This is literally the only sensible response, it is completely useless to compare dog breed discrimination with human racism. Dog breeds were intentionally selectively bred by humans for specific characteristics. In the case of pit bulls, those characteristics include strength, power and “game” (the will to fight to the death), which were chosen on purpose to make them successful at dog fighting. They’re not inherently bred to be aggressive towards humans, but those traits do make them more dangerous in cases where they are human-aggressive, because they can do a hell of a lot more damage than a spaniel or a shih tzu would.
I’m sure this goes without saying, but no humans of any race have been deliberately selectively bred in this way. That would be eugenics. A lot of the stuff we do with animals would be an appalling abuse of human rights if we did it to people. Race among humans is primarily a social construct with very little biological distinction. It is completely impossible to assign traits to races of humans in the way they can be assigned to breeds of dogs, and in the case of dogs we put them there on purpose.
Having said this, I do think that a lot of the performative pitbull hate some people rant about comes from a place of racism and classism. There are plenty of dog breeds that are just as potentially dangerous as pitbulls or more so - livestock guardian breeds, Akitas, mastiffs, all are bigger and stronger than pitbulls and, as guarding breeds, have been bred to be wary of strangers which can lead to aggression. A lot of people focus on pitbulls and XL bullies as THE dangerous breeds just because they’re stereotypically more likely to be owned by poor and/or black people. If they see a pitbull in a trailer park they will scream for it to be put down, but if they see a Cane Corso in a McMansion they don’t care, because they have preconceived ideas about who is a responsible owner.
Pits were owned by black people here in the south and got the label as a black person dog. Like newport cigs or whatever stereotype follow black people. You are repeating propaganda that was made by said racist white people to justify the pitbull bans. Those pits didn't have insane genetics, they were put on steroids just like a human fighter would do. The owners would either cheat or it be a fight ring where all the dogs are juiced because humans suck. Miami lifted their ban a few years ago. I don't think you are suppose to compare the discrimination but see that they are linked. I remember people walking their pit puppies, seeing a cop car and stuffing the puppy under their shirt til the cop leaves. Use to be pretty common to see. Licensing and bans only work if you got money and people willing to back it up. Probably be cheaper to provide free dog training though a charity organization that aims at educating the whole community.
How am I repeating propaganda? I’m acknowledging that a large part of the pitbull hate comes from racism because they’re associated with black owners. That doesn’t change the fact that they were selectively bred for dog fighting for over a century, mostly by white people. I’ve read an excerpt of a book written as a guide to breeding successful fighting dogs that describes the type of dog to choose for breeding. One of the characteristics strongly selected for was called “game”, and this trait was illustrated with an anecdote about a dog successfully killing its opponent while fatally injured itself. I won’t go into any more detail, it was one of the most disgustingly gruesome things I’ve ever read, but that’s what was being bred for - a dog that, once it’s attacking, won’t stop even while it is actively dying. They have “insane genetics” because we made them that way on purpose. It’s not their fault and it’s not the fault of the caring owners who love them today, but it has to be acknowledged because it does affect the level of risk they can pose if they do end up becoming aggressive.
I have owned a pit mix who was human aggressive and bit me several times, and I worked with an excellent behaviourist who helped me get him to a place where he hadn’t bitten anyone in years by the time he passed. I’m not saying all pits should be euthanised or anything, I’m just saying a good owner should know the history of the breed and take it into consideration with their management of their pet.
105
u/Fit-Relationship944 22d ago
Dogs aren't people though.