[POMAH_K]

My dog at 17 months is starting to show signs of da. When I walk him he is constantly trying to get other dogs and Been in a fight already. And almost one with a loose Nasser hound. When I see him lunging at other dogs I'm not sure if he just wants tonplay or attack but I don't take the chance especially if I hear a growl. He goes after dogs larger smaller and even if there are more than one. At least he gets all excited lunging towards them.

[Progniusis]

Before even realizing the negatives, dog parks always have seemed like such a good idea. Dog can run freely in a safe, fenced in area, play with other doggie friends, enjoy the fresh air....but then you start thinking of all the bad things that can happen and how they outweight these positves by HUNDREDS. Your dog can contract illnesses, fleas, diseases, bacteria, even bad manners, not to mention the fights. Even if your pit bull type dog never turns on and becomes DA, who's to say someone else's dog won't attack yours? Are you willing to risk the life of your animal just for an hour of playtime with the lab down the street? Or what happens when your "pit bull" does attack another dog, and owner presses charges and goes into the whole "manbiting evil pit bull" ordeal and has your dog taken away and euthanized? Is that something you really want for your dog...and for this breed?

My own APBT mix still enjoys playtime with other dogs and hasn't shown signs of DA...yet, but I'm always keeping an eye out for when it happens. I'd still never bring him to a dog park. We find other ways to release energy and have a good time.

I think, if you feel your dog is comfortable around other dogs at this point, is to have supervised playdates in someone's yard. It's just a healthier way for all.

[9uWzBx4l]

I've rarely ever seen a dog wait till it was 2 years old to turn on. Most APBT's I've had turn on between 8-12 months, the latest being 15 months. Just wanted to add that Granted, I know your dog looks to be American Bully, not American Pit Bull Terrier (someone really needs to write up a sticky about why AmBullies are registered as APBTs, although they are not, and about paper hanging and that whole subject) Now, American Bullies are pretty controversial dogs in the "Bully Breed" world. Many APBT people do not like them, to be honest. Many of us don't mind them, and can accept that people are trying to start a new breed, but absolutely despise it when they are referred to as "pit bull" or APBT. Just make sure you have thick skin, and research! Learn the differences between the two breeds. I also wanted to add that "blue" is not really a "rare" color in the APBT, all it is is diluted black, but more so, there are a lot of people in the APBT world the cull blues, and there are a few reasons for this. There are no "rare" colors in the APBT world, but as most (or at least the good) breeders do not breed for color, typically the dominate colors are more common.

Now, about the dog park issue, as others have pointed out, dog parks are a horrible idea. For one, you don't know what kind of diseases are running rampant there. Other dog owners are irresponsible. (Actually I believe ANYONE that brings a dog to a dog park in the first place is irresponsible, as you are bringing your dog to a place that is dangerous for MANY reasons) You also don't know the temperament of the other dogs there. Also, there are some people that bring kids there. Do you know how many kids have been bitten by a dog, but if there is a pit bull type dog around, that's the one that gets blamed for it, even if it was nowhere near the child? Another good reason is that you don't know when your dog is going to turn on. You can't predict when your dog will get into a fight, and it will always, always be your fault. Not any dogs. It is your fault for putting your dog in a situation to fail.

[ruforumczspam]

After reading all your comments and reading the thread on "PIT BULLS AND DOG PARKS". It was my wishful thinking that I could somehow train my dog to not be DA by socializing her with other dogs. My previous pit bull that I owned for 14 years was very DA, but I never socialized her with other dogs. She was always kept on a tight leash or should I say a short leash. She was a great dog, never bit anyone, never barked at other dogs, But if given the opportunity would lunge at other dog with out notice. I knew that I was going to get comments when I post this thread, but I did think they were going to influence me and change my mind about thinking I could train my dog to not be DA.

I was checking out the ambully picture thread. You guys are right she does look like a ambully.

[ricochettty]

I hear what your saying, I guess i feel that people need to get to know pit bulls and see that there great dogs and that they don't go around attacking other dogs. I could be wrong.
Actually youre 100% correct. That is something you should want to do with your pit bull. You want to show everyone that you have a fantastic dog who doesnt start trouble and who doesnt act crazy around other dogs or people. BUT, where youre choosing to do it is where you go astray. Festivals, Regular Leashed Parks, ANY public event where any other dogs SHOULD be properly controlled.. i.e. leashed. This makes the opportunity for aggressiveness drop dramatically. This means that no other dog should charge your dog or attack your dog or pick a fight with your dog and therefore keeps your dog out of trouble.

Wanting to show our beloved breed in a positive light is commendable to me, but taking one to a dog park to do it, rarely ends well. People are ignorant and stupid and believe everything they see on tv and read in the headlines. MANY people are quick to point at the pit bull even when their dog is the one who started the trouble. Most times the pit bull will end the situation and ts that ending that ends up in the news. Not who started it, but who lost most in the end.

Is this a situation you are willing to put your dog in?

[ruforumczspam]

@Prophecy - I do not remember the fathers bloodline.

