The American Pit BullWHERE THEY STARTED AND WHERE THEY ARE IN TODAY’S SOCIETY

Where they originated

Ancestors descended from England

They were used for hunting large animals, such as wild boar

They were admired for their willingness to protect their owners

Dog fighting begins

• The English ancestors of the Pit Bull were forced to fight as dogfighting became popular in the early 1800’s (Rez15)

• This breed was not very fast and had trouble contending with many larger breeds

• The bull dog was later bred with an terrier in order to make the dog more agile for fighting

Early America

• This mix of breeds was brought to America in the early 1900’s by English immigrants(Rez23).

• The canine was known as the Pit Bull and along with the dog came it’s fighting roots.

• At this time in America, dog fighting was considered a sport and events were advertised weeks ahead of time

Army Dogs

• The Pit Bull gained much respect by Americans during this time in history, including our own government, because they were strong, stood their own ground and protected their own.

• American’s did not only admire their ability to protect themselves, but most of all their willingness to protect their owners.

• The Pit Bull was shown as a mascot in many WW1 propaganda posters. The mascot was based on a real life Pit Bull named “Stubby” who saved the lives of a whole platoon and was considered a war hero (Rez18).

Gained Respect from Americans

Damaging the Pit Bull’s Reputation

It was not until the early 1980’s that the Pit Bull’s reputation began to change for the worse. It was because Dutch dog fighters developed interest in the Pit Bull and had many of them shipped

to Holland to train and fight. From Holland, interest in Pit Bull fighting spread throughout the world (Fra36). By the late 80’s Pit Bull fighting was attracted by criminals due to it’s illegal nature. Because of underground dog fighting, the Pit Bull’s reputation has been damaged and people just

don’t trust them.

Pit Bulls in The Media

Now a Days• Today, the Pit Bull receives so

much negative attention due to dog fighting

• Many do not realize that numerous incidents reported of Pit Bull bites are inaccurate, people often mistake boxers as Pit Bulls (Dog).

• Due to negative media attention, many states are classifying the dog as “dangerous” and are passing laws to diminish the breed.

• Should we punish the breed, or the irresponsible owners ?

What the Experts Say

According to Mary Harwalik, a professional aggressive dog training specialist, “canine aggression is a natural response to fear which causes defensive behaviors that are learned from their

environment.” Harwalik also stated that most Pit Bull attacks that she has come across, there was always some type of human error or neglect that set the dog up for failure (Rez45).

According to the American Staffordshire Terrier Club, “although ancestors of the Pit Bull were fighting dogs, selective breeding has moved away from the fighting heritage.”

Today’s responsible Pit Bull owner

Today the Pit Bull is a show dog and they compete in many competitions including

• Obedience

• Agility

• And Weight pulling

Better UnderstandingThe Pit Bull has endured a lot over the past century, and has been labeled due to individuals who choose to treat the animal cruelly. I hope that those who have never met a Pit Bull have a better understanding of why the breed has such a bad wrap, and understand that they can be gentle loving dogs just like any other breed.

Sources

Reznik, Allan, ed. American Pit Bull Terrier. Freehold, NJ: Kennel Club, 2009. print.

Fraser, Jacqueline. The Ultimate American Pit Bull Terrier. New York: Howell Book House, 1995. print.

"The Truth About Pit Bulls." ASPCA.Web. 19 Mar. 2013. http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/the-truth-about-pit-bulls

"Dog Bite: Fact Sheet." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 01 Apr. 2008. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/dog-bites/dogbite-factsheet.html.

"American Pit Bull Terrier." United Kennel Club: American Pit Bull Terrier. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. http://www.ukcdogs.com/Web.nsf/Breeds/AmericanPitBullTerrier12012012.