Have you heard the expression “don’t judge a book by its cover?” The same concept applies to dogs.
You simply cannot tell what a dog’s behavior will be just by looking at them. You certainly cannot tell if a dog will be aggressive solely on their breed type. Every dog has their own set of personality traits that make them unique.
There are many myths surrounding bulldog breed dogs or "bullies," that instill fear in the general public and can cause devastating misunderstandings. One common misunderstanding is about the actual word “Pitbull.” This is actually an umbrella term that can include three different bulldog breeds. These are American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Dogs with facial and body characteristics of the above dog breeds are often called “pitbulls,” but for the sake of this article, we’re going to call them “pitbull-type dogs” and “bullies” instead.
Pitbull-type dogs have many personality and behavior traits that not only make them the fun-loving comedians of the dog world, but can make for incredible family dogs. They do, however, require a responsible and knowledgeable owner. Their range of behavior defies any label and is as complex and variable as any other breed, crossing the spectrum from the gentle and even tempered therapy dog used in school programs to help children read more fluently, to the dog labeled a liability for biting or even causing a human fatality.
Each dog is an individual and their behavior is based on many factors. Having said that, the bully breeds are quite unique in their own right.
What Makes Bully Breeds Unique?
Although there are always exceptions, bully breeds generally tend to mature earlier and demonstrate controlling behaviors from a very young age, engaging in rough play like wrestling and muzzle punching. Bullies enjoy a zest for life that is incomparable to other breed types, but they can offend other dogs or scare people with their enthusiasm.
- They often get overly aroused during play, which can cause problems for other dogs. As the puppy matures, play can become rougher, simply because they are so strong and they are more easily aroused. Adolescent and adult dogs may become less tolerant and more reactive. Rude play can provoke a negative response in other dogs, which in turn causes the bully to respond. Sometimes with more force than the other dog is prepared for, which might come across as aggressive.
- Body slamming, jumping and sometimes grabbing an arm or piece of clothing is an exuberant (but non-violent) way of greeting, and can be interpreted or perceived as threatening or even aggressive. There seems to be no parameters for some bullies when it comes to invading body space. To be clear, this also applies when they want affection. They can be downright pushy when they feel it’s time for some snuggles and have zero concept of personal space.
- Everything that a bully does, he’ll do with 100 percent commitment, seemingly with relentless focus. Therefore, bully pups need to be well-socialized from a young age and taught to think first and react after. Early, slow, and careful introductions to all kinds of dog breeds will help the bully puppy learn that different dogs have different play styles. Teaching a pup to greet a person by standing calmly rather than jumping up is a good way to start. A pup should be removed when play gets too rough, or when his greeting is too energetic. This will help set boundaries that guide the puppy into making better choices.
- Pitbull-type dogs tend to be highly demonstrative and emotional dogs that react with their hearts before their heads. Some find it hard to control their behavior and have a tendency to overreact in different situations. Teaching a bully to think before acting helps to focus an over-emotional brain into one that is actively thinking and problem solving. For example, asking a dog to wait while his food bowl is put down and he can only eat when given a release cue, teaches him to think before he acts. Bullies are exceptionally quick learners when given the right motivators.
- Many bully breeds are not for the first time dog owner, unless the person is willing to educate themselves and fully understands what to expect. People get these highly intelligent dogs and fail to give them the breed specific outlets they need. Because they can be “quick to fire,” keeping his mind engaged and in thinking mode will keep his excitement levels on an even keel. Ensuring his environment is calm will ensure he can be too.
- Historically, bull dog breeds were bred for fighting, and although it is illegal in most countries, there are still people who want to use these dogs for this archaic “sport.” Some people want to amplify their own tendencies and turn bullies into loaded weapons. Some like to use these dogs to enhance their own image and status or to protect themselves or their families. Because bulldogs are dogs that get easily aroused and can very quickly become over aroused, this has often led to disaster.
Let’s look at some statistics
Roughly 20% of the dog population of the United States, based on shelter and veterinarian stats, are labeled "pitbulls."
Dogs labeled as "pitbulls" or look like pitbull-type dogs account for 30 to 50% of all dogs that end up in shelters in the United States.
The "pitbull" population has increased, while other large breeds have declined inn recent years. Those who breed and train for fighting using aversive methods have damaged these dogs to the point where rehoming becomes impossible. Human irresponsibility along with media hype are the reason that the pit bull type dogs are now a breed type many people fear. The devastating reality is that about 40% of all dogs euthanized are these types.
How to make a difference
There are countless stories of pitbull-type dogs "suddenly exploding" or biting "out of the blue." This seems to be the explanation whenever there has been a bad bite or a fatality, but the incidents of true explosive rage are very rare. There is always a reason that a dog bites, but sometimes we just don’t see or understand it. Dogs communicate with their bodies and their barks. Many bites are a result of a combination of factors, such as environment, training, pain, lack of socialization, fear, etc.
The signs of discomfort might be subtle and easily misunderstood, ignored, or go unnoticed until they come together in a perfect storm that ends in a bite. Punishing a dog for communicating when they bark or growl will almost certainly end in disaster. Learning how to “read” your dog’s body language and understanding what he’s trying to communicate to you creates a deeper understanding of how to help him when he needs it.
One of the best ways to reduce the number of these bites is education. Here are some things that we can do to help people begin to understand this misunderstood breed better.
- Hold people more responsible for their dogs’ behavior. Whether this is buying a dog from a responsible breeder to adopting from a shelter after having done research to fully understand what being a bully parent entails.
- Encourage people to only use only positive training methods, which are less confrontational and therefore safe.
- Help the dog to learn the appropriate behaviors they can do instead of aggressing.
- Create canine educational programs in schools to provide children with a clearer understanding of canine body language.
- Educate parents and caregivers to be more aware that children and dogs should never be left alone unsupervised.
- Write your local congressperson to end Breed Specific Legislation.
Bottom line
When bully breeds are raised by responsible owners, they can be the best of all family dogs, but with a reckless, clueless, or abusive person, the bully can become an out-of-control liability that ends up either hurting somebody or on a shelter’s euthanasia list.
The most important thing to remember is that every dog can bite. Breed alone is not indicative of whether or not a dog is going to bite so learning canine body language, providing positive reinforcement training, and meeting all of the dog’s fundamental needs are all key elements to having a lifelong, loving family dog.
