I love pit bulls and I’ve been around them in a kennel setting. They do become very protective of their territory and it’s quite possible that what set off the protecting-mode was the rough housing.
Anyone who knew dogs would know to put the dog in another room before doing anything that could make the dog think someone is threatened.
Even my own collie/lab/golden retriever mix has moved protectively between me and a friend who was about to give me a hug. My Cocker would lunge at anyone who tried to hug me or even raise an arm in my direction.
So does that make every Cocker Spaniel a killer-dog?
Oh for the love of God, are you honestly comparing a Cocker Spaniel lunging to this pit bull going into full Cujo mode and shredding this woman,and ignoring all attempts by 3 others to get it to stop, and then bust down the door after the woman retreated there in terror? that isn’t “protection”.
I'm really sorry if "some" pit bulls are unfairly feared because of their reputation. The thing is, who knows which ones are dangerous? You CANNOT take a chance, especially when you have small children.
When I do see one on a leash, at least around here, the owner is often wearing baggy pants belted around his posterior and a bunch of chains and an oversized jersey. That doesn't give me any confidence that the dog has been well brought up and trained.
A problem we have here in the rural areas is abandoned dogs. People just drive up, and drop them off. The pit bulls they drop off aren't long for this world.