Anyone looking for a puppy

[LINUS]

Jscotty - I can tell you from many, many conversations with vets, purebreed pet rescue admins., and fellow owners, as well as reading many books on dogs, training, etc. - that Bull Terriers do NOT have any physical trait that makes their bite posess any higher PSI than other breeds of the same physical jaw size. There even was a video floating around on the internet giving a quantative PSI count on jaw strength. It had a Bull Terrier, a Doberman, and a chocolate Lab. If you search, you'll find it.

Bull Terriers are just like any other dog as to physical attributes. The only differential between them and others is they are deeply convicted about any action they take. If they decide to bite, they will do so until either they change their mind, you use a break stick to remove them, or what ever they are biting separates into their mouth. If they know you are the owner and they love you, again - they show it. Ever seen the whole back end of one wiggling until you pet them? It's hilarious.

They simply are very strong-willed, and constantly 'push' to see the boundries of discipline. That is why they aren't recommended as a 1st dog for most people.

Please don't spread any other "thing" you know about the breed, you have been pretty wrong so far, and they already get a bad rap in the media. If a dog bites someone, it's automatically a 'pitbull' on the 5 o'clock news. Most reporters couldn't identify a one if it, well, bit them in the ass.

[delatlanta1281]

Linus. Never a better description. Coming from a town that accepts bulls to Sacramento was hard. People crossed the street in Ca when they saw Hank coming.
You are right as rain about their bite. Their conviction is 100x stronger than their bite, and it shows when they love you. True pack dogs. Hank will not let a stranger between him and my girl until he is sure they are ok. Hank wiggles his whole body and growles while puncturing a tennis ball every time I come home, whether it is from a trip, or to get the mail. Bull breeds are given a bad rap, but at the same time, the people who "know" are the people I want to be around Hank. I don't care to have anyone who is scared or mis informed anywhere near he or I.
In Atlanta, it is different. I get stopped by people and complimented constantly. They ask if he is a pit and I say no, because he isn't. Only one person has asked if Hank is a Staffy, and when I gave the standard "he is a rescue, I think he is mixed" the guy laughed and said "Sure he is!"
People in Atlanta never reach at Hank or any other dog if they are strangers. It is a VERY dog friendly city. I hope it stays this way, Ca is a bullshit state with mis informed people.
Hank and Bert

Hank and I at the painted desert. He was watching his mom take pictures.
That is what he does when she is far enough away for him to worry.

[s0urce]

I hope it stays this way, Ca is a bullshit state with mis informed people.

You left out the 49 others as well.

[blunttech]

You ever thought about just closing the hole that makes you appear dumber every time you open it?

Seriously.

Besides, the chocolate thing is a myth, just like the "Pitbulls have super-duper strong bites" - they are no different then any other dog.



Nice human.....would you like some anthrax?

chocolate and dogs isnt a myth altho its blown out of proportion.
a couple ounces of chocolate can effect a 15lb dog
it contains some kind of bromine (cant recall the technical name) that will kill a dog in large quantities

[delatlanta1281]

You left out the 49 others as well.

I guess you're right, overall there are some pretty f'd up people and laws in Ga, but it suits me fine here. Come on down, you will love it I promise.

[Mastrcruse]

Linus: I am looking at getting a dog. I sometimes get lonely (sounds sad) and think dogs are great companions. I was looking at a http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/doguedebordeax.htm

I am not comfortable around dogs that, as you said, are protrayed as dogs that are only good for one owner/one person families. I was attacked by a Rot when I was in 4th grade and don't like being around dogs that I know can out power me.

Although I can't provide this dog with a good home, what are your opinions on this breed (s) of dogs (bull terriers) for families?
Say I get one in college and then decide to have children in a couple of years. I don't want the dog to decide and snap on my kid because they are seen as an intruder. My next door neighbors Rot bit their 2nd grade kid. But does this get solved if you train them right?

My english setter, although a way different temper then a pit/rot at least from my history, was very timid at first when my baby sister was born. But now is like her best friend and makes sure she is alright.
Sounds like you and Deatlanta have good advice. Sorry for the long post though. And bump for a beautiful dog that someone should snatch up.

Oo..and Matt, I think you have a twin in Columbus, Ohio that drives a old ricered up Civic. Saw him today but wasn't fast enough to get pics.

[Maluco]

Pit bulls or dogs that appear to be pit bulls may be destroyed in dog pounds due to the stigma associated with the breed. Few, if any, statistics exist for these issues. Pit bulls and pit mixed dogs are a common sight in animal shelters. According to Nathan Winograd, president of the No Kill Advocacy Group, shelters today have failed to educate people about pit bull ownership and have not focused on finding them responsible homes, but rather are engaging in a "witch hunt".
This really pisses me off. China is one of the most loving dogs I've had. Just look at that face, lol. (I have to admit though, she attacks every moving creature in the woods when off her leash) Up-to-date vaccinations is a must!