[viagra-kaufen]

When "out in public" with your Bulldog...it is not always what you do right that causes problems, it is what others do wrong that puts your dog in jeopardy. You can do everything right and it will take one wrong move from another dog owner that puts your dog in a bad "light". Your dog will be blamed and another "notch" will go on the BSL belt.

As for not being a "pit bull"...just take care of your dog and protect him from bad situations...John Q. Public does see your dog as a "Pit Bull" and so does Animal Control and Courts so treat him that way.

Couple of good links to read up on:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=63498
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=18728
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=32882

[Nabeqiv]

I know that the father had papers and it was a american pit bull terrier blue nose. I also know that the mother had no papers and is brindle, white, and blue. From what i have see my dog looks like a american pit bull terrier. But I could be wrong. She 13 month old.

Your dog looks like an APBT to me (from just the one picture), maybe a bit big. There are lots of blue and blue brindle UKC Pit Bulls.

The whole "bully" thing doesn't mean a whole lot. It is mostly very incorrect examples of the Pit Bull breed (very short, stocky, wide, overdone Pit Bulls and some are mixed with other breeds); BUT if it has the right PEDIGREE and it looks like a game dog, it can STILL be an "American Bully", so, go figure.

It's a very popular fad here to stay, but it's nothing but exploitation of a the APBT...

Here is something else for your reading list.

Bully: This, That The Other Thing - American Bullies and 'bully style' Pit Bulls

Carla

---------- Post added at 01:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 PM ----------

When I got my pup, she was registered as a "blue brindle" APBT, because the UKC (please correct me if I'm wrong) doesn't recognize AmBullies, because they're a cross between two breeds.

Those two breeds ARE?

Carla

[wowwieholmes]

Now we are not ethical because we like am bullies. Wow. GREAT article. Not

[Kristoferson]

Now we are not ethical because we like am bullies. Wow. GREAT article. Not

I know right, great thing for a new person who is trying to learn to get told that

[Vapepreab]

After reading all your comments and reading the thread on "PIT BULLS AND DOG PARKS". It was my wishful thinking that I could somehow train my dog to not be DA by socializing her with other dogs. My previous pit bull that I owned for 14 years was very DA, but I never socialized her with other dogs. She was always kept on a tight leash or should I say a short leash. She was a great dog, never bit anyone, never barked at other dogs, But if given the opportunity would lunge at other dog with out notice. I knew that I was going to get comments when I post this thread, but I did think they were going to influence me and change my mind about thinking I could train my dog to not be DA.

I was checking out the ambully picture thread. You guys are right she does look like a ambully.

First of, your dog is gorgeous! Love those ears, and what a sweet expression!

I am glad that you read the Pit Bulls and Dog Parks sticky, and are also drawing on your experience with your previous APBT.

Each breed/type of dog has positives and negatives in their genetic make-up, be it health concerns or behavior traits. For the 'Bullies', DA is just a fact of life - and part of the management approach is to stay out of those dog parks

FWIW: my male APBT 'turned on' at about three years of age, and picked our APBT female as his target - this happened without much of a warning. For the rest of her life, we separated the two. Note that prior to Trusty's 'turn', he had a very amicable relationship with Madeleine.

[ruforumczspam]

First of, your dog is gorgeous! Love those ears, and what a sweet expression!

I am glad that you read the Pit Bulls and Dog Parks sticky, and are also drawing on your experience with your previous APBT.

Each breed/type of dog has positives and negatives in their genetic make-up, be it health concerns or behavior traits. For the 'Bullies', DA is just a fact of life - and part of the management approach is to stay out of those dog parks

FWIW: my male APBT 'turned on' at about three years of age, and picked our APBT female as his target - this happened without much of a warning. For the rest of her life, we separated the two. Note that prior to Trusty's 'turn', he had a very amicable relationship with Madeleine.

Thanks for your comments and sorry to hear about your experience. How long were the dogs together before your dog turned?

---------- Post added at 01:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 PM ----------

I read the article, but still not sure if my dog would be considered a ambully. Here are more picture for you guys to see.

[wowwieholmes]

Those ears are priceless!!!

The article had some good points but not exactly what some people believe to be true.

[Nabeqiv]

She looks like an APBT or American Staffordshire Terrier TO ME.

Now, SOME here are going to tell you it depends on her PEDIGREE if she's an "ambullie" or not.

Think about it. How ridiculous is that? You have to look at a PEDIGREE to determine what BREED of dog you have?

Learn about APBTs and it's history and how people have exploited them over the ages. That is what should be your concern. Don't try to fit your dog into the whole "am bullie" thing -- it's confusing and a disservice to the breed and your dog. "Am bullies" are not important in the history of the American Pit Bull Terrier, other than illustrating poor examples of APBTs.

History of the APBT

Carla

[Vapepreab]

@Heavy: Trusty and Madeleine were together for more than a year (if not almost two), when Trusty turned on.

