Dog Fighting
76Understand the APBT
To be an APBT advocate, you may be asking why I would even want to discuss dog fighting and dog fighters... Well, I think that the truths should be known and the APBT history fully understood. In all seriousness, I do not condone dog fighting or what is done to pit dogs, but the background of the American Pit Bull Terrier, involves pit fighting.
To best understand the breed, is to best understand their ancestry and heritage.
First off, it is very important that everyone understand that that those who initially starteddog fighting did not search for a certain breed. They found, fought, and bred whatever dog was the best in the pit, and breeding of whatever breed or mix is what created various dog breeds with more distinct characteristics, such as the American Pit Bull.
History Behind Dog Fighting
Dog fighting has been a part of different cultures for a very long time, but what brought dog fighting to the United States was the migration of the inhabitants from the British Isle.
The people of the British Isle had a hard life. They worked very hard to no end, and yet, still had a deprived lifestyle.
They needed something get their minds off their meager lifestyles and began cock fighting, gambling, and dog fighting.
When the people migrated to the United States, they brought their pit dogs and pit traditions with them, as well as cock fighting, horse races, and gambling. Needless to say, the fighting continued.
Rules and Regulations of the Fight
Surprisingly enough, traditional fighting had rules and regulations to the fight.
Dogs could not show any human aggression. This was tested by having the fighters and their owners enter the ring. The owners would switch dogs, and wash the opponent. By washing the opponent, a referee could monitor human aggression levels in the dog. If the dog showed any signs of aggression towards to other owner, he/she was immediately disqualified. (Also, by washing the opponent, the other owner could make sure that now deterrent was put on the dog, making his dog not want to bite.)
Calling a fight. If a fight is going badly, where Dog A is visibly winning, yet Dog B is still fighting his hardest, the ref or owners can call the fight. If a dog shows his will to fight, he will be removed from the fighting pit, and used solely as a breeder, as a dog with a strong will could produce pups with better fight initiative. (Not all losers are disposed of in a traditional fight.)
Dogs are given breaks in the middle of a fight. Time will be called where the owners can assess their dog. The owners give their dog water, and check their dog over for any serious injuries.
Types of Dog Fighters
One would first think, 'there's only one type of dog fighter... a criminal.' Which I believe is true. A heartless, poor example of a human being, but there are actually two different types of fighters.
Type one is the traditional fighter, who cares for his dogs. He makes sure that the dogs have shelter, food, and water. These traditional fighters make sure that their dogs are cared for. Sometimes the traditional fighters will keep his fighting dogs once they have surpassed breeding age, making them house pets.
Type two is the thug, or punk, who cares more for his ego and making money than the dog. This person is more in tuned to himself than caring for his dog. For these people, if the dog is not of any use, cannot fight or breed any longer, he is disposed of in various ways.
A good comparison between the two type of fighters is simple... A baseball player and a mugger. Yes, they both use bats, but they use them differently.
What Makes a Pit Dog
Traditional breeders of pit dogs (not American Pit Bull Terriers but pit dogs) did not take in account color or size of the dog, but his/her wins and gameness.
When breeding for fighters, the breeders bred top fighting dogs to produce puppies with the will and gameness of a winning fighter.
Breeding pit dogs are not always the top winning dog in multiple fights; sometimes, even loosing dogs were used as breeding dogs. These particular breeders, were chosen because they had game. Game is will, strength, and never quit attitude, not viciousness.
Pit dogs, both top winners and strong willed dogs, all must share ONE quality. This quality is bred for. This quality is one that breeders strive to obtain in their dogs. Dogs without this quality were put down. Breeders of pit dogs strove breed dogs who were dog aggressive, not human aggressive, and any sign of human aggression, was quickly removed from the group.
Over time, having bred for the purpose of fighting and game, the various pit breeds have evolved into dogs of varying colors and size with short hair, muscular builds, high intelligence, and stubborn personalities. Other qualities that have encompassed these dogs include loyalty, protectiveness, and strength.
Pit Dogs and Pit Bulls
Pit bulls and pit dogs are just what their name suggests. Dogs from, for, and of, the pit. Dogs bred and raised for the pits.
These dogs are different than the well bred and raised American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The pit dogs are poorly bred, sometimes, many times, inbred dogs.
Traditional breeders did take care into the breeding of their pit dogs, but in no way does it make the products well bred dogs.
"Pit bulls" is more a category than a breed. It includes many broad, short hair mongrels from the streets. "Pit bull" is a phrase that has come to lead fear into many men and women today. They are the dogs are poorly bred, aggressive dogs. This category can include any mix of APBT, AmStafs, Bull Terriers, and other bully dogs, whereas these dogs alone (APBT, Amstafs, Bull Terriers, etc.) are considered breeds, not classifications (and that's the difference).
