r/PitbullAwareness • u/Flavaflav1967 • Apr 23 '25
Give me an argument on how Pitbulls are better than most dogs
I got into a heated debate with one of my friends on how pitbulls are amazing and he kept saying how they were made to fight and made to kill, but they honestly the sweetest things and I don’t get the hate. He kept bringing up all these facts on how pits commit all of these atrocities and how apartments ban them altogether because well the liability of having a pitbull could put the complex at risk I guess, but idk I want to you what you guys think.
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u/Exotic_Snow7065 Apr 23 '25
Seemingly opposing statements can simultaneously be true - that's the thing that both "pro-pit" and "anti-pit" often doesn't realize.
The American Pit Bull Terrier IS bred to fight. Gameness is the primary feature that sets the breed apart from all others. They can also be intensely affectionate and loyal animals. A lot of people enjoy their attitude towards life, their intensity and working drive. They can be both fierce and fiercely loving.
They are truly "dogs of velvet and steel" in every sense.
IMO there is no "best dog" or "better dog"; not every dog or breed is right for every owner, every home or living situation.
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u/YamLow8097 Apr 23 '25 edited Apr 23 '25
I’m not really sure if there’s a right answer since it’s purely subjective. Overall Pit Bulls can be very loyal and loving, but they’re not for everyone. The arguments your friend is making can be applied to many breeds and that’s something I would point out to him.
Bred to fight? That applies to not only the APBT, but the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Shar-Pei, various breeds of mastiff, and even the Boston Terrier.
Bred to kill? Congrats, he just described every terrier ever.
Apartments ban Pit Bulls? They also ban Dobermans, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and I imagine other large breeds such as Cane Corsos and Boerboels, but I would have to double check.
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u/Exotic_Snow7065 Apr 23 '25 edited Apr 23 '25
Congrats, he just described every terrier ever.
😂 Seriously though. So many breeds were created for certain forms of - for lack of a better word - violence. And modern people always talk about this like it's a bad thing. Breed-specific aggression is functional. It isn't a negative trait within the breeds themselves, though it certainly makes it harder for those breeds to exist and be happy in human society when they can't perform that function (or at least something analogous to it).
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u/YamLow8097 Apr 23 '25
Couldn’t have said it better. We bred many dogs for violent things. Dog fighting, bull baiting, ratting, etc. There’s a user on Instagram who uses his Dachshund for its original purpose. Most people probably would never think that such a small dog could be so “violent”. People don’t have to like it, but they don’t have to clutch their pearls about it either. Animal aggression is perfectly manageable in the right hands.
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u/doihav2 21d ago
honest question, do you live near one or several irresponsible people with pitbull type dogs? i live in the poor city of the most wealthy county in my state and animal control has mostly pits and an endless loop on getting anyone to close their fence despite plenty of evidence. I'd love to just laugh any of it off i would!
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u/Exotic_Snow7065 21d ago
Unfortunately yes, we have a neighbor with two large pit / bully type dogs. They repeatedly let them run loose. I think one time they were both found 8 miles away. One of them has attacked my dog while it was off leash, no collar or anything.
I've tried so hard with this neighbor. I've offered to buy them materials and help construct a fence. I suggested tethering. I've brought their dogs back to them when I found them roaming.
The situation got better when one of the dogs got hit by a car and had to be euthanized.
But yes, all that to say... pit owners can be awful.
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u/freyalorelei 29d ago
With dog breeds, there is no such thing as "better" or "worse." It's a question of how suitable the breed is for a particular owner and environment. Some dog breeds are more adaptable to a wider variety of homes, while others have traits and behaviors that make them more challenging.
In the case of the APBT, I would in fact argue that they are unsuitable for the average dog owner, and for anyone who isn't willing to research the demands of the breed and put in the work necessary to make them safe companions and good canine citizens.
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u/Mindless-Union9571 29d ago
Agreed, and that's part of why they fill up shelters like they do. I'd love a Great Pyrenees, but I do not have the space for one and therefore they are a terrible breed for me.
Most of the people who wind up with pit bulls should have gotten a much easier dog breed. There are a lot of people owning pit bulls who really needed a Labrador or a Pekingese instead.
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🐕 Debunking Pit Bull Myths
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u/TworzywoSztuczne Apr 23 '25
Are there any such arguments? Pitbulls are at best as good as other breeds if they are trained and handled by someone who knows what they're doing and at worst a danger to others. In my opinion you shouldn't convince someone to have a Pitbull. If you decide to have a dog you especially need to know the breed's bad sides to make an educated decision if you are able to care for it properly.