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.' These are becoming outdated terms as our society begins to understand that the dogs are merely victims of cruelty.

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 breed 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 evaluating 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; a wide range of Dog Tolerance Levels exist in all dogs. A manageble amount of dog intolerance is fully accepted by UKC and AKC judges in the show rings and should never 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 when irresponsible and abusive owners allow them to fight. In some cases, those who dislike the breed have used this sad history to condemn them and even to justify breed specific legislation, including breed bans. The fact is, dog-on-dog aggression is a behavior that commonly surfaces in numerous breeds when dogs are mismanaged. The tendency towards dog intolerance is especially true for the terrier breeds and it shows up in many working dogs and performance style (sport) dogs. To compare, the recommendations we offer to pit bull owners for responsible management 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, proper management is key!

Q ~ Can dogs with fighting pasts live in a world with 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 (chaotic dog parks for one!), they can and do enjoy success. Responsible BR members that own dogs from fighting pasts including dog intolerant pit bulls are some of our best ambassador homes because they understand their dogs 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: obeying leash laws, 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 intolerance: 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 could be set up to fail in a highly charged situation. True to her breed, she tends to prefer 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? Many of the dogs from Michael Vick's fighting operation are now living successfully in homes with other pets. Their owners manage them the same way they would manage pit bulls from non-fighting pasts. Right: Hector, owned by the Roo and Clara Yori, is now a Certified Therapy Dog. READ: What the Vick Dogs taught us about dog aggression. More on the Vick Dogs

Q ~ Can dogs from fighting rings ever be trusted pets?

A ~ We have to view each dog as an individual. If a fight bust victim 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 evaluated 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 future: DoeKoo earned his Canine Good Citizen certificate and went on to play with select canine buddies (supervised of course!). He acted as a BR demo dog in parades and other public events before finally passing on from natural causes.

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

A ~ In a compassionate society, all dogs should be judged on their individual merit. Deciding which dogs to help when so many are dying in our local shelters can be an excruciating decision for any rescuer, but we believe we have a moral obligation to help victims of cruelty when we can. In our experience, dogs from these situations have made some of the very best pets we've placed.

They're grateful for the second chance at a new life, intelligent and 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, Rally-O and other dog sports.

Finding responsible adopters will always be a challenge and it seems there will never be enough homes available to absorb the high numbers of victimized dogs, but those 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 a circle of dog friends 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. While individual dogs from abusive situations like fighting operations may become too damaged by their past to streamline back into society, there is absolutely no evidence that victims of cruelty as a group present dangers to children. Animal aggression and human-directed 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: Teddles is a responsibly managed around this toddler, as all dogs should be managed with children. He was from Vick's fighting operation and enjoyed a sweet friendship with Sam during his foster care period.

VIDEO: Flower was confiscated by Animal Control and held as evidence. Although she's been socialized to certain dogs since coming to us, she is essentially dog 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, 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, etc.) 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 and Therapy Dog titles.