BARBI ASKED THAT I POST THIS HERE. LIKE PITS?? ME TOO!!

I have 2 APBTs - Smokey and Pork Chop (they are in my sig or you can see more pics here: [LINK DISABLED BY ADMINISTRATION]

They are TOTAL sweeties!!! But it's super important that they be properly socialized as pups.
Pork Chop was not socialized as a pup and now that he's over a year old he barely ever gets to go out where other dogs will be because he's unpredictable around other dogs.
Smokey, on the other hand, has been socialized since he was 8 weeks old and I can take him pretty much anywhere with me and he's good. Of course, he's still just a wee little guy so this could change as he gets older... but as long as he keeps familar w/ other dogs and people, there shouldn't be a problem.

by the way, I have never had any other dog besides a pit. and i love them!!!
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ADMINISTRATION MESSAGE: Manda, as the link is to a photo album that no only includes pet photos, please post the photos directly in the forum. Thanks.

[This message was edited by Barbi on January 05, 2003 at 08:35 PM.]

[This message was edited by Barbi on January 05, 2003 at 08:35 PM.]

Hi Manda, welcome to our forum You got a pit, huh? Is my human-uncle going to luv you! lol He adores them. I've heard a few humans talk bad about Pit Bulls. I think it's just they are misunderstood and we are glad you are here to set the record straight I always say: owners know best!

Feel free to stop by the "Introduce yourself" forum and introduce yourself and your pets to the other members.

A pit bull? goodie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Manda99, I'm Maggie. Just a few questions about Pit Bulls, if you don't mind. It will clear up some confusion on the part of a few people I know.

1) Do they turn on their master?
2) Do they lose their mind as they age?
3) Is it true if they bite, they will never let go?
4) Is it true they can never be trusted around children?

I don't believe none of those, but a lot of peeps do. Can you set the record straight with your experience as an owner? Why was the other Pitt not socialized? Aren't you afraid then that he'll bite you? Sorry about all the questions, I just find them fascinating

M.

hi there! I'll try to answer the best I can. I'm no doggie professional or anything.
These are totally MY opinions based on what I've heard and experienced.

1) Do they turn on their master?
**ANY dog can turn on their master if you catch it off guard, right?

2) Do they lose their mind as they age?
**I don't think so!! Our dogs are still young and the oldest pit I've been around was like 5... No problems. Still just a big ol' baby.
I'm wondering is this comes from that rumour that their brains grow too big for their and make them go insane? NOT TRUE!!!!!

3) Is it true if they bite, they will never let go?
**NO. They do have incredibly strong jaws but the "locking jaws" thing is just a myth. You can get their mouths open with a breaking stick or proper training! (DROP IT!)

4) Is it true they can never be trusted around children?
**FASLE. If the dog is socialized properly they can be wonderful around children. SUPERVISED of course. I'd hope no dog is left with a small child alone.

I don't believe none of those, but a lot of peeps do. Can you set the record straight with your experience as an owner?
** well, I tried.

Why was the other Pitt not socialized?
**He is my roommates dog and when we got him we also had another pit, Hurley, so they just played together (and did a little more than play, hence Smokey and his littermates ) and their owners never really took them out. I think mostly because Hurley was always dog aggressive and it's hard to take one dog and leave the other all the time. Of course, hindsite is 20/20 and I should have insisted they socialize him more, or done more on my end. He's SUCH a beautiful dog, it's a shame he can't go out more.

Aren't you afraid then that he'll bite you?
**He has, unintentionally. It hurt. But I am not afraid he will just bite me out of nowhere. He loves people but he's not good with strange dogs. He gets along w/ our neighbors dog but that's cuz they have known each other since they were both wee lil' pups.

Sorry about all the questions, I just find them fascinating.
**No problem! I hope at least some of this was informative. But like I said, I'm NOT an expert by any means.

Maggie,

We have had Pits before and they are loving great dogs. If they are socialized as puppies they are fine with other dogs. If they aren't they can be dog aggressive (but that's not to say they will be). As far as with kids...Pits are rated in the top 10 best dogs to have with kids. They protect them, but let the kids pull ears and tails etc and just take it. I've seen it done. Pits have an extremely bad rap...it's not the dogs' fault...it's their stupid human owners that turn them mean. People like Manda who have their dog to love, have great dogs who wouldn't hurt a fly.

Save a life...Adopt!

Are we talking about Pit Bull or Bulldog? I know CFP featured an English Bulldog, but I don't think it's the same as a Pit Bull. In either case, most people hear the word "Bulldog" and think of Pits. It's a shame they always get ******* on by the media (guessing it sells more newspapers to say a child was bitten by a Pitt than by a Pomeranian). I really feel states should target and close down puppy mills. They don't care if they pass "bad genes" to a litter and just care about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Manda99, you say he bit you unintentionally. How much damage did he do and how did you handle that? I can imagine it must be hard trusting him again. Is it?

Hiram

He didn't do much damage... mostly just some scraped skin and a bruise.
Like I said, it was an accident. So I do still trust him but *I* need to be more careful when we're playing and my hand is near his mouth.

Oh, and to the first question:

I am talking about an American Pit Bull Terrier.
Although I think Smokey does look like an American Bulldog... but I know his mom is full APBT and we were told Pork Chop is full APBT , too , but I think maybe P.C.'s dad was an American Bulldog or Amstaff or some other "bull" dog besides APBT. I don't know for sure, though.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanbulldog.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanpitbull.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanstaffordshire.htm

I believe all animals will strike out if they are frightened or in pain. I can't tell you how many times I was holding one of my cats and they got scared and in getting away scratched the heck out of me. Pit Bulls have a bad rap for some reason and it should be the owners that have the bad rap. Any animal is just as sweet as the owner wants it to be. Dogs have a protective nature so I always ask the owner if I can pet their dog before I do, even if it looks like it could **** me to death. That's what I love most about dogs, their loyality and devotion and treated and trained properly, every breed is a joy to behold!!

Mary Gene Bracken

Texas woman mauled to death by pet pit bulls

and the sad part is that she raised all 4 of them from the time they were puppies.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0718MaulingDeath18-ON.html

If you read some more articles (dont have any links, sorry) it really sounds like if the dogs did kill her it was unintentional.
They had tried to help her up from a seizure before by biting on her hair and what not.
Her husband said the seizures had been becoming more frequent and violent and if she had one the dogs were probably only trying to help. If she wasn't respoding 4 dogs who have shown total devotion and love before would probably freak out and maybe get too excited and unfortunately hurt her.
Again, I will go on thinking this was NOT an intentional act of the dogs "turning" on their owner.

Manda, we have another pitt owner in the forum, isn't that cool?

M.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by manda99:
BARBI ASKED THAT I POST THIS HERE. LIKE PITS?? ME TOO!!

I have 2 APBTs - Smokey and Pork Chop (they are in my sig or you can see more pics here: [LINK DISABLED BY ADMINISTRATION]

I went to the link you have posted on CFP message board [LINK DISABLED BY ADMINISTRATION] I expecting to see some Cute Family Pet pictures of your Pits, Smokey & Pork Chop. I was shocked to see pics of people acting like dogs.
Maybe the link took me to the wrong site ?
If this is so I thought you would like to know about it.

J Barbee

[This message was edited by Barbi on January 05, 2003 at 08:36 PM.]

The member just posted a link to a total album with different folders -- some of the pictures are definitely not of dogs. I will disable the link and -- if the member is reading this -- please post the pet photos directly in the forum so others can see it.

Thanks J Barbee for pointing that out.