I would like to know if the pit bull breed ever had a future in protection work. I am not real familiar with the breed's history. Was there ever a time in history that the breed had legitimate ability to do protection work? Not a dog that wants to tear everything and everyone apart as seen now days, but a dog that could be formally trained and utilized in a professional setting?

I realize they were bred for a specific purpose, atleast that is what I have read, yet I am curious if they could have ever been used like the German Shepherd or The Belgian Malinois are today. This might be a dumb question that common sense would answer, but sometimes I am a little short in that area. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Any thoughts?

You have a very distorted view of Pit Bulls. They are not tazmanian devils wanting ti shred everything in sight. You do not not have to go back into history to find good Pits.Ive seen Pit narc dogs,therapy dogs,protection dogs, Schutzhund dogs,AKC obedience dogs, family dogs and good ole farm dogs that dont even chase the chickens.

Check out this article Drew, just something I bumped into a while back.

http://members.tripod.com/~apbt_r/protection.html

The Pit Bull has a history in SchH nearly as long as SchH has been in the US. Personally, I think the APBT is an extremely capable and versatile breed. When I did a Bh last fall there were six APBTs trialing from Bh-SchH3. What limits the Pit in traditional service type work is that the breed is not a 'traditional' working/service breed and it has recieved a huge (and disproportionate) amount of bad press.
The bad press stories are based mostly on people who shouldn't own dogs and are low-lives in general.

I've never owned or handled one, but have been fortunate enough to train with some folks who really have some nice dogs and do a great job with them. Chris Valdes (on the board), Ron Marshall, Anetta Cheek and others with the Commonwealth Working Dog Group (DVG) are some great Pit people.

My view is not distorted, and that in fact is not my view, rather a generalization based on a poor stereotype that is among society. I own a red nosed pit bull and he is one of the nicest dogs I have ever had the pleasure to be around. I feel comfortable with my 5 year old daughter playing with this dog, laying on this dog, etc. I do not believe he has a mean bone in him. That statement was based on society's view of the breed, in general. I think it is a poor stereo type, one that has developed because of the owner's lack of respect for the breed, lack of training, lack of love and affection, and I could go on and on. David, please recognize that the statement was not a personal attack on the breed, rather a generalization. You have to admit that the majority of the public view the pit bull as a viscous man eater, primarily because of what they have seen on the news, and only that. Of course you and I know different. The few have ruined it for the many.

Are the dogs less prevalent in protection or service work now days, because of that bad press? Or are they emerging as the dog we know they can be? What seems to be the trend?

Mike, thanks for the article.

hi,
my guess would be that there are far fewer pit breeders breeding for protection/sport characteristics than there are gsd breeders. this could be one reason you don't see as many of them. it is also difficult to find a club (sometimes) that is willing to accept an "off" breed.
brandon

Would you please explain to me what an "off" breed is?

an off breed would be anything other than the best breed ever, The GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Deanna, you spelled it wrong....it is
B-E-L-G-I-A-N M-A-L-I-N-O-I-S.....just thought you ought to know <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Ok, affirmative action for "off" breeds <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

That's just more bad press...