Everything You Never Wanted to Know About the Gravity of it All
Gravity APBTs is located in a dust bowl in northwest Texas. A small kennel that enjoys competing in dog events of various kinds. We've been members of various clubs, including the NAPBTA, ADOA, and the Green Country APBT Club.
I (Lindsay) have been around Pit-types since I was 8 years old. (I've also lived with a Rottie, a GSD, a Dogo, and some Akitas. I like all the working breeds, but APBTs are the most suitable for me.) My first Pit Bull was a stray brindle sausage of a dog with a kinked tail that was probably a mix of Pit Bull and who-knows-what. Very cool dog though. I was hooked. A few others followed after Chew, including the dogs that taught me some hard lessons in dealing with dog-aggression, human-aggression, and bad breeding practices. I got my first well-bred dog from Matrix in January 2004.
Chew (early '90s)
A little bit about our kennel name: Gravity was actually spawned from Loki's registered name, Matrix's I Defy Gravity. Gravity is a powerful force of nature that everyone must bow to. You can't see it, and you can't escape it. Kind of a cool name for bulldogs. Its been in use here since maybe 2004 or 2005.
More about us: I believe ethics are important in this breed. A breed steward should focus on temperament first, and not be afraid to cull dogs who are a danger to themselves and others. These are not junkyard dogs, and they will have no future if the public continues to see them as such. We believe in the APBT as a total, versatile dog. Correct structure is key, right up there with temperament and working drive. You have to consider health (including the health of a dog's ancestors since many flaws are genetic) as well, since you want even humble pet dogs to have a functional body. The best and most breed-worthy dog will excel in Temperament, Health, Drive and Structure.
I understand and appreciate the history of the breed and what these dogs are capable of. However, I also feel its time to move forward and show people that these dogs are more than their history. The breed adapts itself well to most purposes. And while its important to remember what these dogs are capable of, that is no reason to deny them basic and/or advanced training, socialization, and positive public exposure to help combat the negative public exposure they get on a daily basis.
For the record, I do support and encourage rescue. I think that the people who pull dogs from the animal shelter and from bad situations in order to give them a second chance at the life they deserve are filling a valuable niche. Much love for rescuers. That said, I am not as outspoken in support of it as I used to be, because I do not feel that the respect and appreciation go both ways. The world needs reputable breeders to ensure that people can obtain high-quality purebred dogs. Just as we need rescue to help animals in need, and give potential dog owners another option when they're ready to add a new pet to the family. Rescue and responsible breeding can coexist, and I am simply waiting for us to get to that point where each side acknowledges the value of the other.
I have written some pieces for the APBT Network, and I still regularly write anti-BSL letters and other things. I am honored that people read my stuff and enjoy it, especially when they tell me that it made them think. To read some of my work, check out the Pit Bull Blog.
As for the rest of the menagerie: At present, I only have one. An 8-year-old Ball Python named Riff Raff.
Riff Raff
I enjoy talking with fellow APBT enthusiasts and like to meet new people. So if you see me n' the kiddos out at a show somewhere, please feel free to come over and introduce yourself.
Lindsay
Email: gravityapbts@hotmail.com (I also participate in a number of dog-related forums under the handles Bahamutt99 or GravityAPBTs.)
