Pet Pitbull - Breed Info

A WORD ABOUT AGGRESSION

In the following sections I will discuss aggression in the American Pit Bull Terrier. It is VERY important to note that, in dogs, and especially with this particular breed, aggression toward humans (called human aggression) is a COMPLETELY separate trait from aggression toward dogs (dog aggression) and/or other animals (animal aggression). While a dog may be both human and animal aggressive, the presence of one kind of aggression DOES NOT mandate or exclude the presence of the other.

TEMPERAMENT, WHAT IS IT?

Simply put, temperament is those behavioral traits and mental attitudes shared by canines and combined with the special characteristics proper to a certain dog breed. Newfoundlands for example, like water and love children, that is part of the breed's temperament. A Newfoundland that hates to swim or growls at a child is showing improper temperament for the breed. When a person talks about the temperament of their chosen breed, they are describing those traits which most good examples of the breed will have, rather than describing a specific dog. A dog who posses all or most of the characteristics expected for their breed is said to have a proper temperament. This is why it is very important to know about your chosen breed's temperament and research its specific traits, preferably before you commit to a dog. You may find out that eventhough you like the "look" of a certain breed, the temperament is not for you.

A WORD ABOUT BREED HISTORY

Much of a dog's temperament relates to it's breed history and genetic inheritance. I won't go too deep into the history of the Pit Bull as there are many good books and websites that cover the origin and history of the breed. It is common knowledge however, that the Pit Bull breed was developed for blood sports: Bull baiting, bear baiting, and later, dogfighting. What is not common knowledge is that in the days of organized dogfighting, the handlers of the combatants were habitually IN THE PIT with the dogs for the duration of the fight. They were required to pick up and separate the dogs several times while the dogs were in full fight frenzy. Before the fight, the handlers were required to wash each other's dogs, and after the fight, the badly injured dogs were often treated at ringside by strangers. Any dog that attacked or bit a handler (even if it was the other dog's handler) or anyone else at any time was culled, often on the spot, and would never have been bred.

This bit of history will help explain much of the apparently (to novices) contradictory traits common in this breed.

SO, WHAT IS THE PROPER PIT BULL TEMPERAMENT?

As with all breeds, the Pit Bull has positive and negative traits in their temperament. Their breed history has led to a dog unlike any other in the history of purebred dogs. What can you expect from an APBT? First and foremost, memorize the following: THE GOLDEN RULE OF PIT BULL OWNERSHIP- NEVER TRUST YOUR PIT BULL NOT TO FIGHT!!!!! This breed is descended from pit dogs one way or another, and, given the right circumstances, most Pit Bulls will fight and against any other breed, they will win (you really don't want to see that!). Scared yet? You should be. Remember, as the owner of a Pit Bull everything you or your dog do will affect all members of the breed and their families. Pit Bull owners have to be extra vigilant 24/7, period. You need to be receptive, have strong leadership, and be able to read canine body language to recognize signs of tension between housemates. You need to be prepared to separate the dogs if tensions develop. You need to know when your dog may become aggressive and you need to have control of your dog under any circumstances.

Sound like a lot of work and hassle? It is. So, what's the payoff? The payoff is: A well-raised pit bull of proper temperament is the most loyal and loving dog in the world, bar none. This is a dog that truly LOVES people, especially children. Pits are notorious clowns, and will Always make you laugh, even in spite of yourself. They are intelligent, and will often "invent" games to keep themselves amused. They seem to subsist on love and attention, and will do almost anything for a little special "loves n hugs" time. They tolerate the rough play of children, loving every minute of it, and, although poor "guard dogs" for property, they will willingly give their lives to save the people they love. Thousands of responsible owners have dedicated themselves to this breed for it's positive traits and willingly deal with the negatives.

T0 SUMMARIZE THE PROPER PIT BULL TEMPERAMENT

1. Pit Bulls are often dog-aggressive to one extent or another (this often shows up at or near sexual maturity). A dog that was previously non-dog aggressive may "turn-on" and suddenly doesn't like other dogs of the same sex, or, for that matter, any dogs at all, even housemates they have been raised with. Adult Pit Bulls should NEVER be left alone with other dogs and require proper supervision.

2. Pit Bulls may exhibit intense "prey drive", leading them to "stalk" small animals such as cats, rats, chickens, livestock, or other pets.

