Pit Bulls are highly trainable, powerful, and energetic dogs which are beneficial traits for anyone wanting an amazing companion or service dog, but they have also proven to be a downfall when the breed is exploited. The majority of stories highlighted in the news regarding Pit Bulls tends to be negative, but in reality there are many more positive stories concerning Pit Bulls. By simply browsing the Internet, one can find an abundance of positive, reputable information about Pit Bulls.

Sadly, it seems that the term “Pit Bull” is only splashed across the headlines when the story is about these dogs endangering or ending lives, instead of featuring the stories about Pit Bulls helping, or saving live.  Unfortunately, fear and negativity sells, and this breed is paying the price for our ignorance. If more people actually took the time to look beyond the negative hype, they would find the truth about Pit Bulls.

According to rigorous testing by The National Canine Temperament Testing Association, the golden retriever, poodle, border collie, English setter, German pointer and numerous other breeds are considered more likely to become aggressive than Pit Bulls. The average score of the 122 breeds tested was a mere 77 percent, but Pit Bulls scored a 95.2 percent on these tests. (The best score possible was 100)

Not only have Pit Bulls scored extremely well on temperament tests, but they have been serving key roles in search and rescue efforts, excel in agility training and work nationwide as therapy and service dogs.  Being intelligent, athletic dogs, Pit Bulls excel in many dog sports, including weight pulling, dog agility, fly ball, lure coursing, and advanced obedience competition. Out of the 25 dogs who have earned UKC (United Kennel Club) "superdog" status (by gaining championship titles in conformation, obedience, agility, and weight pull), fourteen have been American Pit Bull Terriers.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a working dog, and is suitable for a wide range of working disciplines due to their intelligence, high energy, and endurance. In the United States they have been used as search and rescue dogs that save lives, police dogs performing narcotics and explosives detection, Border Patrol dogs, hearing dogs to provide services to the deaf, as well as general service dogs.