Should dogfighting with proper guidelines be legalized?

Question

Taking into account the "old school" method of using dogfighting to find the best dogs for breeding purposes only and NEVER forcing a dog to fight. These guidelines have been used for CENTURIES and few dogs have ever been killed. That whole bait dog, taste of blood, torture stuff is for the newspapers and a few dumb people who think it is done that way. This does not make much sense for those breeders who truly want to breed game dogs (it doesn't help much fighting them if they die now does it). If this shouldn't be legalized, then I think dog racing, herding, and ring sports should all be outlawed as well. More dogs are killed in the name of performance in these sports than any true "dogfighting ring". And we should prosecute owners who raise unbalanced dogs, this is more cruel than allowing a dog to do what it was bred for. Answer away!

Answer 1

Okay, I’ve heard about enough… there are two worlds in dog fighting: One which thrives off cruelty, drugs and money, and another which is designed for the betterment of the breed. The thugs who beat their dogs and are only in it for themselves should be euthanized, plain and simple. The other side however, like you said in your question, the “old school” way is completely the opposite. Dogs are NOT made to fight, they want too, as much as a herding dog wants to herd or a greyhound run. These dogs are kept in amazing condition and their bond with their owners is unrivaled. They do not use “practice” animals, there is no “taste of blood”, and people who believe that read too much L.A. Times. The one lady who references “knowing your history” about “pit bosses”, real dogmen treat their dogs with the utmost care. The gentlemen who said dog racing and ring sports were not cruel… you obviously know nothing of these sports. I have trained three level III SchH dogs in my life and seen more dogs “culled” out for not having this talent then any dogmen would ever allow from their litters. You see, since someone asked, the pups not used in the pit & do not have deep “gameness” (the will to fight) make excellent pets and are often given to close family & friends. These dogs are just as stable and calm as their game brethren, but simply lack that special and unique trait. It is gameness that separates pit bulls from all other breeds. They LIKE to fight in the pit. Through the most serious selection and breeding process, true bred pit bulls have attained this love to fight over many CENTURIES. A sheepdogs desire to herd sheep does not come even close to the feeling a true pit bull has for its job. Because no sheepdog went through the trials and tribulations that bulldogs went through. So to the person who asked what one would feel like if the roles were reversed? I would feel great about it! Who wins the fight is NOT important; it is the trait of gameness that is sought after, nothing more. A dog can be a natural in the ring, but that makes it more difficult to test its gameness. To the person who said pit bulls were not bred to fight, that they were bred to help farmers control Bulls, that is not accurate. They (meaning all “bulldogs”) were originally bred to hold Bulls down and round them up. Eventually, when people became so poor that they could not own bulls, they began fighting the dogs against each other. What is known as the “bulldog”, English or American type, were actually made later. What is known as the pit bull today, was actually the original bulldog (and many old timers refer to their pit bulldogs simply as “bulldogs”). For the person who referenced PETA; that group is a humaniac extremist group that kills more animals every year than a chicken farm. You would do well to do the OPPOSITE of anything they say. To the question “is there a vet on site”, I say what for!?! Most of these dogmen could outclass a vet any day of the week. Vets give shots to cute little kittens and puppies (overcharging I might add). A caretaker for an injured pit bull is serious business. These people can perform miraculous surgeries, IV drips and top notch wound care. Believe me when I say, the dogs are in the best hands in the world. Notice this person said “like human boxers do”, well my friend, you haven’t been to many boxing matches. Those are not doctors, those are cutmen! Retired champions live a life of luxury, making the next generation with the top dames in the area. There are no “extra” puppies. These breeders take that aspect more serious than any AKC breeder on the planet. Like I said before, the ones who are not game go to great, loving and trustworthy homes. You will not find quality pups like these in any shelter! These dogs are not fought for wagers or human pride. It is for breeding AND NO, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. It is sad that many inner city youths have used what they read in the papers to injure, kill and mame helpless animals. These people are the lowest of the low and have no clue or conscience about what they are doing and how it affects true dogmen. Now most people, like everyone else who answered before me, believe this to be a horrific act of human violence. It is anything but violent, and the care these dogs receive for their entire life rivals that of champion horses. No other type of dog owner can even understand the commitment or knowledge it takes to maintain such an outstanding breed. To answer the question, no, dogfighting should NOT be legalized. It is not for everyone, in fact, it is not for most. It involves dedicating practically your entire life to this breed. If it were legalized, people would do more inner city nonsense. The “guidelines” would not be adhered too. This dog thrived in the shadows and underground for centuries until it became a “fad” breed. That fad, which has lasted over 30 years, has destroyed the image of this breed. It never had any problems until “normal” people began to own and sensationalize it. Now people turn on those who made the breed what it is today. ALL pit bulls originally came from game stock. That was the point of creating the UKC and ADBA kennel clubs. It is why they are hard to train as guard dogs, easy to train in anything else, intelligent and unafraid when injured, they love people, protect their families, hardly bark and don’t move a muscle when the 3 German Shepherds come barreling down the hill towards them. America’s breed…

