History
The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a medium-sized,
solidly built, short haired dog whose early ancestors came from England and
Ireland. It is a member of the molosser breed group. The American Staffordshire
Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) were bred from the same
lineage, but received different names from the two American kennel clubs;
Staffordshire was the name given by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and
American Pit Bull Terrier by the United Kennel Club (UKC). When compared with
the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier is larger
by margins of 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) in height and 25–35 pounds (11–16 kg) in
weight.
The dog was bred first to bait bulls and bears. When
bear-baiting and bull-baiting were deemed inhumane, rat-baiting and dog-baiting
became more popular. The APBT Breed was used in both sports, and its prevalence
in being put in pits with rats, or other dogs led to "pit" being
added to its name.
The American Pit Bull is medium-sized, and has a short coat
and smooth well-defined muscle structure. Its eyes are round to almond shaped,
and its ears are small to medium in length, typically half prick or rose in
carriage, and may be cropped.. The tail is slightly thick and tapers to a
point. The coat is glossy, smooth, short, and stiff to the touch. The accepted
coat color can vary widely, but, both the AKC and UKC do not recognize merle
coloring. Color patterns that are typical in the breed are spotted, brindled,
solid, and with points (white markings on the paws, tip of the tail, and on the
muzzle.)
Twelve countries in Europe, as well as Australia, Canada,
Ecuador, Malaysia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and Venezuela have
enacted some form of breed-specific legislation on pit bull-type dogs,
including American Pit Bull Terriers, ranging from outright bans to
restrictions and conditions on ownership. The state of New South Wales in
Australia places restrictions on the breed, including mandatory sterilization.
The breed is banned in the United Kingdom, the Canadian province of Ontario,
and a few counties and cities in the United States.
The Pit Bull Terrier was created by breeding Old English
Terriers and Old English Bulldogs together to produce a dog that combined the
gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog. These
dogs were bred in England, and arrived in the United States where they became
the direct ancestors of the American Pitbull Terrier. In the United Kingdom pit
bulls were used in bloodsports such as bull baiting, bear baiting and cock
fighting. These bloodsports were officially eliminated in 1835 as Britain began
to introduce animal welfare laws. Since dogfights were cheaper to organise and
far easier to conceal from the law than bull or bear baits, bloodsport
proponents turned to pitting their dogs against each other instead. Dog
fighting was used as both a bloodsport (often involving gambling) and a way to
continue to test the quality of their stock. For decades afterwards, dog
fighting clandestinely took place in small areas of Britain and America. In the
early 20th century pitbulls were used as catch dogs in America for semi-wild
cattle and hogs, to hunt, and drive livestock, and as family companions. Some have been selectively bred for their fighting prowess.
Pit Bull Terriers successfully fill the role of companion
dogs, and police dogs, and therapy dog. Pit Bull Terriers also constitute the
majority of dogs used for illegal dog fighting in America In addition, law
enforcement organisations report these dogs are used for other nefarious
purposes, such as guarding illegal narcotics operations, use against police,
and as attack dogs.
In an effort to counter the fighting reputation of pit
bull-type dogs, in 1996 the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals renamed pit bull terriers to "St. Francis Terriers", so
that people might be more likely to adopt them. 60 temperament-screened dogs
were adopted until the program was halted, after several of the newly adopted
pit bulls killed cats. The New York City Center for Animal Care and Control
tried a similar approach in 2004, relabeling their pit bulls as "New Yorkies",
but dropped the idea in the face of overwhelming public opposition.
Temperament
The UKC gives this description of the characteristics of the
American Pit Bull Terrier:
The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull
Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to
please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family
companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most
APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful
physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience
train the dog. The breed’s natural agility makes it one of the most capable
canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the
best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with
strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed
and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because
of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.
In September 2000 a study conducted by the United States
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was published which examined
dog bite related fatalities (human death caused by dog bite injuries) over a
20-year period from 1979 to 1998. The study examined 238 fatalities in which
the breed of dog was known. The study was surmised to covered approximately 72%
of known dog bite related fatalities during that period. However in the later
half of the study Rottweilers accounted for more dog bite related fatalities
than pit bulls.
"Despite these limitations and concerns, the data
indicates that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human
DBRF (dog bite related fatality) in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It
is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the
United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a
breed-specific problem with fatalities... However, breeds responsible for human
DBRF have varied over time."
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