Old Pictures of Pit Bulls as Baby Sitters
Whether y'all are a Pitbull lover or a hater (and we're definitely the former) information technology would be hard to deny that their reputation over the terminal century and a one-half has been a roller coaster of ups and downs.
After spending most of the twentieth century as America's well-nigh beloved domestic dog, considered staunch, loyal and loveable enough to characteristic in both armed forces advertising and children'south comedies, their reputation began to refuse in the sixties and reached a nadir in the 80s, particularly after a controversial 1987 case when a Pitbull guarding a marijuana crop killed a two year old toddler.
Supporters And Detractors
Increasingly, 2 polarized camps accept battled in public and in every corner of the Internet over the reputation of the Pitbull. The first are the anti-Pitbull activists, the nearly extreme of whom will often distort facts in their bid to persuade the world that all Pitbulls are murderous and should be eliminated. The second are the pro-Pitbull enthusiasts, a minority of whom can also be selective with facts in their efforts to protect the proficient name of their beloved Pitbulls.
It's understandable that this debate is so heated and emotional. It is truly a matter of life and death, given that it often moves off newspaper letters pages and website forums into courtrooms.
Many counties and states in the U.s. have enacted breed-specific legislation. Ane of the near controversial of all was in Tijeras, New Mexico, where local legislators reacted to a terrible attack on a child past banning all Pitbulls and Pitbull cross breeds and enabling them to be killed on sight and without warning or compensation. Information technology'due south worth noting that the very victim of that attack is now one of the locals most outspoken in her defence of Pitbulls. There's fifty-fifty a volume about this whole nationwide struggle, Bronwen Dickey's "Pit Balderdash: The Battle over an American Icon".
Information technology's from the defenders that the often repeated merits that in the nineteenth and early on twentieth centuries Pitbulls were chosen "Nanny Dogs" has emerged. One commenter on our own forums even said they were bred for this purpose, and there are whole Facebook pages fix up to celebrate "The Nanny Dogs".
Unfortunately, while there is lots of evidence that Pitbulls and children could and can form loving bonds, and reams of vintage photographs showing babies and children posing with Pitbull breeds, in that location is no evidence that they were e'er chosen Nanny Dogs at the time, and certainly weren't bred for the purpose.
Pit Balderdash History
Information technology'south hard to deny the encarmine origins of the Pitbull when it is baked into their very name. The bull comes from Old English Bulldogs, used in the 17th century practice of "bull baiting" where a chained balderdash would exist attacked by several dogs at a time. Bloodsports were banned in England in 1835, then breeders crossed Bulldogs with Terriers for use in fights against other dogs and rats, fights which were easier to hide from the law. These horrific battles would accept place in pits, which is where the "pit" part of the name comes from.
This is unwelcome reading to many Pitbull fans, and oft totally at odds with the loveable, appreciating people pleasers that we accept come up to know and dearest in our own homes. Unfortunately, it is also historically accurate and can exist fact checked. Many books on dogs from the 18th and 19th century describe the origins of the Pitbull. The New York Times however has on its site an annal piece from 1908, reacting to a controversy of the day (yes, controversy over Pitbulls is null new) by providing a history of what they call the "bull terrier" and describing "the greatest fighting auto, pound for pound, on 4 legs."
Were Pit Bulls Nanny Dogs?
It'due south ironic that this source is the New York Times, since that very aforementioned paper is besides the ane which seems to accept unwittingly introduced the idea of the Nanny Dog to the earth. In a 1971 (yes, 1971, non 1871) article chosen "A Breed That Came Up The Hard Way", the wonderfully named Lilian Rant, President of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Guild of America, says "The Stafford we know today quickly becomes a member of the family circumvolve. He loves children and is often referred to as a 'nursemaid dog.'" The nigh of import affair to annotation hither is that she is conspicuously speaking in the present tense, not claiming a much gentler history for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which is very similar to a Pitbull and was presumably the basis for the Pitbull Nanny Dog myth.
None of this should be read as united states endorsing the damaging myth that all Pitbulls in 2020 are uniquely dangerous and violent. We believe that whatsoever canis familiaris can be dangerous in some circumstances (aye, even that cute fiddling Pomeranian can be a killer, encounter this LA Times story near a toddler'southward tragic death), and recognize that the Pitbull's sheer strength tin make it more and so, just we also believe that if they are well trained, well controlled and well managed Pitbulls will go through their lives without harming anyone. Nosotros also know first hand just how affectionate and gentle they can be with humans – including toddlers.
We also know that many Pitbull haters are very selective in their use of facts and often guilty of jumping on a bandwagon. Pitbulls are only the latest in a long line of dogs to exist demonized over the years, with past victims including Dobermans, Rottweilers and High german Shepherds. And they are certainly not the first domestic dog to take been bred for a violent purpose: Dachshunds were designed to go into fox and annoy dens to kill these ambitious foes, Greyhounds would chase and impale deer, and Cane Corso's would attack savage boars. Yet people recognize that these dogs have inverse over the years.
Purveyors Of Truth
However, we firmly believe that the controversy over Pitbulls volition just end when all sides talk to each other reasonably and stick to the facts. Bad Rap are a Pitbull activist group who have led the way on this. In 2013 they were brave enough to stand up up to the pro-Pitbull extremists in their own group and write conspicuously: "Did y'all know that there was never such thing as a 'Nanny's Dog'? This term was a recent invention created to describe the myriad of vintage photos of children enjoying their family unit pit bulls. While the intention behind the term was innocent, using it may mislead parents into being careless with their children around their family dog.
Those of us who would be heartbroken to run across more Pitbulls killed because of stereotypes and misinformation demand to make sure nosotros don't spread whatever ourselves and undermine our own reputation for truth-telling. From this point on, let'southward focus on the very real positive qualities that Pitbulls have, while also fully adopting the strong training and discipline that prevents controversy-feeding incidents. That is the all-time way to protect our dear Pitbulls.
Source: https://nedhardy.com/2020/06/03/pitbull-nanny-dog/
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