The History And Evolution Of Pitbulls: From Nanny Dogs To Aggressive Breeds
The thing that makes me sad is that one of the sweetest dog breeds, which is the Pitbull got such a bad rap for being aggressive and dangerous. But the reality is that these dogs evolved from what was called Nanny Dogs.
Back in the 19th century, pitbulls were bred mostly for the purpose of guard dogs and also for illegal dog fighting. Even though that practice was long banned, the stigma behind it stayed the till now.
But underneath all that muscular body lies a very soft-hearted loyal, and patient dog who loves to be around children. That is the reason why for decades, pitbull dogs were known as Nanny dogs. So if you wanna know more about the nanny dog, then let’s get into it.
Pitbull: A Natural Caretaker
There are many different variations of the pitbull dog, and one of them is the Staffordshire Terrier. The dog was first bred in the Staffordshire region of England. However, the dog was first bred for the purpose of dog fighting.
After dog fighting got banned, it was seen that the Staffordshire Terrier is a well-mannered and mild-tempered dog who is very patient, loyal, and very protective towards their family members.
And this behavior of theirs was more evident when the pitbull dog was near children or even playing with children. That is when they got the nickname Nanny Dogs.
The History And Development Of The Breed
While talking about the history of the pitbull dog breed, you should know that there are four dog breeds under one broader umbrella of the pitbull dog breed.
- The American Pit Bull Terrier
- The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- The American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- The American Bully
Out of all these breeds of Pitbull, the common one is the American Bull Terrier. The breed is a mix between a bulldog and a terrier dog breed.
The breed is very popular for their strength, and that is why they became a symbol of American courage and strength at the time of World War 1.
A Dog Of Many Trades
If you look at the history of the pitbull dog breed, then you will get to know that there are two different strains of the breed. One is the American Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire.
While the first breed is mostly bred for the purpose of dog fighting and as a guarding dog. By seeing their physique, you can very well say that they are tough dogs with stoutly built, firm jaws and with a square heads.
While on the other hand, the American Staffordshire was a milder-mannered dog, which was eliminated from fighting. These dogs are well off as hunting dogs and great for driving livestock.
Exploitation
But like all other things in the world, the pitbull dog was also exploited and bred for all the wrong reasons, like illegal back alley dog fights. Due to their inherently muscular body, the pitbulls are very strong and muscular dogs.
Since these pitbulls are fairly easy to train, they can be trained to be aggressive and ferocious, which goes against their nature. They are taught to bite and kill, it is not in their nature to be like that.
Behavioral Habits: Abuse And Training
When it comes to their behavior, the pitbulls are unpredictable since they will behave the way they are trained. If they are trained in poor conditions where they are starved, beaten, chained up, and taunted, then they are gonna be quite aggressive while growing up.
But if they are trained properly in a loving environment, then they are gonna be very loving, caring, and patient and will protect their family at any cost.
Taught To Kill
There are no dogs who are inherently aggressive and are ready to go for the kill, they are taught this type of behavior. In the case of Pitbull dogs, they are to be aggressive and have the instinct to kill at command.
To draw this instinct out of them, the dogs are given smaller animals to attack and kill them. These smaller animals can be anything from cats, rabbits, or rodents. The animals are given to the pitbulls when it is “snack time,” and it is obvious how they are gonna react to that.
The False Stigma
It is heartbreaking to see how one of the most patient, gentle, and tolerant dogs are now being portrayed as one of the most ferocious dogs with an aggressive nature. Due to this bad reputation on a global scale, about 2,800 pitbull dogs are put down each day.
As of now, Pitbulls are tagged as the most aggressive dog in the world, and the Rottweiler comes second. But earlier, the first was the Doberman and the second the German Shepherd. There are several countries that have banning laws about these aggressive dogs, but they are not yet enforced.
Wrapping Up!
It has been a long time since pitbull dogs have been misjudged and misunderstood as aggressive dogs, but that should stop now. The dogs are being treated in the worst way possible while they are trained.
Their aggressive behavior is something that is inflicted on them and not their inherent nature. When the pitbulls are trained, they are trained in such a way that they become intimidating and aggressive at first sight.
So if you don’t want a dog like that, then dog train them to be like that. If you liked this article, then give this article a like and comment down below on what you think about pitbulls being trained to be aggressive.
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