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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020
The good, the bad, and the snugly about your new best friend No breed of dog is the subject of more extreme feelings--both good and bad--than the Pit Bull. Man-eating monster or heroic nanny-dog: What's the real story? Are Pit Bulls the very best breed for kids? (Not always.) Is it all in how you raise them? (Not totally). Will they lick you to death? (Absolutely!) In the fully updated 2nd Edition of Pit Bulls For Dummies, Dr. Caroline Coile--Dog Writer's Association of America Hall of Famer and former Pit Bull owner--sniffs out the reality behind the myth, rips through the dogma that both vilifies and sanctifies this unique family of dogs, helps you find the best source for your new family member, and shows you the latest and greatest ways to raise, train, and live with your own partying Pit Bull and reap the rewards of happy canine companionship for years to come. Understand your Pit Bull's origins and characteristics * Decide if a Pit Bull is for you * Evaluate Pit Bull sources, whether adopting, rescuing, or buying * Care for all ages, from puppies to older dogs * Deal with bad behavior * Socialize your new dog Follow the advice in this book and help show the world that well-brought-up Pit Bulls are some of the most charming, companionable, and fun-to-be-around dogs out there--enjoy!
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Pit Bulls For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2021 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2020946399
ISBN 978-1-119-72090-4 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-72080-5 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-72081-2 (ebk)
Pit Bulls For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Pit Bulls For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Pit Bulls
Chapter 1: Pitting and Petting: The Pit Bull’s Past
Creating Canine Gladiators
Showing Off
Becoming America’s Sweetheart
Overcoming Pride and Prejudice
Growing in Popularity
Finding the Middle Ground
Chapter 2: Sizing Up the Pit Bull
Toughing It Out
Building a Better Bulldog
Strutting His Stuff
Chapter 3: Deciding whether a Pit Bull Is Right for You
Making a Commitment
Making the Match
Getting to the Heart of the Matter (or Your Pit Bull)
Facing the Facts
Chapter 4: Shopping the Bull Market
Avoiding Bad Blood
Searching High and Low
Checking the Bona Fidos
Picking Your Pit
Part 2: Giving Your Pit Bull a Good Home
Chapter 5: Bringing Home Your New Best Friend
Puppy-proofing Your Home
Fencing In Your Pit Bull
Providing a Cozy Doghouse
Giving Your Dog a Comfortable Place to Sleep
Shopping for Your Pit Bull
Chapter 6: Living with Your Pit Bull
Acting Like a Pit Bull in a China Shop: House Rules
Taking the Pit Stop Outside
When the Plumbing’s Broken
Trying Your Patience
Understanding Pit Talk
Becoming a Social Animal
Going to Kindergarten
Meeting the Children
Going for a Bull Run
Making a Splash
Hitting the Road
Finding a Pit-Sitter
Finding a Lost Love
Part 3: Training and Having Fun with Your Pit
Chapter 7: Coping with a Pit Bull Terrorist
Saving Your Home
Fighting Like Cats and Dogs
Avoiding DogFights
Breaking Up a DogFight
Calming the Raging Bull
Dealing with Pit Bull Aggression
Plucking Up Courage
Corralling the Escape Artist
Digging Up Some Dirt
Tales from the Bark Side
Chapter 8: Training the Teacher’s Pit
Training Your Pit to Wag Her Tail
Getting the Timing Right
Following the Ten Commandments
Going to School
Getting the Right Stuff
Starting Basic Training
Trying Every Trick in the Book
Chapter 9: Going Out to the Bull Games
Pulling His Weight … and More
Becoming a S.T.A.R.
Being a Good Citizen
Staying in Step with Obedience and Rally
Overcoming Obstacles
Following His Nose
Getting a Grip on Schutzhund
Rounding Up a Herding Title
Taking a Flying Leap
Racing the Clock
Part 4: Keeping Your Pit Bull Healthy
Chapter 10: Feeding a Bottomless Pit
Starting with Dry or Moist Foods
Considering Raw
Boning Up on Nutrition
Feeding Time
Keeping Your Dog Hydrated
Chapter 11: Primping Your Pit Bull
Taking Your Pit to the Cleaners
Smelling Like a Rose
Debugging Your Dog
Saving Your Dog’s Skin
Nailing Down Nail Care
Going in One Ear and Cleaning Out the Other
Keeping an Eye on the Bull’s Eye
Keeping Your Dog Armed to the Teeth
Chapter 12: A Clean Bull of Health
Examining Your Pit Bull
Establishing a Relationship with a Vet You Trust
Making Sense of Blood Tests
Giving Your Dog Medicine
Staying Up to Date on Your Dog’s Vaccinations
Keeping Your Pit Free of Worms
Dealing with Intestinal Parasites
Preventing Heartworm
Chapter 13: Sick as a Dog
When Your Dog Just Isn’t Himself
Dealing with Diarrhea
Saying Vamoose to Vomiting
Coping with Coughing
Helping Your Dog with Urinary Problems
Understanding Endocrine Disorders
Investigating Immunological Problems
Banishing Blood Parasites
Coping with Cancer
Looking into Lameness
Doctoring Your Dog
Trying Home Remedies
Chapter 14: Pit Bull First Aid
ABCs of First Aid
Specific Emergencies
Chapter 15: Helping Your Dog Age Well
Eat and Run
Act Your Age
When You’ve Done Everything
Eternally in Your Heart
Part 5: The Part of Tens
Chapter 16: Ten Pit Bull Resources
American Dog Breeders Association
American Kennel Club
DogsBite.org
Dogster
Dr. Sophia Yin
Live Science
Pit Bull Rescue Central
Strombeck’s Home-Prepared Diets for Dogs and Cats
United Kennel Club
Veterinary Partner
Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Help the Pit Bull’s Reputation
Understanding Both Sides
Showing Off
Being Considerate
Steering Your Dog away from Trouble
Being Realistic
Staying Optimistic
Coming to the Rescue
Organizing a Local Pit Bull Group
Spreading the Word
Supporting the Cause
Index
About the Author
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 The ADBA Breed Standard
Chapter 12
TABLE 12-1 Canine Body Temperature
List of Illustrations
Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: Pit Bulls, because of their toughness, have been asked throughout h...
