Each breed was developed to perform a specific job, whether that job is hunting rabbits, retrieving downed birds, herding livestock or sitting on peoples laps. Eventually the use of dogs in blood sports was banned in many countries, but unlawful pit bull fighting still occurs in many a back alley. So your chance of being killed by any type of dog in the U.S. in any given year is one in 10 million. I always hesitate to invoke that example because the fact that mine is wonderful doesnât negate the fact that there are really nasty dogs out there! All rights reserved. Dog aggression is a common issue in pit bulls. Make the most of your reading with comments, events and more. With all the pit bull controversy, it is interesting to note that one is most likely to be bitten by one of these breeds; dachshund, chihuahua, and the jack russell terrier. In that same town, all 10 Pugs and 20 Pit Bulls bite someone. The truth is pit bulls are loyal to their owners and will do whatever their owners want them to do to please them. Recently, a woman in Connecticut was mauled by two pit bulls and she ultimately lost her struggle to survive. There have been police who shot and killed dogs at the wrong house or killed dogs who were just going about their business. By attempting to show that negative views about pit bulls have often been shaped by misunderstandings of the breed and its history, she has unwittingly become a heroine for the pro-pit bull community and the target of threats and harassment from those who see her as an apologist for a vicious animal. [Meet the United States' most popular dog breeds.]. When developing a breed, breeders selected only those dogs that performed their job best to produce the next generation. Dog fighting is on the decline in the United Sates due to tougher laws and better surveillance. There is professional dog fighting, which has traditionally been white and rural. The title âpit bullâ has expanded so dramatically over the years that people are lumping any dog with a large head and short coat into that category rather than separating out each of the pit bull breeds. It mostly comes from fear. But in the 1970s, there was this well-intentioned move by the humane movement to stamp out what was left of illegal dog fighting. Some states and cities have acted on the research: The state of Maryland has determined that pit bulls are \"inherently dangerous\" and all owners are liable for any injuries they cause, according to the Baltimore Sun.Even the U.S. Army has acknowledged that pit bulls are high-risk dogs; they are therefore prohibited in some military housing units.Pit bulls join several other breeds on the list of dogs that are reco… Genetically speaking, the pit bull may have some aggressive tendencies in their blood line as may rottweilers, doberman pinchers and a variety of shepard breeds. Pit Bull breeds generally have a high play drive, and they require a lot of physical exercise. No. A June 20th Time.com piece by Charlotte Alter called “The Problem With Pit Bulls” elicited a flood of protest mail from supporters of the breed. I'm thinking about adding to this page. One pit bull we gained custody of, named Asia, looked like a skeleton covered with skin when PETA released her from the 15-pound chain that had restricted her for years. They are banned in the United Kingdom and several other countries. In order to do that, they partnered with the media to put dog fighting on the front page of every newspaper in America. 36 talking about this. Thereâs the American pit bull terrier; the American Staffordshire terrier, which was the American Kennel Club conformation breed that branched off from the American pit bull terrier when folks wanted AKC legitimacy and didnât want to be associated with the American pit bull terrier riff-raff. Those problems are real, and theyâll take a while to solve. But it still happens, as the wounds on the head, neck, and leg of this pit bull in North Carolina demonstrate. Today is National Voter Registration Day! There have been many highs and lows, they have come through so much, and they are still with us. Treat your dog with kindness like your children. Secondly, thereâs no science that bears that idea out. In a word: no. A true story about a pit bull dog that's honest - no gushing, just the facts - that demonstrates once and for all, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that pit bulls are DOGS like any other dog. And the more terrified everyone became, the more people who probably should not have had these dogs, wanted them. It is not uncommon to hear such a story where this type of dog is concern. The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a dog breed recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA), but not the American Kennel Club (AKC). Dog breeds are characterized by certain physical and behavioral traits. THE COLORS ARE AMAZING AND THIS DEAN RUSSO DEFINITELY KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT PITBULLS! So are a handful of other breeds and mixed breeds. But the trigger-happy mentality is pretty bad. How did they go from mascot to monster? Instead, there was this social movement, with thousands of people signing petitions to save the dog and sending in donations, while the fund for the boyâs treatment hardly gained any donations. An exercised Pit Bull is a well-behaved Pit Bull. Regulated breeds typically comprise the “pit bull” class of dogs, including American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and English Bull Terriers. One of the things they do when you stay at the farm is to have a shelter dog be your roommate, so the dogs can get used to a family environment and they can get more information about how the dog behaves in that environment. Reality: Pit Bulls do not have any special physical mechanism or enzyme that allows them to “lock” their jaws. My cat has bitten me as has a yellow labrador. Her bookstore appearances now require security, and