Pit Bulls break in home

    • Gold Top Dog
    Thanks Megan, I have seen and read similar explaining the history and differences between the bullys. I can identify the Am & Brit Staffies no problem. I understand Ratsicles frustration with Pit Bulls being blamed for the aggression of mix breeds, but to me it's just so darn hard to tell them apart that I can totally understand why this happens. I really don't think it is intentional. Is there something obvious I miss when I try to distinguish between the pure and the mix?
    • Gold Top Dog
     I'm sorry if I misunderstood Dyan, but I really did think you were slamming pitbulls pretty badly, and misunderstanding the pitbull (especially with the fierce thing.)  I'm glad to see that isn't what you were doing.

     
    I am honestly not slamming PBs in the least.  I have written more letters to differnt people in different states and communities that are trying to ban the breed than I care to count, even though I don't have a PB. Again..if they ban your breed...they will work over to mine one day. 
    I am just trying to make a point though that I believe that trying to get people to identify each bully breed isn't the way to win this fight, so many people that own them don't even know what they have (such as when you get one from a shelter..or like my friend Donna who's son found one roaming the freeway..so they named her Freeway),  much less people that are scared and angry and don't really even care what kind of dog it is.
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: dyan

    I'm sorry if I misunderstood Dyan, but I really did think you were slamming pitbulls pretty badly, and misunderstanding the pitbull (especially with the fierce thing.) I'm glad to see that isn't what you were doing.


    I am honestly not slamming PBs in the least. I have written more letters to differnt people in different states and communities that are trying to ban the breed than I care to count, even though I don't have a PB. Again..if they ban your breed...they will work over to mine one day.
    I am just trying to make a point though that I believe that trying to get people to identify each bully breed isn't the way to win this fight, so many people that own them don't even know what they have (such as when you get one from a shelter..or like my friend Donna who's son found one roaming the freeway..so they named her Freeway), much less people that are scared and angry and don't really even care what kind of dog it is.


    For not caring what kind of dog it is, they sure don't have a problem saying, "It's a pit bull!".

    Anyway, people not being able to identify the breed is just part of the problem. Well, it's a HUGE part of the problem and I don't think that being able to identify a dog alone is going to fix the problem, either. But helping people to identify the breed might stop the "It's a pit bull!" generalization. or whatever.

    Education IS the key. Good pit bull breed ambassadors are a key in making people know how wonderful the breed really is.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Keep in mind folks the American Pit Bull Terriers that have made up the breed and yes also contributed to what the American Staffordshire Terrier is in AKC, is rapidly changing due to people wanting to "make" something else out of these dogs. These are "Bullys"
     They should NEVER be human aggressive, old timers culled the dogs who were as there was no place in the home or ring for a man bitter.
     Dog aggression IS acceptable to those who hold the breed near and dear but it CAN be bred and trained out of some lines.
     
     Many responsible breeders are breeding dogs who are less dog aggresive, it is those who are street/backyard breeding who don't know or care to know the real dogs this breed was once.
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: amstaffy

    Keep in mind folks the American Pit Bull Terriers that have made up the breed and yes also contributed to what the American Staffordshire Terrier is in AKC, is rapidly changing due to people wanting to "make" something else out of these dogs. These are "Bullys"
    They should NEVER be human aggressive, old timers culled the dogs who were as there was no place in the home or ring for a man bitter.
    Dog aggression IS acceptable to those who hold the breed near and dear but it CAN be bred and trained out of some lines.

    Many responsible breeders are breeding dogs who are less dog aggresive, it is those who are street/backyard breeding who don't know or care to know the real dogs this breed was once.



    But won't it take a long time to breed dog aggression OUT of the breed? I guess this is where I get confused (genetics always DID confuse me [:D]), but wouldn't it take just as long to genetically breed out that trait just as it would take just as long to breed something like human aggression INTO the breed?
    I'm honestly asking because I don't know.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Many responsible breeders are breeding dogs who are less dog aggresive, it is those who are street/backyard breeding who don't know or care to know the real dogs this breed was once.

    And isn't it a shame that so many of these people are getting them?

    Indeed, why are they called pit bulls? Is it ignorance? Is it done out of malice? Or is it because it is nearly impossible to clearly identify a pure bred American Pit Bull Terrier? I do not consider myself ignorant or uneducated when it comes to identifing most dog breeds but to be honest I cannot tell if a dog is a pure APBT

     
    Here is how hard it is to get people to look at a bully breed and know if its a Pitty or what..... do you know how many people look at my Great Dane...that looks everything like a Great Dane...and asks me how old my Dalmation is???
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: chewbecca

    ORIGINAL: amstaffy

    Keep in mind folks the American Pit Bull Terriers that have made up the breed and yes also contributed to what the American Staffordshire Terrier is in AKC, is rapidly changing due to people wanting to "make" something else out of these dogs. These are "Bullys"
    They should NEVER be human aggressive, old timers culled the dogs who were as there was no place in the home or ring for a man bitter.
    Dog aggression IS acceptable to those who hold the breed near and dear but it CAN be bred and trained out of some lines.

    Many responsible breeders are breeding dogs who are less dog aggresive, it is those who are street/backyard breeding who don't know or care to know the real dogs this breed was once.



    But won't it take a long time to breed dog aggression OUT of the breed? I guess this is where I get confused (genetics always DID confuse me [:D]), but wouldn't it take just as long to genetically breed out that trait just as it would take just as long to breed something like human aggression INTO the breed?
    I'm honestly asking because I don't know.

     
    Not when dedicated knowledgable breeders are working toward that goal. Unfortunately the dogs we all see in the news are not dogs owned/bred by responsible owners/breeders.
     
    More so it is a training issue, this breed of dog will do what ever their owner wants 110%. Dog aggression is acceptable in the breed but it should NOT be initiated , they are not looking for a fight but won't back down from one(unless they're my sissy dogs [:);)but as a defense unless TRAINED to fight. Yes, I did say trained to fight. True fighting dogs were trained and conditioned to fight, they just didn't come that way.
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    At a trial this past weekend, my parents came to watch who are NOT dog people.  They asked if the Great Dane running was a whippet.  [8|]  I brought their attention to Buster Brown the pit-type dog and they were worried. [:o]  Said something like if he decided to bite, you'd have a problem on your hands.    Buster is awesome!  Biggest goofball on the planet and a great agility athlete.  If APBT had more fur, I'd consider one for my next agility dog, but I like fur.  [:D]