The American pit bull terrier

American Pit Bull Terrier

What is the American Pit Bull Terrier? What are its origins and what is its history? The American Pit Bull Terrier has most often been described as the dog that is closest to the human race, in its likeness to the human race. This endearing breed of dog has the most charming and pleasing of personalities, in that it is very individualistic and independent, as well as intelligent and friendly. It has an innate strength, is extremely tenacious, and is also full of beans, and when all these traits are combined with its basically soft and charming nature, this is a breed that is very close to the human race, and it closely resembles an ordinary human being. All the character traits that have been found in the American Pit Bull Terrier not only make it an easy breed to own and train, but also make it a joy to possess. (The American Pit Bull Terrier organization and Network)

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a pure bred dog with the registered name of Pit Bull Terrier with the United Kennel Club, and it was a sad fact indeed that an individual cannot hope to own this dog within city limits without fear of being arrested or being faced with the euthanasia of the dog, for daring to own this dog that is certified as a 'vicious dog' under the city ordinance laws. American Pit Bull Terriers, American Strafford shire Terriers, and Strafford shire Bull Terriers are all outlaws under this city rule. The American Pit Bull Terrier has had a long and checquered history as one of America's foremost breeds of dog through the years. It was in the year 1835 that the British parliament took it upon itself to outlaw the so-called sport of bull-baiting, wherein during the process of playing this disgustingly sadistic gambling game, bull dogs were actually used for the purpose of attacking the hapless bulls that had been brought to the market for sale, for some very dubious like probably tenderizing the meat of the bull. (The American Pit Bull Terrier- A gentle and courageous pet; a victim of bad press)

The bull dog, as much a victim as the bull, would be forced to attack the bull and grab a tender area on the bull's body, such as the ear or the nose, and hang on to that tender part till the time when the bull had to collapse out of exhaustion. The dog, in the meanwhile, would be faced with the daunting prospect of avoiding the kicking hooves and the sharp horns of the bull in it's attempts to escape the assault of the dog. The entire episode would be staged in the public marketplace, and those people from all walks of life, whether they were commoners or royalty, would attend this gory spectacle and enjoy the bloodshed and the violence that was being staged for their benefit, and for many of the people who witnessed such events, it was thought that they were attending them for the basic purpose of seeking a sort of release and escape from the daily routines as well as from the diseases and the violence and the desperation of their mundane lives and days.

However, as time went by, public outcries against the gory spectacle of violence and bloodshed started to increase, as more and more people became more aware and conscious and sensitive to the innate violence in a dog attacking a poor bull, and the day arrived when the Parliament had to take a strict stand, and therefore outlawed and banned the activity. What happened afterwards is this: when the dog owners who had been training the bull terriers for attacking the bulls found that their very livelihood had been threatened by the outlawing of the sport, they started to breed the dogs instead, and use them for the purpose of the game of 'dog fighting'. For this very purpose, a new breed of dog was actually invented, and this was a mix of a little of the bull dog, and a little of the terrier, and this resulted in the Bull and Terrier, and this dog managed to surpass all the expectations of the breeders. (The American Pit Bull Terrier- A gentle and courageous pet; a victim of bad press)

The new Bull and Terrier now became a dog that would be used for aggressively suppressing all the other breeds of dogs, and would also possess an unlimited courage and bravery, and also be fiercely tenacious and unfearing when it came to the issue of fighting, and would fight ill the end, with an extremely high threshold of pain that had not been observed in any other dog till date. However, the bull and Terrier was also meant to be very affectionate and loyal to people of the human race. The Bull Terrier actually arrived in the United Sates of America in the early years of the 1800's, and they were touted as the frontier guardians and also as all round farm dogs. In the book, 'the Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County', by the author Samuel Clemons, there is mention of this breed of dog. By the year 1898, the United Kennel Club awarded recognition of the Bull and Terrier Dog as the 'American Pit Bull Terrier'. Soon advertisers started to use this charming dog in all their advertising campaigns, like for example, the 'Buster Brown Shoes' that used the American Pit Bull Terrier as its mascot by putting an image of the dog in all their shoes, and named this mascot 'Tige'.

