[ZAtlLVos]

A lot of it has to do with learning.. you can not expect someone to know something automatically. I see day in and day out - people (including myself) come to this forum to learn and they post something and get their butts ringed, but I RARELY see any one say * I disagree for this reason..* then post ways of helping them understand better. Every one is so quick to judge and shit talk, but very few are willing to teach and help. You can not make someone listen or do as you see fit (weather its known fact or opinions), but what you can do is inform them and hope for the best. I can not say for others, but for me.. if someone posts a link to help me understand better, I will take the time to read it (sometimes I read it 3-4 times).. but if all I hear is *your an idiot, your stupid, you dont deserve this breed*.. then I have learned nothing and it makes me 2cd guess about being here to learn anything.

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 PM ----------

I do not know the answer to your question - I am simply saying.. I, myself, can not learn the do's and don'ts of this breed if I do not post about it..

[Forex Trading Software]

With all the posts and thread regarding the APBT and thier born bred nature to skirmish with other animals and so many people disregard natural born breed behavior, why not your dog too ?

Seriously, why is it that so many of you feel as though your dog is above responding to common breed driven instincts by defying the odds and placing your dogs in compromising situations ? There are so many folks here that fall into the "Not my dog" idiology and I'd like to know what it is that makes you folks think along those lines. Is there some trick to it or are you all feeding your dogs some magical water that reverses natural breed behavior ?

After owning this breed of dog for nearly 40 years i've experienced many things and I have yet to see behavior that goes against the grain of a true terriers nature, so what is it that you all have or do that allows you the luxuray to say "Not my dog" ?

''Not MY DOG??'' I NEVER feel this way.ANY dog can fight,and the chances are the same or higher being an APBT.Terriers are feisty breeds,just like I would never assume a Cairn would not go to ground in the right situation,or a beagle would NEVER hunt a rabbit,I never assume my pit bull will not fight.I am not a ''fur-mommy'' nor am I into ''matching'' dogs,but I feel I am ''realistic'' about the breeds I choose to own,and the nature of them.I know that the APBT 'can' have a higher drive to fight,or at least to not back off in one,weather they start it or not.That's not a ''bad dog'' thing,it's a terrier breed thing.Every one of us who owns a ''pit bull'' has a dog whos genetics lead,at some point back to a dog who has fought in the pit.Maybe several generations back,but its still in there.I would never deny the effects of such genetic contributions,no matter how far back they are.Though it can only take a short time to breed out such genes,but that would mean its no longer a pit bull dog.I love the fiestyness of the APBT,and would never be the same without its ''terrier'' temperment.Just like all terriers,they are tenascious,most ''pit bulls'' just have a higher drive to stay in the fight,and win it.Plain and simple.

So ''not my dog,is not in my vocabulary''. Not because she is a ''pit bull'' but because she is a feisty terrier breed.

[VomsVomaMew]

A lot of it has to do with learning.. you can not expect someone to know something automatically. I see day in and day out - people (including myself) come to this forum to learn and they post something and get their butts ringed, but I RARELY see any one say * I disagree for this reason..* then post ways of helping them understand better.

You do make a point menzie, and most, well, ALOT of us do try to be as polite and generous as we can be.

[SodeSceriobia]

A lot of it has to do with learning.. you can not expect someone to know something automatically. I see day in and day out - people (including myself) come to this forum to learn and they post something and get their butts ringed, but I RARELY see any one say * I disagree for this reason..* then post ways of helping them understand better. Every one is so quick to judge and shit talk, but very few are willing to teach and help. You can not make someone listen or do as you see fit (weather its known fact or opinions), but what you can do is inform them and hope for the best. I can not say for others, but for me.. if someone posts a link to help me understand better, I will take the time to read it (sometimes I read it 3-4 times).. but if all I hear is *your an idiot, your stupid, you dont deserve this breed*.. then I have learned nothing and it makes me 2cd guess about being here to learn anything.

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 PM ----------

I do not know the answer to your question - I am simply saying.. I, myself, can not learn the do's and don'ts of this breed if I do not post about it..

