I love all dogs and I have three dogs each a different size, breed mix, and personality. I volunteer to walk and run dogs at a local dog shelter. I typically walk and run the larger dogs and the ones that are more difficult to handle. Most of the larger breeds are some type of pitbull mix but there are many mutts. I find myself constantly defending the pitbull breed of dogs when I tell people I run lots of pitbulls at the dog shelter. Most people (not all) have an idea about this breed that is so far off and it saddens and angers me at the same time. It is unfortunate that people are ignorant to the true facts and are closed minded and refuse to listen to the facts. My own mother and father are in this group of people and I love them dearly but I don't understand them and their opinion on these dogs. I was speaking to my mother about a certain dog at the shelter that I am fond of and am considering adopting. She said that I better be careful because the dog could attack my dogs because its part pitbull. I found myself trying to explain to my mom that she was wrong and not only pitbulls can be aggressive dogs. Any dog could be aggressive and my own dog Daisy has shown some aggression at times and she is not a pitbull.
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| Time Magazine Article |
Pitbulls are unfortunately categorized as bad dogs because of humans that have used them as fighting dogs. Pitbulls are some of the nicest most gentle dogs around. Here is a study that found them to be one of the most tolerant dogs out there. Sure there are some pitbulls that I walk or run that don't like other dogs but there are many other breeds that I walk or run that don't like other dogs too. There are many dogs that bite and many of them are not pitbulls. Pitbull bites get the most press and are talked about and most of the "other" dog bites are never made public. Pitbull - Beyond The Myth is a great documentary that discloses some of the major myths about this breed. One myth about pitbulls is, when they bite their jaw locks but this is not true. They also do not have the strongest bite of any dogs. Pitbulls are such great dogs and here are a few that I walk and run on a regular basis!
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| Anna Marie a pit mix that I walk |
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| Lucy a pit that I walk |
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| Margaret a pit mix that I run |
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| Violet was one of my favorites and finally got a home! |