Marty
06-03-2008, 07:35 PM
Riverside,CA, -- They are called "American bullies."
Fans say the designer dogs combine the best aspects of their two foundation breeds: the high spirits, intelligence and muscularity of the American Pit Bull Terrier and the large head and mellow temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The resulting canine -- that a magazine dedicated to the dog describes as a "pit bull on steroids"-- has a massive head, a ferocious appearance, a muscular body and a playful, if a tad rambunctious, nature.
"The muscular look is just a look. It doesn't make them more aggressive," said Riverside resident Juan "Big White" Gonzalez.
He is co-owner of AtomicDogg, a magazine dedicated to the American bully dog. He keeps seven of the canines at his La Sierra home.
But animal welfare experts worry that with the negative attention focused on pit bulls over the past several years, whether the world really needs "a pit bull on steroids."
"Right now pit bulls are suffering in so many different ways," said Adam Goldfarb, a companion animal expert with of the Humane Society of the U.S.
Pit bulls, which have their roots in dog fighting and have been involved in highly publicized attacks nationwide, have been banned in a number of U.S. communities including Denver and Miami/Dade County in Florida.
A dog of that bulk and strength with those types of bloodlines is a "potential time bomb," said Frank Corvino, deputy director of field and shelter services for Riverside County's department of Animal Services.
"You can't control the gameness that is bred into it," Corvino said.
Goldfarb said he was particularly troubled by photos in AtomicDogg that show the dogs wearing collars with spikes or decorated with grinning skulls.
"Anything that portrays pit bulls in a tough or macho way is not helpful," Goldfarb said.
Gonzalez counters that the images in his magazine are meant to present the dogs in their most attractive light.
"It's an eye-candy magazine," Gonzalez said.
As for the spiked collars, Gonzalez said it is no different than someone wearing a flashy watch.
"If you wear a nice watch, people want to ask about it," he said.
Gonzalez acknowledged that the American bully might be the dog of choice for some gang members. But he is adamant that "this breed is not for fighting."
"These are show dogs," he said. "I don't want to teach the fact that this (dog) is for gangsters."
In addition to AtomicDogg, American bullies have their own registry, the American Bully Kennel Club, are showcased at dog shows throughout the U.S. and boast a growing legion of fans.
Bullies Shown in Inland Area
AtomicDogg has sponsored shows in Corona and San Bernardino. A show was held on May 3 at Lake Perris, and Gonzalez said he is trying to organize a show in Glen Avon.
Dan Rodriguez, general manager of the Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District, said his board of directors had requested additional information on insurance and security issues before considering Gonzalez's request to hold a show at Centennial Park. Rodriguez said he had not heard back from Gonzalez.
A number of Inland kennels are specifically breeding American bullies.
Istiak "Robbie" Hossain, 20, owns Kaotic Kennels in Reche Canyon.
On a recent sunny afternoon, Hossain watched as "Amber", a 1-year-old fawn-colored female, tore around his backyard at a breakneck speed, stopping from time to time for a brief belly rub.
Hossain likened people's desire to own an American bully to a wealthy person's desire to own a car that sets them apart from the crowd.
His dogs sell for anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.
"When rich people buy a car, they don't want a station wagon or a van," Hossain said. "They want something unique and exotic."
Hossain said that when he takes one of his bullies to PetSmart, "I get attention."
"People want to know about them. They want to pet them," he said.
Hossain said that like any business endeavor, there are American bully breeders who are just in it for the money and therefore have no respect or love for the animals.
"These are breeding dogs and they are show dogs," Hossain said, nodding toward the kennel area where he keeps his seven dogs. "But these are my pets too."
He said he begins socializing his dogs from the time they are puppies, taking them on frequent walks through the neighborhood so they become accustomed to people, other canines and cats.
"The first year of a dog's life is critical," he said. "Dogs are like babies. They need a lot of attention and training."
Family Calls Dog Gentle
Riverside resident Anita Betancur said she was apprehensive when her grown son David got a pit bull as a pet because of the negative news about the breed.
"But he was so gentle and playful," Betancur said. "Of course their nature is to be aggressive if they are raised that way. But they don't have to be raised that way."
When that dog was stolen, the family got a dog from Hossain's kennel.
"We've had Havoc for about three months and he's very gentle with no aggressive tendencies," Betancur said. "He's definitely a good family dog."
Goldfarb of the Humane Society said that as with any breed of "designer dog," there is a concern that breeders of American bullies will focus too much on appearance, with attention to health and temperament coming in a distant second.
"These dogs in too many cases are being kept as status symbols to create an image for their owners," Goldfarb said. "At the end of the day, dogs are better off with people who care about them."
