You will always ONLY here about the bad. what about the stories about pits that win in competitions across the country, dog show competitions where its all about good breeding and training practices.

The stories are there, if you want to find them. Many people merely read/listen to whatever they already believe in and what is spoon-fed to them. Gotta have ratings! What's going to get more viewers/readers; a pit bull attack or an award winning AKC show pit bull?

 

I don't think anyone is saying she desrved what happened to her. Did the story gove any background about the dog or the way it was raised/treated?

Why would you want to kill off an entire breed for the actions of a very small minority? Why stop at animals, why not ban races, religions, cultures........

 

You beat me to it Mike.....I was thinking exactly along the same lines....You only hear about the bad stories....I'm sure that there are thousands of owners that have never had any issues, but that isn't nearly as interesting.......Regards

 

Taken from the American Kennel Club website:

American Staffordshire Terrier Breed Standard
Terrier Group

General Impression
The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his surroundings. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial.

Head
Medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop; and ears are set high. Ears - Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held rose or half *****. Full drop to be penalized. Eyes - Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart. No pink eyelids. Muzzle - Medium length, rounded on upper side to fall away abruptly below eyes. Jaws well defined. Underjaw to be strong and have biting power. Lips close and even, no looseness. Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front. Nose definitely black.

Neck


Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin. Medium length.

Shoulders
Strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.

Back
Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Loins slightly tucked.

Body
Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Chest deep and broad.

Tail
Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back. Not docked.

Legs
The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No resemblance of bend in front. Hindquarters well-muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out. Feet of moderate size, well-arched and compact. Gait must be springy but without roll or pace.

Coat
Short, close, stiff to the touch, and glossy.

Color
Any color, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80 per cent white, black and tan, and liver not to be encouraged.

Size
Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about 18 to 19 inches at shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches for the female is to be considered preferable.

Faults
Faults to be penalized are: Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, tail too long or badly carried, undershot or overshot mouths.

Approved June 10, 1936


American Staffordshire Terrier History

To correctly give the origin and history of the American Staffordshire Terrier, it is necessary to comment briefly on two other dogs, namely the Bulldog and the terrier.

Until the early part of the 19th century; the Bulldog was bred with great care in England for the purpose of baiting bulls. The Bulldog of that day was vastly different from our present-day "sourmug." Pictures from as late as 1870 represent the Bulldog as agile and as standing straight on his legs-his front legs in particular. In some cases he was even possessed of a muzzle, and long rat tails were not uncommon. The Bulldog of that day, with the exception of the head, looked more like the present-day American Staffordshire Terrier than like the present-day Bulldog.

Some writers contend it was the white English Terrier, or the Black-and-Tan Terrier, that was used as a cross with the Bulldog to perfect the Staffordshire Terrier. It seems easier to believe that any game terrier, such as the Fox Terrier of the early 1800s, was used in this cross, since some of the foremost authorities on dogs of that time state that the Black-and-Tan and the white English Terrier were none too game, but these same authorities go on to stress the gameness of the Fox Terrier. It is reasonable to believe that breeders who were attempting to perfect a dog that would combine the spirit and agility of the terrier with the courage and tenacity of the Bulldog, would not use a terrier that was not game. In analyzing the three above-mentioned terriers at that time, we find that there was not a great deal of difference in body conformation, the greatest differences being in color, aggressiveness, and spirit.

In any event, it was the cross between the Bulldog and the terrier that resulted in the Staffordshire Terrier, which was originally called the Bull-and-Terrier Dog, Half and Half, and at times Pit Dog or Pit Builterrier. Later, it assumed the name in England of Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

These dogs began to find their way into America as early as 1870, where they became known as Pit Dog, Pit Bull Terrier, later American Bull Terrier, and still later as Yankee Terrier.

In 1936, they were accepted for registration in the AKC Stud Book as Staffordshire Terriers. The name of the breed was revised effective January 1, 1972 to American Staffordshire Terrier. Breeders in this country had developed a type which is heavier in weight than the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England and the name change was to distinguish them as separate breeds.

