Ewe: That was a good article that you posted...and it applies to ALL dogs..NOT just Pits.A dog,is a dog,is a dog.They are ALL animals,they are ALL capible (even poodles) of fighting,biting (I think the worst bites I have gotten were those darned ankle biters,lol....weinerdogs LOVED getting me)

 My GSD's are also bred to withstand pain and not back down until the job is done..I have no doubt in my mind that Damien would die to save me.He is a trained protection dog and THAT is what he is trained for.He comes from sound and stable breeding and a bloodline that was bred FOR the stability.

 The Dalmatian that is my profile pic...we had $100,000 worth of insurance on HIM because of how aggressive he was.He didn't care who or what you were..he WOULD attack you,and attack you to kill you,unprovoked.We knew this and we took precautions to NOT allow this to happen..we were RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS that didn't allow the dog to RUN AROUND THE NIEGHBORHOOD,or let strangers aproach him (although he LOVED his vet...go figure that one out,LMAO!!) He was very badly bred (I'm sure inbred without a care to the dogs themselves...their in lies the HUGH difference between a good breeder that keeps bloodlines seperate,and will NOT breed an unsound dog and a backyard..oh he's an ACK bloodline breeder) and he wasn't well socialized when we got him.

 The comment about pits wanting to fight other dogs is dead on target..THAT is why you must be responsible about owning them.It is important to seperate ANY dogs when they are unsupervised..people get on each others nerves..so do dogs..we just don't usually fight it out like they do (unless your my nieghbors on either side of me...then ya fight with each other )

 I would never EVER leave ANY dog alone with a kid either..they again...THEY ARE DOGS!! To hold an ENTIRE breed responsible is ridiculious.The BREEDERS and THE OWNERS MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE...Not only do laws NEED to be in place for the owners the fight and abuse them but for the breeders that run these mills or just keep pumpin out the pups strictly for fighting.But the thing is...ok..so they can't get a pit in the city without bringing alot of attention to themselves..so they will bring a dobe....that goes on for awhile and then what...ban them too?? so they bring in a Mastiff...so we ban them too....see how this snowballs?? THAT is why you must PUNISH the DEED NOT THE BREED.

 Please take the time to read the links I have posted.

http://www.pitbulllovers.com/pitbulls-therapy-dogs-kentucky.html

http://www.workingpitbull.com/

http://www.forpitssake.org/

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/pospress.html

Pit Bulls speak - we are good dogs!

Most people, who are unfamiliar with the American Pit Bull Terrier, falsely believe that they are dangerous dogs.  Unfortunately, Pit Bulls have a bad reputation because of some mean people who have abused their dogs and trained them to be aggressive.  Pit Bulls are actually very stable, intelligent, and highly trainable.  They are strong athletic dogs, and they require a guardian who is responsible and will give them plenty of exercise and training.  They are very loving and loyal and make excellent animal companions.

Little-known facts about Pit Bulls:

Pit Bulls serve as therapy/service dogs.  The Chako Rescue Association has Pit Bull therapy dogs in Texas, Utah and California.  Helen Keller even had a Pit Bull as her canine companion and helper. Cheyenne and Dakota are a team of hard-working Search-and-Rescue Pit Bulls in Sacramento, California.  They play an important role in their community by locating missing people in conjunction with the local Sheriff.  In their off-duty hours, they do charity work as therapy dogs.

Petey, the faithful dog on the TV show, The Little Rascals, was a Pit Bull.  He spent countless hours with children day after day and never hurt anyone.  He was one of the most intelligent Hollywood dogs of all time.

There are quite a few celebrities who have Pit Bulls as members of their family including:  Rosie Perez, The Crocodile Hunter, Judd Nelson, Usher, Alicia Silverstone, Cassandra Creech, Sinbad, John Stuart, Amy Jo Johnson, Linda Blair, Vin Diesel, and Bernadette Peters.

Pit Bulls are heroes!  America's first war dog was a Pit Bull named Stubby.  He earned several medals during World War I and was honored at the White House.  The Ken-L-Ration dog hero of 1993 was a Pit Bull named Weela.  She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during a flood in Southern California.  A Pit Bull named Bogart saved a four-year-old child from drowning in a swimming pool in Florida.  Dixie, the Pit Bull, was inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame after she saved some children from a Cottonmouth snake.

