It's not how they're raised.

This is Hector, one of the approximately 50 dogs seized from Michael Vick's dog fighting ring in 2007. Hector and the other Vick dogs were the first fight bust dogs who were evaluated individually for temperament, rather than being automatically killed. To the surprise even of the people who had fought to have them evaluated, almost all the Vick dogs turned out to be non-aggressive, despite the terrible abuse they had suffered. Most of those dogs are now living with families and several, including Hector, are certified therapy dogs.

The Vick case made it clear not only that pit bulls, even ones who have fought, are not vicious monsters. It also made the even broader point that even dogs who have been abused and neglected are remarkably resilient. This is an answer to the people who say "It's all how they're raised," implying that if you don't get a dog as a puppy, you are likely to end up with a problem dog. In fact, just as many dogs adopted as adults can be loving, trustworthy, and even-tempered, there are a few dogs raised from puppyhood by loving and well-intentioned people who turn out to be unstable and aggressive. This is especially true of some purebred dogs purchased from unscrupulous breeders or puppy mill operations. Even many of these dogs, however, can be good family companions with proper management. In fact, many dog trainers and advocates now stress "management" rather than "raising." This emphasizes first, that all is not lost if a dog has a bad start in life, and second, that even dogs who spend their puppyhood in good homes need careful training and ongoing socialization and attention to manners.

This is Libby, one of our family's four dogs. She grew up on the end of a tether, so neglected that her "owners" didn't notice that her skin was growing over her harness. Or maybe their didn't care. She was rescued as an adult, with the harness so deeply embedded that it required surgical removal. She still has scars on her back and chest. She is also exceptionally affectionate, even-tempered, and outgoing, and she lives for human attention. Like Hector, Libby has passed both the Canine Good Citizen and American Temperament Testing Society tests. She visits the library to read with kids and is completely trustworthy even with screaming toddlers and timid kids who pat her and run away. She loves them all. Like Hector, she got the second chance she deserved.

If you know people who think they can only trust a dog they raised from a puppy, let them know that there are no guarantees in life, but that their chance of having a good family companion is high with an adult shelter dog who is friendly, affectionate, and responsive.