In many cases, the purebreed APBTs, AmStaffs, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, were bred with pit dogs, but that does not mean that these well bred dogs, should be grouped with "pit bulls."
APBT
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My Opinions
American Pit Bull Terriers were once the sign of dignity and strength. Today, they are a sign of thugs and criminals. Criminals, thugs, and punks, saw the pit bull as the same sign of strength as the United States did, and used that to their advantage. They turned the positive image of the APBT into a negative vision that should be feared. Mother's shield their children from the breed, whereas they were once known as 'nanny dogs.'
Dog fighting is cruel and is worth the felony charge that is behind it. Many people compare dog fighting to that of boxers, but boxers know what they are going into, and have a choice as to whether he will fight. Dogs have no choice. They have no choice as to their breeding pairs, owners, or jobs.
Breed specific legislation will not stop or even halter the dog fighting world. They will do nothing more than find another breed besides the current classification of pit bull. Banning the APBT, will not stop the fighting; it will hurt good owners and good dogs.
Fight for this breed. Fight for the loyal, protective, and loving breed.
History of Fighting Dog Series
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These dogs love to fight. They love to do it because it was bred into them just how it can be bred out of them. ANY dog can be trained to fight and love it as long as it's main focus is to fight. I breed APBT and I have for 5 years my dad has for 20 so I know the breed and out of all my years with these dogs one thing is true. There DA as long as you let them be DA. My boy knows that once we leave the yard he better be on his best behavier. There like kids and once you let up slack they act like the pits in the media. Being a APBT owner is alot of work and it is not for everyone you have to know what your doing and what your dealing with. I have nothing against fighters just like I dont against UFC fighters. You guys say all the time "how would you like to be pinned up and forced to fight" well news flash if the dog doesnt show the will to fight he isn't fought. and true gamers wouldn't hurt the dog they would just get a new one. Just like boxers if they didn't want to fight they just stand there and not fight.
like horse racing if the horse doesn't want to run it wont run. My opinion always is "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink" I know the breed and there very head strong if a pit doesn't want to do it then it wont.
I think you really had a good idea to start with, the issue you have is you didn't get your facts straight before you put it down for others to read.
This article is peppered with personal opinions, misinformation and honestly, I believe you did the breeds and the breeders/owners of these breeds a disservice by not doing the research required for an undertaking of this nature.
I was hoping to find a well informed, well researched article and what I found was a lot of personal opinion and half-truths. I'm sorry for the negative feedback -- but -- as a Bull & Terrier owner you have a responsibility to *know* the truth about the things you were discussing in this article and you simply don't. Not everything you included in the article was "wrong" - just not everything was "right."
I just hate dog fighting
I just want it to stop
I think it's sad to even discuss the actual event of dog fighting even if they do not attack the humans,it isn't right to urge them to fight one another and thats in-humane
just to say the average politician could not tell a pit from a donkey the bsl law is a knee jerk reaction made by idiots for idiots.So that being said we have to make our politicians realize that there is a vote at the end of every leash they have to be hit where it hurts in the pocket if some politician out there thinkes they can gain by freeing the bull dogs you bet your ass it will happen.So in order for it to work we must stay defiant the reason for these law's is that we are not criminals we stand to loose and our goverment officals on longer fear the law abiding public these are the things that need to change.
hlh You obviously have never owned an American (Pit) Bull Terrier. The last thing a Bulldog wants to do when challenged by another dog is "walk away". And, no human being needs to force the situation, most are happy to clear up the situation without human intervention. I suppose animals who confront one another in the wild are being forced by our hand to? No, that is how animals communicate over territory and breeding females. With the A(P)BT being "domesticated" through human breeding manipulation, the fight or flight a wild animal posses has gone by the way side. And the fighting, or "Game" traits have been honed into a breed that stands alone in that category.
The problem with most humans today is the fear of the unknown, well, I think that has been a constant for as long as we have walked the earth. If we don't understand it, we must abolish it! I certainly don't want to communicate to the masses to go out and start fighting (Pit) Bulls, what I'm saying rather, if you choose to own this exceptional breed. please do your research. You must understand the purpose the breed was bred for, and try to keep those traits intact. Not by fighting dogs, but by understanding the physical and mental attributes they posses. So many dogs are lost in the sauce of being bred for a pretty face. Look at our race as an example of why pretty faces are worthless. How many plastic surgeries do we need to look perfect? At least that hasn't caught on totally in the animal world. Although we have for years docked tails, dewclaws and cropped ears but more for purpose than looks.
