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Pit Bulls Are Not Vicious Dogs

 

            People all across the world and, especially in the United States have heard of the dogs called Pit Bulls. Immediately, one has visions of a vicious, man eating, drooling monster that maims and kills people on a daily basis that is seen on media outlets almost daily. Yet, could people be wrong about these dogs and actually know very little about them other than what the media wants one to know? There is a breathtaking side to these dogs, full of gentleness and loyalty towards their owner that is rarely seen or shown by the media. As an owner of two of these beautiful creatures known as the American Pit Bull Terrier, it is my obligation to educate and show the average person that there is a side to these dogs people do not know exist.

            There are many factors to consider when one hears of a vicious mauling by a “Pit Bull”. Often a dog bite is blamed on a Pit Bull when in all reality the dog is not a Pit Bull at all! People assume a dog is of a certain breed based solely on the dog’s appearance. This often leads one to presuppose that a dog is a Pit Bull rather than a Labrador Retriever mix breed.  Unless one is present that knows the dog’s lineage, it is impossible to know exactly what breed a dog is to an untrained eye. If the dog has large jaws and cropped ears one immediately assumes it is a Pit Bull. According to the National Canine Research Council, when a report is being made about a dog bite, ”Breed descriptors obtained from these sources may come from the dog’s owner. They may also come from persons who have no direct knowledge (i.e., animal control officer, victim, neighbor, police officer, witness, unnamed source) of the dog’s lineage.” In other words, there are numerous problems with reported dog bites that are often blamed on Pit Bulls. For instance, most dogs in the United States are mixed breeds. Little is known of a dog’s lineage when a report is made by an individual or taken by an animal control officer after a bite.  

For hundreds of years, the breeds of dogs known as Pit Bulls, in which there are many, have been known as “Nanny Dogs” due to their loyalty, devotion toward their owners and their love of children. One can easily find numerous links on the internet that shows this to be true. An astounding dog trainer, photographer, and blog-gist, Yonah Ward Grossman  explains the history of the Pit Bull with American families and even the United States military. Mr. Grossman states:

“For generations if you had children and wanted to keep them safe you wanted a pit bull, the dog that was the most reliable of any breed with children or adults. The Nanny Dog is now vilified by a media that always wants a demon dog breed to frighten people and LHASA-APSO BITES MAN just doesn’t sell papers.”

The most decorated dog in the history of the United States military and the only dog ever to receive the rank of Sergeant for extreme bravery was a Pit Bull breed known as the Staffordshire Terrier. The dog was named “Stubby” and he being a Pit Bull breed, did not stop the United States military from placing medals around the dog’s neck and proudly displaying his image which eventually led to the Pit Bull becoming America’s Mascot for over a hundred years. There were abundant posters manufactured during war and peace proudly displaying the Pit Bull as the face of this great country. Sergeant Stubby was known for capturing an enemy spy, getting shot with chemical weapons during the war against the Germans. Sergeant Stubby learned the bugle calls, didn’t flinch during firefight and was even injured by a grenade attack leaving shrapnel throughout his body. The Pit Bull still forged on and was on the front of newspapers and magazines. “[Stubby] even visited the White House twice by Presidents Harding and Coolidge.” As noted on The Smithsonian Institutes Americans at War website dedicated to this wonderful Pit Bull mascot.

            Another great dog trainer well known the world over, Cesar Millan, owns several Pit Bull breeds and, consistently shows and writes on his programs how wonderful these dogs can be. Mr. Millan tries to educate the public that the Pit Bull has gotten a bad rap by simply being such a loyal and devoted dog. The dog will do what is taught, whether that is watching over children, doing tricks or, fighting in a ‘pit’ which is where the dog breeds originally got the name they are known as today. Mr. Millan states on his website:

“If current news reports are to be believed, pit bulls have been attacking and biting humans left and right—to the point that many communities are considering breed-specific bans on pit bulls.

