Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon
When Bronwen Dickey brought her new dog home, she saw no traces of the infamous viciousness in her affectionate, timid pit bull. Which made her wonder: How had the breed—beloved by Teddy Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Hollywood’s “Little Rascals”—come to be known as a brutal fighter?
Her search for answers takes her from nineteenth-century New York City dogfighting pits—the cruelty of which drew the attention of the recently formed ASPCA—to early twentieth‑century movie sets, where pit bulls cavorted with Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton; from the battlefields of Gettysburg and the Marne, where pit bulls earned presidential recognition, to desolate urban neighborhoods where the dogs were loved, prized—and sometimes brutalized.
Whether through love or fear, hatred or devotion, humans are bound to the history of the pit bull. With unfailing thoughtfulness, compassion, and a firm grasp of scientific fact, Dickey offers us a clear-eyed portrait of this extraordinary breed, and an insightful view of Americans’ relationship with their dogs.
Reviews (202)
My story and why this book is a must read for any APBT lover:)
I bought this book because I am a pit rescue owner. I had never owned a dog as a child and went to the shelter to volunteer, I left in tears because of the sad energy and hopelessness..I decided to try again and the same thing happened although I left with my first dog who happened to be a APBT...I know not the best first time dog to rescue..he was going to be euthinized and he looked at me and I looked at him and I never looked back..he was my dog soulmate..now my husband didn't necessarily agree he had been raised with the pitbull stereotype and it took only one incident to seal the deal. My son was born with some medical issues, the first week we had our dog (Apollo) my son had him in his room and had gotten sick and was in the restroom with a fever and had passed out..it was the middle of the night..Apollo started barking to get our attention and led us to our son..after that it was it for us, 4 years later he is literally my second child and we've rescued another APBT (his sister) since then. I will only rescue and I am so touched by the writing of this author not only is she well read she has a passion for this breed I can appreciate and admire...this book is excellent!!!
Highly suggest this book if you want facts without conjecture and one-liners.
*THIS* is how a non-fiction book is supposed to be written. It is extremely clear when reading the book the amount of research that went into it. Not just searching google and looking for user comments or reading news articles, but actual legitimate research, interviews and more research. This book not only delves into the history of the breed, the reputation of the breed, but looks at modern, peer reviewed, scientific research papers that have been performed to show the major discrepancies between reality and "hysteria". She's done a wonderful job of delving into the psyche of humans in the modern world and why we are so prone to buy into hysteria, while discounting all facts that show us the error of our ways. I agree with other reviewers about the context of this book being more about people than dogs. It uses the topic of "Pit Bulls", which isn't even a specific dog breed, to explore people and try to make sense of some of our more senseless ways. I just finished this book and couldn't be more pleased. I have to say, this is one of the best non-fiction books I have read. As an aside, scary but also eye-roll worthy, I got up this morning and someone had sent me a good write-up regarding the book since they knew I was reading it. It's about the author and the craziness she has had thrown her way since writing the book: You can find it by googling "How Writing About Pit Bulls Led to Death Threats, Online and IRL". It's on lithub. I've noticed several other articles throughout the last few weeks speaking about the crazy experiences book stores and this author have had from the same small group of people. It would be ridiculous and laugh worthy, if it wasn't reality. Luckily, it's a very small group of people involved but the reason I feel this is relevant enough to add to my review is because it's basically an extension of what Ms. Dickey explains in her book. It's not the dogs that are the problem. It is now and has always been the people that are the problem. Regardless of what side of the fence they are on, whether they are irresponsible owners, dog fighters using the dogs to profit, or people who consider themselves crusaders who spend their life attacking innocent pet owners over their choice of pet, all of the issues related to dogs of any breed can always be traced back to people. I also agree with the above mentioned article that Mrs. Dickey would not be getting as much vitriol from this group if she were a man, and she definitely wouldn't be getting daily attacks from these people regarding her looks (She's quite pretty but people get petty when it comes to hysteria). Which is yet another interesting aspect of our modern day culture. That's a whole different topic (but not really since it's based on the same fears) that could have a similar book written about it. Maybe Mrs. Dickey can explore that topic in the future.
If You Read One Animal Oriented Book This Year, Make it This One
Mind. Blown. I've been struggling with how to begin my review about the latest book I read to add to my animal advocate education – Bronwen Dickey's “Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon” - and ultimately decided I needed to start with what the book did to me and for me. It blew my mind and I mean that in a good way. I have so many adjectives inside my head to describe the book that it's hard to know just where to start. Beautiful, amazing, encyclopedic, scientific, endearing, frustrating, enlightening, empowering. This book is hands down the most comprehensive coverage of the topic of pit bull type dogs in our society which I have read in the last decade. I cannot implore you strongly enough: if you read one book this year that relates to companion animals in our society, please make it this one. I have already purchased additional copies to share with my local shelter director, a city councilman and some others I think may benefit from the information. I came to the book somewhat indirectly and still shake my head that I was unaware of it until it had been in print for a while. I'm not new to many of the topics covered in the book, having done a lot of research in the past related to pit bull type dogs. The best treatise on the subject of pit bull type dogs up until recently was written by Karen Delise who, to this day, is still considered the foremost authority on Dog Bite Related Fatalities (DBRFs). I learned about Bronwen's book after banging my head against a wall related to some people who promote a website which is used either to justify disparate treatment of the dogs or as part of an effort to render pit bull type dogs extinct. It is the scope of Bronwen's book which blew my mind and which I am still processing even weeks after having finished reading it. It contains so much information that there is no way I can do it justice with a short review. The book is not just about dogs and how we have breed dogs to look like hundreds of different species (often to their detriment) and how we judge dogs by what we see and what we fear. It is also about our society and how we judge dogs based on who owns them and what purposes they serve (or we think they serve) for those people. This book is as much an examination of how we view each other, be it right or wrong, as how we view the dogs with whom we share our lives. Learn about our history with dogs, pit bull type dogs in general, the role of the media related to pit bull type dogs, our fears related to dogs, Breed Specific Legislation, dog breeds, DNA testing, dogs in animal shelters, dog bites and dog bite related fatalities, the National Canine Research Council, the Animal Farm Foundation and about those who claim to be experts about pit bull type dogs but who are not. Those topics are all covered in this wonderful book, and then some.