How many of the readers here have watched a horse race? Remember Barbaro? The first real contender to for the Triple Crown since 1978, well unfortunately that ended in tradegy. But my point here is that a horse racing for sport, as is greyhound racing, as was cockfighting, as was dogfighting were/are accepted animals sports. Untill someone came along and said it was "cruel". When will horse racing be outlawed? And then will there be a similar discussion of people who never saw a horse race somewhere on the internet calling for stiffer felonies to those "cruel" humans who race them?
DR i think you need to get your facts right, dogs dont fight naturally they would rather walk away from confrontation.scum who fight dogs do deserve to go to jail the dog isnt breaking the law the scumbags fighting them is.
good to see some passion on this subject. ANY breed has basic instincts. dogs love companionship and can even develope character traits compatable or similer to their owner. am stafs,terriers,and mastifs may look more imposing than other breeds ,but like ANY breed of dog. we are, in most cases, the teacher/master that these animals live to please.they really do want to show their loyalties by being involved with us socially and honing their instinctive nature to have a porpose or reason to work with us and be mastered by humans .responsible dog lovers know that a dog chooses you.its breed should only be considered when a specific job is required of the pet.
DR I guess you have friends who dog fight huh? Broken families boo hoo. They did it to themselves and to their families!! These laws help not only animals but humans too...you douche. Do some reasearch before you start talking about something! There is a direct link between human violence and cruelty to animals.
Dog Fighting is cruel and IS a felony. how would you like it if somebody put you in a ring and made you go in there and get your face ripped off. you wouldnt right. well these cruel people put these animals through unimaginable pain and despair. and i for one think it is sickening.
dog fighting is wrong!!!!! i hav a pit bull and she is the most beautiful thing. no one should do it ever. it makes me sick to c people think of this as a sport!!!! it's just wrong. every single person who fights and trains a dog to fight needs mental help!!!!!!!!
Dog fighting is wrong it is now and it was then.
DR well put!
Q, I do not agree with dog fighting by any means and really truely feel should be a serious felony, but doesn't mean that I don't understand the history and the realness behind it. I don't agree with the current methods, and personally feel that therer are so many other tihngs that we can focus our time on with our pets. When dog fighting started, that was a way to keep their minds off of the horrid lives they lived.
DR, pretty much like I jsut explained to Q, we have more to look forward to and more to focus our time with our dogs so yes I do understand and do not feel like original dog fighting was nearly as vicious as it is now, but I feel it should be a felony. There are many other activities that people can focus on and compete with their dogs with than what once was. More humane activities and competitions that can be just as competitive in proving gameness and strength.
Whitney05 I dont fully agree with you saying that "Dog fighting is cruel and is worth the felony charge that is behind it."
I agree with dogfighting being cruel but i dont agree that it is a serious crime.
I think people have tendency to put animals before humans. They rather see a human in jail with a broken family than a human fighting dogs. I dont see fighting dogs has a very big negative effect on society but i see broken families and people put in jail for fighting dogs has an extreme negative effect on society.
Think you for understand whitney for real we need more people like you.
In many cases, dogs that have the gameness to fight but not the ability to win, were used as breeding dogs because they still had the potential to produce pups that had the gameness and ability to fight and win. But , I do agree that just because a dog doesn't win, doesn't mean torture and kill the dog.
I agree with DR there are true dog men that care about there dog's, but the thing i don't like is.... when a dog lost a fight a dog punish put down there are other way's of doing it....like if a dog lost a fight or doesn't work out for you, get him or her fix and give that dog a good home.
I agree that true dog fighting is fair, but dog fighting in a lot of cases in modern times is not. Dogs are burried alive, soaked and shocked, burned, etc. True dog fighters respect their dogs to pull the dog from the fight and not punish if he's losing or has lost.
I do not condone any form of dog fighting, but wish more people understood the history of the breed and that historic dog fighting was much different than current dog fighting.
I dont see dog fighting being that bad at all, compared to other sports involving animals. The rules here are very strict the dogs can quit anytime they want. Fighting dogs are some of the best kept dogs you will ever find- top athletes! they are giving all the right nutritions and care you could possible imagine ! these dogs are the most healthy dogs you will ever get to know ! dogs fight naturally in nature as well and untill death separates them sometimes! now in the pit a true dog man would never let a dog die. The thing that makes dog fighting cruel is the isolation the dog goes through during the training, the isolation from the pack not to be socialized with others- that is a living hell for an animal! If a dog do not have love for its owner it will not make a good fighter its love that makes these dogs go on and on in the pit. With that being said I do NOT condone dog fighting in anyway! and I would NEVER fight my dogs!
