| The Bull and Terrier Dogs who were the ancestors of the American Pit Bull Terrier, found their way into the United States around 1870 as all around farm dogs and frontier guardians. They excelled in their service to mankind on the frontier and soon earned a reputation as one of the finest dogs a man could own.The Bull and Terrier dog become adept at just about anything he was asked to do including: Herding, Livestock Protection, Vermin Removal, Weightpulling,Watch Dog and Family Companion.Eventually these dogs began to be referred to as Pit Dog, Pit Bull Terrier, The American Bull Terrier and even the Yankee Terrier.
The United Kennel Club recognized the Bull and Terrier Dog as The American Pit Bull Terrier in 1898. Buster Brown Shoes put it's mascot in every shoe with the image of "Tige", an American Pit Bull Terrier to enhance it's image as a sturdy and dependable shoe. RCA used "Nipper", a Pit Bull of unknown ancestry to illustrate the clarity of sound emulating from it's phonograph by showing the dog being fooled into hearing it's owner's voice and not a recording. The breed was also used to promote the toughness of Levis Jeans.And we can't forget about the sturdy white pooch with a patch over one eye named "Petey" who played alongside a lovable bunch of kids called "The Little Rascals".Many famous people throughout history become owners of the breed after being charmed by the so called "savage Pit Bull".Helen Keller; Fred Astaire; President Theodore Roosevelt; Thomas Edison; Jack Dempsey; Jan Michael Vincent; and Michael J. Fox to name a few. The American Pit Bull Terrier was never bred to be aggressive towards people. Contrary to popular belief, The APBT is very human friendly and will not naturally be aggressive towards humans.Many people confuse animal-aggressiveness with people-aggressiveness.Animal-agressiveness and people-aggressiveness are two entirely separate issues.There is no reason to believe from its killing a cat or dog that any dog,not just an APBT, will be people aggressive.Dogs can, and do discriminate between people and other animals. Careful breeding and responsible ownership has produced dogs who are affectionate, reliabld and extremely loyal dogs with "fearless personalities".They are happy, outgoing stable dogs who make wonderful pets.These dogs are happiest with people and love to be involved in family activities. Because of their courage and trustworthiness, the Pit Bull Terrier makes an ideal compaion for children and the elderly. The "vicious Pit Bull" phenomenon can be attributed to Poor breding, irresponsible ownership, ignorance of the breed and biased press involvement to create a better headline.Anyone who has had the opportunity to become aquainted with the APBT knows it is their well-known and stable disposition that is their most valuable asset. The United Kennel Club Standardfor the breed is as follows: The dog is square and powerful with a blocky head, prominent cheeks and jawand a taut muscular body. He has a deep chest and a short glossy coat of any color. His ears may be cropped or uncropped. Size can range from 30-50 pounds for females and 30-60 pounds for males. Responsible ownership is the most important factor in keeping the American Pit Bull Terrier. Owner education, proper breeding, socialization and training are a necessity to promote a possitive image for this wonderful breed. |
