My girl Nyx

As a pet parent of a Pit Bull-Mastiff cross, I've noticed that people tend to be either lovers or haters of the Pit Bull. Honestly, I’ve been in love with my girl since the moment we met. Among many bully breeds, Pit Bulls often get a bad rap—something I struggle to understand. While they can end up in the wrong hands and develop a history that fosters fear, it’s the owner—not the breed—that determines their behavior.

Since I breed and care for toy dogs, I often need a lead dog to help with early socialization. Nyx is perfect for this role because she doesn’t discriminate against anyone or nearly any animal. It’s not uncommon for wildlife to trust me and my home—bucks have eaten from my hand, magpies and squirrels have wandered inside and befriended me. Even on backcountry hikes, Nyx has laid down and let baby ducks hop around, sometimes even on her! Her gentle nature is an asset to my training program, helping even blind and deaf pups under 3 lbs learn confidence and social skills.

Some might question my methods or assume my trust in Nyx is naive. But when I brought her home, I sought guidance from experienced trainers and discovered one key principle for handling such a powerful dog: never allow a game of tug-of-war. Not with me, not with other dogs. This small rule has made a big difference.

As a responsible pet parent, it's my job to ensure that Nyx learns appropriate behaviors from a young age while also understanding how she thinks and what traits require mindfulness. In essence, Nyx has the mindset of a six-year-old—playful, curious, devoted, and deeply loving. She is prone to separation anxiety, can easily become nervous around new people, and doesn’t always recognize her own strength. Most importantly, her happiness depends on mine. When I approve of her behavior and praise her, she remains calm and confident. Like a child, she looks to me for boundaries that fit her abilities.

Despite her size, Nyx has never destroyed anything in my home. Even as a puppy, she didn’t chew up shoes or rummage through the garbage—thanks to always having another dog for companionship while I was away. She was socialized early, not just in typical puppy settings but all across the country. In her three years, she's encountered countless dogs and breeds. She can walk calmly through a bustling city or alongside a busy highway, on leash or off. Noise, chaos, and distraction don’t faze her, whether it's the roar of traffic or a thunderstorm outside a gun range. Likewise, my small dogs never suffer from “big dog syndrome”—they’re neither intimidated nor reactive toward large, friendly dogs.

However, do I let Nyx roam freely around animals or puppies that could be hurt by accident? No! If six energetic puppies are jumping at my face, weaving underfoot, or cutting me off, I might stumble or step on one—just like Nyx could. My adult toy breeds don’t yip or nip at Nyx as she strolls through the yard, but a litter of eight-week-old puppies might. For everyone’s safety, those interactions are supervised. If I can’t be present, the puppies return to their playpen or puppy room.

Allowing an accident isn’t responsible. If Nyx were to unintentionally harm a puppy—one that is mine but soon to belong to another family—I would be devastated. Worse, Nyx would pick up on my emotions, not understanding that I was upset by the situation and not at her. That’s not how her mind works. She would only sense my distress and assume she had disappointed me. Dogs are incredibly perceptive to anger and sadness, and many are prone to depression as a result.

I passionately advocate for Pit Bulls as loving and devoted family pets—but only for owners who truly understand them. This breed is extraordinarily attuned to the emotional states of their human family members, remarkably self-conscious, and highly responsive to proactive leadership. Yet, they are also unaware of their strength and stature. If you doubt this, I challenge you to find a devoted Pit Bull parent who hasn’t experienced their 80-plus-pound dog sitting squarely on their lap every day.

I am a proud Pitty momma, deeply bonded to my precious Nyx. I love her like family, consider her a kindred spirit, and cherish our connection. But at the end of the day, she is a dog—it’s my responsibility to help her succeed, set clear boundaries, and guide her with care.