Owning an American Pit Bull Terrier in todays world

[MeSheLL]

Owning an American Pit Bull Terrier in todays world

In todays world you need to be aware that owning an APBT makes you an instant target for many ignorant peope to look down on you and even judge you. This means that you need to be prepared to explain to any passersby or curious onlookers that your dog is no more dangerous than other breeds. You will need to consistently repeat phrases like "it's training, socialization and intention on the owners part which determines if their Pit Bull is dangerous or a loyal member of society." You will have to contend with preconceived notions about your dog; reasurring people of it's value and merit on a daily basis. This means that you will have to be extra careful to socialize, train and continually challenge your Pit Bull from the time you bring it home, well into it's adult life. You should practice some form of obedience training to help your dog behave in a well mannered and polite way. We suggest clicker training to aid with puppies.

Investing in as much self training literature as you can before bringing home an APBT is a wise approach. You will need to dispell myths such as the famed "locking jaw" and the "man eating pitbull" stereotype at the drop of a hat. A well trained and socialable APBT is perfect for this purpose. People simply have a harder time buying into stereotypes once they've met the perfect pit. Every APBT owner needs to aspire to become a breed ambassador along with their dog(s). If every one of us is intolerant to unpleasant behavior in our dogs as well as ignorance in the people we encounter, we can change the minds of America one person at a time. A wonderful resource to help you learn how to create a balanced relationship with your dog is Cesar Milan. He is on the Discovery Channel; Mondays at 9pm et. He has also written and inspiring book Cesar's Way. Other books we have invested in include; Pit Bulls For Dummies, Puppies! Why Do They Do What They Do?, Animal Planet's American Pit Bull Terriers and Getting Started: Clicker Training For Dogs. Two magazines also proved very helpful; Training Secrets for Bully Breeds and Bully Breeds: All About America's Favorite Dogs. Along with independent research you should look to the breeder whom your APBT comes from. They should be able to give you the benefit of their first hand experiences. Also, most reputable breeders will be happy to answer any upcoming questions once your puppy has come home.

It might seem like a lot of work to own an APBT, and it is. However, if you share the love for this breed as we do it will be well worth it. Displaying a positive image for Pit Bulls every day will help future Pit Bull owners assimilate easier. In addition, it will help educate people thereby stopping harmful Breed Specific Legislation from being passed. Furthermore, any true APBT lover will need to watch out for the spread of BSL comming their way, and be ready to protest, speak out and put themselves into the limelight in order to stop it. We need to watch out for news reports of "pit bull attacks" and contact the media making those reports to research the validity of those claims. Simply calling a television news station on their incorrect naming of another breed as an APBT can help with the negative media attention which leads to BSL. Vital questions include: was the dog registered as an APBT, did you personally see the dog, do you know what the standard for the APBT is and what it looks like and can you simply report "dog" attacks so as to not lie to the public about the breed of the dog when you don't have actual proof. Remember, the media is supposed to report facts, not fabrication and simply calling them on that can change the way they report. You pay for them and they don't want to alienate their veiwers, but they need to know people care.