American Staffordshire, Bull, Miniature Bull, and Staffordshire Bull YES!!! Pit??????

[fert_girl]

This may be a redundant or inappropriate thing to say but, people keep discussing "pit bulls." Now this is a name derived from when the dogs were used to fight in pits. To me, it also conjurors up images of those awful people I have witnessed going into rescue centres, “I wanna pit bull, dun care witch one, the big one.”
As you can find out, by looking at the AKC website (http://www.akc.org/breeds/terrier_group.cfm) there is NO recognised breed with “pit” in it, it’s a common nickname. Like people saying a rough collie is a “lassie” dog, it’s not right. I think a good way to abolish this awful stereotype of the Bull Terrier breeds as fighting dogs is to properly classify our dog’s breeds, and be proud of their heritage, and smiley faces!! lol

[Cassiepeia]

Actually the American Pit Bull Terrier is recognised with the UKC. The AKC isn't the be all and end all of dogs.

Cass.

[kazkirkpatrick]

A rose by any other name....

Changing the dogs name isnt going to resolve any past issues or unsavory characters it attracts, all that its going to do is give them another name.

As Cassie said, APBT is a real breed name, not just some relic from the past.

[mulroony]

The reason people say "pit bulls" over the more PC method is that it is often very difficult to distinguish between the breeds. Bull Terriers are obviously much easier to pick out, but even the most experienced dog lovers have a hard time distinguishing the other three.

[fert_girl]

Yeah, theres all those quizzes where you have to try and match the right breeds with pictures, lol.

Sorry, I'm in britain here, i've never heard of the UKC, in England the original kennel club is really the be all and end all of it. I did'nt mean it as a negative, just in the uk we full stop don't have a breed called a pit bull, and yet people call every bull breed they see a "pit bull." I get we love our dogs whatever, but i just see it, like i say, as calling a collie a "lassie" dog, i'm made the comment not knowing about the American pit bull, just the dogs that originated in england and are offically recognised here.

[Cassiepeia]

I'm Australian. So the AKC & the UKC (united kennel club) mean very little to me either. The ANKC is what we have down here and they don't recognise the American Pit Bull Terrier either.

However, that doesn't mean it's not a breed or doesn't exist. You do have APBT in the UK, just as we Aussies have them down here. Whether they're recognised or not (even if, sadly, they're banned...they're still around).

I certainly mean no disrespect by this, but doing a little research before making a statement like 'there is NO recognised breed with "pit" in it' wouldn't hurt.
We actually have a wealth of information on this site regarding APBTs. As well as a few pittie owners and fanatics.

Cass.

[APBTs2005]

The APBT is a breed (if it wasnt i'd have to change my "screen name")
Actualy the "pit" part never came with fighting, but they put the dog and a small animal in a "pit" and let the dog go after it (might be a little off but thats the point). I think the name should be changed to like "American Terrier" or "American Bull" or whatever.
You notice how we ban an animal we created---NOTE: AMERICAN pit bull terrier.....its kinda sad...

[shandoggy1]

Originally Posted by fert_girl

This may be a redundant or inappropriate thing to say but, people keep discussing "pit bulls." Now this is a name derived from when the dogs were used to fight in pits. To me, it also conjurors up images of those awful people I have witnessed going into rescue centres, “I wanna pit bull, dun care witch one, the big one.”
As you can find out, by looking at the AKC website (http://www.akc.org/breeds/terrier_group.cfm) there is NO recognised breed with “pit” in it, it’s a common nickname. Like people saying a rough collie is a “lassie” dog, it’s not right. I think a good way to abolish this awful stereotype of the Bull Terrier breeds as fighting dogs is to properly classify our dog’s breeds, and be proud of their heritage, and smiley faces!! lol

I hear what you are saying Fertgirl. "Pitbull" is not a breed but a generic term often used to describe all dogs with similar traits and characteristics often known to the public as the "PITBULLS"! Just throwing in my 2 cents!

[BellFounder]

Originally Posted by fert_girl

Yeah, theres all those quizzes where you have to try and match the right breeds with pictures, lol.

Sorry, I'm in britain here, i've never heard of the UKC, in England the original kennel club is really the be all and end all of it. I did'nt mean it as a negative, just in the uk we full stop don't have a breed called a pit bull, and yet people call every bull breed they see a "pit bull." I get we love our dogs whatever, but i just see it, like i say, as calling a collie a "lassie" dog, i'm made the comment not knowing about the American pit bull, just the dogs that originated in england and are offically recognised here.

The UK has banned the pit bull which is partly why the UKC doesnt recognise them or have a breed standard for them. The other reason is that the dogs that became pit bulls are such a mix of everything you can imagine that they were deemed to be not purebred by the UKC and as such there was never a standard for them. Its the same reason why there is only a breed standard for the parsons jack russell terrier and not the short legged, smooth haired jack russell - none of those are really purebreds either, just someones idea of a jack russell bred to next doors dog that also looks like a jack russell for the most part.

[Ritz459]

I don't know exactly what we are talking about here (pardon me...I don't fell very well, which is why I'm not at school BTW, my head hurts, and I'm super tired....) but here is my post anyway.

When I say Pit Bull, I've refering to the American Pit Bull Terrier which is a breed. It is recongnized by the UKC. There are also American Staffordshire Terriers (AKC), Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Mini Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, etc.
The genral slang "pit bull" refers to all of those breeds, and that isn't right. But when you say Pit Bull to refer to the American Pit Bull Terrier, that is fine. A Pit Bull is a breed, but to call a Bull Terrier a Pit Bull is wrong because a Bull Terrier isn't a Pit Bull.

(Wow, I'm really confusing myself this morning....)

[fert_girl]

Sorry, i'm not perfect! lol far from! I'm having an education here, does anyone know exactly where the dogs are banned? No breeds are banned currently in the uk that i can find, there is a convention going through at the moment about banning of tail docking and removal of dew claws (or banning of the dangerous breeding of dogs with faults (bulldogs and breathing/eyesight.) But i'm pretty sure there arent any banned breeds...?

Added: although germany seems to be having some funny dogs laws going on?

[elegy]

please see this thread for both the UKC and the ADBA american pit bull terrier breed standards.

the american pit bull terrier is no more a "mix" than any other breed out there.

[BellFounder]

Originally Posted by fert_girl

Sorry, i'm not perfect! lol far from! I'm having an education here, does anyone know exactly where the dogs are banned? No breeds are banned currently in the uk that i can find, there is a convention going through at the moment about banning of tail docking and removal of dew claws (or banning of the dangerous breeding of dogs with faults (bulldogs and breathing/eyesight.) But i'm pretty sure there arent any banned breeds...?

Added: although germany seems to be having some funny dogs laws going on?

I am from the UK and i can tell you for a fact that under the dangerous dogs act the american pit bull terrier is banned in the UK as is the fila de brazilero, dogo argentina and japanese tosa. It is a criminal offence to breed, sell, buy or import these dogs and it is an offence to own one that is not registered with the council and that is not leashed and muzzled at all times when outside the house.

[BellFounder]

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welf...estic/dogs.htm

Here is a link to the DEFRA website outlining the banned breeds.

[ilovemyamstaff]

gee people...whats the big deal over a name..a name is a name, a dog a dog, and a history, history. I only typed pitbull or pit because its faster to type.