It is a foolish practice, but dog fighting and any time of neglect or cruelity to a animal is in my opinion. But Ive seen it too many times to count. Bait dogs need to be restrained so they cannot do too much damage to the dog in training. This not only helps with protecting the dog while it tears into its 'bait', but also gives the dog confidence when it can't fight back.<br /> And I disagree. The only reason the well organized and "Professional" dog fighting rings don't use bait dogs because most of the dogs that get thrown in a pit there are already trained for fighting, and dont need to be baited anymore.<br /> But I guarantee any trained fighter has been baited with a dog before it goes in the ring. How do you think they are trained? They need to have no doubt they'll fight for real before they go in any ring. Say a puppy or a dog is aggressive, but not always in for an all out fight with another dog. That needs to be taught to them, and bait dogs is how they do it. My uncles is still a dog fighter, unfortunately, and he is part of one of the biggest and organized fighting rings up north from where I live now. I mean, they only deal in very high stakes there, and only proven fighters can fight in their ring. He baits his dogs when he gets a fresh puppy to train.<br /> <br /> And like I said, they use dogs to bait that are the same size or up to 50 pounds bigger than the dog in training. So it wouldnt be like a 7 year old beating up Muhammed Ali. It would be like putting a 55 pound pitty up against a 85 pound handicapped boxer that cant get a lick in.

That doesn't really sound like dog-fighting, that sounds like a couple fools with a sadistic streak for animal abuse.<br /> Also, "bait dogs" aren't used up in the more "professional" dogfighting rings.<br /> It would be like "training" a boxer like Muhammed Ali by getting him to beat up a 7 year old.

I agree to some extent that not all dogs can be fought, some breeds are just not cut out. However, Ive seen alot more breeds in a pit than the breeds you've listed, Cat Steaks. One of the worst fights included a fight between a mostly blue tick coon hound mixed dog, and a golden retriever. Everyone was laughing at the guys that brought those dogs in, but in the end, it was a very bloody fight between those two, and the golden won. The coon hound barely made it to the table to be stitched up, he was so horribly eaten up. Other dogs Ive seen in the pit are Alalpaha Blue Blood Bulldogs, Neopolitan Matiffs, Regular Masiffs, Dobermans, Shepherds, Dog/wolf Hybrids, Red Bone Hounds, Blood Hounds, and Irish Wolf Hounds. Ive seen alot of mutts too. I mean, no, not every dog is cut out for it, but theres alot of breeds other than what were first used to fight in the pits these days. Ive seen it first hand.<br /> (edited this in the middle here cuz I forgot a clear point that should be in here.) Also, Dog fighters dont just abuse their fighting dogs. Many dogs get used as bait to teach these dogs to fight. They do not descriminate on the breed here. Ive seen chihuahuas, shih zus, pom mixes, dashund mixes, pugs, beagles and english bulldogs as the most common smaller breeds to help train puppies how to fight. Ive seen poodles, shiba inus, huskies, alaskan malamutes, pits, labs, fox hounds, american bulldogs, bull terriers, great danes, and many other full bloods, as well as a bunch of mutts get hog tied and thrown to a dog(mostly the bigger dogs like the american bulldogs and great danes, and the one mastiff pup I saw it happen to once get this treatment), or get boxed in a yard, room, shed, basement, or cage with its muzzle tapped or tied shut while the person encouraged its fighter in training to tear into it. Bait dogs are a necessity when training the dogs to fight and to get that taste for blood. Most of these dogs are strays picked up, or stolen to be used as such, and thrown away when they are dead or useless to them. So the abuse doesnt stop with just the dogs that are used to fight, but with those used to teach them to fight as well. Any breed of dog can be used as bait, it just depends on really how big the breed of fighting dog is. Normally, they use either a bait dog that is the same size to the dog they train, or up to 50 pounds bigger than the dog they train depending. Of course, this also varies from the age they train at, and the breed of dog they fight, and the dog they can get their hands on to use for bait.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> And tell the truth, its pretty easy to train any dog that exhibits certain behaviors from a pup to fight. It has to be certain behaviors and mind set though, like a fierce temper and aggression towards other creatures or even over an object of some kind. That paired with stubborness and determination(at the least) can make a good fighting dog. However, other factors go in, most fighters weigh at least 35 pounds and up, and they need to take pain, or just get mad enough when they are in pain to keep fighting. My dog, Koga, whom is a German Shephard/Black Mouth Curr mix, had all these attributes plus some already when I got him at 5 weeks, well without being 35 pounds that is. I had several known dog fighters in my neighborhood wanting him as a pup because he was so darn aggressive. He even got stolen at 3 months by one, and I had to go get him back by force. Today Koga is a little under 2 years old, is great with kids and other dogs, and loves cats. He is a trained attack dog, but at the same time he barely is as aggressive as he was. I shutter to think what would have happened to him and how he would be now if I wouldn't have been able to get him back. He would have been out right vicious. It took alot of training to get him where he is now, but hes a good boy and would make a lousy fighter at this point. Im glad for that.

