Dog Training Using Treats and Rewards and How to Make Sure Your Dog Doesn't Become a Treat Junkie
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YES. This breed needs so much more than food and a yard.
I feel as though they need SPECIAL, DEDICATED owners, and are a bigger responsibility than any other breed. (IMO!)
I REALLY feel potential owners should go to a class to LEARN about what they're getting themselves into.
They CAN cause A LOT of damage, and shouldn't be in the wrong hands of somebody who wants a "Guard dog" or a "Gangster dog", but more so a companion dog, as they were bred to be.
I think Rescues should start classes for ANYONE who wants to adopt this breed, and make certain they are the RIGHT home for the breed.
They take a special owner, a firm, but gentle hand, and LOTS of patience and supervision.
I NEVER recommend this breed to first time owners, they are a very special breed, that call for a very special owner.
(Like Rachel - Pit Police!)
Dog Training - Getting the Basics Right
- This statement can be generalized across many breeds, and is NOT exclusive to Pit Bulls. Every dog owner has the responsibility to train and socialize their dogs, and to ensure that their dogs are behaving in such a way that they do not pose a danger to themselves or other people or animals. The level of responsibility will depend on the individual dog, not necessarily the breed.
The force of a dog's bite/attack should NOT even matter, aggressive behaviour from ANY breed is unacceptable. In my opinion, there is no difference between a Pomeranian biting a toe off, and a Pit Bull biting a hand off. - you cant just say pit bulls my dog got attacked by a Chihuahua today and drew blood if you do it for one breed you will have to do it for all breeds.
- OH, that would be great for EVERY pet parent to go through! EDUCATION and TRAINING! Woo hoo!
A dog is a dog is a dog. They are an animal first then a dog, then a breed. To blame a breed for being aggressive is plain ignorance of dog behavior. A dog just doesn't all of a sudden become dangerous unless there is a medical reason! A dog becomes aggressive because of human intervention or lack or dog behavior knowledge! - well pitbulls have been known to attack other dogs and humans to. and some peopl say its because of the environment they are raised in. its really not its in their blood.
- The first poster is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! Many terrier breeds are supposed to be "aggressive" and NOT back down from a fight. In shows they will face two terriers and see what they do. The judge wants to see dogs that will "spar". THESE DOGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PEOPLE AGGRESSIVE!
People should have to take the stupidity test. The stupid people are the ones who are having trouble with these dogs. - htey are very strong bogs but can be gentle they are agressive when the owner threats the wrong its best to get one as a puppy and keep it around other dogs and puppies and treat it right as you would treat a child they are very sensitive and anger easily dont hit them and scold them talk sweet and pet and cuddle them as much *** possible remember to keep them around kids and other people to prevent future attacks
- I would have to say yes. I wish they would initiate such a practice. Perhaps that would keep pits out of the hands of the thugs that abuse them. I would like to see some sort of licensure for every dog breed eventually. People in general are ignorant, not meaning to insult anyone here. :) But I see dogs abused and mistreated everyday. People go out and buy a dog, put it on a chain in the back yard and there is where it lives out its days. Nice, huh? People who get any breed of dog without first researching the breed are irresponsible and unfortunately, the dog pays the ultimate price.
I don't know why I'm getting thumbs down. I am not against owning a pitbull. I do not, under any circumstances believe that the breed itself it aggressive. But I see HUNDREDS of pitbulls euthanized each month because of ignorant people who breed them, train them, own them because they want to look "tough". If licensure is not the answer, what is? How do we get and keep these dogs away from the "thug nation"???
Hey, I took the find the pitbull test and got it right with one try!!!! - first of all pit bulls are not dog aggressive unless they are being bred to fight. I had 2 pits with 8 other dogs and never had any problems!!!! People who owns dogs in general need to be more responsible for their dogs! And Breed Specifics are unconstitutional and unfair to everyone. You would not like it if I said that your little dogs had to have special license to own!
