Are Pitbulls Good Guard Dogs?

The American Pit Bull Terriers, or simply ‘Pitbulls’, are renowned for their muscular build, strength, agility, and friendly nature towards people.

These dogs were originally bred to fight other canines during the medieval era, but they have become one of the most popular family pets in the US.

However, the question remains: are Pitbulls good guard dogs? Opinions differ on whether Pitbulls can still use their strength and agility to protect their owners.

Pitbulls are known to make friends with humans and their patience with kids also makes this muscular breed to be decent home dogs.

But these muscular pups can protect their owners from danger provided they get the right training. Read on to discover the possibilities of using Pits as guards.

A Brief History of Pitbulls

The origin of Pitbulls can be traced back to the 1800s in the UK. Pitbulls were created by breeding the traditional English Bull Dog with a Terrier.

The English Bulldog was initially bred to take part in ‘bull baiting’, where two dogs would control/harass bulls or bears for long hours by biting on their necks until they collapsed and died.

Bull baiting was a popular blood sport in the British Isles until 1835 when the British Parliament enacted legislation to curb the rising animal cruelty. This legal enactment prohibited blood sports and termed the activities as ‘inhumane’.

Once blood sports were outlawed in the UK, the public turned their attention to dogfighting and ‘ratting’.

Ratting is a sport where dogs were placed in pits with rats and timed to see which dog would kill the most rats in the least amount of time.

The term ‘pit’ inspired the name Pitbull, since the rodents were put into a pit so that they could not run away.

Dogfighting required a dog with strength and agility, hence the sportsmen crossed the English BullDogs for their strength and Terriers for their agility to breed the first Pit Bull Terrier.

Pitbulls as Working Dogs

During the 1870s, immigrants from the UK went to the United States and brought their Pitbulls with them.

It was here that the Pitbulls were named the ‘American’ Pit Bull Terrier. Although they were originally bred for dogfighting, they were soon deployed as working dogs to assist humans in the fields.

Pitbulls were used to guard sheep and other livestock against intruders and wild animals in the woods. They were also used to hunt hogs and other small game in the wild.

During this period as working dogs, Pit Bulls were loyal and friendly to their human handlers; hence, they slowly became a lovely companion, even at home.

The public slowly appreciated Pits as companion dogs rather than working dogs, and that’s how they developed their friendly nature towards humans.

Are Pitbulls Good Guard Dogs?

Contrary to popular belief, Pitbulls are not typically good guard dogs due to their friendly nature towards humans.

It’s not recommended to rely on an average Pitbull to protect your home and property from an invasion or attack.

While they can be trained to be watchful, they are not known for their protective instincts. They are diligent, meaning they can raise an alarm when they perceive an intruder, but they will not wage an attack.

Natural Traits of Pitbulls

Despite their muscular physique and intimidating looks, Pit Bulls are fun-loving in nature and are friendly to humans especially those who care for them.

Pitbulls are often considered gentle giants due to their well-built bodies and their welcoming attitude towards strangers who enter their territories

You should not be surprised to see your Pitbull happily running to welcome visitors to your home and jumping over them with hugs and kisses.

These dogs cherish being around humans and will go the extra mile to please us to receive some praise and petting.

Pitbulls’ love for humans can best be seen in how they interact with children. This lovable breed is affectionate with toddlers and loves to engage in endless games with them.

However, it is important to remember that all children should be taught how to interact with dogs and should be supervised by adults at all times during such interactions.

The Importance of Training and Socialization

Despite their natural instincts to love humans, you should always train and socialize your Pitbull to become a friendly family pet.

Teaching your lovely Pit basic commands and obedience skills will help in daily interactions and allow you to recall them from potentially hazardous situations.

A well-socialized dog is also less likely to show unfriendly behavior toward guests and strangers. Taking your Pit Bull out for daily walks and occasional visits to the park to interact with other pets and humans will help with socialization and prevent fear-related aggression.

Comparing Pitbulls to Other Guard Dog Breeds

Even though you can train your Pitbull to keep watch over your house and property for invasion, they may not be excellent guard dogs compared to other favorable breeds.

The best they can do is bark at a stranger to alert you of an unwanted guest and back off when you don’t show up.

Dogs such as German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Bullmastiffs, Cane Corso, and Australian Shepherds are naturally born to protect and hence can serve as excellent guard dogs.

Factors That Affect Pitbulls’ Ability to Be Good Guard Dogs

The ability of Pitbulls to serve as decent guard dogs for home and property can be attributed to their friendly traits.

Although Pitbulls were originally bred for dogfighting, they were later introduced to the working culture which molded their lovely nature to humans.

These dogs are too friendly to people and they derive lots of pleasure when staying close to their human caregivers, kids, and strangers as well.

Pitbulls are socially oriented, meaning that they love exploring their environment to discover new people, other pets, and exciting activities to engage in.

These gentle giants are also moderate barkers, which means they can serve well in creating an alert when an intruder jumps into your yard.

