my 3 year old bulldog was called a pit bull today(groan)what the heck does the public think a pit is?

Question

anything with a big chest and muscles(hes very fit for a bully)seems to be the culprit, 26 breeds of dog are mistaken as pitbulls. How would you tell a stranger what a pitbull looks like?????

Answer 1

I've come to the conclusion that most people just don't have a clue. I hear things like this all the time at work...plus! The general public don't know breed, color or even general anatomy! And this applies to dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, whatever. I've seen Boston Terriers, French bulldogs, Mastiffs, Boxers, and even a Pekingese that had been shaved called pit bulls! And don't even get me started on the colors of cats! There is a difference between a gray tabby and a brown tabby and a calico, yet I see the same cat called each...and it's actually a tortoise shell! But my all-time favorites are telling owners that their female cat is actually a male due to the "lumps" you see under his tail, and telling the puppy's owner that those lumps between his rear legs are normal for boy puppies and you don't have to be concerned.

So just smile and gently inform these people of their mistake...and try not to think ill of their ignorance. Sometime, somewhere, you'll come across something that you have no clue about and the person with the right knowledge will do the same for you.

Answer 2

Thats the problem...the general public really doesn't have a TRUE idea of what a pit bull is because there isn't a specific breed called 'pit bulls'. Its more of a TYPE of dog consisting of 3 specific breeds.
There is the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire Bull terrier. The ancestors of these breeds can be traced back to the British Bulldogs and Terriers which also accounts for some of the confusion.
Unfortunately, the average person just looks at the bulldogs, mastiffs and any breed that looks similar to the pit bull types and categorizes them as such.
I would be telling strangers that make such presumptions that even though they look somewhat similar, they are completely different breeds and temperments. That most dogs people think of as 'pitbulls' are actually mixed breed dogs and your bulldog is a purebred breed who was considered too uninterested in fighting to be used as the pitbulls were. And if they continue pressing the point, that comparing a bulldog to a pitbull is equal to comparing an Asian Indian to a African American. Stereotyping, unfortunately, is not reserved for the human species :(

best of luck!

Answer 3

Inform them, thats all. "PitBull" is a general term for alot of dogs. It depends alot on what your definition of a "PitBull" looks like. A PitBull should be only an APBT. Ive got a male who is large and built(around 65lbs) which is a little large for the breed. Well the true breed but ive got papers. The rest of them run 45-55lbs. The breeders who breed for size and color and headshape are not true Pits(Gotti-Razors Edge). They are way to big for conformation. Just ask yourself if you can spot a purebred pitbull and then you might understand why the public calls every dog a pit. My neighbor was letting my big boy lick his face and you should have seen his look when i told him he was a "pit". Shocked beyond belief, but he stil lets his kids play with my dogs after I shared Information. Even If Im not home. All in all I hope you spoke up and told the person that it was a "bulldog" no matter what kind it is. I call my dogs bulldogs, because they are but they are not an American bulldog or English Bulldog. Bulldog is also a general term.

Answer 4

There is much debate about whether the actual "Pit Bull exists". Some will say there is no such thing as a pit. It is most likely a Staffordshire. Others will say that while they may closely resemble Staffies, Pit Bulls are larger. According to the American Humane association there is no such thing as a pitbull, it is a term used to describe any dog used for fighting. Note the word "pit" as in fighting pit. And yes, there are many other breeds mistaken for pits. Any dog that is muscular and has a large head is automatically deamed pit by some people.

Answer 5

I quit trying to explain to people because the media has made any bully type dog out to be a "pit bull" I live in a town where our own police force doesnt know what a APBT looks like....I owned a Cane Corso and our neighbor has a white boxer,both dogs were called pit bulls by our police dept.and the saddest thing is that APBT's and 3 other bully breeds have been banned in our county....how do you ban a breed they cant even identify?

Answer 6

Actually most people couldn't recognize a pit if it was staring them in the face. Nearly any bully breed is labeled a pit unless it's obviously not, ie english bulldogs. It's kinda sad really. Even I don't know all the different bully breeds but I know there are a lot and they all have their own physical quirks that make them different.

Answer 7

Yeah...I like to see people try and figure out this little game...
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

I have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and almost everyone mistakes her for a Pit Bull....some people even run the other way or whisper to each other about her. It's really sad that these wonderful breeds(APBT, AmStaff and Staffie) are so scorned it seems when the general public couldn't identify a true APBT or AmStaff to save their lives!

Answer 8

omg i cant believe people would call a bulldog a pit there is a big difference between the breed bulldogs are sweet and love everyone pits stand a little higher then bulldogs.no one has mistaken my 2 boys for pits and they are pretty stought but thats how they are! it comes natural to them pits usually are worked to be that way!

Answer 9

I've got 2 American Bulldogs.
When I brought my girl home the first thing the neighbor asked was "IS THAT A PIT"? I said no, Then he asked a Boxer?
So I learned not to get upset when asked that because it is truly coming from ignorance.
Half the people who would even ask the ? you could Tell them that no it's a lab or a chow and they would believe you LOL

Answer 10

they are stunning with little ones! I had an 8 3 hundred and sixty 5 days olf male while my son became into born. He became into great! He died this previous March on the age of 10, my son now 3. They have been appropriate acquaintances, no longer a single day is going by using that my son would not ask for them. Pit's are no longer human beings aggressive by using nature. Any dogs that became into even combating (that's disgusting) did no longer chew human beings! with the aid of fact they have a intense tollerence for soreness a three 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous would be somewhat rougher. Mine bit his ears, hit him with rubber bats, layed on him, kicked him, and so on. particular we taught my son to appreciate him yet there became into continually a time while he would do something. maximum dogs won't take this, yet a Pit would not care. I now I even have lady with my 3 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous. She loves him! She purely had pupppies and once I enable her do her very own ingredient for 3 weeks she has enable my son in with them. I take a seat with him. i'm no longer stupid for one minute approximately hjer capability, i'm continually betweeen them. She licks his feet whilst he holds the puppies in his lap. it is so candy. as long as you walkk you dogs on a regular basis, practice it instructions, like it lots, and practice your baby appreciate on your dogs those dogs would be great. i'd do fairly some study however. continually confirm you comprehend what you're stepping into. I even have study maximum of books and cyber web sites, met maximum of folk who practice them, and talked to my Vet. I made particular getting this female became into your best option for my relatives. a woman is distinctive than a male. i wouldn't in any respect EVER very own a distinctive BREED OF dogs. *To the 2nd submit, No they do no longer continually choose for the throat. A stranger walked in the backyard under the impact of alcohol the place my son became into and till now i ought to assert something, my dogs snuck up in the back of him and bit his butt. no longer complicated yet he particular did get the ingredient!