Ah you see, we do and have replied to numerous threads in a positive manner. People get pretty heated when after they have replied in a positive fashion that all thier experience and advise goes ignored. I myself and guilty of speaking harshly, it pains me to read post after post of owners failing thier dogs and yet after they have been replied to in many non-confrontational posts the owner who is wronging thier dog still argues as if they are doing no wrong and continue to set thier dogs up for failure. When I myself see this type of responce that is when my kid gloves come off and lay it all out to get my point across.

I truely wish the breed was left lurking in the shadows, I feel they were better off not being the flavor of the month. We cannot reverse the clocks and we must face the fact that people who shouldn't own this breed of dog are going to anyways so treating these people like the idiots that they are is sometimes the best way to come across. You reach out to those who wish to be reached, the rest who refuse to be reached can be treated the like enemy that they are, because if your not with me and you are placing my dogs existance in jeoprody then your against me and deserve to be publically shamed because you are useless to the cause of keeping this breed alive. And make no mistakes, when you inadvertantly threaten my dogs lives with poor decsion making you are going to get the heated and angered person that I can be.

[VomsVomaMew]

I truely wish the breed was left lurking in the shadows, I feel they were better off not being the flavor of the month.

That's so true.

[denyffishh]

I vote this the best question of the year!

I second that.


I will never say "not my dog". Ever. Lucy's good, but not that good. I'd rather be prepared for the worst than see the world through rose colored glasses.

[ZAtlLVos]

Maybe I am not understanding the question -

Most people think the *not my dog* theory because they have had the dog years and do not think it would happen as to its never happened before.. but it wouldnt matter if you had the dog 2 months or 10 years.. they CAN respond the same. like any human can decide to defend themselves or start a fight.. it can happen.. as most ofyou do not agree with me on it,but people have to learn - not only from reading and educating themselves on it, but from experiances.. sometimes I do things and not think a thing of it.. then someone brings it to my attention and I realize the bad in it. but no matter how well you sugar coat it.. or try not to believe it.. it can happen!

---------- Post added at 02:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 PM ----------

Ah you see, we do and have replied to numerous threads in a positive manner. People get pretty heated when after they have replied in a positive fashion that all thier experience and advise goes ignored. I myself and guilty of speaking harshly, it pains me to read post after post of owners failing thier dogs and yet after they have been replied to in many non-confrontational posts the owner who is wronging thier dog still argues as if they are doing no wrong and continue to set thier dogs up for failure. When I myself see this type of responce that is when my kid gloves come off and lay it all out to get my point across.

I truely wish the breed was left lurking in the shadows, I feel they were better off not being the flavor of the month. We cannot reverse the clocks and we must face the fact that people who shouldn't own this breed of dog are going to anyways so treating these people like the idiots that they are is sometimes the best way to come across. You reach out to those who wish to be reached, the rest who refuse to be reached can be treated the like enemy that they are, because if your not with me and you are placing my dogs existance in jeoprody then your against me and deserve to be publically shamed because you are useless to the cause of keeping this breed alive. And make no mistakes, when you inadvertantly threaten my dogs lives with poor decsion making you are going to get the heated and angered person that I can be.

I see your point.. about if they are not willing to learn then they are the enemy. and I do see a lot of you willing to help.. its just more of the opposite than of the doing. but the ones that are willing to help - are the ones I will continue to listen to. (you being one of them)..

As for wishing our breed were not the trend of the month - I am with you on that. I wish you had to take some sort of training and history class before you could own this breed. (me myself needing it as well).. but the fact is, you dont have to. You dont have to know anything of the breed to own it. I should never have taken on the breed without doing my research and maybe even fostering first.. but the sad truth is I did. (as many has and are doing).. but all I can do is learn from my mistakes and maybe direct others to learn before they get the breed. this site is a wonderful forum to be at.. it has tons of places to read and learn.. and many wonderful people in it.. but enemy or not.. willing to learn or not.. all it takes is them finding one thread - one page of learning something they didnt know to get addicted to learning more! lets bring them here - and chance their learning - not scare them away! (thats just my opinion)

[VomsVomaMew]

You've got it menzie. No matter how well you know your dog, it's natural instinct is most likely going to come through at some point in life.

