It is often said that our pets are a reflection of ourselves. So, I often find myself wondering what assumptions people make when they see my dog. Kazi is the world’s derpiest dog, and yet at a glance he is subjected to prejudice and bias.
I am your typical young professional. I’m a female in her mid-20’s, working in an administrative role in healthcare. When I tell others I own a pit bull, I’m often met with incredulous stares and comments like, “You don’t look like you’d own a pit bull.” So, what exactly should a pit bull owner look like?
Kazi entered my life when he was six weeks old. I encountered objections from others and was even encouraged to rehome him. I’m happy to say, five years later, I am still the proud owner of my pit bull, and I overcame the hurdles of owning a “dangerous” breed.
I object to the notion that a breed is inherently dangerous. Although I acknowledge the sentiment that a larger dog can inflict more serious and fatal injury than toy breeds, I disagree with the notion that a breed is dangerous, and I’m always happy to cite research studies on temperament of different breeds. (Would you be surprised to know Chihuahuas inflict more bites on average compared to a pit bull? Or that when temperaments are tested, pit bulls are found to be equal to golden retrievers?
There was a point in history when pit bulls were considered nanny dogs just from their overall loving and good-natured temperament. So when exactly did their public image change from positive to negative? How did the nanny dog go from beloved household companion trusted with children, to feared breed that is illegal to own in many jurisdictions?
The reason behind the pit bull’s dangerous stigma boils down to negative media coverage. Media outlets have a lot of power to sway the perception of the public based on what they choose to focus on and the angle in which they present stories. Years ago the Rottweiler and Doberman were the faces of the “dangerous” dog breed trope among media representation. They’ve since been retired and pit bulls have taken their place in negative media coverage.
Pit bulls have also greatly replaced Dobermans and Rottweilers in popularity to portray aggressive, powerful and masculine breeds in movies, TV shows, and music videos. Add in a sprinkle of being the preferred breed for dog fights because of its strength, tenacity, and ease of acquirement, and you’ve got yourself a negative public image and reputation. This negative stigma has led to breed specific legislation (BSL) outlawing pit bulls in many counties, states, and countries. Not only has BSL been proven to be ineffective as a form of protection, but it was deemed as an unfair justification to target individual dogs that are temperamentally stable. The ‘pit bull’ classification encompasses so many dog breeds. It truly is an umbrella term for many breeds that share common physical characteristics. The American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Terrier, the Bull Terrier are the original breeds that should fall under the classification, but other breeds like the Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, and even some mixed breeds that share a physical semblance to pit bulls are labeled as such. Studies have shown that shelter dogs are constantly mislabeled as pit bulls solely because of their physical features, but when subjected to DNA tests, they are found to not be a pit bull breed.
I’m a firm believer that with the proper training and socialization, all dogs have the potential to be loving and peaceful creatures. Yes, even the “fearful and nervous” Chihuahua. Kazi is not an anomaly to the pit bull breed because he is loving, playful, and nurturing. His ability to be gentle enough to play with my pet rat, and nurturing enough to help raise five two-week-old kittens is not an anomaly to his breed. Everyone should approach unknown dogs cautiously, but there is no evidence-based reason to be more wary of pit bulls than other breeds.
