a rose by any other name...

[shootingstar]

Wonder if it was an incredibly naive/stupid error by reporter??

[tulip]

"pit bull" tends to be a catch-all for that type of dog, which includes American Staffordshire Terrier.

[badger]

"pit bull" tends to be a catch-all for that type of dog, which includes American Staffordshire Terrier.

I realize this, but the general public doesn't. Staffordshire Terrier sounds infinitely more benign than a pit bull.

[shootingstar]

I realize this, but the general public doesn't. Staffordshire Terrier sounds infinitely more benign than a pit bull.

I totally agree with badger.

And I don't know much about dogs. Doubtful that even the average dog owner knows alot about dog breeds in much detail.

[tulip]

It's not a mystery. Any quick look in the classifieds will show multiple ads for AST puppies. Sounds like a responsible journalist being accurate. The dog looks like an AST to me. Nothing wrong with accuracy and precision in journalism. The writer could have provided a phrase like, "a pit-bull type breed," I suppose, but it seems irrelevant. Maybe the AST breed is more well-known here, I don't know.

In any case, it's terrible that the dog was shot. There was a case of a dog being shot here a few years ago. It was a Austalian Shepherd that was running loose and a neighbor with a gun freaked out. The dog survived but suffered brain damage. My dog is a fierce watchdog and I do wonder if someone would shoot him in order to break into my house. Luckily, that seems pretty rare.

[shootingstar]

What is AST?
Anyway discussion for dog-owners to continue since obviously I don't know about dogs...which is ok.

[Owlie]

What is AST?
Anyway discussion for dog-owners to continue since obviously I don't know about dogs...which is ok.

American Staffordshire Terrier.

Poor thing. If I had a dog, that's something I'd worry about.

[badger]

It's not a mystery. Any quick look in the classifieds will show multiple ads for AST puppies. Sounds like a responsible journalist being accurate. The dog looks like an AST to me. Nothing wrong with accuracy and precision in journalism. The writer could have provided a phrase like, "a pit-bull type breed," I suppose, but it seems irrelevant. Maybe the AST breed is more well-known here, I don't know.

I respectfully have to disagree. if you actually read the article, the author says "American Terrier"; not sure about you, but I'm not sure what an American Terrier is. The original t.v. report said pit bull, and I would be inclined to think that was the right term as they were interviewing the owner.

Sorry I'm being nit-picky, I just really hate the fact that pit bulls are so maligned. If it were a situation where the dog attacked the burglar, they would be happy to report it as a pit bull, even if it were a staffie, but since pit bulls are bad dogs and couldn't possibly do anything to save property or family, they report the dog as a staffordshire terrier.

[tulip]

Badger, why not write a letter to the newspaper that published the article? You would have a much larger audience than you do here, and you might educate the editor and author for future stories.

[grey]

If it's a good dog, it's labeled an AST. Bad dog, it's called a Pit Bull... even if it's NOT REMOTELY a Pit Bull.

I'm a little tired of the argument, I've carried it for a long time. I've rescued a number of Pitties, they're sweet, wonderful dogs, usually terribly abused yet have a great ability to move past their history (unlike my Shepherd mix, who is a wreck). I'm tired of the public assumption, that they are all crazy and that they just "snap" - any animal will snap if you put them on a three foot tire chain with no shelter, not enough water or food, and hit it all the time to make it "mean."

People are stupid. End of story.

[TsPoet]

I think, at its core, this is the same thing we have been debating in our dog club. I think *all* "pits" should be called Staffies. American Staffordshire (bull) Terrier. The folks in the club that have them are split ~2/3 in favor of Pit Bull - they say if that's what the public wants to call them... then they will stand up for their pit bulls!
The "pure bred" show dog is a Staffy - the mutt is a pit. But, all other mutts are called by the breed mix, so why do that to a Staffy or Staffy-mix?
It's politics.
I've never met a Staffy or Pit I didn't like - not the dog breed for me, but I love to pet someone else's.

[badger]

Badger, why not write a letter to the newspaper that published the article? You would have a much larger audience than you do here, and you might educate the editor and author for future stories.

good idea! I shall do exactly that.

[badger]

I was having this discussion at work and someone brought up a very good point. It could be that the reason why they didn't refer to him as a pit bull is that they're looking for donations to cover for the cost of surgery and people would be more willing to give to a non-pit bull sounding dog.