Why does the media cause people to fear Pit Bulls?

Question

The only bad things I have ever heard about this breed of dog come from the media. I find it strange that, even though Pit Bull 'attacks' are apparently so 'common place' they always seem to make the news. Even then I find it strange that the dog's involved in the attacks are always (without fail) desrcribed as 'pit bulls' or 'pit bull type dogs' when nobody has the faintest idea what the breed of dog was. For all the news reporters know it could have been a labrador or a cocker spaniel and for that the nations pit bull fear got ingrained deeper still.

I trust my pit bull with my life, she has never shown me any aggression or anyone else for that matter. I feel perfectly safe around her teeth. But my face got scared for life by a poodle and I've been cornered by a snapping yorkie.

I find it so sad that the media seem to be on a witch hunt for this dog. It's just not fair.

Answer 1

Pit Bulls attack more people than any other breed." Bite statistics actually show otherwise. More popular breeds that are generally considered to be "nice dogs" top the majority of lists. It may seem to the general public who is constantly bombarded with disturbing reports on Pit Bull attacks that this is the only breed that harms humans with any great regularity. However, the fact remains that Pit Bulls are hot news items. Dogs of all breeds and mixes bite and attack people all the time, but it is mainly the Pit Bull bites that get sensationalized. A report about the local Golden Retriever that attacks and maims a child isn't considered newsworthy. No one wants to believe that any dogs--even the fuzzy, cute, popular ones--are capable of biting. It's much easier to blow up and sensationalize a story about a vicious dog when it's a member of a breed who's reputation preceeds it. Pit Bulls are already considered the demons. All the reporters have to do is stand in front of the camera, look horrified, and say, "A Pit Bull did it".

Answer 2

The larger the dog the more damage a bit can do and pits are large. It is also easier to stand in front of a camera and say a pit bull did it that to do the work to find out the truth. Pits are the new "bad dog". How many people will watch the TV news or buy the newspaper if they say a collie sent some one to the hospital. A teenager was attacked and lost three fingers in a attack by dachshunds. Never heard any thing about it in the news and there was a two inch story on page 6 of the newspaper. The woman who lives across the street was attack by a large dog she said was a pit bull it was on the front page and the second story on the news. When the dog was caught, and I saw it, it was a standard black poodle, no kidding a poodle. No one thought it was important to tell the truth about what really happened. Poodles are not good press. MY pit was almost taken from me because of this, he is the only pit on the block. Luckily the AC officer could see that the teeth marks would not match my dog they were to small.

Answer 3

Your pit bull is a good dog because you are a responsible pet owner. Sadly, most owners of pit bulls or pit bull mixes are not responsible owners. The media isn't on a witch hunt and I don't believe people are misreporting dog breeds in an attack. Few Americans would confuse a Lab or a Cocker with a Pit Bull or mix. I would agree that there are other dogs that are physically similar to the pit bull that could lead to confusion.

I've volunteered at animal shelters for over 5 years and in my experience the majority of pit bulls/mixes are wonderful dogs that would make great pets. At the same time, pit bulls fail temperament testing at a much higher rate than any other breed or breed mix. Again, this is mostly due to poor training, but temperament is also a breed quality. In contract, I've handled thousands of retrievers without a single one having a temperament problem.

I would also note from my shelter experience that pit bull and pit bull mixes are easily the most euthanized dog at the shelter, namely because of the above temperament problems and owners not neutering their animals.

Again... the problem isn't the dog. The problem is the owner, but the breed sadly pays the price.

Answer 4

You state, "The only bad things I have ever heard...come from the media." Since "the media" are the source of essentially everything we know about the world outside of our own little sphere of direct experience, this is naturally true...but meaningless. You could say the same thing about Iran, ice skaters, celebrities, politicians, motorcyclists - pick your topic. What I'm saying is don't blame the messenger. They are only reporting the news, not trying to make you feel one way or another about pit bulls or most things. The sad fact is that maulings happen, partcularly vicious maulings are newsworthy, and only certain breeds of dogs are normally physically capable of particularly vicious maulings, so those breeds will figure in more of the reports you hear or see in "the media".

If you want to place blame, place it where it belongs - on irresponsible owners who think dogs are either some sort of weapon or a way to fortify their pitiful machismo image, or irresponsible breeders who cater to the sociopaths who feel that a dangerous dog is somehow cool.

If you are concerned enough to actually try to do something about it, then get involved with responsible owners and breeders who truly want to preserve the breed and keep it out of the hands of people who would permit/train/encourage a dog to be vicious.

