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Pit Bull is not a specific breed of dog, but rather a term used to describe several breeds of dogs with similar physical characteristics. The American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier commonly fall under the category of "Pit Bull." There are several other breeds that can fall under the rubric of “pit bull,” including: the Argentine Dogo, the English Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog, Perro de Presa Canario and the Boxer. These breeds are usually not included by breed name in any Breed Specific Legislation (see below), but are usually ensnared because of a broad definition, and confusion as to what a “pit bull” actually is. Again, there is no breed of dog called “pit bull” but the term can be the nickname for the American Pit Bull Terrier.
In the media the term is vague and may include other breeds with similar physical characteristics, such as:
These breeds are rarely listed by name in breed-specific legislation, but they are sometimes included when the term is defined broadly and based on physical appearance.
Overview: These dogs have a controversial reputation
due to commonly cited attack statistics and highly publicized
incidents of aggression by dogs fitting the broad "pit
bull" description. Verification of many attacks is
difficult due to that wide variation in pit varieties, and the
tendency to label all dangerous dogs as pit bulls. These
attack statistics have led to a certain degree of reactionary
fear, and many governments and community organizations have
called for bans and restrictions on pit bulls. The hip hop
world adds a catalyst to this ongoing fear of pitbulls as many
hip-hop stars glorify the uses of pitbulls in gangster-related
activities.
Some breed supporters claim pit bulls make good family
pets, showing loyalty, playfulness, and a desire to please
people. They also claim that most pit bull animals are no more
or less likely to be aggressive than any other large
domesticated dog. In fact many dog fancying websites and
humane societies recommend "pit bull" type dogs as
family pets because of their stable temperament, high pain
tolerance, and desire to please people. However, because of
their physical attributes and the social stigmatization
surrounding them, the pitbull seems to be a popular choice
among unsavoury owners. Those who primarily want an animal to
fight or to intimidate do not properly train or socialize
their dogs and are partly responsible for the negative
stereotype of the “pit bull” in today’s society.
Characteristics: The "pit bull" is a
medium-sized dog: males weigh 45 - 85 lb. (20 - 38 kg) and
females generally weigh 30 - 80 lb. (14 - 36 kg). Their short
coat accentuates their muscular bodies, giving them the
appearance of a “doggy bodybuilder.” They are known for
confidence, intelligence, and loyal temperament. In addition,
they have an extremely high pain threshold. As athletic and
energetic dogs, "pit bulls" need to be exercised
frequently. They shed and their skin can be extremely
sensitive.
"Pit bulls" were historically bred to display
dominance and aggression toward other dogs—a relic of the
breed's dog fighting past. Even today, some pit bulls still
retain the predisposition towards dog aggression. However, a
"pit bull" displaying the correct breed temperament
is friendly towards humans, and is generally a poor choice as
a guard dog.
Unfortunately, many unethical breeders do not breed to the
standard, producing "pit bulls" that are both human
and dog aggressive.
"Pit bulls" were historically bred to display
dominance and aggression toward other dogs—a relic of the
breed's dog fighting past. Even today, some pit bulls still
retain the predisposition towards dog aggression. However, a
"pit bull" displaying the correct breed temperament
is friendly towards humans, and is generally a poor choice as
a guard dog.
Unfortunately, many unethical breeders do not breed to the
standard, producing "pit bulls" that are both human
and dog aggressive.
History: The ancestors of modern "pit
bulls" come from England. The English White Terrier, the
Black and Tan Terrier and the Bulldog are supposedly extinct
breeds, this occasion stems from their forced retirement; as
with many dog breeds, the purpose of these said dogs ceased.
We do know, however, that in their own time the English White
Terrier, the Black and Tan Terrier and the Bulldog were prized
animals, highly adapted to very unsavory, al beit necessary,
tasks.
At one time every county in England had its own terrier.