Answer 2

Gawd NO! That's beyond Cruel!!! I can't believe you even asked this!!!!!!!! But I do agree with outlawing racing dogs since the majority end up euthanized or worse if they aren't winners. Greyhounds are sight hounds so the true nature of 'testing' them would be to hunt them as sight hounds. Herding shows a dog's skills and they serve a purpose; herding. Anything that is not overtly cruel should be allowed if it exhibits the breeds qualities. To do something for money or sport is just wrong; especially if the animals suffers and pays the price for human entertainment :(

Answer 3

Which dogs are you referring to that are bred for fighting other dogs??? The last line of your post referred to "what it was bred for." I simply don't know which breed of dogs were bred to have them fight each other to the injury or death (or win as you might say) for the sport of humans to watch and wager on.
If you mean the Pit Bull, they were bred to help farmers control "BULLS."

Also, what happens to these "game dogs" when they are injured, or they lose? Do they have a Vet on sight to treat them, like a human boxing match does with the fighters? How far does it go before a "winner" is declared? Where do the retired dogs go or the losers? What about extra puppies that don't make the cut?

Where did you see or read about herding dogs or ring sports (I assume you mean agility, conformation, or obedience trial dogs) having more deaths than game fighting dogs? I must say I've never seen or read about deaths in these events.

Racing dogs.. Totally insane. Thousands of dogs are put to death each year, since they are no longer winning or producing. A very lucky few get adopted.

So, you want it to be legal to have dogs fight each other for wagers??
Why not let the OWNERS fight each other and let other people make wagers??? After all, YOU have a choice, the dogs don't. If it's good enough for you do to the dogs, you should be as willing to step up.

Answer 4

The problem isn't the fighting per se, it's the betting, drinking, drugs and violence engaged in by the people who attend pits. And like fighting roosters, many fighting dogs are kept by people who are only interested in making money off the fights, and keep the dogs in terrible conditions. They also use other, pet dogs as practice animals for the fighters to train on (ie chew up.) Not very nice for the poor pets!
Dogfights, cockfights and even rat fights have been known since pre-Elizabethan days, but if you read your history you'll know that few pit bosses take good care of their dogs.

Answer 5

I beg to differ. Dog fighting with or with out proper guide lines should not ever be legalized.No matter, dog fighting is cruel! Dog racing, herding, and ring sports(agility?) are so much safer and not cruel! How would you feel if you and a fighting dog breed were reversed and you found yourself under the lock of powerful set of jaws? And that you had to fight to survive? It is like cock fights.....wrong, cruel.....inhumane...there are other ways of discovering the best dogs for breeding......and its not fighting! That is like only used to find the best FIGHTING dogs.....

Though you do present a good arguement...

Answer 6

No, dogfighting should not be legalized at all. The only time an animal should have to fight, is a life and death situation in a natural enviroment. Dog fighting with proper guidelines is not. THe only time when an animal should be forced to fight is when is it is in the wild, in the natrual habitat and it is the natrual course of nature.

Answer 7

Of course it should be permitted with well defined guide lines, if one of the rules clearly stated that the dogs must be kept at least four feet apart at all times.
You got me with that " Unbalanced " remark. I've had a lot of dogs in my long life, some pure bred, some mixed. But I've never had an unbalanced one. They were all very steady on their feet.
I don't think that too many dogs die from that little run around the show floor with their trainer. I'm not so sure about some of those really fat lady trainers, though.

Answer 8

Dog fighting is illegal because it is inhumane. It is wrong and sadistic. Don't know where you got your statistics but I am sure that anyone who pits dog against dog will never report deaths due to this horrible act. Anyone who allows dog fights is less than a man/woman and apparently can not earn a living legally. The answer is NO! FYI : We have had working dogs for 30 yrs. and have never had one to die of anything other than natural causes,namely old age. They are our pets and are treated with the respect they deserve. We should prosecute cruel owners who abuse their animals by forcing them to fight for their lives.

Answer 9

NO! It is cruel, and I don't see how it would have anything to do with the bloodlines. I don't think Greyhound racing is cruel either, but the fact that so many of those dogs are put to sleep because they don't win money is cruel. Just because they don't win doesn't make them a bad dog. Do you not love you dog enough just because he/she is special to you without having to fight them? A Breeder of a Different Breed

Answer 10

I think you know that this is going to raise one hell of an argument. So my answer along with other people is HELL NO!!!. I don't think animal should be raised to fight or for any kind of sport. If you ask me, It's just another form of slavery plain and simple. They're living beings just like us, If you want to have them as pets, companions and even a family member then so be it. Peta would have a field day with this question. But who the hell cares what they think.