Pit Bulls - The "Nanny Dogs"
I got the inspiration for this section on my "Pro Pit Bull" page because of a comment I received from a site visitor. They let me know they are "anti pit bulls" because they "just love the way pit bulls try to eat children." I couldn't just let that go unchallenged! So, here are some FACTS:
For many years (from the late 1800s until the earlier 1900s) pit bulls were given the respectful and noble duty of being "nanny dogs." During those times, if parents wanted their children to be safe they got a pit bull, due to their HIGHLY loyal and protective nature. Pit bulls love their families.
**Notice the lack of teeth and blood in these pictures.**
For many years (from the late 1800s until the earlier 1900s) pit bulls were given the respectful and noble duty of being "nanny dogs." During those times, if parents wanted their children to be safe they got a pit bull, due to their HIGHLY loyal and protective nature. Pit bulls love their families.
**Notice the lack of teeth and blood in these pictures.**
And some families today still recognize the wonderful temperament and positive qualities of pit bulls. I mention again, their LOVE, LOYALTY, and PROTECTIVENESS for their family.
Pit Bulls Save Children
In 2003, a pit bull named Missy was credited with saving the life of a young neighborhood child who had been attacked by 2 Akitas.
Each Akita weighed roughly 100 pounds, neighbors tried using metal pipes to stop the attack on the 7 year old boy, but were unsuccessful. That is when the boys neighbor let his own dog out.
His dog was Missy, who's young owner was best friends with the child who was being attacked. Missy immediately ran to the Akita's and Missy fought fifteen minutes, pulling them off the boy.
The Akita's had bit the boys skull, and ripped off most of his left year. Missy received some stitches and was back home that same day.
Missy is a Hero!!!!!!Read the full article here:
Read the full article here:
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/HeroicPitties/Missy.pdf
Each Akita weighed roughly 100 pounds, neighbors tried using metal pipes to stop the attack on the 7 year old boy, but were unsuccessful. That is when the boys neighbor let his own dog out.
His dog was Missy, who's young owner was best friends with the child who was being attacked. Missy immediately ran to the Akita's and Missy fought fifteen minutes, pulling them off the boy.
The Akita's had bit the boys skull, and ripped off most of his left year. Missy received some stitches and was back home that same day.
Missy is a Hero!!!!!!Read the full article here:
Read the full article here:
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/HeroicPitties/Missy.pdf
***I urge anyone who has any negative thoughts about pit bulls to visit the following link. There are TONS of pit bulls saving their owners (and sometimes strangers!) from a variety of dangers. A few of these brave dogs even lost their lives in the process. If you ignore this and continue to hate pit bulls, you're just a hypocrite.***
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/HeroicPitties/HeroicPitties.htm
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Articles/HeroicPitties/HeroicPitties.htm
Pit Bull Saves Missing 89 Year Old Woman with Alzheimer's
Cops and Pit Bulls
It seems every other day we hear stories in the news about cops shooting beloved family pit bulls due to prejudice, or police officers having to shoot pit bulls that have attacked someone. No, cops and pit bulls don't always fair well together in the media, but not all cops are prejudice against this wonderful breed! Check out these very cute pictures of true companionship!
Why Pit Bulls Make Great Pets
I came across this great article and had to share it!
If you are considering adopting or buying a dog, and one breed you are considering is a Pit Bull Terrier, or one of several breeds that are closely related to this breed. It is important that before you take any steps towards becoming an owner that you thoroughly research the breed so that you understand the challenges of owning this loyal, yet controversial breed.
99% of issues that arise with pit bulls have to do with irresponsible and/or clueless owners. The truth is that this breed has many good traits. A super-dog, if you will. And although the media focuses on the negative aspects, in reality they can be awesome pets for the smart owner. Here are six reasons why:
1. Pit Bulls are Affectionate Companions: Pit bulls are wiggly, cuddly, affectionate dogs. If you don’t like dog kisses then consider another breed, because most pit bulls love licking. The same goes if you have children and you don’t want them to be a regular target for face washes.
Pitbulls are not aloof – they like to remind you regularly of how they feel about you, and in general this means a lot of tail wagging and kissing.
2. Generally Healthy and Easy to Care For: Yes, pit bulls require a reasonable amount of attention. They do not, however, need a lot of care. They have short coats and are normal shedders, and only need to be brushed semi-regularly.
