PITBULLS (The Truth)...

This post is dedicated to Teoh Dogs (Ning and Li)... Om Mani Padme Hum.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20110112-257807.html
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20110110-257307.html



 
The American Pit Bull Terrier was the most popular family dog in the beginning of the 20th century. What happened? How did this breed become so maligned and misunderstood?

ref from www.realpittbull.com and http://www.dontbullymybreed.org/

The term “Pit Bull” as used in these pages, is meant to refer to the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) breed ONLY. This is a purebred recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA). However, the media, legislators and others use this same term incorrectly to describe a certain group of dogs that actually includes several breeds and types. 

Included in this group are:American Pit Bull Terriers /American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, sometimes Bull Terriers and American Bulldogs, mixes with percentage of blood of any one of these breeds and dogs that simply look like these breeds. 

Understandably, many people are confused about what a “Pit Bull” actually is.

This is Buddie (pic care
of Donna Dailey of Faith's Pit Bull Rescue), with a more accurate portrayal of Pit Bull

Temperament  

If there was a manual describing ideal Pit Bull temperament, it would probably read something like this: "The Pit Bull is goofily friendly towards people - family, friends, and strangers alike. Known for its sound character, strong nerve, and great intelligence, the breed makes an ideal companion for households with children, while remaining strong and vigilant enough to protect its loved ones if need be. It is never necessary to embark on guard or attack training with this breed, as they are
naturally attuned to their environment and intuitive about real threats. 

Although never aggression towards people without real need, the Pit Bull may show dog-directed aggression, but sensitivity to other dogs will vary from dog to dog. The properly socialized and trained Pit Bull should not be an instigator, yet it is unlikely for the breed to shy away from a challenge. 

The breed is known for its high prey drive, and so due caution should be exercised when cats, rabbits, domestic fowl, and other such animals are present. Dog-sensitivity and high prey drive should not be viewed as a fault, although excessive, uncontrollable aggression is neither desired  nor correct. Aggression towards humans should be viewed as a serious fault."

Petey of the Little Rascals was a Pit Bull

As our "ideal temperament manual" states above, the Pit Bull is a very friendly, stable breed. Although in recent years some individuals have misused the breed and the media have misrepresented it, aggression towards humans never was and still isn't what the Pit Bull is about. 

 
Aggression directed at humans is a serious matter, and not something
that should be taken lightly.
 
****Human aggression (i.e. biting/attempt to bite) in this breed
is *not* the norm. Growling (i.e. over toys, food, when moved off the sofa,bed, etc.) should be considered a warning, and possibly a precursor to human-aggressive behavior. It is imperative that guardians seek professional help if their dog is exhibiting any of these behaviors.****

Because the Pit Bull is such a people-friendly breed, they make poor guards of property. Many members of the breed will allow strangers to enter the home or yard without a fuss, whether the guardian is present or not. When it comes to physical harm to his person, the breed is credited with having exceptional judgment and will react only to real threats.

Because the Pit Bull is not a guard or ‘attack breed’, it is best to stay away from any sort of guard or protection dog training. A good dog can be ruined quite easily when this sort of training is undertaken improperly, making for a wary, untrusting dog that may become a danger to humans. Do not try to make the Pit Bull into something he is not. If a serious guard or attack dog is what you desire, it is best to look to one of the breeds that have been specifically created for that type of work.


This breed is known to keep its guardians laughing. They are silly, almost
to the point of being ridiculous. Flailing around upside down on their backs, laying with their heads draped off the side of the couch, engaging in rambunctious sprints around the living room (we call ‘em "pit fits"), these dogs are always clowning around. They are active and energetic; too much dog for some to handle, just the right amount for others.


Pit Bulls are known to have a tendency towards showing dog-directed aggression, although this will vary from dog to dog. It is therefore necessary for the Pit Bull guardian to take certain precautions in the housing, training, and socialization of the breed. Pit Bulls also tend to have a very strong prey drive. Small animals such as birds, squirrels and cats are often viewed as "hunting targets” (this is the terrier blood in them). And let’s not forget that Pit Bulls are bred down from dogs that were used to bait large animals such as bulls and bears – Pit Bulls can therefore show a strong desire to chase/hold down horses and other
farmyard animals. This is a tendency of which guardians MUST be aware.


The Pit Bull should be socialized from early on in a structured, controlled
way with other dogs. Basic early manners training is a must. However,
you cannot socialize or train away temperament traits. Since most Pit Bulls have a tendency to be what we call ‘dog-sensitive’, socialization and training combined with management are musts. These things won’t eliminate the tendency but will help you control or circumvent any
problems.

What are some specifics you need to know about Pit Bulls and other dogs?

Pit Bulls are not necessarily looking to show dominance or obtain rank when they aggress. In fact, most aggression has to do with defense (this is true of all dogs). Even dogs labeled ‘submissive’ cannot be trusted to “never fight”. Allowing a Pit Bull to "work out rank" with other dogs is dangerous and may very well result in injuries. Although neutering can definitely help in some cases (particularly with young males), do not count on the operation eliminating aggression completely. Same-sex aggression is a problem, with two bitches sometimes being more problematic than two males.  Regardless of the sexes involved, in general same-sex households are not a good idea, particularly for the novice guardian.


Pit Bulls are slow to mature. A dog may not show his true temperament until he is 2 or 3 or even 4 years old. Dog-sensitivity levels tend to rise as a Pit Bull matures.

Just because your puppy has reached a year of age without having shown dog-directed aggression does not mean he will never trigger.

Pit Bulls can and do interact peacefully with other dogs and animals.
Individual dog temperament, early training and socializing, and good management skills on the part of the guardian all play an important role in whether or not a Pit Bull is capable of getting along with other dogs. Many people successfully keep multiple Pit Bulls and other dogs in the same household. Success is based on careful supervision, proper management and training, and the individual dogs involved.

