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Pit Bull Terriers: Dangerous, or just dogs?

Before we get started, I'll admit that a pit in the wrong hands can kill a person. I'll admit that a pit has a stronger bite than a small breed. I'll admit that most people don't know how to handle a pit... But my point here is, do most people know how to handle ANY dog that big? I've done research on dog breeds myself, and have come to find out that it's not the Pit that has the strongest bite out there. A Rottweiler has a stronger bite than a pit (I learned this while trying to help a neighbor with their unruly Rottie pup, doing research to give them a bit of insight on the breed because they refused to train her). Now, let's look at why pits are so hard to control. Firstly, they're terriers. They're bred for that single-mindedness that makes terriers, of all kinds, hard to handle. They see something and, by golly, they want to do what they want to do. Second of all, they're a larger terrier. I won't say they're 'big' dogs because they're surprisingly not "Large Breed" but instead are considered medium, because most don't even size up to a German Shepherd (which, coincidentally, is also considered a medium breed). But that still means they're a little more to handle than your standard Jack Russell. Thirdly... or, should I say firstly again, they're a terrier! They need extensive amounts of exercise in order to meet their physical needs. It's like getting a hyperactive kid and telling it to sit in a chair in a room indefinitely. You're going to have problems. Now, this isn't to say they can't be dangerous. By all means, they can! Just like any other breed of dog! Personally, I've been attacked by more unruly labs than anything else. Thankfully, I know how to handle situations like that, due to my being a certified dog trainer. My own mother had to have her face and arm stitched up from a vicious chihuahua attack, where the owner was claiming the dog was just trying to play with her. Yes, a pit can do more damage... but so can a horse. A horse can kill you with one swift hoof to the head. But we still think of them as gentle creatures. Some people will say the difference is in the head. That a pit is vicious, and will try and kill you the first chance it gets... but that can't be further from the truth. Pits are very loyal, loving dogs. Even in the fighting rings, a dog who bites a person, is gotten rid of. As a dog trainer, I have to point out that there is a difference between animal aggression and human aggression, and Pits are bred to be animal aggressive, not human aggressive. The instinct to attack another animal is something that ALL terriers have. Only difference is the size, here. Which makes it even more important that the dog, like every other dog, be trained properly. Am I saying this is a dog for everyone? No. Am I saying that pits cannot hurt people? No. What I am saying is, that like every other dog breed, this dog has needs. Needs that have to be met, or else you end up with a crazed, oversized terrier who's never been told what is and is not acceptable. What I am saying is that, with the proper treatment, like any other dog breed, this breed will be a great pet. Remember - Pits were considered a family dog for a long, long time, despite their past as bull-baiting and bear-baiting dogs. And they didn't turn and suddenly kill anyone back then, because they were properly handled. What makes it any different -now- besides the fact that they're the new face of dog fighting? Edited: As a note, I also would not recommend any dog be left out in a home while people aren't there. It's dangerous for not just other animals in the house, but for the dogs themselves, especially if you have more than one dog. Dogs who have been living together for a long time have turned on each other and even killed each other while people aren't home, leaving no explanation for the humans who have to come home to injured or dead four-legged family members. This is why I also support crate training for -all- dogs.

