---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["nanny dog", "nanny", "nannies"]
comment: |
    _Did you know that there's no such thing as a "Nanny Dog"?_

    _While some photos from the early 1900s depict Staffordshire Bull Terriers posing alongside small children, the idea of a "Nanny Dog" wasn't introduced until 1971, in an article titled ["A Breed That Came Up The Hard Way"](https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/19/archives/a-breed-that-came-up-the-hard-way.html) ([source](https://nedhardy.com/2020/06/03/pitbull-nanny-dog/))_

    _The advocacy groups [Bad Rap](https://www.facebook.com/BADRAP.org/posts/its-dog-bite-prevention-week-did-you-know-that-there-was-never-such-thing-as-a-n/10151460774472399/) and [Pit Bull Advocates of America](https://pitbulladvocatesofamerica.podbean.com/e/the-one-where-its-not-all-in-how-they-were-raised/) have debunked this myth thoroughly and strongly advise against spreading it._

    _Also, the belief that a dog can be implicitly trusted around children is not only dangerous, it places unrealistic expectations on the animal. While a dog may appear to be protective of kids, most experts agree that this behavior is actually a form of [resource guarding](https://www.newsweek.com/k9-expert-reveals-warning-signs-dog-resource-guarding-baby-1714145). The truth is that no dog of any breed should ever be totally trusted around small children, and kids should always be supervised around dogs._
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["it's all in how you raise them", "its all in how you raise them", "its all in how you raise em", "it's all in how you raise em", "it's all in how they're raised", "its all in how they're raised", "raise them right", "raise em right", "it’s all about how you raise", "its all about how you raise", "it's how you raise them", "its how you raise them", "its how they're raised", "its how theyre raised", "raise them properly", "it's how they are raised", "its how they are raised", "its how their raised", "its how there raised", "how you raise them", "how you raise em", "no bad dogs just bad owners", "blame the owner not the breed", "blame the owner, not the breed", "it's not the breed's fault", "don't blame the breed", "no bad dogs, just bad owners", "It’s the owners, not the dog", "it's the owners, not the dog", "Its the owners, not the dog", "Its the owners not the dog", "wouldn't hurt a fly", "wouldnt hurt a fly", "my dog would never" ]
comment: |
    _It is well understood that [canine behavior is influenced by a combination of nature and nurture.](https://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/library/articles/articles/Nature-vs-Nurture-The-Genetics-of-Behavior-07-1997.pdf) All animals are born with a certain genetic potential that will influence which behavioral traits they display._

    _"It's all in how you raise them" may seem like sage advice, but it ignores the reality that genetics and environment play an equally important role in a dog's upbringing. Additionally, this phrase [undermines the importance of ethical breeding, can ostracize hard-working dog owners, and creates an unrealistic expectation for the dog-owner relationship.](https://pawsandreflect.blog/all-in-how-you-raise-them-isnt-true-and-truly-hurts/)_
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["ATTS", "temperament test", "they have better temperament", "pitbulls have better temperment", "pitbulls are friendlier", "pitbulls are the friendliest dogs", "pit bulls have the best temperament", "pitbulls have the best temperament", "pit bulls are the least aggressive", "pitbulls are the least aggressive", "pit bulls are the friendliest", "pit bulls have better temperament", "pitbulls are the nicest", "pit bulls are the nicest", "they're among the most tolerant dogs", "they're the most tolerant dogs", "their the most tolerant dogs", "theyre the most tolerant dogs", "they're among the most tolerant", "their among the most tolerant", "there the most tolerant", "there among the most tolerant"]
comment: |
    _The American Temperament Test society itself states that the pass-fail rate is not a measure of a breed's aggression, but rather of each dog's ability to interact with humans, human situations, and the environment, and that [there is no statistical significance](https://atts.org/breed-statistics/) attached to the data. The exam can be better thought of as a test of [confidence or neutrality](https://atts.org/tt-test-description/).  Additionally, none of the sub-tests within the exam are designed to measure tolerance toward dogs or other animals.  This means that the data does not factor in behaviors such as dog aggression, which is an inherent trait of the American Pit Bull Terrier._
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["not a breed", "isnt a breed", "isnt a real breed", "isn't a real breed", "isnt really a breed", "isn't really a breed", "not really a breed", "not a real breed", "isn't a breed", "isn't a specific breed", "pit bull is an umbrella term", "pitbull is umbrella", "pit bull is umbrella", "its an umbrella term", "it's an umbrella term"]
comment: |
    _"Pit bull" is not an umbrella term, but rather is shorthand for a specific breed of dog - the American Pit Bull Terrier - which was first recognized as its own breed by the UKC in 1898.  Modernly, the Pit Bull is recognized as a breed by the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA)._
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["aggression isnt genetic", "aggression isn't genetic", "aggression isnt a breed trait", "aggression isn't a breed trait", "aggression is not an inherent trait", "aggression is not genetic", "aggression is not a genetic trait", "it isnt genes", "it isn't genes"]
comment: |
    _It is a fact: Pit Bulls genetically tend to be dog aggressive. In one study, [more than 20% of Akitas, Jack Russell Terriers, and Pit Bull Terriers were reported as displaying serious aggression](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159108001147) toward unfamiliar dogs. In a [different study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8819838/), it was found that "pit bull type" dogs showed a reduced risk of owner-directed aggression, and an increased risk of dog-directed aggression.  The ADBA, which is the only organization that recognizes the American Pit Bull Terrier, lists "[some degree of dog / animal aggressiveness](https://adbadog.com/heritage-american-pit-bull-terrier-conformation-standard/)" as characteristic of the breed._
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["they are made to fight", "pitbulls are not aggressive", "it's not an inherent trait", "its not an inherent trait", "it's not an inharant trait", "its not an inharant trait", "humans who make the dog vicious", "humans who make the dog aggressive", "humans who make the dog dangerous", "humans make the dog vicious", "humans make the dog dangerous", "humans make the dog aggressive", "humans make dogs bad", "bad humans make bad dogs", "humans make them aggressive", "humans make them dangerous", "humans make them vicious", "natural killers", "humans make them this way", "humans make them that way", "any breed can", "any breed could", "any breed would", "any dog can bite", "all dogs bite", "all dogs can bite", "any dog bites", "they aren't aggressive", "pit bulls arent aggressive", "pit bulls aren't violent", "pitbulls aren't violent", "pit bulls arent violent", "pitbulls are not violent", "pit bulls are not aggressive", "owners made them be like that", "they're made to fight", "trained to be aggressive", "aren't naturally aggressive", "arent naturally agressive", "they are forced to fight", "make them aggressive", "people make them that way", "they're forced to fight", "they are forced to fight", "they are only aggressive if you make them that way", "only aggressive if you abuse them", "their forced to fight", "there forced to fight", "make them fight", "force them to fight", "forced to fight", "humans make them that way", "humans made them that way", "humans make em that way"]
comment: |
    _The American Pit Bull Terrier was originally bred for dog-on-dog combat. While it is commonly believed that these dogs only become aggressive through training or that they must be taught how to fight, the ADBA, which is the leading authority on the breed standard, [lists dog and animal aggression as a characteristic trait of the APBT](https://adbadog.com/heritage-american-pit-bull-terrier-conformation-standard/). It is not unheard of for pit bull puppies to [fight each other from a very young age](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRvoBeCV/).  This is due to the dogs' innate confidence and love of challenge and conflict.  It is important to note that functional aggression is common among many breeds of working dogs, and the American Pit Bull Terrier is no exception._
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["bull baiting", "bull baits", "bullbaiting", "bull-baiting", "bulbaiting", "bul baiting", "bul-baiting"]
comment: |
    _The American Pit Bull Terrier was bred almost exclusively for dog fighting; the breed was never used for bull baiting.  The Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835 outlawed the practice in all of its forms, but the APBT itself wasn't a recognized breed until 1898._
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["my chihuahua is more aggressive", "chihuauas are more aggressive", "chihuauas are meaner", "my chihuaua is meaner", "but chihuauas" ]
comment: |
    _The bite force of a Chihuahua is roughly 5 PSI.  Contrast this with the bite force of an American Pit Bull Terrier (235 PSI), and it becomes clear that comparing the two is not a fair assessment._

