Pit Bull Terrier History
Putting the myths to rest
When the subject of the American Pit Bull Terrier* comes up, the issue of nature vs. nurture is always a hot topic. Over the years, varying schools of thought have evolved with respect to the dog fighting heritage of the bull breed and their inclination toward aggressive behavior.
Before we go any further, let 's get one thing out of the way right off the bat. Throughout history, many breeds of dogs were used in dogfighting. The Romans fought dogs in their great arenas long before the American Pit Bull Terrier ever came into existence. Fortunately, civilization has evolved, and the barbaric sport of dogfighting is no longer tolerated. The decedents of those various dog breeds once used in the gladiator arena …show more content…
They argue vehemently that because some unscrupulous breeders once bred and used the APBT for dogfighting, the breed poses an imminent danger to the public and, thus, are not suitable pets in today’s society. Some even go so far as to classify the APBT as their own "species."
On the other end of the spectrum, those who have experience with the APBT argue that it is a dog’s environment - its training, socialization and, most importantly, interaction with its owners - that produces a good or a bad dog. They further argue that while the APBT may have initially been selectively bred by some to be fighters, over the past several decades, they have been selectively bred to not be fighters, thus producing a breed of dog that makes an excellent companion and working dog. Quite frankly, their temperament and disposition develop just like any other dog - at the hands of their …show more content…
Research has shown that not only do nature and nurture each contribute to who we are, but also that they speak the same language. Both achieve their effects by altering the synaptic organization of the brain. The process by which experience shapes synapses is referred to as "synaptic plasticity." Although a great deal of synaptic plasticity occurs during early childhood as the brain is developing, plasticity in the form of learning and memory continues to shape our synapses throughout our lives. [1]
When the subject of the American Pit Bull Terrier* comes up, the issue of nature vs. nurture is always a hot topic. Over the years, varying schools of thought have evolved with respect to the dog fighting heritage of the bull breed and their inclination toward aggressive behavior.
Before we go any further, let 's get one thing out of the way right off the bat. Throughout history, many breeds of dogs were used in dogfighting. The Romans fought dogs in their great arenas long before the American Pit Bull Terrier ever came into existence. Fortunately, civilization has evolved, and the barbaric sport of dogfighting is no longer tolerated. The decedents of those various dog breeds once used in the gladiator arena …show more content…
They argue vehemently that because some unscrupulous breeders once bred and used the APBT for dogfighting, the breed poses an imminent danger to the public and, thus, are not suitable pets in today’s society. Some even go so far as to classify the APBT as their own "species."
On the other end of the spectrum, those who have experience with the APBT argue that it is a dog’s environment - its training, socialization and, most importantly, interaction with its owners - that produces a good or a bad dog. They further argue that while the APBT may have initially been selectively bred by some to be fighters, over the past several decades, they have been selectively bred to not be fighters, thus producing a breed of dog that makes an excellent companion and working dog. Quite frankly, their temperament and disposition develop just like any other dog - at the hands of their …show more content…
Research has shown that not only do nature and nurture each contribute to who we are, but also that they speak the same language. Both achieve their effects by altering the synaptic organization of the brain. The process by which experience shapes synapses is referred to as "synaptic plasticity." Although a great deal of synaptic plasticity occurs during early childhood as the brain is developing, plasticity in the form of learning and memory continues to shape our synapses throughout our lives. [1]