This leads the public to think of pit bulls as violent dogs with violent guardians that live in violent areas. Doing this has associated the pit bull with Black, Latino, and “white trash” guardians, as well as with the practice of dogfighting. Finally, the authors highlight the role of the media in fearmongering about pit bulls – they pay high levels of attention to dog attacks and portray pit bulls in poorer urban areas, associating them with the violence in those neighborhoods. In any case, pit bulls do not display aggressive or violent behavior at abnormally high rates compared to other breeds. The dogs commonly referred to as pit bulls are usually one or a mix of American or British Staffordshire Terriers, though “American Pit Bull Terrier” is coming into usage by some breeding groups. The authors also point out that “pit bull” is not a clearly defined breed, which allows individuals to group many kinds of dogs under the term. Put simply, dogs are not a major threat to American children. is quite low, below deaths related to balloons, playground equipment, buckets, and, notably, human caregivers. Furthermore, the authors note that the incidence of fatal dog attacks on children in the U.S. These breeds’ images have been redeemed as of late, being prized for their obedience, intelligence, and loyalty. The paper begins with some background, noting that pit bulls were once prized as gentle, protective family companions, while breeds like German Shepherds (GSDs) and Dobermans were portrayed as vicious killers.
![original little rascals dog breed original little rascals dog breed](https://cdn.history101.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/our-gang.jpg)
So, what do most people think? This survey attempted to find that out. However, they are still incredibly popular dogs, and many have come to their defense, arguing that bad guardians are to blame for dog behavior, not inherent violence in the breed. Described as “vicious,” “unpredictable,” and “violent,” these once-beloved dogs have become villainized by many both in the media and larger society.