In response to the recent mauling of mailman Jeff Glen, a DogsBite.org commenter has left a beautifully articulated response. Commenter Doug draws on the parallel example of the equine world to discuss the genetic heritage of pit bulls. Both animals underwent performance selection over many years to produce an unmatched breed: the ultimate canine warrior and the fastest horse on earth. Neither animal was selected on the basis of "human friendliness."
Pit Bulls Were Selected to "Win"
"In the beginning, human aggressive dogs were slaughtered or abandoned, they didn't develop within the fold of domesticates. Human friendliness was a necessary trait for all dogs, regardless of type. This wasn’t hard because early canines were pack animals, they had to work and get along with others. Humans were a simple adaptation for this social trait; broadening the definition of a pack member or leader was not a colossal leap.
Pit bulls never benefited from special selection for human friendliness; this potential characteristic already existed and was passed to them from their genetic predecessors. The only feature of their character that needed to be maintained was a modicum of pack loyalty and subservience to a pack leader (owner/handler.)
The myth of any special human friendliness by pit bulls is merely that – a myth. As in all animals bred and developed for competition, many faults are acceptable… so long as they can win. Winning is job one.
A parallel example of performance selection exists in the equine world. Anybody familiar with the race world knows that Thoroughbred horses rule the track. There is no other breed in contention beyond 2 furlongs. So you would think, if you subscribe to the so called “logic” within the mythology put forth by pit bull advocates, Thoroughbred horses must be the most tractable, gentle saddle horses ever created. After all, their purpose is to carry a rider; they don’t run these races by themselves! And Thoroughbreds have been in development for over 300 years – surely they are the most rider friendly of all horse breeds, aren’t they?
No one in the horse world would ever make such a claim about Thoroughbreds! The original stallions from the Mediterranean and Middle East were crossed with native horses to make them more manageable, but speed under saddle was and continues to be paramount. Many character faults are forgiven, so long as the horse can run!
And so it is in the TRUE history of pit bulls. Winning pit bulls that could be managed, even marginally, were always – ALWAYS – bred. No dogfighters ever forsake a winning lineage because of manageable human aggression. A winning pit dog need not be a family dog, anymore than a Thoroughbred needs the gentleness and versatility required for Junior 4-H horse shows.
The pit bull advocates have attempted to rewrite the history of pit dog selection. Their version is a fairy tale – a complete lie. Pit dogs were selected for strength, stamina, and aggression. If they happened to be tractable for their handlers, it was a fortunate happenstance carried over from their predecessor canines – definitely NOT a primary consideration in the development of winning pit dogs.
This pit advocate lie is a failed absurdity. The frequency and severity of attacks on humans make the truth self evident, regardless of how many times the lie is repeated."
Related articles:
05/02/09: Mailman Suffers Severed Artery, Fractured Arm in Pit Bull Attack
08/28/08: Comment: Pro-Pit Mantra, "Cocker Spaniels Bite More Than Pit Bulls"
I would also say that the idea that pit bull breeders “cull” so their dogs can be “handled” by humans is also a fabrication, in the sense that these dogs are not “handled” in any way recognized as dog handling by society.
Pit bull fighting dogs are more like livestock. They live their lives on a chain or in a small pen or cage, separated from humans and each other, primarily brought out to throw in a ring to fight or to breed perhaps, but not “handled” to an appreciable degree by humans
And I also saw something in the comments for that news article that was ridiculous. Someone commented that the pit bulls must have been “abused” to get them to fight. Abused? It is in these dogs’ very DNA to fight and kill. If anything, it takes “abuse” to get them to STOP fighting, as in DEATH.
No No! The poster has it all wrong!
Pit Bulls are magic dogs!
Bred via the fighting pits killing bull, bears and other dogs, yet good with kids!
Easily identifiable when being sold or pit bull subsidies are being handed out, but impossible to identify after a mauling!
Great at weight pulling which has nothing to do with chain breaking, fence busting and leash snapping capability!
One of the smartest breeds, but never used for complex herding, retrieiving and bonfide service dog jobs like sight assistance!
Not human aggressive but used by drug dealers for guarding drug houses!
Owned and bred by “Dog Lovers” who see nothing immoral with the desired breed standard of explosive dog aggression!
The same as every other dog except for requiring a breakstick!
They’re Magic!!!
You guys make my day!!! I hope you don’t mind my “stealing” some of your comments for my blog:
http://www.workingtohelpanimalstodaytomorrow.blogspot.com
Before doing so I will check back here and if my comment is posted then I’ll take that as approval.
I particularly like the one about identification.
I am the generator of the comments ..feel free to use them.
Good luck dealing with the backlash from the nutters!
I’ve already been posting prior to this to regulate the breed. And I try to make comments at the newstories as well. Hard to believe how these people will always blame the victim. Seems that’s enough to make people think about the types who own pits and defend them. I, too, made the mistake of thinking the problem was there but not as serious as I have learned it is from this blog. I did apologize to the victims for not taking this as seriously as it needs to be taken.
I had cousins who were dog fighters. They were well known at the local hospital. I have seen them comparing “war wounds”. And I was always told in the South that you can spot a dog fighter from their scars. And my cousins were well known in the whole of the South for their dogs, they were winners. My cousins, on the other hand, were losers.
When these dogs are not in a fighting frenzy, they can be handled somewhat. But when they go into that mode, no one, not even the handler, is safe.
The comparison to racing horses is quite accurate. I have a good friend who rescues race horses. The public thinks these horses are retired and become nice saddle horses. Not true. A race horse has been bred and trained to do one thing – run. My friend takes about a year to make a race horse fit for everyday riding and some don’t make it. Imagine putting a child on a horse that wants to take off whenever it feels someone in the saddle.
My friend considers selling a racehorse to the public to be unethical unless the public has the experience to “break” the horse of it’s lifelong training.
For perfect evidence of this very fact from a dog man himself, visit Craven Desires' posted exerpt from "Man Eaters" by Gary J. Hammonds
https://cravendesires.blogspot.com/2010/05/man-eaters-by-gary-j-hammonds.html