3. Pit Bulls are precocious and incomparable escape artists, who will often seem to squirt right out of a supposedly secure yard or enclosure. When coupled with # 1 and # 2, you can see why a responsible Pit Bull owner is a vigilant pit bull owner.

4. Pit bulls are intelligent, and most enjoy training, if it is done properly. This makes them excellent prospects for dog sports such as agility, obedience, weight pull, and Frisbee competitions.

5. Pit Bulls tend to LOVE people. All people. This makes them a poor choice for a "guardian breed". Most of them are simply too friendly to protect a house against strangers. A Pit Bull that shows unprovoked human aggression (puppy play nips do NOT count) is showing BAD temperament and in most cases should be put to sleep. Such a dog should obviously NEVER be bred under any circumstances. The breeding of dogs with bad temperaments is one of the largest problems the breed faces today and fuels the fire of breed specific legislation.

7. Pit bulls tend to be very "soft" with their family, meaning that they are eager to please their humans. They should not have to be "shown who's boss", but will thrive under "positive leadership". A Pit Bull of proper temperament is a devoted and loving family member, inspiring immense loyalty to the breed. You will often hear a Pit Bull's owner tell you that after owning one, they will never own any other breed.

THE PHYSICAL PIT BULL

Built for performance, the pit bull is a medium sized, very muscular, short coated breed. The head is bricklike, the jaws strong and wide, the ears may be cropped or not (I prefer uncropped dogs for several reasons). The body is typically very strong, with a deep chest, powerful and proportionate hind end and solid legs. The overall impression should be of power and athleticism. This is not a dog for couch potatoes, as it requires A LOT of training and exercise. With this breed it is important to remember to exercise both the dog's body and mind. Remember, a tired pit bull is a happy pit bull and a bored pit bull is NOT a good thing! They will find some very inventive ways to entertain themselves that the owner may not like (often involving the garbage can, kitchen counter and cabinets, feather pillows, dirty laundry and various items of furniture).

Remember also, that this is a VERY enthusiastic breed that may very well overwhelm young children or older people with it's affection. This breed needs to be taught to sit and greet people calmly as it's natural inclination will probably be to climb into their lap, put a paw on each of their shoulders, and attempt to wipe their face off with it's tongue. Attempts to convince a full grown pit bull that it is too big to be a "lap dog" will, more often than not, fall on deaf ears if it was not taught "manners" as a puppy. Do not allow your puppy to do anything you don't want your adult dog to do (eg climb on the couch, sleep in the bed, invade your lap, etc.).

TRAINING

First of all, for anyone asking the question, "Do I need to train my pit bull?", the answer is a resounding YES! As with very young children, dogs need guidance and structure, and should never be left to make decisions on their own. Training teaches the dog and owner to understand and communicate with each other and prevents misunderstandings. In the case of the Pit Bull, training also prevents the kind of headlines that make all good Pit owners cringe.

How should a pit bull be trained? The most important thing is to find a method that works for your dog, and stick with it. There are almost as many methods for dog training as there are dog trainers. Most of those methods fit into one of two categories: Positive training methods or aversive training methods. Positive methods include using food rewards, toy rewards, pure praise, gentle leaders, and clickers. Aversive methods include using praise/correction, choke chains, prong collars, and/or shock collars. Both types of training, done correctly, will result in a trained dog. It is a matter of how you want to get there. As I said in the temperament section, Pit Bulls tend to be very "soft" with their families, and it is very possible to ruin a good dog by "over correcting" with a choke chain, prong collar, and particularly a shock collar. As a very good positive trainer I know put it, "Aversive training is something you do TO your dog, positive training is something you do WITH your dog".

Finding a good trainer can be a bit of a challenge, depending on where you live. Some things to look for are: Experience with the breed (or at least no breed prejudice against Pit Bulls and a good understanding of the breed's nature), what methods are used (and are you comfortable with them), recommendations from former students, and, last but not least, take a look at the trainer's own dogs (are they well behaved). The best way to assess a trainer's methods is to ask to "sit in" on a training session. If the trainer refuses to let you watch, look elsewhere.

