I have seen so much bad press on the Pit Bull Breed, Pronounced "Pit Bull Terrier" I just had to share the truth with everyone, Local media to even Nationally Syndicated Talk show Radio host Bubba the Love Sponge (Who refers to this breeds owners as (White Trash)) have made these dogs out to be brutal killers much like the movie "Cugo" did for the St.Bernard in 1983. If you do not recall this Stephen King horror film, A friendly St. Bernard named "Cujo" contracts rabies and conducts a reign of terror on a small American town.
Do you know there have been reports of Cat's attacking postal workers, however these attacks are not covered by media local news print news or self proclaimed Prince of the Universe Nationally syndicated Talk show Radio Host and Chicken Dip addict Bubba the Love Sponge (btls.com) so why is there not a cat ban?
And what about sites that promote mail carriers killing dog breeds of all kinds such as http://www.postalmag.com/dogsattack.htm
American Pit Bull Terrier
(Pitbull) (Pit) (Pit Bull) (Pit Terrier) (Half and Half) (Staffordshire Fighting Dog) (Bull Baiter Dogs) (Old Family Dog - the Irish name) (Yankee Terrier - the Northern name) (Rebel Terrier - the Southern name)
Modern-day media sources are sorely lacking in vital information surrounding these events." This is what increases the public's fear of certain dog breeds, mainly those surrounding the pit-bull type dogs. What you hear, "Pit bull attacks and kills a 7 year old boy. The dog was owned by the child's neighbor." What you don't hear, "Prior to the attack the dog was beaten, served a dose of rat poison, and was found to be severely malnourished." If you were to hear that, would you still have the same opinion about the dog?
Around the 1900s the Newfoundland, Bloodhound, Mastiff, and Bulldog, were the feared. They were the breeds to avoid. They were the cause of nearly all dog attacks. But, they were replaced by other dogs with just as bad temperaments. The German Shepherd was just one of the dogs that replaced the first set of vicious terrorizors and baby-killers.
They were a fairly new breed to America, and were most commonly used as guard and protection. The breed of yesterday, is not the breed of today. The old German Shepherd was rebuilt by media. No longer do we see them as the killers they once were.
By the 1920's, the German Shepherd was gaining in popularity as a "bad dog." It already had several years of killings and fatal attacks behind its paws, and it was not getting any friendlier.
Slowly the vicious image of the German Shepherd was beginning to rebuild and reshape. Rin Tin Tin featured a friendly, fun-loving German Shepherd dog. Police began using the dogs. People began using them as seeing eye dogs; The German Shepherd was the first seeing eye-dog in the US.
About 10 years after the height of the German Shepherd fear, they had been reshaped into a heroic and courageous breed.
But, the German Shepherd isn't the only dog breed to have been reshaped by media. The Great Dane is another dog breed that is now seen as the gentle giant, but was once feared. The Doberman Pinscher has, also, been slightly reshaped by media, but not nearly as much as the German Shepherd or Great Dane.
Note- This does not mean that the German Shepherd or Great Dane are not responsible for a portion of the dog attacks and fatal killings of today. It just means that yesterday's fear can be tomorrow's love and joy.
Also Note: The first breed ban was for the German Shepherd. Not many people know that, but, it sure tells you a lot about the dog who is now seen as a hero.
Common breeds that attack:
Bloodhounds- (various breeds of bloodhounds- Cuban, Siberian, Russian, British, etc; during 2nd half of 19th century frequently the cause of severe and fatal attacks)
Newfoundlands- (latter part of 19th century, predominate cause of severe, fatal attacks)
Do you know there have been reports of Cat's attacking postal workers, however these attacks are not covered by media local news print news or self proclaimed Prince of the Universe Nationally syndicated Talk show Radio Host and Chicken Dip addict Bubba the Love Sponge (btls.com) so why is there not a cat ban?
And what about sites that promote mail carriers killing dog breeds of all kinds such as http://www.postalmag.com/dogsattack.htm
American Pit Bull Terrier
(Pitbull) (Pit) (Pit Bull) (Pit Terrier) (Half and Half) (Staffordshire Fighting Dog) (Bull Baiter Dogs) (Old Family Dog - the Irish name) (Yankee Terrier - the Northern name) (Rebel Terrier - the Southern name)
Modern-day media sources are sorely lacking in vital information surrounding these events." This is what increases the public's fear of certain dog breeds, mainly those surrounding the pit-bull type dogs. What you hear, "Pit bull attacks and kills a 7 year old boy. The dog was owned by the child's neighbor." What you don't hear, "Prior to the attack the dog was beaten, served a dose of rat poison, and was found to be severely malnourished." If you were to hear that, would you still have the same opinion about the dog?
Around the 1900s the Newfoundland, Bloodhound, Mastiff, and Bulldog, were the feared. They were the breeds to avoid. They were the cause of nearly all dog attacks. But, they were replaced by other dogs with just as bad temperaments. The German Shepherd was just one of the dogs that replaced the first set of vicious terrorizors and baby-killers.
They were a fairly new breed to America, and were most commonly used as guard and protection. The breed of yesterday, is not the breed of today. The old German Shepherd was rebuilt by media. No longer do we see them as the killers they once were.
By the 1920's, the German Shepherd was gaining in popularity as a "bad dog." It already had several years of killings and fatal attacks behind its paws, and it was not getting any friendlier.
Slowly the vicious image of the German Shepherd was beginning to rebuild and reshape. Rin Tin Tin featured a friendly, fun-loving German Shepherd dog. Police began using the dogs. People began using them as seeing eye dogs; The German Shepherd was the first seeing eye-dog in the US.
About 10 years after the height of the German Shepherd fear, they had been reshaped into a heroic and courageous breed.
But, the German Shepherd isn't the only dog breed to have been reshaped by media. The Great Dane is another dog breed that is now seen as the gentle giant, but was once feared. The Doberman Pinscher has, also, been slightly reshaped by media, but not nearly as much as the German Shepherd or Great Dane.
Note- This does not mean that the German Shepherd or Great Dane are not responsible for a portion of the dog attacks and fatal killings of today. It just means that yesterday's fear can be tomorrow's love and joy.
Also Note: The first breed ban was for the German Shepherd. Not many people know that, but, it sure tells you a lot about the dog who is now seen as a hero.
Common breeds that attack:
Bloodhounds- (various breeds of bloodhounds- Cuban, Siberian, Russian, British, etc; during 2nd half of 19th century frequently the cause of severe and fatal attacks)
Newfoundlands- (latter part of 19th century, predominate cause of severe, fatal attacks)
Siberian Huskies
Eskimo dogs
Alaskan malamutes
Labrador retrievers
Arctic Sled dogs
Alaskan huskies
Spaniels
Mastiffs- (used as guard dogs, they are common for severe and fatal attacks, but currently, the attacks have virtually disappeared)
Collies- (numerous severe attacks in the first few decades of 20th century)
Mix-breeds (IE Mutts and any dog that is unrecognizable to a breed)
St. Bernard- (sporadic episodes of severe, fatal aggression at the beginning of the 1900s and again in 1970s)
Fox terriers- (severe attacks to young children)
Boston terriers
Airedale terriers
The more popular a dog breed, the likelihood of an increased number of attacks by that dog breed.
Guess the dog breed in the following situations:
Drug agents drove to a house, suspecting an arrest. The suspects rushed out of the house, loosened and ordered their dogs to attack the officers.
A pack of dogs terrorize schoolchildren, chasing and biting three of them.
A police officer mounted on his horse shoots a dog attacking his horse.
Owner arrested for releasing and siccing his dog on a police officer.