But they pretty much don’t offer anything more than that, and their loud barking may impact their ability to guard silently.

Benefits of Owning a Pitbull as a Guard Dog

One of the main advantages of training your Pitbull to serve as a guard dog is that they are very loyal and they wouldn’t watch you get harassed during an attack.

It’s during such moments when the Pitbull will show their bravery by confronting a potential threat to protect you due to their unwavering loyalty.

Although their protection might not be as intensive as that of a natural guard dog, you can be assured that your canine friend will do something to save you.

Pitbulls are also known for being very intelligent and responsive to command training. Having a guard dog with these traits means that you can recall them from potentially dangerous situations, and they can also differentiate between a visitor and an intruder.

These muscular dogs are highly alert and have the ability to track scents and categorize different smells, which can make them observant of an intruder.

Drawbacks of Owning a Pitbull as a Guard Dog

While there could be some benefits to training your Pitbull to be protective of your home and property, these pups do not make decent guard dogs.

The major drawback of having a Pitbull as a guard dog is their incredibly friendly nature, which can extend to visitors and strangers.

Training a Pitbull to become a guard dog may be a difficult task, and sometimes, you may require the services of a canine trainer.

Even if you train your Pitbull to serve as a guard dog, they may still embrace an intruder and try to make friends.

Pitbulls are not naturally protective animals. They may sometimes show aggression towards other animals due to their dogfighting instincts, but they are typically friendly to humans unless provoked.

Pitbulls’ bad historical reputation may also impact your ownership of this breed in some states and provinces.

These muscular dogs were bred to fight other dogs, which some people consider unethical. This bad historical connotation has made it difficult to obtain insurance for this breed, and some municipalities also restrict homeowners from raising Pits completely.

Responsible Ownership of Pitbulls

There’s no doubt that Pitbulls are some of the most interesting dog breeds to keep at home. But despite their human-loving nature, these dogs have had previous encounters with being unpredictable and sometimes hostile.

Legal Issues Surrounding Pitbull Ownership

This is why some counties and territories have enacted legislation governing the ownership of certain dog breeds. You should always do your homework on breed-specific legislation before adopting a Pitbull.

While no state in America has outrightly banned the ownership of Pitbulls, some municipalities/counties have subsidiary legislations on Pitbull ownership.

We however have counties that have banned the ownership of Pitbulls within their territories.

If you live in an area with strict restrictions against owning of these muscular dogs, we recommend that you stay away from adopting one.

Strategies for Responsible Pitbull Ownership

If you are in an area with no dog breed rules, feel free to adopt a Pitbull and raise them with love and care. Make sure to provide lots of training and socialization to make them good with everyone around you.

Always provide your Pitbull with a well-balanced diet to keep them fit and healthy. Don’t forget to offer them daily exercises (1 – 2 hours) as a way of channeling their high energy into a positive outlet.

Regular walks and runs will also help the dog maintain a healthy weight and the same muscular body.

As a Pitbull owner, you also need to pay attention to the signs of aggression in your dog and always take necessary steps to intervene.

Some signs of aggression you need to watch out for include mouthing, growling when approached, lunging forward, and excessive guttural barking.

Lastly, make regular appointments with your veterinarian for your Pitbull’s check-up and medical care if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are Pitbulls aggressive by nature?

No! Pitbulls are not inherently aggressive despite being bred for dogfighting purposes. However, they may become hostile when provoked into anger.

2. Can Pitbulls be trained to be good family dogs and guard dogs at the same time?

Yes! You can train your Pitbull to be protective and affectionate towards your family at the same time.

While they may not be the best protective dogs, they can be vigilant to alert you when a stranger knocks while also being friendly to your family.

3. Are Pitbulls protective?

Yes! These muscular giants can be protective of their owners.

However, it is unlikely that a newly-adopted Pitbull without proper training can come to the defense of their owner.

4. How do I know if my pitbull will protect me?

You can know if your Pitbull can protect you when faced with a threat if they have unwavering loyalty to you with lots of love.

Training your dog on protective instincts can boost their chances of guarding you against intruders or aggressive animals.

Conclusion

Are Pitbulls good guard dogs? No, Pitbulls are not excellent at protecting homes and property from attack. The best an average Pitbull can do is alert their owner by barking at the intruder.

These dogs were originally bred for dogfighting and ratting competitions, but they were transitioned into working breeds during the early 20th century.

Pitbulls are known to be people-oriented and they love making friends with humans which explains, which explains why they thrive as family dogs.

However, a loyal & well-trained Pitbull may come to the rescue if their owners are faced with potentially dangerous situations.

Written By

Laura

Laura is the founder of Furs'n'Paws. She is a pet expert with more than 20 years of experience working with dogs and cats. She developed a very strong love for animals at a young age. Her passion led her to establish a thriving pet sitting and dog walking business in Dubai. As an expert in pet training, behavior, and nutrition, Laura is committed to helping pet owners and pet lovers by offering high-quality information on a wide range of topics.