You have a very good friend in Tia Torres of Pit Bulls and Parolees. She has unselfishly devoted her life to changing perceptions about this breed. All I know about Pit Bulls is from watching the show. You have chosen a very worthy cause so please continue your good work.
A blog to help improve the view of pitbulls
I'm trying to change the negative perception around pitbulls as I train Artemis to be a therapy dog. Please comment and share!
http://artemisthedog.blogspot.com/
http://artemisthedog.blogspot.com/
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Thank you!
I do love pits, they can be great dogs. But be prepared for nasty comments. I use to know someone who did therapy work with her pit, mostly for children. Once she was leaving a hospital after learning that one of the children she would visit every week had died, cancer. She was screamed at in the parking lot to 'get that monster out of here' as she was leaving. The dog wasn't doing anything, behaving as a therapy dog should. That particular comment hit her hard, because of the timing.
I wish you luck.
I wish you luck.
how many threads have you started already?
I know most pits are great dogs, but I do wonder about them. They do lead the way in fatalities and I've known a number of people who "raised their dog right" and still experienced the dog "snapping."
You have a very good friend in Tia Torres of Pit Bulls and Parolees. She has unselfishly devoted her life to changing perceptions about this breed. All I know about Pit Bulls is from watching the show. You have chosen a very worthy cause so please continue your good work.
Tia is the greatest because she and her crew are actually HONEST about the breed and the talk about the actual problems that can arise with them. They actually talk about how these dogs were originally created to terrorize bulls in bull fights just like a hound was created to have their nose to the ground.
Facebook is full of ignorant kids just sharing memes and calling them "pitties" as an attempt to make them sound cute and cuddly and nothing bad ever happens. That doesn't help people or the breed. It's like everyone who went out and bought a Dalmatian puppy after the movies came out and the rescues and shelters couldn't keep up with the dogs who were dumped on them.
People should also stop with blanket statements like "it's the owners" because its' actually abused dogs of any breed that turn out submissive and allow abuse. All breeds bite. It doesn't mean they were abused or taught to bite. Pits have a protective steak over their owners just like a German Shepherd...deal with it.
"Snapping" from any dog can be from dogs being hit. Many people who don't really have much dog knowledge or experience..or are very old fashioned hit their dogs as a way to make them behave. Many pits are owned by teenagers or men in their 20's and this is how they handle them.I know most pits are great dogs, but I do wonder about them. They do lead the way in fatalities and I've known a number of people who "raised their dog right" and still experienced the dog "snapping."
I think many of the fatalities come from bored Pitbulls left in backyards all day. Their "terrier" instinct kicks in. Terriers in general are a pain in the ass dog group. Jack Russel Terriers have been known to kill the family cat after living peacefully for 10 years. Pits left in back yards chase the mailman through the fence, people on bikes and other obnoxious behaviors. Some dogs see small children as prey and some herding breeds see them as baby cows that need to be herded.
My boyfriend and I are getting our first pit hopefully this weekend! I've never know a pit bull 'raised right' to snap or turn on their owners and handler, not to say it doesn't happen. Any dog has the potential to be bad minded and just plain nasty, same with horses. My family has owned many friendly and social giant and miniature schnauzers but one didn't turn out so well. He snapped and bit my sister in the face one night, causing her to have to get stitches. I've heard many similar stories with different breeds.
As for horses, we own American Saddlebreds which are known to be highly intelligent and very people oriented. That's not to say they all turn out that way. We had one so bad minded and dangerous that he had to be put down. Another mare wasn't quite put together right in the head despite our best efforts to train it out of her. My cousin was in love with her and offered to take her offour hands. She turned her into a pretty phenomenal jumper.
That said, all animals are individuals, each with different personalities, just like us. Some have faulty bloodlines and some just don't turn out right, at no fault of our own. I don't think breeds should be so stereotyped.
As for horses, we own American Saddlebreds which are known to be highly intelligent and very people oriented. That's not to say they all turn out that way. We had one so bad minded and dangerous that he had to be put down. Another mare wasn't quite put together right in the head despite our best efforts to train it out of her. My cousin was in love with her and offered to take her offour hands. She turned her into a pretty phenomenal jumper.
That said, all animals are individuals, each with different personalities, just like us. Some have faulty bloodlines and some just don't turn out right, at no fault of our own. I don't think breeds should be so stereotyped.
Do they vaccinate horses? Some people believe that behavioral changes can be related to all the vaccines they're giving dogs these days. Not starting a vaccine debate, just a thought. "Raised Right" means different things to different people too. And different training methods work with different dogs.My boyfriend and I are getting our first pit hopefully this weekend! I've never know a pit bull 'raised right' to snap or turn on their owners and handler, not to say it doesn't happen. Any dog has the potential to be bad minded and just plain nasty, same with horses. My family has owned many friendly and social giant and miniature schnauzers but one didn't turn out so well. He snapped and bit my sister in the face one night, causing her to have to get stitches. I've heard many similar stories with different breeds.
As for horses, we own American Saddlebreds which are known to be highly intelligent and very people oriented. That's not to say they all turn out that way. We had one so bad minded and dangerous that he had to be put down. Another mare wasn't quite put together right in the head despite our best efforts to train it out of her. My cousin was in love with her and offered to take her offour hands. She turned her into a pretty phenomenal jumper.
That said, all animals are individuals, each with different personalities, just like us. Some have faulty bloodlines and some just don't turn out right, at no fault of our own. I don't think breeds should be so stereotyped.
I wonder if the horse your cousin took just wasn't good with other horses and she did well with your cousin because it was her only horse? Or they had a bond/connection and her love was what the horse needed. Animals connect to some people and not others.. just like humans do. They demonstrate that on the Pitbulls and Parolles show by having the families meet several dogs and seeing which ones click.
I agree though. I had a dog with issues. He was a puppy farm dog and some things like grabbing food, I just couldn't train out of him. He took my methods as just going at the treat slower and more of a gentle grab..and he had sharp, needle teeth. A normal dog kinda uses their tongue or their mouth when taking food. I kind of just worked with him..he was a great catcher. I made sure nobody would hand him treats ever and kept him away from strangers and he still lived a fun life and never had a bite record.
Horses do get yearly vaccinations and dewormed every 6 months (deworming schedules may vary with different people) but have never known this to cause any behavioral problems.
I very strongly believe my cousin's and the mare's personalities clicked. The mare is still very gamey and a little off but my cousin is able to control her and communicate to her well. They make a really great team. The horse was always around other horses and was around even more horses where my cousin took her. The barn has lots of other horses so I don't think it affected her in any way. It was a very nice, high end barn, though, if I do say so myself!
I very strongly believe my cousin's and the mare's personalities clicked. The mare is still very gamey and a little off but my cousin is able to control her and communicate to her well. They make a really great team. The horse was always around other horses and was around even more horses where my cousin took her. The barn has lots of other horses so I don't think it affected her in any way. It was a very nice, high end barn, though, if I do say so myself!
A little off topic but still on Pit Bulls, I have a bumper sticker that says "My Ontario includes Pit Bulls". I was at the drive through to get a tea when the person behind me honks his horn and yells out "I like your bumper sticker!!" with both thumbs up. Made me feel a little better that not everyone is afraid of them like the media likes to portray them to be. They are really a nice breed of dog for the right family/person.
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