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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 16, 2008 9:08:03 GMT -5
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Post by emilys on Jun 16, 2008 10:35:25 GMT -5
This is an interesting debate working its way through pit bull circles. There are many who insist that if we talk honestly (and historically) about the innate dog-aggression of our breed, we give aid and comfort to the enemy. Bad Rap's new literature that we've talked about before is trying to find some other way. www.badrap.org/rescue/dog_dog.pdf"It's not about the breed; it's about learning how to manage aggression and not freak out" |
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 16, 2008 10:51:51 GMT -5
I dunno, I think lots of APBT people have been saying for a very long time that ANY dog can be aggressive, lots of breeds are dog aggro, and it's all about responsible ownership and proper management. I know *I* have, anyway. The media and legislators will distort what they want to distort. How many times have you read something that points out the breed's history as a reason to ban it, and glosses over the aspect of dog aggression entirely (allowing the reader to jump to the conclusion that the violence in the pit between two dogs translates into violence towards people)? What's next, we make up a new history for the breed? (Oh wait - some people already have!)
Dog aggression within the breed hasn't been the Big Issue for legislators and reporters - human aggression has been. Although we always have to be careful how we represent the breed and how we speak about them in public, I'm not going to stop using the phrase "Pit Bulls are prone to dog aggresson....." when talking about breed temperament. SURE, any dog can fight and lots of dogs DO when badly managed and with the wrong owners. But I think it does a HUGE injustice to owners or would-be owners to lead them down a path of, "Just like all dogs, proper management is essential to keeping the peace." That's not really true, and IMO dangerously misleading. I don't want anyone bringing this breed home if they are not prepared for, don't understand, or don't accept that this is not necessarily a breed that is great with other dogs.
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Post by emilys on Jun 16, 2008 12:33:35 GMT -5
exactly! If I read one more time about "pit bulls on the frontier" I'm going to scream  Compared to the pretty substantial evidence for pit bulls as pets in urban settings, the evidence for pit bulls as working farm dogs is, um, slim at best. ... What's next, we make up a new history for the breed? (Oh wait - some people already have!) .... |
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Post by valliesong on Jun 16, 2008 16:46:53 GMT -5
Yet another wonderful blog from PBRC.
I like to compare pit bulls' issues with other dogs to jack russells' issues with rabbits. It doesn't make them vicious nor does it make them bad dogs. They have just been bred for these specific traits, which in many cases today we no longer find particularly useful. Would you fault a jack russell for killing a neighbor's pet rabbit? No, you would blame the dog's owner for not containing the dog. The same goes for a pit bull that hurts another dog.
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Post by emilys on Jun 16, 2008 17:06:21 GMT -5
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 17, 2008 9:59:02 GMT -5
Interesting blog, Emily. (Your comments were awesome, btw). I guess we are going down that road of "don't talk about breed traits or hisotry". Over-generalizations and exaggeration is one thing, but appeasement won't work either. Stick to the FACTS that BSL does not WORK and let the dogs continue to speak for themselves. BSL and dog attacks are not and have never been about BREED.
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Post by emilys on Jun 17, 2008 15:16:16 GMT -5
thanks, but apparently I'm an "obedient mouthpieces for the dog fighters."
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 18, 2008 10:29:48 GMT -5
Way to alienate.  |
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I look forward to learning much here