This is what this site is about!

It has been said that we are turning in to a pet bull site, this is an about us page that has not been shared it should explan US...

• Pit Bull Community is dedicated to the preservation of the pit bull in its original form as a game-bred dog and in its modern incarnations as a loving companion pet and top competitor in weight pull competitions and conformation shows. We are opposed to all forms of animal cruelty, and do not promote any illegal activities, but we celebrate the history of the pit bull and value its qualities of courage, strength and tenacity as the essence of the breed. We are therefore against all forms of breed-specific legislation, and work to protect the constitutional rights of pit bull owners.

• Pit Bull Community's primary goal is to provide education to the public about the nature of the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and related breeds such as the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, all of which are often referred to as "pit bulls." These breeds have become the media's current choice of "dangerous dog," following the German Shepherd, the Doberman Pinscher, and the Rottweiler. In light of today's barrage of newspaper reports of pit bull attacks, it is hard to imagine that today's "bad dog" was once favored in the United States.

• The shift in the mass media's portrayal of the pit bull, from the loyal family pet of Our Gang's Petey to a fearsome beast, as well as the rise in breed-specific legislation banning pit bulls, is the result of widespread misinformation and prejudice. The imputation of actions and characteristics of individual dogs to an entire breed, which forms the basis of breed-specific legislation (BSL), is analogous to human racism or classism.

• Moreover, with a wide range of sizes and colors, and an ever-increasing mixed-breed population, the pit bull presents a challenge for those who would define it. These days, it seems that everyone knows what a "pit bull" is and that "they" are dangerous. This ambiguous status has led to vague definitions of the pit bull in breed-banning ordinances, and the label "pit bull" has been applied generically to any dog that appears dangerous. In fact, over eighty percent of Americans, when faced with pictures of the American Pit Bull Terrier and related breeds, fail to correctly identify the APBT.

• The American Pit Bull Terrier is descended from the fighting dogs that came to the United States from England and Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th century. Although some dispute its heritage, the APBT is generally thought to have been the result of a cross between the original English Bulldog and a smaller, game terrier, a cross which was then refined on American soil. The United Kennel Club (UKC) was formed in 1898 to recognize the APBT, and other pit bull registries have been founded since, which reward conformation based on performance rather than on size, color or other physical characteristics.

• Despite the media's portrayal of fighting dogs, it is precisely the APBT's history as a fighting dog that has made it such a fine companion animal. Bred to be handled extensively by humans who regularly separated fighting dogs in the pit, APBTs became uniquely human-friendly; an APBT who would injure a human, without human error or provocation, was removed from breeding stock. The true, game-bred APBT is thus uniquely responsive to humans and will go to amazing lengths to please its owner.

• The gameness of APBTs also allows them to excel as working dogs, in sports such as hog hunting and weight pulling. Because they are so friendly to humans, APBTs are not suitable for guard dogs. Even though the myth, that pit bulls have locking jaws has been completely debunked, they are powerful natural athletes, and encouraging them to be aggressive toward humans is tantamount to criminal action.

• Although APBTs typically do not bite people, any dog of any breed will bite a person under certain circumstances. Like any dog, an APBT should always be supervised around young children. Many people, when talking about a pit bull, will call a dog that bites an individual a "man-biter." A man-biter will go after man like another animal with all intent to take it out. At least 99.99% of APBTs will not attack a human, but many display protective instincts and will defend their family and/or property. Humans are most always the ones to blame when a dog bites someone - they have failed in some way, but refuse to take blame for their inability to properly raise, house, and train their pets correctly. It is always easier to blame the dog, its breed, or its genetic makeup, than to take responsibility, train them correctly from day one, and should a problem arise, seek professional help. It is the irresponsible owners who have allowed accidents to happen which could have been prevented, and are now threatening to destroy the pit bull breeds.

