American Pitt Bull Terrier Essay -- Animal Research

If you were told a story about a woman who was mauled so viciously by a dog that she had to undergo the world’s first face transplant. What breed would initially come to your mind? If you said a Pit Bull, you are among the majority, but you would be wrong. It was a Labrador retriever. Why do you think so many people would assume it was a Pit Bull? In the 1900s, the American Pit Bull Terrier was commonly portrayed on American war propaganda posters to represent the country's strength, determination, and dignity. The loyal and loving breed has been a companion to people such as Helen Keller, President Theodore Roosevelt, President Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Edison, and General George Patton. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier is inaccurately identified as a violent, aggressive and an unpredictable breed of dog. What is the truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier? Are they truly the monsters described by Oklahoma State Representative Paul Wesselhoft as â€Å"gargoyle appearing a nimal with claws and fangs the size of a tigers† (Bellamy 10A) or are they simply misunderstood? How has this breed’s image gone from one extreme to the other over the past years? The American Pit Bull Terrier can be traced back to England in the 19th century where initially the breed was created to combine the gameness, speed, and agility of a Terrier with the strength and athleticism of a Bulldog (Bolhafner 39). According to Stahlkuppe, â€Å"gameness is the willingness of a dog to continue fighting, or hunting, or pulling a cart, or defending its owner, through great stress, intense pain, and even until death† (61). Stahlkuppe goes on to describe the Pit Bull’s gameness as â€Å"Awe inspiring† (61). Once in America the breed was initially utilized in bear and bull baiti... ...t is to be a loving family pet, household protector, competitor, or fighter. It is up to the owner to properly train and socialize their dog, show them what they want and the Pitt Bull will be sure to meet whatever demands we place in front of them. Works Cited â€Å"American Pit Bull Terrier† ukcdogs.com. Revised 1 Nov 2008: Web. 22 May 2012. Bellamy, Louise. â€Å"Pit bulls are loyal, loving dogs† The Oaklahoman 18 July. 2005: pg.10A. Print Bolhanfner, Stephen.â€Å" Meet the American Staffordshire/ pit bull terrier† St. Louis Post dispatch 7 May. 2005: pg 39. Print. Devlin, Mike. â€Å" Top 10 banned dog breeds† Listverse.com. 24 Aug 2011. Web. 23 May 2012. Dorsey, Jannie. â€Å" Pit bull earns top dog rank in bites† Tampa Tribune 28 July. 2009: pg 4. Print. Stahlkuppe, Joe. The American Pitt Bull Terrier Handbook. Hauppauge, New York: Barron’s, 2000. Print.