Wikipedia
Message_box
id =NPOV
backgroundcolor =AntiqueWhite
image =Stop_hand.png
heading =The Wikipedia:Neutral Point of Viewneutrality of this article is Wikipedia:NPOV disputedisputed.
message = Please see discussion on the : !}Category:N POV? !disputes&l t;noinclude>A? pit bull is a member of any of a number of dog breedbreeds of dogs developed from the Old English Bulldog. Breeds recognized as pit bulls include the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier, although the name is also often used to refer to other breeds of similar characteristics, such as the American Bulldog and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and mixed breeds that include any of these breeds. is one of several ''pit bull'' breeds.]]The pit bull is a descendant of bull- and bear-baiting dogs. The dogs left in Europe were bred along different lines developing into a smaller, stockier dog. The dogs brought to America are larger, with longer legs. In no way should the pit bull be confused with the Bull Terrier which is a cross between a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the extinct Old English TerrierEnglish White Terrier.Pit bulls were long considered, by some, to be an ideal family pet and are recommended to this day by the American Kennel Club as an especially good dog for children. But, in the 1980s, a series of well-publicized attacks on humans by aggressive members of the breed occurred, making the ownership of pit bulls controversial.
Characteristics - Pit bulls are medium sized, solidly built, short coated dogs that require little grooming. They have a friendly temperament and are noted for their attachment to their masters as well as for their courage. Although they are short, they have extremely high muscle density and are generally capable of executing a standing four foot vertical jump. Pit bulls have been bred to have an extreme tolerance for pain. For example, the United States Postal Service, which equips its letter carriers with a pepper spray, notes that many capsaicin-based dog-repellent sprays can have little or no effect on an attacking pit bull. Pit bulls, like many dog breeds, can be territorial, especially towards other animals. Like all dog breeds, some members may display aggression toward other animals, but should be friendly with people. In fact, a Pit Bull with a proper temperament makes a poor guard dog and should let strangers walk right onto its property.Supporters of pit bulls argue they can make very good pets, but great care must be taken should one choose to care for one. They are not recommended as a first dog for a new owner, and like many breeds they require training and socialization to become well adjusted adult canines.The atts.org - American Temperament Test Society, Inc. breed statistics as of December 2004 show an 83.4% passing rate for the American Pit Bull Terrier as compared to an 81% pass rate for all breeds in general. Many breeds look similar to the pit bull breeds to inexperienced eyes, and can be confused for them. A few of these breeds are the Argentine Dogo, the Patterdale Terrier, and the Boxer (dog)Boxer.
History - The ancestors of modern pit bulls, English and French bulldogs, and other related breeds were powerful mastiffmastiffs bred for farm work. Specifically, these dogs accompanied farmers into the fields to assist with bringing dangerous bullbulls in for breeding, castration, or slaughterhouseslaughter. The dogs, known generally as bulldogbulldogs, protected the farmer by subduing the bull if it attempted to gore him. Typically a dog would do this by biting the bull on the nose and holding on until the bull submitted. Because of the nature of their job, bulldogs were bred to have powerful jaws, muscular bodies, and the resolve to hold onto a violently-struggling bull, even when injured.Eventually these dogs' purpose inspired the widespread practice of the bloody sports of bull-baiting and bear-baiting. Bulldogs are believed to have been bred with terrier breeds in order to produce a more muscular, compact, and agile dog for these competitions. The resulting dogs are known as bull-and-terrier breeds, and modern examples include all pit bull-type dogs. In Elizabethan England, these spectacles were popular forms of entertainment. However, in 1835, bull-baiting and bear-baiting were abolished by Parliament as cruel, and the custom died out over the following years. propaganda poster used during World War I depicting a pit bull]]In its place the sport of dog fightingdog-fighting gained popularity. Dogs were bred for specific traits useful in the dog-fighting ring, refining the agility, gameness, and power already present in the bull-and-terrier breeds. They were also bred to be intelligent and level-headed during fights and unaggressive toward humans. Part of the standard for organized dog-fighting required that an owner be able to enter the ring, pick up his dog while it was engaged in a fight, and carry it out of the ring without being bitten. Dogs that bit their owners were culled. As a result, Victorian fighting dogs (Staffordshire Bull Terriers and, though less commonly used as fighters, Bull TerrierEnglish Bull Terriers) generally had stable temperaments and were commonly kept in the home by the gambling men who owned them.During the mid-1800s, immigration to the United States from Ireland and England brought an influx of these dogs to America, where they were bred to be larger and stockier, working as farm dogs in the West as much as fighting dogs in the cities. The resulting breed, the American Staffordshire TerrierAmerican Staffordshire Bull Terrier, also called the American Pit Bull Terrier, became known as an "all-American" dog. Pit bull type dogs became popular as family pets for citizens who were not involved in dog-fighting or farming. In the early 1900s they began to appear in films, one of the more famous examples being Pete the Pup from the ''Our Gang'' shorts (later known as ''The Little Rascals'').During World War I the breed's widespread popularity led to its being featured on pro-U.S. propaganda posters.