Would it surprise you to learn that pit bulls used to be America’s darlings? Before the mid-80s, stories of pit bull attacks are practically non-existent. There is even some confusion over exactly which breed of dog is a pit bull—the definition includes the American pit bull terrier, the Staffordshire terrier and, at times, the bulldog. This confusion seems to have dogged the breed from the beginning, as there is some disagreement over the origin of pit bulls.”

 

            A great resource for learning about Pit Bulls is the world famous Villalobos Rescue Center. Each year, this well known Pit Bull rescue saves hundreds of Pit Bulls that are abandoned, subject to death by Breed Specific Laws or by abuse. It is common for the Pit Bull to be subject to abuse and cruelty just because of the type of dog it is. Villalobos Rescue Center sums the plight of the Pit Bull perfectly in their statement that can be found on their website; “Unfortunately Pit Bulls are their own worst enemy – their loyalty and devotion make them the perfect victim.” People are in fear of Pit Bulls just because of what the media has portrayed to the public. Rarely, if ever, do the media outlets show the positive Pit Bull stories. Never do we hear about the Pit Bulls that alert their owners to house fires or, dogs who are trained to alert when their owners are about to have a seizure. There is one Pit Bull in particular that was treated extremely cruelly as a puppy that is now a therapy dog in nursing homes, hospitals, and schools.  This Pit Bull goes by the name of “Gremlin the Thera Pit”. This dog in particular has made reality in curbing the myths surrounded by the most feared breeds of dogs known as Pit Bulls. Gremlin’s page on stubbydog.org states “Gremlin was also the first pit bull ever accepted into the University Hospitals’ Pet Pals program, which has been around for 24 years.” Gremlin cuddles with the patients whom the dog has never seen or known before. Likewise, children are comforted holding the Gremlin’s paw while reading a book in the classroom.

            Performing a search through Google.com on the words “Pit Bull Myths”, one will find over 475,000 links. Amongst the enormous list of myths of Pit Bulls are “locking jaws”, “tremendous biting force”, and the “inability to get along with other animals”. Debunking the myths surrounding these great dogs is a full time job. Pit Bulls are very social. They get along easily with other animals. Personally, there are over eight cats in my home and three other dogs that get along magnificently with my two Pit Bulls. Upon reading the article “Breed Myths” one will find that Pit Bulls do not have locking jaws, in fact it is impossible for any canine species to have any such capability. “There is absolutely not evidence for the existence of any kind of ’locking mechanism’ unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier, says Dr. I. Lerh Brisbin of the University of Georgia (from the ADBA booklet, “Discover the American Pit Bull Terrier.)” In specialty testing, the biting force pressure for a Pit Bull is “less” than that of a German Shepherd and the Rottweiler. As with other myths, “Pit Bulls have the same nervous system of any other breed, and they can and do feel pain.” This is in accordance to the webpage “The Real Pit Bull” on the page “Breed Myths”.

 

            According to American Temperament Test Society, Incorporated, the American Pit Bull Terrier scored higher than 86.8 percent of other breeds in means of their temperament. According to their website,

“This test simulates a casual walk through a park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog’s ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.”

In other words, they score the dog based on surprise visits from other animals, people, stressful situations and scary situations where the dog may snap, attack or charge. The American Pit Bull Terrier scored better than almost 89% of all other dog breeds. That alone is fairly impressive. The Pit Bull scored higher than the Poodle, Bearded Collie, and even the beloved Chihuahua. All these dogs are seen daily in commercials and in our and our neighbor’s homes.

Many people the world over have heard about the football star named Michael Vick. Mr. Vick is a very wealthy individual that often forced Pit Bulls to fight in a fighting ring or what is better known as a “pit”. More dogs were killed by this man in cruel and inhumane manners due to not being aggressive than those whom were used to fight. These dogs were not aggressive, were not vicious, and simply were not fighters and this is why they were killed. Their lives were cut short by wagging their tails and wanting to show kindness and sympathy as any other breed of dog does on a daily basis.

