October 20th, 2009
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I was just at a dog “rock fest” which had dozens of rescue group booths. Most of them were for pit bulls and one had a “pay a dollar, get pit bull kisses” booth and sure enough, one buck and you could stand there for hours while Pig the pit bull showed you how much he loved you.
I’m prejudiced, not against but FOR pits, because I own three and they’re wonderful. They’re not ALWAYS wonderful and this is where many pit groups make a mistake – they sometime claim Pits are the best dogs there are and are never any trouble. Not true at all. They’re plenty of trouble but the loyalty, empathy, and fun you get with them makes it worth it. A few rescues are: www.outofthepits.org, www.pittieloverescue.com and www.pbrc.net. Pits make great family dogs, therapy dogs, search dogs, agility dogs – you name it. Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
I am total believer in Pits. I do have 2 “boys” of my own. Thank you for your on-going, positive support of these wonderful dogs!!!!
When my son first started looking for a dog, he wanted a Blue Pitt. The only thing that stopped him was that he didn’t have the $2500, for I wouldn’t allow him to just buy any one.
I love them and would have been there all day getting those kisses.
They aren’t bad dogs, many just have bad owners.
I have 2 pits one rescued from unloving owners and one from the local shelter. They are the best dogs I have ever owned. I also have 2 jack russell terriers and they are also the best dogs I have ever owned. LOL I love both breeds. It takes responsible owners to have either one of these breeds and my dogs are examples of they are what they are tought. My dogs compete in AKC rally obedience and agility. Two of them (1 pit and 1 jack) go to work with me every day and are around other dogs and people daily. At first people were leary of my pitty girl but when they get to know her they can see that not all pits are bad. You only have to watch the animal rescues on tv to see the true nature of these dogs when they are rescued and being helped by stangers they are wagging tails and giving kisses even after suffering abuse at the hands of humans. When I see the things done to these dogs I have to wonder who is the true natural born killer.?
Having been a dog owner for decades( all pound puppies or from rescue groups), not to mention a foster home for many groups over several decades, I have come to the following deep seated conclusion.
Domestic dog behavior, not unlike children, is a DIRECT result of owner values,discipline, respect, love and attention.
More than a cliche, owners DO resemble their pets in appearance. The exact same tenets apply for behavior.
Granted, a Greyhound by breeding is genetically predisposed to sight hunting and speed. A Bloodhound for searching by scent and so on. A Pitbull is breed to to encounter bulls. Not to fight other dogs. The best example of owner induced behavior in my mind is that a chicken, specifically a rooster, is on this earth to fertilize eggs. But can be turned into cock fighter by the owner. Not the animals fault–”THE OWNER”
I rest my case. Keep up the good work.
All the best
Mark Woolfson
luurch@gmail.com
754.224.1531
P.S. please feel free to share my message.
I current own my 5th & 6th pits over the last 25 years. Always have had one around and underfoot. I can’t help but second that they are the most loyal dogs and will give affection when it is shown to them, each has their own traits much like people. That these dogs are exploited for their agressive tendecies by people who should not even be around animials is a shame. Pitts deserved better which is true of any pet that is abused.
Another great rescue is http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/MO122.html
One of our own Dogster’s Sisters 3 spends most her time helping them and working for them. Her husband even re roofed the shelter with free labor and materials so they could have room for the pitties. Their mom’s birthday wish which is November 10th is a $10 donation to the shelter. They do Great work.
Pit bulls have one of the highest passing rates in temperment tests of any dog. The media has blown this heart warming and very loyal dog into a monster. What a shame ole U S A has become, in the search of ratings and idiots who will believe anything they hear on tv. The biggest downfall is you have people that can only see one side of this wonderful dog. Even dog fighters like to have a one sided view ,but this dog is a athlete a competitor and he will be fore ever your friend. I would hope that more people would look at this wonderful animal and see more than some negative story some idiot reporter did just to bring in ratings.If you were to get one you would not be dissapointed.
We too own a Pit Bull and have since he was 5 weeks old and he is 7 years old now. I have had quite a few dogs in my lifetime and our Pit is the most lovable, loyal, and happy dog I have ever had. If another dog shows aggression towards him he will hold his own if need be – but what dog doesn’t? I have never had any incidences with our dog, he minds his own business!
It is terrible that they ALL get a bad rap for some of the things that people do with them. They should not be allowed to own a dog of any kind. They are like children, if you raise them right you have no trouble with them.
Give a Pit a chance – they are awesome dogs!
I also love those Pits! Children, other animals-they can take them all in stride. I worry much more about my Lab/Boxer mix around strangers than I do my Pit boy.
Since my granddaughter was born. she’s been one of them. The female Pit jumped ever so softly on the bed where the newborn was lying & curled herself around the baby’s head. My male Pit is her willing slave. I do believe that Pits & most of the bully breeds mature slower than other dogs and we just don’t give them a chance before we are dumping them off at shelters. Contrary to popular opinion, they do feel pain; they just don’t show it. Painful methods of training-like shock collars-don’t work. Consistancy & patience do.
I agree with this post wholeheartedly. I recently adopted a very abused APBT with scars all over his face and body, and buckshot. This poor pit was chained, used as a bait dog, abused, re-abused, adopted, neglected, brought back, on euth list twice but only saved because through it all he’s still so sweet that they couldn’t put him down. I knew I had to take this guy – His name is Lenny and he gets along great with my rescued GSD, my mother’s Mini Schnauzer and my cat… He’s also superior to reading my body language for correction than any dog I’ve ever had. He’s really a great dog. I get a lot of looks – after all… He’s a pit bull and has scars on his face too, but I don’t care. I think he’s gorgeous and people who have a problem with him have a problem with themselves because they’re so gullible to the news. People NEED something to fear it seems… Technically the bathtub is more scary because more people drown in 5 gallons of water than are killed by a pit bull. He’s a real testament to the breed’s temperament stability, and to dogs in general.
My rescued Pitt is the most lovable of all the dogs I’ve ever had. And so loyal, did you know they call them the “Nanny Dog” in England. All of us need to do everything we can to help put a stop to dog fighting and to make the laws and sentences must stiffer for those who fight dogs.
Thanks for all the wonderful posts and info. I love the cock fighting analogy. While I do think pits in general are fantastic, I realize there may be a rotten apple in the bunch, as with any other breed or mix. But my experience is very similar to everyone’s here.
- Kelly
Ethel:
I don’t know if your son is interested, but there are lots of blue pit bull puppies up for adoption. Do a Google search. This site http://adopt-a-pit-bull.adoptapet.com/ lets you choose location, sex, color, and age.
- K.
i totally agree..i also have 3 american pit bulls and they are the most loyal and loving dogs..always eager to please me! mine also give kisses on command! there are challenges w/ any dog or animal, but i love my dogs more than life! pits are so misunderstood.