Pit Bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in existence. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds, and Pit Bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95% passing rate!

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Dispelling some myths about Pit Bulls:

-Is it true that Pit Bulls can lock their jaw?
The infamous locking jaw is a myth. The American Pit Bull Terrier and related breeds are physiologically no different from any other breed of dog. All dogs are from the same species and none have locking jaws. Dr. I Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states, "To the best of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would allow any meaningful comparison to be made of the biting power of various breeds of dogs. There are, moreover, compelling technical reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of 'pounds per square inch' can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no foundation in factual data." Furthermore, Dr. Brisbin states, "The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no 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."

-Are Pit Bulls naturally aggressive towards humans?
While many Pit Bulls do tend to be aggressive towards other DOGS (as are most terriers), the normal, well raised Pit Bull has NO human-aggressive tendencies! In fact, human-aggression was actually bred out of the breed. The majority of Pit Bulls are affectionate, intelligent, trainable dogs. In fact, the highest obedience trial record of all time is held by an American Pit Bull Terrier named Maddy!

-Can Pit Bulls "turn" on people?
In fact, no breed of dog does. Dog aggression is nearly always preceded by some kind of warning, and there is always a reason behind the attack. However, many inexperienced owners do not recognize the dog's behavior as aggression, or refuse to acknowledge it as a warning sign. The only exception I can think of is Springer Rage, a rare and controversial neurological condition that manifests itself as a spontaneous attack, followed by confusion, and then a return to normal behavior. Pit Bulls are NOT prone to this condition. There are individual dogs of any breed that may be more aggressive to others.

Pit Bull quotes:

Pit bulls are famous, in circles of knowledgeable dog people, for the love and loyalty they bestow on anyone who shows them a smidgen of kindness.
--Linda Wilson-Fuoco, journalist

In my opinion, Pit bulls are the least likely to be human aggressive. On the whole, you have to do a lot of work to make them aggressive to people.
--Sue Frisch, Dessin Animal Shelter manager

Pit bulls are especially good at pleasing people since they are strong and smart, they learn quickly and they are very adaptable."
-- Rob Mullin, dog trainer, owner, "K-9 Wizard & Co." Trumbell, Connecticut


By Sonnet Dashevskaya  - Spindletop Pit Bull Refuge, Austin branch

Sources: 
The Chako Rescue Association for the American Pit Bull Terrier
Debby Wolfinsohn's The Pit Bull Press
Denna's Pit Bull Page
J. Balsam's Friends Of Terriers Website
The American Pit Bull Terrier Speaks... Good Dog! by Cline and Martindale

Ewe: the dog has been bred to fight!!

That is anincorrect staement...no more true then saying all GSD's are police dogs.ANY DOG CAN AND WILL FIGHT if provocted OR trained to do so...THIS is the type of ignorance (I am not calling you ignorant Ewe,lol..PLEASE DON NOT TAKE OFFENSE from that) what I mean is that by you stating that "Regardless if that dog had always been friendly,the dog had been bred to fight!!" Is just plain wrong.I will post some links to therapy dogs that are pis that have NEVER been faught.PEOPLE fight the dog against the dog...the dog doesn't fight itself.

Pit Bulls have a late maturity, and a Pit Bull that was dog
friendly at 7 months old may suddenly show signs of intolerance of
unfamiliar dogs around two years old. Spaying and neutering the dog may
help to prevent "turning on" the genetic urge to fight another dog.


All dog fights are preventable, however. Socialize a Pit Bull slowly
with new dogs, and never let them play unattended. Remove items such as
toys and food bowls to avoid stress.

Pit Bulls can live happily with other pets; if not left unattended.
Even the "best of friends" can fight, and the outcome may be tragic.
This can be true for dogs that have been together for years. Often,
after the first serious fight, relations between the dogs are never the
same.

Keeping that first fight from happening is a great way to ensure
peaceful relations for the long run. If there is a multiple-dog
household, it is important to separate the dogs when there is no one
home.


