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- I think pit bulls should be shot and killed, along with their owners.
- A pit bull attacked/killed my friend/dog/cat. How can you defend a breed that does this sort of thing?
- I want to crop my dog's ears. When and where do I get that done?
- I want to breed my pit bull. Can you give me pointers?
- I need help training my puppy or dog (nipping, chewing, housetraining, etc.).
- My pit bull acts aggressively toward other dogs/humans. What can I do?
- My pit bull is a wimp. How can I get it to defend itself (and me)?
- My town/county/city has laws against pit bulls. What can I do??
- I need to get rid of my pit bull. Will you take it, or do you know someone that will take it?
- If I send you a picture of my dog, will you tell me if it's a pit bull?
- Okay, I read it all but I still have a comment or question. Now, how can I email you?
Answers
1. I think pit bulls should all be shot and killed, along with their owners!
When I get negative feedback, this is what I usually get. I think, for some individuals, there might be some misunderstanding about the purpose of my site. This is not a popularity contest or an opinion poll; my site is not going to disappear, nor will I suddenly change my beliefs, because of a close-minded, uneducated comment like this. On the contrary, my goal through this site is to offer answers and guidance for anyone who has questions about pit bulls. Safe, healthy dialogue on a sometimes touchy topic is only possible if everyone comes to the table with an open mind and a willingness to hear. If you have valid questions or a genuine interest in educating yourself, welcome! If you merely want to express hate or rant, please don't waste my (or your) time.
2. A pit bull attacked/killed my friend/dog/cat. How can you defend a breed that does this sort of thing?
I'm sorry to hear about the death/injury of your friend/dog/cat. However, it's unfair for you to blame an entire breed for the misdeeds of a few irresponsible individuals. All dogs of any breed can and do bite/attack/kill. Unfortunately, some dogs have irresponsible owners that allow their dog to do that sort of thing (whether on purpose or by accident). Prosecute the owner of the offending dog to the fullest extent of the law - and stop blaming the rest of us! Dogs raised and kept by responsible owners will never be a threat to society for any reason.
3. I want to crop my dog's ears. When and where do I get that done?
I do NOT support cosmetic ear cropping. There are a number of reasons for this.
Firstly, cropping is a painful and humiliating procedure done to a puppy during the most sensitive stage of its mental and behavioral growth. It can leave the dog with physical and/or mental scars, especially if done improperly.
There is no medical reason for ear cropping. Says veterinarian T.J. Dunn, Jr.: "As a veterinarian with 32 years of experience treating hundreds of thousands of dogs during that time, I cannot find medical justification for cropping a dog's pinnas." The Textbook of Small Animal Surgery states: "Cosmetic otoplasty is performed on the ears of certain breeds to meet breed specifications. There are no medical reasons for these techniques to be performed." Footnote: "Editor's note: This technique is not considered ethical and is illegal in some areas." Another quote from a website: "Veterinarians who have given their advice are split as to whether the ears being natural contributes to more infections, and other problems, or not." Ear cropping, like all other surgeries, can result in infection and scarring, and is not without risk.
The practice of ear cropping is widely acknowledged among experts as cruel and unnecessary. Several countries have banned cosmetic ear cropping outright. In this country many veterinarians will not perform the procedure. Humane societies are strongly against these cosmetic alterations. The breed standard for both APBTs and AmStaffs clearly states that ear cropping is not a requirement. Quite the contrary; in conformation events, all things being equal, preference is given to the dogs with uncropped ears.
A dog with cropped ears looks highly aggressive. This only feeds the vicious stereotype that responsible pit bull owners have to fight against.
Medical reasons for cropping ears are extremely rare and should only be done after serious consultation with a vet.
In the vast majority of cases, cropping is done out of the owner's (selfish) desire to alter the dog's natural appearance.
Why are Felanie's ears cropped?
4. I want to breed my pit bull. Can you give me pointers?
Absolutely not. Breeding your pit bull is the worst possible thing you can do for the breed-type.
There is a pit bull overpopulation crisis on our hands, and every dog born only aggravates the situation. Every puppy born from a breeder will take a potential home away from an innocent puppy trapped in the dog pound and destined for death row.
There are many benefits to spaying or neutering your dog. Neutered/spayed dogs are less likely to bite/attack, develop behavioral problems, get reproductive cancers, run away, or "mark" their territory. They become more attentive, more obedient pets. They also live longer, healthier lives.
Breeding is purely selfish. Puppies are really cute, but I'd rather save lives by adopting a puppy from the animal shelter instead of killing innocent dogs by flooding the already saturated pet market with run-of-the-mill pups.
5. I need help training my dog or puppy.
If you are having trouble with housetraining, puppy nipping, obedience training, socialization issues, etc. there are plenty of resources available to you. Check out the books at your local book store or library. Search online canine behavior and training websites for assistance with simple problems (view my page). For more complicated behaviors such as aggression or separation anxiety, seek out a qualified trainer or behaviorist in your area.
