Responsible breeding: the key to avoid attacks and aggressions of pitbull dogs
Aggressive, dangerous or murderous, myths and stereotypes about the pit bull breed have been around for a long time. The debate over its potential danger was reopened after a woman of Argentine nationality died in the United States after being attacked by two dogs she owned. She had gone to feed them and walk them to a shelter where they were locked up for their aggressive behavior.
Given the news of the recent attack, the veterinarian Carolina Chavez (MP 10808) assured Infobae that these dogs were probably already altered because they were isolated in a quarantine due to a possible case of rabies: "These are animals that were a priori in a situation of tension, in a place outside the one they were unaware of. It is a very particular situation and it is necessary to assess why they had been locked up and how they were being treated in that quarantine. The energy that the animal has contained in the confinement should 'drain' it into as soon as he is released, and he will do so according to the tendency that his character normally has. "
For María Virginia Ragau, veterinarian and specialist in clinical ethology, the pitbull breed should not be stigmatized: "Although they are not that large animals, they are very massive. They have a strong and sustained bite, so that when they take a prey they do not Therefore, you must have a very responsible owner, who knows how to handle it, since, as with any animal or puppy, proper upbringing must be taken into account with special emphasis on socialization ".
In most of the cases that became more relevant, the dogs attacked other people and in some cases their own owners, and it is for this reason that the specialists focus on responsible breeding.
For Ragau, one of the most important points in raising a dog, whatever its breed, is the socialization process: "We have to get used to being with people of all ages, with different characteristics and abilities. "Socialize in different environments and places, get used to street noises and, above all, to be with other dogs. In this way, we began to put together guidelines to avoid future aggression problems."
On the other hand, for the veterinary doctor Chavez there are no killer breeds: "Everything is related to the end of raising the animal. If the breeding is inadequate, the human generates a kind of bomb that does not know when it can detonate. In all cases, the dog attacks because something happened at that precise moment, since animals have no memory of revenge or resentment. What the human should never forget is that the origin of the dog is that of a wild animal ".
"The type of game is very important: it should never be fighting or pulling. The owner must avoid what incites him to bite and growl, the interaction must always be controlled. In addition, people must accustom the dog to wear a fixed collar, to the walks down the street with the basket muzzle. On the other hand, it must be made very clear where to eat, sleep and who has to have the initiative of the contacts, "said Ragau.
The focus of attention on the pitbull breed
"At the first signs of misconduct, such as growling, or if he shows his teeth, the owner should consult a specialist to prevent future accidents and work on behavior," said the ethologist.
The canine behavior professional affirmed that special precaution should be taken if there are children in the house: "Children must also be taught basic issues, such as not to climb on him when he is eating or try to play. On the other hand, do not bring the child's face closer to the dog's face because the animal can react for any reason, be it pain or fear. "
"Any aggressive animal will cause injuries. In a breed like the pitbull they will be serious. Without the intention of being too pessimistic with the breed, you have to be aware of the strength this animal has, but with a responsible breeding and with the Corresponding socialization can prevent all this, "concluded Ragau.
With a short and intense history behind them, the Pit Bull has gone through many ups and downs as a breed in terms of popularity as a companion animal. It is a breed that is usually highly stigmatized due to its physical characteristics and some behavioral patterns, and yet it can be a great pet when its needs are understood and met.
The origin of this breed, officially called the American Pit Bull Terrier, is found in the 19th century, in Great Britain. However, the first ancestors of these animals were molosser-type dogs that were used to fight in bull and bear fights during the time of the Roman Empire. Over time, these so-called sports disciplines were banned in some countries, including England, and the dogs used for such activities began to be bred to fight each other. As the fights changed, lighter and more agile dogs were needed, and those first Molossian dogs were crossed with other terrier-type dogs to reduce their body volume, but without losing the fighting instinct that characterized them.
The case of the pitbull is very special, because it went through moments in its history in which it was recognized as a breed, and others in which it was eliminated from the records. Even today, not all dog lovers organizations recognize this breed. For example, neither the International Cynological Federation nor the AKC recognize it, but associations such as the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeders Association do. This is because the pit bull was sometimes associated with the most absolute aggressiveness, and canine organizations were peppered with their reputation, something that only made it worse.
Even with all its bad press and its characteristics, the truth is that the pit bull has been and is one of the most popular breeds in the world. It has also defined its own standard, and has served as the basis for creating other recent breeds, such as the American Staffordshire terrier. Other lines that start from the pitbull but are really different are also classified as pitbull dog breeds, such as the bull terrier, each with its own characteristics and temperament.