Many still exist, however, many have also come to pass or have
mutated into a modern breed; such is the case for the English
White Terrier and the Black and Tan, whose descendants include
the bull-and-terriers, the Fox Terrier, and the Manchester
Terrier. Terriers served a very real purpose in England,
vermin threatened people in more ways than as providing an
unpleasant scare or as unwelcome guests; in the least vermin
ruined crops and damaged property, at worst they served as a
vehicle for The Great Pestilence. Terriers destroyed vermin
efficiently and were easy animals to care for. As time went on
the sports of badger and rat baiting - among others - caught
on. It's from the Terrier that "pit bulls' get their kind
nature and juvenile behavior, it is also where the instinct to
kill came from.
At the same time, Mastiff type dogs have existed in England
for milennia. Their origins are somewhat uncertain,
particularly because of myth. It can be assumed, however, that
the Celts brought the Mastiff to Britain from the continent.
It also known that the Normans introduced the Alaunt. Mastiffs
of varying size existed on the Island for years, but it was
not until the Renaissance that formal distinctions were made.
These dogs were used in battle and for guarding, but they also
served utilitarian purposes, such as farm work.
Specifically, these dogs accompanied farmers into the
fields to assist with bringing bulls in for breeding,
castration, or slaughter. The dogs, known generally as
bulldogs, protected the farmer by subduing the bull if it
attempted to gore him. Typically a dog would do this by biting
the bull on the nose and holding on until the bull submitted.
Because of the nature of their job, bulldogs were bred to have
powerful, muscular bodies, and the resolve to hold onto a
violently-struggling bull, even when injured.
Eventually these dogs' purpose inspired the widespread
practice of the bloody sports of bull-baiting and
bear-baiting. In Elizabethan England, these spectacles were
popular forms of entertainment. However, in 1835, bull-baiting
and bear-baiting were abolished by Parliament as cruel, and
the custom died out over the following years.
The sport of dog fighting, which could be carried out under
clandestine measures, blossomed. Since Bulldogs proved too
ponderous and disinterested in dog fighting, the Bulldogs were
crossed to English White and Black and Tan Terriers. They were
also bred to be intelligent and level-headed during fights and
remain non-aggressive toward humans. Part of the standard for
organized dog-fighting required that the match referee who is
unacquainted with the dog be able to enter the ring, pick up a
dog while it was engaged in a fight, and get the respective
owner to carry it out of the ring without being bitten. Dogs
that bit the referee were culled.
As a result, Victorian fighting dogs (Staffordshire Bull
Terriers and, though less commonly used as fighters, English
Bull Terriers) generally had stable temperaments and were
commonly kept in the home by the gambling men who owned them.
During the mid-1800s, immigration to the United States from
Ireland and England brought an influx of these dogs to
America, mainly Boston where they were bred to be larger and
stockier, working as farm dogs in the West as much as fighting
dogs in the cities. The resulting breed, also called the
American Pit Bull Terrier, became known as an
"all-American" dog. "Pit bull" type dogs
became popular as family pets for citizens who were not
involved in dog-fighting or farming. In the early 1900s they
began to appear in films, one of the more famous examples
being Pete the Pup from the Our Gang shorts (later known as
The Little Rascals).
During World War I the breed's widespread popularity led to
its being featured on pro-American propaganda posters.
Dog bite statistics: Of the 279 dog-attack
fatalities in the USA between 1979 and 1996, dogs identified
as "pit bulls" were responsible for 60
attacks—just over a fourth; followed by Rottweilers,
responsible for 29 attacks.
These statistics may be tainted by the fact that the breed
recorded as responsible is taken from the reports of witnesses
and is rarely confirmed by dog experts or registration papers.
Because pit bull is an all-encompassing term used to describe
several breeds of dogs, determining whether a dog is a
"pit bull" is often particularly difficult.
A study for the United States Department of Health and
Human Services discusses some reasons why fatalities might be
overstated for "pit bulls," in large part because
most people (including experienced dog owners) often can't
distinguish an American pit bull Terrier from any other
stocky, broad-faced, muscular dog. For additional discussions
on this and dog-human aggression in general, see dog attacks.