            If one can open their mind they can clearly see, Pit Bulls are not instinctively dangerous and vicious dogs. They can be taught to fight just as they can be taught to love. Just as any dog, they like to play, snuggle and will alert to anyone pressing the doorbell. On occasion, Pit Bull breeds, along with any other dog breed can and will bite but, one must take into account what was happening when the bite took place. The media tries to sell sensationalism, and a dog that can’t fight back with words, is the best form of attack for the media to use for their stories. Humans must speak up for the discriminated, and this includes the breeds of dogs classified as Pit Bulls. These dogs, just as any other, will aim to please their master. If the master wants them to sit, they will quickly learn to sit. If their master wants them to become aggressive, they must be taught by the human to be aggressive by forcing this behavior upon them. Fear is the basis of the Pit Bull myths and conclusion of the breeds. Due to this fear, cities across America have implemented Breed Specific Laws which ban the breeds of dog deemed as Pit Bulls. Often innocent dogs are immediately put to death by simply having body and facial characteristics of the breeds of Pit Bulls, or simply being of a Pit Bull breed with no regard for the temperament of the individual dog. Perhaps, it is the wrong end of the leash we are blaming for being the vicious killers.

 

 

“The Problems with Dog Bite Studies.”

National Canine Research Council, LLC. 2013.

Web. 26 April. 2013.

<http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dogbites/the-problems-with-dog-bite-studies/>

 

“For Over 150 Years Americans Knew What Pit Bulls Were Famous For. BABYSITTING!”

 Grossman, Yonah Ward. 4 May 2011.

Web. 26 April. 2013.

<http://www.ywgrossman.com/newblog/?p=997>

 

“The Price of Freedom: Americans at War”

National Museum of American History, Behring Center, Smithsonian Institute. 2004.

Web. 27 April. 2013.

<http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=15&gt;

 

“How Did Pit Bulls Get Such a Bad Rap?”

Millan, Cesar.

Web. 26 April. 2013.

<http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/basics/How-Did-Pit-Bulls-Get-a-Bad-Rap>

 

“Pit Bull Facts.”

Villalobos Rescue Center

Web. 26 April. 2013.

<http://www.vrcpitbull.net/dog/training/pit-bull-facts/&gt;

 

“Gremlin the Thera-Pit.”

N.P.

Web. 26 April. 2013.

<http://stubbydog.org/2012/03/gremlin-the-thera-pit/&gt;

 

“Breed Myths.”

The REAL Pit Bull

Web. 26 April. 2013.

<http://www.realpitbull.com/myths.html&gt;

 

“American Temperament Test Society, Inc.”

American Temperament Test Society, Inc.1999 – 2013

Web. 26 April. 2013.

<http://atts.org/&gt;

Pit Bulls Are Not Vicious Dogs

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Way to go Massachusetts!! No More BSL!!

Great news for MA today! The Massachusetts governor has signed into law a comprehensive new statewide animal control law. One of its provisions prohibits municipalities from passing BSL. (We’re working on finding out how this will affect the cities in MA that already have BSL.) Congrats, Massachusetts! The new law should become effective in 90 days.

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About This Blog……

I own three Pit Bulls. Never again will I own any breed but a Pit. They are not the vicious killers the media would want you to believe. They are loyal, playful, fun loving, gentle beasts but don’t get me wrong, they will protect those they love… as one would expect of a dog.

Here is my blog about my favorite breed, the once beloved American mascot, the nanny dog, the Pit Bull (or as I say, Pibble”!)

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ALWAYS ASK BEFORE YOU PET SOMEONE’S DOG.

ALWAYS ASK BEFORE YOU PET SOMEONE’S DOG.
by Eric Bellows
A new study shows just how unprepared kids are when it comes to proper doggie manners. A survey of 300 children by researchers at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medicine Center finds that 43 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 15 failed a simple dog-bite-prevention test. This explains why there’s 4.5 million dog bites a year in the U.S., and many of the victims are children. (See below for the full test, developed by lead study author Cinnamon Dixon, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.)
The good news is that 92 percent of the parents passed the test – but they’re not teaching that knowledge to their kids, apparently. And it does take work. A child’s natural instinct is to reach out and pet a friendly-looking dog. But an innocent pat might look threatening to a dog unaccustomed to children; and a scared dog is a dog that may bite, no matter how well-trained.
How about you? Do you and your kids pass the dog-bite test?

