tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383474275680845547.post1421326388317787172..comments2023-06-07T20:51:21.426-04:00Comments on The Real Pit Bull Blog: Help! My Breed's Name Has Been Hijacked!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488725645986806840noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383474275680845547.post-41777822334896605912009-12-13T23:24:37.381-05:002009-12-13T23:24:37.381-05:00This is an excerpt from a paper I just had to writ...This is an excerpt from a paper I just had to write for school regarding pit bulls: <br /><br />"Some people just shudder at the sound of hearing someone saying “pit bull”. Pit bulls are not actually a single breed. The term “pit bulls” refers to and includes a group of dogs called the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire bull terrier. There are also about 20+ other breeds that are commonly mistaken for pit bulls based on physical characteristics. The high level of terror plus lack of education and knowledge of the breed has resulted in Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL). BSLs don’t appear to benefit anyone except those who are strongly opposed to the breed. BSLs are set with the intentions of protecting dog bites and attacks from so-called aggressive breeds. An article by Peter Marcus explores the facts and statistics that point to Labrador retrievers as being more likely to bite, with a surprising 13.3% chance of attacking a human being versus the shockingly lower 8.4% chance of pit bulls. One factor though is popularity of the breed. While pit bull bites are often in the spotlight, many times it is failed to be reported that number of dogs in the pit bull population, including pit bull mixes, often surpasses those also listed as an aggressive breed. What many Americans don’t seem to understand, nor seem to want to understand, is that pit bulls are not aggressive by nature. Environment plays a factor with animals, just as it does with people. If raised in a positive, loving, nurturing, pleasant environment, it is no surprise that animal would reflect outward the type of care they’ve received. However, even though they are raised in a negative, harmful, dangerous, unhappy environment, it is the dog’s fault for behaving that way. Why would someone blame the animal, who does not understand logic or reason, for not “being responsible” for their actions and making different choices? It just shows that humans are being hypocritical of their own actions."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383474275680845547.post-2334657449687546432009-10-15T16:21:48.946-04:002009-10-15T16:21:48.946-04:00Very well said! Proper breed identification is imp...Very well said! Proper breed identification is important for all of the reasons that you listed. Just lumping a bunch of similar breeds together under the Pit Bull label because they are all part of an organization's agenda is misguided and lazy. You can properly identify each individual breed or mix and STILL advocate for all of them. Not doing so does far more harm than good.Suzi Riothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02869448922051303723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383474275680845547.post-22055616968212173712009-10-15T13:59:18.699-04:002009-10-15T13:59:18.699-04:00Agreed. I try to do my best...check me out at TheD...Agreed. I try to do my best...check me out at TheDogDiva.blogspot.com and let me know if I've got it! (I have 6 blogs on pit bull education...)Diane; The Dog Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04747392736704809124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383474275680845547.post-81799994065617847232009-10-15T08:14:49.621-04:002009-10-15T08:14:49.621-04:00As Jasper's forever "mom" and a memb...As Jasper's forever "mom" and a member of New Hope Pit Bull Rescue, I can tell you without a doubt that we did a "bang up" job on properly identifying his breed or mix. He most definately shares more of the American Bulldog traits than APBT.<br /><br />It's interesting... a lot of people see his "red nose" and label him a pit bull; immediately asking me "what kind of pit bull is he". I personally am grateful for the opportunity to educate and it's almost humorous to see the surprise on their faces when I tell them he's an American Bulldog mix.<br /><br />Not meaning to "toot our own horn" in saying this, but I wish more rescues would strive harder to correctly identify the dogs entering their programs before placing them for adoption. Learn about different breeds and take the time to get to know each dog, see its personality and pay attention to different "attitudes or reactions" to various things/situations. It's not enough, especially in the present day, to look at a dog and say "Oh yeah! He/she is a (insert breed)." Looks can be deceiving, as we all very well should know.<br /><br />Oh! And incidentally... not long ago we were at the shelter securing rescue for the 3 charmed girls when in walked a man with a big (brindle) male dog on a leash. Automatically shelter employees labeled the dog as a Pit mix. The guy, who had owned the dog his entire life said, "Actually, he's a Mastiff / Beagle mix. Yep, saw him being born, from the Beagle momma and met the dad too!" But boy did he ever LOOK like a pit mix.New Hope Pit Bull Rescuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06606529453214893468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383474275680845547.post-63010074714610908132009-10-14T14:55:00.589-04:002009-10-14T14:55:00.589-04:00I have to agree... as the times has gone on, Pit b...I have to agree... as the times has gone on, Pit bull is becoming more and more a term to be a variety of breeds, and I'm seeing this being posted that way all the time. As I am a owner of an AmStaff, her temperament is almost identical to my mom's APBT. But a lot of the breeds that are starting to be catagorized as Pit Bull has very different temperaments. I run a Pit Bull Rescue/educational page, and have steered away from this, as it's not right. I don't know much what to do about it, but educate correctly. Good Luck and feel free to stay in contact. pitbulls@loveapit.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383474275680845547.post-20062421384997128822009-10-14T00:16:36.966-04:002009-10-14T00:16:36.966-04:00I agree! I think this is extremely damaging to the...I agree! I think this is extremely damaging to the breed especially when other breeds ENTIRELY are called Pit Bulls.<br />Well said, good post.Our Packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15866351499622774333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383474275680845547.post-43161190264176826682009-10-13T19:37:01.865-04:002009-10-13T19:37:01.865-04:00Your article told the truth, thank you for the cla...Your article told the truth, thank you for the clarification. Now to get the media, rescues etc. to understand what a true pit bull is. You get a cookie!Suzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15686368683962228377noreply@blogger.com