Safety and legal issues -
Statistics - Of the 199 dog-attack fatalities in the USA between 1979 and 1996, dogs identified as pit bulls were responsible for 60 attacks—just under a third. The next most-dangerous group was Rottweilers, responsible for 29 attacks (statistics from the cdc.gov - CDC).According to The Age, pit bull terriers have been responsible for four of the seven dog attacks in which Australians have died between 1991 and 2002. The Endangered Dog Breeds Association of Australia denies these figures, claiming that pit bull terriers have caused no known fatalities. Most Australian state governments have introduced new legislation specific to pit bulls. Because ''pit bull'' is an all-encompassing term used to describe several breeds of dogs, determining whether a dog is a pit bull is often difficult. A studycdc.gov for the US Department of Health andHuman Services discusses some reasons why fatalities might be overstated for pit bulls, in large part because most people (including experienced dog owners) often can't distinguish a pit bull from any other stocky, broad-faced, or muscular dog.
Laws - In response to a number of well-publicized incidents involving pit bulls, some jurisdictions began placing restrictions on the ownership of pit bulls, such as the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in the UK, an example of breed-specific legislation. Many jurisdictions have outlawed the possession of pit bulls, either the pit bull breed specifically, or in addition to other breeds that are regarded as dangerous. Recent pit bull mauling cases include the June 2005 attack on 11-year old Nicholas Faibish, who was killed by his family's dog in San Francisco while his mother was away running errands. This case, and others occurring shortly afterwards in the Bay Area, has led local and state politicians to consider ways to control pit bulls.The Canadian province province of Ontario, on August 29, 2005 enacted a ban on pit bulls. It was the first province or state in North America to do so.cbc.ca The breed can no longer be sold, bred, or imported and all pit bull owners must leash and muzzle their pit bulls in public. A 60 day grace period has been put in place to allow for owners to have their pit bulls spayspayed or neuterneutered ctv.ca. Also it left a period to allow municipalities to adjust to the new law. Prior to the bills passage, the Ontario government cited what it deemed the success of a pit bull bylaw passed by Winnipeg, ManitobaWinnipeg, Manitoba!attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca< /a>.
Debate - The extent to which banning a particular breed is effective in reducing dog bite fatalities is contested. Some maintain that pit bull attacks are directly attributable to irresponsible owners, rather than to any inherent property of the breed itself. Others maintain that pit bulls as a breed are more unpredictable and dangerous than other dogs, even when properly trained. Still others argue that banning particular types of dog will simply result in aggressive dog owners looking for similar characteristics in other breeds.Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control, which maintains the nation's database on fatal wounds inflicted by dog bites, is firmly against breed specific legislation.In November 2002 the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that there was no genetic evidence that one breed of dog is more dangerous than another, simply because of its breed.
Dog fights - In the United States, pit bulls are the breed of choice for dog fightingdog fights, due to their incredible strength and dog-aggressive tendencies. Although dog fighting is illegal in the U.S., it is still practiced, and is usually accompanied by gambling. People who train pit bulls to fight, usually prepare them for fighting by having them pull weighted sleds and run on specially designed treadmills. Often the codeword "game bred" is used to indicate that a pit bull has been bred especially to fight. Breeding aggressive pit bulls is sometimes associated with the hip hop culture, which considers it a status symbol to own the toughest dog. fox5atlanta.com The term ''game-bred'' may be used as a code for a fight dog, but sometimes referring to a dog that is ''game'' simply means a dog that is very determined to complete a task, be it a race, weight pull, or unfortunately even a fight.Dog-fighters are the minority among pit bull owners. Most people who own these breeds direct their dogs' plentiful energy toward non-violent athletic tasks. Some people train their pit bulls for dog agility. Others involve their pit bulls in weight pulling competitions.
Positive Press - Although negative information about pit bulls is widespread, there are also many positive stories. Some work in hospitals and care facilities as thisisruby.com - therapy dogs, and many have understand-a-bull.com - saved people's lives.
Miscellaneous -
Famous Pit Bulls - Pete the Pup (or "Petey") from ''Our Gang'' Nipper from the RCA logo (possibly, although other breeds also claim the derivation) Tige from Buster Brown shoe advertisements
See also - Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 List of dog fighting breeds
External links -
Media sites - cbc.ca - CBC.ca Ontario moves to ban pit bulls
Pit bull advocacy sites - gopitbull.com - GoPitbull - Go Pit Bullpitbull.us - The Chako Rescue Association for the American Pit Bull Terriernyx.net - The American Pit Bull Terrier FAQ webpageamstaff.org - Staffordshire Terrier Club of Americahugabull.com - Hug a Bullitsapitty.com - Pit bull historybadrap.org - Bad Rap - Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbullsloveabull.org - LoveABull - Restoring the Reputation of a Living American Legendpitbullforum.com - PitBullForum.com - A forum that educates owners and the general public on responsable ownershipCategory:Dog typesCategory:Dog fighting breeds
|
|
|