- The official AKC standard for the American Staffordshire Terrier actually does not mention temperament at all:
http://www.amstaff.org/breedinfo.html#st…
The UKC standard for the American Pit Bull Terrier specifies that they are "extremely friendly, even with strangers" and that "Aggressive behavior towards humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and HIGHLY UNDESIREABLE. "
The standard does NOT *require* that they be dog-aggressive, but notes that some level of dog aggressiveness is characteristic of the breed (as is the case with most terriers, BTW).
http://www.ukcdogs.com/RegistrationBreed…
I believe that it is EVERY dog owner's responsibility to know the characteristics of their breed, and to act accordingly. - I have seen Labs and Retrievers JUST as aggressive as some pit-bulls.
The aggression really has nothing to do with the breed specifically, its more to do with the owner.
An inexperienced owner that does not know how to properly train their dog is going to end up with an aggressive dog.
For example... someone who trains their puppy with positive reinforcement (praise, treats) will have a loving and obedient adult dog.
However, someone that thinks they can train their dog with yelling, hitting, and confinement is going to end up with a dog that is very aggressive.
It really doesnt matter if its a pit or a poodle... afterall, how would you react to someone that shoved your nose in feces, hit you, and locked you outside for days without any attention? - Where I got my dog from gave me all sorts of info on the bread, written and spoken. I also had to make many trips to see the dog before I got him. The biggest problem with the breed is not that their any more aggressive then a lot of other breeds, it's that so darn powerful. People don't realize how much strength they have. If the dog does want to go it will. After handling my dog, anytime I take care of another breed its a piece of cake to control them.
You definitely should have some training, but I've seen people get any kind of dog that should have training. - it's true that every dog owner should be required to socialize their dogs and train them well to minimize the chance of aggression, but yes, i think that holds particularly true for pit bulls. their function for many people WAS fighting (be it baiting or dog-on-dog), the same as countless other breeds, but unlike some of those breeds, that function hasn't really died out with some pit bulls because the fighting still exists. of course it's a generalization, but i think that's a reason behind many pit bull attacks, because they're still today being used as little warriors when we don't need that any more.
mastiffs, for example, have been involved in all sorts of baiting, warring and fighting, but because it's been hundreds of years since that was their purpose, it's died out for the most part. now they're naturally house dogs, though good guard ones, granted. - To adopt a pitbull from a shelter, the people wanting to adopt usually do have to meet certain criteria that matches the breed of the dog. I've seen people get denied to adopt a pit bull before, just because the shelter knew it wouldn't be a good match.
I would be fine with owners of all breeds who are known to be more dominant have to earn a license and pass a test to renew it every year. It would eliminate some of the bad owners, but not all.
I know homeowners insurance increases with particular breeds, and some apartment complexes will not allow certain breeds either. - 1. American Pit Bull Terriers are some of the sweetest dogs in the world! they just get a bad rep because of media. they just had bad owners. my sweet loving caring loyal dog if actually part pit bull. hes the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love him to death. the only thing is that you have to make sure is that you train him a little. all dogs need to be trained atleast a little. pit bulls just need to be treated like every other dog to be a loving caring sweet adorable loyal dogs. they are only in a bad rep because of bad owners.
- First and foremost, pitbull is NOT a breed. The breed is the american staffordshire terrier and aggression towards people OR animals is not in the breed standard - go read it!
Second, pitbulls are by far, not the most aggressive breed, nor are they the most likely breed to bite - go check the statistics.
Third, the vast majority of 'pitbull' attacks are actually attacks by another breed mistakenly identified as a 'pitbull'. The vast majority of the population cannot identify correctly either a full breed pit bull nor can the adequately identify mixed breeds. to prove this point, i would recommend this site http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthe…
The fact is, that the vast majority of attacks of real pit bulls are dogs that were made dangerous by design - they were owned by people who intended that the dog be aggressive. This is often people who engage in other illegal activity such as dog fighting, illegal drugs, theft, etc. These people are not going to be stopped by making another law because these people are already ignoring laws.
