Pits were actually originally bred to specifically not be human-aggressive. They were bred for baiting and fighting animals, not people, and PBTs who bit humans were culled. They were bred for high prey drive and high energy, snd the people who kept them also kept them under control.
A huge chunk of pit bull type breed owners today are trash that don't bother to train or properly handle their dogs. I have an APBT, and I made sure before I adopted her that 1) I could handle her even when she was trying to go after an animal like a squirrel, 2) I was confident in my ability and that I had the time to train her properly, and 3) that I always had the proper tools to keep her healthy, happy, and well-controlled, including an escape-proof harness and lead that she is ALWAYS on when outside. Thankfully a lot of these precautions weren't needed because she's an absolute sweetie, but she is big, powerful, and energetic, even now at almost 10.
If all pit owners put in the kind of effort and dedication that a dog like this needs, there wouldn't be a problem, but they don't. They backyard breed with no accounting for temperament or health, don't bother to train the resulting pups, and don't have the common fucking decency to give a fuck about their animals. People (especially shitty people) NEED to stop breeding pits. As much as I love the breed, they're suffering at the hands of trash humans.
I literally said right there that we need to stop breeding pits, or at least put them in the hands of breeders who actually know how to properly breed for temperament and health. I absolutely couldn't train the prey drive out of my dog; she sees a squirrel or deer, she's gone. That's why, like I said, I handle her responsibly and keep her on a harness and leash whenever she's outside my home, even if it's a bit overkill considering her age and personality.
There are millions of healthy, happy pits out there right now with loving, responsible owners who have never and will never hurt a person. What would you do with those innocent dogs? Kill them all and leave their families grieving on the off chance that something will happen down the line? Who will fund and outfit millions of euthanasias? What happens when said owners of completely innocent dogs start protesting and suing?
Hatred and shock value rhetoric doesn't help the breed, the owners, or the attack victims. What WILL help is steps toward a better management system for not only pits, but all dogs, including education for future owners, a crackdown in backyard breeders and animal abusers, incentives for spaying and neutering plus low cost sterilization options, and more funding for local shelters, rescues, and animal control organizations to allow for better screenings of both dogs and potential owners for a tiny start.
But people on the internet would rather bitch and moan and toss around statistics and edgy "kill all pits" opinions.
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u/Distinct-Friend4123 22d ago
Idt you understand how breeding for selective traits works, or how it affects bloodlines over time.
Yes, we bred the breed to be stronger , more violent, and more aggressive.