Q ~ What is a fighting dog and how does one know if they're dangerous?

A ~ In general terms, a fighting dog is an animal that's from a background of having been exploited by humans and encouraged to fight other dogs. Pit bulls are one of many breeds that have been traditionally abused in this fashion. Some extend the definition to include any dog born from parents or grandparent dogs that have been fought. This 'style' of breeding produces dogs that some call 'gamebred' lines, or 'fighting lines.'

Some of the most exceptional dogs BAD RAP has rescued and placed have been 'retired' fighting dogs, or dogs from this lineage.

Do we experience problems? Actually, no! ...they've been some of our favorite ambassadors. Because dog-dog aggression is so manageable in this people-pleasing breed, the existence of the trait is not nearly as important as how biddable the dog is and whether or not his owner accepts his obligations as a responsibile dog owner. As always, it's about the owner!

By 'temperament testing' sheltered dogs and viewing them as individuals, knowledgable dog people can suss out those stable dogs that are eager to please, socialize them, teach them good leash manners and place them into breed educated homes.

Varying Degrees of Dog-Dog Aggression...

Let's be real; various Dog Tolerance Levels are common in all dogs. The trait is fully accepted by UKC and AKC show judges and should not be considered a fault. To condemn any dog of any breed for this trait puts a scarlet letter on many wonderful pets, including a high percentage of the best performing dogs in many dog sports. We say dog intolerance is 100% manageable because it is!

Photos: Amy (left) and Young Hiro (right) had sad beginnings and came from a known dog fighter's yard. Adopted into responsible homes, both are thriving.

Are Pit Bulls Unique? A lot of negative attention has been directed at pit bulls for the common trait of dog-dog aggression. In some cases, those who dislike the breed have used it to condemn them and even to justify breed specific legislation, including bans. The fact is, dog-dog aggression is a common trait in numerous breeds including and especially the working dogs. To compare, the recommendations we offer to pit bull owners are mirrored in websites that deal with most of the terriers including Jack Russell Terriers, as well as the Akitas, Huskies, Boxers, Ridgebacks, Australian Cattle Dogs, Shar Peis, German Shepherds, Dobermans, Chows, Tosa Inus, Rottweilers and many others. In every breed, in every situation, management is key!

Q ~ Where do 'fighting lines' or 'game bred' pit bulls come from?

A ~ Fight line pit bulls tend to be some of the most over represented, over bred dogs showing up in our shelters today. They're sold regularly on the Net and come with bloodline names such as, Frisco, Chinaman, Eli, Bolio, Redboy, Honeybunch, and Jeep, to name a few. Because of this careless overbreeding epidemic, many of the dogs in our shelters tend to come from game bred lines, and they live successfully in hundreds of thousands of homes, all over the country. The game breds can be easy to spot: They're lean, muscular dogs with rangey builds. They tend to be strong, drivey and athletic. Until they're taught better manners, some tend to get very excited at the sight of other dogs and may pull on leash and lunge. They may be red in color, buckskin or black. Often they're mislabled as mixes because they don't have the bulk or the large heads that the public expects when they think of the stereotypical 'pit bull.'

Photo: Small and lively, Mighty Molly represents a common style of dog that frequents our shelters. Molly was properly socialized and has many dog friends. She's highly people-focused and excelled in her CGC training classes.

Q ~ Can game bred dogs be responsibly managed so they don't hurt other dogs?

A ~ As with ANY breed of dog, responsible homes make good pets. As long as homes are willing to avoid situations that could stimulate their dogs into conflict (dog parks for one!), they can and do enjoy success. Responsible BR members that own 'game bred' and other pit bulls are some of our best foster homes because they understand the breed well and are able to commit to the simple precautions that ensure their dogs are never pushed past their limits and triggered into conflict. Precautions include: separating all pets before leaving them alone, supervising play sessions, slow introductions with dogs they don't know, ongoing training and dog socializing.

The protocol used to enjoy success with these dogs is the same others employ with their non-pits. Some of the breeds well known for animal aggression: Chows, Akitas, Shar Peis, Malamutes, Airedales, Cairns, Patterdales, Jack Russells...in fact most of the terriers!

Photo: Like many dogs, Minky gets along fine with dogs but can be provoked into conflict if her buttons are pushed. True to her breed, she prefers the company of people over other dogs. Avoiding dog parks and obeying leash laws is a small price to pay for the joy she brings to her adopted family.

Did You Know? A large majority of the pit bulls rescued from Hurricane Katrina floodwaters were 'old world fighting line style' pit bulls. Some dogs wore the scars of former fights, some did not. No matter their condition, most were pleasant, social and easy to handle. We worked alongside individuals from all over the country who were converted to pit bulls by the people-soft qualities of the animals they cared for. Read: Louisiana Pit Bulls

Q ~ Can dogs from fighting rings ever be trusted?