The innate idea was to convey the image of their shoes as being as sturdy and dependable and unbending and undefeated as the American Pit Bull Terrier, as this was the general opinion that was being held of the dog till that time. RCA used the same idea in its promotion of its phonographs, wherein 'Nipper', a Pit Bull of unknown origins, was used to show that the sound of the music emerging from the phonograph was extremely clear and good, with the image of the dog being fooled into thinking that his 'master's voice' was actually emerging from the phonograph. If a loyal and intelligent animal could be fooled into thinking this, then the phonograph and its clarity of sound must indeed be extremely good! In later years, the American Pit Bull Terrier was used to convey a sense of courage and instill this into the hearts of Americans in the year 1914, the year of the First World War, and the company, Levis, used the image of the American Pit Bull Terrier to convey the message of their jeans being as tough as a Bull Terrier, and also as a veritable 'defender of the old glory', just as the American Pit Bull Terrier was. (The American Pit Bull Terrier- A gentle and courageous pet; a victim of bad press)

The American Kennel Club in fact eschewed the breed known as the 'Pit Bull' until the year 1936, and it was after this that the American Pit Bull Terrier came to be recognized as the 'Strafford shire Terrier', actually named after the Stafford shire miners who had had a hand in creating the breed for the purpose of fighting in the pits where they worked. In the year 1972, this name was changed to the American Stafford shire terrier', and this was for the purpose of differentiating this breed from the Stafforsdhire Bull Terrier of England, the actual ancestor of the American breed of dog, which was later recognized by the American Kennel Club in the year 1974. In the United Kingdom, the dog is about 14 to 16 inches tall, and weighs about up to 45 pounds, while the breed found in America is about 18 to 19 inches tall, and weighs about up to 80 pounds.

The American Pit Bull Terrier of the United Kennel Club is generally about 30 to 60 pounds in weight, with the female generally, but not necessarily, smaller than the males of the breed. The American Pit Bull Terrier and the Staffs and the Am Staffs are all bred more for their temperament than anything else, and it is general not very well-known that these dogs are bred for their obedience skills and also their intelligence levels that enables human beings to use them as basic therapy dogs, therapy through dogs being recommended for many ailments seen in human beings. Some varieties of the American Pit Bull Terrier like the Bandog Dread HIC, and the VB and the CD even have herding titles. Some of these dogs are used for services to diseased and ill patients, like for example, the American Pit Bull Terrier named Solomon J. Grundy, which serves as a service dog for its quadriplegic owner, Arvid Kuhnle of Canada. (The American Pit Bull Terrier- A gentle and courageous pet; a victim of bad press)

Until the early years of the last century, the American Pit Bull Terrier was known and widely recognized and acknowledged as an extremely loyal as well as trustworthy family pet that could be even left lone with small children. However, of late, this poor and loyal beast has been severely castigated and penalized for being a man-killer, a vicious beats, and a dog that must be banished from within the city limits, or land his owners into trouble, meaning arrest and fines. In truth, this is a perfect example of somebody being punished without giving them a very basic chance of proving themselves not guilty or innocent of the crime that they are being accused of. A Pit Bull is now seen as a very derogatory term that describes this breed of dog that would supposedly attack and kill a man. Breeders of these animals today are generally classified into several different groups: one group encompasses those people who are conscientious breeders who have been registered under the American Kennel Club, and who categorically deny any sort of kinship with these hapless animals.

The second category is the group of people who like the animals and admire them for all their finer qualities, and who are in fact conscientious breeders who would want to keep these animals within their homes as their pets. However, their neighbors would never allow them to keep them as pets, and they must be ready to face all the slander that would be heaped on them by their neighbors and others in the same vicinity that fear the American Pit Bull Terrier because of bad publicity. The third group of people who still undertake the breeding of the American Pit Bull Terrier despite all the bad publicity that surrounds it, are those people who do it for unethical purposes such as to use them for dog fighting and for other illegal and banned purposes of their own, like for example, to provide protection for those drug dealers who are avoiding the law. (The American Pit Bull Terrier- A gentle and courageous pet; a victim of bad press)

Furthermore, what has happened now is that the breeders who breed the American Pit Bull Terrier are not as careful to preserve the instinct for natural bonding with human beings that this breed demonstrates, and as a result, the picture that has been created in the minds and the heats of people is that the animal is vicious, ferocious, and is capable of biting a human being into bits and pieces within a matter of a few seconds, because of the tremendous power of its jaws. The true picture however, is this: the American Pit Bull Terrier is an extremely friendly and admirable dog, with certain qualities like endurance, a stable temperament, an innate loyalty to its master, an intelligence and an obedience rarely if ever seen in other dogs, an even character that helps it to serve as a helper to a handicapped person or to a child, and an extremely healthy dog that never complains, is full of endurance and courage, and stays that way all its life and offers more in return for the family that keeps him that what he gets for himself.

