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The Match Overview By Michael Burr Again, the authors wish to emphasize that by including this overview we are NOT promoting dog fighting. Matching two dogs in combat is illegal in all of the U.S. and a felony on most parts. This overview is the result of a post that was made to rpb and by reading some of the older works in the "References" section of this FAQ. Neither of the authors has fought dogs nor has either author seen an organized dog fight. We feel that this overview is accurate but it should be treated as hearsay as that is what it is. It is included here so that the reader can better understand just what the APBT is and what he has been traditionaly bred for. This also gives a more accurate, balanced account of what the traditional pit match was really like. If you think you might be offended by the material written here, by all means, skip this section. You have been warned. In order to understand what happens in one of these contests one must first understand the origin of the dog and individuals who originally pit one dog against another. There is a lot of speculation on this issue but the overal consensus among 'professional' dog fighters is that it was a way to find out which dog was the toughest. Throughout history, men have fought one another in caged contests, with gloves, without gloves, with rules, without rules, etc...the tough man was worshiped and to be emulated in the days when it was more accepted by society. So, how did they define tough? One aspect of being tough was gameness. Two men would duke it out and if one of them quit the dual was over. Even if the man who quit was physically stronger he was not considered to be tougher. In other instances it was not only who was stronger physically but who was smarter and in yet others it was physical. So, we now have three components of a fight, physical, mental and gameness, or heart! The heart is that intangible men worshiped back then, the gameness to never quit until there was nothing left. These men also expected the same of their dogs. The dog that would quit in a fight was no longer kept for breeding. As a result there was an evolution that took place where the dogs would continue to fight even while taking a beating. Now, gameness is not sufficient when faced with a stronger and larger opponent so other things began to evolve such as strength of bite, agility, and various other things like fighting style, yes, style. As men learned more and more they began to selectively breed for one characteristic over another to the point that only game, athletic, hard biting winners were bred. These dogs tended to be small since they were typically matched in buildings, basements etc...most ranged from as little as 15 pounds all the way up to 45 or 50 pounds. The reason for this was simple. It's easier to physically pick up a small dog in the heat of battle than a large one. So, what prevents the person who is handling the dog from being bitten? Well, that is part of the evolution and something else that I will explain in a moment. First let's examine being in a 16 by 16 foot square pit trying to grab a dog that is the middle of a major battle. What prevents the dog from biting the handler? Well, it's because over the many many years breeders selectively bred only those dogs that would NOT bite the handler. But, there was something else they were doing and didn't know it. It had to do with the most fundamental instinct of all. The survival instinct. The old timers believed that a mean, vicious dog was never really game! Period! A man biter was put to death immediately. That is how strong their feelings were. To better understand this we need to examine the survival instinct as it applies to Wolves in the wild, and in order for that to happen we need a scenario that commonly occurs in the wild. Let's say that a pack of wolves has just killed a deer and is in the process of eating. Since the dogs are very hungry they just start tearing away at the carcass and eventually there will be a piece of meat that two males, (just for argument sake), will want. Well of course there will be a conflict when that happens, right? The first thing one wolf will do is to start something called "threat display", by showing his teeth and raising the hair on his back to appear larger than he is. He might even growl to sound mean. This type of behavior is used so that he does not have to fight. The idea is intimidation first, then and only then will he actually fight. The reason for this is the ever present survival instincts. Being physically injured could potentially risk life itself, hence "threat display" You'll also notice that the fights the do happen are very short and almost never result in debilitating injuries. Again in the interest of surviving. All the slashing teeth, rearing up on the hind legs and so forth are variations on a theme. The aggressiveness is therefore considered threat display and as