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Dog fighters stick to the breeds that were bred to fight, or else they could go and grab up any ol' black lab and fight them.<br /> <br /> @JadeRavenWolf, the American Pit Bull Terrier didn't come from Ireland, it's ancestors did - and it's ancestors did participate in bull-baiting, ratting, and dog-fighting.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>EDIT:</b> Dogs that were or are bred for dog-fighting or dog-on-animal are:<br /> Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, any other terrier breed (ratting and the like), Shar Pei, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino, Patterdale Terrier, Kangal Dog, Central Asian Ovtcharka, Bully Kutta, Old English Bulldog, Presa Canario, Gull Terr, Akita Inu, Fila Brasileiro, Ca de Bou, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, etc<br /> <br /> These are all breeds that were fine-tuned to be good fighters, and thus it wouldn't make sense for an animal abuser to simply fight "any breed".

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Like what Kyyte said dog fighters will fight practically any dog.<br /> That is the practice with most in this 'sport' or 'profession' (Which it is no longer).<br /> <br /> Real pit dog men, ones now of the past (never liked referring themselves as dog fighters usually because those were the amateurs out only for the money), would only fight pit bulls because they had the temperament and most other dogs can't handle the stress and will break. Over time when it was legal that's what the dogs were bred for, they never used to use blood baiting, harming the dog if it wouldn't fight or dropping them off if the dog wasn't a good fighter, they used to just retire them in their home or give them to a person who felt strongly about them.<br /> <br /> Did getting rid of the rules and making fighting illegal stop it? No, so what makes people think banning a dog or making illegal would stop anyone from owning it? Banning also hurts a lot more than just pit bulls and their owners but also other dogs like boxers cause they also have a lot of the same characteristics that the ban describes. The ban not only lists specific breeds but also dogs that fit the description.<br /> My mom used to have a coyote shepherd mix, at the time it was illegal to own them but she didn't know. When she was getting her tags the person told her that they didn't hear the word coyote due to the fact they would end up having to put the dog down. Well her dog was raised right, helped raise my bigger brother and used to be around when me and my sister were younger. She had to be put down because of hip displasia.<br /> She used to protect us from our neighbors wrongly raised pit type dog (who the kid trained to attack on command and would always try to sick it on my family. So yes there are horribly raised, misbred and abused dogs but also very good examples of dogs that are part illegal breeds. It is also an example that bans don't always work in favor for everyone.<br /> <br /> If the leash laws, muzzle and other laws were kept in effect like they are supposed to there would be less problems.<br /> Also if they want it more restrictive they could even try to pass laws on people taking classes on good pet owner ship, possibly nutrition and such would be fine, but if you ban an animal everywhere and fix all the other pets...there won't be anymore companion animals or pets and domestication would have to start all over again, thousands of years, and a large amount of types of animals.

Actually, from what Ive seen, banning doesn't help with dog fighting. It just gives dog fighters a better reason to hide and stash their dogs more, which is common practice in the profession anyway. <br /> <br /> Banning them instead of just cracking down harder on cruel or irresponsible owners is just a bad idea. It wont really stop them from owning the dogs. Do you know how many people own pitbulls in Miami Fl, even with the ban thats been there for over a decade? Im sure you can't really put an accurate stat on it, since they keep their dogs under wraps, but alot do.<br /> <br /> If you ban one dog breed, you should ban them all then. Its not just pits in the ring, or pits being abused and neglected. Dog fighters will fight alot of different dogs in what Ive seen personally. And all breeds suffer from cruelity somewhere, not just pitbulls