• Even though the APBT is the most reliably human-friendly of breeds, they often become dog-aggressive when mature (beginning anywhere from six months to two years of age and continuing for the rest of their adult lives). APBTs do not need to be trained to fight other dogs - it is in their nature. Contrary to popular opinion, dog-aggression cannot be "loved out" or "trained out" of APBTs, but it is typically apparent and controllable through supervision and separation of dogs. In fact, dog-aggression is also common in other bully and terrier breeds, and has nothing whatsoever to do with aggression toward humans.

• For these reasons, persons who aspire to own an APBT take on a great responsibility. These dogs must be supervised around other dogs, cats, or pets and many should be the only house pet. Even though chains are out of favor among animal welfare advocates today, often with good reason, a well-maintained chain set-up is often the best outdoor containment system for an APBT, and allows them a great deal more exercise and safe interaction than a dog run or kennel. Although parting sticks and exercise equipment are characterized by law enforcement as evidence of dog fighting, they can also be hallmarks of responsible ownership and well cared-for APBTs. We believe that all of these responsibilities are a small price to pay for such a wonderful companion.

• We do not condone the indiscriminate breeding of pit bulls, and do not allow posts relating to dogs for sale or stud, when there are countless homeless and unwanted pit bulls being put to death daily in America's shelters. While we support rescue efforts, we are not animal rights extremists. We denounce the mass extermination of pit bulls seized when dogfighters are arrested. Most of these dogs and puppies are similar in temperament to other APBTs and can be successfully placed in homes as pets or with working families. In addition, limited breeding programs, undertaken by knowledgeable and responsible breeders, are necessary to preserve the APBT for future generations.

• Pit Bull Community rejects BSL as an unconstitutional infringement on the rights of Americans, based in a vicious prejudice that seeks to destroy an honorable tradition. Many people do not realize it, but there exists an entire culture and way of life in the United States built around caring for and raising APBTs. This breed is an important historical and cultural legacy, and the staff of Pit Bull Community believe that public safety is best served by preserving the APBT in its original form: as a game-bred dog.

• We at the Pit Bull Community hope to increase public understanding and dispel the myths surrounding the APBT and the related breeds known as "pit bulls." Please, do your part to educate yourself and others, and save America's dog as well as life as we know it for the owners and lovers of this heroic breed!

 

exactly ,,, thanks marty

 

Thanks for the info Marty!

 

...Amen! ...

 

This has always been the goal of this site from day one!

 

I'm glad to see a little part about APBTs being companions("petbulls"). It gets a little frustrating coming on here trying to learn and getting bashed for owning "petbulls".

 

I dont know if I am a pet bull owner but her is what I do with my dogs You guys can decide. I work with agaility weightpull conformation, My dogs get lots of exercies treadmill work and pringpole activitys. I work with my dog about 2 hours before I go to work and when I get off Work I Walk them for another hour every night and day.
What do you think Pet Bull owner or Pit Bull owner

 

No matter what you do with your dog, it is still an APBT. I hate this damn "You dont own a Pitbull if you dont.....(insert whatever here)" or "If it aint gamebred it aint an APBT". To me that's bs. Either way its still a Pitbull.

 

Hear! Hear!

 

Why not change the name to pit-bull.com or pitbullcommunity.com why come up with game-dog.com if the isnt focused on strictly game dogs meant to do what there made for.

 

agreeeeed 100%%%%%%%

 

I second that!

Is a "petbull" an inferior dog here?

I feel a "petbulls to the back of the bus" segregation going on...

 

There is no "pet-bull to the back of the bus" game/segregation going on. I think that what a lot of "old" members, notice is the shift of the website. When it first started up, there were nothing but game owners on this site. The talk was different, nothing too out of control, but it was different. People didn't post pictures of themselves or families and things like that. There were no memebers who dressed their dogs up like kids and etc....Not saying thats bad. Owners will do what they do. IMO this board shifted from talking about "working dogs" and owners who work with them to more members who just have their dogs as couch potatoes and living stuffed animals. I know there are a lot of members on here that own these dogs and they live in their home with them. There Nothing wrong with that to me. I know that a lot of those owners actually work with their dogs as well. TO me working is doing anything other than just sitting on your a** or just walking walking up the block and back. Thats NOT WORKING. To me if an owner can not provide exercise(work), training(work),etc.. or whatever it is you do with your dog to stimulate them mentally and physically, then you should NOT own this type of dog.

