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Breed Info About the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT)
Just walking down the street with an APBT on the leash is an interesting way
to find out how many different types of pit bulls exist -- in people's minds.
Some folks rush over to coo and praise; others hurry to the other side of the
street to avoid close contact. Many just study the dog as it walks past - while
drinking in a good long (often confused!) look at the person on the other end of
the leash. This is one breed that evokes strong emotion and bigger controversy
wherever it wags its tail. The range of opinion in the Pit Bull Drama varies so
dramatically that the average person is often left with nothing more than
confused ideas gleaned from the warnings of television news reporters.
Understanding the APBT starts with learning about their
beginnings on up to the roles they play in our society today. They've traveled a
long road with Americans since early colonists went to the trouble of importing
them along with their other family treasures. With the same courageous spirit,
tenacious loyalty and die-hard devotion they provided to their owners
generations ago, they continue to dutifully hold up a mirror to this American
society and reflect back to us who we are as a culture of dog owners.
Created in the UK The dog that we now recognize as the APBT was originally bred in the British
Isles early 1800's to 'bait' bulls. These matches were held for the
entertainment of the struggling classes; a source of relief from the tedious and
brutal way of life suffered by many commoners during that time. In 1835 bull
baiting was deemed inhumane and became illegal, and dog fighting became a popular
replacement. The best fighters were made heroes and the trait for aggression
towards other dogs began to be selectively bred into their genetic make up. At
the same time, a very strong bite inhibition towards humans was also bred into
the APBT lines so handlers could lean over into the fighting pits and pull their
battling dogs apart without worrying about receiving a redirected bite.
Partially because of this selective breeding which culled out "man
biters", this breed became well known for its loving devotion and
trustworthy nature with humans.
History in America
Immigrants brought their dogs across the ocean along with their families and
prized possessions. They soon became a fixture in a developing nation. In early
America, the dogs were valued for much more than their fighting abilities. They
were entrusted to protect homesteads from predators and worked as vital helpers
on family farms. Homesteaders depended on their abilities to help in hunts and
as hog catchers (hence, the common title "catch dogs"). They were
constant companions to the young children who were entrusted in their care.
APBTs earned their place as an important part of the fabric of a developing
nation.
As cities sprung up, APBTs remained a prominent part of the American culture.
The USA admired this breed for qualities that it likened in itself; friendly,
brave, hardworking, worthy of respect. APBTs were thought of less as pit
fighters and more as 'regular dogs'. They show up in hundreds of turn of the
century photos, flanked by loving family members. Early advertisements, posters,
and magazines began to use the image of the All American Dog, including Buster
Brown, whose companion was an APBT.
World War I posters
displayed illustrations of APBTs as proud mascots of neutrality and bravery. Not
to disappoint, the most decorated war dog of that time was none other than
'Stubby' -- a loyal and brave APBT.
The APBT was also a favorite dog among politicians, scholars, celebrities.
Helen Keller, Theodore Roosevelt, and the "Our Gang" Little Rascals
all had APBTS. Many reading this website may have grandparents and great
grandparents who kept a favorite APBT as a pet. Today, this tradition continues
with tens of thousands of Americans who love and cherish their family pit bulls.
Breed Characteristics
Because the early breeders of APBT were going for speed, stamina and attitude
rather than looks, the general appearance of this breed can vary greatly. They
can range between 25 and 85 pounds. The earlier 'classic' APBTs were on the
small side - an advantage which afforded them speed and agility in the fighting
pits. As the pitdogs made their way to the working farms of America, larger
characteristics were bred into the lines.
The Pit Bull
has typically been a well muscled dog, with a deep rib cage, powerful back end,
broad hips, heavy jaw, heavy front legs and delicate, athletic back legs. They
can also be found slimmer and rangier in build with longer legs (a look that all
too often earns them the mislabel of "pit mix" in animal shelters).
The head shape has changed over the years, and only very recently have the
"huge heads" become popular with certain crowds. These large, out of
proportion heads would not have been desirable with the working/fighting dogs of
yester-year. Any color is acceptable with this breed. The hair is typically
short, bristly and glossy. Ears can be cropped or uncropped. Tail is pencil thin
and always left natural.