As a special note for Pit Bulls: I would avoid any class that has "forced socialization" between the dogs, particularly adult dogs. Any trainer that wants to muzzle a dog-aggressive pit bull and force it to "socialize" with other dogs is not knowledgeable in the breed , and can actually make dog aggression worse.

Suggested Resource: Turnaround Dog-Training

WHAT IS SOCIALIZATION?

Socialization means introducing your dog to people, and to a lesser extent, to dogs and/or other animals. It is extremely important to socialize a pup of any breed with people, but be sure that the pup's experiences are ALWAYS positive. The pup should meet all kinds of adults and as many respectful children as possible. Socialization with people should be part of your dog's training for his/her entire life. Relegating a dog to the backyard or keeping it chained 24/7 can lead to a real disaster. If you are not willing to socialize and train a dog, please don't get one. Socialization with dogs is a little different for pit bulls.

Socializing a puppy with other dogs may reduce the amount of dog aggression the pup will develop, and many pit puppies get along with other dogs when they are young. As the dog matures, ALWAYS be on the lookout for signs of aggression with other dogs, and be prepared to break up a spat or fight, should one happen. It is up to you, the owner, to decide whether or not to introduce your adult pit bull to other dogs. The amount of dog aggression in an adult pit bulls varies from no aggression at all to a dog that sees ANY other dog as a Happy-Meal with legs, so there are no hard and fast rules. Just remember that as the owner of a pit bull, any fight will always be your fault, no matter who started it.

More about socialization

I feel that to the general public, socialization = allowing dogs to be off leash together. Either playing or figuring out the hierarchy themselves. This is where people get into trouble. It doesn't have to be this way at all. Being in an obedience class situation in which a dog does NOT get to 'say hi' to every dog IS socialization! We have to remember that it's not normal for adult dogs to come together and play, be friends and interact. This goes against dog behavior. (Especially pit bull behavior!)

I feel the definition of 'socialize' needs to be readdressed. I know that my dogs are wonderfully socialized because they can be with me around other dogs and not freak out. I would never force my guys to be what they are not. They will never be Golden Retrievers! I would never force my guys to interact with another dog which is ill mannered or foul tempered. That's breaking the trust factor. I'm the leader and protector in my family. My guys trust me because I would never put them into a situation in which harm would come to them. There's where the parenting skills come into play.

When an owner allows their dog to 'work it out' on it's own in a dog park, lack of trust is inevitable. That poor dog is out there all alone with no one to protect it. Scary stuff! They have to learn pretty quickly to protect themselves at all costs. They know that no one will come to save them if something does happen. These are the same owners who ask me, "But, why doesn't he listen to me?" Well, it's pretty obvious! That poor dog is living in a house full of people and still has no one to trust and believe in. No
one to look up to. No one to make those hard desicions in life. They have no 'pack' to watch out for them. I feel that's very sad. (Also, have you ever wondered why dogs 'gang up' when at the dog park? They're finally able to have that pack feeling of safety that they don't get at home.)

My definition of 'well socialized' is...The dog being able to be with me in what the dog deems to be scary situations or around other dogs and not have a panic attack. (Notice I didn't say off leash with other dogs!)

Cinimon Clark
Turnaround Dog-Training

DOG PARKS

If you enjoy off-leash dog parks, you don't want to hear this. But I am going to tell you anyway. If you choose to become the owner of a Pit Bull, your dog park days are almost surely over, at least when the dog is somewhere over 8 months old. Accidental dogfights in off-leash parks are common, but when a Pit Bull is involved, they are headlines. Following Pit Bull Golden Rule #1 "NEVER trust your pit bull not to fight", you can see why off-leash parks are a very bad idea for our breed. As a Pit Bull owner, you have certain responsibilities. Your responsibility to your dog (to keep him/her out of trouble), your responsibility to other dog owners (to keep their dogs safe from your dog), and your responsibility to your breed (to keep your dog OUT of negative headlines). Even pit bulls that have never exhibited dog aggression may fight back if approached by the wrong dog in an aggressive manner. I will repeat this for you. As the owner of a pit bull, any fight will always be your fault, no matter who started it.