They don't tend toward genetic disorders like some other breeds, although they should be inspected at puppyhood for signs of hip dysplasia, but this is a good idea for most medium to large breeds anyway. Most pit bulls do not get larger than 50 to 60 pounds, although there are some larger sub-breeds.
And as long as you exercise the dog regularly, a pitbull can be very comfortable in a small dwelling.
3. People-Orientated, When Socialized Properly: Pit bulls love people. Although this breed frequently gets a bad rap in the media, if you have ever met a pit bull that was raised by a loving, conscientious family then you will understand how much they like to be with people.
The downside of this personality trait is that they can get overexcited when they meet new people, which is something that needs to be addressed through training and positive reinforcement.
4. Pit Bulls are Loyal to their Owners: Your pit bull will be you and your family’s best friend from the day you take them home to the day they pass away. While they will be naturally protective of their family and their property, because pitbulls are so people-orientated they do not make good guard dogs.
Unless you just want them to smother intruders with hugs and kisses.
5. Eager to Please: A pitbull will always do it’s best to make you happy, as long as you are clear about what you expect from them. Many people will mention the fact that this breed is notoriously stubborn, but once they realize that you are the boss, they will work hard to ensure that you were happy with them.
This breed can be challenging, and is not recommended for first ti*me dog owners as you need to be comfortable and confident that you can handle the breed, otherwise they will pick upon the fact that you are less than sure of yourself.
6. High Tolerance for Pain: Sometimes presented as a negative trait, the fact that pitbulls have a high pain tolerance makes them exceptional family dogs. They easily (and happily) put up with the rough play of children without reacting. At the same time, pit bull owners may have to invest in prong collars, as the shoulder and neck strength of the pitbull means that sometimes an average collar will not do.
It is important that when considering a pit bull as a pet that you carefully screen all puppies and adult dogs to ensure that they respond positively. Dogs of any breed that show fearfulness or aggression towards people or other dogs should be avoided, particularly as a family pet, unless you are willing to put in a lot of extra time and money into behavioural training.
To be a successful and responsible pit bull owner you need to at all times have your pet under control. Dogs should never be left unsupervised with other dogs or children, and should never be allowed to roam off leash except in controlled dog-friendly spaces. Remember that as a pit bull owner you are charged with showing the positive side of this breed, so make sure that you always have a friendly and well behaved pet.
http://www.pitbulls.org/article/6-reasons-pit-bulls-make-great-pets
***Personal Note: I do not support the use of prong collars (mentioned in #6) on ANY dog. If you find a regular collar is not working well with your dog because they pull too much, I recommend trying a gentle lead head collar, or a body harness. Both of these products are designed to help decrease pulling.***
If you are considering adopting or buying a dog, and one breed you are considering is a Pit Bull Terrier, or one of several breeds that are closely related to this breed. It is important that before you take any steps towards becoming an owner that you thoroughly research the breed so that you understand the challenges of owning this loyal, yet controversial breed.
99% of issues that arise with pit bulls have to do with irresponsible and/or clueless owners. The truth is that this breed has many good traits. A super-dog, if you will. And although the media focuses on the negative aspects, in reality they can be awesome pets for the smart owner. Here are six reasons why:
1. Pit Bulls are Affectionate Companions: Pit bulls are wiggly, cuddly, affectionate dogs. If you don’t like dog kisses then consider another breed, because most pit bulls love licking. The same goes if you have children and you don’t want them to be a regular target for face washes.
Pitbulls are not aloof – they like to remind you regularly of how they feel about you, and in general this means a lot of tail wagging and kissing.
2. Generally Healthy and Easy to Care For: Yes, pit bulls require a reasonable amount of attention. They do not, however, need a lot of care. They have short coats and are normal shedders, and only need to be brushed semi-regularly.
They don't tend toward genetic disorders like some other breeds, although they should be inspected at puppyhood for signs of hip dysplasia, but this is a good idea for most medium to large breeds anyway. Most pit bulls do not get larger than 50 to 60 pounds, although there are some larger sub-breeds.
And as long as you exercise the dog regularly, a pitbull can be very comfortable in a small dwelling.
3. People-Orientated, When Socialized Properly: Pit bulls love people. Although this breed frequently gets a bad rap in the media, if you have ever met a pit bull that was raised by a loving, conscientious family then you will understand how much they like to be with people.
The downside of this personality trait is that they can get overexcited when they meet new people, which is something that needs to be addressed through training and positive reinforcement.
4. Pit Bulls are Loyal to their Owners: Your pit bull will be you and your family’s best friend from the day you take them home to the day they pass away. While they will be naturally protective of their family and their property, because pitbulls are so people-orientated they do not make good guard dogs.
