Pit bulls descended from bulldogs and terriers, and if you are living in the United States, you are most likely to find them in every corner.
Some people fear pit bulls, but the truth is that they are one of the most misunderstood dog breeds. To better understand pit bulls, below are some interesting facts that can entice your love for them.
1. Pit Bulls Are Nice
One of the most interesting facts that may come as a surprise for you is that pit bulls are nice and not vicious, as some movies portrayed them too.
They are a bit too nice that they were not bred to be guard dogs. Rather, they were originally bred to drive and catch livestock, serving as ideal family companions.
Because pit bulls are nice, it will prove to be easy for you to take them out for a walk or even travel with them.
Just make sure that you find a collar for your pit bull for their safety and security, particularly when you are taking them out, even for a short walk. With a dog collar, they will be easily identified in case they get lost. Thus, there is a greater chance that they are returned to you when this happens.
2. Pit Bulls Have Amazing Smiles
Another interesting fact about pit bulls is that they have amazing smiles, and no, they don’t have locking jaws. The latter is a myth because there is nothing anatomically different from the jaws of a pit bull compared to other dog breeds.
However, because pit bulls stem from the terrier breed, they may be a bit more tenacious when it comes to holding and biting their toys. Nevertheless, they don’t have the strongest bite because German shepherds and rottweilers hold the spot.
Thus, rather than focusing on the bad press about the mouth of a pit bull, it is better to concentrate on their great smiles instead.
3. Pit Bulls Can Climb Walls
Pit bulls are strong and athletic, and because of their great physical attributes, they can climb walls. Yes, they are strong climbers because of their agility and strength that some other dogs do not possess. Records show that the highest wall that a certain pit bull was able to climb was 12 feet.
4. Pit Bulls Used to Be a Mascot for The US
During World War I and World War II, the US Army leveraged pit bulls to convince recruits to join the army and strengthen their force. This is because they are the best dog breed to symbolize bravery and loyalty, as well as determination. There were also a few pit bulls that served in the war.
5. Pit Bulls Are Great Rescue Dogs
Pit bulls are very determined when it comes to pleasing their humans, which is why they tend to work harder compared to other dog breeds. Alongside this, they are also athletic and energetic while having the ability to keep their cool even under the most stressful situations.
For these reasons, pit bulls make great rescue dogs since they won’t hesitate to save a life. In fact, in 1993, a pit bull named Wheela rescued 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses, and a cat, earning her the Ken-L-Ration Dog Hero of the Year award.
In parallel to being great rescue dogs, they can also fulfill sniffing jobs, which makes them useful in identifying whatever it is that they need to find as long as they have a sample of its scent. This is because, aside from their strong sense of smell, they are also highly intelligent.
As a testament to this, a pit bull in Texas holds the record of finding thousands of pounds of cocaine. Because pit bulls mean business, they are also great sporting dogs. This still boils down to their particular characteristic of making sure to achieve something that they put their mind into.
6. Pit Bulls Are Perfect Therapy Dogs
Pit bulls are highly trainable, which makes them the perfect therapy dog candidates. In fact, in the early part of the last century, pit bulls were referred to as nanny dogs, making them the first breed of choice among parents rearing young children.
The truth is that they are affectionate and loving, which is in contrast with the popular opinion that pit bulls are dangerous or aggressive. For this reason, more and more people are bringing pit bulls to bring emotional support to people in schools, retirement homes, as well as in hospitals.
7. Pit Bulls Can Be Emotional
The emotional range of pit bulls is wide, such that no other dog breed comes close. You may think that your pit bull is stubborn, but the reality is that their feelings only got hurt.
Like some dogs, though, they rarely act out their feelings, rather, they may just give you the cold shoulder or the silent treatment. Rest assured that they forgive rather quite easily, which means that you won’t feel bad for long.
8. Pit Bulls Love Friends
It may come as a surprise but based on temperament tests conducted to evaluate various dog breeds, pit bulls ranked second after golden retrievers when it comes to the most tolerant breed. In the list, the least tolerant was a chihuahua.
Pit bulls also love people such that they want to stay as close to their humans as much as they can, cuddling, snuggling, or even rolling over for belly rubs. Just keep in mind that they may not always love other dogs, though. In this case, all they need is a little bit of socialization and training because as soon as they figure out how to interact with other dogs, they will engage in play.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, the interesting facts mentioned above about pit bulls are only some of the things that you need to know about them. Just like with any other dog breed, though, a pit bull needs the love and care of their human.
Rest assured that when you have a pit bull on your side, you will have a loyal companion, sharing a bond that can stand the test of time.
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