Today it is a world famous breed that can be found in homes all over the world and it makes a great pet if properly educated and trained. It has even been used many times as a babysitting dog because of its protective instinct towards children and because it tends to be very patient with them.
Pitbull characteristics
Without a doubt, the Pitbull dog breed stands out for being very powerful and corpulent, strong and with a stubborn temperament at times, which does not mean that it is aggressive by nature. The pit bull is muscular, but is also very well proportioned. According to the standard, your chest should not be excessively deep, and the whole body will be slim and slightly longer than tall. It should not be very heavy despite popular belief, nor should it be bulky, as agility is one of the basic characteristics of the breed.
Perhaps the most striking part of its anatomy is the head, square and wide, but it should always be proportionate and in line with the rest of the body. It is also quite elongated, and ends in a wide muzzle that shows a jaw with a powerful bite for which it is also feared and considered a danger in many parts of the world.
The ears are medium in size and are held upright on the head, although their natural tendency is to bend towards the tip. Some owners continue to commit the outrage of cropping the ears to a pointed shape that gives the animal a more dangerous appearance, a practice that luckily is increasingly prohibited in more places. His eyes are dark and deep, but not too large. They are kept quite apart and are very expressive, sometimes even giving the specimen a look of permanent sadness that is very tender.
With a short and intense history behind them, the Pit Bull has gone through many ups and downs as a breed in terms of popularity as a companion animal. It is a breed that is usually highly stigmatized due to its physical characteristics and some behavioral patterns, and yet it can be a great pet when its needs are understood and met.
The origin of this breed, officially called the American Pit Bull Terrier, is found in the 19th century, in Great Britain. However, the first ancestors of these animals were molosser-type dogs that were used to fight in bull and bear fights during the time of the Roman Empire. Over time, these so-called sports disciplines were banned in some countries, including England, and the dogs used for such activities began to be bred to fight each other. As the fights changed, lighter and more agile dogs were needed, and those first Molossian dogs were crossed with other terrier-type dogs to reduce their body volume, but without losing the fighting instinct that characterized them.
The case of the pitbull is very special, because it went through moments in its history in which it was recognized as a breed, and others in which it was eliminated from the records. Even today, not all dog lovers organizations recognize this breed. For example, neither the International Cynological Federation nor the AKC recognize it, but associations such as the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeders Association do. This is because the pit bull was sometimes associated with the most absolute aggressiveness, and canine organizations were peppered with their reputation, something that only made it worse.
Even with all its bad press and its characteristics, the truth is that the pit bull has been and is one of the most popular breeds in the world. It has also defined its own standard, and has served as the basis for creating other recent breeds, such as the American Staffordshire terrier. Other lines that start from the pitbull but are really different are also classified as pitbull dog breeds, such as the bull terrier, each with its own characteristics and temperament.
Today it is a world famous breed that can be found in homes all over the world and it makes a great pet if properly educated and trained. It has even been used many times as a babysitting dog because of its protective instinct towards children and because it tends to be very patient with them.
Pitbull characteristics
Without a doubt, the Pitbull dog breed stands out for being very powerful and corpulent, strong and with a stubborn temperament at times, which does not mean that it is aggressive by nature. The pit bull is muscular, but is also very well proportioned. According to the standard, your chest should not be excessively deep, and the whole body will be slim and slightly longer than tall. It should not be very heavy despite popular belief, nor should it be bulky, as agility is one of the basic characteristics of the breed.
Perhaps the most striking part of its anatomy is the head, square and wide, but it should always be proportionate and in line with the rest of the body. It is also quite elongated, and ends in a wide muzzle that shows a jaw with a powerful bite for which it is also feared and considered a danger in many parts of the world.
The ears are medium in size and are held upright on the head, although their natural tendency is to bend towards the tip. Some owners continue to commit the outrage of cropping the ears to a pointed shape that gives the animal a more dangerous appearance, a practice that luckily is increasingly prohibited in more places. His eyes are dark and deep, but not too large. They are kept quite apart and are very expressive, sometimes even giving the specimen a look of permanent sadness that is very tender.
Pitbull size
The breed standard does not specify the size or height it should be, but it does speak of a harmony in its body as a whole. That is why it is possible to find different types of Pitbull in terms of size, small or medium, and large specimens are rarely found. Weight is also very variable because it must be maintained in relation to height. However, the most common is to find specimens between 14 and 27 kilograms in weight, the females always being a little smaller than the males.
Pitbull fur
Another characteristic of the pit bull dog is its coat, very short and soft to the touch, pleasant to caress. It is a type of hair that is very easy to maintain and that will generally present a good appearance, and it can also be found in any shade, because all are accepted except for the blackbird shade.