such is not, I repeat not a desirable trait when crafting a combat dog. Therefore, gameness and aggressiveness are not the same. A game dog does: NOT show his teeth. NOT raise up on his hind legs. NOT growl or make any noise other than maybe screaming or whimpering due to the intense desire for physical contact. NOT show aggressiveness towards humans as this is yet again a manifestation of THREAT display. So, for people to say that these dogs are people aggressive simply because they have seen action in the pit is not because they are stupid, just uninformed. THE PIT CONTEST: Now we're ready for what really happens in the pit. Let's examine the dimensions first. A pit is typically 16 feet by 16 feet square and about 2 1/2 to 3 feet high. The floor is usually a thick carpet and the walls are made of wood. In the real world of TOP dog fighters there are only a handful of individuals at one of these matches. There is a referee, a second for each dog, a handler for each dog and a time keeper. there is a "scratch" line drawn diagonally from one neutral corner of the pit to the other. A dog must cross that line to complete his scratch. There is normally a ten second time limit from the time a dog is released until it crosses the scratch line. If he does not cross the line in the alotted time then the other dog is declared the winner. HOW A MATCH BEGINS: At the beginning of the match, both dogs are faced into their respective corners by their handlers until the referee, also in the pit asks the contestants to face their dogs. At that time the two handlers turn 180 degrees and face each other. When that happens the dogs get sight of one another and start to get pretty excited. they both usually start trying to get away in order to go after the other dog. The referee asks the handlers to release their dogs and the match has begun. To the uninitiated it's a bit strange because once the dogs make contact in the middle of the pit there is almost not noise at all. No growling, no raised hair, no snapping. Just each dog trying to get a hold on the other. One might grab an ear or a shoulder and try to wrestle the opponent to the ground. Then, the dominant dog will shake his head to try and punish the other dog. As the match progresses, with only the sounds of breathing, the dogs will swap holds, (i.e., take turns grabbing each other). THE TURN: At some point in the match one of the dogs might have second thoughts about wanting to be there so will show some signs of this by doing certain things. One of those things that we look for is the tail tucking. A sure fire sign that a dog is thinking of not continuing. The most subtle sign but more reliable is when a dog physically turns his head and shoulders away from his opponent during combat. This is called a turn. It is up to the handler of the other dog to point it out to the referee. When that has been done the referee announces to the handlers that a turn has been called and that they should handle their dogs at the first opportunity. This opportunity comes when both dogs are not in hold, (i.e., biting each other). This is when each handler in unison will grab his dog by the nap of the neck and put a hand under the stifle area to pick his dog up. Each handler then returns to their respective corners, much like boxing. they must each face their dogs into the corner for 25 seconds and then upon hearing the referee say face your dogs, turn and face their dogs. The dog that turns first, must scratch first. So, the handler of the dog that was called for the turn must then release his dog first. THE SCRATCH: Okay, the dog that turned first must now go across the scratch line to prove that he still wants to dominate. If he doesn't cross the line in 10 seconds then he loses and the opponent is declared the winner. This is more often than not. Or, the losing dog will be too tired to complete the scratch on time. Again, this terminates the match. If a handler were to try to physically make his dog cross the line then again the match is over and the handler is called for a foul.
PIT RULES USED FOR CONTESTS DECIDING THE GAMER OF TWO DOGS (GAME = PLUCKY, UNYIELDING IN MANNER, READY AND WILLING) Rule 1: The principals shall select a referee who is familiar with the rules and who is satisfactory to both sides. The referee will then appoint his Timekeeper. Each handler will select a man to act as his chief second or cornerman, whose duties are to wash the opponent's dog, and to remain near this dog's corner as an observer. Rule 2: Each handler is to furnish two clean towels and a suitable blanket, to be used by his opponent. Either handler may demand that the opposing handler and his cornerman bare their arms to the elbows; also the handler may taste his opponent's dog's water before or after the contest (up until the referee has rendered his decision on the contest). Rule 3: No water, sponges, towels or any other accessories are allowed in the pit at any time, except the referee who shall