Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 A lot more than you might have bargained for. August 19, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
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.
 What Erica Thinks December 3, 2003
5 out of 11 found this review helpful
I have around 65 dog books and I have loved reading since I was a little girl. This book is my favorite of all the books I've ever had (or borrowed from a library) in my ENTIRE life. I am ordering the three other books in the Stratton series because I am so happy with this one.Material-wise, my books are my treasures and this book is very pleasing to my eyes inside and out. On the outside: I love the color, the extra thick hard-cover, and the cover layout. On the inside: I love the amazing gallery of APBT pictures (there's like 350) spread throughout the text, how the pages are laid out, and how I CANNOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I mean there is just something about this book that makes me wanna touch it, hold it, and read from it for hours. I would pay $70 dollars for this. The only thing I don't agree with in this book is that Stratton claims the APBT is the original bulldog, when it is, in fact, a cross between the old time fighting bulldog and local terriers. He usually calls it by the name "Bulldog." That is why Bennet, founder of the UKC, named it an American Pit Bull TERRIER. So, I say, if you are a true American Pit Bull Terrier lover, GET THIS BOOK. It doesn't matter if you don't agree with all of his opinions because you will still LEARN SO MUCH AND HAVE FUN DOING IT.
 Same old Stratton August 21, 2003
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
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.
tells it like it is November 5, 2002
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
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!
Great Book February 17, 2001
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I have found that this book is a wealth of knowledge about the American Pit Bull, and the author seems to be a man that has done a lot of research into the breed of the dog. As to the response from KH76 "but he speak's down on the other breeds. like the english bull terrier,the american bulldog,the tosa,and more. i lived in central america a longe time,and have see many mathes." What do you expect from a book that is called 'the truth about the American Pitbull Terrier', it certainly isnt going to praise the virtues of all the other breeds of dogs. I am the owner of a 2 year old American Pitbull and I have found this book extremely helpful and informative.
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