Replies


I did not see any links proving they weren't bred to fight. Just because it's in a book doesn't make it fact.<br /> <br /> The fact is dog fighting is real, it is highly documented. Many dogmen kept records of their breedings, their wins. If you show me an APBT pedigree that doesn't trace back to fighting I'll be amazed.<br /> <br /> The breed's style also does not match any dog bred for working farm animals, cattle, etc.<br /> <br /> Herding/Cattle Dog breeds have a bite and release bite style, APBTs have a bite hold and shake style.<br /> <br /> Herding/Cattle Dog breeds do not tend to be aggressive towards other animals considering they herd them.<br /> APBTs have a high tendency to be animal aggressive.<br /> <br /> Herding/Cattle Dog breeds run in and out during fights unless cornered, and fight tell the other submits so to speak. <br /> APBTs are intense in a fight and stay in till the end. As they have been bred for gameness. Which would not be achieved through breeding for farm work.<br /> <br /> And please please research this breed. Their standard was developed in the rings! They became a breed in the ring! <br /> Yes, their ancestors may have been farm dogs, but APBTs are not.<br /> <br /> The first show CH APBT is a fighting dog. He was a 3 times pit winner as well. Grandson of Colby's Pincher a 24 times winner.<br /> <a href="http://www.apbt.online-pedigrees.com/modules.php?name=Public&file=printPedigree&dog_id=3696">His pedigree</a><br /> <br /> Champion show bred dogs can be traced back to fighting.<br /> <br /> So many lines are fighting lines, owning a Colby dog is considered owning part of the breed history as he was a major person in this breed's creation.
thank you so much purrson! i was too lazy to go and bring a reference back to prove they weren't bred to fight. i just know so much about them, and if they were meant to fight, then the sky might as well be green. out of everything i know, i know pit bulls weren't bred Origanally to fight as much as i know 2+2=4
Okay, I'll put a little input in on the American Pit Bull Terriers history.<br /> <br /> Their ancestors were bulldogs used for bull baiting, an terriers used for ratting. People looked to combine the power of the bulldog with the drive and energy of the terriers, so they produced the Bull And Terrier.<br /> <br /> Bull baiting became illegal, and men started pitting dogs against dog. Bull baiting was hard to organize secretly, and as dog fighting was made illegal they could still put on events easily.<br /> <br /> The Bull And Terriers were shipped to America, where they began to breed them specifically for dog fighting, and the breed developed in the pit.<br /> <br /> The UKC later registered the APBTs and they solidified as a breed.<br /> <br /> The American Pit Bull Terrier was bred specifically for dog fighting. They have a high tendency towards dog/animal aggression. But human aggression is very uncharacteristic of the breed.<br /> <br /> The bred for "farming" or "cattle" is just a sugar coating attempt.<br /> <br /> <br /> If you can read dog body language, a dog is not unpredictable unless it has some sort of mental disorder which causes it to not give off warnings. Or, like some poor trainers do, the dogs are corrected for warning (growling, snarling, etc.) and they are not fixing that feeling. They are simply suppressing the aggression and making the dog less likely to give off warnings.<br /> <br /> <br /> Also, "pit bull" is a nickname specific to the American Pit Bull Terrier.<br /> <br /> The only time it becomes a group is if you're talking about BSL (Breed Specific Legislation.)<br /> But, people in the educated American Pit Bull Terrier circle would say "pit bull-type" or "pit bull mix" unless the breed is defined.
just a short reply, since I could "go off" on this subject. I am the proud owner of two, wonderful pit bulls, I also was blessed to own another one previously as well. ALL are great, wonderful, loving dogs! They don't necessarily like every dog they meet, but no person is a stranger to them. They definitely take a little more training and work at being a responsible owner to have them, but if the time and effort is put into any pit bull, they have the potential to be the all american breed. Also as a side note, I am I veterinary technician in Hawaii, and have been working in the animal field for 10 years in Hawaii, where one of the most popular breeds of dogs are pit bulls, and I can think or 1 dog (ONLY) of hundreds that had a bad temperament. Some have tolerance levels, but I think most dogs do. Overall though, they will let you do about anything and not complain. That says a lot for a breed in general. Eventually I will upgrade my account, and will be able to show off my wonderful mom and son I have. For now, feel free to check them out on my facebook ;-) so much for keeping this short..... ~Sunblast
eeps I apologise first, think I hit report reply thinking it was post reply... <br /> Every site being different.<br /> I have been reading the pdf book, the Pitbull Placebo and although I am not anti any breed, so kind of preaching to the choir ;) the term comes from them being put in to guide bulls and cattle into a corral I beleive, not from being placed in a fighting pit. They were orignally bred to be farm dogs and help out on the farm with day to day chores, NOT fight. Over time when their faithfulness was realized, people and the brilliant idea (sarcasm for those that dont know me,) to put them against similar type dogs and as they live to please their owner, they did what was expected, overtime their popularity grew for that activity and like with all popular breeds, they were overbred and became popular with the wrong type people, whom furthered the activity. The book can be downloaded here, http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Pit_Bull_download.pdf for free. I think those that are against the breed should read it, but probably would not.
i will ease off the shift key but i where i read about pit bulls (and my resource is not something not very legit like wikipedia) told me they were not bred for dog fighting at all.
<i>"hey Were Not Bred For Dog Fighting I Don't Know How to Stress That Enough. They Were Bred WAY BEFORE Dog Fighting Was Common as it is today.</i><br>You kind of just contradicted yourself there... The American Pit Bull Terrier was found, used for dog-fighting and then bred from there to be a fighting dog.<br>Also, can you please go easy on the shift key? It makes your posts hard to read ]:
chinchilla They Were Not Bred For Dog Fighting I Don't Know How to Stress That Enough. They Were Bred WAY BEFORE Dog Fighting Was Common as it is today. to say a pit is unpredictable is so Wrong i can't even wrap my head around it, if they were trained by idiots, Of Course!!! but if you do what you're supposed to,,, than you can know exactly what to expect!!! have you Ever owned a pit bull???? my dog is as unpredictable as the sky is green.
I should have read the entirety of the first post before posting. They pretty much said it all... no need to be redundant I guess lol.
Yup Meridith, just agreeing and giving another example of insanity of people sometimes, and reassurance that I am yet another in the sane group with you hehehe :D<br /> <br /> chinchilla, I agree that they are dogs like all dogs, and in the group that are terriers which over time have been bred to be feisty WITH OTHER DOGS ESPECIALLY SAME SEX DOGS. DA is not the same as HA , but then we get these over enthused sick people whom get excited to prove "my dog can take your dog down, " place bets and the insanity begins. In all popularized breeds over the years there is a tendency for clueless people to over breed the wrong dogs together, causing problematic temperaments and major inbreeding. That is one factor that has caused problems with aggression. <br /> <br /> Add in terriers are a very hyper breeds in tendency,which 90% of the time get only 20% the exercise and training they need, and like almost all dogs but independent breeds, very eager to learn and do their masters bidding to please the human in their lives. <br /> <br /> Did you know many pits that are non aggressive that are bred to fight, get abused to try to make them mad to make them fight? Some get abused more and more so they fear people, as they see us as unpredictable and possible danger, then if the poor dog still refuses to fight, or bites the owner in defense as well, and if the dogs l.<u> lucky<br />, it gets dumped in an isolated area, if not lucky, might get killed, tied in a sack and tossed in a lake, or freezer... Who's unpredictable here? If picked up by AC in many areas after such treatment, when stressed and fearing all humans, they often get instantly PTS for being aggressive.<br /> <br /> I agree not all people should own them, heck, there's no breed I do not think that all people should have. Some people should not have any dogs!!<br /> <br /> If broke rules with straight talk or offended anyone I apologize, but this is an issue I feel very strongly on. <br /> If people would learn dogs body language, instead of expecting them to say hey quit that, or I am scars, fewer people would be bitten by all breeds, including pit types.<br /> <br /> Purr

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