Dog Fighting

Overview

Dog fighting is an illegal and immoral activity in which dogs are confined in a pit or small, enclosed place for the purpose of mauling each other as a form of entertainment, frequently accompanied by wagering. It has been decried by a number of organizations dedicated to the welfare of animals, including the following, which have published detailed information about the practice:

Humane Society of the United States. See their article, Dog Fighting Fact Sheet.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). See their publication, Dog Fighting.
ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). See their article, Dog Fighting.

Dog fighting is a felony in all American states and a federal crime under the United States Code. Attorney Kenneth M. Phillips, the author of this site, has drafted laws against dog fighting which have been enacted at the state level.

Dogs bred for dog fighting

The following is a list of breeds of dog which were developed for dog fighting or were commonly used for dog fighting at some point in time. For more information, see Fighting Dog Breeds.

Akita Inu
Alano Español
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Bulldog
Armenian Gampr dog
Aryan Molossus

Blue Paul Terrier (extinct)
Boston Terrier
Bull and Terrier (extinct)
Bull Terrier
Bully Kutta
Boxer dog

Caucasian Ovtcharka
Central Asian Ovtcharka
Cordoba Fighting Dog (extinct)

Dogue de Bordeaux
Dogo Argentino
Dogo Cubano (extinct)

English Mastiff
English White Terrier (extinct)

Georgian Shepherd Dog
Guatemalan Dogo
Gull Dong
Gull Terr
Glen of Imaal Terrier

Kangal Dog
Korean Jindo Dog

Lottatore Brindisino

Molossus (extinct)

Neapolitan Mastiff
New Guinea Singing Dog

Old English Bulldog (extinct)

Perro de Presa Canario (Canarian catch dog)
Perro de Presa Mallorquin (Ca de Bou)