In the early 1800s, dogs were both companions and employees. Some of these breeds are Labrador Retrievers, who were bred for fishing and keeping fisherman company while out on the water. Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes were amazing sled dogs and could withstand cold climates, as well as keeping the mushers safe while they delivered mail to other towns. And last but not least, the Protector Dog: the Pitbull.

Pitbulls were originally bred as family protectors, hence their muscular builds. Their strong jaws and stocky stature makes them intimidating to predators, and amazing protectors for their British owners. The original variation of the breed was first seen in 1800s Europe; England specifically, bred to protect the younger family members from anything that could do them harm. Sadly, people took advantage of that and started using Pitbulls for baiting bulls instead of protecting young children, hence the name Pit-Bull.

People would use them for fighting, and would even pit them against other dogs as well. If you’ve ever read the book White Fang, you would know just what dog fights look like. Though White Fang was a husky and wolf hybrid, there was that same stigma due to him being half wolf. He would be forced to fight against multiple other dogs at the same time, and expected to win to gain money for the man who owned him. And because the dogs were forced to fight, they experienced very traumatic events. This resulted in the dogs developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which caused them extreme sensitivity to certain people and noises. This also tends to cause extreme aggression and fear as well.

Now about the stigma. Of course there are many aggressive Pitbulls, but they wouldn’t be aggressive if they didn’t experience abuse or trauma. These dogs tend to be close with their owners, and can even make amazing service dogs if trained right. It’s essential to know the history of the dog if you’re adopting, and this dog is absolutely not an exception.

If their ears are clipped to look like horns, it is probable they were used for fighting or were trained to be aggressive. But if your rescue has their full natural ears, they are way less likely to have been abused or trained to be aggressive.
Neglection will hurt both dogs and people, and if another dog was neglected it’s true they wouldn’t be as dangerous. Pitbulls have the most jaw strength of any dog, so injuries would be more fatal. That’s why we need to be careful about how we treat this breed of canine. You can kick a lanky dog to the side if they’re attacking you, but with a Pitbull you have barely any chance of getting away. In a small room, there’s no getting away if these dogs are triggered from stressful situations.

The solution to this one can be confusing to some, but it’s extremely simple. Show some love to your Pitbull. After all, they are dogs too and love affection. They love belly rubs just as much as every other dog does! Pitbulls need to be loved too, because a lot of dogs have had a hard life. Because even if your dog is skittish or timid at first, you can always do aggression training. If it works for other dogs, it can work for yours just as efficiently.

Don’t neglect any dog. Make sure they get exercise. Show them as much love as you possibly can show. It will be worth it in the end. Because in these adorable furry pets, you can also find a best friend.

“All dogs can become aggressive, but the difference between an aggressive Chihuahua and an aggressive pit bull is that the pit bull can do more damage. That’s why it’s important to make sure you are a hundred percent ready for the responsibility if you own a ‘power’ breed, like a pit bull, German shepherd, or Rottweiler.” -Cesar Millan