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The Truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier
 
 
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The Truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier [Hardcover]

Richard F. Stratton (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)


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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: TFH Publications; Library edition edition (October 1991)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0866226389
  • ISBN-13: 978-0866226387
  • Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #646,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars A lot more than you might have bargained for., August 18, 2005
By 
Mackitraz (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier (Hardcover)
First the good. This is without doubt the largest and most photo comprehensive Pit Bull book I have ever laid eyes on. Definitely not your standard 3/4 inch thick series guide book churned out by some publishing company that only seems to include one or two chapters specific to your dog. No no no. This book is written by someone seemingly intensely knowledgable about this particular type of dog, it's history, it's uses, and it's pedigree. Wow. And sooooo many photos.

Now the bad. I agree very much with other reviewers who state that this man seems to have no particular love for this kind of dog in terms of including it as part of a family. He approaches the subject from a "dogs are property and have uses, and if they aren't useful they shouldn't exist" perspective. He reminds me very much of my grandpa, who learned growing up to appreciate dogs, to use them, to repect them for what they could do, but never loved them. His dogs were always outside, he only talked about what they were good for never about his particular feelings for a particular dog. Stratton reminds me sooo much of that way of thinking. He does seem to look at dogs with the same appreciation of nice pick-up or some other piece of property. Stratton attempts to debunk any arguement against dogfighting. It seems obvious from the beginning of his description of the subject that he does or has participated in it in the past. He won't even call it dogfighting as he describes it. I'm well aware that many descriptions of dogfighting are grossly uninformed and sensationalistic, but he spends the chapter justifying it and defending it as a worthwhile activity. He reminds me of people trying to justify hunting with assault rifles. Pretentious. I am a gun owner and a pit bull owner and I don't appreciate people trying to make completely non-rational justifications just so they can keep doing what they want to do. Dogfighting is not a bloodless contest of strength and prowess, Stratton approaches it like most people would approach a track meet or a football game. And seems to incinuate that anyone who might not like dogfighting must automatically be some ultra-liberal hippie from San Francisco. Stratton is full of it.

Overall, if you're a pit bull owner, I would say this is some important material for you to be aware of. Because this is part of the world that shapes the perception of your dog. I would have easily given this book a much higher rating, as it is one of the most comprehensive breed books I've ever seen, but his attitude and seemingly basic lack of empathy for a dog and it's welfare and happy existance disgusts me. He acts as if every pit bull of value automatically wants to crawl into a ring and slug it out. That it's natural. If you've ever owned or known a pit bull, the truer statement is that most pit bulls want to do anything you want them to do. Because they want to be with you and be praised and loved by you. Too bad this man doesn't seem to understand that.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars tells it like it is, November 4, 2002
By 
Matthew Adcock (Tempe, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier (Hardcover)
I have been interested in and read about the american pit bull terrier for the last ten years. During this time period I have read literature spanning from Semencic to Jessup and I have not found an author more informative or as knowledgable as Stratton. This is, perhaps, his best work. While authors like Jessup and Semencic provide a good coverage on the APBT, you will only find its spirit within Stratton's work. To put it short, Stratton tells it like it is and thats what the breed needs to understand it. Contrary to what ill informed opinions from Norway might say, the pit bull is still the preeminent fighting dog and causing breeds to go extinct from Japan (Tosas) to Spain (Canary dogs). This ability is what is abused and is misconcieved by the general public and it takes an author like Stratton to clear the air and explain why a proverbial fighting machine is actually a loving clown with a temperment that is so stable and human friendly most kennels employ dobermans and other guardogs to protect them from being stolen by strangers! If you buy one book, buy this one!
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17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Same old Stratton, August 21, 2003
By A Customer
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This review is from: The Truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier (Hardcover)
Although I have respect for Stratton as a pit bulldog expert, I disagree with many of his claims and beliefs. He is too supportive of dog fighting. He encourages the use of the pit bull as a protection dog. He talks mostly about the macho uses of pit bulls - hog hunting, weight pull, bulking the dog up for big muscles and stamina, etc. He seems to love pit bulls in the same way a man loves to watch football or jack up a pickup. He sure knows a lot about them. But he has no real meaningful connection to them. It's very hard to read a book written by an author with such a detachment. I recommend this book only as a resource when doing research on pit bulls. But I don't think it is a quality book for people who are interested in getting a pet pit bull, or for people who want to learn about the many wonderful things that pit bulls can do.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
If I were to tell you that I acquired a Border Collie for a pet, you might not know what the dog was, but you wouldn't be horrified-particularly after I had explained that the breed was used for herding sheep. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
pit contests, pit dog, humane agents, pit stock, matching dogs, match dog, dog game, dog men, fighting dog, kennel run, breaking stick, game dogs, kennel dogs
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
San Diego, Staffordshire Terrier, Howard Heinzl, Border Collie, German Shepherd, Bob Wallace, Matt White, United Kennel Club, United States, American Dog, George Armitage, Martin Street, Sports Illustrated, Champion Little Boots, Jack Williams, Jeff Fontenot, Jimmy Boots, Labrador Retriever, Louis Colby, Maurice Carver, Neapolitan Mastiff, Old Family Red Nose, Winn's Red Neck
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