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A pit bull is a member of any of a number of breeds of dogs developed from the Old English Bulldog. Breeds recognized as pit bulls include the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and the American Staffordshire Terrier (AST), although the name is also often used to refer to other breeds of similar characteristics, such as the American Bulldog and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and mixed breeds that include any of these breeds. The American Pit Bull Terrier is one of several pit bull breeds. The pit bull is a descendant of bull- and bear-baiting dogs. The dogs left in Europe were bred along different lines, developing into a smaller, stockier dog. The dogs brought to America are larger, with longer legs. Pit bulls were long considered, to be an ideal family pet and are recommended to this day by the Kennel Clubs as an especially good dog for children. But, in recent years, a series of well-publicized attacks on humans by aggressive members of the breed occurred and eventually lead to BSL (breed Specific Legislation) in many countries. Characteristics Pit bulls are medium-sized (males range 45-85lbs, females 30-80lbs), solidly built, short-coated dogs that require little grooming. They have an affectionate disposition, and are noted for their attachment to their masters as well as for their confident and intelligent temperament. Pit bull breeds are typically devoted and sociable, and are happiest when in the company of their human companions... more History The ancestors of modern pit bulls, English and French bulldogs, and other related breeds were powerful mastiffs bred for 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 jaws, 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. Bulldogs are believed to have been bred with terrier breeds to produce a more muscular, compact, and agile dog for these competitions. The resulting dogs are known as bull-and-terrier breeds, and modern examples include all pit bull-type dogs. 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... more Statistics Today’s media is filled with sensational headlines of dog attacks. Routinely quoted in these newspaper accounts are dated statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. The last CDC study released documented which breeds of dogs caused the most human fatalities from 1979 through 1998. While the CDC did an admirable job of studying fatal dog attacks, and went to great lengths to point out that irresponsible owners were the cause of most of these incidents, the media and lawmakers continue to use CDC statistics to substantiate claims that certain breeds of dogs are inherently more "vicious" than other breeds Fatal dog attack stats 431 documented human fatalities from a dog attack IN THE U.S. FROM 1965 - 2001 Pit Bull and Pit-bull-type dogs (21%), Mixed breed dogs (16%), Rottweilers (13%), German Shepherd Dogs (9%), Wolf Dogs (5%), Siberian Huskies (5%), Malamutes (4%), Great Danes (3%), St. Bernards (3%), Chow Chows (3%), Doberman Pinschers (3%), other breeds & non-specified breeds (15%). Given that there about 10 breeds that are routinely lumped in the pit bull category (because they’re all “Bull” dogs), pit bulls are responsible for a relevantly small part of fatal attacks ... more Laws In response to well-publicized incidents involving pit bulls, some jurisdictions began placing restrictions on the ownership of pit bulls, these restrictions are called - BSL Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is any law, ordinance or policy which pertains to a specifically named breed or breeds, but does not affect any others. Some examples of BSL: - Restrictions on or the prohibition of ownership of American Pit Bull Terriers in some municipalities of the United States, Ontario, Canada and Queensland, Australia, and the Federal ban on importing them into Australia. - Restrictions on the availability of homeowners insurance for owners of many breeds, including American Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Dobermanns, Akitas, etc., in some areas of the United States. - Proposed legislation in some Australian states that would prohibit the breeding of any breed of dog not recognized by the Australian National Kennel Council, or restrict or prohibit the propagation of some breeds. - Bans on the transporting of some breeds by some airline carriers during the 1990s - Prohibition of ownership of the Welsh Corgi in some municipalities in Italy - A ban on the importing of the German Shepherd Dog into Australia for a large part of the 20th century - The requirement that Greyhounds wear muzzles in public in some Australian states why we consider BSL a canine racism and a crime against animal and human rights ... read more |
