What is pitbull terriers

I agreed to meet them at their shop, and when I arrived, I noticed Tank was chained at the far end of their lot. I needed to gather more information before developing a plan for him; I asked when they got Tank when he was a puppy and what he was like when they adopted him always playful and very affectionate. I asked when he started growling at everyone and they told me that it was after they decided to make him their night watchman, leaving him at the shop at night to protect it.

I asked if he had ever been protective before and they told me that, prior to his new duties, he had always been friendly to everyone. I realized what had happened: Tank, who was a sweet, gentle dog, did not understand why he was being left alone at night at the shop — he was feeling confused, scared, and stressed. They found one of his balls and handed it to me. I asked them to get Tank and walk him around a little bit. Every time they started towards me Tank started growling and would get stiff.

The third time they started towards me I started to bounce the ball. I then asked them to drop the leash. They hesitated, asking if I was sure, and I told them I was positive. They timidly dropped the leash and I bounced the ball toward Tank. He pounced on it like a puppy, then brought it right back to me with a low wagging tail. I tossed it again; he brought it back enthusiastically. While they played, we talked. I found out there had been some break-ins at nearby businesses, which was why they had been leaving Tank at the shop at night.

Dogs are social creatures, and in the wild they will ostracize sick or injured pack members who are no longer assets to the group. This contradiction left him confused and stressed. I suggested a couple of actions for the couple. First, I advised they fire Tank as a guard dog and get a security system to protect the property instead.

The media portrayal and demonization of the Pit Bull paved a perfect path for the onset of breed-specific legislation. BSL began to crop up in select places as the dogs began to be used as a political platform by opportunistic politicians.

Learn more about BSL here. Though media outlets successfully created an air of terror around Pit Bulls, there was a spectacular turn of events, though brought about by one of the most horrible atrocities. Previously deemed as unable to be rehabilitated, pit bulls that were seized were typically euthanized.

However, several groups like Best Friends Animal Society and Bad Rap took a chance on these dogs and found that almost all of them 48 out of 51 were able to be placed in foster care or re-homed. And if these fighting dogs could be rehabilitated, what about all the other ones who just got dealt a bad hand or ended up in shelters…. Twenty years after the breed took its first major PR hit in the media, Sports Illustrated returned to show us a different face of the dog, one that invokes sympathy and even surprise from a re-educated public.

Today, Pit Bull type dogs continue to receive more and more positive media attention, due in large part to education and advocacy organization devoted to promoting an accurate image of these dogs.

Howard, an explosive detection dog serving in the armed forces. So what changed? And if these fighting dogs could be rehabilitated, what about all the other ones who just got dealt a bad hand or ended up in shelters… Twenty years after the breed took its first major PR hit in the media, Sports Illustrated returned to show us a different face of the dog, one that invokes sympathy and even surprise from a re-educated public.

Pit Bulls are once again becoming the All American Dog! Physical Characteristics: Muscular build; colors include black, blue, brindle, fawn, white, and more. The American bulldog is a descendant of English bulldogs, which were developed in the 17th century for bull baiting—a blood sport that involved dogs fighting bulls.

In North America, bulldogs became working dogs on farms and all-around friendly companions. They tend to be extremely affectionate with their families, often wanting to sit in laps despite their large size. They also often love kids. But they can be very protective of their families, so training and socialization are a must to ensure they will be friendly to people outside of your household.

Physical Characteristics: Stocky build; deep chest; short muzzle; typically white with patches of brindle, red, black, or shades of brown or gray. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads.

Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. Give it time with training, these pups learn through repetition and will eventually come around if you are consistent.

Good article on Pitbulls. Definitely a misunderstood breed. They are so loving to others. But they are not for owners who don't have time to be good parents.

Mine adore children and are great 'nana' dogs. And are with us all of the time. I even take them to work with me. They are very socialized and enjoy being around people. My heart would be just as broken as Dougs if something ever happens to them. And 'yes' they do smile all the time. Hi Liz! Thanks for the comment. We totally agree - every dog has its own individual personality, and it sounds like yours do too. Thanks for sharing! My son recently acquired a Pitbull puppy.

She's the first puppy we've ever had. I enjoy her so much. She's very happy and friendly, she was very welcoming to me when I came home after being gone for 2 months. She sleeps with me, watches over me, and plays with me.

I can't take her outside right now due to an injury but I can't wait. Although by then she'll be home with her dad, my son. She'll be greatly missed but won't miss her messes.

New respect for dog owners and caregivers now I have been around one more frequently! Hi Joy! Thanks for stopping by to comment on the site.

I'm glad you are enjoying pup-sitting, and perhaps when all said and done, you'll want one of your own! Cathy Deweese. Thank you so much for this very helpful article. I just acquired myself a week-old Pitbull.

He is hands down the sweetest, most intelligent puppy I have ever owned. Also thank you for dispelling the myths, as I once believed these and was a pit bull hater. I have since been convinced otherwise and am now a proud owner. Thanks again! Hi Cathy! Sounds like an amazing pup, and we are so glad to help dispel the myths around these fantastic pups! Good luck with your new addition! Have very much enjoyed reading this site, with lots of smiles.

I currently have the most beautiful AmStaff waiting for his forever person and home. He was removed from a back yard, been in care for a year and a half. They had been trying to rehome him, which was a totally wrong call then. We took over his care now and are hopeful the right person will come.

He's around 50kgs and is liver and white. He has a beautiful smile and lots of love within! Thanks for stopping by to comment Bev! Good luck with placing your rescue dog. People underestimate how sweet these pups can be! June Suepaul. She swims better than a fish and is very easy to train. She takes commands like a trained police dog. I swear she is a four-legged human. She listens to my phone calls, so often I have to spell things to keep her from knowing what I am talking about.

