Pit Ed Information * COURTESY OF BADRAP - SAN FRANCISCO, CA *
Pit Bulls are Social Butterflies
Your dog will LOVE to go places with you to see the sights and visit with your friends, family, and strangers on the street.
The Flip-side: Over the last 20 years or so, the pit bull has fallen victim to the careless deeds of unethical breeders, irresponsible and even shady owners. This bad combination, along with the handiwork of a sensationalist media, has done a terrible thing to our beloved breed. As a result, myths, misdeeds, misunderstanding and hysteria abound! When you walk around with your lovable bully, you'll no doubt encounter people who'll be afraid of her or who give you trouble for having a Pit Bull.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: By taking your well behaved bully out into the world, you'll have the pleasant opportunity to talk to lots of folks that you meet. By doing so, you can help dispel the myths about pit bulls as you proudly show off your dog. Hanging out at the local coffee shop with your lovable pit bull by your side will probably bring you more interesting conversations then you ever thought possible. And undoubtedly, you'll be making friends while you're busy changing minds. Enjoy!
The Other Flip-side: on the Social Butterfly of the Dog World - American Pit Bull Terriers (APBTs) make lousy guard dogs! They may bark at a burglar looking in the window, but will lick his hand and show him to the stereo once he's in the house. The thief may even try to steal your Pit Bull! Do NOT get an APBT if you want a guard dog. Consider a burglar alarm instead.
Pit Bulls are Agile, Athletic and FUN
The Flip-side: Pit bulls can be Escape Artists!
Many can climb tall fences, dig underneath, or Houdini their way out of the most secure yards. Many are forever lost or stolen once they're out. Owners should provide a very secure set-up and supervise all play when the dog is outdoors, and keep him indoors when no one's home. Always have a collar and tags on your dog in case they do get lost. Microchip your pet too! Animal shelters are so crowded that they can't hold lost dogs for more than a few days and yours could be destroyed before you can find her if she isn't tagged and/or micro-chipped.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: Pit Bulls are impressive dogs to show off in agility work, flyball, and other exciting dog sports. You can utilize a Pit Bull's athletic talents by having a great time with your pooch in ways that may surprise you.
Pit Bulls Form Very Strong Bonds with their Owners
The Flip-side: This friendship comes with a price tag. You'll have to honor your dog's loyalty and devotion and be ready to commit LOTS of quality time (at least 2 hours a day) to your pet for life. To banish your dog to the backyard or leave him alone for long periods of time for weeks on end can cause him to become depressed, and/or destructive.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: The more time you spend with your Pit Bull, the more you'll enjoy him. And isn't that why you wanted a dog in the first place?
Your dog will LOVE to go places with you to see the sights and visit with your friends, family, and strangers on the street.
The Flip-side: Over the last 20 years or so, the pit bull has fallen victim to the careless deeds of unethical breeders, irresponsible and even shady owners. This bad combination, along with the handiwork of a sensationalist media, has done a terrible thing to our beloved breed. As a result, myths, misdeeds, misunderstanding and hysteria abound! When you walk around with your lovable bully, you'll no doubt encounter people who'll be afraid of her or who give you trouble for having a Pit Bull.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: By taking your well behaved bully out into the world, you'll have the pleasant opportunity to talk to lots of folks that you meet. By doing so, you can help dispel the myths about pit bulls as you proudly show off your dog. Hanging out at the local coffee shop with your lovable pit bull by your side will probably bring you more interesting conversations then you ever thought possible. And undoubtedly, you'll be making friends while you're busy changing minds. Enjoy!
The Other Flip-side: on the Social Butterfly of the Dog World - American Pit Bull Terriers (APBTs) make lousy guard dogs! They may bark at a burglar looking in the window, but will lick his hand and show him to the stereo once he's in the house. The thief may even try to steal your Pit Bull! Do NOT get an APBT if you want a guard dog. Consider a burglar alarm instead.
Pit Bulls are Agile, Athletic and FUN
The Flip-side: Pit bulls can be Escape Artists!
Many can climb tall fences, dig underneath, or Houdini their way out of the most secure yards. Many are forever lost or stolen once they're out. Owners should provide a very secure set-up and supervise all play when the dog is outdoors, and keep him indoors when no one's home. Always have a collar and tags on your dog in case they do get lost. Microchip your pet too! Animal shelters are so crowded that they can't hold lost dogs for more than a few days and yours could be destroyed before you can find her if she isn't tagged and/or micro-chipped.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: Pit Bulls are impressive dogs to show off in agility work, flyball, and other exciting dog sports. You can utilize a Pit Bull's athletic talents by having a great time with your pooch in ways that may surprise you.
Pit Bulls Form Very Strong Bonds with their Owners
The Flip-side: This friendship comes with a price tag. You'll have to honor your dog's loyalty and devotion and be ready to commit LOTS of quality time (at least 2 hours a day) to your pet for life. To banish your dog to the backyard or leave him alone for long periods of time for weeks on end can cause him to become depressed, and/or destructive.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: The more time you spend with your Pit Bull, the more you'll enjoy him. And isn't that why you wanted a dog in the first place?
