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More from Sam...................

PIT BULLS

I have trained many pit bull dogs of various breeds... some nice, some nasty. The nice ones are typical of the pit fighting breeds. The nasty ones were usually made that way because of a ruined puppyhood (neglect, teasing, lack of socialization, abuse, etc.) or because of backyard breeding (poor/ questionable genetics). A properly socialized and trained pit bull dog is a fine companion for children and adults AND IS SAFE TO OWN.

WHAT IS A PIT BULL TERRIER?

A cross between a bulldog and a terrier
The Bulldog was used for it’s physical toughness, courage and tenacity
The terrier was used for it’s desire to fight, speed and endurance
Was used to subdue cattle for butchers – was bred to work with animals – was a "bull-baiter", small & fast enough to grab a bull by the nose (for slaughter) without being stomped or kicked to death in the process. Europeans didn’t have cowboys, so they used bulldogs to grab the bull, so the butcher could club it to death.

Typical Problems

Fearful of people, other dogs or other animals
Been abused, teased, and neglected
Poorly socialized
Not able to be rehabilitated after being wrecked
People train them to be nasty by purposely neglecting them, making them fight for their lives, abusing them, etc. You can wreck ANY puppy by doing this.
It’s the dog of choice for drug dealers, so they wreck the dogs, and breed them, to make money and to protect them from raids and gang attacks
Backyard breeders don’t know what they are doing: they breed for quick bucks instead of using good breeding practices, so we end up with dogs with weak temperaments.
Buyers of the dogs don’t know how to pick the right dog, and they don’t know how to raise the dog properly. You have to be just as selective as you would with any other breed.

Interesting Facts

Not the right breed for personal protection; the dogs were created for animal work (bull baiting)
Able to climb trees (so can other dogs!)
Highly trainable
Generally good with people, other animals, and other dogs, PROVIDED that they were raised properly
No hard evidence that pit bulls bite more people than any other breed
They aren’t born "mean" or "unpredictable" (though, any breed will have individuals that are wacky... that is just the way genetics works)
No evidence that they bite harder than any other breed of dog
They don’t have a double jointed, locking jaw
They don’t become mean if they taste blood
There are a lot of "look alike" breeds, and mongrels, that are not really "pit bull terriers"; lots of so-called "pit bulls" are mixed bred dogs, oftentimes without any pit bull in the dog!
Cities with Pit Bull or breed-ban laws in Washington State: Algona, Buckley, Enumclaw, Everett, Inland, Kenniwick, King Co, Kirkland, Moxee, Neah Bay (has BANNED ROTTWEILERS), Oak Harbor, Prosser, Pullman, Seatac, Sunnyside (has restricted 'pit bulls'), Toppenosh, Yakima (has BANNED 'pit bulls')
Good with children
They give a warning before they attack, just like any other dog. Usually, if you see a Pit Bull Terrier that’s snarling and lunging at someone or another animal, it’s a dog that’s AFRAID and a FEAR BITER. Watch for raised hair on the back and a stiff tail. If you are unsure, ask the owner if you can pet their dog, just like you would with any other dog.

Basic Characteristics Of A Normal Pit Bull

People friendly
Loyal, active, intelligent, and highly trainable
Very strong
Typically not very territorial with people, but territorial with other animals. Many pit bull terriers are stolen from houses and vehicles... because they won't protect themselves. They are NOT good protection dogs.
Gameness, which isn’t the same as dog aggression. It’s a dog that will keep working at a task without quitting, such as at weigh pulling, tracking, working obedience into heat exhaustion, etc. or other trained tasks.

Suitable for the following tasks:

Companion dog
Therapy Dog
Search & Rescue
Dog sports like Schutzhund, French Ringsport (but NOT suitable for true protection work)
Narcotics detection
Boar/ wild hog hunting
Weight pulling competition

Other Thoughts

Too many good examples of the breed to ban the breed because of the few dogs that people wreck
It’s just a dog
If you ban the pit bulls, people will switch to another breed and wreck it (which is what is happening to the Rottweiler, Presa Canario, and other breeds) – are you then going to ban those breeds, too? Where will it stop?
If properly socialized and trained, they are great dogs, capable of great devotion, affection, and companionship
There is a difference between a "pit bull", a Pit Bull Terrier, an American Staffordshire Terrier, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and a Pit Bulldog. One is a mongrel, the others are pure bred dogs.
Most pit bull terriers are never fought, and are just companion dogs

The Best Way To Avoid Being Bitten By A Pit Bull Terrier:

Don’t be involved with people that treat their pit bulls as weapons instead of as companions
Don’t pet dogs that you don’t know to be friendly... the same rules you should apply to ALL dogs
Don’t tease the dog or make it people aggressive
Raise it as a companion dog: socialize, train, & supervise
Discourage unstable people from getting a dog of any breed.

"Imagine what we are going to have to do if the German Shepherd, for example, is banned like the Pit Bull Terrier?"

A friend of mine will be a little upset. He's blind and his first guide dog was a German Shepherd, now retired and playing contentedly at their house. She's a doll and absolutely NO trouble at all.

My brother had a Great Dane for a while. People coming up to the house for the first time would get scared at his deep "woof," but he was really a pussy cat. He always thought he was a lap dog, and never understood why no one would let him cuddle. He only weighed about 150 pounds and stood as tall as people were when sitting! Another absolute doll.

"Are any breeds safe from being banned?"

Weiner dogs?

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Personally I am a cat person. Probably stems from spending a summer as a substitute mail carrier. I could tell you some stories. Thank heaven for "doggie mace".

--Boris