Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon

This was such a fascinating (albeit sometimes sad) read about the history of dog breeds, with a focus on bully breeds. Extremely well researched and well written.

The book ‘Pit Bull – The Battle Over an American Icon’ by Bronwen Dickey is an excellent historical and scientific review of the controversy surrounding the American pit bull terrier in The United States (and abroad). The information that she presents in this book is clear, concise and very well researched. At the same time, though it contains large quantities of research, it remains very approachable which is always a tough balance for an author to find. This book is the rare example of something fun to read and informative.The book includes a few chapters discussing the history and cultural evolution of the APBT and other associated breeds. It talks about both the societal approaches to breed development in dogs and the societal response to various dog breeds. Mrs. Dickey draws wonderful comparisons to the evolution of society and how it (in some cases) is reflected in our approach to pets. There is a lot in there that was brand new to me, and Mrs. Dickey provides ample examples and compelling narratives to describe these connections and relationships. She also includes interviews with many people who have been involved with pit bulls, on both sides of the debate and those add a lot to these discussion.The book also digs deep into the science behind the cultural response to the pit bull, as well as the impacts of breed specific legislation. This was particularly interesting. Mrs. Dickey does an excellent job of explaining the sparse data that exists to truly evaluate dog bite specifics, and the way much of the media has misrepresented what these statistics truly say. In one chapter, she does an excellent job of showing a false narrative can be created when scientists who are not in a particular field can misunderstand data and present it in a way to cause catastrophic and misinformed media response. This, in turn, can lead to societal fear, myth spreading and in its worst case misinformed policy development (both within the animal control arena and legislative process). Mrs. Dickey explains this in a way that is easy to understand. Her chapter discussing this could easily be applied to many other anti-science arenas, in fact. This chapter alone is well worth the read and I plan to use it in two of my classes this coming year when discussing public health communication. As an epidemiologist, I am incredibly impressed with how well she describes the research and it's impact on the media and policy folks. In addition, early in the book she does a great job in explaining what a dog breed really is and how difficult it is to label and assess dogs based on this delineation.Overall, this book is wonderfully done. I could not recommend it more fully. I am so impressed with Mrs. Dickey’s ability to both tell a compelling story and give an informed analysis of an important scientific and policy driving issue.Thank you so much for writing this book!

Mind. Blown.I've been struggling with how to begin my review about the latest book I read to add to my animal advocate education – Bronwen Dickey's “Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon” - and ultimately decided I needed to start with what the book did to me and for me. It blew my mind and I mean that in a good way. I have so many adjectives inside my head to describe the book that it's hard to know just where to start. Beautiful, amazing, encyclopedic, scientific, endearing, frustrating, enlightening, empowering. This book is hands down the most comprehensive coverage of the topic of pit bull type dogs in our society which I have read in the last decade. I cannot implore you strongly enough: if you read one book this year that relates to companion animals in our society, please make it this one. I have already purchased additional copies to share with my local shelter director, a city councilman and some others I think may benefit from the information.I came to the book somewhat indirectly and still shake my head that I was unaware of it until it had been in print for a while. I'm not new to many of the topics covered in the book, having done a lot of research in the past related to pit bull type dogs. The best treatise on the subject of pit bull type dogs up until recently was written by Karen Delise who, to this day, is still considered the foremost authority on Dog Bite Related Fatalities (DBRFs). I learned about Bronwen's book after banging my head against a wall related to some people who promote a website which is used either to justify disparate treatment of the dogs or as part of an effort to render pit bull type dogs extinct.It is the scope of Bronwen's book which blew my mind and which I am still processing even weeks after having finished reading it. It contains so much information that there is no way I can do it justice with a short review. The book is not just about dogs and how we have breed dogs to look like hundreds of different species (often to their detriment) and how we judge dogs by what we see and what we fear. It is also about our society and how we judge dogs based on who owns them and what purposes they serve (or we think they serve) for those people. This book is as much an examination of how we view each other, be it right or wrong, as how we view the dogs with whom we share our lives.Learn about our history with dogs, pit bull type dogs in general, the role of the media related to pit bull type dogs, our fears related to dogs, Breed Specific Legislation, dog breeds, DNA testing, dogs in animal shelters, dog bites and dog bite related fatalities, the National Canine Research Council, the Animal Farm Foundation and about those who claim to be experts about pit bull type dogs but who are not. Those topics are all covered in this wonderful book, and then some.

A well researched eye opener for both sides of the Pitbull debate. A great look at Pitbulls through the lens of genetics and behavioral science. Should be required reading for any public official responsible for breed specific legislation.

Love this book so much

This is an incredible book which contains such an important message. I have been telling everyone that I know about the book, and I have learned so much from it. The writer explains the nuances of the topic so clearly and so well, and highlights a wide variety of perspectives while also emphasising the facts and providing evidence to back up her points.

This was an enlightening read and made me very sad that pit bulls are banned in France. People are stupid sometimes, and this should be required reading for the dumbass policy makers who decide on these kinds of dumbass laws.Am willing to translate this into French !

Love this book. A recommended read. As a dog owner I was immediately interested in the book because it's is talking about how Pit bulls and Breed Specific Legislation. As someone who does not agree with BSL and how so many dogs have been euthenised because of the law, this book can help people understand that the breed/s are not the problem. It's the circumstances etc. Excellent read.

This is kne of the best books on the pitbull controversy that I have read. It covers a broad spectrum of breed fanciers and breed haters and how tnis breed type went from being loved by so many to being hated and feared. By dispelling the myth, Dickey has taken the first step towards the breed being understood. In my opinion, this book should be required reading by anmal control officers, protection enforcement officers and veterinarians.