According to The Age, American pit bull terriers have been
responsible for four of the seven dog attacks in which
Australians have died between 1991 and 2002. The Endangered
Dog Breeds Association of Australia denies these figures,
claiming that these dogs were mutts and that registered,
purebred American pit bull terriers have caused no known
fatalities in Australia. Most Australian state governments
have introduced new legislation specific to pit bulls,
requiring pit bull owners to muzzle and leash their dogs at
all times when in public. Unlike American legislation, these
breed specific laws do not include the American Staffordshire
Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Some people contend that "pit bulls" are
especially likely to cause fatalities when they do attack, due
to their strong jaws and their tendency to clamp on to their
victim when attacking. However, although American pit bull
terriers are indisputably powerful dogs, there is no
scientific evidence showing them to have a stronger bite than
other large dog breed. In fact, when Dr. Brady Barr of
National Geographic (Dangerous Encounters: Bite Force,
8/18/2005) measured the bite forces of three dog breeds using
a computerized bite sleeve, the American Pit Bull Terrier
generated the least amount of pressure out of the 3 dogs
tested, (the other two dogs were a German Shepherd Dog and a
Rottweiler.).
What is undisputed is that any untrained, unsocialised dog
can be dangerous, particularly when the dog is as large and as
powerful as the "pit bull." The "pit bull"
is not a suitable dog for a novice dog owner. Although these
dogs can be good pets and working dogs in the right hands,
they can become dangerous when kept by negligent or ignorant
owners.
As yet authorities continue to debate whether the pitbull
is intrinsically more dangerous than other dogs, or whether it
is no more dangerous than any other large and dominant dog
breed - such as the Rotweiller, Mastiff, Dobermann, German
Shepherd or Chow.
Urban myths: There are many urban legends
surrounding the "pit bull," mostly based on the idea
that the dogs are somehow physiologically different from other
breeds of dog.
Many websites propagate the myth that "pit bulls"
have a "locking jaw" mechanism, and that the dog
cannot let go once it has bitten. It is indisputable that
pitbulls generally have strong jaws for their size. However,
as stated by Dr. I. Brisbin (University of Georgia) "The
few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the
skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in
proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its
inferred functional morphology, is no different from that of
any breed of dog.
There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any
kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw
and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."
Furthermore, the "pit bulls" that compete
successfully in protection sports such as Schutzhund obviously
do not display an inability to release their grips after
biting, as releasing the decoy's sleeve on command is an
integral part of scoring the competition.
An interesting variant of the 'locking jaw' story is
reportedly told by Tom Skeldon, Lucas County (Ohio) dog
warden, who said that an impounded "pit bull" that
had been used in fighting started "going wild,"
biting at the walls of the kennel. He shot the dog with a
tranquilizer, and then left it for five minutes to let it pass
out.
When he came back the dog had indeed passed out, but not
before it had leaped up and clamped its jaws on a cable used
to open the door of the kennel. "Everything else was
relaxed, the dog was out cold, but its jaws wouldn't let go of
that cable, and he was hanging in midair," said Skeldon.
"Not even a jaguar will do that."
In addition to the "locking jaw" myth, it is
widely believed that "pit bulls don't feel pain.”
However, pit bulls have the same nervous system of any other
breed, and they can and do feel pain. Historically, those dogs
that would tolerate or ignore discomfort and pain and finish
the task they were required to perform were the dogs that were
bred and the sort of dogs breeders strove to produce. This is
the trait of “gameness” that so many breed fanciers speak
of, which may be defined as, “The desire to continue on
and/or complete a task despite pain and discomfort.”
Therefore, the difficulty in deterring a pit bull from its
task is in fact not an inability to feel pain but rather a
desirable trait in any trained working dog.
Another urban myth surrounding this breed states that
"pit bulls" are the only type of dog that are not
affected by capsaicin-based dog-repellent sprays. In fact,
many other dog breeds also display this resistance to pepper
spray when they are attacking. Documented cases include Bull
Mastiffs, Rotweillers and many German Shepherds (including
Police K9s). In the words of two Police Officers, it is
"not unusual for pepper spray not to work on dogs"
and "just as OC spray doesn't work on all humans, it
won't work on all canines".
