OK, so what I am gathering here so far is this:

Some of us feel that Pit Bulls can make fine protection dogs, but not any more so than the more traditional PPD breeds.

Others of us feel that Pit Bulls should not be used for protection for the following reasons:

1) social stigma crating undue risk to the dog and owner
2) the possible greater ease of chocking out a pit (not totally convinced on this one yet)
3) the lack of human aggression in the breeding of proper pit bulls, which may lead to conflict for the dogs

This is all really interesting. I was mostly intrigued by the possibility b/c, even as just a pet dog trainer, I have seen so many pits that had the strongest and most determined grips, that I figured that that had to come in handy in protection work. But, on the other hand, they often tend to be pretty emotionally soft, and I can see how this might affect their proper fight drive development. Also, the grip ability seems to be more common than any kind of natural protectiveness. I've certainly met some protective pits, but most of them just seem to love everyone.

Thanks for all of the info. and opinions.

When I took my Am Staff for DA issues to my trainer I got into training for dog sports. I used to go and watch the different dogs and the handlers work with them for the different sports, french ring, schutzhund, OB competitions. I have to say just from watching, the Mals and GSDs when they are working a decoy appear to me to "rejoice" in the work. Excuse the humanization. But to see those dawgs do this job, it looks like such a natural fit....like they were born to do it.

Now I have started training with a Mal, I have to say I am a really bad rookie, but that dog is seven hundred steps ahead of me...I really like learning with this dog.

Now I have never worked a PB for this kind of training, but the ones I have seen take on the job with equal enthusiasm, but when it comes to the bite work, they are fast to learn and obey but it seems when they actually strike it's like a game to them, and they want to please their handler...unlike the Mal that tears in there and does what he does. It reminds me of the behavior I used to see in my little Am Staff when she would see another dog. It was like she was a kid walking into a carnival...like she was meant to fight.

This probably sounds hoaky, but I spend a lot of time watching and I have to say the Pits look like they do well because their handlers told them to do it, where as the GSDs and Mals look like they do what they do because that is where they "live"....

If this makes any sense at all!!!!

Makes sense to me. This is what I meant by "conflict." They will do it, but not for the same reasons. I think sports are one thing for that reason, and actual PPD training another.