Thirty Years with Fighting Dogs [Paperback]

George C. Armitage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2004

THIRTY YEARS WITH FIGHTING DOGS GEORGE C. ARMITAGE. Originally published 1935, USA, this is a reprint of a fascinating historical document about fighting dogs. The original is very rare, expensive and much sought after by dogmen and collectors, both for its rarity and the information contained within. "Thirty Years With Fighting Dogs" is a look at the sport of dog fighting in the early 20th century through the eyes of George Armitage, an acknowledged master of the game. It contains 55 rare photographs including Galvin's Pup, John Noonan's Brandy, Tanner, Shipley's Pearlie, Saddler's Bozo, Dugan's Pat and many more. Many famous battles are related. The contents also include articles on Schooling a Young Dog, Selecting a Dog for Pit Purposes, Armitage's Rules, Sample Contract, Armitage's Keep, Feeding and Breeding. A fascinating look at a vanished era.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Read Country Book (November 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 190512404X
• ISBN-13: 978-1905124046
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,648,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Censorship is SAD!, April 14, 2011

By 

Sherman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thirty Years with Fighting Dogs (Vintage Dog Books Breed Classic - American Pit Bull Terrier) (Hardcover)

This was posted originally as a comment I made on some ones review. Now having read all the negative reviews I think it applies to everyone who hastily put one or two stars:


I do not in anyway agree with dog fighting but I totally reject your asinine assertion that you and others should decide what history is available to the general public. If you type in Nazi 12,416 related items pop up, serial killers pop up, along with all sorts of other objectionable literature.

It is a book written in 1935 in a time when the activity was happing and the breeds were being developed. It is a sad commentary on people and what we have the audacity to do to our most loyal friend, but for those of use who feel compelled to help these dogs that know one seems to care about it is an important tool in understanding their past. It helps give people a way to understand were some of these aggressive breeds came from. That way when a 30-yo professional and his wife want to rescue one (which I have) they don't end up confused about why their dog doesn't play fetch and is not the best around strange dogs. Dogs have instincts develop in correlation with our own history, whether it be the Labrador or the Jack Russell Terrier... Did you know that every terrier was breed for and is hard wired to kill animals? It was their job. I didn't know that until I started reading everything I could find on the history of my pit bull rescue's ancestors.

I am an avid lover of dogs, and volunteer my time to them in my town, but I don't think censorship because a small minority of ignorant people may use it for evil is reasonable. DO YOU THINK A BOOK IS GOING TO MAKE A PERSON WHO LOVES DOGS THROW THIER DOG INTO A FIGHT? I don't. I think if you are a bad person then your are probably headed down that road with or without a book.

For you to be as bold in your "how-to books provide support of this cowardly, heinous activity" and how you had to "audit" Amazons book selection in this regard with no mention of other sins... you are choosing to be bias based on your comfort level with the topic. The only "cowardly, heinous activity" is your attempt at censorship.

I wish people would stop making it their personal responsibly to police others. I was told to read this book by a 55-yo women who works with rescues. It was described as "an important book, but a hard read" because in her eyes I had to understand the horribly caviler attitude people took to fighting dogs. Before the book I had a million "why" questions, after the book I knew why. I am a better more responsible rescuer now having read this book.

People should have the complete past available to them, not just a censored version, it's OUR shared history!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HISTORY, January 18, 2011

By 

pit bull lover - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thirty Years with Fighting Dogs (Vintage Dog Books Breed Classic - American Pit Bull Terrier) (Hardcover)

although i am dead set against against dog-fighting, how do you think these dogs came about to be what they are today? through selective breeding. not to be killers, but for the disposition. like people who fight, most professional fighters are pretty secure people. they know they can beat you up! they dont run around barking! so back to the dogs, it was important to game check them to make sure that they acted correctly even when under alot of pressure. the ones that couldnt handle it would be put down or just never bred. think about it, in a stressful situation maybe 1 out of every 100 people remain calm. they other 99 run around screaming and looking for the door to save themselves! i wish people were game bred....that way we wouldnt have all these undisiplined, selfish, pansy, type people running around barking.....the book is HISTORY...think about all the sick things that people do to EACH OTHER! stop selling all histoty books that include violence or injustice...look at all the video games these days! talk about disturbing!!!!!!!!!!!!people in general are pretty sick....get over it...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars don't count this book out, January 6, 2012

By 

An Understanding Animal person - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thirty Years with Fighting Dogs (Vintage Dog Books Breed Classic - American Pit Bull Terrier) (Hardcover)

If you are thinking this book is an outrage, I advise you to think to the past. In the 1930's fighting dogs was not as gory of a sport, dogs fought for fun, and it was just a fun sport.Today with drugs and money greedy people dog fighting "has" turned to a gory sport and we have only been told "today's" story. I know this is still a touchy situation for most people, but to resolve the problem we should not turn a blind eye and ban a book due to our story's from today. Pit bulls were not put in the ring in the 1930's to get money for their owners but to show another dog who is boss. In the older days of 1930 dog fighting was to show a pit bulls strength and power, today its to win the owner "big bucks" and to get a reputation of "don't mess with me".The pit bull has been reliable for all "pit fighting" but that's just it's name. A lot of your favorite "most friendly dogs in the world" were fighting these fights like American Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Bull Terriers. Please do not make a bad reputation for a dog fighting book like the breeds.

This is from a very understanding animal loving person who wishes everyone would give animals with bad reputations a chance to regain life with people.