have in his possession an adequate breaking stick and a pencil; also a copy of these rules. The pit shall not be less than 14 feet each way, whenever possible, with a canvas-covered floor, upon which has been painted or chalked on, 12.5 feet apart, and with a center-line half way between the scratch-lines. Rule 4: The referee shall toss a coin to be called by the handlers. The winner of the toss shall decide which dog shall be washed first and also have the choice of corners. Rule 5: The dogs shall be washed at pit-side in warm water and some approved washing powders and then rinsed. The first dog to be washed shall be brought in and held in the tub by his handler and washed by the opposing cornerman. When pronounced clean by the referee, the dog shall be rinsed clean in a separate tub of warm water and toweled dry as possible, then wrapped in the blanket provided and carried to his appointed corner by his handler and accompanied by the man who washed him. These are the only two persons allowed near this dog until the dogs are Let Go. The other dog shall now be brought in and held in the tub by his handler and washed(in the same water) by the opposing cornerman. When this dog is pronounced clean by the referee and rinsed clean and toweled dry, he shall then be carried to his corner by his handler and accompanied by the man who washed him. Rule 6: The referee shall now ask "Are both corners ready?" If so, "Cornermen, out of the pit"..."Face your dogs"... "Let Go." The timekeeper shall note the time and write it down for future reference. Rule 7: Any dog who jumps the pit is automatically the loser of the contest and no scratches are necessary, and no dog is required or allowed to scratch to a dead dog. The live dog is the winner. Rule 8: Should either dog become fanged, the referee shall instruct the handlers to take hold of their dogs and try to hold them still so the handler can try to unfang his dog. If this isn't possible, the referee shall separate the dogs with the proper breaking stick and then unfang the dog using a pencil. The referee will then order the handlers to set their dogs down near the center of the Pit and approximately two feet apart. The referee will then order "Let Go." This in no way constitutes a turn or a handle and has no bearing of the future scratches. Rule 9: This is to be a fair scratch-in-turn contest until the dogs quit fighting, then rule 13 shall take over. The first dog to turn must scratch first; thereafter they are to scratch alternately(regardless of which dog turns) until one dog fails to scratch and thereby loses the contest. Rule 10: To be a fair turn, the dog accused of turning must turn his head and shoulders and his front feet away from the opponent and regardless of whether or not the dogs are otherwise touching. Rule 11: The referee shall call all turns, although either handler may ask for a turn on either dog. If the referee rules there has been a turn, he will instruct the handlers to "pick up free of holds" as soon as possible, and should either dog accidentally get a hold again, the handlers shall set the dogs down immediately and make a continued effort to pick up the dogs, free of holds. When picked up, the dogs must be taken to their respective corners and faced away from their opponent. The Timekeeper shall note the time and take up the count(not out loud) and also the referee shall notify the handler whose dog must scratch. Rule 12: At 25 seconds, the Timekeeper shall call out "Get Ready." At these instructions each handler must toe his scratch-line and face his dog toward his opponent with his dog's head and shoulders showing fair from between his handler's legs, and the dog's four feet on the canvas floor. At the 30 seconds, the Timekeeper calls out "Let Go." and the handler whose dog must scratch must instantly take his hands away from all contact with his dog and also release all leg pressure from against the dog's body. And the dog must instantly start across and the handler must remain behind his scratch-line until his dog has completed his scratch or the referee has ruled upon it. There is no time limit on the time required to complete this scratch. But, when released at the words "Let Go," the dog must start across at his opponent. He may waver from direct line, fall down, crawl ... drag or push himself across, so long as he makes a continued effort and DOES NOT HESITATE OR STOP until he has reached out and touched his opponent. The opposing handler may release his dog any time he sees fit after the order to "Let Go"; however, he must do so as soon as the dogs have touched each other. Rule 12A: This is an alternate rule for those handlers who wish to have their dogs counted out in the corner. It is the same in all respects as Rule 12, except that after 30 seconds, when the Timekeeper calls out "Let Go," the referee shall count our loud, at as near one-second intervals as possible, ONE...TWO...TIME(three seconds), and the dog must be out of his