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: You can’t deny the noble look of this dog.
FIGURE 2-2: A natural athlete.
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: The pups will grow up to be strong dogs who will need lots of exerc...
FIGURE 3-2: Softball, anyone?
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: All puppies are cute. Take care to choose the one that’s best for y...
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: A fenced yard is a safe playground for your Pit Bull.
FIGURE 5-2: A crate can be your Pit Bull’s sanctuary.
FIGURE 5-3: Make sure to select durable, heavy-duty chew toys.
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: A submissive Pit Bull.
FIGURE 6-2: An aggressive Pit Bull.
FIGURE 6-3: A playful Pit Bull.
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: A Pit Bull and his weight-pulling harness.
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1: Examining an ear.
FIGURE 11-2: Giving the eyes a once-over.
FIGURE 11-3: Inspecting the teeth.
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: Pit Bull anatomy.
Chapter 15
FIGURE 15-1: Older Pit Bulls still need an active lifestyle to stay healthy.
Guide
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Index
About the Author
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Introduction
Pull up a chair and spend some time with one of the most amazing, yet controversial, breeds to ever wag a tail. A breed of satin and steel, Pit Bulls are a mixture of softness and strength, an uncanny canine combination of fun, foolishness, and serious business, all wrapped up in love. If you ignore any of these ingredients you’re cheating yourself, and your dog, of the best relationship possible. My aim with this book has been to include the same mixture. Parts of it will be fun, a few parts perhaps even foolish, and much of it serious — always with the aim of strengthening and lengthening the bond between you and dog, and ensuring the Pit Bull earns back its good name.
But this book, like the breed, also comes with a caveat. As much as I hate to admit it, the breed has earned its controversial status. The Pit Bull has another side, one that too many dog lovers (and books) deny, ignore, or excuse. To do so isn’t fair to Pit Bull owners, other dogs, and the breed itself. Understanding this breed — both the good and the bad — is the best way to protect it. The irrefutable fact is that more Pit Bulls have killed more people and other dogs than any other type of dog has done. Owning any dog is a big responsibility, but because Pit Bulls aren’t like any other dog, owning a Pit Bull requires even more vigilance.
This is not a book meant to sit on your shelf as a collector’s item. This book should have ragged pages and chewed covers, with dog hairs as bookmarks. It should have imprints of tiny puppy teeth and full-grown paw prints marking the pages with your dog’s progress through life, and when one day it comes time to place it back on the shelf with the last chapter christened with tears, you will have no regrets. You will have known that you and your dog shared a life of fun, foolishness, and love, all made possible because of some serious stuff. But for now, just make sure you don’t get so immersed in reading that you forget to play with your dog!
About This Book
Whether this is the only dog book you’ll have on your shelf, or whether your shelves are jammed with dog books, I wrote this book to be the one book you can count on when it comes to caring for and enjoying your Pit Bull. Too many dog care books are filled with unrealistic scare tactics that would cause anyone to just give up, and others are filled with hand-me-down dog lore that has no basis in reality. I did my best to make sure you won’t find either of those in this book, but instead, evidence-based information that you can rely on when deciding whether whether this is the breed for you and, if the answer is yes, how you can best raise your dog to be the dog of your dreams.
Who should read this book? The people who think Pit Bulls should be purged from the face of the earth, as well as those who think it’s all how you raise them. Neither point of view is correct. The real Pit Bull lies somewhere in between, the victim of both people who hate him too much or love him too much to understand the total dog.
This book is a reference. The chapters are self-contained chunks of information that you can read in any order you want. If you want to read the book from beginning to end, feel free, but if you prefer to skip around and read the topics that interest you, be my guest! The Table of Contents and Index can help you find what you’re looking for.
Sidebars (text in gray boxes) and paragraphs marked with the Technical Stuff icon (see “Icons Used in This Book”) are skippable. Also, within this book, you may note that some web addresses break across two lines of text. If you’re reading this book in print and want to visit one of these web pages, simply key in the web address exactly as it’s noted in the text, pretending as though the line break doesn’t exist. If you’re reading this as an e-book, you’ve got it easy — just click the web address to be taken directly to the web page.
Foolish Assumptions
When writing this book, I made some assumptions about you, the reader:
You may be considering getting a Pit Bull, and you’d like to learn more about the breed.
You already have a Pit Bull, and you want some tried-and-true advice about how to care for and manage your four-legged friend.
You have an open mind, and you’re interested in hearing the facts about Pit Bulls so that you can be a well-informed ally to the breed.
