There are a great many Pit-Bull lovers out there that will always say, “It’s not the dog, its the owner”. But it is an animal, none the less.
All dogs are descendants of the wolf. Humans bred and domesticated the animals based on certain traits. Eventually they bred dogs with similar “defects” and behavioral traits. Why? Because those behaviors were noted to be inherent or instinctual and passed down genetically to offspring. Most breeds have distinctive instinctive behaviors that are sought after. Whether it be for hunting, tracking, guarding, service, herding, etc., everyone recognizes that breeds behave differently. Can traits be trained out of dogs, sure. Does the instinct go away. NO.
Ok then, what behavioral instincts are bred into a Pit Bull? Instinctively they are aggressive and vicious when they attack. Physically, they are very strong. They were bred intentionally for these traits. All dogs are pack animals. Most will instinctively “protect” the pack from threats. BUT most will also instinctively challenge their pack members to establish dominance in the hierarchy of the pack. This is done in different ways for different breeds. Some dogs hump members of their pack. Some dogs steel possessions to show their dominance. Some dogs actually attack other members of the pack to show their dominance.
Pit Bulls are dangerous, because they were bred to be dangerous, regardless of how well they are trained.
Girl and the Snake
A young girl walking along a mountain path to her grandmother’s house heard a rustle at her feet. Looking down, she saw a snake, but before she could react, the snake spoke to her.
“I am about to die,” he said. “It’s too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food in these mountains, and I am starving. Please put me under your coat and take me with you.”
“No,” the girl replied. “I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. And if I pick you up, you will bite me and your bite is poisonous.”
“No, no,” the snake said. “If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently.”
The young girl sat down on a rock for a moment to rest and think things over. She looked at the beautiful markings on the snake and she had to admit he was the most beautiful snake she had ever seen.
Suddenly, she said, “I believe you. I will save you. All living things deserve to be treated with kindness.”
She then reached over, put the snake gently under her coat and continued toward her grandmother’s house.
Within a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her side. The snake had bitten her!
“How could you do this to me?” she cried. “You promised that you would not bite me, and I trusted you!”
“You knew what I was when you picked me up,” he hissed as he slithered away.
What traits are inherent in humans? The most common trait is aggression, which is why humans are the greatest killers on the planet.