thanks Karda - i was going to try to make comments on the other posts but i dont know how to do the multiple quotes
David - the Pit bull is probably the most if not the top three misunderstood and misrepresented dogs on earth - Princess is Half pit and Half boxer but a lil bit of Norwegian elk hound (cant see that part). - the most common dogs attacks are Labradors believe it or not and most all serious and or fatal dog attacks come from dogs that are on chains for long periods of time. Dogs being chained for long times with no or very little human interaction become highly territorial; it also changes their personality/mentality - it is the same as what happens to people put in solitary confinement for long periods of time.
the American Pit bull was the most decorated dog in war history after WW2
http://www.ct.gov/mil/cwp/view.asp?a=1351&q=257892
http://durham.patch.com/articles/sgt-stubby-canine-hero-of-world-war-i
The United Kennel Club lists the characteristics of Pit Bulls as:
The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breeds natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers, so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work
The Bull and Terrier dogs were brought to America in the early 1800s. These dogs were considered to be farm dogs, prized for their abilities to help in hunts and as cattle and hog catchers. They were also loving companions to young children. In cities, they were thought less as pit fighters and more as regular dogs. There are hundreds of turn of the century photographs showing pit bulls as loving family members. Early advertisers even began using their images as an All American Dog.
Tige was used to advertise Buster Brown shoes; Nipper was the famous RCA dog; and the most decorated war dog in WWII was Stubby. These dogs were all American Pit Bull Terriers. Both Helen Keller and Theodore Roosevelt owned Pit Bulls. And Petey, the star of the Our Gang Little Rascals comedies was another APBT.
The United Kennel Club was formed in 1898 and recognized the Bull and Terrier Dog as the American Pit Bull Terrier in the same year. In 1936, a group petitioned the American Kennel Club to allow Pit Bulls to be shown the conformation ring. The AKC called these dogs, Staffordshire Terriers and the name was changed in 1972 to the American Staffordshire Terrier. The name change was to differentiate the breed from the Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
So what happened to the American Pit Bull Terrier and their AKC cousins the American Staffordshire Terrier that had developed a reputation as a loyal and trustworthy family pet? How did they turn into a vicious, man-killing beast with automatic death sentences imposed by shelters and animal control agencies all across the nation?
Even though Pit Bills have been exploited throughout history for their fighting abilities, they just began being used in large numbers in fighting rings in the last 20-30 years. This is a big, money-making business. Pit Bulls have become associated with poverty and crime. Inner-city drug dealers use them to guard their drugs and cash, and unethical breeders are no longer careful to preserve this dogs strong instinct to bond with humans.
Pit Bull fanciers began hearing disturbing reports of aggressive attacks on humans by poorly socialized and badly breed Pit Bulls. The media went into a frenzy, people panicked, and the reputation of the entire breed has been dragged down with the sensationalistic headlines.
In urban and rural areas, Pit Bulls are being bred in large numbers by unethical and uneducated breeders who care little for the breeds wonderful qualities. These dogs are often staked out on chains their entire lives, never socialized and encouraged for their aggressive behavior toward people and other dogs. These are the dogs that cause the problems you hear about on the news
not the ones that are loved and cared for by their families.
As the normal cycle of dogs casually purchased by the public with little regard for their worth, shelters now find themselves overwhelmed with Pit Bulls and duly euthanize them by the hundreds. It is estimated that in the greater Los Angeles area alone, over 200 Pit Bulls are killed in shelters EVERY DAY. This trend continues across the nation. We have become a disposable nation, and dogs and other animals are no exception. We kill 12 million animals in this country every year.
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