Quote: al curbow

I'm really starting to wonder though......... there seems to be an abundance of pits or pit type dogs doing all the biting, maybe there is something to the banning of pits. Now i don't want to rattle the pit people but jeeez, it's really getting crazy. I'm definitely blaming the owners of the dog but there is some kind of societal problem with the breed, i'm just not sure what it is. Sooner or later you have to look at the collective information and say hmmmmmm.......,
AL

Well, if pit types have become the dog-to-have for people looking to increase their image/status with a bad-ass dog (and I do think that's true, based on my own experience) then it stands to reason that they are breeding the dogs with aggressive traits in order to make them even more desirable to the image-seekers.

They don't just want them to look tough, they want them to act tough. They want them to produce puppies that will be "tough" and will breed the dogs accordingly. I really doubt these people are breeding many of the submissive, sweet ones.

Much like how GSDs have become morphed due to breeding based on so-called "desirable" traits, it's possible that this breed is becoming polluted by an increase in breeding with an eye towards aggressive characteristics. It would be harder to determine because, unlike the GSDs, it's not as easy to spot visually.

Either way...whether it's owning a dog as a status symbol, rewarding aggressive behavior, teaching aggressive behavior or breeding for aggressive behavior...it is still a problem caused by people.

 Quote: amber morgan

 Quote: al curbow

I'm really starting to wonder though......... there seems to be an abundance of pits or pit type dogs doing all the biting, maybe there is something to the banning of pits. Now i don't want to rattle the pit people but jeeez, it's really getting crazy. I'm definitely blaming the owners of the dog but there is some kind of societal problem with the breed, i'm just not sure what it is. Sooner or later you have to look at the collective information and say hmmmmmm......., AL

Well, if pit types have become the dog-to-have for people looking to increase their image/status with a bad-ass dog (and I do think that's true, based on my own experience) then it stands to reason that they are breeding the dogs with aggressive traits in order to make them even more desirable to the image-seekers.

I have a serious bone to pick with the phrase "pit type," as it seems to be any dog someone thinks resembles a Pit Bull. It's quite simple: Pit Bulls are a breed. One breed. Yes, the AmStaff was at one time similar, but honestly, they're as far apart today as the American Show Shepherd is from our working-line German Shepherds. It's the "lump sum" mentality that is exacerbating this situation. If it is not an American Pit Bull terrier, it is not a Pit Bull. Period.

Also, keep in mind many of these are bizarre mixes, often inbred as close as brother/sister to produce the traits cherished by pond scum. We're not dealing with genetically correct animals. A well-bred (or even just average) Pit should be a stable animal. These idiots are breeding the most aggressive dogs of several breeds to the worst representatives of the Pit Bull breed they can find, and then repeating the process with very close relatives. It's like Deliverance, canine version.

Jenni,

I called them pit-types for the sake of brevity, but I understand that people doing just what I did is part of the problem with the image of PBs in the media.

But while I'm sure that there are mix-breeds that this selective breeding is happening to, I don't think it is exclusively so. I would be willing to bet that it's happening to pure bred PBs as well.

I wasn't talking about you, Amber. I was talking about people who genuinely don't know that Pit Bulls are only one breed. Furthermore, I do agree that it's pure bred PBs as well, but I really think the inbreeding going on is scary, and has a huge influence on the character of these dogs. I didn't realize how widespread a problem inbreeding Pit Bulls was until recently, but WOW does that possibly explain a lot.

 Quote: jenni williams

I wasn't talking about you, Amber. I was talking about people who genuinely don't know that Pit Bulls are only one breed. Furthermore, I do agree that it's pure bred PBs as well, but I really think the inbreeding going on is scary, and has a huge influence on the character of these dogs. I didn't realize how widespread a problem inbreeding Pit Bulls was until recently, but WOW does that possibly explain a lot.

Jenni

I think the confusion comes from folks who talk amongst themselves and are "in the know" when it comes to pit bulls. For example when I feel I am directing a post to you, when I use pit bull I know you know I mean APBT. But for absolute correctness for the layman, Pit Bull is slang. It can mean APBT or it can mean all of the pit bull breeds lumped together - Am Staff, Staffy Bull, APBT and most recently Amer Bully. All four of these breeds are as different from each other as a GSD and a Mal.

That is what is meant when you read "there is no such breed as a Pit Bull", it is a slang term for the collection of the PB breeds. But rest assured those that own APBTs will refer to their dogs as Pit Bulls......there, clear as mud..right?

Val, what you're saying is true, but if everyone would call each breed what it is, there wouldn't be so much confusion. They're not all Pit Bulls. I know a lot of people don't know what a Staffy Bull is, but by calling one a Pit Bull, we're not helping educate the public any, are we? I don't like that a nickname for a proper breed is turned into a catch-all slang phrase for any dog who has certain physical characteristics. Just because the AKC doesn't recognize them doesn't mean they're not a breed! This has a lot to do with people not knowing what a Pit Bull is or isn't, because many don't even think a Pit Bull is a proper breed. They use the term loosely, and we get one breed taking the fall for the wrongs of many breeds.

People ask if my dog is an AmStaff. I tell them no-she's a Pit Bull. I've had more than one say "Well, yeah, but she's an AmStaff, right? A Pit Bull isn't a real breed." Yeeeesssss, it is. Don't get me started on the dual-registration debacle.

 Quote: jenni williams

Val, what you're saying is true, but if everyone would call each breed what it is, there wouldn't be so much confusion. They're not all Pit Bulls. I know a lot of people don't know what a Staffy Bull is, but by calling one a Pit Bull, we're not helping educate the public any, are we? I don't like that a nickname for a proper breed is turned into a catch-all slang phrase for any dog who has certain physical characteristics. Just because the AKC doesn't recognize them doesn't mean they're not a breed! This has a lot to do with people not knowing what a Pit Bull is or isn't, because many don't even think a Pit Bull is a proper breed. They use the term loosely, and we get one breed taking the fall for the wrongs of many breeds.

People ask if my dog is an AmStaff. I tell them no-she's a Pit Bull. I've had more than one say "Well, yeah, but she's an AmStaff, right? A Pit Bull isn't a real breed." Yeeeesssss, it is. Don't get me started on the dual-registration debacle.

Yes, I think it would be so much easier to call the dogs what they are. Everyone always says to me .."oh you have two Pit Bulls" and I say "no I have one APBT and one Am Staff". Confused look.....Oh well. But I agree it is important to distingush to truely educate the public. I hate the fact that pit bull has become a catch phrase. I just like to call the APBT by its formal name...but talk to anyone who has APBTs and they will say Pit Bull for sure. And girl you do have a looker...a very stunning representation of a properly bred APBT..kudos to you and your girl!!!!

All this discussion and the link to the pitbull quiz is a perfect example of why we need to get back to some common sense in making an actually enforcing laws, and not just dangerous dog laws.

THANKS, Val. She's a pretty girl, for sure. I am lucky to have stumbled upon her. Yours aren't bad, either .

Wanna go into politics with me? You might have to take over when I'm assassinated.

Elaine-Yes, wouldn't it be nice to interject common sense into dog law?

 Quote: Jenni Williams

THANKS, Val. She's a pretty girl, for sure. I am lucky to have stumbled upon her. Yours aren't bad, either .

Wanna go into politics with me? You might have to take over when I'm assassinated.

Elaine-Yes, wouldn't it be nice to interject common sense into dog law?

Naw, I am no politician...but if the job of HEAD SECRET SERVICE person is available, I'll take it. My plan would be to use well trained STEALTH Mals to protect our new Pro Pit Bull elected official.......LOL