Icons Used in This Book
Throughout, the text, I use little pictures, called icons, to flag special bits of information. Here are what the icons represent:
For good, old-fashioned, helpful advice, look to this icon.
When there’s a general concept that I don’t want you to forget, I use this icon.
When presenting information that may protect you or your dog from harm, I give you this icon.
When I wade into the weeds on more technical information on Pit Bulls or caring for them, I mark that material with the Technical Stuff icon. You can skip anything marked with this icon without missing the point of the topic at hand.
Beyond the Book
In addition to the material in the print or e-book you’re reading right now, this product also comes with some access-anywhere goodies on the web. Check out the free Cheat Sheet for a five-minute health check you can do for your Pit Bull, as well as medical basics and emergency first aid. To access the Cheat Sheet, go to www.dummies.com and type Pit Bulls For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the Search box.
Where to Go from Here
If you’re interested in the history of the Pit Bull breed, its current controversies, or whether this is the breed for you, check out Part 1. Jump to Part 2 if you need advice on choosing a Pit Bull, breeder versus rescue, and what to look out for. The rest of the book gives you the scoop on caring for and training your Pit Bull friend.
WHY THIS BOOK ISN’T SUGAR-COATED
I’m a lifelong lover of dogs, but also a lover of science. I’ve been trained in the biological bases of animal behavior, including the science of behavioral genetics. Dogs are the greatest experiment ever performed in behavioral genetics, representing thousands of years of selection for behavior — selection that makes Pointers point, Retrievers retrieve, Greyhounds chase, and Beagles sniff. So, it always seemed strange to me that Pit Bull advocates claimed that their breed was exempt from any genetically influenced behaviors.
Some years ago, when writing my Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, I included some cautionary statements about Pit Bull–type breeds under their breed descriptions. I did this with several other breeds that had bad bite, or even fatality, records. The book then went out for review. I was, to put it mildly, attacked by Pit Bull advocates, quick to tell me that Pit Bulls were nanny dogs, all the statistics were rigged, they were far sweeter than any other breed, and so on. The intensity of their response convinced me that my viewpoint was wrong.
So, when I saw two tiny dumped Pit Bull puppies on the road one day, I snatched them up and brought them home to raise like one (or two) of our own. Our friends told us it wasn’t a good idea, that Tuggy and Scooty could harm our other dogs. I scoffed at them, parroting what I’d heard: that Pit Bulls used to be nanny dogs, and it was “all how you raised them.” We raised them like we had raised all our other dogs over the past 40 years — 30 or so dogs in all — with never a serious incident. We shook our heads at how Pit Bulls were misunderstood and the unfairness of how the breed was discriminated against. Tuggy and Scooty were shining examples that it was, indeed, all how you raised them. They became best buddies with one of my other dogs, Luna, and I trusted them implicitly.
One day they all had big new chew bones. Luna decided she should growl possessively at Scooty. And that was all it took. With no warning, not a bark or a growl, not a sign of anger, Scooty jumped on Luna, grabbed her around the neck, and proceeded to choke the life out of her. Tuggy joined in, silently grabbing a back leg and pulling as hard as he could. My mother and I desperately tried to get them off of Luna and pry open their jaws. Luna’s tongue turned blue, she lost consciousness, and let loose her bowels. At that point I knew we had lost her.
You know the worst nightmare you’ve ever had? The one where something horrible is happening to someone you love, but you’re moving in slow-motion, as if you have 50-pound weights on your hands and feet, and you can’t speak or yell because you have no breath? That’s how I felt when I saw Luna getting killed in front of me. You may think you could react well in such a situation and save your dog’s life, but you can’t.
I tried to pry Scooty’s jaws off Luna, but all that got me was my hand bitten clean through (it would later require a $26,000 surgery to repair). Scooty took off running around the house dragging Luna’s lifeless body like a leopard with a dead antelope in a macabre game of keep-away. I tried to think of any weapon I could use, anything that looked like a break stick, but I had nothing because I trusted my Pit Bulls. I trusted what people had told me, and as I result, I was totally unprepared. In desperation, I overturned a marble table and Scooty finally let go.
I learned a very hard lesson that day: Pit Bull behavior is not, in fact, about how you raise them. I had been duped by people who, in their quest to defend their favorite breed, had given me wrong information and caused me to be overconfident. Had I been better prepared with the facts, chances are, this tragedy could have been prevented. I never would have given the dogs bones together. I never would have trusted them to the extent I had. And I never would have been so unprepared to break them up.
I tell you all this to explain why you won’t just get the standard, sugar-coated, “nanny dog,” “It’s all how you raise them” mantras in this book. I won’t do that to you, to your family (human, canine, and feline alike), or to your Pit Bulls. I refuse to set them, or you, up for failure. I want you to have a great life with your Pit Bull, but to do that you need to fully understand the best, and the worst, this breed has to offer. Because when they are good (and most of them are, most of the time), they are great, but when they’re bad, they can be deadly. If you have a Pit Bull, your job is to understand and accept both sides of the breed, and prepare accordingly.
Part 1
Getting Started with Pit Bulls
IN THIS PART …
Get acquainted with the Pit Bull’s past and how it affects his present.
Know what Pit Bulls look like and how big they get.
Look beyond the public image (good and bad) and consider whether a Pit Bull is the new best friend you’re looking for.
Find the right source and the right Pit for you.