Police officer was able to barricade an attacking dog inside his doghouse, but the dog tore through the wood and lunged at the officer, who had to shot the dog.
Dog shot twice after attacking 2 children and biting a police officer.
So, what type of dog was reported in each of those incidents?
Pit bull? .... No...
Rottweiler? ... No...
Poodle? ... No...
Mix-breed? ... No...
German Shepherd... Yes...
Media Reports
Media likes to portray dogs with human emotions, frequently being described as jealous, lonely, depressed, enraged, angry, and frustrated, but dog's do not have human emotions. Dogs don't think like humans. Dogs think in the here and now. So if you leave the dog at home alone for the day and come home to find your new shoes torn up; the dog didn't do it out of spite. They don't know or understand what spite is. The dog did it out of boredom and well your new shoes probably tasted good.
Here's a common story you may read in the paper or see on television:
"The beloved family pet, who never once showed signs of aggression viciously attacked the young 17 year daughter of Mr. John Doe. The girl, innocently rocking in the rocking chair, and calling the dogs name, never expected the dog to begin attacking her face, chest, and arms."
What you won't hear:
"The 17 year old was rocking in the rocking chair, when she accidentally rolled the leg of the rocker on the dogs paw. The dog went darting around the room in pain, and when the 17 year old called the dog, he responded by lunging at her."
That attack was out of pain, injury, and confusion. Not an innocent attack by a beloved family dog. It was a reaction to having his paw squished under a large wooden rocking chair.
This is a true story from 1897 of a Newfoundland.
Pit bulls and Media
The media has bashed the pit bull type dogs since the 1970s. Most reports claim that a pit bull was (1) bred to kill, (2) non-human aggressive, and (3) have locking jaws.
Well, they were bred to kill dogs, not people; human aggression and dog aggression are completely different types of dog aggression. One would not claim their dog food aggressive if the dog is only toy aggressive, so why would I claim a dog who is only dog aggressive as being human aggressive?
The pit bull type dog breeds, which include the American Pit Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Bulldog, and any dog that may resemble a Pit Bull, were never bred for human aggression. Even in the height of dog fighting, dogs that showed signs of human aggression were culled from the breeding programs, meaning they were either put down or just removed from the breeding program but still kept as a pet.
Pit bull type dogs are built like any other dog, but with the frequent reports of, "the pit bull locked his jaws around the child's neck," the most common myth "pit bulls" have locking jaws arises. In actuality, studies show that with most pit bull type dogs, have stronger jaw muscles than other breeds, but they're jaws cannot possible lock in place.
It is the intent of the media to report just about every dog fighting raid, police raid, and pit bull seizures, to attempt to further the bad reputation of the breed. This (1) makes people believe that these types of dogs are the only dogs attacking and have to ability to be aggressive and (2) furthers the fear of the breeds.
What's sad is that, statistically speaking, the American Pit Bull Terrier is the least likely dog breed to bite, and the Cocker Spaniel is the most likely dog breed to attack.
Another sad note is that because "pit bull" is commonly the term to group dogs of a fighting background, the American Pit Bull Terrier is the most common dog breed that is hit with the wrath of irresponsible dog owners, as APBT contains "pit" and "bull."
You commonly see pit bull type dogs with gangsters, mobsters, drug lords, and other rough and violent people. Do you see them with portrayed in the homes of teachers, CEOs, or the elderly? Unfortunately, not so often.
Recently, with the Old Navy commercial featuring the blue American Pit Bull Terrier puppies, have hopefully shown people that these dogs are not vicious by nature, because otherwise these cute, innocent puppies would be attacking the actors. Before that, the last time one has really seen a friendly, family APBT was in "The Little Rascals."
I mean come on, even Steven King used a pit bull type dog in the "Cujo" book. How scary is it to see a large rabid dog chasing after you, much less if that dog is a rabid pit bull type dog? Pretty scary, if you ask me.
Even PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) , the world's advocate for animal rights, is the main organization setting fear in the eyes of people in regards to pit bull type dogs. I'm not saying that these dogs don't fatally attack, because they do, but there's no need to single out a group of dogs, collectively known as "pit bull." PETA is the main organization pushing for breed bans. They're the ones with the vicious pit bull posters. A simple Google search turned up the following from PETA’s website:
We…support pit bull bans, as long as they include a grandfather clause allowing all living dogs who are already in good homes and well cared for to live the remainder of their lives safely and peacefully.
And so what does this stance result in? Lots and lots of innocent, dead dogs. Breed bans always result in high kill rates in shelters and in animal controls due to owner surrenders and confiscations. Not to mention, if PETA are the ones defining what is a “good home” for “pit bulls” there will likely be very few homes that will qualify.
But then breed bans seem to fit in nicely with PETA’s agenda:
In the end, I think it would be lovely if we stopped this whole notion of pets altogether. Ingrid Newkirk, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Newsday, Feb. 21, 1988.
Let us allow the dog to disappear from our brick and concrete jungles–from our firesides, from the leather nooses and chains by which we enslave it. John Bryant, Fettered Kingdoms: An Examination of A Changing Ethic Washington People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 1982, p. 15.
Why can’t PETA simply say they advocate for breed bans because they don’t think anyone should own domestic pets? Isn’t that the truth? And let’s not forget that PETA, along with the Humane Society of the United States, was pushing for all of Michael Vick’s former fighting dogs to be killed, which was widely reported in the media, including even Sports Illustrated who reported that,
The Humane Society of the U.S., agreeing with PETA, took the position that Michael Vick’s pit bulls, like all dogs saved from fight rings, were beyond rehabilitation and that trying to save them was a misappropriation of time and money. “The cruelty they’ve suffered is such that they can’t lead what anyone who loves dogs would consider a normal life,” says PETA spokesman Dan Shannon. “We feel it’s better that they have their suffering ended once and for all.”
However, according to the Washington Post, “Of the 49 [Vick] pit bulls animal behavior experts evaluated in the fall, only one was deemed too vicious to warrant saving and was euthanized.” And in fact, these dogs did go on to be rehabilitated. Many were fostered and even adopted out, while still others appeared in the National Geographic show Dog Town. And yet given this glaring error (if indeed it was an error) on the parts of PETA and the HSUS, the mainstream media still cites them as an expert source, as if these organizations had any sort of credibility whatsoever.
Yes, they bite. Yes, they kill. Yes, it happens. But it also happens in regards to labs, retrievers, terriers, and other "family dog breeds."
Dog Attack Statistics in Regards to "pit bulls"
In the 20th century there were over 450 reports of severe dog attacks in the United States, and none of them were caused by pit bull type dogs.
The media, being single minded, puts on their blinders, so to speak in regards to the pit bull. Think about it... From 2002-2005, there were 11 fatal dog attacks. 0 out of those 11 dogs featured pit bull type characteristics, but the media claimed each a pit bull attack. The media never once reported the true breeds of these dogs.
According to the CDC, Center for Disease Control, over about 20 years, 66 fatalities caused by dog attacks were attributed to pit bull type dogs. 66 in 20 years!
Many people use this statistic to claim the pit bull type dogs are the most dangerous thing or dog, just because it has more fatalities than other dog breeds. Well, in actuality, in regards to children, the most dangerous factor is not a pit bull type dog but fathers, as the majority of child deaths is caused by physical abuse by fathers or father- figures.
You can't believe everything you hear from a politician's mouth or from a news reporter. The media is skewed.
10-20 pit bull type dogs cause fatal attacks, but tens or thousands are loved family pets... Look at those numbers... 10 versus 10,000
Every time you hear it on the news or any type of media, doesn't mean that particular attack was truly caused by a pit bull type dog. In many cases the initial report assumes pit bull type dog, and when the results claim the dog as another type of dog, there is never a retraction.
