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Pit Bulls - Just Dogs

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Pit Bulls are Just Dogs

"Pit bull" is a term that's used to describe one of several breeds of dogs (pit bull is not a breed of dog in itself).

Although pit bulls have been involved in some highly-publicized incidents, knowledgeable dog aficionados and owners know that it's the owner and training (or lack of it) that make a dog 'good' or 'bad.' This sentiment can be summed up by the statement "punish the deed, not the breed."

Note

No matter which 'side' you're on, try to read the following material objectively. Thanks!

Pit Bull Origins

Breeds that are Called Pit Bulls

The breeds commonly called pit bulls are the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

"The ancestors of modern Pit Bulls come from the bulldogs and terriers of England. At one time, every county in England had its own breed of terrier. Many of these still exist; however, some have evolved into new ones. Such is the case for the English White and the Black and Tan terriers, whose descendants include the bull-and-terriers, the Fox Terrier, and the Manchester Terrier." (Wikipedia)

Media Hysteria and "Statistics"

Inaccurate at Best

A pit bull's jaws don't lock. Think about it - do you see a big 'locking mechanism' sticking out next to their jaw? How would such a thing work? According to Dr. I. Brisbin, a senior researcher with the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of South Carolina, Pit Bulls do not have a "locking jaw" mechanism: "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. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."

MOST statements I've ever seen in the media related to Pit Bulls has been erroneous and indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of statistics. A statement like '30% of reported dog bites are caused by pit bulls' is meaningless, because information is missing. To evaluate this statement, one would need to know the percentage of dogs pit bulls represent of the total, and be assured that the reporting of which breed did the biting is accurate. Suppose 35% of total dogs are pit bull-type breeds - then 30% of the bites is less than their share! Bites by smaller breeds often aren't reported. Many dog agencies don't keep statistics by breed, and the rare ones who do so usually have to rely on the victim's assessment of the type of dog (pit bulls are hard to identify - see 'find the pit bull' below).

Find the Pit Bull

Bet you can't!

Is this a pit bull? Here's an interesting site that tests if you can identify the picture of a 'pit bull.' There are 20+ breeds that can be called one. Give it a try - you may be surprised and you'll certainly be educated.

Find the pit bull

The bottom line is, even if everyone agrees that 'pit bulls' should be legislated against, no one even agrees on what a pit bull is.

According to Wikipedia, "In the media the term [pit bull] is vague and may include other breeds with similar physical characteristics, such as the Perro de Presa Canario, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, Alano Espanol, Japanese Tosa, Dogue de Bordeaux, Cordoba Fighting Dog, Bull Terrier, Antebellum Bulldog, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, American Bulldog, Boxer, Valley Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge, Renascence Bulldogge, and Banter Bulldogge. These breeds are rarely listed by name in breed-specific legislation, but they are sometimes included when the term is defined broadly and based on physical appearance." (Wikipedia)

The Problem with Pit Bulls

Something to Watch Out For

I didn't want one, but my son came home with a pit bull puppy one day (see the puppy pictures on this page). She was very cute, and soon became an essential and loved part of the family. Because of the media stigma associated with them, I researched it thoroughly.

Pit bulls (unless they're abused) are very good with people - loyal, trustworthy, gentle. According to some references, what they're not as good with are other animals. Pit bulls were originally bred to fight other dogs, kill vermin and assist with farming. Some say a pit bull should not be left alone with other dogs, cats, etc. We haven't had a problem, but that's what my research came up with.

Duel it Out - Are Pit Bulls Dangerous?

What's your opinion?

So what do you think? Are pit bulls dangerous? Should they be banned? Are pit bulls subject to media hysteria? Let your opinion be known.

Are pit bulls dangerous and should they be banned?

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Yes, they're dangerous and should be banned

No, pit bulls are like any other breed, the owner is responsible for their dog

thebiggroup says:

No i love pit bulls but they are banned in the uk. You cant get them in england, you have to get one from some underworld breeder, and the chance of getting a real pit is very slim. Your likely to get a staffordshire bull terrier cross. Even if you got a "Real" Pit Bull it would be taken and the authoraties would kill it. Check out This breed www.alapahabluebloodbulldogregistry.co.uk

Posted August 24, 2011

thelordsbeauty says:

Pits are wonderful. Very strong, so they need an owner who can be responsible for it. My friend's pit bull is such a sweetie.

