Miss B chewing on a stick- apparently the best. toy. ever.
Mr. M and Miss S are on the mend, and the countdown is on until we can take off the bandages and the cones of shame. We cannot wait for those cones to come off! Miss B and Mr. C are getting more and more attached to the littles every day. They have even started napping cuddled up with them- which is something I have secretly been hoping for since we brought them home. I decided to use this waiting time to post a public service announcement of sorts about owning pitbulls.
The pitbull parents out there know (and can tell non pitbull parents) that pitbulls are not the mindless killing machines that the media paints them to be. I was surfing Google one day and read that you are more likely to be killed by a shark than you are a pitbull, and I believe it. But the truth of the matter is that a great many normally logical people believe the hype in the media. Of course, I am not sure why we believe much of anything in the media these days, but that is an entirely different post topic. The point is that there are people out there who are just looking for an excuse to rid the world of pitbulls if you give them the chance.
Having a pitbull is not like having other dogs- not because pitbulls are that much different than other dogs- but because they are easy targets. Being a pitbull parent is a serious role that shouldn't be taken lightly. You are responsible for your dog in ways that others don't have to be. Not only do you have to watch out for the usual things, like making sure they don't eat anything that is bad for them or swallowing something that could get stuck, you also have to worry about them being targeted by viscious people.
If a different kind of dog barks and wags its tail, most people will assume that it is friendly and wants to play. If a pitbull barks while wagging its tail in front of the wrong person, the person could overreact and think the dog wants to eat them, resulting horrible consequences for the dog. This was exactly what happened in this example. (Warning, the video is disturbing).
People who don't have pitbulls won't understand their activity level or their play style. A coworker of mine recently told me about her friend who was fostering a pitbull lab mix puppy. The foster mom took the pitbull to a dog park (mistake #1) and let it play off leash (mistake #2). She watched calmly as the puppy who was less than a year old, went up to another dog and started playing tug with the other dog's toy (mistake #3). The owner of the other dog freaked out and reached down between the two dogs to pull the toy out of the mouth of a dog she didn't know (which is totally stupid on her part). In the confusion, the pitbull mouthed the lady's hand after mistaking it for the toy. She didn't break the skin and released as soon as she realized it was the lady and not the toy. The lady didn't like pitbulls and called animal control to have the dog confiscated, quaranteened and tested for rabies. This is mostly likely a death sentence for the pitbull based on the Houston SPCA's anti-pitbull policies.
The foster mom wasn't bothered at all and was immediately given a different kind of dog to foster.
The point here is that if anything negative happens, your pitbull is likely to be blamed even if he didn't start it or do anything to contribute.
It is your responsibility as a pitbull parent to put your pitbull is situations where he or she can succeed and keep them away from situations where they could fail.
If you know you dog doesn't like kids, don't take him to a playground. If she doesn't like loud noises, don't take her to a fireworks show or parade. You know your dog better than anyone else, and you should have an idea of what he or she can handle.
NEVER let them run off leash in a public area, and if possible, avoid taking them to dog parks. There are a lot of strange people at dog parks. Plus, you don't know how healthy the other dogs are. They could have worms or illnesses that your well cared for dog could catch.
The pitbull parents out there know (and can tell non pitbull parents) that pitbulls are not the mindless killing machines that the media paints them to be. I was surfing Google one day and read that you are more likely to be killed by a shark than you are a pitbull, and I believe it. But the truth of the matter is that a great many normally logical people believe the hype in the media. Of course, I am not sure why we believe much of anything in the media these days, but that is an entirely different post topic. The point is that there are people out there who are just looking for an excuse to rid the world of pitbulls if you give them the chance.
Having a pitbull is not like having other dogs- not because pitbulls are that much different than other dogs- but because they are easy targets. Being a pitbull parent is a serious role that shouldn't be taken lightly. You are responsible for your dog in ways that others don't have to be. Not only do you have to watch out for the usual things, like making sure they don't eat anything that is bad for them or swallowing something that could get stuck, you also have to worry about them being targeted by viscious people.
If a different kind of dog barks and wags its tail, most people will assume that it is friendly and wants to play. If a pitbull barks while wagging its tail in front of the wrong person, the person could overreact and think the dog wants to eat them, resulting horrible consequences for the dog. This was exactly what happened in this example. (Warning, the video is disturbing).
People who don't have pitbulls won't understand their activity level or their play style. A coworker of mine recently told me about her friend who was fostering a pitbull lab mix puppy. The foster mom took the pitbull to a dog park (mistake #1) and let it play off leash (mistake #2). She watched calmly as the puppy who was less than a year old, went up to another dog and started playing tug with the other dog's toy (mistake #3). The owner of the other dog freaked out and reached down between the two dogs to pull the toy out of the mouth of a dog she didn't know (which is totally stupid on her part). In the confusion, the pitbull mouthed the lady's hand after mistaking it for the toy. She didn't break the skin and released as soon as she realized it was the lady and not the toy. The lady didn't like pitbulls and called animal control to have the dog confiscated, quaranteened and tested for rabies. This is mostly likely a death sentence for the pitbull based on the Houston SPCA's anti-pitbull policies.
The foster mom wasn't bothered at all and was immediately given a different kind of dog to foster.
The point here is that if anything negative happens, your pitbull is likely to be blamed even if he didn't start it or do anything to contribute.
It is your responsibility as a pitbull parent to put your pitbull is situations where he or she can succeed and keep them away from situations where they could fail.
If you know you dog doesn't like kids, don't take him to a playground. If she doesn't like loud noises, don't take her to a fireworks show or parade. You know your dog better than anyone else, and you should have an idea of what he or she can handle.
NEVER let them run off leash in a public area, and if possible, avoid taking them to dog parks. There are a lot of strange people at dog parks. Plus, you don't know how healthy the other dogs are. They could have worms or illnesses that your well cared for dog could catch.
Critics of pitbulls see a viscious maneater who must be stopped. I see a sweet little puppy who needs treats and a snuggle (Mr. M is watching his sister play with a stick that he wants)
Becoming a pitbull parent is not something that should be taken lightly. Most of the time pitbulls need protection from humans way more than humans need from them, and it is your job to make sure that they get that protection.
Pitbulls are amazing dogs. As a pitbull owner, you have the chance to show the world how wonderful they are, but only if you put them in situations they can handle. Know your dog's strengths and use them to let him or her shine.
Pitbulls are amazing dogs. As a pitbull owner, you have the chance to show the world how wonderful they are, but only if you put them in situations they can handle. Know your dog's strengths and use them to let him or her shine.
Mr. C- the 50+ pound lap dog
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