Otherwise, you'll see the headline "Pit bulls attack child of 8" but if you continue reading, you'll notice that the real dogs that attacked were American Bulldog or some other bulldog breed. It just doesn't sound the same to read a headline as "American Bulldogs attack child of 8."
Pit bull type dogs can and do attack people and other animals, but you have to consider that not every dog attack is caused by a pit bull type dog and not every pit bull type dog will attack.
Also, do take into account that it can be hard for the average person to properly ID a dog, so many statistics even the CDC dog statistics can be inaccurate.
The common characteristics that lead people to believe that a dog is a "pit bull" includes medium to large sized body, short hair, muscular, broad chest, and wide- square head. There are so many dogs that, also, fall into these traits. Mastiffs, Rottweilers, American Bulldogs, and English Bulldogs, are just a few breeds with these traits, and none are considered of the "pit bull" class. These traits are usually those that determine that the stray that attacked your nephew was a pit bull type dog.
Characteristics that can lead dog attacks:
A combination of the following characteristics can cause a dog to attack in many different situations.
Intact male dog.
Female in heat.
Dogs used for guard and protection purposes.
Malnourished dogs.
Untrained and poorly socialized dogs.
Poor breeding- inbred, over bred, etc.
Abuse and mistreatment.
Fear.
Unsanitary living quarters, which can lead to health issues.
Harassment.
Any dog breed can attack. Any dog breed will attack. Any dog breed can kill.
Proper socialization and training is the key. Don't be a poor pet owner or an ignorant soul. There is more than one dog breed that attacks and kills.
Take off the blinders and open your heart. One day the American Pit Bull Terrier will be reshaped as the feared dogs of the past once were. One day, they'll be beloved and cherished again.
Time changes. People change. Our past proves that alone, as the most feared dog in American was once a loved family pet and war hero.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a wonderful dog, well-known for its intelligence, strength, and loyalty. In recent years, the breed has been unfairly villanized as overly aggressive and dangerous. While the pit bull does indeed possess a feisty and spirited character, the history of the breed reveals a much more complex tapestry of temperament and personality.
Like many modern breeds, it is impossible to be completely sure of the details of the American Pit Bull Terrier's long history. However, many pit bull enthusiasts believe the origins of the breed can be traced back to antiquity and the Molossian family of dogs. The Molossian family of dogs bears the name of the people with whom they were most often associated - the Molossi tribe, a group of people who lived in ancient Greece and favored the use of robust, muscular dogs in warfare. Officially termed canus molossi (dogs of the Molossi), these animals were renowned for their fierceness, and for their innate ability to intimidate the enemies of the tribe.
During this same time period, it is also believed that the Molossian dogs were used for other purposes. In fact, early Phoenician traders may even have used the Molossians as a bargaining item in their commercial transactions.
The Molossians gave rise to another family of dogs known as the Mastiffs. The early Britons employed a variation of the Mastiffs as pugnaces - fighting dogs that could be used in either a guardianship or warfare capacity. When the Roman emperor Claudius defeated the Briton Chief Caractacus in 50 AD, the powerful pugnaces piqued his interest. He quickly seized on the opportunity and began exporting select quantities of the dogs back home to satiate his countrymen's appetite for entertainment in the arenas and coliseums of Rome.
Once in Rome, the British dogs were crossbred with their Roman counterparts. From the years 50 AD to 410 AD, the breed was widely disseminated throughout the Roman Empire for use as fighting dogs. Along the way they mixed with other indigenous breeds throughout Europe, creating a genetic melting pot for the bulldogs that are thought to have been the immediate antecedents of the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Sadly, the Romans would not be the last to use pit bulls in cruel and grisly blood sports. When the Normans invaded England in 1066, they introduced a new sport called baiting. Interestingly enough, baiting originated with butchers who kept dogs (called Bullenbeissers) to handle unruly bulls as they were herded to the market for slaughter. When a bull stepped out of line or exhibited uncontrollable behavior, the dogs would clamp down on its nose and simply hang on until the handler could regain control of the wayward animal.
Like most dog owners, the butchers were proud of their canine companions and their stubborn tenacity in dealing with the much larger, and potentially dangerous bulls. Consequently, pubic displays were arranged to showcase the dogs' abilities and, quite frankly, to appease the multitudes that attended baiting events for their entertainment value.
By the 16th century, nearly every town in England had its own baiting ring. The popularity of baiting events was unparalleled at the time, as was their ability to draw spectators from every level of society. Their popularity was further enhanced by the misguided perception that prolonged torture ensured the tenderness of the meat.
In baiting events, no more than one or two dogs were unleashed on the bull. They were trained to unrelentingly harass the bulls until they collapsed from fatigue, their injuries, or both. These episodes lasted for prolonged periods, sometimes as long as three or four hours. Eventually, the public's grew bored with bulls and introduced a creative flair to the sport, baiting dogs with bears, boars, horses, and even monkeys!
In 1406, Edmond de Langley - the Duke of York - produced a short treatise for Henry IV entitled, "The Master of the Game and of Hawks." In it, he described a descendent of the ancient Mastiffs that he called the "Alaunt", the most commonly used baiting dog of the era. A 1585 painting of the Alaunts hunting wild boar portrayed lean, muscular animals with profound similarities to the dogs we know as pit bulls.
Baiting was made illegal by the British parliament in 1835. However, this legislation did little to satiate the public's desire to watch the spectacle of dogs in fighting sports. As a result, their attention turned to a variety of other pursuits such as ratting - a practice in which a dog was thrown in a pit with a varying number of rats. The dogs raced against the clock and each other to determine which one could kill the most rats in the shortest period of time. The "pit" in pit bulls comes from the fact that ratting occurred in a pit that kept the rats from escaping.
Ultimately the public's fickle gaze fell on the sport of dog fighting, primarily because it could be more easily hidden from the prying eyes of the law than baiting and other fighting sports. Since dog fighting required smaller and more agile animals than the ones that were used in baiting, fighting bulldogs were bred with terriers who were known for their feistiness and indefatigable focus. The result was the bull-and-terrier, more commonly known as the first pit bull terrier - a muscular, canine gladiator bred specifically for combat with other dogs.
As you can imagine, dog fighting was an extremely cruel and sadistic pursuit. The canine combatants were put through a rigorous training process depriving them of normal contact with humans and instilling in them an intense desire to spill the blood of their opponents. It was not unusual for these dogs to be fed a diet of blood and raw meat, and to be kept in complete darkness apart from the few hours a day they spent training with their handlers. To further enhance the dogs' eagerness for the kill, handlers forced them to run on a stationary treadmill with a weaker animal in front of them, but just out of reach. At the end of the exercise, the dogs were allowed to kill the animal as their reward.
During the course of a dog fight, the dogs were expected to fearlessly hurl themselves at their opponents without flinching or hesitation. If a dog turned away, it was viewed as a weakness and could be grounds for forfeit. Even if the hesitant animal was lucky enough to survive the encounter, he was still not out of the woods. Many handlers killed their own dogs because they believed a dog that hesitated even once could no longer be relied on to fight with the verve and tenacity the sport required.
When English immigrants came to America, their dogs came with them. Not surprisingly, dog fighting was common in America throughout the 19th century. However, as the immigrants traveled west, the pit bull took on a broader and more humane function. On the frontier, pit bulls assumed the role of an all-purpose dog. In addition to herding cattle and sheep they served as faithful guardians, protecting families and livestock from the ever-present threat of thieves and wild animals.