Posted April 02, 2011

Autumn Pierce says:

Pitbulls are not dangerous and they should not be banned. I had a brindle pitbull and he did not know he was a pitbull, he thought he was a big baby and he would let me lay on him, SO they should not be banned and they are sweet.

Posted September 13, 2010

jay says:

Recently a friend gave my family a so call full blooded pit but turned out she is mixed with Dalmatian. She is very playful and loving with our family and our pet cat. I guess if you raise this type of dog as a puppy they do not know anything but family and love. She loves to play with our cat, but the cat is still trying to get used to the puppy.

But I think people that own this type of dog should have to take classes to be a responsible pet owner to keep them as a good dog owner citizen. This will increase owners awareness of the type of dog they own.

Posted September 04, 2010

Mandolyn says:

no i have a sweet two month old pit bull puppy named lulu who i taught to sit, lay down, and roll over :)experiences with past pits ive had, showed me how gentle and adoring they really are!

Posted August 04, 2010

 
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Put bull references on Amazon

Find out more about these dogs

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Famous People Owning Pit Bulls

Complements of Wikipedia

According to Wikipedia, these Famous People Own/owned Pit Bulls:
  • Theodore Roosevelt
  • Helen Keller
  • Mark Twain
  • Thomas Edison
  • Jessica Alba
  • Michael J. Fox
  • Alicia Silverstone
  • Jessica Biel owns three Pit Bulls
  • Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson have a Pit Bull named Penny Lane
  • Cesar Millan, otherwise known as The Dog Whisperer owns several Pit Bulls and uses them as model dogs with which to aid in rehabilitating misbehaved dogs in some circumstances.
  • TV cook Rachael Ray has one Pit Bull. Her Pit Bull's name is Isaboo and has appeared in cooking episodes and on her talk show. Rachel had another Pit Bull named Boo before she became famous.
  • Comedian Jon Stewart has two Pit Bulls, named Monkey and Shamsky
  • Author Andrew Vachss, a vocal opponent of Pit Bull fighting and breed-specific bans, has a Pit Bull named Honey.
  • American general George Patton owned a pit bull named Willy
  • Humphrey Bogart
  • Woodrow Wilson
  • Mary Tyler Moore

Pit bull-related pictures from Flickr

Darling, aren't they

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Reader Feedback

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  • Reply
    thebiggroup Aug 24, 2011 @ 12:09 pm | delete
    Excellent Lens, and very well done! Please take a look at my lens about the Alapaha BB Bulldog. Iv "Liked Lens" as its one of the best dog lenses i have read. I love Pit Bulls, just wish they wasnt banned in the UK. I remember seeing them when i was younger, you see cross breed ones now and then, but nothing like the real Pit!
  • Reply
    jeffwend Apr 14, 2009 @ 11:04 am | delete
    Pit bulls are very smart dogs and make great pets. Its unfortunate that some irresponsible people have helped to give this breed such a bad name.
  • Reply
    jeffwend Apr 14, 2009 @ 11:04 am | delete
    Pit bulls are very smart dogs and make great pets. Its unfortunate that some irresponsible people have helped to give this breed such a bad name.
  • Reply
    Frankster Feb 20, 2009 @ 8:25 pm | delete
    Excellent info. Thank you for taking the time to educate people about a misunderstood breed. Pit bulls are beautiful dogs and it's the people who train them as fight dogs who should be punished not the dogs. Bear hugs, Frankster aka Bearmeister aka Cat-Woman
  • Reply
    chucknp Feb 2, 2009 @ 3:08 pm | in reply to Dkprincess6 | delete
    Hi Dkprincess6 - sure, lensroll away! And thanks!
    Chuck
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Useful links

SquiDirectory
A Squidoo Directory featuring over 350 categories filled with an interesting variety of different subjects ranging from arts and literature, shopping, and eco friendly tips, to vehicles for sale, travel, and everything in between.
Dog breed info for pit bulls
Info on many dog breeds
Wikipedia
Wikipedia entry on pit bulls
Pit bull rescue central
Pit bull education and adoption
Pit bull lovers
Lots of pit bull info

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chucknp

Hello! I'm Chuck and I live in the Pacific Northwest. I own a pit bull and a dalmatian pit bull mix (whew).

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