corner and on his way before the referee calls "time," or lose. Rule 13: If the dogs have apparently quit fighting, whether they are helpless, tired out or curred out, and regardless of whether both dogs are down or one dog is down and the other dog is standing over him, but neither dog has a hold, the referee shall ask it they are willing to scratch-it-out to a win or not. If so, they shall proceed to do so, but if either handler is unwilling, then the referee shall instruct the Timekeeper to note the time and call time in two minutes. If either dog breaks time, then nothing has changed, but if, at the end of the two minutes, the dogs are in the same relative positions and neither dog has a hold, the referee shall order the handlers to handle(PICK UP FREE OF HOLDS) their dogs. When picked up, the dogs shall be taken to their corners and the corner procedure is the same as in a normally called turn and handle. If there have been no previous turns or handles to establish the order of scratching, the dog who has been the longest without a hold(usually the down dog) to be scratched first, then, as soon as free of holds, the dogs shall be picked up and the other dog scratched. Should one dog fail or refuse his scratch, then the dog who failed shall lose the contest. If both dogs fail to scratch, the referee shall call it a no contest, but should both dogs make their initial scratches, the handlers by mutual agreement may ask the referee for a draw decision. The referee will then rule it a draw. Otherwise the contest shall continue, but in this manner: any time the dogs are not in holds and not fighting, the referee shall order the dogs to be handled and scratched alternately until one dog fails to scratch and thereby loses. No attention is paid to turns(after rule 13 is invoked) except as a possible chance to handle. THE REFEREE HAS FULL AUTHORITY AND HIS DECISION IF FINAL IN ALL MATTERS. Rule 14: Fouls that will be just cause for losing a contest: A. To leave the pit, with or without the dog before the referee has ruled. B. To receive anything from outside the pit, or allow anyone outside the pit to touch or assist the dog. C. To push, drum, throw or spank, or in any way assist a dog across his scratch-line, except by encouraging him by voice. D. To step across a scratch-line before the dog has completed his scratch or the referee has ruled on it. E. To stomp on the pit floor or kick the pit sides, yell at of give orders to the opponent's dog, or(in the referee's opinion) do anything to distract or interfere with either dog while scratching or fighting to affect the outcome of the contest. F. To interfere with the opposing handler or touch either dog until the referee gives an order to handle the dogs. G. To use a "Rub," "Poison," or "Hypo" o neither dog. Rule 15: If there should be any outside interference before the contest has been concluded, the referee has full authority to call it a "NO CONTEST" and shall name the time and place the contest is to be resumed and fought out to a referee's decision.(The same referee shall preside.) Also, the referee shall insist that the dogs be washed and weighed(in the referee's presence), and the dogs shall weigh at the weights specified in the original articles of agreement, and to do this as many times as necessary to conclude the contest. VARIATIONS TO THE RULES(Cajun) Instead of rule number 12A in which a dog has three seconds to leave his corner, he us usually given ten seconds to cross to the other dog. A 30-second out-of-hold count is generally used, and the down dog must always scratch first(unless both dogs are down with neither in a position of advantage). The pit may be covered with carpeting rather than canvas (rule 3), the scratch lines may consist of some of the modern tapes, and the central line between the scratch line is often omitted. ____________________________________________________________ Famous Matches Battle of the Grand Champions (Pictured is S.T.P.'s Gr Ch
Buck) Bullyson VS Benny Bob
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Longest Legitiment Matches Ever!! |
| B.C.'s Hunt v/s
Ken & T.O.'s Tugger Males 32 1/2 Clyde M. Both dogs are a 1/2 lb light. Hunt is a 2x winner from
a Carver and Mason Bloodline. Tugger from Bobby and Shawn, a 1x winner,
Patrick's Tater and Faith/Red Jerry breeding. Tugger barnstorms Hunt in
to a turn at 10. Two scratches each. Tugger has a quick mouth and holds
Hunt out for 45. Hunt has it all even by Two Hours and 30 minutes. For
the next two hours, they take turns on top, numerous flurries by each
dog. At five hours and 30 they are handled with Tugger to go and he
scratches and Hunt is picked up at 5:33 and tries to give a courtesy
scratch but can't. |
| Big Apple's
Georgia Girl v/s Captain America & G-Tiger's Hooker Red
Georgia Girl was bred, raised, and campaigned by Big
Apple. She started at an early age and looked good enough to show.
Hooker Red was purchased from Carl Crews. She was campaigned by G-Tiger.