Chapter 1
Pitting and Petting: The Pit Bull’s Past
IN THIS CHAPTER
Explaining the Pit Bull’s origins
Creating a distinct breed
Going mainstream
Being labeled unfairly
Growing in numbers
Facing the facts
Perhaps no other dog breed has endured as many public misconceptions as has the Pit Bull. These misconceptions truly run the gamut: Although some people consider Pit Bulls to be the safest and gentlest companions, others regard them as evil enough to be Satan’s understudies. Neither viewpoint is correct, but both have some basis in fact — and in the breed’s controversial roots.
Creating Canine Gladiators
Dogs and humans around the world have long shared a special relationship — a relationship originally based on function. Early dogs who proved least useful — or who were too wild, skittish, or dumb — probably ended up in the cave man’s pot, but the most helpful dogs (who were good at sounding alarms at intruders or at chasing down game) lived to produce others like them. Eventually, breed forerunners were created by breeding the best guards to the best guards and the best hunters to the best hunters. Of these, some strains proved to be especially brave and tough — valuable traits in a rough world.
Of course, these strains weren’t really breeds. Few cave men had American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club papers for their dogs, so pure breeding wasn’t terribly important to them. Still, with time the strains of dogs became more and more specialized. By classical Greek times, large fierce dogs called Molossians were so valued that Phoenician traders used them as bartering items. Because of this practice, the Molossian type was distributed along Phoenician shipping routes, some of which included stops in ancient Britain. The Molossians who ended up in Britain became further specialized and gave rise to the Mastiff family of dogs.
In Britain, Mastiffs were perfected as war dogs. When the Romans invaded Britain, they were so impressed by the Mastiff’s warring ability that they brought some back to Rome. Romans valued entertainment, and the courageous dogs became infamous as gladiators who fought humans, bears, lions, bulls, and even each other in Rome’s great Coliseum.
Rome was not, however, the only civilization to revel in blood sports. The British, too, placed high value on contests that featured animals fighting to the death. The spectacle of a dog killing a bull was the highest entertainment that most small villages could offer its poor inhabitants. But this kind of entertainment spanned all classes: By the 16th century, bull-, bear-, and even horse-baiting provided the finale for a royal evening of entertainment (for an explanation of bull-baiting, see the sidebar “Bull-baiting”). In the 17th century, the King even appointed a Master of the King’s Games of Bears, Bulls, and Dogs.
The dogs’ owners won prizes for their animals’ spectacular performances, and the progeny of famous or particularly game dogs (meaning those dogs who refuse to quit the task at hand despite overwhelming adversity) were sought after and capable of bringing high prices. As distasteful as it sounds, these dogs produced the never-say-die stock from which today’s Pit Bull claims her heritage.
An end to legal blood sports in England finally came about in 1835, but that only pushed the fans and gamblers to conduct covert matches. Staging a clandestine bull-baiting would have been difficult, but scheduling a dogfight in a barn, cellar, or back room without being discovered was quite simple.
Dog fighting favored a slightly smaller, more agile gladiator than the dogs who were adept at baiting larger animals. Most historians believe that the stocky bull-baiting dogs were crossed with the swift and agile terriers of the time to produce the aptly named Bull and Terrier, a relatively small, smart, agile, tough, and strong game dog the likes of which had never been seen before. Other breed historians contend that no such cross was made and point out that the Bulldog of the time, the Bullenbeisser, was, in fact, so similar to the modern Pit Bull that it was simply a matter of selecting the most successful fighters. Whatever the recipe, it worked.
BULL-BAITING
Although the role of canine gladiator was the most visible job for the tough dogs of ancient Europe, it was far from their most important one. A subtype of Molossian dogs known as Bullenbeissers, or German Bulldogs, were valued for their ability to control unruly cattle, earning their keep as butcher’s dogs. These dogs had to catch and grip escaping or uncooperative bulls on their way to market. The dog would hang on the bull’s nose, gripping the nose without letting go until the butcher could regain control. A good butcher’s dog could make the butcher’s job easy; a bad dog could be killed by the bull. As with all people who depend on their dogs, butchers were proud of their best “bulldogs” and anxious to prove them better than the neighboring town butcher’s dogs. So began the cruel practice of bull-baiting, in which a bull was tormented (sometimes for hours) not only for entertainment, but also in the mistaken belief that torturing the animal before killing it made its meat more tender. In fact, in some places selling meat from a bull that had not been baited was illegal. Bullenbeissers gave rise to the Boxer breed in Germany and to what would eventually become the Pit Bull in Britain.
Almost every town in England had a bull-baiting ring. One or two dogs were released, and they would attempt to grab the bull (which was usually chained to a stake) by the nose, often tormenting it for hours. The cruelties inflicted upon the poor animals (bulls and dogs alike) by people in the process were atrocious. In one well-known case, the owner of a dog demonstrated how courageous his dog was by cutting off each of her legs, one leg at a time, while she continued to drag herself to attack the bull. The dog was lost, but her offspring were in high demand.
As the Bulldogs or Bull and Terriers became known less for their bull-baiting skills and more for their fighting skills in the pits, they came to be known as Pit Bulldogs, or more simply, Pit Bulls.
The breed known today as the Bulldog or English Bulldog is not the same as the Bulldog of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The earlier Bulldog strain is the ancestor of both the modern Pit Bull breeds and the modern Bulldog, but it was more similar to today’s Pit Bull than to today’s Bulldog. Many people still incorrectly refer to Pit Bulls as “Bulldogs,” though.