I don't know much about this issue but isn't banning them somewhat good for the breed? It takes them out of people's hands that can't control the breed or will do harm with them. While it isn't ideal for those that love the breed and know how to handle them, I can't help but see some good in them being banned. Granted it doesn't mean it stops ALL the people that would otherwise abuse them but it's something. <br /> <br /> I'm more of an unbiased opinion because I don't have much of an opinion either way about pit bulls. Its not the type of dog I care to own but I don't dislike them either. *shrugs*

I agree with you Kyyte, every dog can be a danger and all must be handled with respect.<br /> <br /> There was a pit bull with the good citizens award and was able to be run off leash when he jogged with his owner for that reason. One day the dog was acting a little strange and run off into the woods, his owner fallowed and tried to get his dog back until he noticed his dog found a kid (i believe he had a mental illness and either ran away or was found in quicksand, I can't remember anymore). <br /> <br /> Another dog that is a good example of the breed is Sergeant Stubby, the most decorated war dog of WW1, he saved his patrol many a time. He was promoted to Sergeant through combat.<br /> <br /> One of the problems my brother's pit had when he got her was she would nip, she no longer does and is very well mannered now, though she still needs a little work cause she can be a little rough with other dogs at time, but she's still in training.<br /> <br /> Now on the fact of worst bites, my mom got a worst bite from a cat that was almost two, little under six inches and an ounce or two under two pounds with her collar, the cats jaws were so weak she couldn't even eat dry food. We had to pry her off, talk about 'lock jaw'. Her worst dog bite which got highly infected, even with treatment, was from a mutt whom was at the vets, got out (don't know how I wasn't there) and tried to take off running, he was a fear biter (she didn't even know) so when my mom caught him before he got into the road he bit her hand all the way to the bone and about half way through her palm. No pit in it.<br /> My sister (not being smart) stuck her hand in a small dogs cage whom was cage aggressive, it was a boston terrier, ever since she's been somewhat scared of dogs and unsure, I believe she still has a scar from it.<br /> My worst dog bite was from my mom's current dog, who has no pit in his blood, but is a great Pyrenees mix.When he was a pup he jumped up and grabbed my hand, while I was fixing food, and latched onto my thumb and wouldn't let go, my hand didn't stop bleeding for an hour or two. Now he doesn't bite unless threatened or someone's a danger (though he hasn't bit anyone outside of me or my mom, but he's gone through some training and is rather mellow now), but I never say he wouldn't hurt a fly(he tries to eat them).<br /> <br /> But the best dogs I've known and never had a problem with was strays, pit bulls and pit bull mixes.

As an avid Pitbull fan, I must put in what I think here. <br /> As a young child growing up in a city and neighborhood where dog fighting was very very common, I started off loving these dogs, whether they were Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Am Staffs, or American Pitbull Terriers. My uncle was a dog fighter, and he would take me to the fights to learn about it. (Yes, unfortunately, people who fight dogs or chickens are often integrating it into young minds, so its actually common to see children at a dog or roosterfight.) I saw first hand from the age of 7 about this cruelety, and I do have to thank my uncle for introducing me to it, even though I strongly disagree with his choices for fighting his dogs. From that age, I would take losers home to my house and nurse them back to health beside my own pets. I cannot stress how horrid it is. However, I learned about the behaviors, and about rehabilitating through trial and error, and had alot of success stories, even with veteran fighting dogs. However, I also learned alot being around my uncles dogs, and the differences between how he trained his dogs, and how most fighters were trained. His dogs would only attack another dog on command in an african language, and were never on chains, but in the house or yard together all the time.(His grand champion fighter, El Nino, was by far one of the best trained and loving pits Ive ever met, and he has a special place in my heart.) He really helped me with the rescues too, and would take over if the dog was too hard to handle, or too far gone.<br /> <br /> So, as you can see, I love these dogs. I will not say they arent dangerous, but any dog can be. Ive been attacked by a neighbors pitbull, and by far she left me with the smallest scar Ive ever had with a dog. I have a permanent scar on my face by a minpin, as well as other scars by several dogs, but the worst was my own Black Labrador a few years ago. He attacked me while playing ball with him one day, and left me with deep scars from my shoulder down to my wrist, and down my thigh to my ankle. If it weren't for his flawless obedience with his commands, I may have not lived with how severe he had me. <br /> <br /> Anyway, my answer to the debate is this: No, no type of pitbull, or domesticated animal should be banned. Theres a reason they are domesticated in the first place. Pitbulls, though with such a bad rep, are proven to be good dogs alot of the time. Yes, you must take precaution with any dog, especially pits, from a young age I believe, but I do not think of them as out right killers. In fact, Ive been saved by quite a dogs in my lifetime now, whether I was in immediate danger or the situation was just really bad at the time. 3 of those dogs that saved me were pits, or pit mixes. And my cousin has also been saved by an american pitbull. I mean, yeah, they are a liability since they are a powerful breed, but in the right hands they are fine.<br /> I have an American Pitbull Terrier puppy, a Staffy Bull, and A mutt with pitbull in him. The am. pitty and the staffy bull are not without their flaws, but they are good natured dogs that listen far well than my other dogs. The mutt however, is very badly bred and has very severe issues, but he has 5 dog breeds mixed with him, and actually acts like his mother, which is the one without pitbull.<br /> Anyway, from my own experiences with all dogs called "pitbull", I don't believe the breed should be punished for what the human race has done to them. I just think they should be owned by the right people.

