ANYONE HERE OWN A PITBULL?

[YouthInAsia]

I have two. The first one I was "stuck" with after I threw an ex boyfriend out of the house. He had just recently brought a baby pitbull home. I kept it cuz I didnt trust him to take care of it after I tossed him. I didnt know ANYTHING about the breed except what you hear in the papers. Now I feel totally different and believe they are the best dogs in the world. I bought a second one so my older one could have a pal.

Anyway, the reason for this post.....I have a question about their "behavior." Are pitbulls perennial puppies? My three year old acts just as stupid as the puppy. He hasnt matured one bit since he was a pup. Sure, he'e housebroken and "mautred" in those ways, but as far as just being stupid.........he's a nut 24/7. He's never just calm. He's always trying to play as hard as possible no matter where he is. I have to take them to Valley Forge Park every day (rain or shine) and let them haul ass around the park for a few hours just so they'll sleep (and give me some rest) when we get home.

[Blue-Jay]

1. ANYONE HERE HAVE A CAPSLOCK?

OMG!

[Floogeldy]

19. YOU ARE SO NAUGHTY!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LeftyMom]

2. They stay puppies forever.

Seriously though, if you have a pit bull question you should PM flvegan 'cause he has 8 or something like that.

[YouthInAsia]

3. Wow, eight? I cant imagine. I'm pulling my hair out over two.

Thanks for the info!

[LeftyMom]

4. And more large dogs besides.

He's a good guy to take on that kind of responsibility (and I can post that since he's not here to argue with me.)

[flvegan]

7. Ahem.

I am here, thank you. On top of that, I'm an opinionated jerk. Ask around...

[LeftyMom]

8. Was somebody mean to you?

Tell me who. It won't happen twice.

[flvegan]

10. Mean? No.

I don't see it as being mean. I see it as being...not in the same boat as I am on some things. Oh, and then cramming a 12" dildo up my ass and laughing about it while I'm set afire. Not so much "mean" though.

[LeftyMom]

11. Shhhhh!

You're not allowed to say that word hon, remember?

[flvegan]

12. I thought that since some were

I could piggyback. Thanks for letting me know, though.

[flvegan]

5. Hey there. I have several now, and experience with many.

First, you need to get them both fixed (spay/neuter), if not already. Now. Now, as in, right now.

That said, yes, they never really mature. They are children forever. However, the "fixing" will help calm them down in many situations, and will help make them less aggressive in situations with non-altered dogs.

They are among the best dogs in the world. This is true. Don't listen to any of the hype about this breed. My biggest issue with them is how much they whine and cry when it's time to eat...just like kids can do.

Enjoy your pits...great dogs with a bad rep. If you want any help or just to talk about them, send me a PM. My rescue deals almost exclusively with pits, most of which have been terribly abused.

[YouthInAsia]

13. Thanks! Yes, they're both netuered. And they're great around

people. The older one HATES other dogs (aside from his brother) so I never let him off his leash at the park (NOT a dog park....I take them into the middle of nowhere at Valley Forge National Park.) Plus he'd never EVER come back.

I completely concur that they're great dogs and I try to relay this to as many people as possible. The owner must accept alot of responsibility and take that responsibility seriously. Other than that, I'd NEVER get another breed.

I'm glad to hear that you rescue them, that's very kind of you. Keep up your good work!

A.

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. Call them "American Staffordshire Terriers" instead of Pitbull....

A slight difference in breed but not much. Makes for a more palatable name. "Pitbull" has many negative connotations and they have gotten a bad rap in recent years. Poodles and Shitzhus bite more people than pitbulls do in this country. It's just a lot less severe.

I've owned Boston Terriers (Distant cousins of your dogs) and the terrier and bull dog tenacity is prevalent in all these breeds. Enjoy them while they're young. They are probably goofy as hell when they play but lovers to the nth degree when you are on the couch, no?

They will play right to the edge of exhaustion, lay down and relax for a few minutes and start again. My mom and dad had a house in Miami with a pool and a fenced back yard, complete with doggy door. I had a male Boston that would play fetch the frisbee, stick, ball, branch, two-by-four, whatever.....till he got too hot to go on. Instead of bringing the item back to me, he would head straight for the doggy door, run in and plop himself on the top step of the pool to cool off. 2 or 3 minutes of this and he would be right back out the door wanting to run again.


