Animals Evolved

In light of recent events surrounding Michael Vick, people are once again considering whether some breeds of dogs are born to fight, or if it is simply how the dog itself is raised and treated. When you think of dog fighting, you automatically think of a pit bull or a chow or some other similar breed. Does this necessarily mean that all pit bulls only want blood? No. However, when the only publicity these animals ever receive is negative, how else are people supposed to think.

Not too long ago, California legislation brought up the possibility of banning all pit bulls. This was supposedly for safety reasons. Ask decent pet owners why they purchase or adopt this type of dog and they will tell you first and foremost it is for protection. Think of all the movies you have seen. You do not see a cute poodle guarding the junk yard. How many people have been saved by large dogs? How many robberies have been prevented by a simple snarl? No one wants to take on a dog that looks like it could take your head off in one bite.

If raised incorrectly, any dog will grow up to be vicious. Small dogs will snap and bite if you allow them or treat them badly. Think about the people around you. Abusive adults were normally abused in some form or fashion as children. You grow based upon how you are raised. The same goes with a dog. Some breeds do have a tendency towards violent behavior; however, with plenty of tender loving care, these same breeds will be as sweet as a puppy.

Many places are available to train dogs. Some are focused on specific breeds. You can check with your local veterinarian for more information. The trainers can teach you how to prevent undesirable behavior while still being protected by your dog. After being raised incorrectly, large dogs can be especially hard to change. However, they deserve the chance. To touch back on the topic of dog fighting, when you are trained to kill and tormented day after day, you will believe that is the only way to survive. So many dogs have been euthanized because of improper treatment. People judge the entire breed by a few dogs. No one looks to the owner. If adults were not the same way, we would not need prisons. We could magically change the person and erase everything that went wrong in their lives. Trusting others will be difficult if not impossible. Trust is the main component to a dog becoming your friend over your enemy.

Be patient and don’t judge without due reason. As with a child, you must teach your dog right from wrong and break them from instincts that are bred from years of being used and abused. Whether it be a pit bull or a poodle, they are all the same. Dogs need the same treatment as a human. Raise them wrong and they turn to violence. Some turn for attention, others as a defense mechanism. Condemning an entire breed of dog for the actions of a few is the same as condemning a race for the misdeeds of a couple people. This is unfair to the whole. Blame owners and situations, but not the breed. Train your dog right and you have nothing to worry about.

There are no bad breeds, only bad dogs and owners. No one breed deserves to be wiped out. With a joint effort from all owners, perhaps the reputation of these particular breeds can be changed to friend and protector instead of attacker and enemy. Every dog deserves the opportunity to be loved no matter what their breed.