Well I just bought myself a Brindle Pit Bull. My girlfriend adopted a female Pit pup from her work and its now 12 weeks old and 15.5 lbs whose name is Dakota. We had her for 2 months before I cracked and had to get my own I found him for $200 w/papers. Named him Boss. He's 10 weeks and 14 lbs, he's a fatty but I'm workin' on that. They both get along great and constantly wrestle around but we have 23 acres for them to run around on and they run around the property with the other dogs our roommates have so they can get plenty of exercise and socialization with the other 2 dogs. Dakota is the sweetest dog and loves everyone and EXTREMELY hyper, and Boss is the most laid back puppy I have ever seen. He is a little shy when it comes to people he doesn't know but warms up quick. He usually just lays low and watches everyone. I think he will be a little more protective of me and my girlfriend than Dakota will be. As usual though we have had people tell us they are mean and kill and blah blah blah but they are like any other dog, raise and train them right and give them love they will be just as good as any other dog.

 

No, they're not like any other dog.

Guy from a dog-breeding family here: breeding matters. Dogs are bred to enhance or stifle certain genetics. The Pit Bull line was bred specifically to enhance killer instinct.

You can suppress that instinct to some extent by careful training. But there will always be that little switch bred into their brains waiting to go off, the switch that goes from calm mild mannered family dog, to innate killer. Then it's one of those terrible news stories "They were always such nice quiet pets - I can't imagine what made them decide to maul the neighbour's 3 year old to death."

With so many other beautiful dogs out there, there is no reason for anyone to need to own these genetic aberrations.

 

Liability Insurance on Pit Bulls must be expensive these days because of all the news reports of these happenings ?

 

Insurance is only required in certain counties, but not where I am.

Many people as well as the News cry pit bull when a many times it is a mix or another dog in the bully breed. It's just that pit bulls are the first dog to come to mind when you hear "woman/man/pet" and "attack" in the same sentence.

As for they not being like any other dog, well no two dogs are alike. Pit Bulls are not terrible dogs like they are portrayed out to be. My Aunt and Uncle have had two Pits, their first lived 15 years and was a great dog, the second is now 13 and has been great as well. Great with family (we always have family gatherings over there) and she has been great ever since she was a puppy.

I am sorry though as there are many types of dogs in the bully breed. We have American Pit Bull Terriers, which are actually very good family dogs. But as with any Terrier breed, they don't like it too much when another animal steps on their "territory"
With proper socialization and training, aggression towards strays can be kept to a minimum. Their main problem lies with other animals, not humans.

Pit Bulls by nature love to please their owners, as with many other types of dogs. That has been their "demise" so to speak, because some owners are EXTREMELY irresponsible and want to fight their dogs. So they fight, and their natural aggression towards other animals doesn't help the cause. Pit bulls have been shot by their owners cause they WOULDN'T fight, or wouldn't train fast enough to fight. Also, if you have ever seen pictures of a fight, notice that the owners stand in the ring with their dogs. If they were naturally human aggressive, wouldn't they attack their owners as well?

http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/america...llterrier.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pit_Bull_Terrier
http://www.atts.org/stats1.html

As well though, I love our dogs and they are smart, energetic and fun to have around. They are staying.

 

I love dogs. I have an american akita, very gentle and I dont try to bring out the temperment associated with the breed. Pits require special attention and evaluation.Other than that they can make wonderful dogs and be trusted around children.

 

My girlfriends Aunt used to breed Akita's. She loved them as well and never had any problems. I hate the stereotypes of "killer breeds"

 

Bully breeds need socialization and more socialization, as much exposure as possible around other dogs and people. You must be the alpha dog at all times because if you give one inch they will take a foot each and every time. It is true as with any breed the genetic background of the parents is extremely important to be aware of. Bully breeds can be aggressive toward other dogs cats and animals that is why you must nip any and all signs of aggression in the bud no matter how suttle it may appear. Another key thing to remember is not to put the bully in a situation that would encourage aggression. like boss exposed to another dog in your presence, Read up and ask questions about dog behavior as a well mannered bully is a wonderful pet. Don't ever let them get into a fight no matter what, do everything you can to avoid one. Teach them to be good and they will.

 

I have done as much learning and reading as I can. I joined a popular Pit Bull forum as well to read about training methods, behavior and other things to do to help your Pit. They are kept separated from all other animals when we aren't around. We are going to build big pins (since there is not fenced in backyard or front yard) for them to stay in when we are not home so they don't have to be kenneled up inside. They will be pinned separate.

They are socialized with many people everyday. We have traveled all over the place with them and bring them into the local tractor supply and pets mart (back home) when we get food for them. We walk them around the horses and they do just fine with them. They just look at them out of curiosity. One horse brought his head down and Boss licked him and Dakota started whining when another horse left her sight lol.

We generally let them run free on the property (except for the horse pasture) so they can socialized with different smells, noises and the other dogs. They seem like best friends with the two Australian shepherds.

I will get on them when they play too rough or start growling (although I think it may just be play growling but when it gets to far I stop them). I just yell "HEY, play nice" and they stop and just look at me with those damn puppy eyes

I know they will be good dogs.

 

kid-killers

 

Ignorance

 

I laugh at all the people who make derogatory comments about all pit bulls. I have my doubts that those people making the comments have even the basic understanding of any canine. There are many variables influencing canine aggression in any breed and there are many other bloodlines within the breeds that have aggressive tendencies. So to claim all pitbulls, staffies, amstaffs and bullies are all inherantly aggressive canines is really far from reality in my opinion.

 

If you have access to the National Geographic Channel.....check out the show "The Dog Whisperer". This guy has a place where he has pitt bulls and other large dogs that live together in peace and harmony.
He "trains" the owners of dogs as well as the dog itself. Dogs are pack animals and there is always a dominant male and according to him, the best therapy for a dog is exposure to a pack setting.
Watch the show if you can. It's a wealth of information!

 

ignorant facts

Breed 1979-1980 1981-1982 1983-1984 1985-1986 1987-1988 1989-1990 1991-1992 1993-1994 1995-1996 1997-1998 Total
Purebred
Pit Bull 2 5 10 9 11 8 6 5 4 6 66
Rottweiler 0 0 1 1 3 1 3 10 10 10 39
German Shep. 2 1 4 1 1 4 2 0 2 0 17
Husky 2 1 2 2 0 2 2 1 2 1 15
Malamute 2 0 3 1 0 2 3 1 0 0 12
Doberman 0 1 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 1 9
Chow Chow 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 2 0 8
Great Dane 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 7
St. Bernard 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 7

more ingnorant facts

fatalities in the us from 1965 -2001
Breeds Involved
Pit Bull and Pit-bull-type dogs (21%), Mixed breed dogs (16%),
Rottweilers (13%), German Shepherd Dogs (9%), Wolf Dogs (5%),
Siberian Huskies (5%), Malamutes (4%), Great Danes (3%),
St. Bernards (3%), Chow Chows (3%), Doberman Pinschers (3%),
other breeds & non-specified breeds (15%).

 

I guess I am a little ignorant too.

My neighbor got a Pit Bull that growled at my wife. He saw it & that dog was gone the next day. He has a Lab (Jake) now & you don't even want to open his screen door. He never gets any door to door sales. However, once you do go in, Jake is all over you for attention. I don't think you could ask for a better dog.

 

It's how you raise them Mr Ignorant.