What has happened to enable legislators to ban such a good dog? It is the general opinion of dog lovers and the American Kennel Club and others that since legislators must feel that they have indeed done something, even a small little thing, for their community, the sweet American Pit Bull Terrier has been banned because all the bad publicity that surrounds it has never been actually tasted and analyzed or verified. Therefore, the American Pit Bull Terrier stands banned from within city limits, and no homeowner is allowed to keep this endearing animal as a pet. (The American Pit Bull Terrier- A gentle and courageous pet; a victim of bad press)

(II) What is the Family origin of the American Pit Bull Terrier? What is the corresponding breed of the same dog in England? What exactly is the Amstaff? How many of the Pit bull Terriers are actually registered breeds? What are they? Throughout the entire nineteenth century, the American Pit Bull Terrier was known by a variety of different names, some of which are: 'Pit Terriers', 'Pit Bull Terriers', 'Half and Halfs', 'Strafford shire Fighting Dogs', 'Old Family Dogs', 'Yankee Terriers', and even 'Rebel Terriers'. (The American Pit Bull Terrier, FAQs)

It is an amazing fact that the United Kennel Club was actually formed by a man named Chauncy Bennet in the year 1898, for the sole purpose of registering the breed of dog called Bull Terrier because the American Kennel club would not give them that symbol of recognition. After the registration was completed, the pleased man decided to change the name of the breed to American Bull Terrier, avoiding the term 'pit', but this was not accepted by all the lovers of the breed. Thereafter, the Pit was added, but in parenthesis, and after a few more years, this was ultimately removed, and the name of the breed stands at it is now, the American Pit Bull Terrier. All of the various other breeds that had been registered earlier under the United Kennel Club were accepted after the American Pit Bull Terrier was accepted into the Club. Another registry of the American Pit Bull Terrier is the American Dog Breeders Association that was started in the year 1909. Till today, this Association is more in tune with the American Pit Bull Terrier than the United Kennel Club, and it continues to register this breed only, to this day.

The ADBA or the American Dog Breeders Association hosts and sponsors conformation shows, and also conducts such tests like weight pulling competitions for this breed, and these tests show the dog's strength and stamina and endurance capacities. In the year 1936, quite a few movies used the American Pit Bull Terrier in a major role, as one of the more important characters in the movie. One such movie was the 'Lil Rascals', another was the 'Our Gang', and yet another famous movie was the charming 'Pete the Pup'. At this time, the American Kennel Club, not to be outdone, declared the American Pit Bull Terrier breed as the 'Strafford shire Terrier', and this name was later, in the year 1972, changed to the 'American Strafford shire Terrier', and the primary reason for his change was in order for it to be easily distinguishable and different from its English cousin that was called the 'Strafford shire Bull Terrier'. (The American Pit Bull Terrier, FAQs)

The English version of the breed of dog was definitely more 'froggier' than its American counterpart, but, in essence, the different versions of the breed 'Pit Bull' that had been registered under the American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club, and the American Dog Breeders Association were in fact all identical, because of the fact of the matter that the original breed that had been under the AKC had come from the fighting dogs of that particular time, that is the year 1936. These dogs had in fact been registered under the United Kennel Club as well as by the American Dog Breeders Association earlier, and during the same time period, and the years that had gone by immediately before this time, the American Pit Bull Terrier was a very well loved and liked dog by pet lovers all over the United States of America, and it had been widely accepted as an ideal family pet. Not only was the dog friendly and fun loving and energetic, but also it was very loyal and honest, and it would be on its best behavior with very small children.

Therefore, there was no question that this was the ideal family dog and pet for a family with one or several small children. In fact, during the First World War, there was a poster put up with the American Pit Bull Terrier in its very center and the rival European nations with their national dogs dressed in their costumes, and the American Pit Bull Terrier stating 'I'm Neutral but not afraid of any of them'. This shows the amount of admiration that the average American felt for this particular breed of dog, going so far as to allow it to represent the courage and spirit of the American during the First World War. What happened to this breed in later years, and why did it lose its popularity to such an extent that it has been literally banned from within city limits, the reason stated by legislators being that the dog would attack and kill a human being with its powerful jaws within a few minutes, if provoked. Therefore, it would be better for the preservation of human kind if the dog were to be banned from human domains. (The American Pit Bull Terrier, FAQs)

It is a fact that from the year 1936, the breeding goals of the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Strafford shire Terrier have actually diverged in both the phenotype as well as in their temperament and spirit, although it is also a f act that both the varieties of dog happen to have a similar temperament and disposition, which is friendly and charming and easy going and forgiving. There are some people who feel that since the dogs have been bred for different purposes and different goals, they are not the same breed but entirely different, which is, of course, nothing but a fallacy. There are also some people who tend to think that the two are entirely different strains of the same breed, that is, one type is meant for show, and the other for working.