The American Staffordshire Terrier's standard allows a variance in weight, but it should be in proportion to size. The dog's chief requisites should be strength unusual for his size, soundness, balance, a strong powerful head, a well-muscled body, and courage that is proverbial.

To clarify the confusion that may exist, even in the minds of dog fanciers, as to the difference between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Bull Terrier, a comment on the latter may be helpful. The Bull Terrier was introduced by James Hinks of Birmingham, who had been experimenting for several years with the old bull-and-terrier dog, now known as Staffordshire. It is generally conceded that he used the Staffordshire, crossed with the white English Terrier, and some writers contend that a dash of Pointer and Dalmatian blood was also used to help perfect the all-white Bull Terrier.

In mentioning the gameness of the Staffordshire, it is not the intention to tag him as a fighting machine, or to praise this characteristic. These points are discussed because they are necessary in giving the correct origin and history of the breed. The good qualities of the dogs are many, and it would be difficult for anyone to overstress them.



So, they are loyal protective dogs, like so many other breeds. And like others, they are only as good as the owners.

 

I am sorry, I did not know the the American Staffordshire Terrier is a Pit Bull.
I have a friend who Breeds American Staffordshire Terrier and if you call his dogs a PitBull, well you are ask to leave. I have seen him do that before to people came to look at his pups.
Maybe he is just dreaming, he has been breeding them for over 10 years.

 

From Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_Bull

 

Thanks Godz for the defin, I have also found other data that is almost the same, but the wording is different. With that the meaning is alittle different.

Here in FL we seam to go thru spells of PitBull Bites, when they start about 2-3 are bitten different times and places. And I know that other dogs bite as well, but a lot of people want a ban on the dogs, because of all of the post before reasons.

Back on track with this Thread:PitBulls should be Banned
Not really, each dog and each owner should be judged as needed.

 

I have to say that there have been many good comments for both arguments here. I don’t think banning an animal is the answer, but something has to be done about this problem. You can’t own lions, tigers, and bears that pose a public threat. One of the biggest problems with these dogs is their strength, they are very hard to contain. They are very hard to control if the owner is too careless or immature, and using Pitts for unlawful activity is wrong on any level. If someone breeding these dogs to be aggressive they are more then likely not going to be complying with any laws restricting Pit Bulls. The public is aware of the problem and should report anything that seems dangerous or a threat to public safety. Then the right enforcement officials should do everything possible to insure the public’s safety. If you own an animal that poses a risk to others you should have to be responsible, just like pool owners you should have to install proper safety measures to ensure they don’t harm others. I'm not sure how you could enforce insurance being carried by the owner, you can’t even enforce the laws to carry insurance for driving a car. If you had to carry insurance to get them licensed, and the insurance company had to report to the city if your insurance lapsed this might help. But Pitts are not the only dogs that pose a threat maybe it should pertain to all dog owners. The bottom line these attacks happen to often and by other breeds as well and people who own animals are the ones responsible for their safety as well as others, it’s not the Pitts fault.

 

Some of the meanest and most dangerous dogs I have ever met have been German Shepards. Don't get me wrong I've met some awesome German Shepards but some of them have a downright nasty temper. There have been two times in my life I have been chased by a big mean angry dog and both times it was a German Shepard. All the other dogs that I have been chased by were ankle biters so they don't count. I wouldn't ever think of banning German Shepards considering my past experiences and I doubt the various US police, government, and military agencies would listen to me.

 

Its not the breed of dog, its the owners. In my town they were trying to ban boxers, pit bulls, and german shepards. Someone asked me what will I do with the GSD I had at the time. There was no, and thats a BIG NOW WAY they could have made me get rid of him. He was a trained and certified Service Dog. Sadly,, I had to put him to sleep due to a brain tumor.
But, if you ever watch Cesar Millan, its not the dog, its the owner.

More children are bitten by the family ****er Spaniel than Pits, Rotties, or GSDs.