When English immigrants came to America, they brought with them their sport and their dogs. By the mid-1800s, dog fighting had a solid following in America. With the migration west, Bulldogs once again found themselves called upon to do the toughest jobs. They served as all-purpose farm and guard dogs, protecting families and stock from fierce wildlife, rampaging cattle, and marauding vermin. Many also served as hunting dogs, holding their own against bears, wolves, and on occasion, buffalo. Once again, the Bulldog underwent a metamorphosis — this time into a larger dog that could best serve these vital functions.
This variety of purpose is directly responsible for the great range in size of today’s Pit Bulls. An example of one possible size is shown in Figure 1-1.
FIGURE 1-1: Pit Bulls, because of their toughness, have been asked throughout history to do the tough jobs.
Showing Off
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, purebred dog mania was sweeping Europe and America. Anything that looked like a pure breed — and could be paraded around a show ring — was fair game. The fighting dogs (now dubbed Pit Bulls) seemed unlikely show dogs, however, for they lacked the desired association with the upper echelons of society (any association the upper class would admit to, that is).
The American Kennel Club (AKC) was formed in 1884 to promote the interests of purebred dogs. It did so by maintaining a pedigree registry and by sponsoring performance and conformation competitions. Performance competitions were designed to test dogs at the function for which they were bred; for example, pointing breeds competed at pointing field trials. Conformation competitions were designed to compare dogs to the breed’s standard of excellence, which in turn was written to describe a dog who was built to perform the job for which he was bred.
That the AKC was interested in promoting both the performance and the conformation of breeds was a problem because the job that the Pit Bull had been bred to perform was illegal. The AKC refused to endorse any aspect of dog fighting. And the old-time Pit Bull fighting men weren’t too interested in exchanging the excitement of the dog pit for a trot around the show ring.
Thus, an alternative registration body, called the United Kennel Club (UKC), was formed in 1898 to register Pit Bulls (and later, other breeds). The UKC, founded by Pit Bull owner Chauncey Bennett, emphasized function and included dog fighting as a legitimate function of Pit Bulls. To this day, the UKC remains a strong registry for many breeds — especially its banner breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier — but it no longer endorses dog fighting in any manner.
FIGHTING WORDS
Although dog fighting is illegal in the United States, it does occur — and it even has rules! Understanding how a traditional match was (and still is) conducted is — no matter how unsavory — essential to understanding the way Pit Bull breeding stock were selected for generations.
In the heat of battle, the dogs must discriminate between biting another dog and biting a human. Before a fight begins, each dog is washed by the opponent’s handler to make sure that no drugs or toxic or foul-tasting substances are on the dog’s coat. Otherwise the other dog would get the substances in his mouth. The dog is then dried and carried to his corner. During the fight, a referee and the two handlers remain in the ring with the dogs. The handlers sometimes kneel right beside the dogs; they are allowed to urge their dogs on but not to touch them. If a dog becomes “fanged” (that is, if its canine tooth pierces its own lip), the handlers hold both dogs while the referee tries to push the tooth back through the lip with a stick or other utensil. The dogs are then released a few feet from each other.
True fighting dogs are eerily silent. Barking, growling, snarling, and showing teeth are threat displays that most dogs use in an attempt to discourage an opponent before a fight begins. Most dogs are more show than go, and fighting consists largely of bluffing the other dog into submission. Not so with a fighting Pit Bull. He is more likely to whine with excitement.
If one of the fighting dogs turns away from the other, the referee calls a “turn” and both handlers retrieve their dogs and take them back to their corners. The dog who turned is then released and expected to “scratch,” meaning to cross the pit and attack the other dog within ten seconds. The dogs continue to take turns being released first every time one dog turns. The dog may crawl, stagger, or drag himself toward the other dog as long as he doesn’t stop or hesitate. A dog who fails to scratch loses the match, and perhaps his life, as he is considered to lack gameness. A dog who is losing, but nonetheless attempts to scratch, might lose the match but may return to fight another day if his handler concedes the match.
The UKC fancied up the breed’s name by calling it the American (Pit) Bull Terrier, later changing the name to the now accepted American Pit Bull Terrier. Because the breed’s roots are mostly European, and the Pit Bull may or may not have terrier influences, the name is somewhat of a misnomer.
The first American (Pit) Bull Terrier to be registered with the UKC was Bennett’s Ring, owned by UKC founder Chauncey Bennett.
In 1909, Pit Bull proponents organized yet another registry, the American Dog Breeder’s Association (ADBA). The ADBA registers only one breed: the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). The ADBA was traditionally the registry of fighting Pit Bulls. Although it no longer endorses dog fighting, it maintains that reputation. The ADBA instead now sponsors conformation shows and popular weight pulling contests.
