The American Pit Bull Terrier
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Developed from the Bull and Terrier types of yesteryear, the American Pit Bull Terrier comes from an indisputable history of pit-fighting. The breed's tenacity and accompanying strength are unmatched in the canine world.
As rich and captivating as the breed's history is, the Pit Bull's future is more worthy of commentary. Some proponents of the breed argue that this breed is the original bulldog of the past. Old prints and woodcarvings show reason to believe this. They show dogs that look exactly like the breed today, doing things the dog is still capable of doing. For more information on this theory you can read books by Richard F Stratton. The APBT, as registered by the UKC, is an individual breed of dog and does not refer to just any ill-bred, mindless warrior-type mongrel. 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.
This very loyal dog is too set on pleasing his owner, and ironically this is the root of his own undoing. Accompanying this need to please are remarkable abilities of all kinds. Jack Dempsy, Teddy Roosevelt and Jack Johnson are just a few people who have owned Pit Bulls. Pit Bulls excel in practically every canine task including herding, guarding, hunting, policing, cart pulling and ratting.
American Pit Bull Terriers are very good natured, loyal and affectionate. They have been known to be aggressive towards other dogs, however this can usually be avoided with proper training. Many people confuse aggressiveness towards other dogs with aggressiveness towards humans. I have seen newspaper reports in which "concerned neighbors" are quoted saying things such as "This time it killed a cat, tomorrow it may be my children". Yet animal aggressiveness is entirely different from human aggressiveness. There is no reason to think from it's killing a cat or dog, ANY dog, not just an APBT will ever show aggression toward a human. Dogs can and do discriminate even if irate neighbors cannot. When properly socialized, they do well around children, and make great family pets. They are obedient, eager to please, courtious and intelligent- and make great guard dogs.
Gameness in APBT's is a canine virtue that is most comparable to human virtue of tireless courage. It is a determination to master any situation and never back down out of fear. It was developed in Pit Bulls to keep fighting non stop for two or more hours, in spite of broken bones, torn muscles, blood loss, dehydration, and exhaustion. But it is also valued by APBT owners who would never think of fighting their dogs. It is manifested in the can-do attitude of Pit Bulls toward any type of challenge, whether agility competitions, climbing up trees, or protecting their family against an armed attacker.
Most people who think or say "Pit Bulls" are inherently mean, have most likely never met one and rely on the inaccurate media hyped portrayal of "Pit Bulls" as the backbone of their opinions. Like any other breed of dog, the key areas of focus for ensuring a happy, well adjusted APBT as a pet are: Owner education, proper breeding, socialization, and training. A bread down in any one or more areas could lead to problems down the road.
Many people also believe that Pit Bulls have locking jaws. This is untrue. No dog, despite the breed, has a locking jaw. Pit Bulls do have very strong jaws, however they do not have a mysterious locking mechanism in their mouths.
The APBT is, contrary to popular belief, very human-friendly and will not naturally be aggressive towards humans. The APBT is, however, very loyal and eager to please, so that if an owner wants a dog to be aggressive toward humans and reinforce this conduct from an early age, the dog will most likely be agressive towards humans as an adult.
The APBT is a generally healthy breed. Some known problems are hip displasia, hereditary cataracts and allergies to grass. They can be expected to live about 12 years. A home with a fenced yard is recommended. APTB's are very energetic, and not a great choice for a first time owner.
Those who own multiple dogs should take the Pit Bull's dog-aggression into consideration before buying or adopting one. American Pit Bull Terriers must have plenty of regular exercise, but keep them leashed in public to avoid fights with other dogs.
| Horrible Facts About Pit Bulls. |
| 1 in 600 shelter Pit Bulls will find a home. |
| Pit Bulls are the number one bred dog in the United States. |
| There are currently more Pit Bulls in America than there are Labrador Retrievers or Golden Retrievers. |
| 200 Pit Bulls are killed per DAY in Los Angeles County. Imagine other municipalities. |
| 75% of shelters nationwide euthanize all Pit Bulls without even trying to adopt them out. |