I herd sheep with my dog (a Shetland Sheepdog) and work with a trainer who specializes in training Rottweilers (which are actually a herding breed). Her Rotties - and the ones that train with her - are some of the most beautiful, gentle, intelligent dogs you'd ever want to meet - they are real sweethearts. But sad to say, in my experience they are the exception rather than the rule. When I meet a Rottie at a dog park or the beach or nearly anywhere else, it almost always belongs to someone who has it as some sort of perverted status symbol - and is a dog to be avoided. So it is with Pit Bulls. Just take a look in Answers at the number of people asking questions about their Pit Bull. They are disproportionally represented here and that is true because they are currently popular, but for all the wrong reasons.

Until dog lovers in general and those who truly care about the breed in particular are ready and willing to go after the breeders and owners who are at the root of the problem and shut them down, improperly or inadequately trained and managed Pit Bulls (and Rottweilers and Dobermans) will continue to do serious injury and "the media" will continue to report it. And blaming "the media" for maligning the breed not only doesn't do any good, it lets those who are actually responsible off the hook.

Answer 5

There are ANY NUMBER of dogs that can be dangerous. A large German Shepard or Rottweiler is just as capable of mauling a child or other dog as any Pit Bull.

The reason the media seems to focus on Pit Bulls:

1) Their breed history. They were bred to fight - no getting around that. There are a number of misconceptions though - they tend to be extremely dog-aggressive by nature, but by the same token they are generally people friendly (if you've ever approached a wounded animal, you'd know that it can be a dangerous ordeal unless the animal is decidedly people friendly.)

2) See above - because of this fighting/gladiator/warrior image, many unsavory characters look to buy Pit Bulls because it makes them feel tough.

Owning a Pit Bull requires that the owner be knowledgable and responsible - it is not a breed for a first-time dog owner. Many of these "roughnecks" and "tough guys" don't understand this, and buy poorly bred dogs and encourage aggressive behavior to add to their image. Add a sensationalist media, and you have the current situation.

Answer 6

PIt bulls are mainly great family pets. It's when people start breeding them to fight is when they become bad. I have heard that pit bulls are a type of dog that may not get along with other dogs. Everything you hear from the media is mainly dogs that were kept for fighting. Actually i did hear a couple of years ago that someone was attacked by a dog and i believe it was a type of spaniel. It's all how the dog is raised!

Answer 7

When a bull breed or strong dog like a Rottweiller decides to bite, the consequenses tend to be more serious. Plus once they are triggered to attack they can be harder to stop. Plus the owners often don't have any real control over them.
As a result, serious injury and deaths are more common with some breeds of dog than others.
Plus the media is looking for a story to sell papers, not the news.

Answer 8

It's true that any dog can bite and many do but Pit Bulls, along with several other breads, are exceptionally aggressive. Even the ones that seem very docile can turn on you instantly with no provocation. Pit Bulls were bred exclusively to fight in the pits (dog fights), and that is their mentality. Their jaws are like a vice and once clenched to a certain point will not release until the bite is complete. Many have to have their jaws broken to get them loose. When they attack their instinct is to kill.

Answer 9

The problem is with people, not with the dog. It depends entirely on how you raise them. I have a friend who raised a Rottweiler, who has a similar reputation. She was a responsible dog owner, and taught her dog to protect her, but also to obey her. Her dog never hurt anybody - although it was very effective when people tried to take advantage of my friend. All the dog had to do was act protective - not cause any harm.

Pit Bulls have traditionally been trained as attack dogs, and used for fighting each other in arenas, where people bet on the outcome. In fact, that was the reason (I think) for that particular breed to come about.

So I can see that you have reason to be unhappy with people's reaction to your dog. However, it may help you to understand the history behind people's reactions. I am sure you keep your dog under control, and have properly trained it. But you also have to be prepared for hysterical reactions from other people.

Answer 10

I think that when u get any type of dog, even if it's a pit bull, it's like a child and u raise it just like it were one. U raise it 2 b this vicious dog, then it's gonna b one but if u raise it with kindness and love, it won't. Y do people blame dogs 4 their actions as if they knew what they were doing? I swear people need 2 understand that animals don't have the brain of a human; their brain is an animal's and that's y we as humans have 2 train them 2 be loving animals so no one would get hurt. Wake up, people! Treat ur dogs with kindness and love and no one will get hurt.