Dog Aggression Happens!
As in many breeds, dog tolerance levels can range from very Dog Social to very Dog Aggressive. Most pit bulls fall somewhere in between. Even with the big help of socialization and obedience training, this confident breed can be pushed to fight if sufficiently challenged by another dog. This big bravado can cause you and your dog BIG trouble if not understood and not managed well, especially in today's anti-pit bull climate. To make things even more confusing, dog tolerance levels can shift: Late maturing puppies can lose their forgiving nature as they grow older, catching many pit bull owners by surprise. And in other cases, Dog Aggressive adults can become much more Dog Tolerant with training and socializing opportunities. A large part of a dog's success with other dogs depends on the individual bag of genetics he inherits and how well he is managed, not "How he was raised". No wonder so many are confused about the breed!
No matter what your dog's tolerance is for other dogs, it's your responsibility to keep him well socialized and properly managed around other dogs, especially dogs he doesn't know. Good management is KEY and must be kept up for the life of your pet. This includes avoiding rushed leash greets, doing sloooow introductions with potential dog friends and eagle-eye supervision during doggie play sessions. A pit bull that shows leash aggression by pulling at the leash on city streets straining to bark and snarl at other dogs does NOT make a good impression and should be trained ASAP. To prevent trouble, all pit bull owners should stay very alert to the different types of things that could trigger your dog into a dogfight (tug-of-war? chew toys? escalated play? etc). Leaving terrier breeds alone together unattended, no matter how much they "love each other" is unwise. Trust us! Separate your dogs when you aren't there and you'll never have to worry about them getting into a big bad argument while you're away.
Pit Bulls can be Butt Heads!
While pit bulls are bred to be gushy, affectionate and all-loving with people, they can certainly be pushy and willful. They'll happily run your household for you if you don't set up consistent guidelines and clear household rules. This means you'll need to be a fair, decisive leader. Obedience training is the way to a happy household. If you're a first class softie and committed push-over, you may want to look for a different breed.
Note: With Pit bulls, Animal Aggression is a completely different behavior from Human Aggression. They've been traditionally bred to be very people friendly. Any pit bull that demonstrates unworkable aggression towards people is revealing a substandard temperament and may need to be humanely euthanized.
The Bright-side on this Trait: Pit bulls are highly intelligent and typically excel in obedience work. Because your dog loves you completely and wants to please you, he'll very likely end up being one of the most impressive, best trained dogs in the neighborhood. Enjoy your opportunity to be a Pit Bull Show Off!
Pit bulls Love to Swim, Run, Play Frisbee and Romp in the Great Outdoors
The Flip-side: Finding places where your dog can run offlead can be very difficult, if not impossible! Many areas don't allow pit bulls to be offlead and areas that do can be difficult places to visit. If your dog gets in a fight with another dog, things could go very badly very fast. You may be the one to get into trouble and your dog could end up in jail, even if he wasn't the one to start the fight. Because of the current prejudice against pit bulls, because your pit bull can cause a lot of damage to another dog, and because it's impossible to completely avoid poorly managed loose aggressive dogs in the parks (this includes YOUR dog if you're not on top of his dog aggression potential!), smart owners of mature bull breeds choose to play it safe and steer clear of these places in favor of safer options.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: Because many pit bulls tend to be happier around dogs that they know, you may be able to find or create 'play groups' where your dog can regularly visit with other dog 'friends' for fun and exercise. Both and you and your dog will benefit from the extra socialization.
The Other Flip-side: Pit bulls can be very active dogs that need a LOT of run around time and exercise. Don't get a young pit bull if you live your life in the slow lane.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: Your dog will nudge you into getting in shape, like it or not! We like to say "A tired pit bull is a happy pit bull". So your runaround time spent exercising your dog will reflect in your improved health and happy outdoor glow. Enjoy!
As in many breeds, dog tolerance levels can range from very Dog Social to very Dog Aggressive. Most pit bulls fall somewhere in between. Even with the big help of socialization and obedience training, this confident breed can be pushed to fight if sufficiently challenged by another dog. This big bravado can cause you and your dog BIG trouble if not understood and not managed well, especially in today's anti-pit bull climate. To make things even more confusing, dog tolerance levels can shift: Late maturing puppies can lose their forgiving nature as they grow older, catching many pit bull owners by surprise. And in other cases, Dog Aggressive adults can become much more Dog Tolerant with training and socializing opportunities. A large part of a dog's success with other dogs depends on the individual bag of genetics he inherits and how well he is managed, not "How he was raised". No wonder so many are confused about the breed!
