For the FIAPBT, the ADBA is the institution, that by far, offers the most credible pedigrees compared to other organizations. In the ADBA, a Department of Investigation exists, to check the veracity of the pedigrees, contacting breeders directly if needed, something not done by other organizations. The ADBA has a well defined computerized control to avoid in a 100% the falsification of pedigrees. Not to say, that it is the only APBT organization in possession of a DNA testing service.
From 1909, the ADBA is developing a magnificent work in the control, conservation, promotion and defence of the breed, and we can’t ignore this fact. The ADBA enjoys of a great reputation due to the honesty of the people that manages it, the Greenwood family. I could mention other reasons why the ADBA registry is the only one recognized bythe FIAPBT, but I think is not necessary. However, it is important to say that once the ADBA has done an investigation and if this one is favourable, it can approve pedigrees by other organizations (UKC, IKC,BFK,SDR,etc.) as ADBA pedigrees. In consequence, this pedigrees are immediately accepted by the FIAPBT. We the FIAPBT understand, we have to adequately promote the breed for later equally adequately defend it, in front of those governments that continuously try to exterminate the APBT´s. Precisely for this reason, it is so important that we promote the breed in hand with the ADBA pedigree. This way, governmental Institutions can comprehend they are dealing with a canine breed, as any other, and thus, they wouldn’t take unfair measures for the only fact of believing they are dealing with a mix-breed.
In the FIAPBT, we accredit and confirm that the ADBA registry in the APBT is the only document that certifies the purity of the breed, along with its official standard, and the international institutions that support the breed like the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA),that can be considered as the “Canine mother of the APBT”, an international title given by the International Federation of the APBT (FIAPBT). The addition of this three circumstances officially determines that we are talking and dealing with a working Canine Breed (functional) and not a group of mix-breed dogs like some anti-APBT declare (governmental advisors). The intent of these groups of anti-APBT is, to deny the APBT as a canine breed, thus leaving them helpless before those who make the laws. This is the case in many countries were our wonderful and noble breed has been banned using these arguments.
In 1999, in first instance, the Spanish Government decided to ban the APBT in all the national territory after been advised, with the arguments explained before, by Manuel Martin Rodriguez, president of the Royal Canine Society of Spain (RSCE).
In the other hand , we are all aware of the existence of breeders that mix their dogs with other breeds or mixed breeds, and sells them as authentic APBT. This is another big problematic the FIAPBT wants to put a stop to, because we know this can also destroy our efforts of fighting for a pure breed and will definitely be a danger for the extinction of the breed.
Due to the impossibility to recognize whether these APBT´s are authentic or not, even by the experts, is the reason why we find not possible to accept dogs without registry to our competitions or events. If we admit to this minority of authentic not registered dogs, we have to consequently admit all the others. In this case, instead of promoting and defending the pure breed we would be doing the opposite, which is, promoting and providing mix-breed dogs as authentic, and this would bring us to contribute to the extinction of our so loved, the authentic, original and genuine American Pit Bull Terrier.
The FIAPBT has created the MarathonPit to achieve these goals. With the MarathonPit and through the combination of man and dog (different from the conventional APBT sports, so that, we can associate the sporting people with the sporting APBT’s) we can achieve, as fast as possible, a positive image of the APBT before society. This way, the governments of the different countries can understand they are dealing with a breed similar to any other, and not with mix-breed “killer dogs” or crazy “people eaters”. It seems that these politicians have soon forgotten that dogs have always been and will be man’s best friends.
It is also to be said, that a dog’s strength does not equal aggressiveness, as you may well know. Furthermore, given the great social job that the APBT have been playing in society, as rescue dogs among other tasks, in the year 2000, the FIAPBT labelled the American Pit Bull Terrier as a “Very Beneficial Canine Breed for Humanity”.
With the new modality of MarathonPit, it is probable that we will not achieve a 100% of ours goals, but we will surely place a lot of difficulties to those breeders who want to deceive the enthusiasts by selling them mix-breed dogs or other breeds as authentic APBT´s. Due to the great similarities in the physical conformation with other breeds or mix-breed dogs, these unethical breeders find it easy to trick their clients. The more difficulties we place for these breeders to defraud, the better for the APBT’s and their owners.
These frauds happens in all breeds, and our is not an exception. For example, to give a pedigree of an authentic APBT to one that is not, it is something that happens in all other breeds. All will depend in the breeder honesty and work ethic.
The buyers, should always take references and look for the breeder’s credentials. These frauds can also occur when buying an APBT with ADBA registry, but obviously the possibilities of been deceived are much less compared with the possibilities of the same thing happening when buying a “supposedly APBT” without a ADBA registry. Thus, having our policy, we are dissuading fraudulent breeders in the benefit of the breed and their enthusiasts.
There are breeders, that even if they have dogs that clearly are not APBT for their enormous size, have a ADBA registry. Those who own a dog from them may participate in the MarathonPit competition. The lack of functionality of this dogs will be the determinant, and will soon get tired or will quit. This owners will soon ask questions about their dogs to the breeders and people around them with no answers, and will doubt about the APBT been the working dog by excellence. What may have happened to their dogs to get such a disappointing results. What a contradiction, Right?
The MarathonPit as well as been a way of defending and promoting positively the breed, also it is important as a tool to evaluate the APBT’s and the breeders or Kennels they come from, and to find out their job.
Talking about the weight in dogs, we have to say that things fall from their own weight, and time places things where they belong. Some last more, some less, but finally all will be where they deserve, and this is true also with fraudulent breeders. In the 23 years that I have been around this breed, I had the pleasure to meet hundreds of enthusiasts, among them, many breeders. Most of them are not longer active. This few enthusiasts have proved their “game” for their perseverance with the breed. All having to stand great difficulties of all kinds in the last years. I hope and wish, that these few enthusiasts that have persisted will be the role model to follow by the new generations, which as far as I know are a bunch of them and with strong determination.
Getting the good image of the APBT back before society, everything will change completely. Policy makers would realize about it, and would stop the persecution that APBT is suffering all these years, in many countries now and in those where soon the same thing is going to happen.
We shouldn’t be worried by the small number of ADBA registered dogs, in order to promote the MarathonPit. This is the case in all countries and not only in yours. But what we have to consider is, that the important thing is to educate and make people aware of the importance of acquiring APBT’s with the most guaranties possible, which is equal to getting an ADBA register APBT, that means, it has to come with the International Official Pedigree.
The FIAPBT, by creating a new event, the MarathonPit, set this project in order to help everyone in a fast and efficient way and, improving the positive promotion and recovery of the good image that the APBT has enjoyed in the past.
Our goals for this project, could be seen as an utopia, but the MarathonPit in Spain is already started and it is a reality right now. I can assure that not too late, the image of the APBT in Spain will positively change. It is also starting to be a reality in other 11 countries that have adopted the MarathonPit, through Official Clubs of the MarathonPit by the FIAPBT. There are also other countries waiting to adopt the MarathonPit in a short time, for example: France, Philippines, Canada, Venezuela, USA, Italy, South Africa, and Australia.
The more and the closer we are, the faster we will achieve our goals, which are no other than fighting for the well-being of the breed and the preservation of the authentic and genuine American Pit Bull Terrier.
