Pit Bulls are wonderful companions and we at PBRC, believe they deserve a chance to have a good life like any other dog. However, it's important to remember that Pit Bulls are not just any other dog. They can be a little more of everything a dog can be.

Pit Bulls have great physical and mental characteristics that make them excellent partners for responsible, active and caring owners. On the other hand, these same outstanding qualities can make them a little difficult to handle for people who don't have a lot of experience with dog ownership, or those who don't understand the breed very well. Luckily, Pit Bulls are very responsive to training and eager to please. It is therefore strongly recommended to take them to obedience classes as soon as they are up to date with their shots. (Pit Bulls are prone to distemper and parvo, so it is important that they receive all their vaccinations before coming into contact with other dogs or being in places that other dogs frequent.) Well behaved and obedient Pit Bulls are great ambassadors for the breed and contribute to improve its reputation.

Pit Bulls are very adaptable and will even do well in urban living provided they have enough exercise or other positive outlets for their energy. Many Pit Bulls are easy going couch potatoes but can also be quite rambunctious until they mature. Maturity can come pretty late with this breed (2 to 3 years old in some cases). Pit Bulls remain playful all their life and have a great sense of humor. These dogs will make you laugh like no other.

Remember that Pit Bulls are very strong, energetic, agile and powerful dogs. They also are very resourceful, and "determination" is probably their most notable trait. Whatever they set out to do, they put their heart and soul into it... Whether it is escaping an inadequately fenced yard to chase the neighbor's cat, or destroying your new couch when left home alone, or climbing into your lap and shower you with kisses! They just don't give up easily.

"Stahlkuppe (1995) writes that the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), or the Amstaff, is certainly not the right pet for everyone. Being a powerful dog, it will require sufficient and adequate control. Some prospective elderly owners or children, will not be able to supply that control... A first-time dog owner, in the minds of many experienced dog breeders, should not buy an APBT or an Amstaff! (Original Emphasis). An insecure person who wants only an aggressive dog to bolster some personal human inadequacy should never become an owner of one of these dogs. An uncaring or negligent person should not buy an Amstaff or an APBT (or any other dog for that matter).

With that said, a very important characteristic of Pit Bulls is their love of people. These dogs are indeed remarkably affectionate, and often crave human attention. They are wonderful cuddlers and nothing beats a belly rub. In fact, most Pit Bulls think they are lap dogs!

Dunbar (1999) writes: "Today, a properly bred Pit Bull is so exuberantly happy upon meeting her owner's friends (or even friendly strangers) that new owners sometimes worry that their dog is too sweet and fun-loving to protect their home and family... A multitalented companion, the well-trained Pit Bull is suited for a variety of exciting activities. He excels at obedience, agility and weight-pulling competitions, events which showcase intelligence, trainability and strength. In addition, the Pit Bull's pleasant nature makes him an ideal candidate for therapy work with people.

Like any other breed, Pit bulls could develop behavior problems if mishandled, abused, poorly bred, unsocialized, etc, that could result in inappropriate aggression. Any large, strong and powerful dog whose attack can do a lot of damage. This is why serious temperament evaluation is so important when dealing with dogs of certain size and potential. Unlike the myth propagated by the media though, human aggression is not a problem specific to the Pit Bull breed. In fact, Pit Bulls tend to do better than average in temperament tests.

The ADBA registered 220,000 American Pit Bull Terriers last year. The APBT is now America's #1 dog! When you look at actual deaths caused by dog attacks, you'll note that the Pit Bull dogs do not top the chart.

These dogs really do make wonderful, loving and very loyal companions as long as you understand them well, and know how to establish your leadership in a positive way. Something very important to keep in mind with Pit Bull type dogs is their background as fighting dogs.

The Breed's Original purpose
Humans have created very specialized dogs through emphasizing desired traits and eliminating unwanted ones. It is no different with the Pit Bull breed. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been 'selectively' bred for hundreds of years to fight other dogs. This is the sad "work" these dogs were created for. In the same way that Labradors were bred to retrieve birds, APBTs were bred to face other dogs in mortal combat. Even in dogs that are not recently bred from fighting lines, the urge to rumble can arise at any time. Not to strongly emphasize this fact is to be negligent. We would be equally negligent if were we placing Beagles and failed to educate the adopter about why the specific traits that scent-oriented, hunting dogs, bred to work in packs, present certain challenges to those who wish to obedience train their hound.

We can't blame specialized breeds for behaving like they were bred to. Certain, specific traits were selectively bred into the dogs and are now part of the breed character. It's like the digging instinct of terriers, the herding behavior in Shelties, the compulsion to run in Greyhounds, etc. Your Pointer may have never spent a day on a real hunt, but he may still point and flush birds as his ancestors were bred to do. We don't have to condone or glorify it, but dog-aggression is not uncommon with Pit Bulls. Owners must recognize and accept this fact or they wont be able to provide competent ownership and have fun with their dogs.

It's a mistake to think the fighting gene can be easily trained or loved out of these dogs, or that early socialization will guarantee the dogs will always get along with other animals. Even though PBRC does not in any way condone animal fighting, it does acknowledge the importance of understanding the special traits of the breed, and advocates education about proper and responsible Pit Bull ownership. You can have all the dog experience in the world, but it is also essential to understand the distinctive features of the type of dog you own -- in this case a dog with an important fighting background who requires extra vigilance and precautions around other pets.

There are precautions to take when owning Pit Bulls, especially in a multiple-dog environment. Unfortunately these precautions are often viewed as an acceptance for the sport of pit fighting when nothing could be further from the truth. PBRC believes that knowing how to avoid a fight, as well as how to break it up if despite all efforts one strikes, is proof of smart and responsible Pit Bull ownership.

Take note that a fight can strike suddenly and for no apparent reason. Warning signs can be very subtle with Pit Bulls and even completely absent in certain cases. Two dogs may be best friends for years, sleep together, cuddle, play, even eat from the same bowl, and one day something triggers one of them and boom! Often, the dogs act like best friends as soon as the fight is over. They might even lick each other's wounds.

It is not necessarily a hate of other dogs that will cause Pit Bulls to fight, but rather an "URGE" to do so that has been bred into the breed for many generations. Pit bulls may fight over hierarchic status, but external stimulus or excitement can also trigger a fight. Remember that any canines can fight, but Pit Bulls were bred specifically for it, and therefore will do it with more drive and intensity than most other breeds.

Pit Bull owners must also be aware of the remarkable fighting abilities of this breed and always keep in mind that Pit Bulls have the potential to inflict serious injuries to other animals. A Pit Bull may not even be the one starting the hostilities with another dog, but chances are he will fight like a pro if he has to. Keep in mind that Pit Bulls are almost always blamed no matter who started it, and often end up paying the price at the hands of the authorities.

With all that said, some Pit Bulls get along great with other pets and may live happily with other dogs without any incidents. We just can't assume that this is true for all of them, or take it for granted. Pit Bull owners need to have common sense and don't set their dogs up for failure.

Every negative incident involving a Pit Bull adds to the breed's reputation and jeopardizes our right to own these great dogs!

In closing, please remember that animal-aggression and people-aggression should never be confused as they are two different traits. Unless they have been very poorly bred or specifically "trained" to attack humans (often through abusive methods by undesirable individuals), Pit Bulls are by nature very good with people. They are in fact one of the most loving, loyal, friendly and dedicated companions.