Pit bull terriers were bred in the late 1800s. When baiting large animals was banned, people began fighting their dogs against each other which lead to the creation of the pit bull terrier. Breeders would combined a bulkier and slower bull-dog which was bred to hunt mainly bears and bulls, with a quicker and more agile terrier, to create a dog more fit for fighting. Although the dogs were trained to fight, this did not necessarily mean they showed aggression towards humans or even other dogs (ASPCA, 2017). Just like with any other breed, proper training, commitment, and respect is what will shape a dog. They were being used as fighting dogs, but people were also managing the breed as a household companion at the same time. Granted this …show more content…
Although not all behavioral traits are received through breeding, the instinct to protect is embedded in the majority of the breed. Being protective is an extremely positive trait except when trained for wrongful reasons. Nature vs nurture, a debate about “the effect genes have on human personalities as opposed to the influences that early environment and development might have” (Goodtherapy), is a common topic when discussing human development. This theory should also be considered with dogs. If all breeds were perceived strictly for what they were bred for, dog shelters would be ten times as full as they are now. According to dogtempermant.com, the chow chow, which was bred for hunting purposes, is considered one of the most unmanageable and dangerous of all dog temperaments. However, chow chows are still more likely to be adopted than pit bulls (dogtempermanet) and do not currently have thousands of articles, journals or news links headlined “Put all chow chows down”. Investigating the home the dog is in, questioning the demeanor of the owners, and any witness that has encountered the dog should be accounted for before deciding if dog is considered dangerous and is euthanized. If an owner has treated their dog with disrespect, has paid it no loyalties or abuses/neglects it, the dog is bound to obtain bad behavioral