And if you did somehow take away all the pit bulls from the truly dangerous people, then what breed would they own? Cane Corsos? Dogo Argentino? Presa Canario? There are plenty of dogs in this same group that could easily replace the pit bull as the dog of choice for lawless young men looking to enhance their macho image by having a dangerous dog around.
The plain fact is, when you actually look at the facts instead of spreading misinformation, is that the problem is the owners and not the breed. Banning any breed or putting limits on that breed are not helpful. Only by addressing the real problem - the person at the end of the leash- will you get any solution to the problem.
For more real facts on pit bulls and the entire bsl problem i recommend http://www.understand-a-bull.com/ - In most cases Pitbull attacks are often at the fault of their owners. Lack of knowledge of the breed from the owner is one of the reasons for lack of proper care for the dog. Unfortunatly, one of the most common reasons for pittbull attacks is because the dog has been raised to fight or have had previous experience in dog fighting. Pitbulls who are correctly raised from birth, make great pets as any other dog would. But I do agree, that potential pitbull owners should have to have a liscense to be able to buy and own a pitbull.
- i agree with everyone that is standing up for the pit bull...its the owners that make the dog "bad", with that breed a person needs to take more time with them and socialize them "general rule of thumb...a gentle hand makes a loving family member"...where i live a rott killed a 3 month old baby and im sure with more looking into other breeds there are more attacks than they realize..its just someone started attacking the breed of the pit and others ran with it...my friend raised a pitt from a pup and could safely place his head in the pits mouth. they are very loving animals with socialization, training and lots of love....
- I don't feel that there should be any breed-specific legislation for any breed of dog. I do, however, believe that all pet owners should have to have a pet-owning license and a background check; this should start with cats, dogs, and exotics. I believe this because pet owners need to learn responsibility for their pets. No animal should be subjected to abuse, neglect, or obesity (which I believe should also be considered as abuse or neglect).
I say background check because anyone that has caused harm to another human being is much more likely to abuse a pet too. There is actually legislation going to through the govt about connecting the laws about child abuse and animal abuse. If this change passes, if a child has been abused in a home where there is a pet as well, a report must be filed of suspected animal abuse as well. This also includes the opposite. If animal abuse has been reported, suspected child abuse must also be reported if a child lives in the home.
I do agree that pit bulls were bred to be aggressive, and also that the aggressive behavior can be bred out of them, or at least controlled by a loving household that trains them well. Most of the dog's aggressive behavior comes from feeling stressed or cornered. If that stress is removed (the dog being distracted by a toy or treat) then the aggression goes down quite a bit. Also, if any dog shows aggression what-so-ever, the dog should be taken to the vet to see if it is caused by a medical problem such as with the thyroid. Many aggressive dogs will also have a thyroid problem. - No, because there is still an underground of slimy disgusting "people" who will NEVER take said class, and the good breeders/owners already know what a good bully breed owners needs to know. Unfortunately, there is a huge misconception and prejudice towards the bully breeds. "Pit Bulls" have one of the lowest bite rates towards people, and realistically, the dog aggression issue is a reality. However, any and all breeds are very capable of displaying severe dog aggression. The sheer power of a pit bull can be a problem, but quite frankly, there are many large breed dogs who can inflict very severe injury as well...
We need to stop categorizing the bully breeds like they are some freakishly vicious dogs. They are dogs, and in the wrong hands can be frightening, but for those of us who love them, they are probably the very best companion, protector, and "nanny" you can find!
Edit** No, "special consideration" should NOT be taken with any breed of dog. We need to make laws prosecuting very strongly those who intentionally breed these dogs irresponsibly, fight them, etc. It's no different than gun ownership. In a law abiding citizens hands, a gun is probably your best friend. However, you get someone who has it wihtin them to misuse that firearm and a gun is a frightening thing.
