Rebuttal on the Handout:
'Pit Bull Terriers and Other Bully Breeds'
Trish King, Behavior & Training Dept. Marin Humane Society
[This handout includes vague language and sweeping generalizations regarding canine behaviors that may or may not be attributed to any specific breed and that are more likely due to a lack of breed specific knowledge. Our rebuttal comments are in ORANGE and inserted with brackets where appropriate.
First it should be well-established at the onset of our rebuttal that "pit bull" refers to a type of dog, not a breed. It actually encompasses several breeds and anything that has a certain look regardless of the actual lineage. The actual purebred names are the American Pit Bull Terrier (registered by the UKC and ADBA) and the American Staffordshire Terrier (registered by the AKC)]
There is a lot of prejudice - even hysteria - in the U.S. right now with regard to Pit Bull Terriers and other dogs like them. Our shelters - especially in urban areas - are filled with pit bulls and pit mixes. Very few of them are adoptable, and even fewer are actually adopted. Those that are adopted are often the objects of fear and distrust. [In my experience – from a rural perspective, not urban, far more pit bulls are adoptable than not. A great many pit bulls are social, gregarious and friendly but the lack of space in rescue organizations coupled with limited space and no-adopt policies in high kill shelters allow for far less to be saved than could be in a different world. ]
There are several reasons for this, but the reasons are all controversial, and your belief depends a great deal on your view about behavior - whether it's caused by nature or nurture, and whether one can modify behavior that has already been in place through late adolescence or social maturity (between 1.5-2 years). [I hedge my bets with nature.
This breed is overwhelmingly a resilient breed that can withstand the worst treatment and still come out a people loving fantastic companion dog. When you start talking about pit mixes - the waters can become very cloudy because the dog in question will have the traits of more than one breed and the mixes of these traits can have an undesirable outcome.
When discussing temperament testing results with regards to the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier, these breeds consistently seem to score higher than other "family friendly" breeds such as the cocker spaniel and Labrador retriever. For more information visit the American Temperament Test Society - www.atts.org]
Many bully-type terriers were originally bred to fight other dogs, to bait bulls, or for other "blood" sports. [Many of our canine companions were originally bred for purposes other than strictly "as a family pet". All dog breeds were created with a specific purpose in mind and many of popular and "non bully" breeds have a bloody history including hound dogs.] Some breeders have been assiduous in breeding out the tendencies for aggression, but others actually breed for it - and the best way to get an aggressive dog is to breed two aggressive dogs to each other. The reasons for breeding aggression are varied - some people want their dogs to fight other dogs, some to guard their property, and some seem to want the "aura" of owning an aggressive dog. [This is where the widespread lack of understanding of the breed has become a serious handicap to all involved. The American Pit Bull Terrier was never meant to be a guard dog nor a dog that is aggressive to people for any reason. In fact it is quite the opposite. Pit bulls are often targets of theft because, if correct in temperament, they are incredibly people friendly and trusting of humans. Thanks lack of breed knowledge, the incorrect impression of the pit bull as a guard dog continues to be maliciously spread, to the detriment of the breed. The true APBT is a very people soft, gregarious, easy to train dog, with tendencies for intolerance towards other animals. This breed was never intended as a guard dog and is often the target of theft if left unattended.
The media has also played an important role in promoting the "ghetto dog" image of the American Pit Bull Terrier, which unfortunately may become a self fulfilling prophecy. More and more, people are believing the hype and aren't taking the time to understand the true nature of this breed. This can take its toll and manifests in poor breeding practices and un-educated ownership. I feel as though this bears repeating – The American Pit Bull Terrier was never intended as a guard dog or a protective dog. Temperamentally sound American Pit Bull Terriers do not excel in this capacity.]
Dogs bred as pets for several generations tend to lose the behavior patterns that are the most problematic. Unfortunately, they are still feared because of their looks, and because many - if not most - bully dogs still retain some of their undesirable behavior patterns. [Each generation it seems has the bad dog du jour with a junkyard image, this generation is no different. Most people can remember the hysteria surrounding the German Shepherds and the Dobermans in the 70s and 80s, now the dog du jour is the "Pit Bull"]
Bully breeds have several desirable characteristics that build breed loyalty in their owners or guardians, such as:
- extreme loyalty
- affection to their owners
- ease of training
[Also, don't forget: gregarious, people friendly, outgoing and social, athletic. A pit bull with a correct temperament enjoys meeting people and making new friends and bonds easily with its owners.]
