High In Temperament
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immigrants imported the dogs. In Europe and America the breed was used and continues to be
used for herding animals, guarding farms, conformation, obedience and agility trials, service work,
police work, search and rescue, therapy and companionship.
Unfortunately, it was discovered in the late 1800's, that if trained, the dogs could be used for the
inhumane sport of illegal dogfighting. The dogfighters did not tolerate human aggression and
culled any dog that showed aggression towards humans. Over 100 years of selective breeding for
non-human aggressive dogs took place with the fighting dog lines, these were cross bred into the
dogs used for companionship and herding livestock and guarding farms.
founded in 1899 specifically for the American Pit Bull Terrier. The American Dog Breeders Association was founded in 1916 for the
APBT. Dogfighting was not illegal at the time and UKC and ADBA registered both fighting dogs and companion dogs until
dogfighting became illegal. The dogs registered with AKC came from the UKC stock. All 3 registries prohibit illegal dogfighting
and do not allow animal / human aggressive dogs to be shown in conformation, obedience or agility trials. Registration papers are
revoked if a breeder is found guilty of illegal dogfighting.
Since 1936 in AKC the breed has been selective bred for conformation shows and companionship in the AKC. Since the 1970's the
breed has been shown in the UKC and ADBA. The AKC bloodlines are cross bred with the UKC/ADBA lines and what this tells us
is for over 69 years the dogs have been selective bred for non-animal aggression. While some strains still have animal prey drive,
most of the breed is now non-animal aggressive. One must remember, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a "Terrier" and all terriers
have prey drive, this does not make them vicious or dangerous. Many other non -terriers breeds also have prey drive and they are
not considered dangerous.
Due to Federal laws passed in the 1970's and efforts by law enforcement, fewer dogs are trained for the illegal sport. Many other
breeds are also used for illegal dogfighting and HSUS estimates that 250,000 Pit Bulls are used for illegal activity in the United
States. This is less than 4% percent of the breed. We do not know if the dogs used for illegal activity are registered and if they are
purebred American Pit Bull Terriers. There are over 25 breeds that can be mistaken for the purebred APBT and alot of cross breeds
(mixed) also resemble the APBT. Almost all 50 states have felony laws to stop illegal dogfighting and many states prohibit training
all breeds of dogs to fight.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a WW1 National Hero, the breed fought on the front lines for the United States of American and a
APBT named SRGT Stubby is the most decorated dog of any war our country has ever fought.
In 1903 the first car to ever cross the United States had a companion along for the ride, his name was "BUD" he was an American
Pit Bull Terrier.
Helen Keller owned an American Pit Bull Terrier as did several US Presidents. Countless famous people own the breed and it was
even a movie star before Lassie (Petey) of "Our Gang" The American Pit Bull Terrier is the most popular breed in the United States.
Many false statements about the American Pit Bull Terrier have been brought into the focus of the media. There are claims the
breed can bite with 2000PSI and that they are responsible for the majority of fatal attacks and are genetically dangerous. None of
this has any truth behind it and it has caused the breed to be banned in some parts of the United States.
Several organizations support extermination of the American Pit Bull Terrier by attempted breed bans with claims that the breed as a
whole is being abused. H.S.U.S. claims that 250,000 APBT's are being bred for illegal activity. If the figure from H.S.U.S. supported
the theory that the dogs were of the registered purebred lines it would be less than 4% of the entire breed. Whats happened
because of this type of legislation is that many other breeds have now become part of the extermination process and breeds that
several years ago were not considered dangerous are now being labeled under that description. The other breeds are not being
used for illegal activity nor are there claims they are being abused like the claim is towards the APBT. In reality the breed
ban/restriction is a tool used for extermination only.
We want you to read the statement below from Dr. I Lehr Brisbin, a champion for the American Pit Bull Terrier and an animal lover
who has devoted his entire life to the study of canine behavior.
Dr I Lehr Brisbin PhD
Professor of Ecology at the University of South Carolina and a scientist for the US Department of Energy Savannah River Ecology
Laboratory in the field of animal behavior states:
the anti-pit bull legislation, to wit: Is there any credible evidence that the bite of the pit bull is either stronger or more damaging
than that of various other heavy breeds of dogs, and is there any credible evidence that pit bulls are more likely to attack
and/or bite in a dangerous way than any other breed of dog?"
The studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion
to their size, their jaw structure, and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any other breed of dog
of comparable size and build. Further, there is no evidence for the existence of any kind of "locking mechanism" unique to the
structure of the jaws and / or teeth of pit bulls.
Films and eyewitness reports of the biting behavior of pit bull indicate that this breed tends to hold the bite for longer periods
of time than other breeds which tend to slash, tear and then release. This holding type bite is less likely to cause seath from
exsanguination (bleeding) which has been documented as one of the leading causes of death following severe dog bites. In
their role as "catch dogs" used on livestock or big game, pit bulls have proven their ability to use this holdong type of bite to
immobilize their quarry without causing serious injury or tissue damage, as compared to what would be expected of the
slashing type bite of other breeds. It is for these reasons that pit bulls have long been specifically selected for use in the kind
of work where it is important that the dogs quarry should not be seriously injured. There are cases, for example, where pit
bulls have proven to be invaluable research tools in both university and government sponsored research programs aimed at
studies of the ecology and behavior of big game animals.
Dr I Lehr Brisbin PhD