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF PIT BULL OWNERSHIP

1. Thou shalt NEVER trust thy Pit Bull not to fight

2. Thou shalt contain thy Pit Bull securely when not supervised by an adult

3. Thou shalt NEVER leave thy adult Pit Bull alone and unsupervised with another dog

4. Thou SHALT attend obedience classes most faithfully with thy Pit Bull

5. Thou SHALT keep thy Pit Bull socialized with ALL KINDS of people

6. Thy Pit Bull wilt NEVER be allowed off-leash in a public place

7. Thy Pit Bull wilt NEVER be allowed to roam free in thy neighborhood, EVER!

8. Thou SHALT take thy well trained Pit Bull out in public and show him/her off - on leash for good breed PR!

9. Thy Pit Bull shalt go forth into the world as an ambassador of the pit bull breed

10. THOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WRONG DONE BY THY DOGS!

TOYS

For dogs of all breeds, toys are not "extras", they are essentials. Chewing on toys allows dogs to relieve stress and boredom. Dogs who are not given their own toys to chew on will usually appropriate something of yours (and it probably will cost more than a whole BUNCH of dog toys), so save yourself a headache, and your $110 Nike sneakers, and get your dog some toys. Which toys should you get for a pit bull? Well, let's face it. Our pups tend to "kill" toys much faster than most breeds. They are strong dogs that require strong toys. I list here several kinds of dog toys and a few edible chews below with my personal experiences with them.

1. Kong toys - In my opinion, these are the best toys on the market for Pit Bulls. A few Pits will rip them apart, but most just love them. I get the black ones in the XL size. Kongs can be stuffed with peanut butter or treats and a stuffed Kong will often keep a Pit occupied for at least 2 hours. Be sure to get a real Kong, not a Rhino toy (which looks like a Kong). The Rhino is softer rubber and Nala chewed it to bits in about an hour.

2. Rope tugs/toys/dental ropes - These are good toys, although some are expensive. The dental ropes can be had at Wal-Mart for about $5.00 and help "floss" the teeth. You will, however, have little bits of rope all over the house. Should only be allowed under supervision.

3. Balls - My favorite kind of balls are the hard plastic ones called "Best Ball" or "Boomer Ball". Do not let your Pit chew on them, however, as they can wear or damage a dog's teeth if gnawed on. Most Pits will deflate soccer and basket balls, so get these at thrift stores. Tennis balls, even the large ones made for dogs don't stand a chance with an adult Pit Bull.

4. Nylabone Dental Chews - Another good toy for Pits. Just be sure they are not Gumabones (too soft) unless you have a young puppy. I get the largest sizes of most of their dental chews occasionally.

5. Galileo Bone - One of the strongest dog toys made. I recommend this one, that is, if you can get over the shape........

6. Rawhide - This is one thing my dogs are NOT allowed to have. If a chunk of rawhide is torn off and swallowed, it will not digest and can block a dog's intestines. My dogs are allowed to have the chopped rawhide sticks, and only occasionally since rawhide isn't really that good for them. It's also an important trigger for conflicts.

7. Bully sticks - This is a smoked, dried bull's penis (really, I swear!). Since Bully sticks are muscle, they do digest and will not break off in chunks like rawhide. My dogs love these things. They are a little pricey, but can be gotten for a decent price at dog shows or pet expos. Always supervise the dogs if you give these treats to a Pit in a multiple dog household.

8. Ligament chews - These are also OK for Pits to have, but they are crunchy and will not last as long as a Bully Stick. Again, could cause conflicts.

9. Real Bones - Raw bones are OK for dogs to have, I try to get beef knuckles. However, in multi-dog households, these bones can also lead to fights, so be vigilant. I VERY occasionally give the sterilized filled bones from the pet store (if they have very thick, large ones), but these are somewhat brittle and can splinter, so I always supervise with those.

NEVER give a dog cooked chicken or other small cooked bones, as cooked bones can shatter into sharp shards and perforate various organs inside the dog, requiring immediate surgery. It is actually best to avoid cooked bones altogether, stick with the raw ones.

Source: Pit Bull Breed Info

Special Thanks to Susan Thompson for taking the time to write this excellent breed-information

RELATED LINKS
PBRC Breed-Information	PBRC Fight-Information
About The Pit Bull Breed	Pros and cons of owning a PitBull
Things to consider "before"	The basics for a safe & happy PitBull
Gentle & courageous pet; victim of bad press	Inherently vicious? Definitely not!

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