RING SPIRIT
BY MFAPBTA'S VICE PRESIDENT
HEATHER MAYO
( ring spirit and facing off are two different things )
**When you form an opinion let it be yours and yours alone
Heather Mayo
** Dont be afraid to open yourself up to listen, to learn and to grow from other opinions besides your own. You Live ..You Learn.
CJimenez
I am a firm believer that the only way to truly understand our breed is to start at the very beginning, at the very dawn of the Pit Bull’s origin and read, no, study the rich heritage and emotional history behind the American Gladiator. It is human nature to fear what we don’t understand, so to familiarize yourself with a subject. Through open-mined exploration, is to squelch fear and gain true knowledge
As part of the Pit Bull fraternity often times we are faced with questions that are hard to answer, the subject seems so natural to us but admittedly can be a little daunting to a novice.
Why are these dogs so aggressive?
Why all of the snarling and barking in the show ring?
why do pit bull people seem un-phased by this savage behavior?
Why don’t they get the dogs in line and make them stand quietly!
Number one, to understand this marvelous breed you must first study and understand the group of dogs it comes from; the terrier. Let me give you a brief insight; but don’t stop here, do your own homework. The terriers’ roots are planted firmly in England and Ireland. They have been in existence since Roman times, but a large number of breeds seen today were developed in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, to seek and destroy pests such as rodents and rabbits often burrowing underground. Terriers are by nature tenacious and brave, ready to take on all comers. These were tough and rugged working dogs. They were often bred exclusively and highly coveted in the regions they were developed. Some terriers to this day remain localized in the area of their origin. On the whole the breeds in this group are small to medium sized, the largest member being the Airdale terrier from Yorkshire. Terriers are not lap dogs, as their hunting and fighting instincts remain strong, and they have boundless energy! They make lively entertaining pets of real character, though often tend to be vocal and are enthusiastic diggers. All terriers must have a job or plenty of exercise or they will become bored and very destructive!
Now back to the star of this show, the American Pit Bull Terrier.
The pit bull was masterfully created by poor miners in England and Ireland in the late 1800’s. Hazardous work conditions, lack of food and lack of hope drove these men to develop a way to survive, and the light at the end of the tunnel came in the form of blood sports. That fact today is widely recognized as one of the ugliest truths in history, but at that time dog fighting was very much a gentleman’s sport. Matches were often highly publicized and held in fancy arenas. Winners were held in high regard, as canine athletes, and often found on the covers of major magazines. High stakes were bet, and that could buy peace of mind for a family going under. The miners used the quickest, bravest terriers in the area and combined them with the larger, heavier bulldog, then selectively bred for the qualities a good pit dog would need. Conformation for example is a deep chest and well sprung ribs for endurance and good air. Heavy boned forelegs to withstand much punishment, and light, springy stifles to aid in wrestling ability, so on and so forth. All of those things are important, but are not the drive train in the pit bull. No, what made them different from the other combat breeds used at that time was a heart that could not be stopped. A focus that could not be swayed, and the need to please his owner. The other key factor was a sound, stable temperament. These dogs had to be quickly handled in the heat of battle, and never turn its anger to the human handling him. What these men, these masters of genetics created was the ultimate canine gladiator with an unwavering drive, an unquenchable fire, and an unbreakable spirit.
Thank God for every one of these men because all of the qualities that made a great pit dog make a great pet today. All of that drive and heart can be channeled into so many sports today, from weight pulling, to agility, to fly-ball!
As for conformation and how I would explain spirit in the ring...when I see the leash tight, every muscle flexed, eyes ignited by an old primal fire, fury bubbling up from inside...I see his history and what he was bred to be. I see him for who he is and love him the same, the way that he sees me and truly loves me the same. He is loved by few and hated by so many, he has been hunted and killed, slandered and worse, but he remains the same dog.
It is the people who have changed.
I say long live the great American Pit Bull Terrier and his spirit in the show ring! As I said earlier in this article, do your own homework.
When you form an opinion let it be yours and yours alone.
.
