Marty
10-23-2004, 05:50 PM
Pit Bulls speak we are good dogs!
Most people, who are unfamiliar with the American Pit Bull Terrier,
falsely believe that they are dangerous dogs. Unfortunately, Pit
Bulls have a bad reputation because of some mean people who have
abused their dogs and trained them to be aggressive. Pit Bulls are
actually very stable, intelligent, and highly trainable. They are
strong athletic dogs, and they require a guardian who is responsible
and will give them plenty of exercise and training. They are very
loving and loyal and make excellent animal companions.
Little-known facts about Pit Bulls:
Pit Bulls serve as therapy/service dogs. The Chako Rescue Association
has Pit Bull therapy dogs in Texas, Utah and California. Helen Keller
even had a Pit Bull as her canine companion and helper. Cheyenne and
Dakota are a team of hard-working Search-and-Rescue Pit Bulls in
Sacramento, California. They play an important role in their
community by locating missing people in conjunction with the local
Sheriff. In their off-duty hours, they do charity work as therapy
dogs.
Petey, the faithful dog on the TV show, The Little Rascals, was a Pit
Bull. He spent countless hours with children day after day and never
hurt anyone. He was one of the most intelligent Hollywood dogs of all
time.
There are quite a few celebrities who have Pit Bulls as members of
their family including: Rosie Perez, The Crocodile Hunter, Judd
Nelson, Usher, Alicia Silverstone, Cassandra Creech, Sinbad, John
Stuart, Amy Jo Johnson, Linda Blair, Vin Diesel, and Bernadette
Peters.
Pit Bulls are heroes! America's first war dog was a Pit Bull named
Stubby. He earned several medals during World War I and was honored
at the White House. The Ken-L-Ration dog hero of 1993 was a Pit Bull
named Weela. She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during
a flood in Southern California. A Pit Bull named Bogart saved a
four-year-old child from drowning in a swimming pool in Florida.
Dixie, the Pit Bull, was inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame
after she saved some children from a Cottonmouth snake.
Pit Bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in
existence. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested
122 breeds, and Pit Bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95% passing
rate!
Dispelling some myths about Pit Bulls:
-Is it true that Pit Bulls can lock their jaw?
The infamous locking jaw is a myth. The American Pit Bull Terrier and
related breeds are physiologically no different from any other breed
of dog. All dogs are from the same species and none have locking jaws.
Dr. I Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states, "To the best
of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would
allow any meaningful comparison to be made of the biting power of
various breeds of dogs. There are, moreover, compelling technical
reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of 'pounds per
square inch' can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures
describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either
unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no
foundation in factual data." Furthermore, Dr. Brisbin states, "The few
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 breed of dog. There is absolutely no
evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique
to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull
Terrier."
-Are Pit Bulls naturally aggressive towards humans?
While many Pit Bulls do tend to be aggressive towards other DOGS (as
are most terriers), the normal, well raised Pit Bull has NO
human-aggressive tendencies! In fact, human-aggression was actually
bred out of the breed. The majority of Pit Bulls are affectionate,
intelligent, trainable dogs. In fact, the highest obedience trial
record of all time is held by an American Pit Bull Terrier named
Maddy!
-Can Pit Bulls "turn" on people?
In fact, no breed of dog does. Dog aggression is nearly always
preceded by some kind of warning, and there is always a reason behind
the attack. However, many inexperienced owners do not recognize the
dog's behavior as aggression, or refuse to acknowledge it as a warning
sign. The only exception I can think of is Springer Rage, a rare and
controversial neurological condition that manifests itself as a
spontaneous attack, followed by confusion, and then a return to normal
behavior. Pit Bulls are NOT prone to this condition. There are
individual dogs of any breed that may be more aggressive to others.
Most people, who are unfamiliar with the American Pit Bull Terrier,
falsely believe that they are dangerous dogs. Unfortunately, Pit
Bulls have a bad reputation because of some mean people who have
abused their dogs and trained them to be aggressive. Pit Bulls are
actually very stable, intelligent, and highly trainable. They are
strong athletic dogs, and they require a guardian who is responsible
and will give them plenty of exercise and training. They are very
loving and loyal and make excellent animal companions.
Little-known facts about Pit Bulls:
Pit Bulls serve as therapy/service dogs. The Chako Rescue Association
has Pit Bull therapy dogs in Texas, Utah and California. Helen Keller
even had a Pit Bull as her canine companion and helper. Cheyenne and
Dakota are a team of hard-working Search-and-Rescue Pit Bulls in
Sacramento, California. They play an important role in their
community by locating missing people in conjunction with the local
Sheriff. In their off-duty hours, they do charity work as therapy
dogs.
Petey, the faithful dog on the TV show, The Little Rascals, was a Pit
Bull. He spent countless hours with children day after day and never
hurt anyone. He was one of the most intelligent Hollywood dogs of all
time.
There are quite a few celebrities who have Pit Bulls as members of
their family including: Rosie Perez, The Crocodile Hunter, Judd
Nelson, Usher, Alicia Silverstone, Cassandra Creech, Sinbad, John
Stuart, Amy Jo Johnson, Linda Blair, Vin Diesel, and Bernadette
Peters.
Pit Bulls are heroes! America's first war dog was a Pit Bull named
Stubby. He earned several medals during World War I and was honored
at the White House. The Ken-L-Ration dog hero of 1993 was a Pit Bull
named Weela. She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during
a flood in Southern California. A Pit Bull named Bogart saved a
four-year-old child from drowning in a swimming pool in Florida.
Dixie, the Pit Bull, was inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame
after she saved some children from a Cottonmouth snake.
Pit Bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in
existence. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested
122 breeds, and Pit Bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95% passing
rate!
Dispelling some myths about Pit Bulls:
-Is it true that Pit Bulls can lock their jaw?
The infamous locking jaw is a myth. The American Pit Bull Terrier and
related breeds are physiologically no different from any other breed
of dog. All dogs are from the same species and none have locking jaws.
Dr. I Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states, "To the best
of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would
allow any meaningful comparison to be made of the biting power of
various breeds of dogs. There are, moreover, compelling technical
reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of 'pounds per
square inch' can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures
describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either
unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no
foundation in factual data." Furthermore, Dr. Brisbin states, "The few
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 breed of dog. There is absolutely no
evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique
to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull
Terrier."
-Are Pit Bulls naturally aggressive towards humans?
While many Pit Bulls do tend to be aggressive towards other DOGS (as
are most terriers), the normal, well raised Pit Bull has NO
human-aggressive tendencies! In fact, human-aggression was actually
bred out of the breed. The majority of Pit Bulls are affectionate,
intelligent, trainable dogs. In fact, the highest obedience trial
record of all time is held by an American Pit Bull Terrier named
Maddy!
-Can Pit Bulls "turn" on people?
In fact, no breed of dog does. Dog aggression is nearly always
preceded by some kind of warning, and there is always a reason behind
the attack. However, many inexperienced owners do not recognize the
dog's behavior as aggression, or refuse to acknowledge it as a warning
sign. The only exception I can think of is Springer Rage, a rare and
controversial neurological condition that manifests itself as a
spontaneous attack, followed by confusion, and then a return to normal
behavior. Pit Bulls are NOT prone to this condition. There are
individual dogs of any breed that may be more aggressive to others.