9 Pit Bull Myths

1. Locking Jaws

Contrary to popular belief, Pit Bulls do not have locking jaws. In fact there is no dog breed that is actual able to "lock" their jaws and Pit Bull jaws and teeth are no different than any other dog.

 

2. Aggressive

Some people believe that all Pit Bulls are inherently aggressive but this is a myth. Studies have actually shown Dachshunds to be the most aggressive of all dog breeds.

 

3. Untrainable

These dogs love to learn. They are actually very intelligent and highly trainable. They strive to please their owners and with proper training make wonderful pets that are able to learn a plethora of new tricks and commands.

 

4. Not Social

Pit Bulls are dogs and dogs are social creatures. They thrive in packs and take on humans as part of their pack. As with any dog, proper socialization creates a dog that is calm and able to get along with all humans.

 

5. Attack Small Pets

Pit Bulls are able to get along with all sorts of animals and are able to be very gentle. It all comes down to good social skills and training, which is the case with all dogs. Reinforcement of good behavior is imperative.

 

6. Bad With Kids

Any dog can be great with children and Pit Bulls are no different however you should always supervise your children around any dog and teach your child the proper ways to behave around dogs to prevent mishaps.

 

7. Not Smart

On the intelligence scale, Pit Bulls actually score higher than most breeds. They are very smart and may be used as Service Dogs and Police K-9. They thrive in environments that stimulate them and love to learn and make humans happy.

 

8. Will Turn On You

One of the most loyal breeds are Pit Bulls and they will go to great lengths to serve their owners. There are even cases where Pit Bulls have died while protecting their owners.

 

9. Monsters

The fact is that a dog is a dog. The best thing is to treat dogs with respect and learn how to train them properly. Pit Bulls are not monsters, no dog is a monster.

 

 

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The Stereotypes about Pitbulls

There are many stereotypes about pit bulls in today's society, but how many of them are actually true? Are they really the "vicious" dogs people make them out to be? The media seems to only focus on "attacks" committed by dogs perceived to be Pit Bulls. It's really a terrible stereotype that hurts pit bulls. According to the ASPCA 1.2 million dog in shelters are euthanized each year. Different studies show that 800,000 to 1 million of these are pit bulls. A Pit Bull isn't a breed, but a classification of 25+ breeds/mixes based on similar physical characteristics. Why are there so many odds against pit bulls? To start off, hundreds of jurisdictions across the country ban or otherwise restrict ownership of these dogs - which leads to people not being able to adopt these dogs from shelters or rescues if they live in a certain jurisdiction.This also results in pit bulls being taken away from their families if they live in a jurisdiction that doesn't allow pit bulls.When someone is moving, housing and apartment complexes make it very difficult to have a pit bull there. So these dogs are basically getting judged by their appearance and not facts. I can personally say  that owning my own pet sitting company and being a professional pet sitter and dog walker that pit bulls are some of the most sweetest,gentle and most accepting dogs I have ever watched.

 

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Arndt, the director at Loxahatchee Animal Rescue who works with and interacts with pit bulls on a daily basis to get her input and experience on pit bulls.

 

What is the biggest misconception you see when dealing with the Pit Bull breeds?

 

Nicole A:Being in Pit Bull rescue I see many misconceptions, but the most prevalent is that Bully breeds are inherently dangerous.  This is far from the truth.  Typically Pit Bulls are sweet, loving, and gentle.  They are intelligent, athletic, resilient, and forgiving.  Pit Bull type dogs have been taken out of the most horrendous of situations and go on to be family, therapy, service, agility, and even K9 unit working dogs.

 

Why do you think pit bulls are the number one dogs being euthanized in shelters across the country?

 

Nicole A: The high number of Pit Bulls euthanized every year is not the fault of the shelters. The problem begins in the community. Backyard breeders who have zero concern for the already existing of Pit Bull type dogs in shelters, proper breeding standards, and people who only view their dogs as a source of income are a large part of the shelter overcrowding issue. Also, many county shelters are underfunded thanks to the government officials who decide funds are best designated elsewhere.