[808BMW]

Linus: I am looking at getting a dog. I sometimes get lonely (sounds sad) and think dogs are great companions. I was looking at a http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/doguedebordeax.htm

I am not comfortable around dogs that, as you said, are protrayed as dogs that are only good for one owner/one person families. I was attacked by a Rot when I was in 4th grade and don't like being around dogs that I know can out power me.

Although I can't provide this dog with a good home, what are your opinions on this breed (s) of dogs (bull terriers) for families?
Say I get one in college and then decide to have children in a couple of years. I don't want the dog to decide and snap on my kid because they are seen as an intruder. My next door neighbors Rot bit their 2nd grade kid. But does this get solved if you train them right?

I think your neighbor's rott was an all too common "look at my big scary dog that I feed and leave outside" type dogs.
A dog isn't something you just feed and keep around, maybe pet once a week. If they are contantly given attention, they will become family and will show more love to your future kids than you probably will.

Dogs know the people very close to you, and will protect them out of obediance to you. I like having dogs because there are so many things they can see/smell/sense that we can't, they really are guardians

[Jscotty]

Whether a dog's bite is stronger or his convictions are stronger, it does not matter.. that still makes the pit bull breed more dangerous than other dogs. There are a few responsible owners but there are many who are not and I agree that the strays should be put down as quickly as possible.

I can attest to the fact that a german shepherd's bite is actually as strong- if not stronger than a pit.. I took a tour of the police training academy where they were training the dogs and when the guy put the protective suit on, (he might have been 6'4" and 300lbs) he was able to lift the dog off of the ground. The dog attacked his arm and would not let go. The guy had the dog 2 feet in the air swinging him back and forth by the grip of his jaws. A pit would probably be too heavy to hold on.

[delatlanta1281]

Whether a dog's bite is stronger or his convictions are stronger, it does not matter.. that still makes the pit bull breed more dangerous than other dogs. There are a few responsible owners but there are many who are not and I agree that the strays should be put down as quickly as possible.

I can attest to the fact that a german shepherd's bite is actually as strong- if not stronger than a pit.. I took a tour of the police training academy where they were training the dogs and when the guy put the protective suit on, (he might have been 6'4" and 300lbs) he was able to lift the dog off of the ground. The dog attacked his arm and would not let go. The guy had the dog 2 feet in the air swinging him back and forth by the grip of his jaws. A pit would probably be too heavy to hold on.

dude that first statement is HORSESHIT. Can you even tell the difference between breeds? Thats like saying asians are more intelligent..... BREED has nothing to do with it. Any dog that is abused will bite. A beagle that has been chained to a tree and ignored will bite if given the chance.... Stop talking like you know dogs. You obviously don't.
How do you figure a pit weighs more than a shepard???????????? A true pit weighs less than 100 lbs. WAY less.

[bmws50b30]

i've been with dogs all my life. they are good companion and they taste good too. i've had different breeds, from a chihuahua to a rottweiler. my rotty died 2 yrs ago from cancer and she was 13yo.

my sister gave me a 3 week old pitt and she was adorable. i kept her for a week and everything didn't worked out. no one would take care of her during the day, the whole apartment was carpeted and i didn't have a backyard. i was forced to give her back. the next time i saw her she was already 3 months old. i'm still kicking myself for not keeping her. i don't see the dog anymore.

3 weeks old




3 months old

[LINUS]

dude that first statement is HORSESHIT. Can you even tell the difference between breeds? Thats like saying asians are more intelligent..... BREED has nothing to do with it. Any dog that is abused will bite. A beagle that has been chained to a tree and ignored will bite if given the chance.... Stop talking like you know dogs. You obviously don't.
How do you figure a pit weighs more than a shepard???????????? A true pit weighs less than 100 lbs. WAY less.

Glad another REAL owner could beat me to it. Thanks delatlanta!

You said exactly what I would have said, so I hope that JScotty just shuts his mouth, because it's pretty obvious he's not familiar with Bull breeds, or dogs in general. He's just flapping his lips and not stating any truth.


Mastercruise - Tons of variables as to what dog would be good for you. I tend not to recommend a Bull breed to anyone as a 1st dog, just because they are stubborn, and if you haven't already figured out how to get the intended result you want (obedience, a trick, whatever) without the benefit of being able to speak English, a stubborn dog is twice as hard as a dog who wants to do exactly as you ask. I know it sounds lame, but reading as many books and websites on how to train a dog is paramount. Once you read a ton of different methods or things, you can pick & choose what works best for your lifestyle.

For example, I crate trained my dog, so that way he's cool with sleeping in a secure place when I'm not home. He's also not a dog who gets separation anxiety because when I leave, the routine is for him to go find his Kong (get a couple!!!)and bring it to me in the kitchen, and I smear peanut butter in it with a knife. Then I tell him to go to bed, and he knows that when he jumps in bed, I'll lay the Kong in there and he gets a treat! So then all I have to do is find my keys and bail before he's out of P.B. - so he's interested in the Kong, not staring at me as I leave him, so when he's done with the P.B. - he just figures out I'm not around, but he's already in bed, so he just takes a nap.
My neighbors all are amazed, because aside from seeing me walking him, or hearing me play fetch in the backyard, they never hear a bark from him - ever.

