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Parents' Guide to

Pit Boss

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

So-so reality show blends entertainment and dog rescue.

TV Animal Planet Reality TV 2010
Pit Boss Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 7 parent reviews

peludo
peludo Adult
February 18, 2012
age 15+

Okay entertainment, but poor role models

I love all animals; Pit Bulls, and Alligators included. I guess, for a reality show, it may be okay; but, what type of audience likes reality shows? When I first started watching this show, I was entertained; now, I'm appalled. It seems that Shorty has an Ego problem: come help with rescue; other plans, or not. When something goes wrong, _____ *ucke'd up! Never, I was asking too much of them at the time. The staff I liked best were Ashley, Sebastian, and Ronald; the latter two are both gone, I wonder why?? The only positive message I see is the endless desire to rescue these dogs, and the fact that height is not an issue. Sometimes, it is too much unlike reality. Pit Bulls are far from dangerous, when allowed to be a Pit Bull naturally; nonetheless, too many are exploited for fighting, and those dogs are too dangerous to be a family pet.
hc8798
hc8798 Adult
March 19, 2011
age 17+

Stay away!

Lesbian little people and hard partying cast members. All rolled up into a show that tries to come off as if it's all about promoting animal welfare when in fact, it is simply promoting a leftist agenda.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

PIT BOSS follows the efforts of Shorty's Rescue, a dog rescue effort run by actor Shorty Rossi. Rossi, who is also the owner of a talent agency for little people called Shortywood Productions, combines his streetwise smarts and connections in the entertainment industry to rescue abandoned pit bulls and help find them good homes. With the help of his team -- which includes receptionist Ashley Brooks, booking assistant Ronald Lee Clark, and entertainment coordinator Sebastian Saraceno -- he divides his time between managing actors' Hollywood careers, rescuing strays, going on patrol with Animal Control officers, and raising awareness about the plight of pit bulls.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (7 ):

Pit Boss ultimately offers a fairly convoluted blend of information about the little people community, the world of entertainment management, and pit bull rescue. Rossi consistently parallels his life with the dogs', claiming that they -- like him -- are members of a community that is stereotyped and misunderstood. But while he seeks to highlight and empower his community, his employees (all of whom are also little people) often come off as comical or silly when they're thrown into dog rescue missions thanks to their lack of knowledge and/or passion about the animals.

Rossi's heart is in the right place, but his tendency to resort to shouting matches and staged-feeling physical fights over dogs doesn't send the best messages. And some of his rescue tactics -- like breaking locks to enter people's private property -- aren't very ethical, either. In the end, while the show means well, some of the antics featured here just aren't very constructive.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how pit bulls are typically seen by the public. Do you think the breed's reputation has a connection to the way the media has chosen to portray the dogs?

  • Should you ever approach a stray animal? What if the animal looks aggressive? When should animal control be called? Where is your community's local animal shelter?

  • Do you think any stereotypes about the little people community are perpetuated by the media? Do some shows counter these stereotypes?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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