 

Being underfunded and understaffed makes it more difficult to enforce spay/neuter regulations and breeder permit purchases. In addition, breed specific rules when renting or purchasing a home make it very difficult for those who genuinely love their Pit Bulls to move and be able to take their dogs with them. All too often families are forced to surrender their dogs to a shelter feeling like there are no other options available. In order to reduce shelter overcrowding therefore reducing the number of Pit Bulls put to sleep community members need education and resources to become responsible owners. The backyard breeding cycle needs to end and the "dangerous breed" list needs to be eliminated.In order to reduce shelter overcrowding, therefore reducing the number of Pit Bulls put to sleep, community members need education and resources to become responsible owners.

 

How are rescues trying to change the public’s perception of Pit Bulls?

 

Nicole A: Education is key in changing the public’s perception of Pit Bulls.  I always tell anyone interested in adopting a Pit Bull type dog to educate themselves on the history of the breeds and ACCURATE statistics beyond the information I relay during the conversation.

 Learn the truth about Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) and be able to have an educated, calm, and factual conversation with someone should the need arise because inevitably it will.  It is our job as rescuers to educate a potential adopter on the importance of becoming a positive representation of Bully breed owners and the fact that it’s a big responsibility.  Part of being a responsible Pit Bull owner is making sure your dog(s) is the best Bully breed ambassador possible.  The dog doesn’t have to be perfect as that’s not realistic, but proper training, obedience, containment, and socialization are of the utmost importance and it’s our responsibility to be a resource. 

 

 As rescuers it’s our duty to choose adopters carefully and place our available Pit Bulls in the care of those who are open and willing to break stereotypes.  It’s our duty to send Pit Bulls out into the community who are living proof that the breeds are wonderful.  At events L.A.R.C. makes informational literature available to those who stop by our area.  We answer questions and are honest about the dogs in our organization including any quirks the dogs may have which is a must to find the best fit for all involved. 

 

Do rescues ever talk to the media to get a positive message out?

 

Nicole A: The media is very tough on Pit Bull type dogs and tend to use sensationalist tactics to target those who have certain physical characteristics when an unfortunate incident occurs.  Typically media outlets aren’t interested in positive Pit Bull stories because they don’t garner enough attention, but that doesn’t stop most of us from trying. 

 

When a positive Pit Bull story goes public rescues are sure to share across social media. Rescues even reach out to media contacts who report on animal related topics if we have a story to tell about our adoptables.  Sometimes we get a response and sometimes we don’t. When large dog fighting rings or abusive situations are reported they provide an opportunity to show the world who the real victims are and to prove that it’s not “all in how they’re raised” when those dogs go on to lead happy lives as loving dogs.   

 

What are rescues doing to get Pit Bulls adopted?

Social media has become a great resource for getting dogs adopted.  It provides rescues the opportunity to showcase their adoptables and tell each dog’s story to a large number of people.  Social media can be particularly effective when taking in and providing medical care to a dog in need.  The dog’s process can be followed from start to ready for a forever home and often times a follower will fall in love and want to adopt.

 

 Adoption events, local community events, and even trips to pet stores are a way to show off available dogs.  Bringing Pit Bulls in public is an awesome and important way to change minds and get dogs adopted.  Showing people in person that the breeds love to give kisses, have cute Pit Bull smiles, wiggling butts from fast wagging happy tails, can be well trained and loving, and can become a part of a family just like any other breed not only increases the chances for adoptions, but breaks stereotypes too.  Providing proper training and socialization to adoptables while in the rescue’s care are vital to a dog’s chance at a forever home.

 

What do rescues do to help rehabilitate and train them to make them adoptable? 

 

Nicole A: Generally obedience training and acclimation are what’s needed to make a dog in need of a forever home available, but there’s no one answer to this question. Rehabilitation and training take place on a case by case basis.  Some dogs may just need time to learn how to be dogs or recover from a medical condition in a foster home.  Some may need to be in homes that fit their needs.  For example, a home with no other dogs or cats.  That’s OK and goes for any breed.  Dogs should be judged as individuals and plans made to suit the needs of each.  There are times when a dog needs to be in the care of a professional dog trainer for a length of time.  The focus is and should always be what’s best for the dog whatever that might entail.

 

About Loxahatchee Animal Rescue Community (L.A.R.C.):

 

Nicole A: L.A.R.C. is a small 501(c)(3) nonprofit foster and donation based rescue working with Palm Beach County community members both two and four legged.  Our rescue is a bit different, however, in that we not only want to save the lives of animals in need, but EDUCATE the community, as well.  Our goals are to help community members keep their pets by becoming a trusted resource for what is needed to do so and give animals in need a second chance at a happy life.  We fully believe in our “Educate, Act, and SAVE A LIFE”  L.A.R.C. is a team of Pit Bull lovers and advocates determined to change the perception of the public.