How have we come to the place where we don't see this? - Today, they aren't bred to be dog aggressive anymore by responsible breeders. I'm not saying they aren't more prone to dog aggression, but they aren't bred to be anymore. I think that pittie owners do have to assume more responsibility because of all of the bad owners out there. My pit mix has to set the example of the correct way to act to others if I don't want BSL to go into effect where I live. When people see my dog, they automatically assume that he is dangerous and will continue to think that of the entire breed unless we pittie owners are even MORE responsible than any other owner.
- pitbulls are not aggressive only aggressive when fighting. it depends on all how you raise and train your dog... pitbulls are not a mean dog at all. they are stubborn breed though at some points in time.. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet, which is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, it is always eager to please its master. It is an extremely courageous and intelligent guard dog that is very full of vitality. Highly protective of his owners and the owner's property, it will fight anenemy to the death. It is usually very friendly, but has an uncanny ability to know when it needs to protect and when everything is okay. The American Pit Bull Terrier can be willful and needs a firm hand. They are generally okay with other pets if they are raised with them from puppy hood. For the most part they are very friendly, but not recommended for most people. Excellent with children in the family, they have a high pain tolerance and will happily put up with rough child play. As with any breed, they should not be left alone with unfamiliar children. Originally used as fighting dogs, the powerful American Pit Bull may go for the throat of strange dogs. A minimum of training will produce a tranquil, obedient dog. Socialize very thoroughly when young to combat aggressive tendencies and be sure to keep the dog under control when other dogs are present. It has given outstanding results as a guardian of property, but is at the same time esteemed as a companion dog. When properly trained and socialized, this is a very good dog and a great family companion. Unfortunately, some choose to promote the fighting instinct in the breed, giving it a bad name. Among enthusiasts, the history of the APBT is as controversial as the breed itself is among the misled public. The breed's history is a recurrent subject of lively debate in the magazines devoted to the breed. In fact, this FAQ was hotly debated among the contributors before it reached its final form, and still everyone isn't 100% happy!
Although the precise origin of the APBT is not known, we can reliably trace its roots back at least one hundred and fifty years or so [1] to England. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries the sport of bull-baiting was very much alive and dogs were bred to excel in this endeavor. The same type of dog was also used by hunters to catch game and by butchers and farmers to bring down unruly cattle. These dogs were called "bulldogs." Historically, the word "Bulldog" did not mean a specific breed of dog but rather it was applied to descendants of the ancient Mastiff- type dogs that excelled in the task of bull-baiting. The "bulldogs" of yore were much different from, and should not be confused with, the loveable clowns of the show ring today. The old, performance-bred, working bulldog was closer in phenotype and spirit to the APBT and/or the modern American Bulldog. The use of the word "bulldog" applied to APBT's persists even today among APBT fanciers.
When bull-baiting was outlawed in England in 1835 the sport of matching two dogs against one another in combat rose in popularity to fill the void. One point of contention about the history of the APBT is whether these pit fighting dogs were essentially a new breed of dog specially created for this popular pastime. Some authors, notably Richard Stratton, have theorized that the APBT is essentially the same breed as the Renaissiance bull-baiting dogs, largely unmixed with any other kind of dog, specifically terriers. These authors consider the present name, American Pit Bull Terrier, a double misnomer, since, in their view, the breed is not of American origin and is not a terrier.
They explain the popular attribution of the breed's origin to a cross between bull-baiters and terriers as a retrospective confusion with the breeding history of the English Bull Terrier, which is a totally distinct breed that was never successful at pit fighting but whose origin is well-documented. Other authors who have researched the topic, such as Dr. Carl Semencic, argue that the APBT is indeed the product of a cross between bull-baiting dogs and terriers and that the breed simply did not exist in its current form during the Renaissance. They would argue that when we think of the terriers in the APBT's ancestry, we should not envision modern-day show dogs like Yorkshire Terriers, but instead working terriers (probably now extinct) that were bred for great tenacity in hunting. The problem of proof, which hangs over the discussion of any early breed history, is compounded in this case by the extreme secrecy of the breeders of pit dogs. In the 19th century pedigrees, if committed to paper at all, were not divulged, since every breeder feared letting his rivals in on the secrets of his success and replicating it. In any case, by no later than the mid-19th century, the breed had acquired all of the essential characteristics for which it is still prized today: its awesome athletic abilities, its peerless gameness, and its easy-going temperament.