Another nice thing is, in any room you want your dog to generally stay, place a scrap of carpet (or an expensive doggie bed, if you're rich) and teach the command 'rug' - if you do this, especially in the kitchen, it keep s the dog out from underfoot, from begging, or from generally screwing with anything you don't want. This command is best taught & re-enforced if, when in the kitchen, you make a habit of bringing the dog a quick treat, and a verbal "good rug" - it will re-enforce for the dog that the only way to get a treat in the kitchen is if he is on the rug to start with. Also, from puppy age - I never rewarded barking. If you give a treat after hearing a bark, you will send the message you liked the action, and are rewarding it with a treat.

Dogs are super simple once you get in their head. Absolutely any action a dog takes can be traced back to ownership. Any behavior I didn't want I trained an alternate action. It is a simple action / reaction mentality, so if you take the time to research what you want / don't want as to a dog, that will be a better answer than deciding on a breed, and then making concessions on your part, or worse yet, the people who decide the dog they chose based on 'cuteness' wasn't for them, and now there's one more in the adoption system.

A quick word on dogs and kids. I only trust my dog to be a dog. That means if I was concerned with anything (kid, senior citizen, handicapped) , that because my dog is just a dog, not a human, I wouldn't leave them unattended.

It's not that I don't trust my dog, I just trust my dog to be a dog.

That said, if you are willing to put in the time needed to train even a Bull breed to a new family member, and that the baby has higher 'status' in the family, you can succeed.

delatlanta touched on it, but it bears a little more here - most dogs want to be part of the family, and aside from some working breed / farmdogs, they want to really be right there with all of you. Yes, you can cheat that, but you never will have the same kind of dog that you sometimes see that makes you say "Wow, they got lucky - that's a GREAT dog!"

It's not luck, it's the payout for time invested working with the dog.

I haven't read his books yet, but after seeing Ceasar Millan's "Dog Whisperer" show, I'm very impressed, and I plan to get one of his books for a readthrough. I never heard of him before last year, but so far everythigng I've done has been right in step with what I hear him say / teach on the show.

I gotta run, but feel free to ask me anything, I'll be more than happy to share anything that's worked for me.

Also, as much as I don't advocate Bull breeds for a 1st dog, mine was my first dog, but because after reading so much it became clear it was a fit for me, and I'd say with the results I've gotten it worked out great. But only go for a Bull breed if you've done the homework and know what it entails.

I originally thought I was going to get either a chocolate Lab or a Weimaraner, but all the reading make it clear I was a match for a Bull breed, so you just need to stay open to the possibilities.

[Jscotty]

Because there are so many irresponsible pit bull owners who get them as first dogs and/or abuse them the danger is still much greater simply because his temperment is to kill and destroy. There was this pit bull that ripped the leg off of a child. I have yet to hear or learn about other breeds of dogs doing the same thing. The local govt here is proposing a plan to issue a complete ban on any pit bull or dog resembling the breed because of all of the trouble caused by this kind of animal. As much as we ought to blame the owner more so than the dog I would really hate to see some poor kid get attacked and killed simply because he was afraid of the dog which made the dog afraid of the kid and then the owner inadvertantly didnt have full control of the animal.

Regardless of how responsible a dog owner is, people are still likely to make mistakes. A poodle that gets out of control is more of an annoyance than it is a danger, however, a pit bull thats somewhat annoying can be a real danger.

[Mastrcruse]

808BMW: I was friends with the family and yes, thats one vibe I got from them. Look at my big, scary dog kinda vibe.

BMWs50b30: Thats an awesome looking dog. Thats exactly what the french mastiff, I was looking at, looked like but with a really, really wrinkly nose.

Linus thanks for the help. When I do decide to get a dog it will be my 2nd that I have put A LOT of time and effort into. My first is back home at my moms, the english setter, because she is now my sisters and I am glad that happened. If I could train my next dog, whichever the breed, to be like her the dog would be great. I guess I can admit that I am one of those misinformed people that think that pitbulls/bull terriers are uncontrollable and tend to be mean and very dangerous.

Seems though that many of you have these breeds and love them. They seem like they can be taught to be loyal and good dogs, and at normal danger (all dogs can be dangerous), but take more work and effort to get them to the calmness and obidience of a retriever kind of breed (alittle more calm and less dangerous). My main goal is not to have a dog that will attack friends, or to them strangers and their children. I could put them in a cage but also would like my dog to be able to socialize. With that being said, I guess I would just have to achieve dominance over the dog, in its mind, with training to make sure that they know that I am the master.

[blunttech]

that fucker george (BMWs50b30) came to my house when he picked up his e30. we made dinner and he told me he had a special recipe he wanted to try out on me. he made me run to the store to get some ingredients and when i came back this is what i walked in on. i rescued biscus at the last second