A ~ Again, it depends on the individual dog. If a pit bull has a correct people-soft temperament and is biddable and resilient, he can be just like any other pit bull pet. For example, BB (right) was confiscated from a suspected fighting ring in Bakersfield along with 39 other dogs. He was held for four months while his owner was tried. When the trial was over, a dog loving District Attorney insisted that the shelter allow rescue to save the adoptable dogs in the group. All were temperament tested by a knowledgable pit bull rescuer. Eleven were selected for rescue and nine of those dogs passed further evaluation during foster care. BB lived successfully with another dog and enjoyed four happy years with his adopters before he finally died of natural causes.

Another example, DoeKoo (left) was fought repeatedly as a youngster in an Oakland fighting ring. He came to us bloodied and highly reactive to other dogs.

Flash to the present: DoeKoo has earned his Canine Good Citizen certificate and is able to play with select canine buddies (supervised of course!). He now acts as a BR demo dog in parades and other public events.

Q ~ Why bother spending rescue resources on fighting line dogs when so many need help?

A ~ We choose not to separate out the dogs from fighting lineage from those that have been bred more recently for the show ring. To us, all dogs should be judged on their individual merit. While we all wish there were FAR fewer bred and sold across the board, we believe we have a moral obligation to help those exceptional examples that cross our paths when we can. In our experience, dogs straight from so-called 'fighting lines' make some of the very best pets because of their intelligence and deep desire to bond with their people.

They're very eager to please and have proven themselves to be cherished family pets in thousands of homes. Their sense of fun and athleticism impresses active homes that enjoy jogging, weight pulling, agility and other dog sports.

Finding responsible adopters will always be a challenge and there will never be enough homes available to absorb the high numbers, but the dogs that luck into them are always worth the effort.

Photos: Amy (left) was rescued from a local dog fighter and earned her way into a wonderful new life via BR's adoption program. Right: Paco's parents were fighting dogs. He has 'dog friends' that he enjoys and has since earned his Canine Good Citizen Certificate. Both are beautifully behaved and will ignore the most reactive dogs on-leash, and both work as BR demo dogs for public events.

Q ~ I read that pit bulls are "killing machines" and are dangerous to children. Is this true?

A ~ This inflammatory myth is often repeated by agencies who should know better. There is absolutely no evidence that pit bulls from fight busts present dangers to children. In our experience, the true game bred dogs - such as those represented on this page - are incredibly stable with children. Animal aggression and human aggression are two different behaviors and should never be confused in order to stir up public disdain or justify the destruction of confiscated dogs.

Photo: Sophie is a responsibly owned dog from fighting lines. She acts as a service dog for her dedicated SF owner.

VIDEO: Flower was confiscated by Animal Control and held as evidence. Although she has been socialized to certain dogs since coming to us, she is essentially animal aggressive, due to her past and her genetics. While she was in foster care waiting to be adopted, she lived in a home with young children. Her behavior with kids is classic pit bull. Video: Flower's Friends

(Can't see the video? You may need Quicktime Player. Download it Here)

Q ~ Isn't it cruel to shelter pit bulls for months on end?

A ~ As breed advocates, we hate to see pit bulls locked away in kennels without relief. In most cases, the wheels of justice turn slowly and custody holds can drag on for weeks or months. While some dogs tend to do better than others - Maya, BB, and Ozzie, for example, held up fine during their confinement - a life without enrichment can take a toll on a dog's spirits. New programs like Corinne Dowling's Give a Dog a Bone offer an alternative. From her website, "Give a Dog a Bone serves the special needs of animals who are the subject of ongoing Animal Control investigations (abuse, neglect, bites, dogfighting, etcetera) and consequently must be housed at SFACC, often for extended periods of time." Unfortunately, due to the stigma attached to this breed, confiscated pit bulls are a low priority and resources to house them and keep them comfortable during their wait are hard to come by. People like Corinne are a rare breed and are constantly searching for funding and support.

Q ~ I read that fight bust dogs are especially intense. Aren't some dogs just too strong and prey driven to be pets?

A ~ We would invite anyone with this question to visit our Pit Ed classes on Saturdays, or, another class that works with dogs that are leash reactive. If pit bulls haven't been encouraged to show good leash manners, they do tend to put on quite a show when first brought out into the "real world", especially when other dogs are present. Lunging, pulling, straining on the leash and barking/whining at other dogs is the norm with mature, untrained pit bulls. It's obnoxious! But because the breed was born to please, we typically see quick improvements after only a couple of one hour classes. Many of these same lunging, pulling, straining dogs go on to earn their Canine Good Citizen Certificates.