Kids at School...hate pitties

[APBTs2005]

On my backpack it reads: Ban the deed Not the breed and under that I Love Pit bulls......you would imagin how many kids told me how a pit bull tried to kill them. I want to educate but they just wont budge. Only a few people like the breed, l;ike my friend who owns a red-nose pit bull. Its very annoying to have someone tell you that "pit bulls suck" "pit bulls kill people" "pit bulls this, pit bulls that." So now my new modo is "Learn About and Respect the American Pit bull Terrier" or LARPB.........witch means educate your self before dising the breed and respect its mighty power.
Well heres my question, what do i say/do when someone says something agensinst the breed? Alot of people say im obsest with them(cause i am) but i just want to help, is there anything i can do to help this wonderful breed?

[tessa_s212]

It's one thing to try and educate adults. It is nearly impossible to educate young people about this wonderful breed. Why would it be easy? News channels are constantly making the pit bull look mean and vicious. And remember, teens will be teens. Teens like to think they are always right, and usually will not listen to other teens about anything....

This is what I would do: Tell them that there are many men in the US that abuse their wives and children. Should we ban EVERY man from the US just for those few others? No, becuase that is unethical. THe same goes for pits.

[GSD]

Best thing you can do is train and love your dog. NOthing will serve the breed better than being responsible. Someone that has never seen a pitt or anything else for that matter in anything than a negative light won't see it any other way till they see it in a positive way. If they see you with a very obedient pitt willing to please and be calm and stable around other people, that will do that most to change their attitudes. When people come up and say something negative, you can't control what they think or feel, so don't let it control you. I'd ask them if they want to meet your dog and see if they feel the same way, if they still want to put you and your dog down and not see him, then that is something they need to deal with, don't let their negativity bring you down. I get the same thing sometimes with my GSD especially when they see her with a prong collar on or they find out I do protection work with her, their minds fill with negative images and thoughts. Anybody that's taken any time to actually see what we do and how we do it, and they see the end result are amazed and have a much better understanding. Those that don't want to see it??? well let's just say I don't waste too much of my time with them. They probably let negativity rule their lives in other ways to, its infectious.

[APBTs2005]

thank u, and i will have to remeber that. I was wondering those pitts that do protection work, can some of them from good or bad breeding become people aggersive? I dont think they do, but i was thinking that the pitt was only suppost to be dog aggerisive, but lol.

[Ritz459]

Well, if a is bred or trained to be people aggressive, they are just dangrous. All dogs that are people aggressive are too, but PitBulls have a temperament trait called "gameness". That makes them never want to give up, or stop what they are doing, thus what makes them so good at dog fighting (and better things, like drug sniffing, etc.). If you take that trait and turn it toward people, you have a dog that will never stop going after people.
Even poorly bred Pits can love people, but they normally have more of an unstable temperment.
So really, I wouldn't want to do protection work with a Pittie, because they just get so intune with that job, they may not stop.

[csrichie]

i dont dislike pitbulls but it did scared me when one without a leash ran towards my chi long time ago, good thing my chi wasnt in an agressive mood.

[Pugdawg1]

I don't dislike the breed either.. however, I am not cut out to own one. Passed a guy walking one when I was walking the pugs one evening, recently. Was quite odvious that pit would have loved to have my pugs for a snack. I'll stick to pugs LOL

[elegy]

pit bulls should not be trained as protection dogs. they are not a guardian breed. it is contrary to the temperament of a pit bull to be suspicious about people. the only pit bulls who are that way are unsound dogs (who are often suspicious out of fear) and are dangerous. pit bulls should not be aggressive toward humans ever.

protection sports like schutzhund are a different issue, because the dog approaches it as a game. some pit bulls can do very well and have a great time doing it, but it takes a trainer who understands the nature of a pit bull. they work very differently than the more traditional schutzhund breeds and therefore need to be trained differently.

[Ritz459]

Yep, Pitties most definitally aren't for everyone. People who just want a happy-go-lucky life with there pooch, who want to become a member of the closest dog park, and want there dog to get along with every living creature on this earth shoud NOT own a Pittie.