(The photo shows 'Stella', a beautiful APBT rescued from the Oakland Shelter and
placed into a loving and responsible home. She represents the athletic,
people-loving, courageous character that is treasured in pit bulls. Her story is
listed on the Happy Endings Page)
Why
Would Anyone Want a Pit Bull?
The fun loving, spunky and affectionate attitude of the APBT is what most
admirers come to love best about these dogs. We like to say "To know them
is to love them". Pit bulls are impressively loyal, bold and courageous
animals. They are naturally clownish, alert and intelligent .. in other words, a
whole lot of fun to have around! Many participate and excel in various dog
sports and activities, including Obedience Trials, Search and Rescue work,
Agility Trials, Flyball and Frisbee Competitions, and Weight Pulling events.
With their tenacious work drive and strong desire to please their owners, they
are natural competitors and win impressive titles wherever they're worked.
(The
photo on the right is Deputy Sheriff Alan Benninga and his trusty K9 pal who was
trained for patrol and narcotics work in Clay Co KS. - Thanks to Alan for
letting us show off his pride and joy!)
The soft side of the breed shows up in their gushing affection for humans - a
desirable trait that was very important to the original breeders of this animal
and remains so today. For this reason, many pit bulls work as Certified Therapy
Dogs in hospitals and nursing homes. Homes with children that know the breed
continue to seek them out as their dog of choice. A favorite place of just about
any well loved pit bull is in the lap of his adoring human or close by his side.
(The photo above shows Brian surrounded by his three rescued BAD RAP pit bull
buddies: Bear, Reggie and Lucy. Could Puppy Love be any sweeter?)
AmStaff or APBT ?
Many laypeople have come to believe that "American Staffordshire
Terrier" is a polite new name for pit bull, and many shelters incorrectly
label pit bulls as AmStaffs (presumably to get adoption numbers up).
Understanding the jumbled history of the breed names helps to clear up some of
this confusion and mislabeling.
Before the end of the 1800's, the dogs we think of as 'Pit Bulls' were
typically called bulldogs (a name that is still used by many breed enthusiasts).
In 1898, Chauncy Z. Bennet founded the United Kennel Club (UKC) and re-named the
bulldogs 'American Pit Bull Terriers'. This move gave legitimacy to the breed
and provided a framework for breed standardization. Then, in the 1930's a group
petitioned the American Kennel Club (AKC) to allow pit bulls to be shown in the
conformation ring. To separate the dog from its reputation as a pit fighter,
they were given the new title 'Staffordshire Terrier' which was later changed to
'American Staffordshire Terrier' to avoid confusion with the English
Staffordshire Terrier.
The AmStaffs have been selectively bred since that time for conformation, while the APBTs
have been selectively bred for working drive, in addition to conformation. The
two styles are basically mirror images of each other, with slight differences in
build and character that have started to show over the past 65 years. To make
matters even more confusing, some AmStaffs are dual registered as both UKC APBTs
and AKC AmStaffs, while APBTs cannot be registered with both organizations.
Depending on who you talk to, AmStaffs and APBTs can be the exact same breed, or
completely separate breeds.
(This photo shows Gemini Kennel's duo registered champ, Neo. His 'show name' is
"UKC Nat'l GR CH/AKC CH/INT CH Shadytown Gemini Neo D Shark CGC, TT"
(the TT stands for passing the American Temperament Test and CGC stands for
passing the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program).
In 1909, Guy McCord founded an organization titled ADBA (American Dog
Breeders Association). This was created exclusively for APBTs and continues to
be the lead registry for this breed. In 1976, the ADBA outlined its own breed
standard, or, Basis of Conformation.
For the purpose of this website, all dogs will be called APBTs, or, the
generic terms 'pit bull'. Those of us in BAD RAP would like to think that 'Pit
Bull' is not a bad word, and are proud to label our dogs as such, even if we
usually have no inkling about an individual dog's lines or history. Most of the
pit dogs we see showing up in our bay area shelters are indeed APBTs. Some of
the larger varieties may have had mastiff or other breeds mixed into their
genetics, while some classic smaller sized APBTs with "old world"
gameness show up as well.