Don't feel sorry for us: I knew that it was a likely possibility before I brought Trusty home. Was I happy or thrilled about it? No, but I was not surprised, and I was prepared (= total seperation of the two, without exception).

Did it make my life easier to have to crate and rotate? No. But it was a small price to pay, in order to keep both alive and well.

Love those pictures of your dog - those ears - to die for!

[Cogebrego]

To answer your question,yes,many bulldogs dogs do "turn on" about two years.In case you aren't familiar with the tern "turn on" Its basically when the dog starts to act like most bulldogs and tries to kill any other dog that comes near it.And it can happen slowly or quite suddenly.All bulldogs American Bullies included have a very strong potential to be dog aggressive,its in their blood,what they were bred to do.You can train a lab not to run after and retrieve anything it feels like,but you cant train the urge they have to do it out of them,and who doesn't give into urges every now and then?I understand you wanting people to know that "pit bulls" aren't bad dogs,but taking them to the dog park is not a good way to educate people,because if your dog gets into a fight,it doesnt matter if the other dog started it.The bulldog will ALWAYS be blamed! And while your dog may think you can control your dog from fighting,you need to always remember:A Bulldog wont always start a fight ,but they will damn well finish it! What might just be a scuffle between two other types of dogs can quickly escalate into a situation where only one dog comes out alive,when a bulldog is involved.It's what they have been bred to do ,fight till the end.You can control this to a point,but you will not ever train it out of them.So for all those reasons,dog parks are not a good idea.There are other ways to promote the breed and show them in a positive light.I seems like you have good intentions,but seriously please keep your dog far away from dog parks before something awful happens.Everyone here knows its BS and unfair,but,I cant say it enough.THE "PIT BULL" WILL ALWAYS BE BLAMED FOR ANYTHING BAD THAT HAPPENS!You will be doing yourself,your dog and the whole breed a favor if you just dont take the chance.

You said yourself that fights happen in dog parks, and no one will blame the dead yorkie, even if he started it. Your dog may always like other dogs in general, I like other people in general, but i don't like every single person I meet, And few dogs like every dog they meet either. The difference is , dogs don't roll their eyes and talk about that other dog behind it's back when they don't like each other, they often bite, and chances are your dog will bite harder and more enthusiaticly than the average golden retriever. I think your heart is really in the right place, dog parks are just based on unrealisticly idealised ideas about dogs, and really aren't safe for any breed, I think .
ALSO your dog is SUPER cute, like, painfully cute, those are maybe the cutest ears I've ever seen on a dog, period, and she's got a really soulfull expression. You don't know her pedegree, so I would worry less about if she's an american bully, amstaff, or maybe just a ukc apbt, because really, 99% of the population are 100% sure she's a "pit bull" and until people are more aware that those are seperate breeds, she is representing "pit bulls" as a group, because that is really all most people know, like it or not.
My dog is from a shelter, he was surrendered with the info that he was "super expensive from a good breeder, and that he was a castillo old family red nose dog" They wrote all that down on his intake form, maybe they thought it would be a selling point for a potential adopter, who knows. it meant nothing to me, but I've since looked those things up and he actually looks striking like a lot of the dogs that came up on google. But, the guy who surrended him because he didn't want to pay his vet bills, could have been full of shit, and he could be a classic american bully, and he could be part chocolate lab, which some people ask me. I will never know for sure, is my point (sorry it took me a while to get to it) and neither will you, it sounds like, but what we can both be sure of, is that mother crossing the street when she sees us coming is sure we have pit bulls, and seeing them get in fights at dog parks makes her more convinced that they wil eat her baby, because people are ignorant and don't understand the differace between dog agression and human aggression.
Sorry for rambling, good luck, and stay open minded, which you really seem to be, and you will learn a lot on this sight. I sure have.

[Nabeqiv]

Did it make my life easier to have to crate and rotate? No. But it was a small price to pay, in order to keep both alive and well.

I think it's important for new and prospective owners to understand the whole crate and rotate thing. I think it's more than an inconvenience or small price for many....

And it's important to explain to prospective owners to understand what is involved. It can be a life-changer for some, something they don't want to have to do and they must be made to visualize how it will affect their everyday lives before they ever get involved with more than one dog!

It can be a real pain-in-the-butt and people have to know that! Not AFTER they acquire one of these dogs, but BEFORE.

I had a dog pretty much sold one time and we talked about keeping the Am Staf separated, when they were gone, from the opposite-sex dog they already had. The next day, they called to say they didn't want to have to go to that trouble and did not want the dog.

It was a successful "non-sale"!

Carla

[DaleJrGirl]

Looks like an Amstaff to me. Definitely not an apbt though.

[Qauunet]

Not an APBT by a longshot, but she may be an AmStaff or AmStaff cross.
And wow, someone actually listens for once! Stick around, you'll learn a lot here... I love your pup's ears by the way haha, they're crazy.

[markshome23]

This maybe the nicest new member thread I have seen in a long time. See what happens when you have an open mind, actually willing to learn and not get offended when someone tells you the truth and not just what you want to hear or think you know.