[VUzgOhgv]

Game is a term used specifically for dogs who have been matched, from what I understand. So you can have "gamebred" dogs, that are bred down from matched dogs... but unless it's legal in your country, you can't truly test a dog's gameness these days. Gameness is the total package of a dog's ability in the pit... whereas DA is just... dog aggression. lol

I could be wrong! But that's my understanding of it.

[SetSnonejog]

Hey, I got a Brussels Griffon awhile back, and he's still alive. Little dogs for the most part are a bit tougher than they look.

I was watching The Osbournes a few years ago...and Jack was sleeping with one of his mums tiny dogs...and he rolled over in his sleep...and killed it. Literally. I was traumatized.

[Hammaduersnes]

Game is a term used specifically for dogs who have been matched, from what I understand. So you can have "gamebred" dogs, that are bred down from matched dogs... but unless it's legal in your country, you can't truly test a dog's gameness these days. Gameness is the total package of a dog's ability in the pit... whereas DA is just... dog aggression. lol

I could be wrong! But that's my understanding of it.

Good post.

[effebrala]

GAMENESS is the willingness and drive to see a task to its completion Regardless of consequence. There are game dogs, game birds, heck even some guys talking to ladies out of their league have game. But it is that very Game that makes a great pit dog or hunter for that matter. Game is where the strength, loyalty, willingness, and love in a pitbull comes from. A dog is considered "game bred" if his parents have their Game tested and proven.take a good look at Any breed. It will have a working line (bred in the field- best worker to best worker) and it will have a useless line ( or show line; bred prettiest or best house pet to its likeness). The working lines will always be a completely different animal than the show lines - which have lost the health, drive, and arguably everything else that made that breed great.Attempting to breed the DA out of the APBT yields the american staffordshire terrier which I am certain will eventually become just as unhealthy as every other show bred dog. Consequently, your quest for a non-DA pitbull, though misguided and unlikely, would be better started with the AMSTAFF.

---------- Post added at 10:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 AM ----------

Sorry, my phone erased the paragraph breaks.

[forexsoft]

Someone told me once that an APBT can not be game if it was never matched in the pit. I don't know who, but thoughts on that? I'm just trying to learn.

[effebrala]

And if that didn't answer your question; genetics are a fickle thing. If you attempt to eliminate one gene from an animal packaged as well as the APBT, you risk losing the genes that made it great to begin with. The fox experiment proved that many other traits were genetically linked with aggression, and breeding the aggression out created something unrecognizable as a fox. To bottom line this subject: If you want a dog that is Not DA, there are plenty of other breeds out there ,- leave the APBT alone.

---------- Post added at 10:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 AM ----------

Someone told me once that an APBT can not be game if it was never matched in the pit. I don't know who, but thoughts on that? I'm just trying to learn.

No, Barb, that's a corruption of the truth. Though, some would say an APBT can not be Proven game unless matched in the pit.

[Hammaduersnes]

Someone told me once that an APBT can not be game if it was never matched in the pit. I don't know who, but thoughts on that? I'm just trying to learn.

If it has never been in the pit then you will never know if it is game. That doesn't mean it ISN'T game... but if it is, you wouldn't know.

[KLIMOV25gyi]

since gaming is illegal in most places, why do people crave and love bull breed dogs so much,?

For me, I was looking for a dog that was not small, but not large. Had short fur, healthier than most breeds in general, smart and people focused. Capable of working if I so chose. Vermin killing a bonus.

Given my criteria, I pretty much got to choose from the bully breeds.

[Creelaleps]

Honestly....I was never looking for a certain breed when I acquired all of my dogs. I got them on happenstance. I use to not even want a "pit bull"...not because of fear but I always believed that when you take a dog out in public, you are advertising that breed. I didn't want to make this over populated breed even more desired by ignorant people. Then I met my husband who had Harley and now here we are. Now I try to tell myself that I'm not advertising the bully breeds, but that I am now shining a bright light on the breed by having well behaved bullies that could change a few minds of ignorant people. Who knows though. Where I live, owning a "pit bull" is a status symbol. They are popular here because it is "cool" to have one much like some people think it's "cool" to sag their pants around their knees.

[ElenaEvgeevnaa]

I own and work them because they do the job well. I would not say that my dogs are "game" but I would say that a dog that can catch and hold a wild hog several times his size until he is taken off no matter what happens is pretty tough and tenacious. I do not agree that taking the dog aggression out of a pit makes them less of a dog at all. I can't have the DA and won't tolerate it on my yard. It makes a dog useless to me, and it's annoying.

[emuffette]

If you have a large tract of land -- even moderately large -- get a pit. They're reliable working dogs.

If you don't, get an am staff. They are considerably more amiable around other dogs. They aren't bred for game. They are show dogs. As a result, they aren't working dogs. The aren't designed to move far and fast. If you're sure you'll need the dog to work, an am staff isn't what you want.

A pit can cover a great deal of distance everyday. They are very intelligent and enjoy working. On the flip side of that, they require a ton of exercise. Not a good dog for someone living in a city that isn't highly motivated to exercise the dog.

