[Escamsrasiush]

Nobody else?

[Beerinkol]

Yes ... when my totally inexperienced neighbor had a pit bull dumped on him, I found these excellent educational handouts for him and his family. Actually huskylove steered me to this site.

I think they would make a great instant training manual. (Except for the breeder's code of ethics, that would probably be irrelavant in your case). You could even come up with a quiz for follow up.

http://www.realpitbull.com/popup.html

[Beerinkol]

On second thought I'd also include the breeders code of ethics. Dang good stuff.

[molaunterbizone]

This might help:

http://leerburg.com/dogfight.htm

[VFOVkZBj]

We speak of the dogs, but what about the people? Non "pit bull" people oftentimes don't share our "enthusiasim" in regards to the pit bull, and can sometimes act condescending towards "pit bull folk", and I think new, and perspective owners should be made aware that they need to grow a "thick skin" and should prepare themselves, mentally, to deal with potential negativity~Possibility from family members and also from the public.
Be prepared to be 'judged'...

the rest is VERY well put together, and GREAT info.
nice job!

[Escamsrasiush]

Ok this is what ive come up with so far.... my eyes hurt and its late so any suggestions/changes are welcome!

A shelter guide
to
The American Pit Bull Terrier
Being in a shelter, Animal Control or any sort of “Humane Society” hearing myths from Patron’s is a common and everyday occurrence. Being educated enough to dispel the myths, ease the fear and correctly present the breed you are adopting out is not only a service to the community in which you live and work, but to the dogs themselves.
This training guide will go over the general temperament and characteristics of the breed, the history, correctly matching an adopter to a dog as well as myths vs. the truth. When you are done with your training you should have a better sense of the “Pit Bull” breed and how to handle one as well as any person who has questions!
If you need further clarification on anything discussed please feel free to contact us at pnwpbr@yahoo.com for more information.

Topics:
History
Breed Identification
Temperament and Placement in an adoptive home
Myths vs. Facts
Shelter interactions with a Pit Bull
Breaking up a Dog Fight
Who PNWPBR is


History
Let’s start with a little brief history to explain what a “Pit Bull” is, what it isn’t and where it came from!
As early as the 12th century and even before, dogs were used for sport. Hunting and entertainment were their purpose. A dog worked, and if it didn’t then it served no purpose. The sporting dogs were large, strong, and stubborn and had been known to lay down their lives for the hand that fed them. Their game was bear, even bulls. Some countries used Lions, Elephants and even royalty approved.
When bull baiting was made illegal in 1835 by British Parliament, the people looked to other dog sports which one soon became “ratting.” Ratting was more easily hidden from the authorities, not needing as much space as a bull bating event would. The rats were kept and killed in a “Pit” that was built to keep them from escaping. Being that the rats were smaller yet faster than the typical prey of bulls, the dogs had to change too. The breed chosen was a terrier-type dog. This dog was said to be, small and able to get into places that their larger countertype couldn’t. Eventually this merging of two types of sports and two types of dogs created our first bull-and-terrier a dog with the strength to take down bulls and the agility to ferret out rats.
We now have the understanding of what created the Pit Bull Terrier. Being that this popularity started in England the name Staffordshire was added to the name and this was the first Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Eventually the Staffordshire Bull Terrier came to the United States and with the country change a name change came as well. The Staffordshire Bull Terriers (sometimes referred to as Staffy Bulls) were one breed, and the Pit Bull Terriers were another.
To further the divide the AKC adopted a standpoint of not allowing Pit Bull Terriers to be registered with them. In 1898, a man by the name of Chauncy Bennet formed the United Kennel Club (UKC) for the sole purpose of registering "Pit Bull Terriers.” It was at this time that the word “American” was added before their name.
In 1936 the AKC jumped on the bandwagon and registered the breed as the "Staffordshire Terrier". This name was changed to "American Staffordshire Terrier" (AST) in 1972 to distinguish it from its smaller, "froggier", English cousin the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. In 1936, for all intents and purposes, the AKC, UKC, and ADBA version of the "Pit Bull" were identical since the original AKC stock came from pit fighting dogs, which were UKC and ADBA registered.