Very cool. My next APBT will be from champion pulling lines. I'd love to train and compete the weight pull. That's definitely my goal for my next APBT. I'm willing to spend the money for this pup as I know it's not going to be cheap, so that's why it's going to be a few years in the least before I'm able to get one.
LOL NO NO it's just a dog show just for pit bull... they show them. check there teeth. they look at the dog's musal tone stuff like that.. they all so have weight pulling. there was a pit dog that was about 40 lbs and pull 3500 lbs like it was nothing crazy.
Interesting article Whitney. Very well written and informative. I can tell you are a true dog owner. You care about your animals and you go to great lengths to ensure that they are properly trained and handled correctly. Kudos to you!
I myself never owned a PBT, but I have owned a few dogs in my time. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment now, and since I'm an animal lover, I had to share it with two cats (OK... everyone stop booing!).
Anyway, I just graduated law school and I attended with some friends who are animal rights activists. They intend to work in that field as attorneys and hopefully, they will put an end once and for all to a vicious, cruel, and inhumane activity. As far as I'm concerned, Michael Vick should have got way more jail time than he did. I can only guess that his lawyer told him to take the plea deal offered by the U.S. Attorney.
Anywa, great blog and great pics of your animals.
Best of luck to you in the future!!
He did well. How was his gameness tested?
Right. my little man got a show next month.... he won 2nd place in show he's first time out.... this time trying to get 1st lol!!!!!!!
That is your opinion about breeding to test gameness, which can be done in other ways than dog fighting. I do not agree with any part of dog fighting. But, I will agree that the breed is not for everyone. Not everyone can handle any breed no batter what the breed is.
I have known many people who have had game APBTs that did not fight them. I don't see a problem in game APBT because a game dog does not mean a fighting dog.
Ok what I'm saying is that... the breed is not for every one just like other breed's... i have a pup that is 7 month's old A.D.B.A. Reg. he's is game bred... will i fight him no i take him to pit bull showing's in bellvill Michigan every year.... well why would you have that type of dog you might ask... ok ask your self this question... why would any one get a dog that's part wolf and you have children... when it come's down to dog fighting i don't agree with some of it... meaning that if the dog is injured and he... or her is not treated or we will call this the mike vick sickniss the way he did his dog's then yes i disagree to that... but if you are breeding them for wild game or other to test there gameniss then that's ok with me.
I'm not really sure what you're saying, but yes it's instinct to protect territory and any dog breed would do that. If you own an APBT, it is the right thing to do to understand the history behind the breed.
LoL look i love my dog and i don't fight him... but i respect the history of the breed. lol so what's next with you people U.F.C. fight you going to talk bad about that soon lmfao my god man sin we all sin.... no it don't make it right but you got drug dealer's that sale to are kid's.... and pedafile's oh my god pedafile's... that they let back on are street's were are kid's play hello!!!! but no...no....we are talking about dog fighting.. so what happen's when some one's dog get's in your yard and attack your pit bull in he's yard... and the true bull dog come's out like the hulk and kill's the dog in his yard so what it make's him a bad dog no... it's instinct and no you can brake him from it.. so what's next you going to put him down because's in your eye's he's a dog from hell... its not right to think this way.... pit bull's are not for all people go day.
I never said they were good people. Just that in the origins of the "sport" the game was fair. This article was with the origins of dog fighting in mind, not the current "gangster fighting" that now takes place.
How can you say that anyone who fights their dogs has their dogs interest and welfare at heart? Surely anyone who has their animals welfare at heart would not want to see their animal hurt, stressed or damaged in any way and would go to great lengths to prevent such behaviour rather than orchestrating it? Dog fighting is always about ego, money, status and power of the owner, it is never, ever about the dogs welfare. Period. Those that do "care" for their dogs after the fights are comparable to people who administer street justice with a baseball bat and then offer the victim a band aid. I might add that people who choose to fight animals against each other have less intelligence than the animals fighting, whenther they thugs or stockbrokers. The dogs are not to blame for their agression, its the human excuses who abuse these dogs and bring out the aggressionwith violence and abuse who are to blame. With rising numbers of ownership of "status dogs" in the UK by young men and women and the glamorisation of owning/fighting such dogs by musicians in hip hop scene and gang culture, it is the dogs themselves who ultimately pay the price in abuse and mandatory euthanasia. People (if you can call them that, I'd call them Scum) who fight dogs, breed dogs specifically for fighting are condemning the dogs to a lifetime of cruelty and abuse. Dog lovers? I think not. I have been a dog owner for 30 years and worked in animal shelters and seen first hand the damage and cruelty that "owners" of fighting dogs are responsible for. Its not pretty. Animal shelters in the UK are full of staffie/ pit bull crosses, and while most of these dogs are wonderful, re-homing them is a nightmare, as many, many dogs cannot be around other dogs, cats, or children, and even sadder, the ones who can be re-homed are more often than not, overlooked because of the aggressive reputation these idiots have brought upon these types of breeds. I'm with Jeremy on this one.
