Nanook

So the debate continues...

Breeds have tendencies, yes. Be it mastiff, pit bull, or shar-pei, they are bred to protect and will do so correctly if properly trained. Pits in particular get most of their bad reputation from the irresponsible owners who buy them from breeders who sell them as tough mean dogs. They like the image that the pit carries with it, but are unwilling to give the dog the training or structure it needs to be safe, especially when it comes to socialization with both humans or other dogs.

Any dog can end up this way given the irresponsible owner, it simply gets amplified in breeds that have that tendency. Most people simply don't do enough research on dogs that have been bred for certain qualities for hundreds of years and then want a "pet" expecting that that's what they'll get.