Despite their gallant history, pit bulls faced an uphill battle in gaining official recognition. The American Kennel Club was formed in 1884 for the sole purpose of promoting the interests of purebred dogs and their owners. To accomplish this, they sponsored events designed to test various breeds in the areas of performance and conformation.
Conformation events judge the dogs according to the breed standard - a pre-established set of guidelines that describe the most-highly valued physical characteristics of each breed. Performance events, on the other hand, test the dogs according to the function for which they were bred. Some of the more common performance categories include the working, sporting, and herding categories.
The performance events created an immediate problem for the pit bull since the function for which they were bred - fighting - was illegal. Furthermore, the AKC understandably refused to remotely endorse anything related to dog fighting.
In response to the AKC's unwillingness to include pit bulls as a bonafide breed, in 1898 an alternative group was formed - the UKC (United Kennel Club). The purpose of the UKC was to certify breeds that were not eligible for certification by the AKC. Not surprisingly, the UKC's charter member was the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Ultimately the AKC did recognize the pit bull in 1936, albeit under the designation of the Staffordshire Terrier, named after the region of England where the crossbreeding of bulldogs and terriers is thought to have begun. Today, the AKC continues to include the American Staffordshire Terrier in its registry, although ironically this has now developed into a breed that is distinct from its American Pit Bull Terrier cousin.
Over the years, the American Pit Bull Terrier has been a beloved symbol of Americana. In World War I, a pit bull named Stubby captured the heart of the nation. Stubby was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Division and was credited with saving the lives of several of his human comrades. For his valiant service, Stubby won several medals and was even awarded the rank of sergeant! He came home from the war to a hero's welcome and went on to become the mascot for Georgetown University.
Over the years, many famous Americans have owned pit bulls. Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson, John Steinbeck, Helen Keller, and Fred Astaire have all been proud to own dogs of this breed. The actor Ken Howard (the father on the TV show Crossing Jordan) even credits his pit bull with saving his life.
Pit bulls have crept in the hearts of Americans through a variety of ways. For years, RCA recording company looked to a pit bull as its corporate logo. Similarly, Buster Brown Shoes used a pit bull as the cornerstone of their marketing campaign.
A Pit bull is any of several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group.
American pit bull terrier
The American pit bull terrier is the product of interbreeding between terriers and a breed of bulldogs to produce a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog. These dogs were initially bred in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and arrived in the United States with immigrants from these countries. In the United States, these dogs were used as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Some have been selectively bred for their fighting prowess.
The United Kennel Club (UKC) was the first registry to recognize the American pit bull terrier. UKC founder C. Z. Bennett assigned UKC registration number 1 to his own dog, "Bennett's Ring", as an American pit bull terrier in 1898.
American pit bull terriers today successfully fill the role of companion dog, police dog, and therapy dog. Terriers in general have a higher tendency towards dog aggression[16] and American pit bull terriers constitute the majority of dogs used for illegal dog fighting in the United States. In addition, law enforcement organizations report these dogs are used for other nefarious purposes, such as guarding illegal narcotics operations, use against the police, and as weapons.
The fighting reputation of pit bull-type dogs led the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1996 to relabel pit bull terriers as "St. Francis terriers" (not associated with the "terrier" mascot of St. Francis College in New York) so that they might be more readily adopted; 60 temperament-screened dogs were adopted until the program was halted after several of the newly adopted dogs killed cats. The New York City Center for Animal Care and Control tried a similar approach in 2004 by relabeling their pit bull terriers as "New Yorkies", but dropped the idea in the face of overwhelming public opposition.
American Staffordshire terrier
The American Staffordshire terrier was the product of 19th century interbreeding between bulldogs and terriers that produced the "bull-and-terrier dog", "Half and Half", and at times "pit dog" or "pit bullterrier," the last named becoming the "Staffordshire bull terrier" in England. The bulldog of that time differed from the modern Bulldog, having a full muzzle and a long, tapering tail. There is some debate whether the White English terrier, the Black and Tan terrier, the Fox terrier or some combination thereof were used. These dogs began to find their way into America as early as 1870 where they became known as pit dog, pit bull terrier, later American bull terrier, and still later as Yankee terrier.They were imported primarily, but not exclusively, for pit fighting.
In 1936, they were accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as "Staffordshire terriers". The name of the breed was revised effective January 1, 1972, to "American Staffordshire terrier" since breeders in the United States had developed a type which is heavier in weight than the Staffordshire bull terrier of England and the name was changed to distinguish them as separate breeds.
Staffordshire bull terrier
The Staffordshire bull terrier had its beginnings in England many centuries ago when the bulldog and Mastiff were used for the sports of bull-baiting and bear-baiting; in the Elizabethan era, breeders produced large dogs for these sports but later on the 100–120 pound animal gave way to a small, more agile breed of up to 90 pounds.
The sport of dog fighting gained popularity in England in the early 19th century and a smaller, faster dog was developed. It was called by names such as "bulldog terrier" and "bull and terrier". The bulldog at that time was larger than the modern-day English bulldog we know today, weighing about 60 pounds. This dog was crossed with a small native terrier, related to the present-day Manchester terrier to produce the Staffordshire bull terrier weighing on average between 30 and 45 pounds.
James Hinks, in about 1859, crossed the Old pit bull terrier, now known as the Staffordshire bull terrier, and produced the all-white English bull terrier. The Kennel Club in Great Britain recognized the bull terrier in the last quarter of the 19th century, but the Staffordshire bull terrier's reputation as a fighting dog was such that The Kennel Club did not recognize the breed until 1935, a century after the sport of dog fighting became illegal in Great Britain under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835.
The Staffordshire bull terrier was admitted to registration in the AKC Stud Book effective October 1, 1974, with regular show classification in the Terrier Group at AKC shows available on and after March 5, 1975.
The ASPCA states that along with over-reporting, false reporting is a major contributor to public perceptions about the breed. At one time, the Pit Bull was a much loved, trustworthy companion. People who chose to train these dogs to fight are chiefly responsible for the banning and witch-hunting that has been sweeping the U.S. The media, however, should not go unmentioned, for it is also responsible for escalating isolated incidences in a relentless and attention-getting way. In a lot of cases when the media is reporting about a Pit Bull attacking, it is indeed not even a Pit Bull at all, but a mixed breed of some sort, or another bull breed all together.
Over the years, the American Pit Bull Terrier has been a beloved symbol of Americana. In World War I, a pit bull named Stubby captured the heart of the nation. Stubby was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Division and was credited with saving the lives of several of his human comrades. For his valiant service, Stubby won several medals and was even awarded the rank of sergeant! He came home from the war to a hero's welcome and went on to become the mascot for Georgetown University.
Over the years, many famous Americans have owned pit bulls. Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jack Dempsy, Thomas Edison,Jack Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, John Steinbeck, Helen Keller, and Fred Astaire have all been proud to own dogs of this breed. The actor Ken Howard (the father on the TV show Crossing Jordan) even credits his pit bull with saving his life.
Pit bulls have crept in the hearts of Americans through a variety of ways. For years, RCA recording company looked to a pit bull as its corporate logo. Similarly, Buster Brown Shoes used a pit bull as the cornerstone of their marketing campaign.
Pit Bulls excel in practically every canine task including herding, guarding, hunting, policing, cart pulling and ratting.
