Monica Norton
02-28-2005, 11:52 AM
Why love a pit bull? Many reasons
By Barbara Burgess / Times Columnist
Most people, even those who know very little about dogs, have heard about pit bulls.
This breed evokes very strong emotions in people. Most of us have seen the horrific news reports of aggressive pit bulls; far fewer of us have met great pit bulls.
A people-loving pit bull is truly affectionate. Friendly pit bulls in shelters occasionally injure their tails on the kennels from excessive wagging at passersby. They will press their bodies against the door in hopes of a friendly rub.
Breed books define pit bulls as exceedingly friendly with people, loyal to their owners, and aggressive to people only when faced with a real threat.
So why do these dogs have such a bad reputation? Is it deserved?
A bad pit bull is bad, no doubt about it. An aggressive pit bull can cause severe harm.
You could say this about other breeds as well, but a pit bull is unique in its tenacity, its strength and its ability to tolerate pain.
A well-built pit bull makes Arnold Schwarzenegger look like an out-of-shape couch potato.
This is because pit bulls come from a solid line of fighting dogs. They were originally used in bull-baiting to entertain people generations ago.
Such a dog needed to have a high tolerance for pain, tenacity to stay in the game, and the strength of a locomotive.
Pit bulls are the canine equivalent of a tank truck, with much better gas mileage.
When bull-baiting became illegal, pit bulls were used in dog fighting. Owners bred the more dog-aggressive dogs and developed champion lines.
Pit bulls have a long history of aggression towards animals. Virtually every breed description discusses their inherent aggressive and predatory tendency toward animals.
This is, however, distinctly different from aggression toward people. Historically, people-aggressive pit bulls were not tolerated. Bad breeding has created some people-aggressive pit bulls, and this has reflected badly on the entire breed.
So why would anyone want a pit bull? Ask any fan of the breed. Pit bulls are affectionate, loyal, athletic and intelligent, and they bond very strongly.
They are goofy, playful and just plain fun. They excel in almost any sport including agility, fly ball, weight pulling and obedience.
They are even used for search-and-rescue and therapy work. Their power and athleticism are truly awe-inspiring.
You can find many pit bull owners who would own nothing else.
There is a very strong network of people working toward educating the public, promoting responsible ownership, and celebrating pit bulls.
If you own a pit bull or are interested in adopting one, do your homework. Educate yourself about just what this breed needs to flourish.
It is not a breed for everyone, but it is certainly a breed for some.
If you would like to meet some friendly pit bulls, consider dropping by All Valley Pet Hospital and asking for Sally the pit bull. She spends her day making sure visitors are well cared for.
If you are a dog park visitor, you may already know Pickles, another great example of just how friendly a pit bull can be.
Neither of these dogs knows pit bulls are not typically good with other animals. Dogs are indeed individuals.
For more information on pit bulls, go to RealPitBull.com and BadRap.org. There is a wealth of information on these sites and their related links.
* Barbara Burgess owns and operates Happy Tails to You, a dog-training and behavioral counseling center specializing in positive-reinforcement training. She lectures on bite prevention and understanding dog behavior. You can reach her by calling 938-5600 or visiting HappyTailsToYou.com. Feb. 26, 2005
By Barbara Burgess / Times Columnist
Most people, even those who know very little about dogs, have heard about pit bulls.
This breed evokes very strong emotions in people. Most of us have seen the horrific news reports of aggressive pit bulls; far fewer of us have met great pit bulls.
A people-loving pit bull is truly affectionate. Friendly pit bulls in shelters occasionally injure their tails on the kennels from excessive wagging at passersby. They will press their bodies against the door in hopes of a friendly rub.
Breed books define pit bulls as exceedingly friendly with people, loyal to their owners, and aggressive to people only when faced with a real threat.
So why do these dogs have such a bad reputation? Is it deserved?
A bad pit bull is bad, no doubt about it. An aggressive pit bull can cause severe harm.
You could say this about other breeds as well, but a pit bull is unique in its tenacity, its strength and its ability to tolerate pain.
A well-built pit bull makes Arnold Schwarzenegger look like an out-of-shape couch potato.
This is because pit bulls come from a solid line of fighting dogs. They were originally used in bull-baiting to entertain people generations ago.
Such a dog needed to have a high tolerance for pain, tenacity to stay in the game, and the strength of a locomotive.
Pit bulls are the canine equivalent of a tank truck, with much better gas mileage.
When bull-baiting became illegal, pit bulls were used in dog fighting. Owners bred the more dog-aggressive dogs and developed champion lines.
Pit bulls have a long history of aggression towards animals. Virtually every breed description discusses their inherent aggressive and predatory tendency toward animals.
This is, however, distinctly different from aggression toward people. Historically, people-aggressive pit bulls were not tolerated. Bad breeding has created some people-aggressive pit bulls, and this has reflected badly on the entire breed.
So why would anyone want a pit bull? Ask any fan of the breed. Pit bulls are affectionate, loyal, athletic and intelligent, and they bond very strongly.
They are goofy, playful and just plain fun. They excel in almost any sport including agility, fly ball, weight pulling and obedience.
They are even used for search-and-rescue and therapy work. Their power and athleticism are truly awe-inspiring.
You can find many pit bull owners who would own nothing else.
There is a very strong network of people working toward educating the public, promoting responsible ownership, and celebrating pit bulls.
If you own a pit bull or are interested in adopting one, do your homework. Educate yourself about just what this breed needs to flourish.
It is not a breed for everyone, but it is certainly a breed for some.
If you would like to meet some friendly pit bulls, consider dropping by All Valley Pet Hospital and asking for Sally the pit bull. She spends her day making sure visitors are well cared for.
If you are a dog park visitor, you may already know Pickles, another great example of just how friendly a pit bull can be.
Neither of these dogs knows pit bulls are not typically good with other animals. Dogs are indeed individuals.
For more information on pit bulls, go to RealPitBull.com and BadRap.org. There is a wealth of information on these sites and their related links.
* Barbara Burgess owns and operates Happy Tails to You, a dog-training and behavioral counseling center specializing in positive-reinforcement training. She lectures on bite prevention and understanding dog behavior. You can reach her by calling 938-5600 or visiting HappyTailsToYou.com. Feb. 26, 2005