NAME THAT DOG
A breed of many names, Pit Bulls have been called
American Pit Bull TerriersAmerican Bull TerriersAmerican Staffordshire TerriersBrindle BulldogsBull and TerriersBulldogsHalf and HalfsOld Family Reds (Ireland)Pit Bull TerriersPit DogsPit TerriersAmerican Rebel TerriersStaffordshire Fighting DogsStaffordshire TerriersYankee TerriersUntil the 1970s, neither the UKC nor the ADBA sponsored conformation shows. Yet, some Pit Bull fans wanted to try their dogs in the show ring. In 1936, Pit Bull fans who wanted to try their dogs in the show ring sacrificed the breed’s name (which was unacceptable to the AKC because of its fighting connotation) and replaced it with another name: the Staffordshire Terrier. The AKC welcomed Staffordshire Terriers into its registry and show rings. This turn of events set up an unusual situation in the world of dogs. The same dog can be registered as an American Pit Bull Terrier with the UKC and the ADBA, and as an American Staffordshire Terrier (the American was added in 1972 to distinguish the breed from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier) with the AKC. Over the years, Pit Bull fanciers have tended to stick with one registry (and breed name) over the other.
Today, the APBT and the American Staffordshire Terrier (or AmStaff) have diverged somewhat. AmStaffs tend to be larger and more muscular than APBTs. ABPTs have a greater range in looks because APBT breeders traditionally breed for function in the fighting pit rather than for looks in the show ring. Although there is considerable overlap, in general, AmStaffs look tougher, but APBTs are tougher.
Becoming America’s Sweetheart
In the early 20th century, Pit Bulls moved graciously from fame as pit fighters to fame as national symbols. The Pit Bull’s reputation for courage and tenacity, combined with his good nature, made him a natural as the dog synonymous with the United States during World War I. A popular war poster of the period aptly captures the true Pit Bull outlook by showing a picture of a Pit Bull wearing an American flag bandana above the phrase “I’m neutral, but not afraid of any of them.” Another poster featured a Pit Bull named Tige, who was the companion of the then-popular cartoon character Buster Brown. (Buster Brown and Tige also represented Buster Brown shoes in advertisements.)
In fact, a possible Pit Bull (or Pit Bull mix or Boston Terrier mix — nobody knows for sure) named Stubby emerged from World War I as a national hero. Stubby was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd infantry, and when it came time to go overseas, the men smuggled him on board. Despite no training or experience in battle conditions, Stubby braved intense shelling to comfort wounded soldiers lying in the crossfire. He eventually served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles. Stubby repeatedly warned his regiment of incoming mortar shells and mustard gas attacks, and once he even prevented a spy from escaping. When Stubby was wounded, he played the role of therapy dog, cheering hospitalized soldiers. Even while recuperating in Paris, he was credited with saving a child from being run over.
Stubby was decorated by General Pershing, awarded the rank of honorary sergeant, and received by three presidents. He led more parades than any dog in history. Upon Stubby’s death in 1926, his hide was mounted over a plaster form of his body, with an urn containing his ashes inside. He was displayed wearing a medal-covered coat, first at the Red Cross Museum and then at the Smithsonian Institute. Until recently, Stubby was largely forgotten, packed away in a crate in a back room of the Smithsonian. But in 2018, an animated movie about him renewed interest and Stubby is back on exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
The next Pit Bull to capture America’s heart was Petey of The Little Rascals and Our Gang movie fame. Actually, Petey had already starred in several Buster Brown movies (as Tige) before becoming one of the most popular Rascals of all time. When the original Petey died, he was replaced with another Petey, an American Staffordshire Terrier registered as Lucenay’s Peter. Whatever his role, Pete the Pup exemplified the Pit Bull in his role as a roguish buddy, furthering the breed’s appeal.
Popular with families and welcomed throughout neighborhoods, the Pit Bull basked in his reputation as a fun-loving and patient member of the family.
This is not to say that things were always rosy, however. As far back as the late 1800s and early 1900s, breed bans were put in place against “bulldogs,” as they were called in several cities, including Washington, D.C. Although people tend to think of Pit Bull attacks as a more recent trend, around the turn of the twentieth century, they had already been in the news for killing people, with many reporters calling for their banishment.
THE PETEY PAPERS
One of the earliest cinema dog stars was Petey, of Our Gang. Petey was modeled after Tige, Buster Brown’s cartoon dog. Like other Our Gang members, Petey’s life and death is surrounded by rumors. Some reliable sources say that the original Petey (played by a dog named Pal) was poisoned after about two years as a Little Rascal and replaced by his son, named Pete — explaining why Petey’s painted-on circle around one eye switches sides partway through the series. Another piece of Petey trivia: He was the first Pit Bull to be both UKC and AKC-registered.
Overcoming Pride and Prejudice
Dog breeds often wax and wane in popularity, and so it has been with the Pit Bull. After World War II, the Pit Bull gradually faded from the public eye and the family home. True devotees, however, remained as loyal to their dogs as their dogs were to them. Some of the breed remained as steadfast pets, others continued as game pit dogs — and many performed both roles admirably.
Dog fighting, although illegal, continued to be carried out with minimal interference from law enforcement until the 1970s, when the American Dog Owner’s Association (ADOA) formed to lobby against dogfights. The ADOA was successful in bringing public attention to the pit — helping to push dog fighting into the shadows and propelling pit dogs into an unflattering limelight.
As with many well-intentioned laws, some unforeseen problems accompanied the crackdown on dog fighting. Dog fighting continued; it just went underground. Its illegal nature attracted patrons whose major area of knowledge was in pay-offs and threats, not Pit Bulls. Knowledgeable dogmen (the term for serious breeders of fighting Pit Bulls) could no longer distribute information about training methods, leaving newcomers to dog fighting — who often believed scare tactic propaganda — to experiment using cruel practices. They trained the dogs using stolen puppies and dogs as “bait dogs” in an attempt to encourage them to kill, fed them gunpowder in an attempt to make them mean, and hired strangers to beat the dogs with clubs in an attempt to make them aggressive to strangers. Not surprisingly, their dogs seldom succeeded at matches, and they were often discarded. The harm done to these dogs made them difficult to place as pets, and the harm done to the breed’s reputation was immeasurable.
