What Should Be Done About Pit Bull Owners?

Breeders of heavy strong working breeds, high drive working breeds, strong hunting lines etc, should be more willing to dissuade people from purchasing one of their puppies.  They should be stating this dog requires a lot of exercise, this dog needs to work, this dog will need training, this dog may not do well with other dominant dogs in the household, etc etc.

You know, sometimes they do.  And then the person that the ethical breeder would not even sell a pup to, figures he's entitled to have whatever dog he darn well wants, and goes to the pet store or some byb to get one. 
Unfortunately, I still see signs along the side of the road "Pit Bull Puppies".  As long as there's a market, there will be someone willing to fill the orders.

ORIGINAL: dgriego

Sounds a lot like Dogo breeders Xerxes. It is common to wait a year for a puppy and the breeders are very picky about who they release the puppies to and require a lot of questions to be answered before even allowing you to be on the list.

I don't know how many Dogo breeders there are in the States, nor how many Dogos there are, but I can tell you that if BYBs and Millers aren't breeding them then the breeders are asking the right questions.  Unfortunately, as Anne says, there are too many people out there that *think* they want one and *think* they are capable of owning one, so that drives the market.

People that I see in the Town Center or elsewhere that stop and ask about Xerk always, always, always are interested in getting a "pharaoh hound."  Until after 10 minutes Xerxes is still ignoring them and they realize that PHs might be pretty, but they're also pretty aloof.  And if they still want one after that I tell them about the PH love of voice....that is always a deal breaker.

It's not that we don't love our respective breeds, it's that we love them enough to tell the truth about them to anyone that asks.

It's not that we don't love our respective breeds, it's that we love them enough to tell the truth about them to anyone that asks.

 
Truthfully I try to dissuade people from getting Shelties.  I don't want to see them get too popular and don't want the secret of how great a dog they are to get out.  Thankfully they hair scares many people away.
 
 
 

I was asked last night by a neighbor how to get a Dogo and where could he get one. I told him they are very high drive dogs, they require a lot of work, that they are very expensive and unless he is a total dog enthusiast who wants to always be working their dog he should look elsewhere. I also told him that they are made to hunt and hunt hard and if you do not hunt you must replace the hunt with something equally challenging to the dog or else he will eat your entire house in one evening.
 
 A slight exaggeration, but I really do not want everyone who thinks they are "cool", "awesome", "striking" etc to get one. As a matter of fact I don't want anyone who is not experienced and dedicated to dogs in general and the breed to own one. I let most people go on thinking he is a Pit Bull or American Bulldog. Just like I let most people think my Vizsla is a "strange red colored Weimeraner with golden eyes". I tell them yes he is off colored but we love him.

ORIGINAL: jenhuedepohl

I totally agree. We don't have a pit bull problem. We have a people problem.

Seldom do you read about anyone's Pittie getting into trouble if it has been leashed, neutered, contained, trained and managed.  That is a people problem, and due largely to insufficient enforcement of the leash & license laws, as well as the animal cruelty laws. Why is Michael Vick getting a wrist slap when he should get 20 years?  What he did, if perpetrated on a human would have landed him the death penalty.

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

ORIGINAL: jenhuedepohl

I totally agree. We don't have a pit bull problem. We have a people problem.

Seldom do you read about anyone's Pittie getting into trouble if it has been leashed, neutered, contained, trained and managed.  That is a people problem, and due largely to insufficient enforcement of the leash & license laws, as well as the animal cruelty laws. Why is Michael Vick getting a wrist slap when he should get 20 years?  What he did, if perpetrated on a human would have landed him the death penalty.

 
 I agree it is a people problem. It is the perception of the general public that it is a Pit Bull problem. And that is worriesome.

 

Why is Michael Vick getting a wrist slap when he should get 20 years? 

Thats a good question Anne...why????

I agree it is a people problem. It is the perception of the general public that it is a Pit Bull problem.

 
and so its a problem then that only the Pit Bull people can do anything about!

ORIGINAL: dyan

I agree it is a people problem. It is the perception of the general public that it is a Pit Bull problem.

and so its a problem then that only the Pit Bull people can do anything about!

 
 I would have to disagree with that. The majority of the load will fall on Pit-Bull owners in that they need to be diligent to present their dogs as good citizens but all dog lovers can assist with this problem. I do not own a Pit-Bull yet when I come across people who are afraid of them, or who say they should all be destroyed I do my best to educate them on the breed and let them know that all the cases of attacks I have known of were because the dog was abused or untrained and uncontained.
 We can also vote and say our piece when BLS legislation is presented in our towns. We can speak out and let people know that the solution is not in banning the breed and if the real issue is not addressed it will only be another breed taking the slot the Pit-Bull vacates if the breed is banned.

Seldom do you read about anyone's Pittie getting into trouble if it has been leashed, neutered, contained, trained and managed.  That is a people problem, and due largely to insufficient enforcement of the leash & license laws, as well as the animal cruelty laws.

THIS is why I said then that its a problem that only the PB people can do anything about. 
If it is only the bullys that are unleashed, untrained or uncontained that are getting into trouble...then they must all be leashed, neutered,,etc etc.   They must prove to the world that the breed is safe.
I also don't own a PB..and I have written many emails against banning the breed. But day by day,,week by week...more and more cities are banning them or talking about banning them.  It has to be proved to these people that the dogs are safe.