Customer Reviews

The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a pitbull owner who has had to face the condemnation of my dog and myself a number of times this book was a welcome read. The details provided as well as the insight into the mind of the american public and the media over the centuries towards dogs and dog breeds was fascinating. In a way it gives hope to the bully breeds that someday their time of being hated and feared can sometime come to an end.
Read this book if you have ever owned a dog who is feared simply for its breed whether it be a pitbull, German Shepherd, Rottie, Doberman, Husky etc. etc.
The author has researched back to the 1800's to provide actual documented accounst of attacks by bloodhounds and bloodhound type dogs straight up to present time and more importantly examines the circumstances behind the attacks. The moral is as usual, there are no bad dogs just bad owners.

This book is very informative. During my years of fighting breed specific legislation, I thought I had heard it all but this book offered new and interesting facts and insights.

Everybody should read this book as it would help reduce the level of ignorance out there. And not just about pit bulls, but about dog aggression in general and how it is reported by the media. All too frequently we hear about how the "family dog just snapped and mauled a child." The reality is that often times key information is not included in the article such as the reporductive status of the dog (a big factor in dog attacks), that a female just had puppies (another factor for female dogs) or that the dog was chained, emaciated, suffering from being in extreme heat, or taunted by a group of kids.

Further, the media seems to be completely unaware of the unwitting role they play in fostering fads amongst certain dogs percieved to be the new demon dog and the correlation between breed popularity and the number of fatal attacks. Like Homer Simpson the media blithely marches on almost gleefully publishing account after account of the current demon dog mauling someone and reaping the rewards for such yellow journalism. Delise even highlights one incident where a major magazine published such and article and provided a detailed description of how to turn a pit bull into a monster.

The level of detail of the information in this book is simply amazing. I'd highly recommend it for everyone.

This is a must read for anyone interested in learning the truth behind the various stories hyped up by media. Delise identifies a pattern over the years of our human need for drama through particular targeted breeds. It is time to step back and look at the human element and intentions of choice of dog.

This book was a refreshing change from all the negative press about pit bulls. As a pit bull owner, I was more than presently surprised. It details the history of dog attacks related to dog popularity and shows that the more popular a dog breed is, the more instances of "attacks" there are just by sheer statistical necessity.

Karen Delise has my undying devotion and appreciation for her portrayal of my family pet as a loving, intelligent animal and not a monster!

This is an exceptional book. Clearly and concisely explaining the history of serious and fatal dog attacks. It emphasises the role of the media in sensationalizing dog attacks and creating a monster. A must have for breed fanciers, dog owners, animal control personnel or anyone interested in dog attacks.

EXCELLANT BOOK ABOUT WHAT THE MEDIA CAN DO TO A MAN OR A DOG BREED ONCE IT SETS IT SIGHTS ON THEM. IT TELLS THE HISTORY OF ALL THE BREEDS OF DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN ABUSED BY MAN.

Interesting reading for anyone concerned about dogs, breed specific legislation and the images the media create. I am not a pit bull owner and I do not live in the USA but by the end of the book I had more sympathy for this and other breeds of dog labelled "dangerous". The facts behind specific attacks and the historical news clips are quite compelling. Well written level headed exploration of an issue that puts the responsibility for dog attacks firmly back on the owners supposedly entrusted to care for them and explores issues that if implemented would do more to reduce attack rates than breed specific legislation.

Before the Pit Bull it was the Rottweiler. Before the Rottweiler it was the Doberman. Before the Doberman it was the German Shepherd and so on.
The truth is ANY dog can bite, and all do. The truth is ANY dog can be trained for aggression. The truth is ANY dog can be fodder for the media's insatiable appetite for tabloid TV and sensationalism.
Karen Delise has written what should become a must have on any dog trainers book shelf or in the library of anyone who cares about and respects dogs.
Here is an open ledger of the real Pit Bull. Here is a book that honestly exposes what every dog trainer and behaviourist should know - What our dogs do and how they behave is entirely due to how we interact, train and socialise with dogs.
This educative volume should be mandatory reading for every student journalist.
Reviewed by the Australian Canine Psychology Centre

OH MY GOD, this was one of the best books I've read. This book should be mandatory reading in schools so young kids can understand the reason why some dogs bite,since obviously their parents dont explain it to them. And it also just goes to show you how ridiculous our politicians are when they have FACTS in front of them about dog bite cases but still rely on the media for their information.This book totally opened up my eyes to the reasons and causes for dog bites that I was unaware of.THANK YOU,THANK YOU Karen Delise for writting this AMAZIMG book.I hope millions of people will read it.