 

Bio:

I used to be very involved in helping dogs get rescued from a high kill shelter in Miami FL. I didn't include that in my website though. I think that had a big part in leading me to have a business where I work with dogs because dogs are my passion in life.

 

 

Meet the Guest Blogger:

Hi, I’m Greta

I am the owner of Wagtastic Pet Care LLC, I'm a professional pet sitter and dog walker and a mother to pets of my own. I am very serious about the welfare of your pets. Caring for your pet as my own is my priority. My love and passion of animals has guided me to dedicating my life to the care of animals as a professional pet sitter. I deliver all sort of pet sitting and dog walking services in Boca Raton FL and surrounding areas.

Pit Bull Puppies in Clothing!

 

Seriously, what is cuter than a puppy in clothing? Yeah, not much so you can thank us after you scroll through these ADORA-BULL pictures of pit bull puppies in clothing. If this doesn't make you squeal or long to hold a puppy in your arms you might not love puppies and who doesn't love puppies? Exactly!

Enjoy!

 

1. PUPPY CUDDLE PUDDLE

 

2. READY FOR THE SNOW

 

3. PIT IN PAJAMAS

 

4. TWO OF THE BEST THINGS EVER IN ONE PICTURE!

 

5. TEENY TINY

 

6. JUST A BABY GIRAFFE

 

7. TWINNING!

 

8. FLOPPY CHOCOLATE EARS OF LOVE

 

9. PINT SIZE TRIBUTE

 

10. PITTIE PRINCESS

 

11. WHY HAVE ONE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THREE?

 

12. BABY BLUES

 

13. DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE

 

14. JUST LIKE DADDY

 

15. VANILLA DIPPED TOES

 

16. LOOKING FLY IN YOUR TIE

 

17. TINY HEART MELTER

 

 

 

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Questions to ask yourself before adding a dog to your life!

by Barbara Rivers from K9sOverCoffee.com

 

 

Did you know that February is “Responsible Pet Owner's Month”? What a great opportunity to outline the responsibilities of dog ownership one needs to be aware of PRIOR to welcoming a new furry family member!

 

Let’s review the most important aspects needing to be considered:

 

 

1. Which Breed Is The Right One For You & Your Lifestyle?

 

You probably have a more or less vague idea of what you want your ideal canine companion to look like. While the color of his coat & his overall size may be somewhat important to you, the more pressing question is: “Which dog breed is the right one for me / my family / my lifestyle?”

Be sure to research the breeds you are considering, in order to find out about their respective exercise & grooming requirements. Then ask yourself if a high-energy dog such as an Australian Shepherd or Weimaraner truly fits your lifestyle.

Unless you are a very active person who loves the outdoors, you would probably be better off with a more laid back breed, such as a Bulldog or a Shih Tzu. Energy levels differ between dogs of one breed, of course, but you’ll get a good general idea of what to expect when adopting a certain breed.

I have a friend who owns two Australian Shepherds of different energy levels. Her male pup Shade is incredibly energetic and very hard to tire out, while her female Solea still fits into the active Aussie picture, but is a little more mellow than her “brother” (from a different litter). Mind you, my friend does an excellent job with her Aussies: She does competitive agility with them, takes them swimming, roller blading, and backpack hiking. I probably forgot to mention a few other activities, but you get the picture.

Unless you’re ready for some intense sporting adventures, please don’t get an overly active dog breed. Without meeting their need for high-level activities, they will find outlets for their pent-up energy, such as destroying your favorite Manolo Blahniks, digging through your backyard, or harassing the neighbors with frustrated barking sessions.

A different friend of mine, Dawn, used to own two Bulldogs who also had different energy levels. Her male pup Atticus (who unfortunately lives on the other side of the rainbow bridge now) fit the general picture of a laid back, a bit on the lazier side, Bulldog. As a matter of fact, he hated going for a walk, while her female pup Ada has a surprising amount of energy for her breed! She loves to walk, and run!

 

 

2. Do You Have Time For A Dog?

 

The next equally important step is to ask yourself if you have the necessary time for a dog. Regardless of breed, each and every dog needs to go for at least one daily walk (their need to migrate is engraved in their genes).

