A closer look at pit bulls and the hype around them shows that they are not more dangerous than other dogs. These dogs may have a reputation for viciousness today, but this wasn’t always the case. For most of the 1900s they were praised as loyal and brave, and portrayed in ads and on tv shows as loving companions and family pets. Even with their current bad reputation, the animals are regularly used as seeing eye, therapy, and search and rescue dogs. They are not all uncontrollable killers. Animal behaviorists also point out that aggressiveness in dogs is related far more to socialization and training than to breeding. Dogs aren’t born bad, they’re made that way by irresponsible owners.