It's unfortunate for pits and their owners, as the perceptions don't align precisely with the facts. Pit bulls do cause more fatal attacks than any other breed, but this is not the entire story. While tendencies do permeate the breed, many fear pit bulls based on myths, their fighting history and questionable statistics. Pit bulls and their close relatives the American Staffordshire terriers trace their roots to the British Isles. Soon after, many breeders attempted to create fighting dogs from this founding stock.
Dogs forced to engage in grotesque and inhumane blood matches did so in a ring called a pit -- this is where the pit bull name originates. This is an especially important consideration when we look at an individual dog versus a breed.
Many diverse and sometimes subtle factors influence the development of behavior, including, but not limited to, early nutrition, stress levels experienced by the mother during pregnancy, and even temperature in the womb.
And when it comes to influencing the behavior of an individual dog, factors such as housing conditions and the history of social interactions play pivotal roles in behavioral development. This is why there is such variation in behavior between individual dogs, even when they are of the same breed and bred for the same purpose.
Because of the impact of experience, the pit bull specifically bred for generations to be aggressive may not fight with dogs and the Labrador retriever bred to be a service dog may be aggressive toward people.
Early positive experiences, most notably socialization, are considered key in preventing aggressive tendencies in dogs. Puppies that learn how to interact, play and communicate with both people and members of their own and other species are less likely to show aggressive behavior as adults.
Unfortunately, pit bull type dogs that find themselves in these conditions may be at greater risk for developing aggressive behavior. But because these factors are ones that can be controlled by better educated owners, it is possible to reduce these risks, not just in pit bulls but in dogs of all breeds.
The reality is that dogs of many breeds can be selectively bred or trained to develop aggressive traits. They call for studies with a broader range of participants to gather better data, as well as possible experiments or longitudinal studies regarding media influence on the perceptions of pit bulls. Attitudes Pet Population Psychology. Iliopoulou, M. In this blog, we highlight some of the most popular and useful Faunalytics resources that you may not have heard about. A survey of U.
This month's Faunalytics Index includes facts and figures about companion animal health, veterinary mental health, vegan romantic relationships, and much more. Faunalytics delivers the latest and most important information directly to your inbox. Choose what topics you want to see and how often you get our emails, and you can unsubscribe anytime. The story of the pit bull is fascinating because it is such an American story. There have been many highs and lows, they have come through so much, and they are still with us.
They will always be a powerful symbol. For people who are thinking of getting a pit bull, I would say, focus on the individual dog in front of you. Find the dog that is right for you and works for your lifestyle. Be aware, you may face some issues with housing and insurance. But, by focusing on the dog in front of you, you will make the best choice. Simon Worrall curates Book Talk.
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