Breed Identification
What IS a Pit Bull? What is an American Pit Bull Terrier? An American Staffordshire Terrier? What about a Staffordshire Terrier? It all can get very confusing and there is no good, one answer.
If you look back in history and trace the three breeds, at one time they were one. Breed registries and fanciers have now made the breed three and they all have very specific standards.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the oldest of the breeds, it can be traced back to 18th century England. It seems to be the foundation breed that has created the American Staffordshire Terrier as well as the American Pit Bull Terrier. While they all share a lot of the same genetics, they are all very different dogs.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is not a breed recognized by the most popular and largest dog registry, the American Kennel Club. The AKC closed it's studbooks to American Pit Bull Terriers. They allowed registration only to those dogs with parents registered as Staffordshire Terriers. For a short period in the 1970's, the AKC reopened its studbooks to American Pit Bull Terriers. In 1973 the AKC added the prefix "American" to the breed's name in an effort to distinguish it from the newly recognized Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Today, only those dogs with AmStaff parents are eligible for registration. Both the UKC and the ADBA allow registration of AmStaffs, but in these organizations the dogs carry the original name, "American Pit Bull Terrier."
Breed Standard by the UKC:
General Appearance
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature. This breed is both powerful and athletic. The body is just slightly longer than tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in body than dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head is of medium length, with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle. Ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be natural or cropped. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point. The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in all colors and color patterns. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.
But what good is any of this without pictures right?!
The American Pit Bull Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Pictures don’t say it all, but this should give you an idea in the breed differences and looks.

[Escamsrasiush]

Temperament and Placement
The American Pit Bull Terrier is known throughout the dog world for it’s stellar temperament. It has been called many things but the things that it is, these are only to name a few:

Friendly- They are generally very trusting of strangers and greet you with tail wags so hard that the whole behind is wiggling in excitement
Stable- Once you have an adult Pit Bull (they mature at about 2-4 years old) it’s pretty much “What you see is what you get.”
Humorous- Their craving for food and human attention keeps them constantly working to get that reward. In doing so they will always keep you laughing with their antics.

One of the major downsides to the breed that makes them not a breed for everyone is their tendency to be dog aggressive. They were bred and conditioned to be this way for over a hundred years and it has made them what they are today. While dog aggression can be a hard thing to manage, for the right person it CAN be managed and quite well.
Successful placement of this breed in a multi-dog household can be done but always remember these few restrictions. The resident dog needs to be of opposite sex and a meeting of both dogs MUST be done prior to placement. Introductions must be on leash and with more than one adult present. Even when the introduction goes well, the adopter must be counseled and reminded that dog-aggression can happen at any time with this breed and that it can be effectively managed.
Always recommend an adopter use a crate. The crate is confinement when the dog cannot be supervised and is for the dogs safety. This tool is effective in managing this breeds high energy level and need to chew and destroy as well as separating dogs if and when dog aggression arises.
Always remember this breed is VERY high energy. Since they don’t really “slow down” like some other breeds, this is not the type of dog to go to an inactive person or family. Remember that this breed IS a Terrier breed. Even though their size may fool you, don’t forget that they can have the same drive as a Jack Russell. (remember back to the history section) A tired dog is a happy dog so exercise is crucial. It curbs destructive behavior and helps create a more focused dog.
While they may be large to some people, this breed is actually a Medium-sized breed ranging from 30 to about 65lbs. Many apartments and landlords do not accept large dogs, remember that this is not one. Always check to see the weight restrictions as sometimes this breed falls into the acceptable category.
This breed is still a “fad” breed and many of the younger adopters will be attracted to them. While it is great for adoption numbers, it is placing a dog into a potential bad situation and setting them and the dog up for failure. The younger adopters may be lacking the judgment, experience and necessary life skills for managing a breed that can potentially cause problems. The more mature adopter is much more recommended to avoid a lot of possible issues.
Socialization is important at an early age for this breed. The better socialized the Pit Bull is the easier it is to manage. Always encourage your adopters to socialize their dog properly (no dog parks!) and introduce it to training tools such as the leash, crate and reward-based training.
Cats and small animals are a hard one for the Pit Bull since the Terrier prey-drive is something that they are prone to having. Again, socializing at a young age can help with these issues. Not to say an adult Pit Bull does not like a cat, but who wants to take any chances? Even if an owner states that their Pit Bull is good with cats, it very often depends on the cat and the situation. Always warn adopters of this and try to cat test if possible.
Pit Bulls are excellent with children. An untrained Pit Bull can very easily knock them over with their jumping and exuberance, but once trained they can live with children of all ages. They were once called the “Nanny Dog” and historically have been good with children. Remind adopters that children must be respectful of the animal and the animal will be respectful of them.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is just as versatile as the people who adopt them. Always following the standards of adoption for this breed “just-in-case.” Know that you will be limiting the number or types of people who would adopt this breed, but you are at the same time helping preserve a breed in crisis. This breed is subjected to Breed Specific Legislation in the US and around the world. The ban may someday come to your area and this beautiful and caring breed would no longer be allowed. Some people think this is for the best, but understanding the breed and proper management are all it takes to be a responsible American Pit Bull Terrier owner.



