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Pit BullThe American Pit Bull Terrier is one of several bull terrier breeds, often kept as a pet. The American Pit 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 category of pit bull, including: the Argentine Dogo, the English Bull Terrier , the American Bulldog , and the Perro de Presa Canario .Their short coats accentuate their muscular bodies, giving them the appearance of a doggy bodybuilder. They are known for their confidence, intelligence, and loyal temperament. Breeding them correctly in the 1920's included emphasizing not only animal aggressiveness, dominance and a high degree of gameness but also the loyalty and obedience to their owner that Pit Bulls are famous for. Although intended to be aggressive toward animals, pit bulls were never trained to be aggressive toward their human owners. 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. In the early 1900s Pit Bulls 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 Pit Bulls widespread popularity led to its being featured on pro-American propaganda posters. According to Nathan Winograd, president of the No Kill Advocacy Group, shelters today have failed to educate people about pit bull ownership and have not focused on finding them responsible homes, but rather are engaging in a witch hunt . Many sources propagate the myth that pit bulls have a locking jaw" mechanism, and that the dog cannot let go once it has bitten. Brisbin (University of Georgia) states: 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. Reports of pit bull type dogs refusing to release a bite grip is more likely a function of the breed's gameness - a willingness to engage in a task despite pain and discomfort. One of the most popular and baseless urban myths about pit bulls is that pit bulls often turn on their owners without provocation. 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 pit bull behavior by the owner, lack of discipline, or even disease. As such, it is further evidence that dogs, including 'pit bulls', don't just turn on their owners. Some people maintain that pit bull attacks are directly attributable to irresponsible owners, rather than to any inherent defect in the breed itself. 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. 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 laws that focus on individual dogs of any breed that have exhibited aggressive behavior. Stumble It! • Submit To Netscape • del.icio.us • Y! MyWeb |
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