> Well as a “responsible dog owner and experienced dog trainer” (as I also claim to be) have these attacks in N.Z. always been by so-called “pitbulls”? Over here, just about every dog attack, is blamed on the so-called “pitbull” when there are 25 other dogs (Rotties, Tosas, Canes, Boxers, Bullmastiffs, Labs, and a variety of mixed breeds are often the real culprits) making the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Bull Terrier and the (English) Staffordshire Terrier targets for breed elimination.
Over here in NZ, as I’ve said a few times in different threads, “Pit Bulls” are almost always mixed breed mungrel mutts of unknown composition, bred more for aggressive tendencies than breed purity. They tend to have similar looks — large square jaw with a powerful bite, wide powerful chest — but that is where the similarities end. You cannot reliably know the composition of what is called a “Pit Bull” here.
As a separate issue, American Pit Bulls are one of four “breeds” unlawful to import into New Zealand. It is unclear what an “American” Pit Bull actually is.
There is no difference here..."pitbulls" are blamed for virtually any attack on people when the dog attack actually resulted from (in some local cases I'm familiar with) a mixed-breed German Shepard/Bullmastiff, a Rotty, an Bull terrier/AmStaff mix (used as a catchdog in feral pig hunting) and, believe it or not, a lab/boxer mix. The American Kennel Club recognizes no dog called "pitbull" the United Kennel Club of America (which would be like comparing one of your NZ teams to Manchester United when thinking of AKC and UKC comparison) does recognize an "American Pitbull Terrier." It actually is an American Staffordshire Terrier with no little breeding history (it usually is an interbred product featuring aggressive dog heritage). But, as I pointed out, the UKC is really low class.
Incidentally, were you familiar with ANZAC story of Caesar? Incidentally, I believe there was another “Dog of Peace” famous at Gallipoli...