A certain segment of the population has always wanted to have the toughest dog on the block. Various breeds have filled these shoes throughout the years, and beginning in the early 1980s the Pit Bull was on its way to becoming the “tough guy” poster dog.
GOOD SPORTS
Although illegal pit fighting still exists, Pit Bulls can legitimately compete in conformation, obedience, agility, and weight pulling competitions, and they are proving themselves helpful as boar hunters, search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs, and most of all, companions.
Growing in Popularity
Over the years, Pit Bulls have gradually become more and more popular. But popularity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, it can be a big problem for any dog breed. The popularity of dog breeds is driven by fads. People copy celebrities who own a certain breed, neighbors and friends who own a breed, dogs they see in TV shows and movies, in advertisements, and on social media. With more than 200 breeds to choose from (not to mention an endless number of mixed-breed dogs available), dogs from only about 20 breeds make up more than half of all the dogs in North America. These super-popular breeds change through the years. And when people lose interest in a breed, those dogs can end up being abandoned to shelters.
It’s hard to track the popularity of Pit Bulls because most Pit Bulls aren’t registered with any dog registry. What we can do is look at statistics. According to Animals 24-7 (www.animals24-7.org), a group that, among other projects, tracks dog statistics, Pit Bulls made up approximately 8 percent of all dogs offered for sale in 2019, which translates to approximately 1.3 million Pit Bulls. That number doesn’t include the 31 percent of all dogs offered for adoption, which amounted to an additional 1 million Pit Bulls available in 2019. Together, Pit Bulls made up almost 12 percent of the dogs looking for a home that year. Overall, Pit Bulls made up almost 6 percent of all the dogs in the United States, or about 4.5 million Pit Bulls.
According to Animals 24-7, Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes make up about 33 percent of shelter intakes nationwide, with even higher numbers (up to 65 percent) in large cities. In fact, almost one-third of all Pit Bulls eventually find their way into shelters — a far higher percentage than any other breed in history. Why? For one thing, too many people get a Pit Bull because it’s the in-style dog of the moment, without considering the special responsibilities that come with owning this breed. Also, Pits especially appeal to younger people, who may not have the maturity, experience, or resources to properly care for a dog of any breed, let alone a Pit Bull.
FAMOUS PIT BULL OWNERS
Famous Pit Bull lovers include Jessica Alba, Jennifer Aniston, Fiona Apple, Fred Astaire, Kevin Bacon, Lake Bell, Jessica Biel, Rachel Bilson, Humphrey Bogart, Tom Brady, Adam Brody, Sophia Bush, Kaley Cuoco, Jack Dempsey, Thomas Edison, Adrian Grenier, Tom Hardy, Katherine Heigl, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Marc Jacobs, Helen Keller, Miranda Lambert, Madonna, Cesar Millan, Judd Nelson, Pink, Rachael Ray, Norman Reedus, Theodore Roosevelt, Alicia Silverstone, Jon Stewart, Channing Tatum, Danny Trejo, Wil Wheaton, Betty White, Woodrow Wilson, and Serena Williams.
In the following sections, I dig deeper into why the Pit Bull is growing in popularity, and the consequences of that growth.
The Michael Vick influence
In 2007, football star Michael Vick was convicted for his actions related to dogfighting. At that time, Pit Bulls confiscated from dog-fighting rings were usually euthanized, but nearly all of the dozens of Pit Bulls taken from Vick’s kennel were, instead, made the subjects of intensive rehabilitation efforts, each accompanied with a stipend of $5,000 to $20,000 toward their housing and training.
Vick’s dogs became the faces of fundraising, and millions of dollars poured into Pit Bull rescue and advocacy groups. Even groups such as the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which initially spoke out against rehabilitating fighting dogs, changed their positions.
Some people suddenly saw a financial profit in promoting Pit Bulls. Whether motivated by money or love for animals (or both), they embraced the idea that all it took was a little love, and even the most bloodied gladiator could become a child’s best friend. Although many of Vick’s dogs were never able to leave the rehab facility, some were reportedly rehabbed successfully and went on to live as family pets. They became all the proof people needed that any Pit Bull, no matter the dog’s background, could become a loving and trustworthy family member.
But only two years after Vick’s conviction, serious Pit Bull attacks started to rise. It wasn’t just that Pit Bull numbers were rising; it was that Pit Bull shelter adoptions were rising, too. All of a sudden, adopting a Pit Bull, especially one with an underdog story, was the fashionable thing to do. Totally convinced that all you add is love, well-meaning adopters made the shelter Pit Bull their pet project. That may sound great, but the results haven’t always been as planned.
The consequences of no-kill shelters
The mid-1980s saw the birth of the no-kill shelter movement, in which the goal was to end euthanasia of any adoptable pet. To be labeled a no-kill shelter, a shelter must only euthanize terminally ill or obviously dangerous pets, and these euthanizations can make up no more than 90 percent of their shelter population. No-kill shelters may be eligible for funding and grants that other shelters are not, and they tend to receive far more support from the public.