6. My pit bull acts aggressively toward other dogs/humans. What can I do?
Seek the help of a professional behaviorist immediately! The behaviorist will evaluate your dog's behavior, attempt to determine the cause of the aggression, and make recommendations. Aggression is serious and dangerous, and should be handled only by a professional.
Aggression towards other dogs is very different from aggression towards humans. Dogs can and do make the distinction between people and other dogs. You should take extra precautions to keep your dog isolated, however, until you can seek the advice of a professional.
See also: Aggression
If your dog is acting aggressively toward people, get professional help NOW.
7. My pit bull is a wimp. How can I get it to defend itself (and me)?
Your pit bull is not a wimp. It may have a submissive personality. It may be very dog- and people-friendly. This is really a very good thing.
You should never encourage your dog to act aggressively or defensively toward another person or dog. When you tell your dog to "stick up for itself" you are actually fostering independent aggressive behavior, which is one of the most dangerous and uncontrollable behaviors. Dogs can and do make mistakes and they should therefore not be allowed to decide when to act defensively or aggressively. Dog attacks and dog bites are a serious public health problem and lead to injury or death of other dogs, small animals, and people.
You should not get a dog solely for protection, and you should never expect a dog to defend you if you are in trouble. Many dogs will do so naturally, and pit bulls often have an uncanny ability to know when to "get down to business" in a threatening situation. However, not every dog will have this ability, and a dog should never be encouraged to be aggressive when it chooses not to be.
The only dogs which are remotely qualified to act as protection/attack dogs are Shutzhund III-certified or trained police dogs. These dogs are not actually aggressive! Before a Shutzhund dog even gets to perform its first bite work, it is relentlessly trained for obedience. The entirety of the "attack" training is secondary to obedience. These dogs are trained continuously throughout their lives.
You should be concerned about a dog that frequently hides, shies away, keeps its tail and ears down, and/or has a hunched back and terrified eyes. This dog is not a wimp, but is severely lacking in self-confidence, and fearful. Such a dog should be handled carefully, because it is possible to make the fear worse and turn the dog into a fear biter. A fear-aggressive dog is also dangerous. If the dog is exhibiting this kind of behavior, you should seek help from a professional behaviorist immediately.
8. My town/county/city has laws against pit bulls. What can I do??
If you're interested in getting rid of these ridiculous laws and restrictions, and suggesting some working alternatives, go for it! Educate yourself as much as possible. Learn about dogs, dog behavior, pit bulls, and the law. Check out my anti-BSL site. Talk to some pit bull rescue groups. Get people together! And fight!
I can not personally crush BSL. If you email me about BSL problems in your area, I will make the above suggestions. I am willing to write letters to people regarding BSL if you can provide their email or mailing address. You may use any and all information on my sites to fight BSL.
9. I need to get rid of my pit bull. Will you take it, or do you know someone that will take it?
No, and no. You might try contacting a local pit bull rescue group, putting an ad in the paper, or finding a no-kill shelter in your area. Pit Bull Rescue Central also has good tips and advice for rehoming a pit bull. Before you consider giving up your pit bull, make sure there is no other alternative.
10. If I send you a picture of my dog, will you tell me if it's a pit bull?
No, and please don't ask. Unless you know your dog's family tree (i.e. a pedigree), you cannot know for sure whether your dog is a "pit bull." (And even pedigrees can be faked.) Our most advanced genetic tests cannot determine a dog's breed either. Thus, the determination of a dog's breed is usually based solely on whether that dog fits a certain appearance. Categorization is therefore entirely subjective and will vary from person to person. While some breeds of dogs have a very uniform, distinct appearance, pit bulls are not one of those breeds. "Pit bull" is a vague term that encompasses many breeds and types of dogs, and even the physical description of a "pit bull" can change depending on who is doing the describing. Pit bull mixes are even more varied in appearance.
I personally feel that "pit bull" has become a label for a very generic type of dog, usually any dog that has very short hair and cannot be obviously identified as a purebred individual from some other breed. That is, if it is not obviously a Rottweiler, or obviously a Boxer, or obviously a French Bulldog, it automatically becomes a "pit mix." (See also "Lab mix" and "Shepherd mix.") As such, "pit bull" becomes a catch-all term.
This is one of the primary reasons why breed-specific legislation, which necessitates the identification of "pit bulls," is such a ridiculous and unjust concept. It is very easy to see "pit bull" in any dog if one looks hard enough. If you live in an area with breed-specific legislation (BSL), you must contact your animal control department to find out who makes the legally binding determination as to whether your dog is affected by such legislation. It could be a vet, an animal control officer, or a city councilperson. Different localities have different rules; seek legal assistance if necessary. Again, we do not have genetic tests that can do it; if you do not know the dog's family tree, the entire process becomes highly subjective.
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