It is also untrue that the "pit bull" is the only
dog that will keep attacking after being sub-lethally shot.
Rotweillers, Mastiffs and German Shepherds have all exhibited
this capacity - as, of course, have many humans.
One of the most popular and baseless urban myths about pit
bulls is that "pit bulls" often ‘turn’ on their
owners without provocation. However, no sane dog performs
behaviors for no reason. When aggression becomes a problem the
reasons can often be traced to such things as improper
handling, lack of socialization or training, a misreading of
dog behavior by the owner, lack of discipline, or even
disease. When an owner is startled by a sudden, aggressive
outburst, it is generally because they have been unaware of
problems that were brewing.
Urban myths about pit bulls are well enough established to
be spoofed, as in The Onion's mock caption 'Heroic Pit Bull
Journeys 2,000 Miles to Attack Owner' (Apr 17, 2002) and
'Department Of Homeland Security Deputizes Real Mean Dog', a
Rottweiler-pitbull-Doberman mix introduced to the press corps
approvingly by Tom Ridge (May 21, 2003).
Insurance problems: Many homeowner's insurance
companies in the United States are reluctant to insure owners
of dogs that are considered to be a dangerous breed. The CDC
estimates that 368,245 persons were treated in U.S. hospitals
for nonfatal dog bites in 2001, and that fully 2% of the U.S.
population are attacked by dogs per year. These attacks most
often occur on the owner's property. While breed-specific
statistics were not collected in this particular study, the
Pit Bull Terrier and Rottweiler in particular are often
considered to contribute the most to the serious injuries
caused by dog attacks and are the most common breeds that
insurance companies will refuse to insure.
Some insurance companies have taken a compromise position,
and will only insure "Pit bull" owners if their dogs
have achieved a Canine Good Citizen award.
Breed Specific Legislation or BSL: In response to a number
of well-publicized incidents involving dogs that resemble
"Pit Bulls," some jurisdictions began placing
restrictions on the ownership of "pit bulls," such
as the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in the UK, an example of
breed-specific legislation. Many jurisdictions have outlawed
the possession of "pit bulls," either "pit
bull" breeds specifically, or in addition to other breeds
that are regarded as dangerous.
Recent "pit bull" mauling cases include the June
2005 attack on 12-year old Nicholas Faibish, who was locked in
the basement of his families home then killed by his father's
dog in San Francisco while his mother not home. "Pit
bull" owners point out that Nicholas was bitten earlier
in the day by the same dogs and, instead of doing something to
protect her son, Nicholas' mother locked him in the basement.
It is also relevant that both dogs were also entire and the
female was in oestrous. This attack, and others occurring
shortly afterwards in the San Francisco Bay Area, has led
local and state politicians to consider ways to control
"pit bulls.".
The Canadian province of Ontario, on August 29, 2005
enacted a ban on "pit bulls." It was the first
province or state in North America to do so. The breeds listed
in the ban can no longer be sold, bred, or imported and
all "pit bull" owners must leash and muzzle their
pit bulls in public. A 60 day grace period has been put in
place to allow for owners to have their "pit bulls"
spayed or neutered.
Also it left a period to allow municipalities to adjust to
the new law. Prior to the bills passage, the Ontario
government cited what it deemed the success of a "pit
bull" bylaw passed by Winnipeg, Manitoba.
In the United States, Denver, Colorado was one of the
pioneers of banning "pit bulls." The city had
legislation on the books since 1989, but was nullified by a
2004 law passed by the Colorado General Assembly prohibiting
breed specific laws. However, it was overturned in April of
2005 after the city challenged in court the constitutionality
of the law. The city reinstated the ban which prohibits
citizens from keeping "pit bull type" dogs after May
9, 2005. Over 260 "pit bull" type dogs have been
seized from their homes and euthanised since this date,
resulting in widespread protest from dog owners and animal
rights lobby groups. Since this legislation has passed over
1000 family pets have been taken from homes and destroyed. No
such ban on other "dangerous" dogs has been enacted
and no reporting of a decrease in dog bites has occurred.
