Facts About a Persecuted Breed
 
 

What is man without the beasts?

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit.

For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man.

All things are connected.

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish tribe)

FACT: APBTs are the most stable people-friendly dogs in existence.
Problems occur with cross-breeding to 'snappish' breeds or irresponsible upbringing.

 

 

Facts about Pit Bulls. Before we get to the statistics and written facts by someone you don’t even know I wanted to share a great thing with all of you about this wonderful breed. Today, Jan 9, 2004 my new granddaughter is 3 weeks and a couple of days. She was fussy and wouldn’t let mom do a thing but carry her around. I took her to give mom a break for a moment and she went to sleep. I placed her on my bed and went to the next room to do some e-mails. A few moments later I went to check on her and found the greatest thing ever. Our 2 Pit Bulls, (Bud age 11 and Miss Wiggles age 2) had decided to climb on the bed with her and make sure she was safe and had company. Their love for people is equally shared with the whole family including 2 other grandchildren ages 3 and 9. Neither age or gender matters with these guys as to their natural concern and loving care for children.  

 

Some of the following information was taken from "The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) FAQ" at http://www.nyx.net/~mbur/apbt.html .

The canine may be humanity's best friends, but humanity is sometimes not canine-friendly.

 

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a descendent of the original English bull-baiting Bulldog and has historically been bred with working/performance goals in mind.

 

Currently, the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeder's Association recognize and register the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed.

 

In 1936, thanks to "Pete the Pup" in the Lil' Rascals, who familiarized a wider audience with the APBT, the AKC registered The American Pit Bull Terrier as the "Staffordshire Terrier". This name was changed to "American Staffordshire Terrier" (AST) in 1972 to distinguish it from its smaller, "froggier", English cousin the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. During this time period, and the years that preceded it, the APBT was a well-liked dog in America. At this time the APBT was considered an ideal family pet. Because of his fun-loving, forgiving temperament, the breed was rightly considered an excellent dog for families with small children. Even if most of them couldn't identify the breed by name, kids of the Lil' Rascals generation wanted a companion just like "Pete the Pup". During the First World War, there was an American propaganda poster that represented the rival European nations with their national dogs dressed in military uniforms; and in the center representing the United States was an APBT declaring in a caption below: "I'm neutral, but not afraid of any of them." Click Here to see one of the old WWI posters featuring an APBT.

 

There are several types of dogs that are commonly called "Pit Bulls." Primarily, these are the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AST), and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (SBT). All three of these dogs share common ancestry but have been subsequently bred emphasizing different breeding criteria. Due to this divergence, some people feel that they are now different breeds. Since 1936, due to different breeding goals, the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier have diverged in both phenotype and spirit/temperament, although both, ideally, continue to have in common an easy-going, friendly disposition.

 

 

The American Canine Temperament Testing Association, which sponsors tests for temperament titles for dogs, reported that 95% of all APBTs that take the test pass, compared with a 77% passing rate for all breeds on average. The APBT's passing rate was the fourth highest of all the breeds tested.

Caring for and keeping an APBT

Say you've found a stray APBT, tried unsuccessfully to locate the owner, and now you want to try to keep the dog temporarily or permanently... you have questions. Lots of them. Here, we attempt to answer some of the common questions that have been put to us by people unfamiliar with the breed.

How do I test for dog-aggression without endangering either dog? Have both dogs restrained SECURELY. You can do this by either placing one dog in a sturdy kennel where he/she can see outside and bringing out the second dog on a leash (make sure neither dog can escape). Bring the two close enough for them to sniff one another. See how they react.
or
You can chain the APBT up temporarily while you bring out the dog on a secure leash (don't try this with a dog that's big enough to get away from you!). You may want a second person present. If the APBT acts calm or friendly upon seeing the dog at a distance, bring the new dog closer until or unless the APBT begins to growl or bark aggressively (barking alone isn't a sign of aggression). If no aggressive posture is exhibited by either dog, then bring the two close enough to sniff noses, but be very careful to keep control over the leashed dog. Make sure the APBT is at the end of the chain before bringing the new dog that close.

If all goes well after you've introduced the dogs in such a way, and you want to try the two dogs off-leash, have at least two strong people present at all times. Keep in mind that it is rarely a good idea to have two adult males play together unless they have been raised together and they are supervised at all times. Even dogs raised together can get into dominance issues that lead to fights.

How high of a fence do I need? You need at least a six foot fence. Be warned, however, that many APBTs can jump even a six-foot fence if motivated. Six-foot privacy fences are a good idea because the dog can't see all the temptations that pass by. However, observe your own dog. Some dogs are jumpers, others are not. If you do have a dog that is a jumper, consider combining an electric gate with a physical gate. Or put a hot wire at the top of the gate.