Reach Sandra Stokley at 951-368-9647 or sstokley@PE.com
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_R_bully03.2d9ab8c.html
Fans say the designer dogs combine the best aspects of their two foundation breeds: the high spirits, intelligence and muscularity of the American Pit Bull Terrier and the large head and mellow temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The resulting canine -- that a magazine dedicated to the dog describes as a "pit bull on steroids"-- has a massive head, a ferocious appearance, a muscular body and a playful, if a tad rambunctious, nature.
"The muscular look is just a look. It doesn't make them more aggressive," said Riverside resident Juan "Big White" Gonzalez.
He is co-owner of AtomicDogg, a magazine dedicated to the American bully dog. He keeps seven of the canines at his La Sierra home.
But animal welfare experts worry that with the negative attention focused on pit bulls over the past several years, whether the world really needs "a pit bull on steroids."
"Right now pit bulls are suffering in so many different ways," said Adam Goldfarb, a companion animal expert with of the Humane Society of the U.S.
Pit bulls, which have their roots in dog fighting and have been involved in highly publicized attacks nationwide, have been banned in a number of U.S. communities including Denver and Miami/Dade County in Florida.
A dog of that bulk and strength with those types of bloodlines is a "potential time bomb," said Frank Corvino, deputy director of field and shelter services for Riverside County's department of Animal Services.
"You can't control the gameness that is bred into it," Corvino said.
Goldfarb said he was particularly troubled by photos in AtomicDogg that show the dogs wearing collars with spikes or decorated with grinning skulls.
"Anything that portrays pit bulls in a tough or macho way is not helpful," Goldfarb said.
Gonzalez counters that the images in his magazine are meant to present the dogs in their most attractive light.
"It's an eye-candy magazine," Gonzalez said.
As for the spiked collars, Gonzalez said it is no different than someone wearing a flashy watch.
"If you wear a nice watch, people want to ask about it," he said.
Gonzalez acknowledged that the American bully might be the dog of choice for some gang members. But he is adamant that "this breed is not for fighting."
"These are show dogs," he said. "I don't want to teach the fact that this (dog) is for gangsters."
In addition to AtomicDogg, American bullies have their own registry, the American Bully Kennel Club, are showcased at dog shows throughout the U.S. and boast a growing legion of fans.
Bullies Shown in Inland Area
AtomicDogg has sponsored shows in Corona and San Bernardino. A show was held on May 3 at Lake Perris, and Gonzalez said he is trying to organize a show in Glen Avon.
Dan Rodriguez, general manager of the Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District, said his board of directors had requested additional information on insurance and security issues before considering Gonzalez's request to hold a show at Centennial Park. Rodriguez said he had not heard back from Gonzalez.
A number of Inland kennels are specifically breeding American bullies.
Istiak "Robbie" Hossain, 20, owns Kaotic Kennels in Reche Canyon.
On a recent sunny afternoon, Hossain watched as "Amber", a 1-year-old fawn-colored female, tore around his backyard at a breakneck speed, stopping from time to time for a brief belly rub.
Hossain likened people's desire to own an American bully to a wealthy person's desire to own a car that sets them apart from the crowd.
His dogs sell for anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.
"When rich people buy a car, they don't want a station wagon or a van," Hossain said. "They want something unique and exotic."
Hossain said that when he takes one of his bullies to PetSmart, "I get attention."
"People want to know about them. They want to pet them," he said.
Hossain said that like any business endeavor, there are American bully breeders who are just in it for the money and therefore have no respect or love for the animals.
"These are breeding dogs and they are show dogs," Hossain said, nodding toward the kennel area where he keeps his seven dogs. "But these are my pets too."
He said he begins socializing his dogs from the time they are puppies, taking them on frequent walks through the neighborhood so they become accustomed to people, other canines and cats.
"The first year of a dog's life is critical," he said. "Dogs are like babies. They need a lot of attention and training."
Family Calls Dog Gentle
Riverside resident Anita Betancur said she was apprehensive when her grown son David got a pit bull as a pet because of the negative news about the breed.
"But he was so gentle and playful," Betancur said. "Of course their nature is to be aggressive if they are raised that way. But they don't have to be raised that way."
When that dog was stolen, the family got a dog from Hossain's kennel.
"We've had Havoc for about three months and he's very gentle with no aggressive tendencies," Betancur said. "He's definitely a good family dog."
Goldfarb of the Humane Society said that as with any breed of "designer dog," there is a concern that breeders of American bullies will focus too much on appearance, with attention to health and temperament coming in a distant second.
"These dogs in too many cases are being kept as status symbols to create an image for their owners," Goldfarb said. "At the end of the day, dogs are better off with people who care about them."
Reach Sandra Stokley at 951-368-9647 or sstokley@PE.com
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_R_bully03.2d9ab8c.html