Breed specific legislation that restricted "pit
bull" ownership in Toledo, Ohio was struck down on March
3, 2006, by a 2-1 vote of the Ohio Sixth District Court of
Appeals. The law had relied on a state definition of a vicious
dog as one that has bitten or killed a human, has killed
another dog, or "belongs to a breed that is commonly
known as a pit bull dog." The lack of legal recourse of a
pit bull owner to appeal the vicious dog designation of a
particular animal was one of the deficiencies of the
legislation. For the majority, Judge William Skow wrote in
Toledo v. Tellings: "Since we conclude that there is no
evidence that pit bulls are inherently dangerous or vicious,
then the city ordinance limitation on ownership is also
arbitrary, unreasonable, and discriminatory."
Debate: The extent to which banning a particular
breed is effective in reducing dog bite fatalities is
contested. Some people maintain that pit bull attacks are
directly attributable to irresponsible owners, rather than to
any inherent defect in the breed itself. Other people believe
that the pit bull terrier is a breed that, although not
inherently dangerous, needs a particularly knowledgeable and
committed handler and should not be freely available to novice
owners. Still others maintain that pit bulls as a breed are
invariably more unpredictable and dangerous than other dogs
even when properly trained, and have no place in society.
Pit Bulls" are said to be popular with irresponsible
owners, who see these dogs as a symbol of status or machismo.
This type of owner may be less likely to socialize, train, or
desex their pet. These are all factors that have been shown to
contribute to increased likelihood of dog aggression, and may
partially explain why pit bulls feature so heavily in dog
attack statistics. It is known that unneutered male dogs
account for 96% of all fatal dog attacks. (Fatal Dog Attacks
by Karen Delise), showing that irresponsible ownership can
have a great impact on how a breed is represented in attack
statistics.
Some people argue that banning the "pit bull"
will simply result in irresponsible dog owners seeking to own
other large breeds with similar temperaments (such as the
Dobermann, Rottweiler or German Shepherd Dog), resulting in an
increased occurrence of dog bites from these breeds.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which
maintains the United States' database on fatal wounds
inflicted by dog bites, does not advocate breed-specific
legislation, instead encouraging "Dangerous Dog"
laws that focus on individual dogs of any breed that have
exhibited aggressive behavior.
Huntsville, Alabama police raided a dog-fighting arena on
Feb 28, 2002 and seized 10 pit bulls. The city's attempt to
legally euthanize four pit bull puppies, never trained to
fight, was stopped by Madison County Circuit Court Judge Joe
Battle, who ruled that the pit bull puppies were not dangerous
by virtue of their genetics alone (AP Wire; Apr 6, 2002).
Huntsville appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court, which
affirmed (City of Huntsville v. Sheila Tack et al., 1010459,
S.C. Alabama; Aug 30, 2002) the Circuit Court opinion by a 6-2
vote; the written dissent addressed procedural matters of
legal status of the parties, not the nature of the dogs. The
puppies were adopted.
American Airlines banned "Rottweilers, Doberman
Pinschers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers,
American Pit Bull Terriers, and any mixed breeds containing
one or more of those breeds" in August of 2002 following
an incident involving an American Pit Bull Terrier puppy that
escaped from luggage into the cargo hold of an airliner,
causing damage to the cargo hold. The American Kennel Club
lobbied the airline to lift the restriction, arguing that the
incident was merely one of improper restraint, and could have
involved any dog breed. The restriction was lifted in May of
2003 after a compromise was reached that requires portable dog
carriers in the cargo hold to employ releasable cable ties on
four corners of the door of the carrier.
Dog fights: In the United States, "pit
bulls" are the breed of choice for dog fights, due to
their strength, courage and dog-aggressive tendencies.