Parents would be smart to teach their kids about the warning signs dog broadcast with their body language, like raised hackles and direct eye contact. But the most important thing – is ALWAYS ASK BEFORE YOU PET SOMEONE’S DOG.

1. You are at a friend’s house and their dog is tied in the yard; do you pet the dog?
2. Your cousin’s dog is playing with a toy; do you run up and take the toy?
3. A mommy dog is nursing her puppies; do you try to pet her or the puppies?
4. Your uncle gets a new dog; do you ask him before petting the dog?
5. Walking home from the bus stop, a strange dog comes near you and starts barking; do you run away?
6. A dog you have never seen before is sniffing a tree in the neighbor’s yard; do you reach out and try to grab the dog?
7. A dog you don’t know runs up to you; do you stand very still and wait for the dog to walk away?

1-No; 2-No; 3-No; 4-Yes; 5-No; 6-No; 7-Yes

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The 5 Most Common Training Mistakes

The 5 Most Common Training Mistakes

Due to their high intelligence and strong desire to please, pit bulls are easier to train than most breeds. In this, they are very much like Golden Retrievers, but with an extra dose of energy and a terrier’s stubborn streak and inventiveness thrown in. So, your demanding handful of a best friend is also a potential obedience champion.

But you don’t want to make these common mistakes:

TRAINING MISTAKE #1: Scolding Your Pit Bull When She Comes to You

Even if she ran off and ignored you when she clearly heard your call, even if you just watched her spend the last hour chasing rabbits while you ran late for an important meeting, DO NOT YELL AT YOUR PIT IF SHE COMES WHEN YOU CALL. Clearly, this goes for all your dogs, not just pit bulls.

A corollary to this is NEVER CALL YOUR DOG TO PUNISH HER.

Why, you might ask? Why not reprimand her for not coming right away, or for running off when you told her not to?

Because if you punish your dog when she finally does come, she is going to associate answering your call with punishment. This doesn’t give her incentive to come in the future; it gives her reason to stay away, and come back later, after you’ve stopped calling.

Look at it from your dog’s point of view. If she thinks, “my human is calling; oh no! What is he going to do to me this time?”, she’ll also think, “why not delay the punishment as long as possible? Maybe the human will be nicer in a couple of hours.”

You want your dog to associate answering your call with good things–affection, treats, and loving behavior. Your dog is far more likely to develop perfect recall if she expects praise and a hug. And aside from life being a lot easier with a canine who comes when you want her to, there are times when it’s absolutely vital that your dog respond immediately to your call.

If you put an extra note of urgency in your voice when she’s heading in the direction of the road or the rattlesnake, you want her thinking, “my human’s calling, gotta head his way,” not “better run away faster!”

TRAINING MISTAKE #2: Rubbing His Nose in It When He Makes a Potty Training Mistake

This will just confuse the dog, and possibly make him afraid to go at all. The correct way to house train your pit bull is to watch him for indications he needs to go, tell him “outside,” and then take him outdoors right away. Once he has gone outside, praise him.

Also take him out at set times, such as when you first get up, before bed, after meals, etc. Dogs thrive on routine. And when you can’t watch the pit bull you’re house training, make sure he is crated. This way you won’t find any unpleasant surprises behind the living room curtain.

Using this method, even an adult rescue who has never lived indoors before will be house trained within a week.

TRAINING MISTAKE #3: Punishing Your Pit Bull for Something That Happened a While Ago

If you walk in and see that your dog shredded the couch, do not begin shouting. She will think she’s being punished for what she is doing now (possibly greeting you at the door, or lying on the floor wagging her tail), not for what she did a long time ago.

And keep in mind, 20 minutes before you got home might be a long time ago in your dog’s mind. You’ll just have to wait until she acts out while you’re around to let her know the particular behavior is not appreciated.

TRAINING MISTAKE #4: Encouraging Bad Behavior

This could also be called “Don’t Be Inconsistent.”

