pit bulls

[blondie2116]

i just wanted to take a few minutes to talk about a news story on pit bulls that i saw the other night. There is a huge overpopulation of them in local shelters because of the stigma that they have attained. People have the thought in their heads that they are mean and dangerous. I adopted a pit bull pup from the ASPCA and he is the most lovable, friendly, playful dog I have ever had. He sleeps right in bed with me and has to literally be in between me and my boyfriend. He wakes us both up routinely at 7 AM with kisses on our faces. He is a momma's boy and follows me everywhere. I just wanted to put out there that throughout the whole phase when it was commendable through certain communities to have pitt bull fights, this is when they received their stigma. The bottomline here is that it isn't about the breed of dog that makes them mean....its the raising and training that it receives. A Golden Retriever could be mean given the wrong kind of training and a Pit Bull could be the sweetest dog in the world ( I should know because I own one and he truly is one of the sweetest people/animal friendly dogs I have ever had). Just a thought so I could pass that word around so maybe people can help out in adopting them at the shelters so they have a chance at a good life instead of being in a cage their whole life because of a stigma that shouldn't even be placed on them :o

[queenkarlata]

I agree wholeheartedly. Pit Bulls are such sweet affectionate dogs and don't deserve to be condemned by society. My brother has a Pit and she is a huge sweetheart but when he takes her to the dog park, other dog owners will make comments about him keeping a close eye on her or ask to take her to another area of the park and even just leave! it's terrible. i tell him to go anyway and remind those people that he has just as much right to be there with his dog as they do and they should watch her play before making comments and see that she is a good, sweet dog. i love pits. every single one i know is just a big lapdog.

[tbrown533d]

I live in Windsor Ontario Canada and a few years ago the city decided to ban pit bulls. You are still allowed to own them but you had a certain time to register them with the city and all shelters or they would be taken from you and put to sleep. This happened because that summer all there was was irresponsible owners letting their dog off the leash and biting children. I have never known or been near pit bulls so I really don't know what the big deal is though.

[letsgopoopy]

know that there is an instinct component to dog behavior in addition to reinforcement. you'll probably have a difficult time training a jack russell to herd. the pit bull was initially bred for fighting and it takes breeding to get the fight out of them. while we hear the horrid tales of these dogs, there are lines that have had the fight bred out. I have encountered both

I encourage you to put dog parks snobs in their place by simply telling them that if they are uncomfortable with their dog playing in the park, they should go elsewhere. now if your dog fights you will certainly be in a weaker stance for the argument. the experience of people seeing your dog play in the typical postive way dogs interact will over time diminish this "prejudice" as people get to know your dog for the sweatheart it is.

good luck!