Myths vs. Facts
Myth: Pit Bulls have locking jaw!
Truth: NO, they don’t.

Fact: “No, they do not have either. Dr. I Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states, "To the best of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would allow any meaningful comparison to be made of the biting power of various breeds of dogs. There are, moreover, compelling technical reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of 'pounds per square inch' can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no foundation in factual data."
Furthermore, Dr. Brisbin states, "The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."
Myth: Pit Bulls that are aggressive towards dogs will become aggressive towards people!
Truth: False! Dog aggression and Human Aggression (DA and HA) are two completely different types of aggression and are NOT related.
Fact: It is true that Pit bulls may be aggressive towards other dogs. People often think because a dog attacks another dog (dog-aggression), it will likely attack a person (human aggression). Aggression towards humans is a completely separate behavior than aggression towards other dogs; just because a dog doesn’t like other dogs does not mean it won’t like people. Think of it this way: Pit Bulls historically were bred for dog fighting. With dog fighting humans were always in the pit medically treating and handling the dog, all while the dog was in full fight mode. A dog that turned on a person while in this fight mode was euthanized and never bred. This is how the breeders and fighters ensured the low human aggression that the breed displays today. It was bred NOT to be human aggressive. If you have a pit bull that is then it is not a standard of the breed and should be euthanized instead of rehabilitated.

Myth: Pit Bulls make good guard dogs!
Truth: Pit Bulls are not a guardian breed and do not make good guard dogs. They are very people-friendly and would rather lick an intruder than bite them.
Fact: Pit Bulls were a created breed and mainly bred to fight other dogs. They were bred to be extremely friendly towards their handlers and strangers and their aggressiveness was geared towards dogs. Pit Bulls were not bred for their ability to guard the hearth, home and livestock and they do not make good protection dogs because of the lack of wariness of strangers. They should readily accept new people in unfamiliar situations and should never bite. Guarding and protection breeds are the Mastiffs, the German Shepard’s and the Rottweilers. These breeds have been bred and conditioned for guarding and protection and have the correct temperament for the job.

Myth: Pit Bulls attack people more than any other breed!
Truth: Pit Bulls are not known to attack more than any other breed. They are known for not being human aggressive and are extremely people-friendly.

Myth: Pit Bulls don’t feel pain!
Truth: That is completely untrue.
Fact: Pit Bulls have a nervous system just like any other breed of dog. While breeders that fought their Pit Bulls would breed the dogs that were winners in the pit and were more tolerant to pain. This is one example of what is called “gameness” Gameness is the “desire to continue on and/or complete a task despite pain and discomfort.”

Myth: Pit Bulls brains swell and make them go crazy!
Truth: No, again this is an untruth. This was a popular myth when Dobermans were the “fad” breed as well. The Doberman’s popularity has declined and now the Pit Bull has seemed to inherit this myth.
Fact: Their brains grow at the same rate as any other dog, and the only time that a Pit Bull's brain is going to swell is if it receives a serious injury. If an animal's brain were to grow too big for its head, the animal would die.