I would like to put in my two cents about this, it is wrong to ban any domesticated or wild animal that is part of the heritage of the country. The animals that actually do the most damage are people, they think everything is for the taking.<br /> <br /> It is a myth that when the American Pit Bull Terrier (whom I will refer to as Pit bulls, I won't be referring to any other pit type dog because I know the American Pit Bull Terrier), was bred for bull baiting or dog fighting, they were bred for ratting on the farms of rural in Ireland and England area and being one of the largest available terriers at the time for that job, due to other types of dogs were for royalty, it was a plus because they could guard the farm, livestock and provide a guard/companion for the children.<br /> Back then people let their dogs roam around on their land and there was no problem...Any human or dog causing problems were usually culled on the spot. <br /> After they went through the phases of the history they were still a popular dog, used to help hunt like other terriers, help out on the farm or just be a companion. But as time changed so did the purpose...with bull fights probably in their prime and ratting becoming less popular where would it lead? When bull baiting become less so too, how were they to see who's dog was better? They started to test it, which lead into dog fighting.<br /> I do not accept dog fighting in it's present form nor condone it in it's past form. Yes it's a blood sport, and yes in most places it is illegal an I do not partake, though I also do not see in black and white like most people do. Fighting is something that occurs naturally in any animal society, especially when both decide to part take in such a thing, but for another to step in and pit others together till one passes it is morally wrong, but a lot of people get a sort of high from such a thing.<br /> To understand something you must first understand it's history, you aren't going to understand why someone doesn't trust another person unless you know their experiences. Any creature that has it's own mind is not only made of it's current experiences but it's past experiences, and also it's ancestor's experiences.<br /> Yes there used to be culling of the human aggressive dogs while trying to breed the ones with the most gameness, this no longer takes part in most breeding programs. At first there also was no rules to it except the ones set before the fights, then it was seen as legal so they created rules that minimized the dog deaths created by these events. No they didn't use puppies or kittens in training their dogs because they didn't want their dogs killing the other neighborhood animals (which would lead to culling of the dog). Thus in turn making it illegal and removing the restrictions, leading fighting to the underground. Since there was no rules people did as they saw fit to eliminate the competition of the other dogs by cheating and eventually leading to the deaths of many dogs in the pits.<br /> The same dogs in the pits (when it was legal) usually went home alive, though sometimes injured, where they would return to their routine with the other family pets and kids like nothing ever happened, knowing the difference between normal life and pit life. <br /> <br /> My brother has a pit bull who plays with his son all the time and she keeps him entertained, never had a problem of her biting when he used to pull her ears or tail, he used to practically be able to ride her like a pony. She also used to sleep by his bed at night until he went to sleep, when she would then go and guard the front door till dawn, she'd go back to his room and lay down waiting for him to wake up. My bro get her when she was about two and I helped train her, she had some bad habits that I got trained out of her when my bro was over seas, now she is a very well rounded dog.<br /> <br /> About a year or two later I got my own first dog, she was a 3/4 lab and 1/4 pit, sweetest darn thing you would meet though she had a habit of running off cause of my neighbors compost pile. She'd run up to people and never bit anyone, sadly I had to get rid of her due to an injury and found her a good home with a hunter (I was planning on using her for a hunting dog once she was fully trained) and she's been really happy and taken good care of.<br /> <br /> So it is societies fault by making things the way they are in this throw away world. <br /> <br /> (If you would like a good book for the rich history and stories about the APBT check out The World of the American Pit Bull Terrier by Richard F. Statton.)