What kind of collar and leash do I need? You need strong ones! Forget about plastic clamp collars. They can break. Get a thick nylon or leather buckle collar and a strong 4' to 6' leash. Make sure the dog's neck cannot slip through the collar. Harnesses and head halters are good as they are more secure. Use these only if the dog pulls on the leash or if the dog's neck is almost as thick as his/her head.

What kind of weather can APBTs withstand? APBTs are sturdy dogs, but in hot weather they need lots of water and shelter from the sun. In the winter, they need an insulated dog house or other appropriate shelter and a nice blanket. Try not to keep them outside in extreme temperatures, but, if you have to, make sure they have adequate insulation. In very hot weather outside, consider buying a cool pack made for dogs. In very cold weather, buy a microwavable heating pad (retains heat for 12 hours), and place these under the dogs blanket in the insulated dog house.

Are APBTs good around cats? APBTs are dogs. Like any breed, some dogs are great around other animals, and some aren't. If the dog has been raised around different animals, odds are that he or she will be fine with them. However, don't trust the dog alone with any animal for at least a few months. Use your own judgment. Take time to observe the dog interacting with other animals (after you've tested him or her properly, of course). Some people will tell you never to leave an APBT alone with another animal, even if the two were raised together. I'll tell you different. I've had many APBTs and have encountered no problems by doing so (if they've been raised together, or if they've established a friendly relationships).

I've found a stray APBT and want to turn it into the shelter. Should I? First CALL the shelter and ask what they do with APBTs. Many shelters and humane organizations have mandatory euthanization policies for APBTs, even puppies. Many people have called me saying they turned the dog into the shelter and didn't know about the policy. Once they found out, they tried to get the dog back, but the shelter refused to give them the dog. Once you turn a dog into the shelter, you release all custody to the shelter.

FAQ

 

Statistics

In a report from Dekalb County Georgia, the conclusion was reached that statistics could no be used to document the dangerousness of any one breed, or the comparison of one breed to another. The 5-year study of fatal attacks from 1975-1980 lists the GSD first and "mixed breeds" second with the American Pit Bull Terrier listed 6th.

A 6-year study in Palm Beach County of "most severe dog bite by breed" shows the top 10 breeds who have been identified in this comparison.

 

1988: APBT ranked 9th w/9 per cent of bites

1989: APBT ranked 5th w/15 per cent

1990: APBT ranked 5th w/16 per cent

1991: APBT ranked 9th w/10 per cent

1992: APBT ranked 2nd w/20.4 per cent (w/cocker spaniel showing in 1st)

1993: APBT ranked 5th w/16 per cent

 

Some of the breeds which placed above the APBT were Dalmatians, Chows, Labs, Goldens, Rotties, Dobermans, and the afore-mentioned Cocker Spaniel.

 

In a 1993 study, also in Palm Beach County, the bites were ranked by severity from 1 to 4 and the animal that was recorded as having inflicted the greatest number of severe bites was the domestic short-haired cat. A breed labeled as "pit bull" was in 5th place, following cat, GSD, Chow and Lab.

 

The division of general pediatrics, emergency medicine, at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia conducted a study in 1989 as a result of a ***perceived*** increase in pit bull injuries. 12 different breed/crossbreds were identified as perpetrators, the tope four of which were GSDs, pit bulls, rottweilers and Dobermans. 54 per cent of the animals were contained and 45 per cent were provoked prior to biting (by parental report).

 

In 1991, in Australia, the Journal of Pediatric Child Health reported that the GSD was implicated in dog bites presenting to the ER of a children's hospital and were implicated more frequently than their prevalence in the community.

 

Finally, in an article in Pediatrics, June 1994, an article entitled "Which Dogs Bite? A case control of risk factors." concluded the following:

 

Dog bites cause an estimated 585,000 injuries resulting in the need for medical attention yearly and children are the most frequent victims . The study sought to determine dog-specific factors independently associated with a dog biting a non-household member. (88% occur in the dog owner's yard or home or in the **adjoining** yard. 62% members of the victims' families witnessed the bite)

 

The identified risk group are children less than 11 years old, mean age is 8, males outnumber females. Only 7 % require hospital admission.

 

The method was to match 178 pairs of dogs selected from dogs reported to an urban animal control for a first-bite episode on a non-household member in which the victim received medical treatment. Controls were neighborhood-matched dogs with no history of biting a non-household member, selected by modified random-digit dialing.

 

The results were risk factors expressed as adjusted odds ratio, when the dog is....

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