesar-911/articles/are-pit-bulls-really-dangerous-their-stereotype-suggests

Answer 4

Pitbulls have gotten a bad reputation because they have been known to be in the center of dog fighting rings. They have been created and trained for this. It is not their natural behavior. 

" A well-socialized Pitbull should never show aggression towards humans." If we treat these animals properly and raise them in the right type of environment, then they will not be deemed, "aggressive". 

Are Pit Bulls Aggressive Dogs? (thesprucepets.com)

Answer 5

Between 2005 and 2015, 360 Americans were killed by canines — and pit bulls were involved in 64 percent of the fatal attacks, according to DogsBite.org. 

While Pit Bulls can be trained as well as any other dog it is in their nature to be more aggressive.  With a dog breed having a much higher injuring rate than other dogs it is obvious they should not be recommended as a pet. 

https://nypost.com/2017/02/21/recent-pit-bull-attack-reignites-debate-over-notorious-dogs/

Answer 6

According to "6 Facts That Prove “Vicious” Pit Bulls Are Not As Dangerous As You Might Think!", research confirms that a dog's breed does not determine its propensity for aggression. Pit bulls aren't aggressive with people but are "less tolerant" of other dogs than many other breeds. Every dog requires the correct training in order for it to be received as safe. 

"https://www.dabl.com/cesar-millan/cesar-911/articles/6-facts-prove-vicious-pit-bulls-are-not-dangerous-you-might-think"s