Do Pit Bulls Deserve a Bad Rap?

When it comes to dog bites and attacks, some breeds garner more attention than others. But one breed, the pit bull, seems to constantly get a bad rap.

Pit bull advocates say that the breed’s bad rap is to due irresponsible owners who fail to train, socialize, and spay or neuter their dogs. But those who have witnessed a pit bull attack firsthand are adamant that the breed is inherently very dangerous. Some even say the breed should be banned.

Some counties and cities throughout the country have taken measures to ban people from owning pit bulls within city or county limits, but in some states, like California for example, it illegal for jurisdictions to ban certain breeds. However, these jurisdictions do have the right to require certain breeds to be spayed or neutered.

Whether or not a dog is spayed or neutered can make a significant difference in its temperament. Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered tend to be more aggressive and have more behavior problems. Joe Pulcinella, director of the Rancho Cucamonga’s Animal Care and Services Division, says that 90% of pit bulls that attack are un-neutered males.

Pulcinella also says that pit bulls need socialization and training, and that when a pit bull is well-bred and property trained it can make for a loving and wonderful pet.

But critics of pit bulls say that no amount of training is enough to rid these types of dogs of their propensity towards violence. Rodd Greene of Yucaipa, California is one of those people. Greene watched as his 6-year-old pug was viciously attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull who broke through his back yard fence.

“I think the breed itself, they’re predestined to violence. It’s just their nature,” says Greened.