A True Story:
A man was out walking his Pitbull off lead through the woods. When the Pit turned and started walking off in a different direction the owner called the dog back to him. The dog didn't listen, he obviously had something on his mind. This was so uncharacteristic of this particular dog, who always followed his owner, always listened to every command, that the owner of the Pit decided he had better follow his dog to see where he was going. The Pitbull led him to a secluded part of the woods, where an autistic boy had gotten himself into a deep mud hole and could not get out. The Pit proceeded to walk right up to the boy and lick his face. This story was told to me by the father of the autistic child. He stated, "The dog saved my son's life that day. Had it not been for that Pitbull, we never would have found my son."
Pronunciation : Pit Bull Terrier
Description:
The Pit Bull immediately strikes one as being a dog of power, passion, and undying willingness. The brick-like head, which is especially broad between the cheeks (to house the powerful jaws), is carried upon a thickly muscled, well-defined neck. The neck runs into a deep, thick, well-sprung chest. The American Pit Bull is a very muscular, stocky, yet agile dog which is extremely strong for his size. The ears are generally cropped, though this is optional. Docked tails are not accepted by the UKC or the ADBA. The eyes are round. Both the ADBA and the UKC do not accept blue eyes or the coat color mearl. The American Pitbull Registry does accept a mearl coat. The teeth should form a scissors bite. Its coat is made up of thick, short, shiny hair. All colors are admissible. The tail tapers to a point.
Temperament:
The American Pit Bull Terrier has a strong pleasure to please. The APBT has evoked more human emotional, rational, and irrational response than any other breed that exists today. By no means are these dogs people-haters or people-eaters. Their natural aggressive tendencies are toward other dogs and animals, not people. However if they are properly socialized with a firm, but calm, confident, consistent pack leader, they will not even be aggressive with them. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet, which is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, it is always eager to please its master. It is an extremely courageous and intelligent guard dog that is very full of vitality. Highly protective of his owners and the owner's property, it will fight an enemy to the death. It is usually very friendly, but has an uncanny ability to know when it needs to protect and when everything is okay. The American Pit Bull Terrier can be willful with meek owners and needs a firm hand. They are generally okay with other pets if they are raised with them from puppy hood. Excellent with children in the family, they have a high pain tolerance and will happily put up with rough child play. As with any breed, they should not be left alone with unfamiliar children. When properly trained and socialized, this is a very good dog and a great family companion. Unfortunately, some choose to promote the fighting instinct in the breed, giving it a bad name.
Height, weight:
Height: 18-22 inches (46-56 cm)
Weight: 22 -110 pounds (10-50 kg)
Please Note: The APBT ranges in size from 22 pounds to 110 pounds (rare), with the most common being between 35 - 55 pounds (16-25 kg.), in fact the original APBT's were between 20 - 40 pounds (9-18 kg.) and were bred small for their main purpose, fighting, These dogs are varying from small to extra large. A very common misconception is that APBT's are muscle bound (viscous) hulks that weigh in around 85 pounds (39 kg.) and this is generally not the majority, Most of the APBT's that Are that large have been crossed with another breed.
Health Problems:
A generally healthy breed, although some are prone to hip dysplasia, hereditary cataracts, allergies to grass and congenital heart disease.
Living Conditions:
Pits will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are very active indoors and will do alright without a yard provided they get enough exercise. Prefers warm climates.
Exercise:
American Pit Bull Terriers must have plenty of regular exercise and need to be taken on long daily walks.
Life Expectancy:
About 12 years.
Litter Size:
Average of 5 - 10 puppies
Eskimo dogs
Alaskan malamutes
Labrador retrievers
Arctic Sled dogs
Alaskan huskies
Spaniels
Mastiffs- (used as guard dogs, they are common for severe and fatal attacks, but currently, the attacks have virtually disappeared)
Collies- (numerous severe attacks in the first few decades of 20th century)
Mix-breeds (IE Mutts and any dog that is unrecognizable to a breed)
St. Bernard- (sporadic episodes of severe, fatal aggression at the beginning of the 1900s and again in 1970s)
Fox terriers- (severe attacks to young children)
Boston terriers
Airedale terriers
The more popular a dog breed, the likelihood of an increased number of attacks by that dog breed.
Guess the dog breed in the following situations:
Drug agents drove to a house, suspecting an arrest. The suspects rushed out of the house, loosened and ordered their dogs to attack the officers.
A pack of dogs terrorize schoolchildren, chasing and biting three of them.
A police officer mounted on his horse shoots a dog attacking his horse.
Owner arrested for releasing and siccing his dog on a police officer.
Police officer was able to barricade an attacking dog inside his doghouse, but the dog tore through the wood and lunged at the officer, who had to shot the dog.
Dog shot twice after attacking 2 children and biting a police officer.
So, what type of dog was reported in each of those incidents?
Pit bull? .... No...
Rottweiler? ... No...
Poodle? ... No...
Mix-breed? ... No...
German Shepherd... Yes...
Media Reports
Media likes to portray dogs with human emotions, frequently being described as jealous, lonely, depressed, enraged, angry, and frustrated, but dog's do not have human emotions. Dogs don't think like humans. Dogs think in the here and now. So if you leave the dog at home alone for the day and come home to find your new shoes torn up; the dog didn't do it out of spite. They don't know or understand what spite is. The dog did it out of boredom and well your new shoes probably tasted good.
Here's a common story you may read in the paper or see on television:
"The beloved family pet, who never once showed signs of aggression viciously attacked the young 17 year daughter of Mr. John Doe. The girl, innocently rocking in the rocking chair, and calling the dogs name, never expected the dog to begin attacking her face, chest, and arms."
What you won't hear:
"The 17 year old was rocking in the rocking chair, when she accidentally rolled the leg of the rocker on the dogs paw. The dog went darting around the room in pain, and when the 17 year old called the dog, he responded by lunging at her."
That attack was out of pain, injury, and confusion. Not an innocent attack by a beloved family dog. It was a reaction to having his paw squished under a large wooden rocking chair.
This is a true story from 1897 of a Newfoundland.
Pit bulls and Media
The media has bashed the pit bull type dogs since the 1970s. Most reports claim that a pit bull was (1) bred to kill, (2) non-human aggressive, and (3) have locking jaws.
Well, they were bred to kill dogs, not people; human aggression and dog aggression are completely different types of dog aggression. One would not claim their dog food aggressive if the dog is only toy aggressive, so why would I claim a dog who is only dog aggressive as being human aggressive?
The pit bull type dog breeds, which include the American Pit Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Bulldog, and any dog that may resemble a Pit Bull, were never bred for human aggression. Even in the height of dog fighting, dogs that showed signs of human aggression were culled from the breeding programs, meaning they were either put down or just removed from the breeding program but still kept as a pet.
Pit bull type dogs are built like any other dog, but with the frequent reports of, "the pit bull locked his jaws around the child's neck," the most common myth "pit bulls" have locking jaws arises. In actuality, studies show that with most pit bull type dogs, have stronger jaw muscles than other breeds, but they're jaws cannot possible lock in place.
It is the intent of the media to report just about every dog fighting raid, police raid, and pit bull seizures, to attempt to further the bad reputation of the breed. This (1) makes people believe that these types of dogs are the only dogs attacking and have to ability to be aggressive and (2) furthers the fear of the breeds.
What's sad is that, statistically speaking, the American Pit Bull Terrier is the least likely dog breed to bite, and the Cocker Spaniel is the most likely dog breed to attack.
Another sad note is that because "pit bull" is commonly the term to group dogs of a fighting background, the American Pit Bull Terrier is the most common dog breed that is hit with the wrath of irresponsible dog owners, as APBT contains "pit" and "bull."
You commonly see pit bull type dogs with gangsters, mobsters, drug lords, and other rough and violent people. Do you see them with portrayed in the homes of teachers, CEOs, or the elderly? Unfortunately, not so often.