The immediate ancestors of the APBT were Irish and English pit fighting dogs imported to the States in the mid-19th century. Once in the United States, the breed diverged slightly from what was being produced back in England and Ireland. In America, where these dogs were used not only as pit fighters, but also as catch dogs (i.e., for forcibly retrieving stray hogs and cattle) and as guardians of family, the breeders started producing a slightly larger, leggier dog. However, this gain in size and weight was small until very recently. The Old Family Dogs in 19th century Ireland were rarely above 25 lbs., and 15-lb. dogs were not uncommon. In American books on the breed from the early part of this century, it is rare to find a specimen over 50 lbs. (with a few notable exceptions). From 1900 to 1975 or so, there was probably a very small and gradual increment in the average weight of APBTs over the years, without any corresponding loss in performance abilities. But now that the vast majority of APBTs are no longer performance-bred to the traditional pit standard (understandably, since the traditional performance test, the pit contest itself, is now a felony), the American axiom of "Bigger is Better" has taken over in the breeding practices of the many neophyte breeders who joined the bandwagon of the dog's popularity in the 1980s. This has resulted in a ballooning of the average size of APBTs in the last 15 years--a harmful phenomenon for the breed, in our opinion. Another, less visible modification of the breed since the 19th century was the selective intensification of genetically programmed fighting styles (such as front-end specialists, stifle specialists, etc.), as performance breeding became more sophisticated under competitive pressures. In spite of these changes, there has been a remarkable continuity in the breed for more than a century. Photos from a century ago show dogs indistinguishable from the dogs being bred today. Although, as in any performance breed, you will find a certain lateral (synchronic) variability in phenotype across different lines, you will nevertheless find uncanny chronological continuity in these types across decades. There are photos of pit dogs from the 1860s that are phenotypically (and, to judge by contemporary descriptions of pit matches, constitutionally) identical to the APBTs of today.
Throughout the 19th century, these dogs were known by a variety of names. "Pit Terriers", "Pit Bull Terriers", "Half and Half's", "Staffordshire Fighting Dogs", "Old Family Dogs"( the Irish name), "Yankee Terriers" (the Northern name), and "Rebel Terriers" (the Southern name) to name a few. In 1898, a man by the name of Chauncy Bennet formed the United Kennel Club (UKC) for the sole purpose of registering "Pit Bull Terriers" as the American Kennel Club wanted nothing to do with them. Originally, he added the word "American" to the name and dropped "Pit". This didn't please all of the people so later the word "Pit" was added back to the name in parentheses as a compromise. The parentheses were then removed from the name about 15 years ago. All other breeds that are registered with UKC were accepted into the UKC after the APBT. Another registry of APBTs is the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA) which was started in September, 1909 by Guy McCord, a close friend of John P. Colby. Now under the stewardship of the Greenwood family, the ADBA continues to register only APBTs and is more in tune with the APBT as a breed than the UKC. The ADBA does sponsor conformations shows, but more importantly, it sponsors weight pulling competitions which test a dogs strength, stamina, and heart. It also publishes a quarterly magazine dedicated to the APBT called the American Pit Bull Terrier Gazette (see the "References" section). The authors feel that the ADBA is now the flagship registry of APBT as it is doing more to preserve the original characteristics of the breed.Among enthusiasts, the history of the APBT is as controversial as the breed itself is among the misled public. The breed's history is a recurrent subject of lively debate in the magazines devoted to the breed. In fact, this FAQ was hotly debated among the contributors before it reached its final form, and still everyone isn't 100% happy!
Although the precise origin of the APBT is not known, we can reliably trace its roots back at least one hundred and fifty years or so [1] to England. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries the sport of bull-baiting was very much alive and dogs were bred to excel in this endeavor. The same type of dog was also used by hunters to catch game and by bu
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