Most people think of pit bulls as vicious animals that should be banned from the animal breed known as dogs. However that is not the only side to these dogs. There are many different sides to pit bulls than people think.

Dogs are known as “Man’s Best Friend”. Some people use dogs as hunting dogs, to retrieve their catch. Others utilize them as house pets, and K-9 units. Dogs are used all over and are used for good.

However, not all dogs are known to be cuddly and family friendly. For example, pit bulls are generally viewed as more vicious than other breeds. There have been known attacks such as the “Police Officer Shoots Pit Bull(2008)” and many other local attacks. 

But, a dog’s ferocity isn’t determined by their breed. How the animal was raised and the circumstances they grew up in can make all the difference.  If they grew up with an owner that was abusive, they will learn to fight back. However, a dog who grew up in a family environment will learn to be quiet and keep their temper to a minimum.

Pit bulls are often given the title of violent, or vicious thanks to the how the media portrays these dogs. However, this isn’t always the case. Mrs. Johnson, a 6th grade Language Arts teacher who owns two pit bulls says, “They are the most loyal dogs that I have ever encountered, they listen very very well, and they are highly trainable.”

Johnson said that, “Every dog has the capacity to bite and hurt another person or another dog.” Many dog owners can agree with that statement. “While at my vet, we talked about pit bulls one day because I have two, and he said that he has never met an aggressive pit bull in all the years that he has spent being a vet, except once because the dog was trained to attack (to hurt other dogs and people).” Johnson expressed.

Nobody will ever know why these breeds are being put under this title. For this generation it is pit bulls that were considered dangerous. In the next generation, it will most likely change. Johnson said that when her parents were her age, it was doberman pinschers that were considered violent. Not every dog has a ferocious side to show. Rather, many dogs just need some elbow grease and shown some love.