No matter what your dog's tolerance is for other dogs, it's your responsibility to keep him well socialized and properly managed around other dogs, especially dogs he doesn't know. Good management is KEY and must be kept up for the life of your pet. This includes avoiding rushed leash greets, doing sloooow introductions with potential dog friends and eagle-eye supervision during doggie play sessions. A pit bull that shows leash aggression by pulling at the leash on city streets straining to bark and snarl at other dogs does NOT make a good impression and should be trained ASAP. To prevent trouble, all pit bull owners should stay very alert to the different types of things that could trigger your dog into a dogfight (tug-of-war? chew toys? escalated play? etc). Leaving terrier breeds alone together unattended, no matter how much they "love each other" is unwise. Trust us! Separate your dogs when you aren't there and you'll never have to worry about them getting into a big bad argument while you're away.
Pit Bulls can be Butt Heads!
While pit bulls are bred to be gushy, affectionate and all-loving with people, they can certainly be pushy and willful. They'll happily run your household for you if you don't set up consistent guidelines and clear household rules. This means you'll need to be a fair, decisive leader. Obedience training is the way to a happy household. If you're a first class softie and committed push-over, you may want to look for a different breed.
Note: With Pit bulls, Animal Aggression is a completely different behavior from Human Aggression. They've been traditionally bred to be very people friendly. Any pit bull that demonstrates unworkable aggression towards people is revealing a substandard temperament and may need to be humanely euthanized.
The Bright-side on this Trait: Pit bulls are highly intelligent and typically excel in obedience work. Because your dog loves you completely and wants to please you, he'll very likely end up being one of the most impressive, best trained dogs in the neighborhood. Enjoy your opportunity to be a Pit Bull Show Off!
Pit bulls Love to Swim, Run, Play Frisbee and Romp in the Great Outdoors
The Flip-side: Finding places where your dog can run offlead can be very difficult, if not impossible! Many areas don't allow pit bulls to be offlead and areas that do can be difficult places to visit. If your dog gets in a fight with another dog, things could go very badly very fast. You may be the one to get into trouble and your dog could end up in jail, even if he wasn't the one to start the fight. Because of the current prejudice against pit bulls, because your pit bull can cause a lot of damage to another dog, and because it's impossible to completely avoid poorly managed loose aggressive dogs in the parks (this includes YOUR dog if you're not on top of his dog aggression potential!), smart owners of mature bull breeds choose to play it safe and steer clear of these places in favor of safer options.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: Because many pit bulls tend to be happier around dogs that they know, you may be able to find or create 'play groups' where your dog can regularly visit with other dog 'friends' for fun and exercise. Both and you and your dog will benefit from the extra socialization.
The Other Flip-side: Pit bulls can be very active dogs that need a LOT of run around time and exercise. Don't get a young pit bull if you live your life in the slow lane.
The Bright-side on the Flip-side: Your dog will nudge you into getting in shape, like it or not! We like to say "A tired pit bull is a happy pit bull". So your runaround time spent exercising your dog will reflect in your improved health and happy outdoor glow. Enjoy!
Pit Bulls Love Kids
Its a well known fact - Well managed, responsibly owned pit bulls are some of the best family dogs. The American Canine Temperament Test Society lists this breed as having one of the most stable temperaments of any of the purebreds, right up there with golden retrievers.
Many APBTs go out of their way to lick little faces and will wag, wag, wag their tails when they see a child. Many will let kids pull their ears, climb on their backs and, rough and tumble fans that they are, will love every minute of rugged kid-style attention.
The Flip-side: These are strong, active dogs and can knock smaller sized kids down in their exuberance. * As with ANY breed, no dog should ever be left alone with a young child -- But you already knew that!
Pit Bulls are Clean Animals with Short Coats
These handsome hunks have few grooming needs and are generally easy to care for.
The Flip-side: APBTs don't like to be left out in the cold. Your pit bull will want to be where its warm: inside with you! She may even insist on sneaking under your covers with you.
The Brightside on the Flip-side: They'll keep you warm while trying to keep themselves warm. And, they look great in groovy little winter dog jackets and sweaters
Its a well known fact - Well managed, responsibly owned pit bulls are some of the best family dogs. The American Canine Temperament Test Society lists this breed as having one of the most stable temperaments of any of the purebreds, right up there with golden retrievers.
Many APBTs go out of their way to lick little faces and will wag, wag, wag their tails when they see a child. Many will let kids pull their ears, climb on their backs and, rough and tumble fans that they are, will love every minute of rugged kid-style attention.
The Flip-side: These are strong, active dogs and can knock smaller sized kids down in their exuberance. * As with ANY breed, no dog should ever be left alone with a young child -- But you already knew that!
Pit Bulls are Clean Animals with Short Coats
These handsome hunks have few grooming needs and are generally easy to care for.
The Flip-side: APBTs don't like to be left out in the cold. Your pit bull will want to be where its warm: inside with you! She may even insist on sneaking under your covers with you.
The Brightside on the Flip-side: They'll keep you warm while trying to keep themselves warm. And, they look great in groovy little winter dog jackets and sweaters