Formal Writing

Are Pitt Bulls a vicious breed?

Pit Bulls are a breed of dog that was originally bred to bite and attack other large animals, but does that really make them vicious dogs? The history, look and personality traits of Pit Bulls form people's opinion on them, but also how the dog was brought up and what experiences people have had with them.

Pit Bulls have a bad reputation because of what they were originally bred for back in the early 1800s. However the dog turns out is entirely up to the owner and how they have raised the dog. In some cases, Pit Bulls are bought to make their owner seem tougher. Some owners train their dogs to be vicious, which is entirely the wrong reason to buy the Pit Bull breed and doesn't help with the judgment the dogs already have against them. Pit Bulls were bred to have a lot of aggression, a high pain tolerance and a willingness to fight to the death, however they were not trained to attack humans. It is understandable why people are so quick to assume that every Pit Bull they come across is vicious because of their history and the bad reputation they have.

People judge the dog by its look. When we see a Pit Bull with a muzzle we are automatically wired to think that the dog must be vicious because of how the breed is portrayed in the media. In the UK the Dangerous Dog Act (DDA) states that anyone who owns a “ type of dog known as a Pit Bull Terrier” must have it neutered, keep it muzzled and on a leash in public. These dogs should not be made to wear muzzles if they aren't vicious dogs. If a non-vicious Pit Bull Terrier has been made to wear a muzzle, they are automatically portrayed as dangerous although they may not be, which is unfair to the owners and the dogs.

The personality traits of a Pit Bull are affectionate, intelligent, obedient, loyal, courageous, friendly, strong-willed, clownish and stubborn. With personality traits like these, it makes us wonder why Pit Bulls have the highest dog attack statistics in America. Statistics like these are understandable if the dog ends up in the wrong hands but if the Pit Bull is in a warm loving home they are known to be some of the sweetest dogs. The problem with the statistics lies with the owners who have trained the dogs and not the actual dog breed itself.

In conclusion the history, look and personality traits of a Pit Bull form people's opinion on the breed. The statement that Pit Bulls are vicious dogs, it is incorrect and it comes back on how the dog was raised and how the media only portrays their bad side.