She actually chose me. I rescued her from an animal care center where there were about 30 snarling pits. She was just sitting there waiting for someone to adopt her. I never planned to adopt her because of the reputation of her kind. But let me tell you I was so wrong. She absolutely loves people. She constantly tries to please me and follows me from room to room so close that she always seems to walk on the back of my shoes.

Believe it or not, I get down to her level and tell her bad girl and what I expect from her to correct that behavior. She turns her head because she does not want to look at me when she is being scolded. I love my Maxie and she loves me. She loves belly rubs and wants to play all day. I am so thankful that she owns me. Sounds like an amazing dog June! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment! We agree - these pups all deserve warm and loving homes!

Bonnie Gates. My blue nose pit got into a fight with a Catahoula hound. The hound is food aggressive. The hound gave our girl a rough time. It's been a week, she's still on the mend. During this time she's had a bandage on her leg. She has licked the bandage until it came off and promptly ate all the fabric. Our Pit has not shown any signs of gastric issues.

What do I need to do for her to pass the material? It was gauze and a self-adhesive wrap. Hi Bonnie! I'd recommend calling your vet. We have a few articles on the site that talk about what happens when your pup eats certain foreign objects. The first step is always to call your vet. If there are no signs of obstruction and the bandage was small, your vet will likely tell you to let it pass and monitor your dog's stool. My advice is to call your vet right away and have that discussion with them.

I rescued Nina after someone tossed her out of their truck she was only 3 months old. You could see her bones and she was covered in fleas. The first thing we did was give her water and you could see her stomach blowing up like a balloon, my brother said we should stop giving her water or we could make it worse she burped and her stomach shrunk.

Hi Veronica! Sounds like Nina is a lucky pup! My suggestion would be to do a doggy DNA test. We've done them twice now, and used Embark. The results are spot on. Good luck with your pup! Joseph McCoy. I have owned Pitbulls for over 25 years. Most have been mistreated and were rescues as fighting dogs.

I had a tendency to buy them whenever I can to give them a better chance of life. Despite some being skittish from not being socialized and in fights, I've worked with them for a little bit before I would introduce them to the family or any other pets.

I always waited until I felt the dog and I was both comfortable and he wasn't showing any aggression. I've worked and rehabilitated over 40 Pitbulls, some of which are a part of my family now. The others are being loved by the fortunate family's that they were united with.

Every dog despite not being loved by its owners and abused was still so full of love and affection. They are definitely the easiest most loyal dogs I've ever had the pleasure of welcoming to my family. My wife's Chihuahua? That's another story, lol. Thanks for all your work Joseph! We agree and love the bully breeds! Thank you for giving these pups a second chance at life, and good luck with your next rehabilitation pups! Brandy Liba. Doug I can sympathize with your pain. I had to put my loving girl down 2 weeks ago.

She did alot teaching me about the breed. It might be over the top but I have found some comfort in having her portrait tattooed on my shoulder so she will always have my back! I hope things get easier for you.

Kiara Kloss. Working as both a kennel technician and veterinary nurse assistant, theese breeds are very often the absolute sweetest dogs. I've rarely seen one have to be muzzled for medical treatment, and I've found they are generally great on a leash when boarding. We do playtimes with them as well and nearly all of them are enthusiastic snugglers. Despite their strength, I tend to trust them more than some other dogs when they re-grip during tug-of-war.

I've never had one bite me whether on purpose or accidentally , but I've had a couple of incidents with other breeds. Believe it or not, the most bite-prone dog I ever had to work with was a big black lab. He was simply overly playful and very poorly trained. Made a couple of us bleed. Thanks for stopping by to comment Kiara! We appreciate you sharing your story! Many people don't realize how sweet these lovable canines can be. Thanks again for sharing!

To Doug: I just lost my Pittie Entourage two days ago and I understand the hole in one's heart the loss of a beloved pet creates. She was an absolute angel. What brought me to this post was wanting to learn exactly what breed my baby was so that I can look forward to my next angel. They will never be replaced, but look how much love you have to give! I hope you consider adopting again. Thanks for stopping by to comment Dawn! Sorry for your loss and we wish you nothing but the best!

Thank you for this info. Even when I tell her to stop. Hi Matthew! Pitbull pups are notoriously full of energy. Just keep correcting the behavior firmly, and reward the behavior that you want her to display. She will come around if you are patient and consistent!

Brenda McKinney. This is for Doug who is mourning the loss of his beloved dog. I am a mental health counselor by trade and also an animal lover. We lost our Emma suddenly by suspected aneurysm. Still devastated we started looking at local shelters. Nothing will ever replace her but filling that void in your home and in your heart will help you through your grief much sooner while providing a loving home for someone who needs you and unfortunately may consequently be euthanized due to over crowded shelters and dog pounds.

Best of luck and I am so sorry for your loss. Thanks for commenting Brenda! Hoping Doug has found some peace, and agree with your recommendations! Zina L Arredondo. They are my therapy boys without training to be one they are. I have borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression, mood disorder, and PTSD. They are the best help anyone could ever have. They are teaching him how to take care of mommy me.

Wouldn't trade them for all the money in the? So people get your facts straight before you say they are dangerous. Hi Zina, thanks for the comment! We agree with you - every dog is different! Sounds like you have some sweet pups! What kind of pit is in the very first picture on the article?

The tan one with white on its nose and gold eyes? Just out of curiosity. Hi Heather, this is considered a Red-Nosed pitbull. The white is not preferred by many Red Nose purists, but that's what she is. Hope this helps! Cristina Figueroa. Doug, Sorry to hear bout your baby, I know how much we love them and the love they give back unconditionally.