Undesirable and/or anti-social behavior patterns include:
- The tendency to chase things that move (animals, people, etc) [All dogs are hunters and predators and most will chase things that move quickly and/or erratically, even a Labrador or other popularly viewed "family friendly" dogs. Yes, Pit Bulls can have a high prey drive, however, there is a big difference in aggression towards animals and aggression directed towards people. These behaviors are separate and distinct and one does NOT predispose another.
- The ability and tendency to bite and hold on – [This is a terrier behavior, jack russels, rat terriers, west highland white, cairn, etc, etc. The behavior is a terrier tendency and not reserved for "pit bulls" alone. ]
- The tendency to try and dominate other animals or people by body slamming, mounting and otherwise physically controlling them. [Most performance type breeds require a good amount of training and socialization to be happy, including many shepherd types, border collies and other working dogs. Likewise, pit bulls need a fair amount of physical exercise and can become unruly if not provided with an outlet for their energy. However, though pit bulls can be pushy with other animals, they have been bred to be people soft! This breed is first and foremost a people soft breed – a temperamentally sound APBT will not try to dominate his handlers. ]
- Uncontrollable arousal or excitement ["Uncontrollable" is a very deceptive description. We are talking about a performance breed that requires training and exercise just as many other performance breeds require training and exercise. Pit bulls do not have a tendency to re-direct aggression onto their human handlers.]
The first two undesirable characteristics can be classified as "predatory." All dogs have some of this - some breeds more than others. But, in most breeds and breed types, the behaviors are inhibited. For instance, many dogs will chase runners or bicyclists, but they are unlikely to do anything if they catch up - and are easily trained out of the behavior. Truly predatory dogs go through a fairly set series of behaviors that can end up in a serious bite or worse. These dogs are not angry or vicious. Instead, they are obeying an instinct that was essential for hunting [The description of "truly predatory" may be accurate, but it is NOT applicable to pit bulls. More primitive breeds would be predisposed to such predatory behavior but not temperamentally sound pit bulls]. Thus, they are not likely to give any warning and the chase can be amazingly fast. Sometimes they stalk before they chase; other times they don't [stalking before chasing is a herding dog trait: pit bulls are not herding dogs.]. A dog that bites out of fear or anger will virtually always warn its victim - it normally has no desire to bite, it just wants to be left alone [Such behavior is true of ANY dog that is in fear or in pain. It is actually called fear aggression and is undesirable and will render a dog, ANY DOG, un-adoptable].
Predatory attacks are very common in the bully breeds - predation is the main drive used in dog fighting, and it can be lethal. [Which breeds are being included in the bully breed category for this handout? Is this a general classificiation used by the uneducated – anything with a short coat and bulky body with a block head is a "bully breed"? Let be specifically clear about what exactly we are discussing. Some popular guarding breeds or some of the rare mastiffs have been included mistakenly in this category. Pit bulls (specifically the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier) can be prey driven towards small animals and aggressive towards other dogs. At the same time this willingness to take on a challenge by another animal has been cultivated through breeding; these dogs have been bred to be easy to train, easy to handle and very people soft. ]
The third undesirable characteristic of these breeds is "dominating" or "bully" behavior. This stems from confidence. Oftentimes, confident puppies will bully their siblings, and ay take away resources (food or toys). They will do the same to members of their own human families [this has not been my experience in the 10 years I have been involved with the breed]. And, if they're successful when they're puppies, they tend to repeat the behaviors when they are grown. [Resource guarding from people is thankfully NOT a typical bully breed behavior. It is a behavior that would/should exclude a dog from a breeding or rescue program. In the 10 years I have been involved with rescue, I have euthanized ONE purebred American Pit Bull Terrier for resource guarding behavior. If you interview others involved with purebred APBT rescue, you will find that resource guarding is not that common of an occurrence.]
