Pit bull -- Ticking time bomb or trusted friend?

Provo,UT -- Tug Gettling, - DIRECTOR, NORTH UTAH VALLEY ANIMAL SERVICES

The American Pit bull Terrier is a breed of dog that was traditionally bred to fight. For years and years all of the attributes that make a dog good at fighting were selected for and bred into the pit bull. All of this selective breeding produced a dog that has become such a dominant dog-fighting breed that other breeds are not even considered competition for the pit bull. This also produced a dog with undying loyalty, unmatched tenacity, incredible strength, an extremely high pain threshold and unreal biting power. Pit bulls have a high potential for harming humans and before I discuss this potential and the possible repercussions on society, let me present some accurate information regarding this highly misunderstood breed.

Do pit bulls lock their jaws? No. A pit bull's jaw isn't designed any different from other canine jaws. There is no special mechanism or enzyme that allows the jaw to lock. However, pit bulls do posses an incredible amount of jaw muscle and strength and all of that tenacity which allows them to bite down very hard and hang on like grim death.

Are pit bulls especially mean and vicious? No. If you look at bite statistics you will find there are many other breeds that bite people much more often than pit bulls. Also if you look at temperament tests, such as those conducted by the American Temperament Testing Society, you discover that pit bulls pass with flying colors. ATTS results show that pit bulls have an 84.3 percent passing rate (the percentage of dogs tested that passed their temperament testing procedures). When compared to other breeds, the pit bull comes out favorably beating out Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles and Miniature Schnauzers, to name a few.

Aren't pit bulls responsible for the highest number of dog bite fatalities? Yes. While pit bulls may not be the first dogs to bite or the dog breed that bites the most often, when they do bite they do a tremendous amount of damage. The damage sometimes leads to death and has contributed greatly to an increase in media coverage when a pit bull is involved in an attack or bite. This in turn leads to many misconceptions regarding the breed. However you look at it, pit bulls have the ability to kill and that is a call for increased caution and very responsible owners.

Can a fighting dog breed get along with other dogs? Yes. With proper socialization and training, pit bulls have been shown to get along very well with other animals. Again that is with proper socialization and training. I have actually witnessed pit bulls that were used specifically as fighting dogs get along very well with other dogs when not in the pit. However, I have also witnessed very young pit bull puppy litter mates fight each other with such aggression that they were hard to separate (at 5 weeks old) and they drew blood. The fighting instinct in these dogs is strong and cannot be overlooked.

It is easy to understand why pit bulls are such a misunderstood breed. A sordid past coupled with a huge potential for human damage can lead to myths and legends. Next week I will discuss why owning a pit bull is akin to owning a gun.

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/264022/17/

 

Webster's: Akin (2)-essentially similar,related or compatible. SYN see similar.
Is this gentleman suggesting that pitbulls and guns have comparable death related stats? Similar histories? Analogous potential for harm or damage to society?:eek:

I am curious to hear next weeks discussion.

 

I think the writer is suggesting that both owning a gun and a game dog (aka Pit Bull) are equally potentially dangerous.

 

I gave my gamedog a gun, is that bad?

Ferk out

 

more like they both need the same sort of responsibility when owning either

 

Part 2

DIRECTOR, NORTH UTAH VALLEY ANIMAL SERVICES

The topic of pit bulls has been a controversial one since the early eighties. If pit bulls were just like any other breed of dog there would be no controversy; however, they are not. Pit bulls are exceptional dogs. At a root level the controversy stems from the debate between two schools of thought. On one side of the coin are those people who have read and re-read story after story in the media regarding pit bulls attacks, some with fatal consequences. In general they feel that for the benefit of all mankind pit bulls should become extinct. On the other side of the coin are the pit bull owners and supporters who have found that pit bulls are stable, friendly companions. They believe firmly in their right to own a pit bull, or any breed of dog for that matter. This is where the analogy to gun ownership comes into play.

Gun ownership is also a hotly contested topic. On one hand are those who believe that guns have been the cause of so much death and heartache that guns should be completely banned. On the other hand you will find those who support gun ownership and firmly believe it is their right to keep and bear arms. The analogy is evident.


There is one point of agreement among those on both sides of the pit bull debate, and that is that lack of owner responsibility and/or ignorance has been the primary source of the debate. If, throughout history, every pit bull owner was educated and informed and acted responsibly there would be no need for a debate -- the pit bull dilemma would not exist.

It stands without dispute that the American Pit bull Terrier has been the means of death for people across the country. However, we must keep in mind that the pit bull in these instances was the gun and not the finger that pulled the trigger. Handguns in and of themselves are harmless. It is the action or inaction of those in possession of the handgun that cause the harm, and so it is with the pit bull. The owner bears the full accountability.

Another undisputed fact is the physical ability of the pit bull as a breed. They have been rated by many as pound-for-pound the strongest dog on the planet. Additionally, as with most terriers, they are a very tenacious breed. Those two attributes alone call for a higher level of owner responsibility. The marriage of an extremely physically capable and tenacious dog to an ignorant and irresponsible owner is what leads to tragic and traumatic events.

In conclusion, I want to be clear that I have no agenda for or against the American Pit bull Terrier. I am not a part of a cause to assure that pit bulls are only viewed in the best possible light, nor am I on a crusade to eliminate them from the face of the Earth. However, I believe that it would be foolish of me to promote the ideology that owning a pit bull simply requires the same level of responsibility as owning any other dog. Their physical abilities coupled with their tenacity require extra precaution.

I have owned and worked with pit bulls on a professional level for many years. They possess characteristics and qualities that I will always admire. Nevertheless, I will continuously promote education and information that has a protective value for our families and communities. So is the pit bull a ticking time bomb or a trusted friend? It all depends on who the owner is.



• Tug Gettling is the director of North Utah Valley Animal Services