The pit bull is without a doubt the most feared, most hated dog. 

But that doesn’t make it true. “Bad dog” is a perception, a very human thing.  So let’s dive in; what makes us hate pitbulls so much?

Pit bulls are a type of terrier, originally bred from a mix of terrier and bulldog breeds in England. They had the strength to be able to bite and hold large animals like bulls and bears, and hunt smaller animals like rats. But as dogfighting arrived in the early 1800’s in the UK, their purpose changed from hunting to fighting against each other in the savage sport known as dogfighting. 

This dark history is what led to the hateful ideal of pit bulls. When these dogs came from Britain to America, they became working dogs. They were predominantly guard dogs, which utilized the aggression and power that had been bred into them from the dogfighting days.

According to data by dogsbite.org, “In the 13-year period of 2005 to 2017, canines killed 433 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (284) of these deaths.” While this is a shocking number, undeniably a result of the aggressive nature bred into them, we can’t frame the entire breed as bad. We don’t blame all car drivers when a car accident happens, just the one bad driver.

My point is that even though some pit bulls turn out with the dominant trait of aggression, that doesn’t make all of them this way. There is still a significant amount of these dogs being wrongly labeled as bad.   

Keimani Leonard, a student with personal experience with pit bulls says, “Both of my cousins have [pit bulls]. One of them is mean and bites people when they come near her, but I think it’s because she is protective of the people she loves and her owner. The other dog is always nice and just wants to smell people’s feet. Dogs have different personalities.” As there is with every person, this shows that there is a good pit bull for every bad pit bull. 

In fact, there are pit bulls in history who have defied the bad dog nature that is expected of them.  As listed in the article 5 Famous Pit bulls by Be Chewy, the most decorated dog of WW1 is a pit bull named Stubby. Stubby is credited with capturing a German spy, attacking and holding him until American Soldiers could take him prisoner. The Yankee Division was so impressed that they awarded him with the title of sergeant. 

Even with heroic animals in history like Stubby, we still have a certain resentment for pit bulls.  Yes, people should understand that pit bulls have a dark history and dark side to them, but they should not be hated for a simple flaw in their behavior. In American shelters, pit bulls are “by far the most euthanized breed” says the Encyclopedia for Dog Owners. 

It’s time to change the way we treat pit bulls. The world needs a little more love, so do our dogs, right?