If you don’t want your pit bull begging for table scraps while you’re eating dinner, never give him any. Otherwise he’s going to cutely plead for you to give in again. Once out of every 100 times is more than enough to keep his hopes up.

To give a more problematic example, don’t let your pit bull jump up on you. Even if you don’t mind, visitors may feel differently. Especially with a large, powerful breed such as the pit bull, your unsuspecting guest might get knocked down.

Many people are frightened of pit bulls to begin with, and they’ll be terrified of the careening bundle of joy launching himself into the air to give them a facial with his tongue. Don’t flirt with disaster; make sure your dog knows which behaviors are simply off-limits.

TRAINING MISTAKE #5: Making Training Sessions Too Long

Like human children (and many human adults!), dogs have a relatively short attention span. While individual canines will vary, the ideal training session is usually no longer than 5-15 minutes. After that, it becomes less of a game and more of a chore.

Your pit bull will learn far more from three ten-minute sessions scattered throughout the day than a single lesson taking an hour. This is especially true when training puppies, but it applies to adult dogs too.

There you have it. The mistakes pit bull owners are most likely to make are more or less the same errors trainers of all breeds are most likely to make. You’ll just want to keep in mind that pit bulls, while they can certainly be a stubborn handful, are a little more sensitive than most breeds. Adjust your training accordingly by putting greater emphasis on positive reinforcement and avoiding harsh correctional methods.

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8 Ways to be a Responsible Pit Bull Owner

8 Ways to be a Responsible Pit Bull Owner

Pitbulls are not your average pet. Due to the perceived dangerousness of the breed, it is the duty of every pit bull owner to ensure that they are always responsible, and that their dogs are never out of control.

By being a responsible pit bull owner, you can prove that this breed is as good of a dog as any other.

1. Always Leash

Gone are the days when dogs were allowed to roam free. Although some dogs can get away with off-leash activities, for the pitbull owner there is the responsibility of ensuring that their dog is always in control.

All it takes is one incident with a fussy poodle owner to paint your dog as the “vicious” type. Whenever your dog is outside in a non-fenced area it must be leashed.

2. No Unsupervised Play

Along the same line, whenever your dog is interacting with other dogs, no matter how socialized they are they need to be supervised at all times.

One unfortunate characteristic of the pitbull is that they have incredibly strong jaws and sharp teeth (and can be stubborn with them), meaning that a chance encounter with the wrong type of dog could be disastrous.

3. Always Spay or Neuter

Any type of dog is more volatile when they still have their reproductive organs. Females and males alike become aggressive and have a tendency to escape when it is time to breed, whether you want them to or not. Responsible pet owners should spay or neuter their dogs before they can cause any damage – generally at around six months old.

The only exception is for responsible breeders, who should take precautions to ensure that their females do not interact with other dogs when they are in heat, and that their male dogs are always under control.

4. Socialize with Care

When you have a dog, the first thing you want to do is run down to the closest dog park to let your canine have some fun. Unfortunately, more incidents involving dogs fighting happen here than anywhere else. People tend to be perfectly comfortable with letting their dogs run wild at dog parks and don’t take any notice of poor behavior.

The majority of the time because dogs are worn out and get frustrated with the antics of another dog, which results in an altercation. You are better off attending a class that focuses on good dog behavior, and sticking to long walks and the occasional play date with other well behaved dogs.

5. Exercise Daily

A tired dog is a happy dog, and the pitbull is no different. Since this is considered a high energy breed, owners can expect to spend approximately one hour per day exercising their dogs. Failure to properly exercise a pit bull can result in anxiousness, increased aggression, and destructive habits – such as destroying your favorite pair of shoes.

If you find that walks alone are not burning off significant amounts of energy, then consider enrolling in dog in an agility or fly ball class, or introducing them gently to a treadmill. You will find that with regular exercise your dog is more relaxed and fun to be with.

6. Confine with Confidence

Whether your dog is in your backyard, your basement, or another room of the home when you are not around, you need to ensure that they are safely and securely confined.