It's like buying a goat and saying, "he hasn't eaten my pants yet, why would he ever do it?"

Cause that's what goats do, my friend.
APBTs fight and goats eat pants.

[suingincentix]

Well, I don't say "not my dog" because where other dogs are concerned I trust Veronica just about as far as my petite 105 pound frame can throw her 55 pound ass...which would be not particularly far.

But from speaking with other pit bull owners in some of our classes; I am going to say it's a case of never having experienced it with the dogs you have...and really not thinking it could happen with your dog. Sort of like driving after having had a few drinks...you know somewhere in your head that something bad could happen, but you just don't believe it will. Maybe that's a bad analogy but it's the best I got.

I know one rescuer of 2 pit bulls from class (that happen to be dog friendly so far) has them go to daycare and play with other dogs. She suggested to me when I was trying to figure out the limits of V.'s reactiveness that perhaps I should try dropping her off at the daycare and see what happens.

[VomsVomaMew]

Sort of like driving after having had a few drinks...you know somewhere in your head that something bad could happen, but you just don't believe it will. Maybe that's a bad analogy but it's the best I got.

It's not too bad.

[ZAtlLVos]

It's like buying a goat and saying, "he hasn't eaten my pants yet, why would he ever do it?"

Cause that's what goats do, my friend.
APBTs fight and goats eat pants.

That cracked me up - I thought about a few comparisons but that was not near one of them! lol it reminds me of when I was like 11 and seen my first goat.. it was at a recreational park thing and like 10 goats ran up to eat my shorts.. I freaked - and dropped all of the feed in my hand.. mom laughed so hard at me.. (I refused to wear those shorts again.. I had thought it was something they smelled like that caused it)

---------- Post added at 03:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 PM ----------

this goes to show - we've never had tink and lucy fight - and we've had lucy a year now with tink. they were playing and everything was fine. it never broke out into a down right fight (but I did not let it get there either).. lucy is extremely submissive - ive never even heard her growl. but today - she wasnt being pushed around.. and now tink has 3 scratches on the top of her head (deep scratches). had my husband and I not been there - it would have been worse.. but out of a year of nothing - not even a growl, never has shown teeth - she got tink good..


---------- Post added at 03:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:32 PM ----------

the scratch on the left is hard to see because of the glare.. but it goes all the way down to her ear.

[DuePew]

Ah you see, we do and have replied to numerous threads in a positive manner. People get pretty heated when after they have replied in a positive fashion that all thier experience and advise goes ignored. I myself and guilty of speaking harshly, it pains me to read post after post of owners failing thier dogs and yet after they have been replied to in many non-confrontational posts the owner who is wronging thier dog still argues as if they are doing no wrong and continue to set thier dogs up for failure. When I myself see this type of responce that is when my kid gloves come off and lay it all out to get my point across.

I truely wish the breed was left lurking in the shadows, I feel they were better off not being the flavor of the month. We cannot reverse the clocks and we must face the fact that people who shouldn't own this breed of dog are going to anyways so treating these people like the idiots that they are is sometimes the best way to come across. You reach out to those who wish to be reached, the rest who refuse to be reached can be treated the like enemy that they are, because if your not with me and you are placing my dogs existance in jeoprody then your against me and deserve to be publically shamed because you are useless to the cause of keeping this breed alive. And make no mistakes, when you inadvertantly threaten my dogs lives with poor decsion making you are going to get the heated and angered person that I can be.

GREAT post!

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:34 PM ----------

maybe the problem doesn't lie with the "never my dog".
because in a way, people seem to actually understand ANY dog can fight, but I'm not quite sure they truly understand what a fight means to APBT and how quick it can be VERY bad and VERY serious for one or both dogs involved.

I don't think people truly understand what it is like to witness an apbt really going at it.
how come SO many people, and I'm talking about those who are aware of DA and manage their dogs accordingly, are still SO shocked when their dogs display such behavior? it's because they don't know how horrible it can look.