Unfortunately, in an effort to keep that 90 percent adoption rate, some no-kill shelters resorted to refusing to accept less adoptable dogs (such as Pit Bulls), hiding the breed of some dogs (such as Pit Bulls) to make them more adoptable, not disclosing behavioral problems such as aggression, or transferring “problem dogs” to other shelters, which may then, in turn, transfer them again and again.
These practices have resulted in a great increase in attacks by dogs adopted from shelters. Between 1858 and 2010, only five fatalities were attributed to adopted shelter dogs (two of those from wolf hybrids). Since 2010, shelter dogs have killed 45 people; of those, 32 were killed by Pit Bulls. Shelters are now being sued for irresponsibly adopting out some dogs in which they failed to disclose a history of aggression.
The increased public pressure to adopt rather than shop, along with neutering and spaying, has had the desirable effect of greatly reducing shelter dog populations, to the point that many shelters in some parts of the country now import shelter dogs (either from other parts of the United States or foreign countries). But despite the efforts of Pit Bull advocacy groups, Pit Bulls tend to be the last dogs to be adopted. Some shelters have only Pit Bulls left. Overpopulation is still a real thing when it comes to Pit Bulls. Nobody wants to euthanize healthy dogs, but some government-run shelters now won’t adopt out any Pit Bulls because of liability issues.
Other shelters have resorted to “empty the cages” days, in which dogs, including Pit Bulls, are offered at heavy discounts or for free. For-profit rescue groups often turn down Pit Bulls because they can’t charge the high adoption fees they can charge for other dogs, especially small ones. But giving away dogs is not the way to match people and dogs. And sadly, too many people get a free or cheap dog on a whim, and give the dog up just as easily. The Pit Bull overpopulation continues to be a problem without a solution in sight.
Breed-specific legislation
As public outcry has increased following Pit Bull attacks, some communities have adopted breed-specific legislation (BSL) that either bans certain breeds (always including Pit Bulls) or makes owners follow more restrictive rules than owners of other breeds. These restrictions can include mandatory spay/neuter, muzzling in public, not allowing them in designated areas, requiring the installation of special fencing, or requiring owners to have liability insurance. Pit Bull lobbies formed to oppose BSL, ultimately giving rise to the well-funded Pit Bull lobbies of today (see the nearby sidebar). The lobbies persuaded many states to prohibit BSL, but local laws can still override the state laws in some cases. As of this writing, more than 800 communities have adopted BSL, all including Pit Bulls in their target breeds.
THE PIT BULL LOBBY
Pit Bulls are the only breed of dog to have their own lobby, Best Friends Animal Society (www.bestfriends.org), which works to fight BSL and promote Pit Bulls as family pets. Best Friends is funded by private donations and by the Animal Farm Foundation (www.animalfarmfoundation.org) to the tune of more than $100 million a year. The Animal Farm Foundation also funds the National Canine Research Council to conduct pro–Pit Bull research.
Opponents of BSL point to the toll on innocent Pit Bulls. Although in most cases, currently owned Pit Bulls are grandfathered in when BSL is adopted, many people ignore the laws and adopt Pit Bulls or move to a town with the Pit Bulls they already own. Opponents also point to the difficulty of labeling Pit Bulls. They further contend that BSL is difficult and expensive to uphold, and that a better solution would be to enforce laws regarding dangerous dogs that are already on the books.
Proponents of BSL contend that laws regarding dangerous dogs only address dogs after they’ve maimed or killed a person. They consider BSL proactive and laws regarding dangerous dogs reactive. They further point to lower dog fatality and serious mauling numbers after BSL is implemented in various communities.
BSL almost certainly saves lives. But it does so by casting a large net that also ensnares innocent dogs because of their breed or appearance.
Finding the Middle Ground
No more controversial family of dogs exists today than the Pit Bull. On one side you have Pit Bull owners and lovers who think they are angels on four legs. They love their dogs like their children and are justifiably upset when they feel Pit Bull haters may threaten them. On the other side you have Pit Bull victims and haters who think they are demons on four legs. Some have been victims of Pit Bull attacks and are justifiably frightened of them and want the breed to be banned.
The truth is in the middle. No family of dogs comes close to being responsible for as many deaths as the Pit Bull has been. These deaths include human and canine family members and human and canine strangers. The attacks are committed by both well-raised and poorly raised Pit Bulls. But that doesn’t mean every Pit Bull is a mauler. In fact, most go through their entire lives being perfectly peaceful.
MAKING A NEW BREED: THE AMERICAN BULLY
In the early 1980s, several breeders began crossing American Pit Bull Terriers or American Staffordshire Terriers with Staffordshire Bull Terriers along with English Bulldogs, American Bulldogs, Olde English Bulldogges, and French Bulldogs. Their aim was to create a tougher-looking but sweeter-acting bully breed: the American Bully. By 2004, they had their own association, the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC).
The breed has four sizes: pocket, standard, classic, and XL. The UKC recognized the American Bully in 2013. As of this writing, you can single-register your dog with the UKC if it looks enough like an American Bully to probably be one. (Single registration means the dog is registered based on its appearance rather than parentage.) This rule has caused controversy, however, because some Pit Bull owners who don’t want the legal implications of Pit Bull ownership have single-registered their Pit Bulls as American Bullies. By doing so, they may be able to get around BSL that affects Pit Bulls but may not include American Bullies.
