Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Great advice. I get those looks from time to time, and it’s frustrating. Some people are simply afraid of dogs in general, and some are definitely breed biased. I’ve seen people pick their dogs up, etc. However, I’ve had lots positive response as well. We do lots of walks through downtown, and people know my dog by name now. It’s great!
Walking your well mannered dogs in public is a fine way to be an ambassador to the breed. I do the same sit/stay when other dogs are approaching. If it’s just people, I simply smile and keep moving, as if there’s nothing to worry about. Because there isn’t! Keep up the great work, and ignore the ignorance. Good luck!
PS –
Not that I’d ever say this to someone on the street, but I love this quote from a review of badrap.org found on yelp:
two choices:
1) you can feed into the fear mongering media frenzy and stay a scared little bitch for the rest of your life,
or
2) you can really educate yourself about the breed by talking to veterinarians, animal behaviorists, dog trainers and bad rap.ball’s in your court.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bad-rap-san-francisco#hrid:kWjtvDP6Z-UceeAbq3gI_Q
You’ll find lots of debate on what the right age is. Personally, I think it’s somewhere between 6-12 months. My dog was altered at around 8 months of age. He has continued to put on muscle, but hadn’t started any adult male related habits, such as marking territory (like your furniture), and humping everything that moves, to name a couple!
Your comment on ‘eputable breeder’ is key. They seem few and far between on this site. If I’m wrong, it would be great to hear from them. I understand going pedigree route if you’re interested in in kennel club events. I do believe you can get a stable dog when you adopt, especially if the dog is mature. There are some famous rescue pit bull competitors, such as Wallace:
http://www.pitbullunited.com/wallacethepitbull/about.html
Thanks for your input.
That’s great. There are adoptable dogs in all ages, and there are lots of puppies that need rescue. I rescued a one year old last year. In the past, I adopted much younger puppies. Although I wish I could have seen him as a baby, I’m glad I didn’t have to deal with as many puppy issues.
It’s nice to see someone doing their research before they get a dog for a change. They truly are dogs for smart people. Good luck!
You should do it for many reasons, including the ones you mentioned above. It’s what responsible owners do. I can tell you from my 37 years of experience with dogs, including working in veterinary hospitals, they recover very quickly from the procedure. It’s what smart people do, and they’re dogs for smart people, right?
Read this:
Should I spay/neuter?
http://www.pbrc.net/speuter3.htmlFree/low cost spay/neuter programs:
http://www.pbrc.net/speuter.htmlHere are some great resources on the web. I hope you’re considering adoption. There’s nothing like the feeling of saving a life that loves you for it every day. Good luck!
http://www.realpitbull.com/rightbreed.html
http://pbrc.net/beforedog.html
http://www.ourpack.org/rightforme.html
There is no such thing as “too much research” if you are thinking of adding a Pit Bull to your family.
It’s a shame when this sort of thing happens, but you did the right thing. Hopefully the dog is contained and won’t have a chance to make any headlines.
They can absolutely vary in size, however proportion/conformation is vital to their ability as working dogs. It has nothing to do with show.
I’d like to know what type of work a ‘pocket pit’ is bred to do?
It seems to me that people are breeding for a certain look/fad, rather than for a specific job. Responsible breeders breed for excellent conformation, and stable, correct temperaments, working titles and clean health.
Obviously this dog’s job is to be a pet, and I have no doubt that it excels at that job. What is unfortunate about fad breeding is the fallout seen in shelters across the country.
Sorry for the rant. Back to the original subject, a kong with peanut butter frozen in the freezer works wonders and will keep them busy for a good while.
That’s pretty normal for any puppy, but they have to learn that it’s not ok. When it happens, let out a loud “OUCH!” or something like that. The trick is to startle your dog with your voice, and then pull away and stop playing with your puppy for a while. Your pup will soon learn that when he starts to bite, his playmate (you) goes away. It’s important to be consistent, and teach the whole family to do the same.
Another way is to redirect them to chew on a toy, but I’ve always had success with the ouch method. I hope it helps.
It could be a number of things. See http://www.ehow.com/about_5272522_teeth-chattering-dogs.html. If you’re really worried, I’d ask your veterinarian.
I’ve had success with the Kong Extreme, as well as the Zogoflex Huck. Fill a Kong with peanut butter and then freeze it. It’s a great thing to keep them busy while they’re alone for a couple hours.
The other thing I do from time to time is pick up old soccer balls. The local lake is littered with them, unfortunately. I try to ‘recycle’ one every time I paddle on the lake. My dog shreds them pretty quick, but they’re free and easy to come by. He loves them.
I’ve had success with EVO Red Meat Formula Dry Dog Food. I’m reading up on raw diets, and may take the plunge.
Spaying/Neutering prevents unwanted pets. It’s a shame when people have to ‘get rid of’ puppies. Only 1 in 600 Pit Bulls will find a home – For every Pit Bull placed in a loving home 599 DIE!
Here’s a link for free & low cost Spay/Neuter programs for pit bulls:
