I Am Interested In Dogs And Dog Training
At any given time, there’s always a media scare about a particular dog breed. Before Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, and even Bloodhounds had their turn. here are some facts about pit bulls as they are a misunderstood breed......
Despite how long Pit Bulls have been around, stories of Pit Bull attacks didn’t begin to pick up steam until the 1980s. This happens to coincide with the reemergence of dog fighting in the United States.
Pit bulls pre-date the United States – they were bred in England and were brought to America by the settlers.
Pit Bulls were often used in bear baiting, a blood sport in which bears were publicly tortured for the “entertainment” of onlookers.
After bear baiting was outlawed in England, the sport of ratting became popular. A pit was filled with rats and dogs competed to see who could kill all of them in the shortest time. Some believe that this is where the pit in Pit Bull comes from.
In the old days, Pit Bulls found many uses on farms, from hunting, to protection, to helping with livestock.
Pit Bulls were popular mascots in early 20th Century America, appearing often on Army recruitment posters and other advertisements.
Pit Bulls were considered to be so trustworthy with children that they were known as nursemaids or nanny dogs.
Pit Bulls were on the cover of Life Magazine three times – more than any other dog.
Both the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier score exceptionally well on the test run by the American Temperament Test Society.
Despite their reputation, Pit Bulls aren’t considered great guard dogs by those in the know. They’re too trusting of humans, and may greet an intruder as a new friend.
The claim that Pit Bulls have special “locking jaws” is a myth.
Sallie the Pit Bull stood guard over dead and wounded Union soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg. She is immortalized in a Civil War monument in Pennsylvania.
The most decorated dog of World War I was a Pit Bull named Sergeant Stubby. In between his 17 battles on the Western Front, the legendary pooch helped comfort wounded soldiers.
Petey, the dog from The Little Rascals, was a Pit Bull.
Theodore Roosevelt owned a Pit Bull named Pete.
Helen Keller owned a Pit Bull named Stubby. While many Pit Bulls are used as service and therapy dogs, Stubby was purely a companion.
Contrary to everything you’ve read, Pit Bulls don’t bite especially hard. In a test of the bite force of three breeds conducted by National Geographic in 2008, Pit Bulls came in last – behind German Shepherds and Rottweilers.
Of the 51 dogs seized from Michael Vick’s dog-fighting ring in 2007, over 30 of them have been rehabilitated and gone on to loving homes. Four of them have even become therapy dogs.
Today not in the news an estimated 3.5 million pit bulls did nothing but love their families.
One loyal friend is worth 10,000 relatives.
Despite how long Pit Bulls have been around, stories of Pit Bull attacks didn’t begin to pick up steam until the 1980s. This happens to coincide with the reemergence of dog fighting in the United States.
Pit bulls pre-date the United States – they were bred in England and were brought to America by the settlers.
Pit Bulls were often used in bear baiting, a blood sport in which bears were publicly tortured for the “entertainment” of onlookers.
After bear baiting was outlawed in England, the sport of ratting became popular. A pit was filled with rats and dogs competed to see who could kill all of them in the shortest time. Some believe that this is where the pit in Pit Bull comes from.
In the old days, Pit Bulls found many uses on farms, from hunting, to protection, to helping with livestock.
Pit Bulls were popular mascots in early 20th Century America, appearing often on Army recruitment posters and other advertisements.
Pit Bulls were considered to be so trustworthy with children that they were known as nursemaids or nanny dogs.
Pit Bulls were on the cover of Life Magazine three times – more than any other dog.
Both the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier score exceptionally well on the test run by the American Temperament Test Society.
Despite their reputation, Pit Bulls aren’t considered great guard dogs by those in the know. They’re too trusting of humans, and may greet an intruder as a new friend.
The claim that Pit Bulls have special “locking jaws” is a myth.
Sallie the Pit Bull stood guard over dead and wounded Union soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg. She is immortalized in a Civil War monument in Pennsylvania.
The most decorated dog of World War I was a Pit Bull named Sergeant Stubby. In between his 17 battles on the Western Front, the legendary pooch helped comfort wounded soldiers.
Petey, the dog from The Little Rascals, was a Pit Bull.
Theodore Roosevelt owned a Pit Bull named Pete.
Helen Keller owned a Pit Bull named Stubby. While many Pit Bulls are used as service and therapy dogs, Stubby was purely a companion.
Contrary to everything you’ve read, Pit Bulls don’t bite especially hard. In a test of the bite force of three breeds conducted by National Geographic in 2008, Pit Bulls came in last – behind German Shepherds and Rottweilers.
Of the 51 dogs seized from Michael Vick’s dog-fighting ring in 2007, over 30 of them have been rehabilitated and gone on to loving homes. Four of them have even become therapy dogs.
Today not in the news an estimated 3.5 million pit bulls did nothing but love their families.
One loyal friend is worth 10,000 relatives.