Both females were shown against each other breaking the longest
legitimate female show ever reported to the Sporting Dog Journal at
4:40. |
| Big Apple's Georgia Girl v/s Captain America & G-Tiger's Hooker Red |
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For this Fight an advertisement
was placed seeking the best fighting dog in the United States. Louis Kreiger,
the owner of the white Imported male,Crip From the city of Louisville,
advertised in the Police Gazette a Fight with his dog with a stake of $1000
dollars each by the two dog owners. This challenge was accepted by Charles Lloyd
(Cockney Charly) From New York for his brindled male,Pilot, also an imported dog
Thefighting waight for both dogs was 28 pounds. The fight took place on October
19,1881 on Garr,s Farmin Louisville Two hundred spectators paid the entrance fee
of a dollar to see the fight in the big barn in which the pit was set up. The
Old Cockney Charley marched though the crowd and offered 25 Dollars on
Pilot!””$50 Dollars On Pilot! $100 Dollars On Pilot $3000 was bet, in addition
to the $2000 dollars put up by the two dog owners. When we consider the value of
this money in the year 1881, we can understand the chances and risks involved in
dog fights. With good reson, the pit bull terrierwas called the million dollar
breed. After the dog were washed clean and tasted ( Licked), and the rubbed dry,
they appeared in the ring. This is taken from the original account::
Hughes , Chief of the Louisville Fire department, announced that at the request
of the referee, the two dog handlers searched each other,s clothing, to satisfy
themselves that nothing was hidden that could injure their own dog. When this
examination was over, at 9:20 a.m the command was given to loose the dogs. Their
covers and muzzles were quickly removed and the dogs were released.
Both growled deeply and with a wild charge crip rushed to pilot’s corner and
attacked his opponent. He seized pilot by the nose, but the brindled do shook
him off and seized him by the right front paw. Then pilot released his grip on
crip’s foot to get a better grip on his throat. Crip was able to free himself
and again seized pilot by the nose, but suddenly let go and gripped pilot on the
back of the head and ear. And threw him to the ground. Lying on the ground,
Pilot seized crip by the chest and threw himto the ground. Lying on the ground,
Pilot seized Crip by the chest and applied a terrible bite. Because he could not
get a proper hold here, however, he let go and gripped Crip by the left ear.Then
Pilot again released his ear hold and put Crib’s left front foot between his
molars. He closed his jaws more ans more tightly and the bones of crib,s leg
crunched. This terrible pain seemed only to enrage the dog from Louisville even
more, and with a tremendous effort with his ear hold he tossed Pilot to the
ground five times in a row. Now Crip again seized Pilot by the nose, which
consequently became his main point of attack, and again threw the dog from New
York to the ground. Then he suddenly let go of Pilot’s nose and began to gnew on
pilot’s on Pilot’s leg. With the fighting style that Crip now showed, he
appeared to the people from Louisville to be the sure winner of the fight. But
now it was Pilot’s turn to carry the fight , and the way in whitch he gwawed on
Crib left leg was a terrible to see. Crib freed himself with a wild growl ,
before being sezed immediately in the same way again. With another try Crip
again gained his freedom and for a full five minutes the dogs fought with
various ear holds until finally pilot forced his way under Crip and slammed his
head repeatedly against the floor of the pit. Crip now secured a hold on Pilot’s
throat and although he now fought on only three legs he was able to throw his
opponent to the ground. This again served only to incite Pilot. He threw down
Crip with a throat hold and then sezed a hind leg. Crib countered by taking hold
of Pilots leg. At this moment $1000 bet was placed on Crip to win. This was
accepted immediately by Cockney Charley, Pilots owner. The fight had now lasted
42 minutes. Crib now succeeded in escaping from under his opponent, but the poor
fighter,s courage had disappeared. He tured to the side of the pit and was ready
to run out when he was seized again by the brindled dog and pulled back into the
middle of the pit. At this moment Crib was a beaten dog , but Pilot was not yet
satisfied with his victory. Rather , he was determined to kill his rival, now
that he seemed to have the chance. Crib again turned to the side of the pit, and
this time made it, with Pilot in hot pursuit. Now pilot seized the lower jaw of
the Louisville Lapdog and refused to let go. By doing this he fouced the
handlers to pick up the dogs together and return them to the ring. Pilot tossed
Crip into the corner with an ear hold and held him securely there. Kreiger
vigously fanned air to Crip with his hat, but this did not help the dog, which
quickly lost its strength. From this moment on Pilot,s only goal was to try to
shake the little remaining life out of Crib. The fight lasted exactly one hour
and 25 minutes. Other than various severe bites on the head and shoulder, Pilot
was only slightly injured.
