Are you shopping for a pit bull, but find yourself a little nervous when confronted by the idea that they’re rabid cat eaters and a bite situation waiting to happen? Well, think again! It’s true that pit bulls have gotten a bad rap over time, but as usual, it’s not a problem with the breed, but with some of the breeders, who raised and trained these dogs to be fighters — never with people, but with other dogs.

There’s no doubt that the intelligent pit bull can be a bit on the dominant side. Like many brainy dogs, they need to know clearly who’s boss in the household “pack.” On the other hand, you’ll never see a sweeter, more eager-to-please expression then you will on the face of your muscular little pit bull. They’ll register your every mood, and do everything they can to carry out your commands. This is a dog that needs some useful jobs around the house — he wants to be put to work! Agility training and other competition is also tailor-made for your bright and agile pup.

When you raise a pit bull from puppyhood, it’s best to raise him with other pets. You’ll also want to socialize him extensively, both with people and other dogs. When raised correctly, you’ll never find a sweeter or more family-friendly companion. For the sake of caution, you’ll still want to keep control of your pit bull when he’s likely to encounter strange dogs.

It’s true that you’ll occasionally hear about pit bull attacks in the news. It’s the sad fact that some people still raise these dogs to be fighters. And that gives the whole beautiful breed a bad reputation. Fortunately, you don’t have to dig very deeply to understand that most of the “common knowledge” about pit bulls just isn’t true. But you’ll want to know as much as possible about this delightful breed when you’re planning to bring one into your home.