Pit Bull Heroes

She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat
during a flood in Southern California.

Weela, Ken-L Ration's Dog Hero of the Year (1993)

This story is from the Ultimate American Pit Bull Terrier by Jacqueline O'Neil. There's also an excellent story about Weela in Jillian Cline's new book The American Pit Bull Terrier Speaks...Good Dog!. Weela was also featured in the October, 1996 Outside magazine as an example of the kind of dog one would like to have in a life-threatening situation.

Gary Watkins, eleven years old, was absorbed in chasing lizards when Weela, the family Pit Bull, plowed into him with a body slam that sent him sprawling. Gary's mother, Lori, saw the whole incident and remembers being surprised at first, because Weela always played kindly with children. But her surprise quickly turned to horror when she saw a rattlesnake sink its fangs into Weela's face. Somehow Weela had sensed the snake's presence from across the yard and rushed to push Gary out of striking range.

 

Luckily for thirty people, twenty-nine dogs, thirteen horses and a cat, Weela recovered from the snake's venom. Luckily, because that's how many lives she saved a few years later. For her heroism, Weela was named Ken-L Ration's Dog Hero of the Year in 1993. 

The press release read in part:

In January 1993, heavy rains caused a dam to break miles upstream on the Tijuana River, normally a narrow, three-foot wide river. Weela's rescue efforts began at a ranch that belonged to a friend of her owners, Lori and Daniel Watkins. Weela and the Watkinses worked for six hours battling heavy rains, strong currents and floating debris to reach the ranch and rescue their friend's twelve dogs.

From that experience, the Watkinses recognized Weela's extraordinary ability to sense quicksand, dangerous drop-offs and mud bogs. "She was constantly willing to put herself in dangerous situations," says Lori Watkins. "She always took the lead except to circle back if someone needed help."

Periodically, over a month's time, sixty-five pound Weela crossed the flooded river to bring food to seventeen dogs and puppies and one cat, all stranded on an island. Each trip she pulled thirty to fifty pounds of dog food that had been loaded into a harnessed backpack. The animals were finally evacuated on Valentine's Day.

 

On another occasion, Weela led a rescue team to thirteen horses stranded on a large manure pile completely surrounded by floodwaters. The rescue team successfully brought the horses to safe ground.

Finally, during one of Weela's trips back from delivering food to stranded animals, she came upon a group of thirty people who were attempting to cross the floodwaters. Weela, by barking and running back and forth, refused to allow them to cross at that point where the waters ran deep and fast. She then led the group to a shallower crossing upstream, where they safely crossed to the other side.

 

Strong, gentle intelligent and brave, Weela,CGC,TT, is the ultimate American Pit Bull terrier, epitomizing the best that the breed has to offer. But her story also highlights an important yet often misunderstood fact about the breed. The Pit Bull is a dog that loves to please its owner and tries to become whatever kind of dog its owner desires. Weela has had two owners.

 

The first owner dumped her in an alley to die when she was less than four weeks old. Her present owner, Lori Watkins, found five starving Pit Bull puppies whimpering in an alley, took them home and raised them. later, the Watkins family placed four of the puppies in loving homes and kept the little female they named Weela. They believed Weela was special, and she proved them right. Most Pit Bull puppies grow up to become a reflection of both their owners' personality and the care and training they receive. One can only imagine what a different dog Weela would have become if her original owner had raised her, and she had done her best to please him.

An abused, dying pup becomes a drug-sniffing superdog

From People Weekly Magazine Edition April 26, 1999 The "Animal" chronicle, Page 117

KOOL K-9 Popsicle

"He's a little ball of fire" says U.S. Customs officer J.J. Trevino of Popsicle (Receiving a significant Seizure medal in March)

During an arrest two years ago, Buffalo policeman Ron Clark, Jr. opened an abandoned freezer on a known drug dealer's back porch and found a bulging black garbage bag. "I poked my flashlight at it," he recalls, "and it started moving. My worst fear was that it was a baby."
In fact, it was a puppy, a pit bull who would be known as Popsicle and -- in a lovely ironic twist-- would gain fame for sniffing out the kind of bad guy that nearly killed him.

One year ago, Popsicle helped the feds seize 3,075 pounds of cocaine from a pineapple-laden truck at the Mexican border-the biggest drug bust ever at the Hidalgo, Texas, port of entry. "It's astounding the obstacles this dog has overcome," says US Customs Service Commissioner Raymond W. Kelley.

When Officer Clark found the wounded, blood-caked animal who had apparently been used in pit bull fights, he was undernourished, hypothermic and near death."He was in bad shape, but I was drawn to him," says SPCA adoption counselor Shannon Willie, who name the pup Popsicle. Alas, people who visited the shelter looking to adopt a puppy were put off by his breed's reputation. They would take one look at the pit bull and walk away.

When Popsicle regained his strength, the shelter contacted US Customs canine-enforcement officer Sally Barr. It was a long shot, but maybe he would qualify for the dog training school in Front Royal, VA.Of 500 dogs Barr has tested in the last three years, only 4 have made the cut. "You want a dog that plays a terrific tug-of-war," says Barr. Popsicle did, and in February 1998 he graduated at the top of his class and became a celebrated alumnus two months later by detecting the record contraband cache under a tractor-trailer. 

"You have to imagine him," says US Customs canine handler J.J. Trevino ,"on his hind legs, barking, trying to reach up to the bottom of the truck." Back in Buffalo, where the bad guy eventually got off with probation for animal cruelty, Ron Clark remains awed by Popsicle's comeback. "I still don't know why I opened that refrigerator," says Clark. "But it feel like it was meant to be.