_____________________________________________________________
PSYCHO vs. STORMER |
PSYCHO vs. STORMER
A match that took place in the mid 80's in Ireland.
|
| (pictured is Ch Stormer) At the 33 minute mark Stormer ran his fourth, this time taking Psycho straight out of his handlers hands - straight into the pit wall; not doing too badly for a cur . Stormer was getting on top by the 40 minute mark, scratching harder than ever ... Psycho doing his best to even things up, coming to the top occasionally, but Stormer was doing the damage. At 48 minutes both dogs had run 6 each, Stormer had a muzzle hold and was working it hard ... Psycho had him off at 54 minutes and his handler got in for a handle with Psycho to go; On the command ''Pit'' Psycho hesitated momentarily before taking the fight straight to Stormer. There was a rousing cheer from his supporters, but the fight was now slipping away from him. Stormer had stepped up a gear and seemed to sense the end was near. From 55 minutes to the hour mark Stormer did it all, but Psycho never quit. At an hour and one minute Stormer ran his 8th scratch and was on a down dog as he hit and folded Psycho into his corner. At 1.03 a handle for Psycho to go is made, looking very tired his owner very sportingly picked him up, thereby conceding the match; it was won and lost in a very sporting manner, a shame that in the end one of these fine animals had to lose . After the match the referee, American Pit Bull breeder Boston Blackie, is reported to have said about Psycho ''If I was to have one of these, I'd have one out of him.'' |
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Flanders Field Boys Rickey jr vs Looney Tunes 2Pack M42 Ref JP Rickey jr an Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier sired by
Eastford's Rickey out of Flander Field's Beanie |
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Mayfield using a red dog he
calls Tombstone. Bobby Hall is using a son Bullyson, he calls Bullyson Jr. Dark
brindle or black. The red dog gets a front leg and the black gets in stifle but
ends up in a front leg hold. By the 10 minute mark the dogs have established a
pattern, front legs and ear holds. The black tries for the stifle at 12 min.
Black work for the throat but the red holds him out with ear hold. Red is in the
throat at 15 min. Red has a bloody front leg. Black gets a hind foot at 20. Red
has skin hold in neck. Black gets a front leg and shakes. Red stays in the
throat. Mouth fighting att 22. Black gets in the troat at 25. Red goes down
down, black on top. Red gets on his feet but the black slams him down again in a
corner and bores into the throat. Red has a cheek hold.
Dogs are on their feet at 30 but the goes down more often. Red gets a foot and
the black has an ear. Black is out of hold cathching breath at 31.
Red has a front foot hold. 100 to 80 being offered. Dogs trade stifle holds at
32. 34 and each has a hind foot. 36 black is down and breathing hard.
Red is working an ear. Red is down and the black has a front leg at 39. 40 red
is down, black in the throat. Red comes up in a flurry of action, then goes down
with the black shaking a leg. Red is being called “Toot”.
50 and dogs stil trading holds. 55 black is working a stifle.
Red is on his back but has a front leg. Black changes and comes back to the ear.
From ear to nose. Dogs trade stifle holds at the hour mark. Red is down,
stretched out. Black has a nose hold. 1:18 out of hold count started. Pickup,
the red to go. Whent over hard to make a good schratch.
At 1:25 min, Bobby picks his dog up and calls it quits, to save his dog. The
crowd cheered and Mayfield´s Tombstone the winner in one hour and 25 minutes.
____________________________________________________________
Unknown dogsDogs found on this Battle Ground page are believed to have been from another country or before the 1976 Welfare act. Any information pertaining to the idenity of the dogs are greatly appreciated. |
Camay??? |