Though facts do show that this is not the case, the breeders on both sides feel that the two must be kept separate and not mixed at all, and this means that there must not be any inter-breeding between the tow types. Though to the untrained eye, the American Strafford shire Terrier may look infinitely more fearsome and threatening than the other type, with more bulging muscles and bulging eyes, and a more blocky head, as well as a wider neck with more musculature than the other variety, and also with a much wider chest, it is the truth that they are not as friendly or even as strong as the game bred American Pit Bull Terrier. The fact is that the American Strafford shire Terrier is bred in a much more standardized manner so that they may look alike for the conformation than the American Pit Bull Terrier. This leads to them looking extremely similar to each other in the shows where they are displayed. (The American Pit Bull Terrier, FAQs)

This is why most of these dogs look more alike each other, making it quite difficult for the untrained eye to distinguish between them, than the American Pit Bull Terriers who have a very wide phenotypic range than the others. This is because the innate purpose in breeding and producing this breed of dog is not to make them with a cretin specified 'look' but so that they may be able to win in pit contests, where the look of a dog did not matter at all, in the least. However, these dogs are much leaner and more agile on their feet and also have more stamina and are much faster than the American Strafford shire Terriers. The reality is that after the Second World War, and up until the 1980's, the American Pit Bull Terrier happened to disappear from the face of the earth, and into obscurity. However, there were some who never could forget these dogs, and made it a point to remember them to others, and boasted that they could in fact remember a particular American Pit Bull Terrier's lineage to many generations before.

It was during the 1980's and after that problems seemed to crop up in relation to this breed. This was because certain unscrupulous element of society seemed to think that they could get away with nay sort of illegal activity if only they were able to breed this dog successfully. This led to illegal and uncontrolled breeding of the animal, and puppies began to be mass produced as quickly and as numerously as possible so that they would be able to enjoy more profits from the sale of these puppies as fast as possible. What made matters even worse is the fact that certain criminal types began to choose those dogs that exhibited human aggressiveness and bred them in large numbers with this trait intact. All the traditional principles of the old time dog breeders was forgotten by these nefarious elements, and now 'human-aggressive Pit Bulls' were mass produced and sold in the general market. The media stepped in and as is its habit, over simplified things, and labeled the dog a 'killer'. This led to mass-hysteria that continues to this day, unabated. (The American Pit Bull Terrier, FAQs)

The Amstaff is the heavier among all pit bull dogs, and weighs about 40 to 50 pounds on average. It is about 17 to 19 inches tall, and is well muscled and strong. A stranger must generally beware of the Amstaff, but within the family, the dog is a friendly and adaptable creature, and extremely lovable as well as loving. Some Strafford shire Terriers are registered as an American Pit Bull Terrier with the United Kennel Club, as well as an American Strafford shire Terrier with the American Kennel Club. There is some criticism stating that the two have been separate breeds for too long for them to be known as one single breed, and say that they must be separate. Training the puppy is at times quite difficult, because of its temperament that is friendly yet pushy and aggressive character. Therefore training this breed is tough, but it is not an insurmountable problem. However, the fact that this is an aggressive dog breed that will not respond well to human beings unless handled well has given it a bad rap, and a bad reputation. A large variety of breeds were in fact used to even breed the Amstaff, like for example, the Bull Terrier, the Old English White Terrier, the Bulldog, the Mastiff, the Black and Tan, the Pointer, the Dalmatian, and the Strafford shire Bull Terrier. (American Staffordshire Terrier: Bull dog Breeds. Com)

(III) The Profile of the American Pit Bull Terrier: the American Pit Bull Terrier is generally known for its intense intelligence as well as its fierce loyalty to its master and his family. They make good pets and friendly companions, and this can be seen despite all the bad impressions that they give, and the fact hat the media concentrates on this fact more than anything else. (American Pit Bull Terrier: Bull Dog Breeds.com) the well-bred American Pit Bull Terrier is in fact a family guardian and a protector of the members of the family that owns him and looks after him, and acts as an intelligent and endearing pet that can be loved and would offer the equal amount of love in return. (The American Pit Bull Terrier- A gentle and courageous pet; a victim of bad press)