[ZAtlLVos]

that might be so! I have never witnessed a pitbull fight - I did however work with a lady who left 2 unattended at home in her house and I took her home from work.. being a single mom , I walked her in to make sure she got in safe.. and her 2 had obviously been fighting.. they were both alive and happy to see her, but both covered in blood and so was her couch, floor, wall.. she had the attitude (dogs fight, it happens).. which pissed me off, but what can I do about it?

[DuesTyr]

"not my dog" well as I do not know what my dog truely is I would never EVER say "not my dog" I do not put my dog in a situation without weighing the odds and having control of him, like at the OB class I waited until the entire class was over to see if he would interact in a + way with the GSD and I did not rush into it. I would never leave him alone with another animal, I would not leave him with a child, I would never leave any dog with either alone, and with my boy I would not have him around another dog without control of the leash. I think there are many here that do have the "not my dog" mentality but MOST know it can happen and most of the majority of the most take preventative measures to lesson the risks. I do not know if I answered how I am trying I am famous for my circles but I would rather have my boy never be near another dog than kill another dog because of my ignorance.

[hs6KnlcW]

Great thread ColbyDogs!

I think it's selfish to assume "not my dog" and to take them off leash in public around other dogs and hope nothing happens. If something does happen, you risk fueling BSL. I love my dogs too much to assume "not my dog."

[TeveVikep]

I truely wish the breed was left lurking in the shadows, I feel they were better off not being the flavor of the month. We cannot reverse the clocks and we must face the fact that people who shouldn't own this breed of dog are going to anyways so treating these people like the idiots that they are is sometimes the best way to come across. You reach out to those who wish to be reached, the rest who refuse to be reached can be treated the like enemy that they are, because if your not with me and you are placing my dogs existance in jeoprody then your against me and deserve to be publically shamed because you are useless to the cause of keeping this breed alive. And make no mistakes, when you inadvertantly threaten my dogs lives with poor decsion making you are going to get the heated and angered person that I can be.

ny thoughts exactly.

[bashansasasasa]

I don't think the average pet owner puts much thought in to which breed is best for them. Lots of pets start out as impulse buys. Cute puppy = purchase or adoption. There isn't a whole lot of forethought, IMO.
That said, there aren't any pit bulls in my neighborhood. There is a boxer next door, but seems everyone else owns schnoodles, and shih-tzus and labs or goldens. Way back when I adopted Cooper (my first pit bull mix) no one knew what breed of dog he was. He was a novelty around here...

[N9NACzws]

Some of them believe it will never happen because they have humanized their dog, so, they feel the dog will get along with the other because they are "friends", "family", whatever.

Some have watched Dog Whisperer so much that they are sure that if you are a "pack leader" the dog will never do any wrong, even if you are gone.

It is dangerous thinking, but it happens, and it sucks.

[bashansasasasa]

Oh and wanted to mention that I have only recently joined a few pit bull forums, but it's alarming to me to read how many owners think their dog just may be better than others because their dog just LOVES other dogs and isn't that just wonderful? As if they lucked out or something, or it's because they are fabulous owners.... To me, those are the owners who wind up hurting these dogs for not recognizing the breed, and it's inherent traits, for what it really is

[Jellowstrom]

I think a lot of the problem with the "not my dog" mentality goes along with the mainstream misconception that "it's all how you raise them". So many of the "recommended" dog trainers use the new approach to dog training, which mostly ignores a dog's instincts and goes on the above mentioned misconception. While some of the "new" techniques do work, there is a reason the "old style" of dog training and selection produced far better dogs than you commonly see today.
So many people are jumping on the HSUS wagon, that "humane" lines are actually blurred. It is not "humane" to put your dog in a dog park. Yes, dogs are "social" animals, meaning they have a need to interact with their pack. Putting your dog in a dog park, however, is NOT interaction with their pack members. Instead, you are basically forcing packs to co-exist, which goes against every pack animal's instincts. It goes far beyond breed tendancies, and this is why I tell anyone with an ear to listen to NEVER take their dog to an off-leash/leash-optional park. It is NOT loving, it is irresponsible.