Pitbulls are quite intelligent, and if left to their own devices will attempt to open the door or dig under fences. Before you leave your dog at home alone they should ideally be crated, unless you are sure that they will not get into trouble.

In most cases a dog will be happier and safer in a crate when you are gone.

7. Be their Advocate

The best pitbull owners do their best to be advocates for their dogs. The first step is to understand the breed and its challenges before you get a pitbull, and then only do so if you are completely comfortable with handling this breed. The second step is to raise a happy, well adjusted, trained, and properly socialized dog.

You can then show others how great pitbulls can be, and hopefully teach a few people that these dogs are not all they have been portrayed to be.

8. Be Prepared to do the Right Thing

Sometimes, no matter what you do or what type of breed you have, you end up with an unstable dog. Part of being a responsible pitbull owner is knowing when your dog is no longer fit to be around others.

Many adolescent dogs become aggressive for no good reason, and you need to watch for signs that perhaps your dog is one of them. If you have any concerns about your dog you need to take steps to ensure that it cannot hurt anyone. This may mean a muzzle, professional behavioral training, or in severe cases euthanasia. This may be a difficult decision, but it is one all owners of potentially aggressive dogs need to be prepared to make.

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WHAT BREED OF DOG DID CORPORATE AMERICA BANK ON AS THE SYMBOL OF FIDELITY, RELIABILITY, INTELLIGENCE AND UTTER HARMLESSNESS TO CHILDREN?
Let’s pretend…
…that you’re the owner of a large national company that makes only children’s shoes. No adult shoes. Just kid’s. Unlike most other businesses your customer profile is extremely narrow. Pretty much only kid’s Moms buy kid’s shoes. You’ve named your company after a cute seven year old boy and you want that little boy to have a dog. There’s nothing more wholesome than a boy and his dog, but which breed should it be? You know dog breeds have different dispositions. German Shepherds for example are vicious, unreliable, uncontrollable and a movement has been formed to ban them altogether. You know this because the newspaper told you so. What you need is a dog universally known as good with children. A dog that not even the most easily scared, overprotective mother in the country would fear might harm the boy he’s pictured next to on every box of shoes you produce and a dog she has no fear would harm her child should he encounter one. You need a dog that is loved by everyone and known as being the absolute safest with kids. The reputation of your company depends on it. What breed do you choose?

…that you are a famous Hollywood director and you want to make a series of films about little scamps running about getting into all kinds of mischief. They need a dog to come along on their misadventures. You’re going to need a smart dog that learns tricks quickly. Time is money. You need a dog that no one is afraid of. You’re shooting comedies. Most of all you need an obedient dog that can work long hours in difficult conditions with a rotating cast of up to a dozen 5-9 year olds who will, as kids do, pull it’s tail, tug at it’s ears, and poke it in the eye at any given moment. What would be best is if you could find a dog that had an obvious identifying mark like a circle around it’s eye. That way you could use different dogs of the same breed by just painting the mark on any similar looking dog that’s available. You need a breed that will take all sorts of poking and prodding and not nip any of the nippers or your whole career could go right down the drain. The headline, “DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN LETS VICIOUS DOG ON SET” is haunting your dreams. What breed can you safely rely on?

…that you are head of a large, cutting edge corporation producing the world’s finest audio equipment. To show just how advanced you are you want your trademark symbol to be a dog listening to what he believes is his owner’s voice coming from your product. Sound fidelity is what you’re selling so you want a breed identified by it’s fidelity. You also want it to represent intelligence, trustworthiness, and patriotism. What you need is a dog that the whole country thinks of as “America’s Dog”, ever faithful to his master’s voice. Which dog do people see as the country’s mascot?

For over 100 years pitbulls were “America’s Dog”, known for intelligence, faithfulness, sweetness of disposition, and most of all the quality they became renown for, being the safest and most trustworthy dog with children.
This gentle breed, once the country’s mascot and it’s safest canine babysitter, we are now told are vicious, uncontrollable monsters so dangerous they need to be legislated against.
The dogs of course are exactly the same.
Only the owners have changed.

THE CRUELEST TRICK EVER PLAYED ON A BREED OF DOG.