    _Due to their size and non-threatening appearance, Chihuahuas are not respected or treated like dogs, and thus are more prone to lashing out and behaving aggressively.  Owners of small breed dogs typically do not enforce the same critical boundaries that one would with a large and powerful breed._

    _Additionally, it is hypocritical to decry distrust or hatred toward one type of dog, while simultaneously using blanket statements to lambaste a different breed for its behavioral tendencies._
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["any dog can bite", "any dog can be aggressive", "all dogs can bite", "all dogs can be aggressive", "all dogs are aggressive" ]
comment: |
    _Nobody is arguing that "pit bulls" are the only dogs that can bite or behave aggressively. Statements like "any dog can do X" in the context of bites and maulings are non-arguments that are neither compelling nor beneficial to pit- and bully breed mixes and their owners. These sorts of statements only serve to add fuel to the anti-pitbull fire and amount to little more than virtue signaling._
---
type: comment
title+body (includes-word): ["adopt don't shop", "adopt dont shop", "adopt, don't shop", "please adopt", "evil breeders", "evil breeder", "breeders are evil", "breeding is wrong", "breeding is morally wrong", "breeding dogs is evil", "please consider adopting", "please consider adoption", "consider adoption", "breeding dogs is", "consider adopting", "don't shop", "dont shop", "dont buy from breeders", "don't buy from breeders", "dont buy from a breeder", "don't buy from a breeder"]
comment: |
    _Amidst the current crisis of homeless animals, it is important that we do not conflate ethical producers of purebred dogs with unethical breeders and puppy mills.  Dogs produced by ethical breeders are not contributing to the overpopulation of unwanted and abandoned dogs.  In addition to health testing and striving to produce dogs that are physically and mentally sound, an ethical breeder's contract makes them a legal co-owner of any puppy that they produce. Contracts often prohibit the breeding of dogs, or may require the buyer to spay or neuter their pup after a certain age._

    _Ethical breeders' dogs are micro-chipped with the breeder's contact information, so if by chance that animal finds its way into a shelter situation, the breeder will be contacted about it. Ethical breeders can and will legally sue to get their puppy back if there is a breach of contract, or the dog is not being cared for properly. Ethical breeders are in it to preserve the breed and will provide support to the puppy's owner so that the dog can stay in its forever home._

    _Unethical backyard breeders and puppy mills do none of this. They do not breed for conformation or soundness of temperament. They do not take measures to prevent their pups from winding up in a shelter or rescue. There is no contract, no health testing, no emphasis on breed stewardship or preservation, or keeping dogs in their forever homes._
---