Unless you just want them to smother intruders with hugs and kisses.
5. Eager to Please: A pitbull will always do it’s best to make you happy, as long as you are clear about what you expect from them. Many people will mention the fact that this breed is notoriously stubborn, but once they realize that you are the boss, they will work hard to ensure that you were happy with them.
This breed can be challenging, and is not recommended for first ti*me dog owners as you need to be comfortable and confident that you can handle the breed, otherwise they will pick upon the fact that you are less than sure of yourself.
6. High Tolerance for Pain: Sometimes presented as a negative trait, the fact that pitbulls have a high pain tolerance makes them exceptional family dogs. They easily (and happily) put up with the rough play of children without reacting. At the same time, pit bull owners may have to invest in prong collars, as the shoulder and neck strength of the pitbull means that sometimes an average collar will not do.
It is important that when considering a pit bull as a pet that you carefully screen all puppies and adult dogs to ensure that they respond positively. Dogs of any breed that show fearfulness or aggression towards people or other dogs should be avoided, particularly as a family pet, unless you are willing to put in a lot of extra time and money into behavioural training.
To be a successful and responsible pit bull owner you need to at all times have your pet under control. Dogs should never be left unsupervised with other dogs or children, and should never be allowed to roam off leash except in controlled dog-friendly spaces. Remember that as a pit bull owner you are charged with showing the positive side of this breed, so make sure that you always have a friendly and well behaved pet.
http://www.pitbulls.org/article/6-reasons-pit-bulls-make-great-pets
***Personal Note: I do not support the use of prong collars (mentioned in #6) on ANY dog. If you find a regular collar is not working well with your dog because they pull too much, I recommend trying a gentle lead head collar, or a body harness. Both of these products are designed to help decrease pulling.***
Pit Bull Myths
1) Pit bulls have locking jaws -- FALSE. Pit bulls jaws are no different then any other breed's.
2) Pit bulls have the strongest crushing power in their jaws -- FALSE. In a test, German Shepherd Dogs and Rottweilers had more crushing power in their jaws.
3) Pit bulls are vicious -- FALSE. The highest scores in temperament testing belong to pit bulls (82%) , while the average rate for other breeds is around 77%.
2) Pit bulls have the strongest crushing power in their jaws -- FALSE. In a test, German Shepherd Dogs and Rottweilers had more crushing power in their jaws.
3) Pit bulls are vicious -- FALSE. The highest scores in temperament testing belong to pit bulls (82%) , while the average rate for other breeds is around 77%.
Did You Know...
~The media is LARGELY responsible for the negative reputation of pit bulls. When a NON pit bull breed of dog attacks someone, the story usually appears in 1 to 2 articles (depending on severity) in the local paper. When a pit bull attacks someone, it is reported over 300 times in national newspapers and on news stations.
~Pit bulls are often said to just 'suddenly turn' on people. However, this is an extremely inaccurate statement: NO dog (pit bulls included) ever just turn on people. There are always warnings, and there are always reasons.
~You often read about "family" pit bulls turning on their people. But in fact, there has NEVER been an attack by an altered, family pit bull. The reason for this mistake is people often confuse "resident" pit bulls with "family" pit bulls. Here's the difference: Resident dogs are dogs who do not get a lot of time with people, are kept outside (either on chains or in fenced yard). Family dogs are dogs that live in the house with the family and get a lot of personal time around people. And again, there has never been a case of an altered FAMILY pit bull attacking their people.
~Pit bulls are often said to just 'suddenly turn' on people. However, this is an extremely inaccurate statement: NO dog (pit bulls included) ever just turn on people. There are always warnings, and there are always reasons.
~You often read about "family" pit bulls turning on their people. But in fact, there has NEVER been an attack by an altered, family pit bull. The reason for this mistake is people often confuse "resident" pit bulls with "family" pit bulls. Here's the difference: Resident dogs are dogs who do not get a lot of time with people, are kept outside (either on chains or in fenced yard). Family dogs are dogs that live in the house with the family and get a lot of personal time around people. And again, there has never been a case of an altered FAMILY pit bull attacking their people.
Pit Bull Saves Woman From Possible Kidnapping
Oh yeah...that raccoon's history! Any minute now that vicious pit bull is going to shred it to pieces.
I am always interested in hearing what people think about pit bulls, so please comment on this page and let me know! Thanks!
