Dog Breed of the Day: American Pit Bull Terrier

Yes, I love pit bulls. But did you know that there is no such breed as a "pitbull?" The term "pitbull" has become a generic term for a few different breeds with similar characteristics. These often include the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff), and Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffy), and some counties and cities even throw in the American Bulldog, the English Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Dogue des Bordeaux, Dogo Argentino... and not to mention the popular breed on the rise: The American Bully. I've even read about a town that deemed a Polish Lowland Sheepdog a "pitbull." Look it up and cringe at the stupidity. "Pitbull" legally is whatever your state/county/city decides decides. To the original type American Pit Bull Terrier fancier, the term pit bull can only mean the APBT, which is often simply called a "bulldog." The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and American Bully under the same generic term are targeted the most through the media. Thanks to the bad press it receives accompanied by bad owners, the APBT breed (and the often mislabled American Bully) is currently the most feared. Simultaneously it is one of the most loved breeds of dog in America today. It is also the most bred dog in America, and therefore euthanized in shelters more than any other breed. They are the most difficult breed to find a good home for. Ignorance and fear have caused breed specific legislation (BSL) to spread and convince people that these people-loving dogs are out to get them. What most people don't understand though, is that there is a BIG difference between dog-dog aggression (DA) and human aggression (HA) in the APBT. The APBT was actually selectively bred to have an exceptionally stable temperament towards humans due to its fighting history. Dogmen had to be able to pull dogs apart in the pit during a fight with out redirected aggression. A lot of myths surround this mystic breed, but I'll do more articles on that later.

The APBT loves human attention, play time and has all the energy and determination of a true working dog. They are one of the best working dogs for most sports and jobs because they love to please and are very athletic. Their clownish behavior and fun loving, yet determined personality makes them a breed to love. They are not for everyone though. As with any breed, do your homework EXTENSIVELY before bringing home a dog that you might find yourself unable to handle. In the right hands, an APBT melts like butter and will love you for life. There is nothing like a pittie smile and pittie kisses all over your face! They love to cuddle. Many people find these lovable qualities endearing, so they blindly breed dogs left and right. This reduces the qualities it was originally bred for and threatens the breed. There is nothing wrong with pit bulls at all. What is wrong is most of the people who own them. Their tough image is attracting the wrong kind of people, and the media is to blame for sensationalizing them, even outright lying about them. I recommend reading an ebook that can be found for free called The Pitbull Placebo to understand why pit bulls are demonized in society.

(Image reproduced from Wikemedia Commons here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:American_Pit_Bull_Terrier_-_Seated.jpg)