Dogs are social creatures and pack-oriented, which means they don’t do well if left by themselves for too long, let alone all day. If you work from home and welcome several breaks throughout the day in which you can go for a walk with your pup, or have some training or playtime sessions, you sound like a great candidate for dog ownership.

If you’re a stay-at-home mom or dad, and your respective better half works 40 + hours: Congratulations, you sound like you’ll be able to manage a pup.

If you’re a full-time working couple however, then you’ll have to ask yourselves how you would be able to integrate a dog in your busy schedule.

I’ll break it down for you. Say you usually get up around 5:45 am in order to being able to leave the house by 6:30 am. You live 30 mins away from work, which means you’d spend your lunch break at work, and won’t get home until 5:30 – 6:00 pm.

Now let’s add a dog to that picture. Say you adopted a two year old, house broken pug, whose energy level is fairly low. You’d still have to take him for about a 30 minute walk each morning, then feed him, and spend a little quality time with him.

You just added about 90 minutes to your morning routine, meaning you are now looking at getting up at 4:15 am. Unless you are able to extend your lunchtime and come home in order to give your pug some time for relief as well as socialization time, you would have to come up with a solution for having this need met.

Let’s fast-forward to your evening routine. You’ve had a long, hard day at work, and all you want to do when coming home is lie down on your couch and watch some TV.

Simply put, you won’t be able to indulge in this habit once you own a dog. He will be wagging his tail in a greeting manner when you walk through your front door, and then you’ll have to take him outside for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Add playtime and dinner, and before you know it you won’t be able to say hi to your couch until 7:45 pm.

Now, you may have the luxury of working for one of those “pawsome” companies which allow you to bring your dog to work. In that case, you hit the dog owner jackpot. Or you may be the boss at work, which means you’ll be able to make the decision that bringing your dog to work is allowed. However, if both scenarios aren’t realistic, and you also don’t have the luxury of being able to drop off your pooch at a family member’s or friends’ house for the day, you’ll have to come up with a plan B.

You could, of course, hire a professional dog walker to drop by your house and take Mr. Pug out for a walk, a potty break, and some playtime. If you live in a somewhat urban setting, a doggie day camp may be another option. However, both options don’t come free, and will run you anywhere between $100 – $200 per week, depending on rates.

 

3. Can You Afford A Dog?

 

Which brings us to the next question. Do you have the financial means for a dog? Besides the extra cost of having your pooch taken care of by a professional, you will be facing costs for regular vet visits, and I don’t mean the ones that arise out of a medical emergency.

Once your dog has had his initial puppy vaccines, he will have to come back for one to two Wellness Check-ups per year, as well as more or less frequent vaccination boosters (the question of how many of those are indeed necessary is a different topic altogether). While we of course hope that you will never be faced with the stress and costs of a canine emergency, it is wise to financially plan for one.

It’s a good idea to invest in medical dog insurance or to open an emergency savings account which is strictly to be used on Fido. Also check with your human liability insurance provider if they include doggie liability insurance (USAA does, by the way).

In case they don’t, look into purchasing one.

The more obvious costs will be for a high quality dog food (the higher the quality, the less frequent vet visits will be!), monthly pest preventatives, accessories such as a dog bed, food & water dishes, collar & leash, and toys. All breeds also benefit from professional obedience training, so pencil that expense in (6 weeks of obedience training usually run around $150).

In general, the larger a dog breed, the higher the monthly expenses. Obviously they will multiply if you have more than one dog!

I will use our monthly costs for Buzz & Missy as an example of what to expect from a financial point of view.

The pups are grown Boxer mixes and get fed a mixture of kibble and some wet food, with occasional toppings of pumpkin puree and veggies such as carrots or green beens. The monthly cost for those items is about $170. Add a few treats here and there and we’re looking at a whopping $200 just for food for two medium-large size dogs.

The pups are on monthly pest preventatives: Heartguard against heartworms, and K9Advantix against fleas, lice, ticks, and mosquitoes. We usually buy a six month supply of each, lasting us a total of three months for both dogs. A six month box of Heartguard costs about $45 (prices vary with each retailer, so comparing them pays off, literally!), while the same amount of K9Advantix is about $65 (again, comparing prices is worth it!). So we’re looking at roughly $110 for three months and $37 per month in preventive meds.