Wonderful, well researched and surprising. A sociology book, more than a "dog's" book.
I rarely post a review, but in this case I feel the need given how impressive I found this book. For anyone who is wondering if this book is just about describing the Pit Bull "breed", for anyone who is wondering if your limited interest about Pit Bulls justifies the effort to read of a book with more than 340 pages, my feedback is clear: this is not a "simple" book about a breed, it is a book about sociology, it is a book about understanding how the press misleads perceptions, about how dogs in general and Pit Bulls in particular, intersect with the human society,about racism, about how the breeds we call "pit bulls"have been chased unfairly and portrayed like an evil breed when they are wonderful dogs. Even if you do not like put bulls, if you are interested in sociology you will love to read this book. Extremely well researched and a real pleasure to read.
Credible reference book and a good read
This is a comprehensive, unbiased book on everything related to Pit Bull dogs in the U.S. starting with the earliest history of the dogs. Included are dog bite statistics, History of the data available down through the years, analysis of the papers written by doctors and plastic surgeons, including Pinkney and Kennedy, and current dog bite statistics with references and supporting documentation. Dickey investigates and interviews academics, researchers, dog behaviorists, and dog bite statistic experts, vocal public figures who have been advocates for Pit Bulls, as well as those who say they're a danger to society. Only an accomplished writer can pack all this information and detail into one book and still make it an enjoyable read.
They are just dogs, first and foremost
I just finished reading the new book 'Pit Bull The Battle over an American Icon'. The author Bronwen Dickey did exhaustive research for this book. It should be required reading for anyone that owns a pit bull and actually for anyone that owns any type of dog. You will learn much about World and American history. How much of what the media reported was in error and why human deaths by other types of dogs are not reported. The ban and hysteria surrounding pit bulls is SO much more than the dog known as a pit bull. Currently we have 5 dogs, 1 a German Shepherd mix, 1 a lab mix and 3 that are pit bull mixes. I am also a certified dog trainer. I have to admit when we got our 1st pit bull, a 5 year old neutered male from a rescue, even though I knew better, the media had still done a number on my psyche. But my new adopted boy, Beaux, proved the media was wrong. What Beaux is, is the most loyal dog I have ever had, he has a great sense of humor and I am sure would protect me if needed. From a dog trainer perspective and I have had many pit bulls as clients, they are a very smart and love to learn especially when using clicker training. I just wish people would realize they are most of all, just dogs.
The True Story
Finally a source of the complete history of pit bulls. The times that they were appreciated for the dogs they were . And then their fall from grace as much for cultural issues as breed issues. Their history as war dogs. The environment of today where a lot of the places pits live is in the dangerous part of a neighborhood. The actual comparison of biting and death by pits as compared to other dogs. Only 35 deaths a year are attributable to dogs. And of those only a small number are pit bulls. Having worked in a local pet rescue, I am quite familiar with these dogs and they can be wonderful pets. Often aggression can be because male dogs are not neutered or raised in a home where they are not socialized. Enjoy the read and use the information when you hear someone undermining all pits.
Wonderful book that shows what bully breeds are made of
Despite the many bad comments, I can't imagine those people read this book, or if they did, they went in with a hateful narrow mind. This book is well written and presents facts. Bully breeds all over the world face discrimination, hatred, abuse and death, all because people refuse to actually learn the truth, basic canine communication, and understand that dogs are individuals; and prefer gross discrimination and knee jerk reactions that kill innocent dogs and destroy families. (Not to me.nation breed bans have been proven time and time again not to work). Not every person deserves a dog, let alone a powerful bully breed, but every dog, including bully breeds, do deserve a good home. If you are curious about bully breeds, this is a great place to start. If you are looking for a book that support your hate towards them and shows them as monsters, this isn't it.
Well written and documented. Recommended to anyone with strong beliefs about "pit bulls" of
I am a dog lover and willing to give other dog lovers a lot of latitude. I am aware of the effort to "rebrand" this particular group of dogs because of the bad press they have gotten in the past. Despite my "progressive thinking" and my liberal attitude, i am ashamed to admit that I have said and thought many of the ignorant ideas mentioned in this book. Well, not anymore. I am sure I will have beliefs based on ignorance but it won't be about pit bulls. I only wish that some of the people cited in the book would admit they are wrong and get on with their lives, but there are a couple examples that fit the adage about teaching a pig to sing. Either they don't read the scientific studies or they are just too proud to admit that they don't know as much as they think they do. Bronwen Dickey is very gentle with some of her case studies who I would consider overweening know-it-alls. If you love dogs and would like the facts served up with heartwarming and colorful anecdotes, you need to read "Pit Bull"
I tend not to enjoy "research" type texts very much but this was a ...
I purchased this book some months ago from Amazon and have finally found time to read it. I tend not to enjoy "research" type texts very much but this was a surprising exception. I've never owned a Pit Bull but was drawn to the recent controversy over BSL recently and thought this was a good supplement to my education on the issue. The "real-life" stories are a very functional counterpart to the research and data components and keep you moving through the pages. There are moments of pure sadness in the book as well as times of elation. The book certainly points out the shortcomings of human beings and the forgiveness and patience of the species we refer to as "Dog". Highly recommended.
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