History of the Bulldog and Future of the Pit Bull By Parker Tolentino

The debate over breed legislation for pit bulls in the US remains a controversial one. Due to the graphic nature of recent and persistent pit bull attacks, many have decided to ban the breed from entire counties and even states. Many argue that the breed itself should not be blamed for its behavior, but lawmakers should instead change the laws to hold the owners more responsible. Others believe that regardless of who is to blame, the dogs themselves are committing violent acts and should therefore be eliminated. I believe that the problem can and should be handled the same way the early bulldog of the mid 19th century was allowed to transform from a terrifying killing machine into a docile and civilized companion. In the early 17th century, the bulldog was quickly gaining a legendary reputation in Europe for its ability to challenge much larger animals such as bears and bulls. The most popular spectacle of the times was the bull fights, where a single dog, or several dogs, would attempt to take the bull down. Many dogs were gored, flung to death, and trampled. The bulldog was the preferred dog not only for its strength to attack the nose of the bull and hang on without getting thrown off, but also for its fearless willingness to pursue the dangerous bull regardless of intense pain or crippling injury. Over the next two centuries, the early bulldog continued to evolve for the sport of bull baiting. Massive heads, stocky bodies, and incredibly powerful jaws were most desired, and were bred accordingly. They were also bred to be freakishly savage and ferocious to the point that they were becoming increasingly dangerous to humans. Bull-baiting, as well as bear-baiting, reached the peak of its popularity in England in the early 1800s until it was made illegal by the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835. This left the bulldog with no useful purpose and a threat to average citizens. Determined to make these dogs suitable for civilized life, professional breeders intervened with a full breed rehabilitation process. They started to cross the early bulldog with the shorter and less athletic Pug and allowed only calm and less aggressive offspring to reproduce. Soon the savage bulldog of centuries past was no longer, and the new more acceptable bulldog quickly grew in popularity as a house pet. Today, we are faced with a similar situation with the pit bull. Pit bulls have affixed a reputation for aggression and viciousness over the last twenty-five years. Irresponsible backyard breeding has resulted in unstable dogs that are not suited for domestic life and often end up in shelters all over the country. Pit bull enthusiasts and owners have a deep affection for the breed for many reasons and are passionately against any sort of breed ban legislation. The solution, in my opinion, should begin with how pit bulls are acquired. Even though many people generally encourage adopting a dog from a shelter over purchasing one from a professional kennel, the pit bull is a special case that people need to consider. There are many professional pit bull breeders who have sterling reputations for good temperaments, health, and most importantly, the genetic history and documentation of each dog. As long as we allow stray pit bulls with questionable backgrounds to be adopted by ill prepared and uneducated people, we will continue to have incidences of pit bull attacks. The early bulldog was successfully transformed in a systematic and responsible manner, and pit bulls should be allowed to evolve in the same way. For pitbull products and information go to http://bullpitbulls.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Parker_Tolentino Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7438818