ISDJ by R.F.Stratton

Should there be a magazine that covers the exploits of pit dogs? Obviously, the humaniacs would be against them—no argument there. However, even avid pit dog men have been against them in the past, at least, some of them. I well remember that my old friend Ralph Greenwood railed against Jack Kelly’s putting out a magazine that gave accounts of matches. I always thought very highly of Ralph, and I still do, and I rate him right up there at the top tier of dog men. However, I was frankly puzzled by his judgment in this case.

I understood his point. At the time, a lot of heat was coming down on anyone who would even think about matching his dog. It was easy to think that it might be coming from a magazine that was giving results of matches and awarding champion certificates based on certain criteria. I could see how it would be like a red flag to humane groups. The problem was that I remember that Ralph always spoke highly of Pete Sparks. Sparks traveled around the South and gave his own accounts of matches, and he even published pictures of dogs in hold. That was in the early 50s, and it was in his magazine, Your Friend and Mine. I loved it at the time, as it was in stark contrast to Bloodlines Journal. At one time, that magazine, a publication of the United Kennel Club, had given match reports, made up its own rules for matches, and occasionally even published picture of fights, albeit rarely. The pictures, though, we learned later, really caused problems. The humane groups would publish them in their own journals and ask “Doesn’t anyone care?” The problem is that the pictures looked really bad to anyone who didn’t know what they were looking at—and that pretty much included anyone who hadn’t at least seen a roll.

So it was that the laws came, pretty much as a result of Sparks’ magazine, I thought, more than Jack Kelly’s Sporting Dog Journal. I don’t know why I didn’t ask Ralph about his reasoning, as we often had spirited discussions, and I even recall a time that he admitted that I was right and he was wrong! Unfortunately, he died prematurely and unexpectedly, as he was just my age. Pete Sparks was quite a bit older, and I never met him, but I understand that he had a great mind and was something of a scholar, being an authority on subjects other than pit dogs. He died, just a few years ago, at quite an advanced age.

Jack Kelly is still alive, and I have only met him in person once, as we live across the country from each other, but we have corresponded for many years, and we not infrequently talk by phone. But I know that Jack was a true editor. He would not publish petty squabbles or anything that he deemed not in the best interests of the dogs or the sport.

But back to the question: Is there a need for a magazine that keeps track of the exploits of pit dogs? I believe that there is, and I’ll explain why. First, anyone who is familiar with these dogs knows that the best of them come from game-bred lines. These are, hands down, the smartest dogs, with the best disposition toward people, and they also tend to be the healthiest. There is no need to worry about hip dysplasia with these dogs, and they are pretty hardy in other respects, too.

While there is variation in uniformity of appearance in game-bred dogs, they pretty much stay the same down through the years—and that means hundreds of years. Not so with those dogs not being used in the pit, for hunting, or for stock work on the farm. People that simply breed these dogs as pets or for show tend to go for dogs that look tough. After all, they never have to prove anything. Consequently, there are some laughable dogs out there being registered as APBTs. For that reason, all trainers and knowledgeable dog connoisseurs want dogs down from game-bred lines. And it is for that reason that a magazine that reports on pit dogs is, in my opinion, not only not a bad thing, but a desirable source.

The International Sporting Dog Journal is not a direct continuation of Jack Kelly’s original, very popular publication, but it aspires to those traditions.

Since the American Pit Bull Terrier breed is becoming amazingly popular all over the world, there is a definite place for the periodical, and it is my hope that it will be helpful to neophytes as well as those who know the breed well.

Richard F. Stratton

 

Is the ISDJ still in publication??

 

Can you post a link for back issues please..

 

Still in publication? Well, of course it is : WWW.SPORTINGDOGJOURNAL.INFO

 

Hi Mr. Stratton,
I am a big fan of all your books. I have always been in agreement in being able to read which blood is winning the world over, and most importantly the individual dog getting his or her recognition for achievements against the best of the best. Is the Truth of the APBT your last book?
Respectfully, Taipan.

 

You goob,stratton didnt post this, ******* posted it,stratton just wrote it

 

LMAO!!! ^^^ too funny ^^^

 

Great, thanks !

 

LMAO to funny also

 

Ooops my bad....lol.

 

Tiapan I speak with Mr Stratton on another forum, I'll ask and let you know mate...

 

well if you want to speak to him, just add him on facebook like every other guy with a pitbull

 

heres a list of titles

<li class="li_donthave">The Rottweiler 7 copies<li class="li_donthave">The Guide to Owning Oscars 4 copies<li class="li_donthave">The Book of the American Pit Bull Terrier 4 copies<li class="li_donthave">The Guide to Owning Cichlids (Guide to Owning) 4 copies<li class="li_donthave">The Truth About the American Pit Bull Terrier 3 copies<li class="li_donthave">Clownfishes Anemonefishes: A Complete Authoritative Guide 3 copies<li class="li_donthave">Marine Aquariums: A Complete Authoritative Guide 2 copies<li class="li_donthave">The World of the American Pit Bull Terrier 2 copies<li class="li_donthave">Clownfishes (Creating the marine environment) 2 copies<li class="li_donthave">The Guide to Owning Central American Cichlids 1 copy<li class="li_donthave">Mini-Reef Aquarium: A Complete Authoritative Guide 1 copy<li class="li_donthave">Mini Reef Aquariums Yearbook 1 copyes a list of titles