No, but you can say that the traditional and original dog fighters had strict rules and the dog's welfare was always kept in mind.
Do traditional fighters fight their dogs because they seem to care...for a while.
Welcome to the site, and thank you.
I stumbled upon your hub when i was doing some reasearch on google. After reading i decided to join hub pages. I thought your hub was good and informitive. Good job.
You are right. But remember that not all people who fight dogs are "gangstas." There are many lawyers, doctors, stock brokers, etc who also participate and bet on the dogs.
Also consider that dog fighting was once semi-fair. There were much more strict rules.
People that fight dogs are human garbage, period. most of these guys dogfighting is one thing on a long list of reasons of why they are a waste of oxygen. If it were up to me they would be chained to a dog house for a month are two and after a few months of neglect be tossed into a "Pit" and made to fight some other dog fighting scumbag to the death, then these cowards could see how "gangsta" they feel after that.
Dog fighting is very cruel. I have a pit and he is just the sweetest thing ever. I love him. He is my baby. I adopted my dog from the humane society. He was 4 months old when I got him. He was abused. My husband and I take very good care of him and he loves us to death. He just turned a year old in October.
dog fiting is a sin dogs are angels eney way you look at it so think befor you fight your dog would you like to be miss treated bit on or hurt now thats just my opinion god bless you dog lovers i am
We don't have a case a month, but there have been several cases in the past year or so.
That's sad to hear. But you can't necessarily say it's popular because of this one case, now if you have a case a month, then that's a different story. But I will admit many people dog fight and you never know. I don't agree with it; I'm just postinmy learnings. It still doesn't mean that all are bad.
Dog fighting is popular in Detroit. Here's an article from my morning paper.
ITS WRONG TO DO SOMETHING SUCH AS KILL ANY KIND OF ANIMAL SPECIALLY FIGHTING THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER. TO JUST SIT THERE AND WATCH ONE KILL THE OTHER AND MORE THEN LIKELY THE OTHER ONE BADLY HURT ITSELF. PAMELA
Shadow. I'd keep those dogs separated until you can properly evaluate their temperaments. You may want to invest on a behaviorist or professional trainer.
I really like this. I've been researching dog fighting for a long time, and I've been raising pit bulls of my own at a shelter I just opened. And a few of them that came in looked as if they'd been through a shredder.
Angela, that's my puppy. :-( The first 2 are, the other is a friend's dog. All great dogs. And yes, who would be able to destroy them? I'd kill over my dogs.
Wow, who could look at that puppy at the top and want to destroy it? You did a great job explaining a controversial and sometimes confusing subject.
Excelent job! I have raised APBT for a long time and find it comforting to know I am not the only one in the world that thinks these dogs arent the boogy men the media has made them out to be. Thanks Michael Vick!!!!!!!!
i have a pittbull mix. i adopted her when she was 5 months old and i believe that she was abused. if my husband and i had not gone to the shelter that day to adopt her she would probably not have survived another day. we weren't looking for this dog but lucky for us we found her!!! her name is Kasea and she is the most loving, loyal dog that anyone could ask for. we have given her lots of love and the best part is that she is so happy to return it!
so, i guess my point is don't turn your back and lose out on a wonderful dog just because people say they're mean. you may be missing out on the best friend of you life!!!!!
Aw thanks helena! Those are my puppies! :-) Well except the AmStaff. He's a friend of mine's. I have the Pit Bull Placebo, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. When I do, I'll try to do a review about it. :-)
Excellent hub, Whitney. The Pit Bull Placebo is a great book that I would like to own... Perhaps I'll order it through you next time I order some books (I just got my most recent Amazon order today).
Also, all the pictures on this hub are adorable, but I LOVE that first one. So cute!
Thanks for the information. Good Hub!
pitbull lover 7 days ago
heres my theroy.if your walkin your pitt and another dog comes out and growls for a fight then the pitt should kill that sob?if you were walkin and a man came after you would you run or fight