her home has been equipped with surveillance cameras. This interview was edited for length and clarity. I know that sounds odd because I spent all this time writing a book specifically about pit bulls, but I really did come to appreciate that all dogs are the same species. In other words, perfect storm of factor upon factor. But when the authorities threatened to euthanize Mickey, public opinion swung behind the dog, not the boy. Please share this video with your family and friends For people who are thinking of getting a pit bull, I would say, focus on the individual dog in front of you. The Truth About Pit Bulls. In the 1950s, with the consumer boom after WWII, there was a huge push toward kennel club breeds and the pit bull fell by the wayside. Breeds such as the American pit bull terrier, the American staffordshire terrier the American bully and the staffordshire bull terrier are all included. The short version is: The dogs were really popular during WWI and the Depression, when there was this nostalgic feeling around the average blue collar working Joe. Four-year-old Kevin Vicente was attacked by a pit bull named Mickey in Phoenix, Arizona. If they don't get vigorous exercise for at least an hour per day, whether it's games, dog sports, work of some kind, a jog or a brisk walk, they are apt to invent something to do. Whether you love or hate them, theyâve been a huge part of who we are from the Battle of Gettysburg onward. What I love about pit bulls are the same things I love about dogs. Immediate surgical exploration is required to prevent catastrophic outcomes, especially limb loss. All breeds can and do attack as they are the domestication of select breeding of the wolf. The story of the pit bull is fascinating because it is such an American story. Itâs a long, involved story. This page discusses the most notable traits of Pit Bull type dogs, including the potential for dog aggression. And what advice would you give to our readers if they are thinking of owning one? Yes, any dog can attack their owner. Itâs such an individual thing. And for those who already have one or more and would like to learn more about the breed, or simply for anyone who would like to understand these great dogs…..read on. In truth, bully breeds are goofy, loyal, lovey dogs, by and large fantastic with children. Have you owned them? Originally bred as fighting dogs, pit bulls were used to hold the heads of larger animals, including bulls. It takes place mostly in Louisiana and Texas, though there was a major bust in Missouri a while back. Pit bulls, like these in Oxford, Mississippi, arouse strong passions. Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase. If one attains a puppy, it can be difficult to know the genetic predispositions in a given dog. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Dog fighting is a serious problem, but all the cruelty investigators I consulted said that it is decreasing. Rarely do the writers perform actual research. I mainly want to put a little bit of everything about pit bulls such as history, health care, feeding and actives for a pit bull, as well as maybe uploading some more pictures. Given the staggering amount of press coverage of Michael Vick's pit bulls, television shows devoted to pit bulls, such as Pit Bulls and Parolees, now in its tenth season, Cesar Millan's Dog Nation, co-branded with a pit bull, and the constant production of "positive pit bull" campaigns on the Internet, it seems unlikely that the average person cannot identify a pit bull. He was temporarily blinded in one eye and his jaw was broken. We donât know the exact figures, because no oneâs required to keep a comprehensive list of dog shootings, but we can probably guess there are thousands every year. Thereâs the Staffordshire bull terrier, which has been a conformation breed since the 1930s; and the newer breed called the American bully, which was derived from the American Staffordshire terrier in the 1990s. Unpack this problem for us, as police in America today seem to be shooting more than just innocent dogs. People who have studied these cases, like Jeffrey Sacks at the CDC, have shown that when it comes to fatalities caused by pit bulls, the breed identifications are often not accurate. Then you have urban dog fighting, which is more a one-off, âI want to see if my dog can beat your dog.â Both are forms of torture and need to be eradicated. A study on fatalities between 2000-2009 in the journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that in over 80 percent of those cases there were four or more significant factors related to the care and control of the dog. It wasnât until I started to meet some that I began to question those assumptions. In fact, the UKC's official breed standard for the American Pit Bull Terrier states that "most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression." You tell us that pit bulls used to be among Americaâs favorite breedsâPetey, the famous dog who was part of Our Gang/The Little Rascals was a pit. Let’s use an oversimplification to explain: Let’s say in a town there are 100 Pit Bulls and 10 Pugs. The majority (60%) of dogs identified as "pitbulls" do not have DNA signatures from any of the pitbull-type breeds - leading to exceedingly inaccurate breed information in media reports and in unreliable statistics about dog bites and fatal attacks. Tell us about your own experiences with pit bulls. But, by focusing on the dog in front of you, you will make the best choice. The first thing I did when I was consulting this book is reach out to the experts in the animal sciences to talk about whatâs going on with these incidents and how best to prevent them. The truth about pit bulls . What do you love about pit bulls, Bronwen? The owners of this page are apart of a community called F.A.H. Stronger animal control laws, public education and responsible … Mickey the pit bull nearly killed a child but ended up in a cushy, air-conditioned cell while the boy could not find funds for medical surgery. They all share more than 99.8 percent of their DNA. Thatâs always been the demographic the dogs were most popular with. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. It is an inherently aggressive breed, isnât it? … I would never state that one should or shouldn’t own a pit bull. They were seen as all-American: no fuss, no frills, everyday dogs. The following is basic breed information for anyone who is interested in acquiring a Pit Bull. From 2005 to 2015, pit bulls killed 232 Americans, about one citizen every 17 days. Hear in lies the dichotomy… “IF” one is bitten by the more likely biters, it can be fairly straight forward to see that they are of small stature and can be fought off. The pit bull is the name for a “type” of dog. Ten months later, he still bears the scars. Standing for … Pit bulls were originally used for bull- and bear-baiting, and later were bred to fight dogs in an arena. Thereâs a great book about this by Radley Balko called, The Rise of the Warrior Cop. Animal Farm Foundation was founded by a now retired literary agent named Jane Barkley, who lives on a horse farm in upstate New York and wanted to restore the reputation of the American pit bull terrier as a mascot. Thank goodness, after the attention the case received, the Vicente family has had more donations. However, one personality trait of the Pit Bull breed is determination. You use the term âbattlefield mentalityâ when discussing the number of dogs shot by police. It seems to be shoot first, ask questions later. WELCOME TO THE PAGE!!! 108K likes. Many say that any pit bull raised in a non-aggressive environment by gentle and knowledgeable owners will not attack. Photograph by William Albert Allard, Nat Geo Image Collection, The Most Feared Dogs May Also Be the Most Misunderstood, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/07/pit-bull-ban-aggressive-dog-breed-bronwen-dickey.html, Kevin Vicente was savagely attacked by a pit bull named Mickey, a heroine for the pro-pit bull community and the target of threats and harassment, Chinese festival where dogs are on the menu, when it comes to fatalities caused by pit bulls, the breed identifications are often not accurate, the United States' most popular dog breeds, policeman shot a dog in a car because it barked at him. You’re informed. This is a child who really suffered, his family suffered, and that deserves an incredible amount of compassion. The total of reported Pit Bull bites doesn’t reflect the likelihood of a Pit Bull bite. One obvious question they could investigate: Was the dog actually a Pit Bull? Facebook page for The Truth About Pit Bulls blog. Attacks by Pit Bull Terriers are more likely to cause severe morbidity than other breeds of dogs. If you compare a Pit Bull skull to a skull of any other dog breed, you can see with the naked eye that both skulls share the same characteristics and general bone structure. PEOPLE is rerunning this 2016 article about pit bulls to address and clear up some myths about this group of dogs. In some areas, regulated breeds also include a variety of other dogs like American Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, Dalmatians, Chow Chows, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers or any mix of these breeds—and dogs who simply resemble thes… The American Pit Bull Terrier is a companion and family dog breed. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- The American Pit Bull Terrier is technically the only true pit bull, although the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier are often referred to as pit bulls. Pit bull type dogs include breeds such as Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, and American Staffordshire terriers, amongst others. DECONSTRUCTING BOGUS "PITBULL STATISTICS". Not just pit bulls but dogs as a species. A self-taught canine behaviorist, I have been studying the pit bull controversy for many a year. They will always be a powerful symbol. With the exemption of the jack russell terrier, the bite of the doberman as an example, is less likely to cause the damage that the immensely powerful pit bull can inflict. Everyone thought the dog would be euthanized. Yeah, if we arenât careful we are. Fatalities are incredibly rare. I grew up in the 1980s, and I was always terrified of them. Animals are unpredictable. All breeds can and do attack as they are the domestication of select breeding of the wolf. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. She is seven and is extremely affectionate, wonderful, and smart. They are banned in the United Kingdom and several other countries. Thatâs a good thing because the more itâs pushed out the better. In the U.S., we have 320 million people and between 77 and 83 million dogs. It is difficult for experts to label these as “non-pit bulls.”. November 16, 2013. I wouldnât say get a dog just because itâs a pit bull, just as I wouldnât reject a dog out of hand just because itâs a pit bull. ©2021 Verizon Media. All too often, they serve as a proxy for our own prejudices. While more Pit Bulls bit someone, they weren’t more likely to bite someone. You will learn here that while Pit Bulls make great family companion… 5.0 out of 5 stars The unvarnished, unbiased TRUTH about pit bull dogs, once and for all. Pit Bulls are the most misunderstood dogs there are. That was one of the things that troubled me. Pit bulls in the news. They are the most wrongfully feared and legislated against. Important conversations are happening now. 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Or enzyme that allows them to do that, they have come through so,... Statistics '' were seen as all-American: no fuss, no frills everyday! Their jaws and 83 million dogs bull- and bear-baiting, and her home has been equipped surveillance... She started, most shelters in America stars the unvarnished, unbiased truth about pit bulls the!