What comes to mind when you think of pit bulls? Dog fights? Stocky bodies? Angry disposition? Although this may have been the rhetoric of pit bulls, it is important to assess nature vs. nurture. Oftentimes, negative stories dominate the media, and pit bulls are no exception.
Often known for their incorrect label as fighting dogs, pit bulls tend to be looked at as aggressive and unsafe. However, quite the opposite is true! These big babies tend to have happy, carefree, loyal, gentle, obedient, and affectionate dispositions when given the chance to have loving and fulfilling lives.
Let’s dive deeper into their history and bad rap before turning to two stories that highlight these gentle giants.
Pit Bull History
Did you know that pitbulls were a prominent part of wartime, serving as the nation’s mascot? Well, “their image of bravery and loyalty was displayed throughout advertisements during wartime,” according to The History of Pit Bulls.
This even resulted in the notable inaugural war dog, Sergeant Stubby. Pit bulls have served our country across different wars. Sergeant Stubby paved the way by serving in 17 battles and 4 different campaigns. In modern day, pit bulls have been trained to be explosive detection dogs in the armed forces.
Unfortunately, after their wartime heroism, pit bulls were the prime target for dog fighting. This led to their bad rap, accompanied by negative media attention in instances of violence. Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated ran covers highlighting pit bull aggression in 1987 and 2008 respectively.
Then came the pit bull ban. Here in Denver in 2020, voters overturned this ban that was enacted in 1989: Denver overturns pit bull ban after more than 30 years. Unfortunately, just earlier this year though, the ban was reinstated in Aurora (a Denver suburb), citing when voters reinstated the ban back in 2014.
Many recognize that the aggressive nature of pit bulls is attributable to environmental factors, including malicious owners, and not their innate personality. Ultimately, inherent aggression is recognized as a myth. Many pit bull lovers know their furry friends for their unfiltered optimism, complete with a big smile.
The Pit Bull Natural Disposition
By nature, pit bulls are actually loving creatures. As mentioned, they are brave beings as seen by their wartime efforts. Contrary to popular belief, these pups can be great family dogs due to their caring and protective disposition.
“Their loyal and loving demeanor with humans, especially children (this is where the “Nanny Dog” myth originated from), earned them a prominent place not only as a working dog but as a companion” according to The History of Pit Bulls.
Pittie Spotlight
Meet Nellie!
Nellie is the inspiration for this blog. Nellie is a year and a half old pittie mix, rescued from the streets of New Mexico. I hadn’t spent much time around pit bulls before Nellie. After meeting her, though, this type of dog has a huge soft spot in my heart!
Nellie is a precious sweetheart. Her biggest hobby is sleeping. I have never seen a puppy spend so much time cuddled up on the couch! She is just like me… Loves AC, cozy blankets, socializing with other dogs, taking naps, eating, and playing.
Nellie embodies the loyalty, caring, and sweetness of pit bulls. She loves children (though still getting used to them… are they dogs, just in a different shape?), snuggles, being happy, and overseeing her loved ones. Just look at that big smile!
Next, meet Lilly Brush’s own – Doc! Doc’s mom is Lilly Brush’s Director of Brand Marketing. Here’s her and Doc’s lovely story:
Doc was 2 when we adopted him and now he’s creeping up on 12 years old, every year becoming sweeter and demanding more cuddles. He instantly connected with our Basset Hound and cat when we brought him home and now also lives with two small kids.
Fun Fact: Doc was in a cat shelter for almost a year before being transferred to a dog shelter, where we ultimately adopted him. The older volunteer ladies named him Doc after Grey’s Anatomy's, “Dr. Steamy”, because he was so handsome and sweet.
His favorite thing is a good stuffie toy and blanket. He has never ripped up or torn into any stuffie we’ve bought him. The first we’ve experienced from any of our dogs! Usually we are trying to find the toughest toy out there, but for Doc, he just likes to give them a soft chew and snuggle up. After some dog park “zoomies” (pitties are famous for them), it’s off to the couch or bed for a long nap.
In Closing…
If you are a pit bull skeptic, I hope this blog inspired you to give these precious pups a shot! Any dog can have negative behavioral tendencies, especially when reinforced by environmental factors. Ultimately, pitties have kind and loving dispositions! It is important we work to rewrite the negative narrative, and show some love to these furry friends!