Missy & Buzz are enrolled in medical doggie insurance with PetsBest, which runs at $74 every month.

Those three basic needs alone add up to about $300 every month. We are also faced with the cost of two yearly Wellness exams at their vet’s, which are about $40 per dog per exam, adding $160 of basic vet care to the equation each year (essentially another $13 per month). Again, we’re talking about necessary vet appointments ~ those do not include any unforeseen medical emergencies.

Granted, we have our dog insurance which kicks in at that point, but still have to contribute to emergencies with our annual co-pay of $200 per dog, and 10 % of each medical bill.

So all in all we’re looking at about $300 of basic doggie related expenses each month. There are always potential $$$ add-ons for toys, bedding, pet care, and other accessories such as collars, leashes, backpacks, poop-bags (we do indulge in the luxury of purchasing poop bags now that we live in an area where poop stations are non-existant)…the sky is the limit, really, as far as pet accessories go!

Unless you are a home owner, you’ll likely also be faced with dog security deposits and/or monthly pet rent. We had to pay a non-refundable pet fee of $ 400.00 prior to moving into our last rental home in NC, before making the step towards homeownership.

Thankfully, there was no additional monthly pet fee. We did, however, have to use a professional carpet cleaning service to steam clean our carpets throughout the house before moving out, as well as use a professional exterminator, per our lease agreement.

The apartments we lived at in Northern Virginia always charged a monthly pet rent between $35-45 per pet, meaning the pups had their own monthly rent between $70-90, as well as a non-refundable pet security deposit between $300.00-400.00.

The bottom line of listing all these doggie related expenses is that dog ownership does not come cheap! I encourage you to take a piece of paper and a pen in order to figure out your potential doggie costs.

 

 

4. Are You Able To Care For A Dog For Life?

 

Now, after having covered those questions, please ask yourself the following one, and please answer honestly: Do you realize that a dog is for life? If you are planning on adding a puppy to your family, please keep in mind that a puppy outgrows its cute initial size, and rather quickly, too!

Are you willing to share your life with your dog for the next decade, and possibly longer? How will a dog affect your vacation planning? If you can take him along: Great! But what if you can’t bring him? Who will watch him? Are you able to afford a week’s or longer worth of pet care?

If you are planning on having kids, will your dog still fit into that picture? Are you willing to put in the extra work necessary to prepare your pup for the arrival of the human baby?

And what happens should you move? Be aware of the fact that certain States and Cities enforce BSL (Breed Specific Legislation), meaning ownership of certain breeds deemed vicious is prohibited or restricted (its effectiveness remains doubtful and is yet another topic for discussion).

 

 

Bottom line: Thousands of pets end up at shelters every year due to owners who are overwhelmed with their care. Please think wisely before adding a fur kid to your life, and spread the word!

 

 

 

 

Barbara is a professional dog walker & pet sitter who began blogging about her canine passion in August of 2014. Her focus lies on responsible dog ownership, training, and healthy nutrition. You can connect with her at www.k9sovercoffee.com!

  

Reasons Why Having A Trained Dog Is Awesome

 

Training your dog may seem like plain common sense to some dog owners but there are far more untrained dogs than there are trained dogs. Whatever the case may be, whether it is a time commitment issue or just not knowing where to start, there is always a compromise that can be made in your schedule where you can start the training process. Being a responsible owner means teaching your dog at least the basic obedience commands. It is necessary to have a well behaved dog when going out into public areas for many reasons. A trained dog will not chase after cats or run into the street, he will not bark at strange dogs or human, he will be calm and not pull on his leash. Imagine being out in public with a wild child that doesn't listen and causes commotion. The same way you would raise your children to mind their manners, should you raise your dog to mind his.

 

Puppyhood is of course the best time to start training but if you have an older dog don't think that all hope is lost. The saying “You can't teach an old dog new tricks” is not true. I believe that saying stemmed from a person who lacked patience and commitment. If you understand how to train a dog and use the skills you have gained correctly, you should have no problem implemented a plan and seeing results. Even if your dog learns more slowly than you would wish, he is still learning.

why having a trained dog is awesome

Now Do you really need any more reasons? Start training that dog ASAP and trust me, you will never regret it!

 

 

If you need help with the basics check out these articles for some tips:

My Basic Training Techniques

7 Tips for Training Your Pit Bull Puppy

 

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