Get used to it. Your dogs are high energy fellas and they need to exercise.

[YouthInAsia]

14. But arent Pitbulls and AmStaff's two different breeds?

I was told that they are (similar and from the same family, but still different.) And my vet says there's a difference. One is taller and one is smaller and more muscular (I cant remember which!)My vet has them down as "pitbulls" on their chart. But who knows. Thanks for the advice! Dogs will wear ya out like children. I get exhausted simply watching them run around like madmen.

[meow2u3]

15. I heard AmStaffs are pitbulls with a pedigree

Ron Reagan also describe the bad rap AmStaffs/Pitbulls have. It's the owner who breeds the dog to be agressive.

Pits are very protective of their owners, families, and friends. I know because my friend has one, and I'm a pitbull magnet--they seem to be drawn to me.

[YouthInAsia]

16. That means they like you. If my dog doesnt like you, he wont

let ya into the house. If he DOES like you, well it over. He's all yours, at your service.

[A HERETIC I AM]

17. They are from the same root stock, if i am not mistaken.....

Lots of the incidents of pits jumping fences and biting the neighbor kids can be traced to irresposible breeding. There was a story in the South Florida media years ago (Like better than 15 years, thats how long this problem has been going on) that breeders of fighting dogs - dogs bred for the pit and not for pets were bred with calmer, AmStaff bloodlines. The result was that people were getting dogs they thought were happy, calm, friendly family dogs that just happened to have a mean streak in them. The inbred inability to calm themselves after being instigated or threatened. You can make ANY dog viscious, but an inbred tendency for dramatic violence is intentional and when crossbred with calmer breeds results in unpredictable behaviour. It is a tragedy, to be sure.

[MissB]

9. NO! I DON'T THINK ANYONE DOES!

[grasswire]

18. you need the Dog Whisperer

Check out Caesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, on National Geographic network. He's a trainer, and his methods seem to work very well. Basically, it boils down to the fact that you must teach the dogs to recognize you as the pack leader and make them submissive to you. You learn to be calm and assertive, and they learn to be calm and submissive. You can find his web site, or watch him on television.

[YouthInAsia]

22. I show them everyday that I'm in charge. Bugsy is just

determined to usurp the position. The baby is just fine in his position as 'Third' in the pack. Busgy, well, Bugsy thinks he can take over. he wouldnt know what to do once he got there, but he sure tries. Both are very sweet boys.

[DBoon]

20. Yes

We have a now 11 year old pit/lab mix and a nine-month pure pit puppy

The older guy was wonderfully energetic and didn't start to slow down until he was seven. When he was 4 and 5 we would hike with him in Griffith Park (Los Angeles) and he'd run up to the top of Mount Hollywod and back (1300 foot gain). He'd sleep very well after that.

The puppy is still amazingly energetic. I have to put on my running outfit to walk her. I took to a dog park and she ran a whippet in circles for almost an hour. That was the only time I saw her tired.

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/doggzilla in case you are interested

[YouthInAsia]

21. How Cute!!!! Nothing cuter than the pit-smile.

Your older dog looks a little like my Bugsy (the three year old) with the brindle color. Bugsy is a little bigger, but they look similar. Thanks for the pics!

[leftofthedial]

23. Buy them a poodle for a buddy

That will help calm them down

Of course, you'll have to get them a new poodle every few days

[YouthInAsia]

24. Lol. They have a cat brother and two rat sisters.

The cat rules to roost and the rats they consider their "girlfriends." I kid you not. They are actually in love with the two rat sisters. Bizarre

[leftofthedial]

25. what's the old line? Put a blonde wig on a rat

and some guy will try to date it.

Are they cute rats?

[YouthInAsia]

26. Apparently. The way the dogs get all googley eyed

over them. They must be "hot chicks" on the four legged species meter.

[leftofthedial]

27. it's the long tail

it makes the ritual butt sniffing more, um, mysterious . . .

okay. That's gross . . .

[YouthInAsia]

28. HAHAHAHA. It's their girlish figures.

and their big black eyes.