“If pit bulls can be trained to be unaggressive, can labs be trained not to fetch? Just asking.)”
My labs had the retrieving desire bred into them. I didn’t have to teach them, they did it automatically. Naturally, I had to train them what, when, etc.
My cow dog and sheep dog had the work ethic, and desire to herd bred into them. They had to be taught to follow my directions so we didn’t work at cross purposes, but they were all over getting after the sheep and cattle. My labs had no interest in herding and my herding dogs had no interest in fetching.
I’d venture a guess that pits and other fighting breeds have the desire to rumble bred into them.
I would agree with this, although 'gameness' varies between individuals. A good owner acknowledges that you can never trust your bull dog not to fight another dog. But you can channel a dog's interest in different directions; herding dogs excell at flyball. Labs excell at fetching balls, beers, slippers, etc. Pit bulls excell at pulling. You just have to be willing to invest time in your dog.
My lab insists on fetching a duck whether the duck is amenable to such action or not.
However, he lacks the returning to owner and laying at feet gene.