A Lonely Twist In the Road
Although
we've changed enough as a culture to create laws which protect our admirable
clown from organized dog fighting, ironically the darkest hour of this breed's
story has only come about in the past 20 years. While huge numbers of pit bulls
in this country are cherished family pets, many not so fortunate suffer the
consequences of a nation with multi-layered social and economic problems. The
historic fighting ability of this All American breed began to be exploited on a
larger scale in the 1980's. Pit bulls were soon associated with poverty, crime,
and newspaper headlines of back alley dog fighting rings. And, for the first
time in the breed's history, we started hearing disturbing accounts of
aggressive attacks on humans by poorly socialized and badly bred APBTs, APBT
mixes and other breed dogs that were mislabeled as APBTs. The press went wild,
the public panicked, and the reputation of the entire breed was dragged down
with sensationalistic headlines and a few rotten examples of "Pit Bull
Imposters" owned by shady and irresponsible owners.
To add to the sadness, a frenzy of backyard breeding of APBTs in our urban
cities began to add to the burgeoning population of unwanted dogs in the 80's --
A trend which continues today. The economic incentive of a 50 dollar price for
unpapered pit bull puppies has filled our newspapers with ads for "Pit Pups
for Sale". Those seeking a status symbol or controversial fashion statement
are irresistibly drawn to having a pit bull of their own. But just as fashions
change, so do the minds of many 'casual pit bull owners' . The pattern of pit
bulls purchased for breeding, later discarded and then duly euthanized by our
overcrowded shelters has erupted into a disturbing 'business as usual' cycle
with no discernable end in sight. With a negative reputation as "mean and
vicious" animals, chances of salvation for most unwanted pit bulls are
depressingly slim.
So, just as we struggle as a nation to understand how to deal with the social
and economic ills that affect our cities, we are also left with the sticky
puzzle of what to do about our once favorite breed of dog that is so feared and
so loved at the same time . Once again, the APBT breed reflects back to us who
we are: A culture of incredible contrasts and conflicting beliefs.
Still Heroes
Despite the
difficult beginnings many of our urban pit bulls suffer, one thing rings true:
The K9 hero that was admired by this country's earliest citizens continues to
show itself in the faces of the overwhelming majority of APBTs in our homes and
even most of our bay area shelters. Even with the rocky starts that so many
APBTs endure, an astounding number of dogs remain stable in temperament and
great with people. Because of this, we can offer thanks to the earliest dogmen
for their selective breeding efforts which produced a dog as hardy as the APBT.
The animal that was once courageous enough to do battle with a bull or another
APBT in the pit, now utilizes that same bravado to stay alive and sane in
conditions where other 'softer' breeds might go insane.
In loving and committed homes, the breed continues to dazzle us with charms only
a bullydog can possess. Its not hard to see that the original Hero Dog is still
alive and well in the show ring, in the various dog sport competitions and even
in the saddest of places in our urban shelters. We'd like to think that BAD
RAP's rescued pit bulls accurately reflect that original spirit of tail wagging
resiliency. We hope to inspire others to take a second look at the breed that
has so much to say to us about its strengths and qualities as well as who we are
as a nation of dog lovers.
(The photo above is 'Wasabi Sally' - a vivacious APBT rescued from Berkeley
Animal Shelter)
Denkai Animal Sanctuary has
been organized to operate exclusively for charitable, scientific,
prevention of cruelty to animals, and educational purposes within
the meaning of section 501
(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
This Sanctuary provides adoption
services and a permanent home for close to 90 animals including
horses, llamas, pot bellied pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys,
dogs and even a few cats.
We operate through kind
volunteers, and in turn give them the opportunity to foster
compassion for these abused and neglected animals by helping with
their maintenance and rehabilitation. We also work with several
local educational establishments and have worked with mentally and
physically challenged adults and kids. We believe in helping these
animals and giving back to the community.