The average life span of the American Pit Bull Terrier is about 12 to 41 years, the same as any other breed of dog. Though extremely healthy and not prone to any single type of health problems, the American Pit Bull Terrier is sometimes subject to 'Parvo' and hip displaysia, as well as cataract, and certain types of allergies. As a breed this dog seems to love human beings, preferring their company, and in fact, even craving it when it is deprived to them. They also tend to be quite inordinately dependent on he human beings that they live with. On average, an American Pit Bull Terrier will be outgoing and friendly and very affectionate with his immediate family members, and very obedient to its master. However, as wit all dogs, mistreatment and ignorance and negligence would naturally cause severe dysfunctional problems, and this would lead to a veritable change in its very temperament, wherein it may change into an unfriendly dog, wary of strangers and ferocious when threatened. (R.E.D, Rescue Every Dog)

When an owner turns in his American Pit Bull Terrier to a Kennel or Shelter, it may be for any of the many reasons like: dog aggression that is most often mistaken for human aggression by those inexperienced owners who hoped to have this breed as a pet. They are often discouraged when they encounter the natural aggressiveness of the animal. Sometimes an owner is forced to give up because of the incessant chewing activity that is engaged in by the dog, and most of the time this is because of boredom and frustration and not because of nay form of aggression, and the inexperienced person generally starts to fear his own dog by this time. When the dog is exercised properly and is provided with some sort of activity, them the chewing would automatically come to a stop. The dog may also possess too much energy, much more than the owner can handle, and this would cause boredom and irritation in this dog that needs a lot of physical exercise to keep it healthy and active and fit.

Today, there is the phenomenon of specific legislation against owning an American Pit Bull Terrier within the vicinity of the city and its limits. Therefore, when an owner is transferred to the city or in its vicinity, then he would be forced to turn in his dog. In general, the owners of this breed who are nefarious elements of the society, and use it for illegitimate purposes such as dog fighting and drug ring protection, and so on, end up abusing the dog very badly, and this makes it an angry and aggressive animal, which would not hesitate to attack he cruel person who inflicts such misery on it. Such owners however, turn out their American Pit Bull Terriers on to the streets from where they are picked up by the Kennels and Shelters in pitiable conditions. (R.E.D, Rescue Every Dog)

However, the dog would never be happy when in a shelter and confined to a very small space, and this would bring out more defensive aggression from the dog. The breed of dog is extremely people-oriented, and this means that they would do better if they were to be placed within a foster home rather than in a Shelter. An ideal owner of the American Pit Bull Terrier would have to be a person with an even temperament; with an innate sense of responsibility for he dog that now depends on him for the fulfillment of all his needs. He should be well educated about the breed, and at least show a willingness to learn more about it when required to do so. He must be aware of the fact that the breed is dog aggressive but people loving, and would serve and protect its master and his family forever.

It is best if the dog were not used as a watchdog, since it is a human lover and is generally not inclined to be aggressive towards human beings. These dogs are even extremely good with children, and would cause them no harm whatsoever if left alone with them. The dog has a bad reputation because of the basic ignorance of the owners, since they are not aware of the fact that this is a dog aggressive breed that would not even hesitate to chase and kill small animals and livestock. Therefore, the owner must undertake to learn more about the breed if he chooses to own one, and he must remember that this breed is not for anyone and everyone. (R.E.D, Rescue Every Dog)

(IV) The Intelligence of the American Pit Bull Terrier: the American Pit Bull Terrier is today a marvelous working dog as well as a suitable companion for all ages of human beings. They are so very intelligent that they are most often employed as police and armed service dogs, and as search and rescue animals, and also as helpers for the handicapped, and as therapists. (American Pit Bull Terrier: Bull Dog Breeds.com) These dogs are also well-known and acknowledged for their high capabilities as watch dogs and guard dogs. (American Pit Bull Terriers: dogs.puppydogweb.com) the American Pit Bull Terrier is generally more known for its loyalty and its intelligence than for anything else today. (American Pit bull Terrier, Breed and Health Information)

The essential characteristics of strength and agility and a certain nimble footing makes it easy to train one of these dogs to perform highly difficult skills that would involve the dog's intelligence as well as abilities. These dogs are extremely capable climbers and this aspect, when combined with its other characteristics and skills, make it one of the bets dogs for a human being, wherein it can be trained in capable hands into anything the human being desires, whether it is for the purpose of acting as a guide dog, or a caretaker of physically handicapped persons, and so on. The American Pit Bull Terrier is capable of being one of man's best friends. (American Pit Bull Terrier: Official U.K.C. Breed Standard)