Many people use crates for short times, put dogs into separate rooms,
use kennels, or have outdoor areas set up for separation that are safe
and secure. Pit Bulls can get along wonderfully with animals like cats,
rabbits, and ferrets, but for safety's sake, never leave them alone
together.

Jason: I just really can not understand why in this decade we would decide to go after the dog as a whole and not the people fighting them and abusing them.

 Once,when I was working at the humane hospital...a Rott came in...well,the body of a Rott came in..if I remember corectly he was like 50 pounds or something like that..had been abused,you could tell,and I don't mean just being starved to death.The guy was fined $500.00 and told he was never allowed to own another dog...huh!!??!! THAT was his punishment!!!!

Jason: Who else besides Tuesday took that test?? It will show how much people really cannot identifly the "true APBT" The city I live near also has clumped together the pitbull/pitbull type into one lump...I don't understand how in 2007 we can still have witch hunts.

 I was once biten by a kid...should we ban them too???

 Here in the city I live,they are getting ready to put a ban on pitbulls.You all know that I do not own one,I have GSD's.The point is tho that I don't think the breed should be the target..the numbnuts that FIGHT the dogs need to be dealt with! My friend and I are getting ready to submit a letter into our local paper protesting this act against pits. It will start with them and then what....Let's ban Dobes,and then Rotts,and then hey...how about GSD's because they are all vicious animals.And the lab next door looks a bit shady...ban them too!!People are ignorant about the pit breed.They are wonderful therapy dogs..HELEN KELLER OWNED ONE...A pit that was resuced from a freezer,almost dead now has 30 MILLION dollars worth of DRUG BUSTS to his name...One mother watched as her normally calm pit run full speed at her lil daughter and plowed into her,knocking the little girl roughly to the ground...ONLY TO SEE THE DOG TAKE A BITE FROM A RATTLESNAKE that was about to attack the baby.

 PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE...research this breed..get facts,stats and info on the dogs and help STOP the banning of the dogs (most "pitts" that are involved with attacks are not really pitts,they are mixed breeds) Pits outscore alot of other breeds on the ATTS.Pitts are know as a "nannydog" in England because of their devotion to children.FIGHTING pits are actaully not normally aggressive to humans..they are bred to be aggressive towards other dogs..A Pit in the ring that is aggressive to a human will be put down at once (not that I believe in fighting....but the point in that statement is that they are not bred to be human aggressive even in aweful circumstances like that)

 ANY DOG CAN AND WILL BITE IF THEY ARE THREATEND,TEASED,ABUSED,TAUNTED,

PLEASE help save this wonderful and misunderstood animal..even if you are not a fan of the dog...do it and yourself a favor and read all you can about it..I am not saying every pit is a freindly one,just like not every Lab,GSD,poodle,hounddog,etc,etc are going to run up and kiss you all over either..but they are not all the evil dogs that people think they are.

Ewe: I would definitely clip one of the  before going for a visit to the vet.  Two of them are perfect patients, but one is not.  She's strong, and cut the doc pretty badly when being given an injection.  I'll also trim their dew claws, which can come pretty close to growing round in a circle.  Might trim them if I see them chewing on their nails, too.

But lately, there's been less need for trimming, because of a happy accident.  They finally stopped shredding my nice furniture almost completely once I brought home a rug bought on sale from Ikea.  This certainly wasn't my plan, but all three of them love sinking their claws into it--especially the underside of it for some reason.  It gets 99% of their scratching attention, and I will happily sacrifice another rug just like it next time I find them on sale.  Isn't that the craziest thing?  I keep it rolled up, with the underside out--and they're absolutely loving it to pieces...

Rose: I try my best.  Plenty of brushing for my girls--one of them in particular.  Part of their food is a special hairball formula, plus they get occasional treats to help deal with that.

The one who has the worst problem is a funny eater, too.  She eats very quickly, and would be at least a kilo heavier if I didn't monitor her food intake and watch to make sure she doesn't poach from the slower eaters around here.  She'd love finding some scraps or a variety of other cat foods and snacks, but doesn't tolerate changes in her diet at all!  Even new bags of her ordinary food are sometimes enough to upset her delicate tummy...amazing.