Known as the “nanny dog” for its friendliness with children, the Pitbull’s association with “dog fighting” and improper breeding practices have increasingly contributed to its aggressive behavior.
According to pethelpfull, the Pitbull is a breed originating from England, created by crossing two other breeds: the Bulldog and the Terrier. Initially, the purpose of breeding Pitbulls was for brutal blood sports known as “bull baiting”, where dogs would confront a bull until one of the animals fell.
A Pitbull dog – (Photo: ISTOCK).
At the end of the 18th century, Pitbulls were brought to America to serve as guard dogs or housekeepers, assisting homeowners with livestock management, hunting, and theft prevention. Additionally, these animals are noted for their loyalty and friendliness towards humans, especially children. This led to the breed being nicknamed “nanny dog.”
Recognizing the strength and endurance of this breed, Americans began to breed Pitbulls widely for the purpose of the recreational activity of “dog fighting.” Although this practice was banned in 1935, Pitbulls were trained to become extremely aggressive and combative.
Alongside historical factors, the owner’s training methods also significantly contribute to the aggressiveness of Pitbulls. If raised in abusive, neglectful, or predatory-training environments, Pitbulls can become highly aggressive, according to pethelpfull.
Currently, Pitbulls have become somewhat gentler, as they can be trained to be good companions for their owners and children in the household. However, their aggressive traits may never completely disappear over time, as reported by LOVE-A-BULL Education.
According to Insidedogsworld, Pitbulls rank first on the list of the 10 most dangerous dog breeds to humans. A notable characteristic to be aware of when unexpectedly encountering these dogs is their high territorial instinct, meaning they will attack any intruder entering their “territory.”
Statistics from National Geographic indicate that from 2005 to 2015, Pitbulls were responsible for the deaths of 232 Americans (an average of one person every 17 days). In the UK, this breed has even been banned. They have also been involved in numerous incidents where owners have been attacked, resulting in injuries or fatalities.
Pitbull is a dangerous breed, requiring vigilance when raising or encountering them. (Photo: Getty).
Some people believe that with their powerful bite, a Pitbull can break a cow’s thigh bone with just one bite. Besides the strong bite force, the impact of a Pitbull’s bite also depends on two factors.
The first is a strong grip accompanied by violent shaking. Kory Nelson, a lawyer who has studied Pitbulls in Denver, USA, states: “Pitbull bites often cause more severe injuries than those from other breeds. This breed tends to target deep muscle tissue, biting down hard and shaking to tear the tissues.”
The second factor that makes Pitbulls fearsome is that they do not release their grip after biting. Their strong jaws allow them to bite and hold tightly, preventing the opponent from escaping. An example of Pitbull’s “tenacity” occurred in Alton, Illinois, in 2018.
At that time, a police officer was attacked by a Pitbull while responding to a scene. To rescue the officer, his colleagues had to shoot the Pitbull dead. However, even after death, the Pitbull still held onto the officer’s hand. This kind of persistence has never been seen in attacks by other dog breeds.
In Vietnam, there have also been numerous reports of Pitbulls attacking people, often resulting in severe consequences, including many deaths and serious injuries inflicted by this breed, including many children.
Due to the aggressive and fierce nature of Pitbulls, many countries around the world have enacted bans on their ownership or have imposed strict regulations.
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In Europe, many countries have banned this breed, including Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and 15 out of 16 states in Germany. In the Americas, countries such as Argentina, Ecuador, Guyana, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela have prohibited Pitbull ownership. Some Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore have also banned this breed. |
