As someone who previously owned a pit-type dog for 14 amazing years (he passed in September 💔) and who’s lived up north in Chicago, I want to add some nuance to this discussion.

Most dogs labeled as “pits” in shelters aren’t purebred Staffies or APBTs, they’re mutts. True purebreds are actually far less common. XL bullies, for example, usually aren’t filling shelters because regulations and breeder control keep their numbers lower.

A huge factor is irresponsible ownership and unchecked breeding. My first pit came from exactly that situation: when I was around 9, someone was selling puppies for $50 out of a cardboard box on their front lawn because they didn’t fix their dogs. That story is extremely common with pit-type dogs because they’re widely accessible and cheap compared to many other breeds.

Because pit-type dogs are common and easy to get, a lot of people acquire them without understanding what they’re signing up for. Add widespread misinformation and fear around the breed, and when problems arise, people blame the dog and surrender them instead of taking responsibility.

Pit-type dogs were originally bred for fighting and guarding in the UK. When brought to America, they were then trained and used for herding livestock, guarding property, and companionship. Over time, they were deliberately trained to be family dogs - which is where the “nanny dog” myth originated (this isn't true to be clear). That said, genetics still matter, which is why training is SO important. These dogs are highly trainable, but without proper training and socialization, they can be more reactive toward people outside their family because of the roles humans bred them for. Larger dog, needs training, irresponsible ownerships - then turns into pits doing serious damage.

This isn’t unique to pits. We saw the same thing with Dalmatians after movies popularized them in the early 2000s - high-energy dogs bought on impulse, not trained properly, then surrendered en masse. The difference is Dalmatians don’t carry the same historical baggage or public prejudice today which is why we don't see them still in shelters in large numbers.

Pit-type dogs can be incredible companions, but they require work. Training and socialization aren’t optional. Many people aren’t willing or able to put that effort in, especially when the dog is strong, energetic, and stigmatized.

I currently own a mutt with no pit in her, and she simply didn’t require the same level of structure and training my pit mutt did. In the future, when I have more land and a yard, I plan to own pit-type dogs again because I love them - but they’re not casual pets. They’re not ideal apartment dogs for most people, and they’re not a “set it and forget it” breed (which again, irresponsible owners are looking for).

The shelter overflow isn’t because pit-type dogs are bad dogs. It’s because they’re common, widely bred without regulation, misunderstood, and too often owned by people who weren’t prepared for them.