Pitbull Terriers - An Amazing Dog!

The Pit Bull is an exceptional breed that requires exceptional dedication and ownership. These dogs are not people-haters. Their pugnacious tendencies which are natural to the terrier  can tend to be towards other dogs and animals. This comes from centuries of breeding. It is a historical fact that these dogs were originally bred for fighting. It has also been noted numerous times the one quality that was never bred into them was human aggression.
​Even during their fighting hay days human aggression was not tolerated. While it is understood that yes, some of these dogs do indeed bite people. They are not representatives of  an entire breed of canine. In other words, while 20 dogs out of 5,000 may bite, that doesn't mean the other 4,980, will. Any dog of any breed has the propensity to bite. Any dog of any breed needs proper training and supervision.
The Pit Bull possesses a tenacious athletic ability, loyalty, intelligence, and high energy. These dogs are not lap dogs (though many think they are) or a dog for the lazy person. In doing the research for this article the following are attributes that I found touted over and over again:

•  High levels of exercise EVERY DAY to help expel some of their natural high energy.
•  A wonderful family dog. They adore their families and love to snuggle. 
•  A very "people loving" dog. My Pibble can not get enough attention from people.  He wants everyone to love and pet him. 
• A dog that can be destructive to furniture or other objects if left alone. Any dog that is left alone or chained up can be destructive. Pibbles are intelligent dogs and need not only physical activity but mentally stimulating activity as well. 
• An easy to train dog that can make a wonderful partner in agility, jogging, or other activities.
•  May not get along with other dogs, especially of the same sex. 
•  A dog that you cannot leave unattended with other dogs, no matter how  well they get along.
• A pet that you may be unable to take to off-leash dog parks. It is inevitable if a fight breaks out the Pitbull will be blamed and punished whether or not it was their fault. 
•  A poor guard dog; it is not a breed trait to be defensive of car, home, etc.
•  A social dog; most pit bulls greet strangers like long lost friends.
•  Can be a 12 + year commitment.
• A dog that you may be unable to travel with due to breed specific restrictions.
• You may receive criticism from friends/family members that are misinformed about the breed. My Mother was very afraid of Pitbulls and was frightened to come to my home when I first got Benson.  Once she met him and learned about the breed she fell in love and is now one of the biggest advocates of the Pitbull type dog. 
•  A dog that requires high quality food to maintain health.
• Vet bills for regular check ups, spay/neuter, vaccinations, and flea and  other parasite treatments
•  A dog that is safe with people. Human aggression, severe shyness, and instability are not traits, in fact they are clowns and very playful. 
  
  Most of the above traits can also be attributed to any dog. Dog ownership should always be taken seriously and responsibly. Pit bull ownership should always be taken seriously. With proper training and supervision these dogs can be the best companion an individual or family can experience.  I can attest to this fact as Benson, pictured above has given not only myself but my family and co-workers a lot of love and laughs. 

---