The fourth undesirable characteristic - arousal or excitement - is actually the most problematic. Many bully dogs cannot seem to calm themselves down once they get excited. And once they get excited all their behaviors are exacerbated. Thus, if a dog is over-confident and has a tendency to body slam or mount, he or she will really crash into the other dog or person when he's aroused, sometimes inadvertently causing injury. [It isn't clear here if this is an aggression danger or a hyper dog running around and accidentally knocking someone down? or crashing into things and other dogs in a hyper play situation?] He may begin to play-bite, and then bite harder and harder and harder. When you try to stop the behavior, the dog often becomes even more "aggressive." In this way, play can turn into aggression fairly quickly. Research on the brain [whose brain? Dogs, humans or chimps?] has shown that excited play has exactly the same chemistry as extreme anger. [citations - if heavy word like "research" are used please include references to the proper studies and science documentation] This allows a play behavior to switch quickly into aggression. And, once the dog has become aggressive a few times, the switch is much easier. [the author seems eager to translate "reseach" into "causation" or fact. Excited play may mimic brain chemistry but it does not mean that play causes anger]
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Our test includes scenarios that allow each of these behaviors to be manifested if they are there. We do not just watch the animals, nor do we try to make them aggressive. What we do is try to anticipate and replicate behavior that occurs in a normal home.
We observe the dog for a substantial amount of time to see whether he is attentive or affectionate toward us. We then show the dog affection (petting), to see if he comes back for more. We then do something the dog is not likely to like but that will not hurt (examining the teeth and hugging). We give the dog objects or food and then ask for it back, or we drop something and then attempt to take it. And we play - we see if the dog retrieves and if he gives up play objects readily when he's excited. We also run around, much as a child would, to see if the dog chases and what he does when he catches up. We then wait to see how long it takes for the dog to cam down, to relax. Lastly, we introduce the dog to one or two other dogs, to see whether he is social to them.
We try to see the whole dog, as much as possible, for the safety and well being of our clients. We do not expect perfection, and will "grade" a dog for different levels of potential owners. [In other words, they do not expect their clients to have any breed specific knowledge. Purebreds were bred with specific goals in mind and understanding how those traits are expressed in the dog you own is crucial to a happy dog/owner relationship, regardless of the breed. This knowledge also impacts methods of training that may be better suited for different breeds]. There are some behaviors that are unacceptable - mostly aggression. If the dog is aggressive towards people in any way, he is not recommended for adoption. In addition, dog to dog aggression is a big mark against the dog as - especially in this country - people want their dogs to lay well with others. [There are many breeds to that do not do well in a "dog park" setting and require more responsibility and vigilance when it comes to interactions with other animals. Unfortunately, dog owners have become selfish and lazy, wanting to satisfy their own desires of having their dog "play" with others while feeling like they are exercising or interacting with their dog. To own a purebred dog, some intelligence regarding dog behaviors and specific breed characteristics is important. Pit bulls are the most popular dog in the United States as well as the most feared and the most legislated against. They are sadly the most misunderstood and until people take time to understand the REAL American Pit Bull Terrier, ignorance will abound with unfortunate consequences.]
Pit bulls and other bully breeds fail most often in the areas of arousal and dog-to-dog aggression. [This is also where breed understanding plays a crucial role in the success of a dog in society. Many breeds are not successful with dog to dog interactions. People who are looking for a generic dog and who will expect nothing from their dog, plan to learn nothing about dog behavior or dog training, and plan to take their dog to the dog park and stand around with a bunch of other people with generic dogs and no behavior knowledge, should stay away from the American Pit Bull Terrier. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a dog that requires more from its owner, it requires an owner to understand the breed. The rewards from the understanding will be tenfold.]
Each and every dog is tested on his own merits. We have and do put pit bulls up for adoption, after a knowledgeable person has fostered him or her for three weeks. [this is not adequate time to get to know a dog, two months is the average requirement for really truly getting to know a dog and successfully evaluating a dog's personality and adoptability]. We are cognizant of the power of this type of dog - plus many other big dogs - and would rather err on the side of caution than allow a possibly dangers dog into our neighborhoods.
Trish King
Director, Behavior & Training Dept. Marin Humane Society
[Amy Hendrickson
Annabelle's Second Chance Pit Bull Rescue
www.ascpbr.com]
For other rebuttals on this handout and breed information, please see
http://blog.myspace.com/realpitbull
www.pbrc.net
www.badrap.org
http://www.badrap.org/rescue/mhs_response.cfm