[Kade]

I agree, the best thing you can do is raise your own Pit to be as well-trained and sweet as possible. By being around that dog, people will have their awareness naturally raised.

The contrast to that is people who insist that the breed is misunderstood and then do not adequately train or control their dogs. These are some of the people, IMO, who do the most damage to the reputation! Because they place too much trust in their dog, assume it will be okay in all situations, and then their dog ends up hurting someone or another dog. This happened recently to a friend of mine. She met a guy with an AmStaff who was telling her how nice and sweet his dog was. She was petting it and the dog actually lunged at her. The guy had no idea how to control his dog, but he thought he did. This is the situation that gets around in stories and rumors.

(Though people like that are waaaaaay behind people who actually train them to fight or be aggressive.)

So keep working, working, working with Ivan on his behavior and socialization, and word will spread.

[linnie]

Originally Posted by csrichie

i dont dislike pitbulls but it did scared me when one without a leash ran towards my chi long time ago, good thing my chi wasnt in an agressive mood.

roflmao reminded me of something that happened when I was a child.
We had a lovely GSD wouldnt harm a fly and he was in his own yard when a little boy walked by with his small terrier.
He bravely stuttered the words out """ yyyoouu bbetter watttch your doog ladddy as mmmy ddog ate oone off them fffor bbbreakffast"

[APBTs2005]

lol....
I have never really seen a pure-bred pittie in my neighborhood and its werid. Never seen one cause there arent any!! I was thinking on rasieing some money and getting a pit bull puppy...are there some things i should look at in a puppy to get a good dog. Like if he will grow up and be dominat or fearful.
My parents told me they were mean dogs, after days/weeks/months of learning about the breed. I try to educate them but no one will listen!! I feel like the only one who loves the breed....the people at school hate them and my own parents. Sad what this world has come, maybe on day i'll be presedent and only resopsible people will own them. My parenst said i only seem to like "mean" breeds like pitties and rotties. whatever
Someone asked me, why do u like pit bulls so much? I didnt answer but if they asked me now this would be my answer...
I love this breed so much because they are beautiful. Their big heads make them seem like their always smileing. I always wanted a dog that would love me and follow me. A dog that was smart and willing to learn, a dog that was muscluar. One that had power but didnt use it in horrible ways. A dog that was trustworthy with people. A dog that i could feel protected with in times of danger. A dog that would give his life to safe my own. A dog that really didnt shed or barked at every nosie, but at important things. A dog that could be a hero. A dog that i could educate people with and when people say, "Wow, i never knew these dogs were so wonderful" i could go on knowing i did something helpful. I could know i changed their minds but they knew the pit bulls power and not all had a life like mine. A dog i could call my own.
Now if only people could read that they would know why i love this breed so much.

[Cassiepeia]

Just ignore what people say about them, continue to fight in their corner (against BSL) and when you're out and on your own, then bring one into your life.
I kind of feel that if you were to get one right now, it would be more to show off to everyone...a kind of in-your-face "Hah! See, they aren't dangerous" thing. If you know what I mean. Plus your whole family would need to be on the same page with the dog and since they aren't fans of the breed, I'm not sure they'd participate much in the training and care etc. that was needed.
Absolutely no offense intended.

Ivan is a pit mix right? Well, he should be part of your 'education program' (so to speak). As others have said...train him, socialise him, care for him and use him as your example. When ever anyone expresses surprise at his calm, friendly nature...explain to them 'why' he's like that.

I'm glad pitties have someone so passionate on their side.

Cass.

[APBTs2005]

Thank u, and i think ur right when im liveing alone i'll get one and prove once again my devotion. Oh and by the way does anyone want Razz, with this new weight pulling thing another dog is just to hard im giving him up, hard but u can find him on Petfinder.com

[Giny]

Originally Posted by APBTs2005

Oh and by the way does anyone want Razz, with this new weight pulling thing another dog is just to hard im giving him up, hard but u can find him on Petfinder.com

How sad! Hope he gets a good home.