Recently, with the Old Navy commercial featuring the blue American Pit Bull Terrier puppies, have hopefully shown people that these dogs are not vicious by nature, because otherwise these cute, innocent puppies would be attacking the actors. Before that, the last time one has really seen a friendly, family APBT was in "The Little Rascals."
I mean come on, even Steven King used a pit bull type dog in the "Cujo" book. How scary is it to see a large rabid dog chasing after you, much less if that dog is a rabid pit bull type dog? Pretty scary, if you ask me.
Even PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) , the world's advocate for animal rights, is the main organization setting fear in the eyes of people in regards to pit bull type dogs. I'm not saying that these dogs don't fatally attack, because they do, but there's no need to single out a group of dogs, collectively known as "pit bull." PETA is the main organization pushing for breed bans. They're the ones with the vicious pit bull posters. A simple Google search turned up the following from PETA’s website:
We…support pit bull bans, as long as they include a grandfather clause allowing all living dogs who are already in good homes and well cared for to live the remainder of their lives safely and peacefully.
And so what does this stance result in? Lots and lots of innocent, dead dogs. Breed bans always result in high kill rates in shelters and in animal controls due to owner surrenders and confiscations. Not to mention, if PETA are the ones defining what is a “good home” for “pit bulls” there will likely be very few homes that will qualify.
But then breed bans seem to fit in nicely with PETA’s agenda:
In the end, I think it would be lovely if we stopped this whole notion of pets altogether. Ingrid Newkirk, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Newsday, Feb. 21, 1988.
Let us allow the dog to disappear from our brick and concrete jungles–from our firesides, from the leather nooses and chains by which we enslave it. John Bryant, Fettered Kingdoms: An Examination of A Changing Ethic Washington People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 1982, p. 15.
Why can’t PETA simply say they advocate for breed bans because they don’t think anyone should own domestic pets? Isn’t that the truth? And let’s not forget that PETA, along with the Humane Society of the United States, was pushing for all of Michael Vick’s former fighting dogs to be killed, which was widely reported in the media, including even Sports Illustrated who reported that,
The Humane Society of the U.S., agreeing with PETA, took the position that Michael Vick’s pit bulls, like all dogs saved from fight rings, were beyond rehabilitation and that trying to save them was a misappropriation of time and money. “The cruelty they’ve suffered is such that they can’t lead what anyone who loves dogs would consider a normal life,” says PETA spokesman Dan Shannon. “We feel it’s better that they have their suffering ended once and for all.”
However, according to the Washington Post, “Of the 49 [Vick] pit bulls animal behavior experts evaluated in the fall, only one was deemed too vicious to warrant saving and was euthanized.” And in fact, these dogs did go on to be rehabilitated. Many were fostered and even adopted out, while still others appeared in the National Geographic show Dog Town. And yet given this glaring error (if indeed it was an error) on the parts of PETA and the HSUS, the mainstream media still cites them as an expert source, as if these organizations had any sort of credibility whatsoever.
Yes, they bite. Yes, they kill. Yes, it happens. But it also happens in regards to labs, retrievers, terriers, and other "family dog breeds."
Dog Attack Statistics in Regards to "pit bulls"
In the 20th century there were over 450 reports of severe dog attacks in the United States, and none of them were caused by pit bull type dogs.
The media, being single minded, puts on their blinders, so to speak in regards to the pit bull. Think about it... From 2002-2005, there were 11 fatal dog attacks. 0 out of those 11 dogs featured pit bull type characteristics, but the media claimed each a pit bull attack. The media never once reported the true breeds of these dogs.
According to the CDC, Center for Disease Control, over about 20 years, 66 fatalities caused by dog attacks were attributed to pit bull type dogs. 66 in 20 years!
Many people use this statistic to claim the pit bull type dogs are the most dangerous thing or dog, just because it has more fatalities than other dog breeds. Well, in actuality, in regards to children, the most dangerous factor is not a pit bull type dog but fathers, as the majority of child deaths is caused by physical abuse by fathers or father- figures.
You can't believe everything you hear from a politician's mouth or from a news reporter. The media is skewed.
10-20 pit bull type dogs cause fatal attacks, but tens or thousands are loved family pets... Look at those numbers... 10 versus 10,000
Every time you hear it on the news or any type of media, doesn't mean that particular attack was truly caused by a pit bull type dog. In many cases the initial report assumes pit bull type dog, and when the results claim the dog as another type of dog, there is never a retraction.
Otherwise, you'll see the headline "Pit bulls attack child of 8" but if you continue reading, you'll notice that the real dogs that attacked were American Bulldog or some other bulldog breed. It just doesn't sound the same to read a headline as "American Bulldogs attack child of 8."
Pit bull type dogs can and do attack people and other animals, but you have to consider that not every dog attack is caused by a pit bull type dog and not every pit bull type dog will attack.
Also, do take into account that it can be hard for the average person to properly ID a dog, so many statistics even the CDC dog statistics can be inaccurate.
The common characteristics that lead people to believe that a dog is a "pit bull" includes medium to large sized body, short hair, muscular, broad chest, and wide- square head. There are so many dogs that, also, fall into these traits. Mastiffs, Rottweilers, American Bulldogs, and English Bulldogs, are just a few breeds with these traits, and none are considered of the "pit bull" class. These traits are usually those that determine that the stray that attacked your nephew was a pit bull type dog.
Characteristics that can lead dog attacks:
A combination of the following characteristics can cause a dog to attack in many different situations.
Intact male dog.
Female in heat.
Dogs used for guard and protection purposes.
Malnourished dogs.
Untrained and poorly socialized dogs.
Poor breeding- inbred, over bred, etc.
Abuse and mistreatment.
Fear.
Unsanitary living quarters, which can lead to health issues.
Harassment.
Any dog breed can attack. Any dog breed will attack. Any dog breed can kill.
Proper socialization and training is the key. Don't be a poor pet owner or an ignorant soul. There is more than one dog breed that attacks and kills.
Take off the blinders and open your heart. One day the American Pit Bull Terrier will be reshaped as the feared dogs of the past once were. One day, they'll be beloved and cherished again.
Time changes. People change. Our past proves that alone, as the most feared dog in American was once a loved family pet and war hero.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a wonderful dog, well-known for its intelligence, strength, and loyalty. In recent years, the breed has been unfairly villanized as overly aggressive and dangerous. While the pit bull does indeed possess a feisty and spirited character, the history of the breed reveals a much more complex tapestry of temperament and personality.
Like many modern breeds, it is impossible to be completely sure of the details of the American Pit Bull Terrier's long history. However, many pit bull enthusiasts believe the origins of the breed can be traced back to antiquity and the Molossian family of dogs. The Molossian family of dogs bears the name of the people with whom they were most often associated - the Molossi tribe, a group of people who lived in ancient Greece and favored the use of robust, muscular dogs in warfare. Officially termed canus molossi (dogs of the Molossi), these animals were renowned for their fierceness, and for their innate ability to intimidate the enemies of the tribe.
During this same time period, it is also believed that the Molossian dogs were used for other purposes. In fact, early Phoenician traders may even have used the Molossians as a bargaining item in their commercial transactions.
The Molossians gave rise to another family of dogs known as the Mastiffs. The early Britons employed a variation of the Mastiffs as pugnaces - fighting dogs that could be used in either a guardianship or warfare capacity. When the Roman emperor Claudius defeated the Briton Chief Caractacus in 50 AD, the powerful pugnaces piqued his interest. He quickly seized on the opportunity and began exporting select quantities of the dogs back home to satiate his countrymen's appetite for entertainment in the arenas and coliseums of Rome.