Although dog fighting is illegal in the United States, it is
still practiced, and is usually accompanied by gambling. In
the United States Commonwealth of Virginia, for example, it is
a felony to organize, promote, be employed by, or wager on a
dogfight, whether one is physically present at the fight or
not. Laws vary in other states, but most states have some laws
to address dogfighting.
The term "game-bred" may be used as a code for a
fight dog, but sometimes merely refers to a dog that is very
determined to complete a task - be it a race, weight pull, or
unfortunately even a fight. "Pit bulls" are often
brutalised and abused to make them "mean", and may
be terribly maimed or killed during the fight. A few centuries
ago, it was common to pit these dogs against Pumas and wolves.
Pitting them against boars is still carried out in some
places.
Dog fighters are the minority among pit bull owners. Most
people who own these breeds direct their dogs' plentiful
energy toward nonviolent athletic tasks. Some people train
their pit bulls for dog agility. Others involve their pit
bulls in weight pulling competitions, obedience competitions
or schutzhund. The pit bull often excels at these sports. Out
of the 17 dogs who have earned UKC "superdog" status
(by gaining championship titles in conformation, obedience,
agility, and weightpull), nine have been "pit
bulls." Unfortunately pit bulls are increasingly being
prevented from participating in these events, due to the
introduction of local legislation requiring the breed to be
muzzled and on leash at all times when in public - with no
exceptions for dog sports or obedience competitions.
Positive press: Although negative information about
"pit bulls" is widespread, there are also many
positive stories. Some work in hospitals and care facilities
as certified therapy dogs, many are well-loved family pets,
and some have even saved people's lives. There are many
incidences of "pit bulls" being productively
employed by U.S. Customs , as police K9s and as tracking K9s
in various Search and Rescue organisations
A rescued "pit bull" called Popsical is a a
United States Customs dog, and is famous for sniffing out one
of the biggest cocaine busts in FDA history.
Another little known fact is that the dog who has obtained
the most titles of any dog of any breed, ever, was an American
Pit Bull Terrier. Bandog Dread (Ch Bandog Dread, SchH3, IPO3,
WH, WDS, CD, TD, U-CDX, S.D.-ducks/sheep) owned by Dianne
Jessup has obtained multiple titles in conformation,
competition obedience, Schutzhund, weightpull and herding.
In February, 2006, New Yorker magazine writer Malcolm
Gladwell published an article surveying the research on pit
bulls which concluded that legal attempts to ban the breed
were both crude and unnecessary.
Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson have a Pit Bull named Penny Lane.
Cesar Millan, otherwise known as The Dog Whisperer owns several Pit Bulls and uses them as model dogs with which to aid in rehabilitating misbehaved dogs in some circumstances.
Big Boi from hip-hop duo Outkast is a registered Pit Bull breeder.
Radio host Ira Glass has a Pit Bull.
West Coast Choppers owner Jesse G. James owns three Pit Bulls.
TV cook Rachael Ray has one Pit Bull. Her Pit Bull's name is Isaboo and has appeared in cooking episodes and on her talk show. Rachel had another Pit Bull named Boo before she became famous.
Comedian Jon Stewart has two Pit Bulls, named Monkey and Shamsky.
Monica has a pitbull that has made many public appearances with her, including in the video for Everytime tha Beat Drop.
Author Andrew Vachss, a vocal opponent of Pit Bull fighting and breed-specific bans, has a Pit Bull named Honey.
Pete the Pup (or "Petey") from The Little
Rascals series of films was a pit bull.
Tige from Buster Brown shoe advertisements
The dog in the film Snatch is a Staffordshire Bull
Terrier
FDR had a pit bull type dog in the White House during
his presidency.
Dakota and Cheyenne, search and rescue dogs active at
the World Trade Center disaster and the explosion of the
space shuttle Columbia.
Popsicle, famous for sniffing out one of the biggest
drug busts in FDA history.
Veronica Mars from the UPN show of the same name owns a
pit bull named Backup.
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