Pit Bulls: Nature vs Nurture Part 1
Felicia N. Combs
Story Created:
Feb 7, 2012 at 7:24 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Feb 9, 2012 at 8:47 AM EDT
For Brian "Red" Pollard Pit Bulls have gotten a bad name thanks to negligent owners, “Well I mean I’ll tell you like this, everybody is going to make up their mind and that's usually the issue. Like I said, I’ve interacted with hundreds without incident; I’ve seen more bad people than I’ve seen bad dogs.”
Pit Bulls have been in Pollard's life for as long as he can remember and he’s never had any issues, “If you find one that's bad you need to go up the chain of command to the person that owns it.”
With so many recent reports of Pit Bull attacks the breed as a whole has gotten an undeserved bad reputation says Van VanDeWalker of Macon-Bibb Animal Control, “I think it's how you raise them, if you treat a dog poorly and provoke it and abuse it, any breed, you're going to get what you ask for.”
While many dogs that are mixed with other breeds are still classified as Pit Bulls, the breed in general is people friendly even when they've been trained to fight says VanDeWalker, “The dog is not going to turn on the person, they're after the other animal, even the game dogs that have come in after fighting won't turn on the human.” One characteristic of Pit Bulls is their loyalty to their owner, so the owner plays a big role in how a Pit Bull acts, “It's basic nature, they're very people friendly, and what they want to do it please their owner, that is what they live for,” says VanDeWalker.
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
Alan Jones said on Wednesday, Feb 8 at 8:03 PM
For those of you who beleive that it's how they are raised and not nature. Google Darla Napora and read her story.
Doesn't matter said on Tuesday, Feb 7 at 4:28 PM
And just so it's clear my youngest is under a year and they are her best friends and watch out for her the same as her brother's and sisters. Like Red said if you find a bad one then go up the chain of command but any animal can be bad it isn't just Pitts. They're just the only ones that you see publicized in the news all the time.
Doesn't matter said on Tuesday, Feb 7 at 4:24 PM
It's ignorance about the breed that causes the sterotypes. German Shepard's are breed as guard dog, and K9 enforcement purposes does that mean those dogs are bad? Nope. Rottweiler's are a larger breed as well and can be trained as attack dogs does that make all of them bad? Nope. I used to work in a vet's office we had more bites from little dogs than we did from the larger ones. What amazing me is even after abuse and neglect pitts can still be good to people. Not all of them but that goes for any breed. We have 2 and 4 kids along with another small dog. It's crazy that people label the breed. Punish the owners not the dogs.
Jay Roberts said on Tuesday, Feb 7 at 3:55 PM
I have 2 pits in the yard. and yes they will bite the snot out of you,kill cats and other animals, but there are signs up on the fence and house that reads: "beware of the dog"
Anonymous said on Tuesday, Feb 7 at 3:04 PM
How can you ever know when they will turn on you with so many deaths of People & attacks. Why didn't you mention the Virus that only this breed "PitBull" carries,that if you do survive an attack if they are carriers of the Virus,it is like having the Aids Virus(Per AKC Rep.) to that person, that is if they survive. I had a friend whose son had one & it attacked a child & messed her face up for life & that Pitbull was raised from a puppy & loved & just totally snapped &one day & it just happened to be a child, her grand daughter.Those animals are bred for one reason only & it should not be for a child's pet. These types of dogs are made for "Guard dogs" not children's pets, it is the nature of the beast. If you want to play Russian Roulette with your kids life. These dogs are for one purpose"Guard Dogs." Or illegal fighting. Not Pets for children.
Irene Simpson said on Tuesday, Feb 7 at 2:29 PM
What a dumb and cruel thing to do!! What about his veterinarian care - shots, etc? In the woods, he is more likely to encounter a rabid animal. How cruel to turn him out to fend for himself. Should he attack someone now that he is roaming at will, you, as his owner, are still financially responsible. .responsible
Richard Marshall said on Tuesday, Feb 7 at 8:41 AM
I agree mostly but had to take Max, a white brindle Pit, to the woods and release him. A neighbor found him eating her cat. He is very friendly but can't have an animal killing neighbor's pets. He is an excellent hunter so the woods is the best place for him.
Add a comment
Most Popular