[spaxiaroorbes]

I own and work them because they do the job well. I would not say that my dogs are "game" but I would say that a dog that can catch and hold a wild hog several times his size until he is taken off no matter what happens is pretty tough and tenacious. I do not agree that taking the dog aggression out of a pit makes them less of a dog at all. I can't have the DA and won't tolerate it on my yard. It makes a dog useless to me, and it's annoying.

Just interested ... how are your dog bred (bloodline)?

[v74ClzKY]

Someone told me once that an APBT can not be game if it was never matched in the pit. I don't know who, but thoughts on that? I'm just trying to learn.

thye told you the truth . if a dog is not tested it can't be a game dog. you can not look at a dog and say that dog is game. you can have a game breed dog but you can't have a game dog without the test

[forexsoft]

Differing opinions on this confuses me. Lol.

[JonnTEN]

All people are individuals just as all dogs are and I'm sure the reasons vary. I've personally never owned a more loyal and devoted dog. I admire a bulldog with quiet confidence and self assurance that is courageous and will not back down from anything ... one that will give it's all unconditionally to any endeavor when asked, has boundless determination and drive, but at the same time is a faithful, intelligent companion. I find all this in the bull and terrier.

This! I don't think it could have been said better. Honestly I've not been around a whole lot of APBTs but the ones I have been around. I have never met a more stable animal. I have never met a more gentle animal. Yes I have unfortantely been around a few unstable ones, but all breeds have those. But overall I have never met a more gentle, loyal, dog.

I know of one that took a bullet for his little girl. Someone broke in in the middle of the night with intent to kidnap the child and the dog took a bullet defending her. He lived and chased off guy who later was caught. He didn't hurt the guy. The little girl was safe. If he hadn't intervened that little girl would have been gone before the parents even knew. For the rest of his life he slept at the end of her bed. Tell me that is not loyalty.

Oh and my cousin's dog. When she was pregnant she was nearly attached by their neighbors HA dog. Her Pit mix jumped in and got the dog to the ground and just held it there as the neighbor ran up to them. The neighbor was furious that their viscious pit bull had her dog by the neck. The dog let go, there was not a single wound on that dog. My cousins dog was covered in bite marks (Some pretty deep) and scratches. Her dog could have easily killed this dog, but she didn't even leave a mark. She potentially saved her owner and her ownborn child.

These are good dogs. I do think they take a special person to own them. A person who can respect their history and can understand what they were originally bred for and understand that they will still have those drives in them. I believe to be a good owner of this breed you have to be able to respect this breed. But again I've never known a more gentle and loyal animal.

Personally I don't own a dog of this breed. I am not even sure I am the right kind of owner for this breed. But I do love them. I work with them at the shelter on a regular basis. I used to fear these dogs because I was told to. My whole life. Then I met one special APBT and it all changed. I changed. I've never met a better dog than an APBT.

[effebrala]

Differing opinions on this confuses me. Lol.

Understand, first, their history; then, understand the semantics. Do that, and you'll be able to weed out all the bs from people who don't really know what they're talking about. It's not a matter of opinions, it's a matter of correct or incorrect.

[esconsise]

If you don't, get an am staff. They are considerably more amiable around other dogs. They aren't bred for game. They are show dogs. As a result, they aren't working dogs. The aren't designed to move far and fast. If you're sure you'll need the dog to work, an am staff isn't what you want.

That's a bit black and white, don't you think? While yes, a lot of Amstaffs are strictly show dogs, there ARE Amstaffs that do all sorts of dog sports (I'm not sure what you're classifying as "work" though); my breeder does dock dogs, weight pull, OB, Rally, bite work, terrier races, and conformation with her dogs (she probably does more, those are just what I can think of off the top of my head). My Amstaff easily keeps a steady run (as a horse person, I'd call it a canter) for miles, and he is often referred to as a "bullet" by anyone that sees him run.. he's NOT a couch potato.

[forexsoft]

Horses. ♥

[v74ClzKY]

Understand, first, their history; then, understand the semantics. Do that, and you'll be able to weed out all the bs from people who don't really know what they're talking about. It's not a matter of opinions, it's a matter of correct or incorrect.

well please explain how you can have a game dog that has never matched. Caue i don't want to tell nobody Bs. the problem is people throw the word game around like it i not earned. game dogs earn the right to be called a game dog. the media does enough lying on the breed

i have been around alot pit people and i have not met one person that can look at a do on a chain and say that is a game dog.

[Fluivelip]

If you have a large tract of land -- even moderately large -- get a pit. They're reliable working dogs.

If you don't, get an am staff. They are considerably more amiable around other dogs. They aren't bred for game. They are show dogs. As a result, they aren't working dogs. The aren't designed to move far and fast. If you're sure you'll need the dog to work, an am staff isn't what you want.

A pit can cover a great deal of distance everyday. They are very intelligent and enjoy working. On the flip side of that, they require a ton of exercise. Not a good dog for someone living in a city that isn't highly motivated to exercise the dog.

That's a generalized statement. There are people out there who work and breed working line Amstaffs. And a few live in the city too...