Letters to the Editor

• @damnthatxanadu, you're wrong

  [Read the article: Pit bulls are innocent]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  Are you talking about American Staffordshire Terriers, or Staffordshire Bull Terriers?

  Staffordshire Bull Terriers are indeed NOT pit bulls. They are, generally, extremely friendly, likeable dogs--I've known plenty of these dogs, but I particluarly think of the one in my Agility class, an intact male, who got along quite well with MY intact male Sheltie. I used to say to the Staffy's owner "you know, if any dog ever attacked him I think all that would happen would be that his feelings would be really hurt!"

  You are incorrect, however, that Staffy bull terriers were never fighting dogs. They were--they are descended from dogs used for bull and bear baiting, and were later specifically bred/selected for dogfighting. That they are NOT generally aggressive now is a testament to responsible breeders and lovers of the breed who have worked to preserve their drive and look while breeding out the dog aggression. See link:

  http://www.akc.org/breeds/staffordshire_bull_terrier/history.cfm

  The American Staffordshire Terrier, OTOH, IS basically the same as a pit bull. Sorry, but true. When the breed was accepted for AKC registration, they got that name as being bred UP from Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the U.S.

  http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_staffordshire_terrier/history.cfm

  AKC is an old and classist organization, and would not want to be associated with such pursuits as dogfighting. (Read "The Bar Sinister" which gives an excellent feel for how dogfighting was regarded early in the last century, although THAT dog is a Bull Terrier, another related breed). So the fact that they are honest about the breeds antecedents says a lot.

  UKC, another old registry, registers Pit Bull terriers as a separate breed--and used to sanction dog fights as well--but that doesn't change the fact that they are basically the same dogs.

  Look, all these breeds WERE in fact bred for bloodsports (bull- and bear-baiting, dogfighting). Aggression can be selected AGAINST and you can select FOR stability, and produce a stable, non-aggressive dog within a fairly short amount of time--but let's not kid ourselves--that pit bull you get from the shelter or from the guy who has a litter in his backyard may be just fine, or may be a time bomb. THIS, BTW, goes for ANY breed AND mixed breeds (where do you think mixes come from, kids?) The problem comes when the switch goes "off". I knew a miniature poodle who regularly bit her owners, her owners' friends, and anyone else (though she was not dog aggressive). But she was a MINIATURE POODLE. At most you'd need a bandaid. The fact is, bigger dogs cause more damage, and dogs selected over generations NOT to read dominance cues and back down are going to be the most dangerous and cause the most damage.

  Permalink Tuesday, August 21, 2007 10:34 AM