Also, I feel that a lot of old members and some new are tired of these people who get on here and act as though they know everything there is to know about the breed and they don't even own ONE DOG!! LOL to me that is FUNNY!!! How can you tell anyone what to do with a dog, or this and that, if you have NO EXPERIENCE... lol to each their own I guess....

And to the remark...."If it aint gamebred then it aint a pit." Well to each their own on that one as well. If they are NOT bred to work, then well I guess they are inferior in that aspect. I mean really, this IS a working breed right? So IMO why have this type of dog if you are not going to work them.

I'm sure my remarks will offend quite a few people and I'm sure I will get tons of hate mail, but I feel if people are going to own this breed they need to get off their a**es and quit being lazy. If you don't do anything with your dog, don't get upset and whine if someone calls it a petbull or a blue hippo...(i know you have seen that funny video on youtube.com) Some owners are just as game as their dogs, and some owners are NOT....and IMO from the look at some of these remarks made by some members on this board it seems they are NOT....

 

Not offended here...LOL Good read!

 

One of my favorite Richard Stratton Stories is about the great dog Centipede who was along with being a fantastic match dog was also a natural house dog who had to be "bribed" with time in the house to work on the tredmill. IMO, he represents the idea of the breed. Although a champion match dog, the kids of the house would play "dress-up" with this dog according to the story. I do think folks who don't give Pitbulls, even ones kept mainly as pets some sort of outlet for their energies are dropping the ball. But a LOT of pet owners do work with their dogs, just not matching, per se.


And a lot of people with game-dogs I'm sure also treat some if not all of their dogs as pets and members of the family, at least I'd hope so. So its not like there is nothing for the two groups to learn from each other.



Any way, good write up, thanks.

 

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Waz up Bro looks like your still holding it down for us dogmen. but it seems that this site will never be what it was.

 

Well, here's my two cents. I admire the dog men of old, and I am fascinated by the history of the breed. Gameness IS the essence of this breed. That being said, how does one truly test the gameness of a dog, legally? My dogs are not couch potatoes (my older ones can be at times, but they've earned it, lol). My puppies are in obedience classes, I plan on doing agility and/or weight pull with them as well. I'm also looking into getting them CGC. To me, doing these things with our wonderful breed helps to brighten their image, enlighten the public, and keep the dogs in a sound frame of mind and body, because they truly aim to please us and love to work. Maybe I'm a petbull owner. However others test the gameness of their dogs is none of my business. I do understand that back in the day the matching of dogs ensured that only the best of the best were bred. It's unfortunate that inferior dogs are reproducing, and worse is being done to this breed. Not saying I think things are as they should be, but I think if the site's only for "game dogs" that's inviting alot of unwanted scrutiny. Am I wrong on this?

 

well like bob dylan said "the times they are a changing". and to all of u stuck in the past why don't u hop your ass in the ring for two hours and let's see how game u are. personaly i am glad to see some of the so called dogmen gone they were nothing but assholes anyway, with nothing to offer but there slanted view of the world. its still a great site marty and i keep on learning

 

This is a great site Marty, I've looked but have not yet found another working dog forum that is as active and informative. It keeps my dog knowledge on the surface and growing. I am one of those who does not own dogs. I did in NM, but I moved to the city and can't have any right now. I do have experience in rescue work, fostering in my home, working at a great shelter, grooming, surgeries, animal hospitals and kennels that all have had MANY nice APBT's. I've learned a lot from this site and when I graduate and am able to keep dogs again, I will have several. Working dogs, working and maybe a pet or two. I will no longer be making my living working with animals so my hobby will keep me happy and fullfilled.

Perhaps there aren't as many dogmen on the forum because there just aren't as many out there than there used to be? I don't know, I haven't been a member that long... just a likely possability, BSL and arrests for dogs on chains and treadmills might also reduce the ammount of dogmen... just a guess.