Pit Bulls: True Lies?

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is the “Schwarzenegger” of the dog world, a canine athlete known for his incredible strength. These high energy, confident and happy dogs love to work, and they want a job to do. Beware of allowing them to become bored because they are accomplished fence climbers and need an assertive and savvy owner to provide proper direction. The APBT is an intelligent dog that does well in most performance events. But he does not make a good guard dog since he’ll make friends with the burglar.

While noted for eagerness to please, love of people, and trainability, the APBT is not a “starter dog” for a first-time dog owner. Some dogs love to cuddle and become couch-potatoes but the majority of the breed are dogs-with-a-purpose and not cutesy canines. Breeders refer to them as hard-drive dogs, and recommend that they not be left alone unsupervised as they can cause much property damage during goofy play. In a tug-of-war with a sofa, the pup will win.

Often characterized as comedians, the APBTs require owners with a firm but fair hand dedicated to proper socialization and training. Like any class clown, the breed can act like eternal two-year-old children and go through the “terrible twos” for life. The breed needs boundaries and rules, or will take advantage of any opening to do things their own way. Aggression toward people is not common, but they can be pushy.

The breed routinely serves society in a variety of roles, such as police dog, search and rescue, therapy animal, and utility farm dog. He excels in competitions of strength and intelligence, and as a companion dog has no rival. But due to his heritage, strength and tenacity, the APBT has been singled out by the media as the poster-dog for dog fighting and aggression, leading many cities to condemn the breed as a community problem.

This strong-minded dog is not appropriate as a first dog. The APBT requires an owner who understands the challenges of the breed, understands society’s attitudes and legal issues about them, and is dedicated to properly train and socialize the dog. Owners must be willing to work toward countering negative perceptions in order to allow the dog to become the loyal and loving family member he’s meant to be.

BREED HISTORY IN EUROPE

When the Normans invaded England in 1066, baiting originated with butchers who kept dogs to handle unruly bulls herded to the market for slaughter. The dogs would clamp down on the out-of-line bull’s nose and hang on until the handler could regain control. If a dog let go, the bull could maim or kill, and soon only the surviving bulldogs (those able to tenaciously bite and not let go) passed on their genes. The butchers celebrated their dogs’ prowess in public displays of “bull baiting,” and by the 16th century, nearly every town in England had its own baiting ring.

When British parliament made baiting illegal in 1835, it was easier to hide two forty-pound dogs than a 5,000 pound bull. Fighting dogs were expected to ferociously attack other dogs without hesitation, and never give ground. Dogs that showed aggression toward humans were killed, because during a fight the handlers needed to be able to handle the dogs without fear of injury themselves. The same heritage that kept dogs impervious to the blows of bulls, the fearless tenacity that said, “hang on, or die!” lived on in these original bulldog and terrier crosses.

BREED HISTORY IN THE US

When English and Irish immigrants came to America their “bulldogs” came with them. Dog fighting was common in America throughout the 19th century. But as immigrants traveled west, the dog’s talents were redirected and expanded.

The American Pit Bull Terrier, no longer a one-dimensional bruiser, became an all-purpose dog that drove cattle and sheep, protected against thieves and wild animals, hauled wood, hunted hogs, and once again served as “catch dogs” for those pesky bulls. During the day, the dogs played with settlers’ children. And at night, the dogs controlled vermin in the barn.

MEMORABLE DOGS

Before the APBT became the anti-hero of drug dealers and underground dog fights, the breed was the epitome of the dog-next-door faithful buddy. Many famous Americans have owned Pit Bulls. Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson, and others enjoyed the affectionate, fun-filled American Pit Bull Terrier.

In World War I, Pit Bulls represented the US military on posters, as a testament to the country—and the dog’s—strength and dignity. This became reality when a Pit Bull named Stubby was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Division. Stubby fought for 18 months in the trenches for France during WWI for 17 battles. Stubby warned his fellow soldiers of gas attacks, located wounded soldiers, and listened for oncoming artillery rounds. He was also responsible for the capture of a German spy at Argonne. After his time in the war, Stubby met Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G. Harding. He was also made a life member of the American Legion, the Red Cross, and the YMCA. Stubby won several medals and was even awarded the rank of sergeant! Sergeant Stubby came home from the war to a hero's welcome and went on to become the mascot for Georgetown University.

Nipper, owned by Thomas Edison, became part of the corporate logo for the RCA recording company—remember that dog tipping his head at the phonograph? Buster Brown Shoes also included a Pit Bull named Tige in their marketing advertisements.

One of the most famous Pit Bull ambassadors was named Petey, the ring-eyed pooch of the TV show Little Rascals. And two APBT dogs, Cheyenne and Dakota, are credited with being two of the first Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs as well as therapy dogs. Truly, the APBT breed is so versatile, that with the right owner, very little is beyond his ability.

This article is an excerpt from the book American Pit Bull Terrier by Amy Shojai, covering the history of the breed, puppy choice, training, behavior issues, care needs of pups, adults, rescues, senior dogs and more.