Bully Breeds

I just wanted to speak my peace on a web site dedicated to proper education about animal rights and cruelty concerning "bully breeds", like Pit Bulls in particular. I have had extensive experience with Pit Bulls in shelters and at home after they get out of the shelters (by extensive, I mean 5+ years). Pit Bulls CAN be the sweetest, most loving family dogs out there.

95% of any dog's behavior is the method by which they are raised and how they interact with people (e.g. do they receive proper rules, limitations, and boundaries at home). It is a real shame that so many of these dogs are exploited for their bite power. Anyone who participates in street fighting will tell you it is very, very difficult to find a game dog, that is, a dog that will fight to the death. It not only goes against their own will to live, but it also goes against their natural instincts. These dogs have to be trained to be the monsters they become. Unfortunately, too many people are willing to put the time into a puppy to turn it into a killer.

I currently have a rescue Pit Bull (her name is Ivy), who is about a year old. No one is sure of her background, but let me tell you, she was most certainly abused. ... Yet, she doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body. She shares food/toys/play with my three year old pug, and never gets too rough (that is, after we set limitations for her). I would never leave her unattended, especially since we have two cats too, but she has yet to show me any cause for concern. Even IF she had an incident, I am sure that I have the pack leader assertive status in her mind to get her to cut it out before it becomes an issue.

I wanted to hear people's thoughts on this subject. All too many people out there ban Pit Bulls and other "bully breeds", not giving them a chance to become family pets like any other breed. ALL breeds can be aggressive, and all should be given limitations to go by. Just makes me sad to think that there are people so uneducated that they ban these poor dogs.

Also, keep in mind, about 20 years ago, the Pit Bull was America's family dog, while the German Shepard was the "bully breed"....