Once in Rome, the British dogs were crossbred with their Roman counterparts. From the years 50 AD to 410 AD, the breed was widely disseminated throughout the Roman Empire for use as fighting dogs. Along the way they mixed with other indigenous breeds throughout Europe, creating a genetic melting pot for the bulldogs that are thought to have been the immediate antecedents of the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Sadly, the Romans would not be the last to use pit bulls in cruel and grisly blood sports. When the Normans invaded England in 1066, they introduced a new sport called baiting. Interestingly enough, baiting originated with butchers who kept dogs (called Bullenbeissers) to handle unruly bulls as they were herded to the market for slaughter. When a bull stepped out of line or exhibited uncontrollable behavior, the dogs would clamp down on its nose and simply hang on until the handler could regain control of the wayward animal.
Like most dog owners, the butchers were proud of their canine companions and their stubborn tenacity in dealing with the much larger, and potentially dangerous bulls. Consequently, pubic displays were arranged to showcase the dogs' abilities and, quite frankly, to appease the multitudes that attended baiting events for their entertainment value.
By the 16th century, nearly every town in England had its own baiting ring. The popularity of baiting events was unparalleled at the time, as was their ability to draw spectators from every level of society. Their popularity was further enhanced by the misguided perception that prolonged torture ensured the tenderness of the meat.
In baiting events, no more than one or two dogs were unleashed on the bull. They were trained to unrelentingly harass the bulls until they collapsed from fatigue, their injuries, or both. These episodes lasted for prolonged periods, sometimes as long as three or four hours. Eventually, the public's grew bored with bulls and introduced a creative flair to the sport, baiting dogs with bears, boars, horses, and even monkeys!
In 1406, Edmond de Langley - the Duke of York - produced a short treatise for Henry IV entitled, "The Master of the Game and of Hawks." In it, he described a descendent of the ancient Mastiffs that he called the "Alaunt", the most commonly used baiting dog of the era. A 1585 painting of the Alaunts hunting wild boar portrayed lean, muscular animals with profound similarities to the dogs we know as pit bulls.
Baiting was made illegal by the British parliament in 1835. However, this legislation did little to satiate the public's desire to watch the spectacle of dogs in fighting sports. As a result, their attention turned to a variety of other pursuits such as ratting - a practice in which a dog was thrown in a pit with a varying number of rats. The dogs raced against the clock and each other to determine which one could kill the most rats in the shortest period of time. The "pit" in pit bulls comes from the fact that ratting occurred in a pit that kept the rats from escaping.
Ultimately the public's fickle gaze fell on the sport of dog fighting, primarily because it could be more easily hidden from the prying eyes of the law than baiting and other fighting sports. Since dog fighting required smaller and more agile animals than the ones that were used in baiting, fighting bulldogs were bred with terriers who were known for their feistiness and indefatigable focus. The result was the bull-and-terrier, more commonly known as the first pit bull terrier - a muscular, canine gladiator bred specifically for combat with other dogs.
As you can imagine, dog fighting was an extremely cruel and sadistic pursuit. The canine combatants were put through a rigorous training process depriving them of normal contact with humans and instilling in them an intense desire to spill the blood of their opponents. It was not unusual for these dogs to be fed a diet of blood and raw meat, and to be kept in complete darkness apart from the few hours a day they spent training with their handlers. To further enhance the dogs' eagerness for the kill, handlers forced them to run on a stationary treadmill with a weaker animal in front of them, but just out of reach. At the end of the exercise, the dogs were allowed to kill the animal as their reward.
During the course of a dog fight, the dogs were expected to fearlessly hurl themselves at their opponents without flinching or hesitation. If a dog turned away, it was viewed as a weakness and could be grounds for forfeit. Even if the hesitant animal was lucky enough to survive the encounter, he was still not out of the woods. Many handlers killed their own dogs because they believed a dog that hesitated even once could no longer be relied on to fight with the verve and tenacity the sport required.
When English immigrants came to America, their dogs came with them. Not surprisingly, dog fighting was common in America throughout the 19th century. However, as the immigrants traveled west, the pit bull took on a broader and more humane function. On the frontier, pit bulls assumed the role of an all-purpose dog. In addition to herding cattle and sheep they served as faithful guardians, protecting families and livestock from the ever-present threat of thieves and wild animals.
Despite their gallant history, pit bulls faced an uphill battle in gaining official recognition. The American Kennel Club was formed in 1884 for the sole purpose of promoting the interests of purebred dogs and their owners. To accomplish this, they sponsored events designed to test various breeds in the areas of performance and conformation.
Conformation events judge the dogs according to the breed standard - a pre-established set of guidelines that describe the most-highly valued physical characteristics of each breed. Performance events, on the other hand, test the dogs according to the function for which they were bred. Some of the more common performance categories include the working, sporting, and herding categories.
The performance events created an immediate problem for the pit bull since the function for which they were bred - fighting - was illegal. Furthermore, the AKC understandably refused to remotely endorse anything related to dog fighting.
In response to the AKC's unwillingness to include pit bulls as a bonafide breed, in 1898 an alternative group was formed - the UKC (United Kennel Club). The purpose of the UKC was to certify breeds that were not eligible for certification by the AKC. Not surprisingly, the UKC's charter member was the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Ultimately the AKC did recognize the pit bull in 1936, albeit under the designation of the Staffordshire Terrier, named after the region of England where the crossbreeding of bulldogs and terriers is thought to have begun. Today, the AKC continues to include the American Staffordshire Terrier in its registry, although ironically this has now developed into a breed that is distinct from its American Pit Bull Terrier cousin.
Over the years, the American Pit Bull Terrier has been a beloved symbol of Americana. In World War I, a pit bull named Stubby captured the heart of the nation. Stubby was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Division and was credited with saving the lives of several of his human comrades. For his valiant service, Stubby won several medals and was even awarded the rank of sergeant! He came home from the war to a hero's welcome and went on to become the mascot for Georgetown University.
Over the years, many famous Americans have owned pit bulls. Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson, John Steinbeck, Helen Keller, and Fred Astaire have all been proud to own dogs of this breed. The actor Ken Howard (the father on the TV show Crossing Jordan) even credits his pit bull with saving his life.
Pit bulls have crept in the hearts of Americans through a variety of ways. For years, RCA recording company looked to a pit bull as its corporate logo. Similarly, Buster Brown Shoes used a pit bull as the cornerstone of their marketing campaign.
A Pit bull is any of several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group.
American pit bull terrier
The American pit bull terrier is the product of interbreeding between terriers and a breed of bulldogs to produce a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog. These dogs were initially bred in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and arrived in the United States with immigrants from these countries. In the United States, these dogs were used as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Some have been selectively bred for their fighting prowess.
The United Kennel Club (UKC) was the first registry to recognize the American pit bull terrier. UKC founder C. Z. Bennett assigned UKC registration number 1 to his own dog, "Bennett's Ring", as an American pit bull terrier in 1898.
American pit bull terriers today successfully fill the role of companion dog, police dog, and therapy dog. Terriers in general have a higher tendency towards dog aggression[16] and American pit bull terriers constitute the majority of dogs used for illegal dog fighting in the United States. In addition, law enforcement organizations report these dogs are used for other nefarious purposes, such as guarding illegal narcotics operations, use against the police, and as weapons.
