Why do Pitbulls, the "king of fighting dogs," so often lose to venomous snakes?
Summer heat is when many snake species are at their most active, and Nghệ An, a province in north-central Vietnam, has recently recorded many cases of snakes slithering into homes and even attacking people and pets.
Most recently, at around 9 p.m. on July 13, a Pitbull weighing nearly 60 kg was killed by a monocled cobra (scientific name: Naja kaouthia) just 10 minutes after being envenomated. Search Google for "Pitbull and cobra" and you will easily find similar incidents from around the world.
A Pitbull in Nghệ An was killed by a monocled cobra.
Notably, confrontations between Pitbulls and venomous snakes often end with the Pitbull dead. Yet when another breed of dog faces the same snakes, it is usually the snake that loses. Why is that?
Why do Pitbulls so often lose to venomous snakes?
The first reason is probably the breed's fierce, combative temperament. Compared with other dogs, Pitbulls are far less cautious around opponents; they show almost no fear, even when facing a large horse or cow.
This is what earned this aggressive breed nicknames such as "king of fighting dogs," "warrior dog" or "gladiator" . Once in a fight, they charge at their opponent without a trace of fear and keep fighting to their last breath.
A Pitbull killed by a venomous snake. (Photo: Thành Luân).
Bloodlust and a strong prey drive are what set Pitbulls apart from other dogs. Unlike many other dogs, they do not need to gang up on an opponent, relying instead on confidence in their own strength. But while this gives them an edge in contests of power and muscle, facing a venomous opponent is a completely different story.
In the video above, we can see the dogs barking together to disorient the venomous snake, then taking turns to attack it in a methodical, highly cautious way (when one bites, the other backs off), rather than in a chaotic free-for-all.
But a fearless fighter like the Pitbull will charge straight at its opponent and bite and tear. If it fails to bite the snake's head, however, the Pitbull can be bitten back, and venom is a weapon more powerful than even the Pitbull's "frenzy."
A single envenomating bite from a venomous snake is enough to make a Pitbull pay the price immediately, which is why confrontations between Pitbulls and venomous snakes so often end with the dog defeated or dead.
Bottom line: Non-venomous snakes are no match for a Pitbull and will be taken down in the blink of an eye. Against dangerous venomous species, however, the Pitbull's all-out fighting style means there is a high chance that both animals will die.
