“Pit Bull” is an umbrella term commonly reported to contain the following 3 registered breeds of dogs: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and American Pit Bull Terrier.
Adam Goldberg, a proponent of animal shelters and a pet photographer, came up with the concept for The Pit Bull Picture Project a little more than a year ago.
Pit bulls’ untrue negative stereotypes were intended to be busted through Goldberg’s photographs of them, who is based in Tampa, Florida. He also wanted to “show off their goofy and lovable side to inspire more adoptions,” he told TODAY.
Approximately 300 pit bulls have already been captured on camera for the series, which has gained widespread attention. Most of the subjects are shelter dogs who need homes.
“When I volunteer at the shelter, I only allow pit bulls to be photographed,” Goldberg said.
Usually that means hes shooting dogs like the one above. However, this adorable dog was created recently for the project by a shelter.
Then the shelter brought him to meet the dogs siblings. Their heads were larger and more angular than you might expect from a pit bull. When I saw his siblings, it made more sense, Goldberg said, “I was surprised at first.”
Consequently, the question “what is a pit bull?” has a nuanced response. The term’s earliest use can be traced back to the 1800s, according to author Bronwen Dickey of “Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon.”
According to Dickey in an email, “the term pit bull is a shortened version of the general term pit bulldog, which was used throughout the 19th century.” She described them as “smallish, stocky, smooth-coated” dogs, saying that while many of them led quiet lives as farm dogs and household pets, some of them participated in dog fighting. “.
The term “pit bull” today typically refers to more than one breed of canine. (Though some breed aficionados argue it should. ).
Rather, “like hound, pit bull is a type,” Dickey said. The American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, and American bully are four distinct pedigree breeds that fall under that category. “.
Here’s where things could get confusing: The term “pit bull” is frequently used to describe dogs who merely have the appearance of one of those breeds, even if they have no genetic resemblance. However, as Dickey points out, “multiple breed identification studies have shown that frequently the dogs visually identified as pit bulls don’t have any of those breeds in their DNA.”
Dickey continued, “Even worse, studies have shown that two experts in the field of animals can examine the same image of a dog and disagree on the breeds most likely to make up its ancestry.” That means that many dogs that are listed as pit bulls are actually just mutts, “.
These mutts typically have some physical traits in common, but as Goldberg’s experience demonstrates, even those traits aren’t constant.
Deirdre Franklin, founder of Pinups for Pitbulls and co-author of “The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lovers Companion,” described them as “muscular, block-headed, empathic dogs that I occasionally muse are also part unicorn, since there’s really no such breed as the pit bull.” “Even though they’re just one-of-a-kind dogs, they happen to be some of my favorites. “.
Here’s where things get complicated and problematic: Despite widespread discrimination, pit bulls may not necessarily share a genetic history, specific behavioral traits, or even a particular appearance.
In hundreds of American cities and counties, pit bulls are prohibited or subject to other restrictions. Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is becoming less popular; in June, Delaware became the 21st state to outlaw BSL everywhere within its borders.
There is overwhelming proof that these laws do little to increase public safety, are expensive to enforce, and hurt both families and dogs. Every credible animal welfare organization has spoken out against BSL, but many jurisdictions still uphold the discriminatory breed laws.
Due to this and the ambiguous definition of what a pit bull is, there are countless accounts of people having their dogs taken away for no other reason than the way they appear.
Because Charlie, a dog, appeared to be more than 50% of a pit bull, which is prohibited by local law, authorities recently ordered him to leave Lakewood, Ohio. The city had previously claimed that Charlie did not adhere to the banned dog definition, demonstrating how arbitrary this designation is.
Additionally, pit bulls face other challenges even in communities where they are not prohibited. Finding housing that is accommodating to pit bulls is a significant one. (The charity My Pit Bull Is Family keeps a list of rental properties that allow pit bulls and other pets. ).
Pit bull breeders must deal with housing restrictions and other consequences of breed-specific legislation, according to Pamela Reid, vice president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals anti-cruelty behavior team. Because of this, pit bull-type dogs are currently the group in shelters that are most at risk, and in many communities, shelters take in more pit bulls than any other breed. “.
Because of this, even though pit bulls are not a breed and it is extremely difficult to explain what the term actually means, there are advocates who work tirelessly to improve the world for dogs.
Anyone who owns a pit bull-type dog will tell you that their pet seems to understand how they feel and will go to any lengths to make them smile, according to Franklin. “Sure, some might argue that about any breed or type, but that’s what I adore so much about them,” They’re amazing, how could I not want to help them clear their name?
One major push is for dogs to be regulated based on behavior rather than on their breed or appearance. It is argued that these breed-neutral dangerous dog laws are more equitable and effective.
Another is to stop dog breed labels in animal shelters and elsewhere if their genetic makeup is unknown.
The purpose is to steer people away from behavioral expectations based on false stereotypes and toward an individual dog’s behavior and personality. By doing this, more families will bring home dogs that are a good fit for them rather than ones whose appearance matches their perception of what a good dog should look like.
“We provide an honest response when someone inquires about the breed of our dog. She weighs 60 pounds and prefers to sleep on a lap, but we don’t know, said Nicole Juchem, a shelter liaison for the animal rights organization Animal Farm Foundation. “For shelters, it’s simple to describe a dog without referring to a presumed breed or breed type; all you have to do is consider the dog as an individual,” “.
The photographer for the Pit Bull Photo Project, Goldberg, said he’d be content with that as well if shelters stopped classifying dogs by breed, but especially if the pit bulls that we are all familiar with didn’t require him to display them so beautifully.
Is this doggo a pit bull?
Photo credit: American Kennel Club 2 / 3
Photo credit: Dogster 3 / 3
Photo credit: New Castle Beach
The five breeds of dogs that are most frequently referred to as pit bull types are listed below.
Certain areas have outlawed the ownership of dogs of the pit bull breed because of the stigma associated with these breeds. Before bringing one of these dogs home, be sure to check your local laws.
Pit bull-type dogs often face unfair discrimination. These dogs were bred to be muscular, which led to their use in cruel dogfighting competitions. Because of this, they have an unfair reputation as being excessively aggressive dogs. In actuality, dogs of the pit bull breed are frequently incredibly devoted, gentle, and loving to their family members. They also tend to be playful and eager to please.
You probably envision a muscular, short-haired dog with a broad head, deep chest, and a medium-to-large size when you picture a pit bull. But you might be surprised to learn that there is no such thing as a “pit bull” in reality. In reality, a pit bull isn’t one particular breed; there are different varieties of pit bulls. Several breeds are collectively referred to as “bully breeds” under the term “pit bull.” ” This is no reflection on their temperments, however. Bully breeds tend to be affectionate and playful when properly raised.
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So… what’s a pit bull? 1 / 3
FAQ
Why is a pitbull not a breed?
Historically, the term “pit bull” was used to denote any dog that was involved in the cruel sport of “bull-baiting,” which involved using dogs (of any breed) to capture tethered animals like bulls inside of an enclosed space known as a “pit” (hence the name).
What breeds make a pit bull?
Bulldogs and Terriers were crossed to create “Bull and Terriers,” better known as the first Pit Bull Terrier, which had the agility and speed needed for both ratting and dogfighting.
What breed can I say my pitbull is?
In reality, “Pit Bulls” refers to a particular breed of dog. The American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bully are some of the most popular breeds that fall under the term “Pit Bull.”
What is the real name of pitbull dog?
The first 50 or so pit bulls to register with the AKC in 1936 became American Staffordshire Terriers, permanently separating themselves from the related dogs who now formally called themselves “American Pit Bull Terriers.” ”.