Pit bulls are often the target of negative comments and they are feared by many—but one owner is determined to change their image by sharing a clip of her dog’s softer side on TikTok.
Racking up 2.2 million views, Ace, the canine, is seen wagging his tail while begging for attention from a stranger. The text layered over the video reads: “Oh, you’re scared of my pit bull? Watch him when a worker comes over to put in a shower door!”
The August 15 clip shared to @beverlyandace demonstrates that not all pit bulls are dangerous, as Ace appears friendly and has stolen the hearts of many. The clip, sarcastically captioned: “So vicious,” has received more than 311,400 likes.
The post drew many comments – mostly from dog lovers guessing what the pup is thinking.
“He’s not paying attention to me!!! WHY???!!!,” said one comment with 46,000 likes.
“He is saying “Pet me, love me,” said another user, and a third commenter wrote: “He’s so whiny. Pit bulls are such babies.”
“My pit [loves] handyman time,” said a fourth user.
The modern pit bull descends from English bull-baiting dogs, originally bred to bite and hold large animals. When animal baiting was banned in the 1800s, these dogs were crossed with terriers to create more agile animals for dog fighting. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), while some pit bulls were bred for fighting, this doesn’t make them inherently aggressive toward other dogs, or unpredictable.
A file photo of a pit bull indoors. A dog that looks similar has delighted millions of TikTok users.
Diego Thomazini
Newsweek previously shared an article debunking 25 myths about the breed, including the following:
- Pit bull puppies and training: While owning a pit bull as a puppy has advantages, it doesn’t guarantee easy training due to genetic tendencies. Adult pit bulls have more predictable behaviors, as their personalities are fully developed, according to the American Pit Bull Foundation (APBF).
- Pit bulls as family pets: Despite misconceptions, pit bulls have long been popular family pets known for their gentleness, affection and loyalty. Historically, they were used for herding livestock and protecting families, noted the ASPCA and the Love-A-Bull charity.
- Bite strength myth: Dr. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states that there is no scientific evidence comparing bite strength across dog breeds. Claims about pit bulls having the strongest bite are based on rumors, as reported by the APBF.
- Pit bull temperament: Studies from the American Temperament Test Society show pit bulls have a passing rate of 82 percent or better in temperament tests, which is higher than the general dog population’s 77 percent, according to the APBF. These tests assess dogs in unexpected situations, including interactions with strangers.
Newsweek reached out to @beverlyandace for comment via email. We couldn’t verify the details of the case.
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