The fighting reputation of pit bull-type dogs led the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1996 to relabel pit bull terriers as "St. Francis terriers" (not associated with the "terrier" mascot of St. Francis College in New York) so that they might be more readily adopted; 60 temperament-screened dogs were adopted until the program was halted after several of the newly adopted dogs killed cats. The New York City Center for Animal Care and Control tried a similar approach in 2004 by relabeling their pit bull terriers as "New Yorkies", but dropped the idea in the face of overwhelming public opposition.
American Staffordshire terrier
The American Staffordshire terrier was the product of 19th century interbreeding between bulldogs and terriers that produced the "bull-and-terrier dog", "Half and Half", and at times "pit dog" or "pit bullterrier," the last named becoming the "Staffordshire bull terrier" in England. The bulldog of that time differed from the modern Bulldog, having a full muzzle and a long, tapering tail. There is some debate whether the White English terrier, the Black and Tan terrier, the Fox terrier or some combination thereof were used. These dogs began to find their way into America as early as 1870 where they became known as pit dog, pit bull terrier, later American bull terrier, and still later as Yankee terrier.They were imported primarily, but not exclusively, for pit fighting.
In 1936, they were accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as "Staffordshire terriers". The name of the breed was revised effective January 1, 1972, to "American Staffordshire terrier" since breeders in the United States had developed a type which is heavier in weight than the Staffordshire bull terrier of England and the name was changed to distinguish them as separate breeds.
Staffordshire bull terrier
The Staffordshire bull terrier had its beginnings in England many centuries ago when the bulldog and Mastiff were used for the sports of bull-baiting and bear-baiting; in the Elizabethan era, breeders produced large dogs for these sports but later on the 100–120 pound animal gave way to a small, more agile breed of up to 90 pounds.
The sport of dog fighting gained popularity in England in the early 19th century and a smaller, faster dog was developed. It was called by names such as "bulldog terrier" and "bull and terrier". The bulldog at that time was larger than the modern-day English bulldog we know today, weighing about 60 pounds. This dog was crossed with a small native terrier, related to the present-day Manchester terrier to produce the Staffordshire bull terrier weighing on average between 30 and 45 pounds.
James Hinks, in about 1859, crossed the Old pit bull terrier, now known as the Staffordshire bull terrier, and produced the all-white English bull terrier. The Kennel Club in Great Britain recognized the bull terrier in the last quarter of the 19th century, but the Staffordshire bull terrier's reputation as a fighting dog was such that The Kennel Club did not recognize the breed until 1935, a century after the sport of dog fighting became illegal in Great Britain under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835.
The Staffordshire bull terrier was admitted to registration in the AKC Stud Book effective October 1, 1974, with regular show classification in the Terrier Group at AKC shows available on and after March 5, 1975.
The ASPCA states that along with over-reporting, false reporting is a major contributor to public perceptions about the breed. At one time, the Pit Bull was a much loved, trustworthy companion. People who chose to train these dogs to fight are chiefly responsible for the banning and witch-hunting that has been sweeping the U.S. The media, however, should not go unmentioned, for it is also responsible for escalating isolated incidences in a relentless and attention-getting way. In a lot of cases when the media is reporting about a Pit Bull attacking, it is indeed not even a Pit Bull at all, but a mixed breed of some sort, or another bull breed all together.
Over the years, the American Pit Bull Terrier has been a beloved symbol of Americana. In World War I, a pit bull named Stubby captured the heart of the nation. Stubby was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Division and was credited with saving the lives of several of his human comrades. For his valiant service, Stubby won several medals and was even awarded the rank of sergeant! He came home from the war to a hero's welcome and went on to become the mascot for Georgetown University.
Over the years, many famous Americans have owned pit bulls. Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jack Dempsy, Thomas Edison,Jack Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, John Steinbeck, Helen Keller, and Fred Astaire have all been proud to own dogs of this breed. The actor Ken Howard (the father on the TV show Crossing Jordan) even credits his pit bull with saving his life.
Pit bulls have crept in the hearts of Americans through a variety of ways. For years, RCA recording company looked to a pit bull as its corporate logo. Similarly, Buster Brown Shoes used a pit bull as the cornerstone of their marketing campaign.
Pit Bulls excel in practically every canine task including herding, guarding, hunting, policing, cart pulling and ratting.
A True Story:
A man was out walking his Pitbull off lead through the woods. When the Pit turned and started walking off in a different direction the owner called the dog back to him. The dog didn't listen, he obviously had something on his mind. This was so uncharacteristic of this particular dog, who always followed his owner, always listened to every command, that the owner of the Pit decided he had better follow his dog to see where he was going. The Pitbull led him to a secluded part of the woods, where an autistic boy had gotten himself into a deep mud hole and could not get out. The Pit proceeded to walk right up to the boy and lick his face. This story was told to me by the father of the autistic child. He stated, "The dog saved my son's life that day. Had it not been for that Pitbull, we never would have found my son."
Pronunciation : Pit Bull Terrier
Description:
The Pit Bull immediately strikes one as being a dog of power, passion, and undying willingness. The brick-like head, which is especially broad between the cheeks (to house the powerful jaws), is carried upon a thickly muscled, well-defined neck. The neck runs into a deep, thick, well-sprung chest. The American Pit Bull is a very muscular, stocky, yet agile dog which is extremely strong for his size. The ears are generally cropped, though this is optional. Docked tails are not accepted by the UKC or the ADBA. The eyes are round. Both the ADBA and the UKC do not accept blue eyes or the coat color mearl. The American Pitbull Registry does accept a mearl coat. The teeth should form a scissors bite. Its coat is made up of thick, short, shiny hair. All colors are admissible. The tail tapers to a point.
Temperament:
The American Pit Bull Terrier has a strong pleasure to please. The APBT has evoked more human emotional, rational, and irrational response than any other breed that exists today. By no means are these dogs people-haters or people-eaters. Their natural aggressive tendencies are toward other dogs and animals, not people. However if they are properly socialized with a firm, but calm, confident, consistent pack leader, they will not even be aggressive with them. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet, which is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, it is always eager to please its master. It is an extremely courageous and intelligent guard dog that is very full of vitality. Highly protective of his owners and the owner's property, it will fight an enemy to the death. It is usually very friendly, but has an uncanny ability to know when it needs to protect and when everything is okay. The American Pit Bull Terrier can be willful with meek owners and needs a firm hand. They are generally okay with other pets if they are raised with them from puppy hood. Excellent with children in the family, they have a high pain tolerance and will happily put up with rough child play. As with any breed, they should not be left alone with unfamiliar children. When properly trained and socialized, this is a very good dog and a great family companion. Unfortunately, some choose to promote the fighting instinct in the breed, giving it a bad name.
Height, weight:
Height: 18-22 inches (46-56 cm)
Weight: 22 -110 pounds (10-50 kg)
Please Note: The APBT ranges in size from 22 pounds to 110 pounds (rare), with the most common being between 35 - 55 pounds (16-25 kg.), in fact the original APBT's were between 20 - 40 pounds (9-18 kg.) and were bred small for their main purpose, fighting, These dogs are varying from small to extra large. A very common misconception is that APBT's are muscle bound (viscous) hulks that weigh in around 85 pounds (39 kg.) and this is generally not the majority, Most of the APBT's that Are that large have been crossed with another breed.
Health Problems:
A generally healthy breed, although some are prone to hip dysplasia, hereditary cataracts, allergies to grass and congenital heart disease.
Living Conditions:
Pits will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are very active indoors and will do alright without a yard provided they get enough exercise. Prefers warm climates.
Exercise:
American Pit Bull Terriers must have plenty of regular exercise and need to be taken on long daily walks.
Life Expectancy:
About 12 years.
Litter Size:
Average of 5 - 10 puppies
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1 comment:
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