[Escamsrasiush]

Shelter interactions with a Pit Bull
Since talking about the history of the American Pit Bull Terrier, you would now know that they were at one time a fighting dog. Because of that and what is in their genetics, they do have a high tendency to be Dog Aggressive. ALWAYS assume a Pit Bull that you don’t know very well is Dog Aggressive. NEVER allow interactions with other strange dogs in a shelter situation unless necessary.
A shelter, AC or Humane Society can be highly stressful for a dog. They are in an unfamiliar environment, confused and alone. The smells and sounds of the other dogs, strange people walking about and even sometimes the smell of death can upset a dog’s mental well-being.
That being said, a correct temperament Pit Bull should be able to withstand these stresses and still wag their tail in a friendly gesture. When entering a kennel that holds a Pit Bull first and foremost make sure that there is no other dog walking by so that you can safely enter the pen without a dog/dog interaction. Never enter a pen or kennel if the Pit Bull is growling, snarling or acting aggressive. A Pit Bull acting in that manner is an incorrect temperament and will need to be re-assessed immediately. Always notify managers if and when you see these things in a dog.
When taking the dog outside for yard time, walks or even a dog meet-and greet with a new prospective family ALWAYS have the dog on a leash until you are in a secure area. Hold the leash with two hands, one at the handle and another down lower on the leash at all times. Pit Bulls are notorious pullers on a leash so if you don’t feel confident walking one in the first few seconds, put the dog back.
When in the yard, still stay watchful of other dogs that may be coming and going in the shelter’s everyday schedule. Watch for fence/fights between the Pit Bull and another dog, watch for small children that the Pit Bull might knock over in their excited dash to lick their face, and watch for people that might be frightened of the dog. In those cases use the opportunity to educate the fearful person with the things you have learned about the breed!
When walking in the approved Dog Walking areas, never allow your Pit Bull to sniff or interact with another dog. If you see someone approaching with a dog, ask that they keep their dog away and continue on your walk.


Breaking up a fight

The best way to break up a dog fight? AVOID them!
Assuming all Pit Bulls are dog aggressive needs to be a reminder in ALL shelter workers and volunteer’s minds. Sometimes all you have to go on is assumptions and in the case of a stray Pit Bull with an unknown history, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
Avoiding a dog fight is a lot easier than breaking one up and a lot better for you and the dogs involved. Keeping ALL dogs you are walking on a tight leash, being aware of your surroundings at all times and warning others who might forget that they need to keep the dog they are walking away from the dog you are walking are good things to practice.
So what happens if a dog fight between a Pit Bull and that barky Lab mix breaks out? Even worse a Pit Bull and another Pit Bull? USE YOUR LEASH!
Since policy mandates that all dogs be on leash coming to the kennels or going to the yards, then one could assume that a fight would be with at least one dog on a leash. Hopefully both of them are on leashes and then the tables are in your favor.
If both (or one) dogs are on leashes…. PULL. Don’t turn your back to the fight when you pull, instead get a really good grip on the leash and pull back with a sharp and hard jerk…. Let your body move steps backwards, not just your arms.
Hopefully if you are quick enough with your reaction that no dog has latched on and simply pulling them apart would be enough. If that is the case, return BOTH dogs to their kennels and notify a manager.
Let’s say when pulling the leashes you find that one dog has latched on to the other and is not letting go…. What do you do?
First let’s start with what you DON’T do and work our way from there!
DO NOT reach or wade in the middle of the fight
DO NOT grab collars
DO NOT yell or scream at the dogs
DO NOT allow another volunteer to get involved to help

Now what about the DO’s?
DO ask someone to throw you a leash if you do not have one
DO ask someone to go get a staff member ASAP
DO not attempt to break up a fight alone, always have two people
DO remember that these dogs are in fight mode and will bite you without realizing it

Ok now that we have the DO’s and the DON’T’s let’s talk specifics.
HOW do you break up a dog fight? Well usually it will be one dog with a latch on and the dog that doesn’t have a latch will be scrabbling for a better position to get a latch as well. Use this to your benefit and go after the safe dog first: The one with his mouth full!
Talk to the person with the other dog, communication is KEY so that neither of you get bit. Whoever holds the leash to the dog with the latch, drop the leash and grab that dog’s hind legs. The person who has the dog that is not latched on is to tighten the leash and HOLD ON!
Now the person with the hind legs (think like a wheelbarrow race) will need to pull backwards and at the same time, swing the dog from left to right. Usually this will cause the dog to let go as their balance is upset as is their orientation.
Make sure that when you are swinging the dog from side to side that you are doing it in gentle motions. A hard swing could actually cause the dog’s head to come back around close to you and you could be bitten. Soft swinging motion is sometimes hard when your adrenaline is pumping but it is very crucial.
Now say the dog drops it’s latch! Hooray the fight is over!! Right? Wrong!
How you end the fight can be just as important as how you break it up. If you manage to get the dog to drop the latch and you then in turn drop the dog…. What will happen? The dog will just run back and start the fight all over again!!
So what do you do?
You remind the person that is holding the other dog on a leash that they need to IMMEDIATELY leave the area. You then ask a staff member to come and grab the leash of the dog before you let go of the legs. Once the leash is in a steady hand, you can drop the legs.
Scary?! That is why we say AVOID the fight at all costs…. It can save not only a dog, but your nerves as well!

Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue

A little bit about who we are and what we do
Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue was formed in July of 2006 in an effort to support the growing need of rescue, education and adoption of the pit bull breed in the community.
We rescue, foster, rehabilitate and adopt out pit bulls that we believe truly are breed ambassadors. We do not take owner surrenders, all of our dogs come from death row and have faced euthanasia in area shelters.
While we love the breed, we accept that not all pit bulls are good candidates for adoption. It is for that reason we are selective on the dogs that we choose to be a part of our program. Abuse, neglect, and poor breeding/genetics, resulting in health and temperament problems are just some of the things that can be an issue with this breed. There are tens of thousands of pit bulls in need in shelters across the country and beyond, but choosing the best of the best is for the betterment of the breed as a whole and for the community that we live and work in.
We are combating the trouble that faces the breed that we love so much not with the attitude that we can “save them all”, but that we can save the few that can become true ambassadors for the breed and stand beside us as we fight BSL and say “Punish the Deed, Not the Breed!”
We advocate responsible pet ownership for all breeds and strive to provide current and future pit bull owners, as well as the general public with the TRUTH about pit bulls and how we can stop what has truly become an epidemic, BSL (breed specific legislation).
If you love your dog, please be a responsible owner, spay and neuter your pet, educate yourself, then stand up with us and FIGHT for our dogs.

[Escamsrasiush]

Ok and to clarify about breaking up a fight. I chose the method I did after some reading and research (thanks for the link Purple!) because the method they teach the staff and volunteers needs to have NO hands involved. They need to be as far away from the fight and still be able to break it up.... liability with the volunteers is HUGE and that is why the ED asked that we chose a method that involved no hands and no choking of the dogs as some people would have an issue with it.


Ok, just thought id clarify.


Still, suggestions or changes are welcome. Ive been at this all nite and my brain hurts!

[Escamsrasiush]

[Escamsrasiush]

Ok so this is where I reach out for help...... but first ill explain why.


One of the shelters we work with has had a "No Pit Bull" policy since 1999. In 2006 they killed 603 Pit Bulls and thats NOT including mixes.

They have a new Executive Director who is VERY progressive and about 6 months ago he sought me out for advice. Since then we have had several meetings and last month he petitioned the Board of Directors: Allow Pit Bull Adoptions.


Well as of this last Friday, the proposal was accepted pending that all volunteers and shelter staff attend a mandatory training/lecture by PNWPBR.

SO here's where id love some feedback.

I have lots of handouts to give, lots of things to say, ect BUT id love to hear what the general Pit Bull public feels is crutial in training/educating shelter staff.

Id like to cover of course general breed history and ID as almost anything is called a Pit Bull Mix nowadays. Id like to cover dog aggression, how to handle a Pit Bull, expected Temperament, ect.

What else? Id love to know if im missing on any key points that people feel should be touched on.


Thanks!~

[molaunterbizone]

WHY ADOPT A PIT BULL FROM THE SHELTER?

Adopting a pit from the shelter ensures that the dog has gone through extensive behavior evaluations, as well as an initial health evaluation, before being put up for adoption. Adopting a pit from the shelter does have extra stipulations than other breeds. This is to ensure that they are adopted by responsible, loving families and are given the time and training they need to succeed as ambassadors for the breed.


TWO MANDATORY TRAINING COURSES

are necessary for Pit Bull owners to go through for both obedience and socialization. The first course, which must start within the first four weeks after taking the dog home, is beneficial in ensuring that a Pit Bull can get the proper socialization that it needs to become a friendly and loving family member. Socialization is the key to a happy and confident pet. Under socializing a puppy or an older dog could result in fear and potential aggression. Besides, what a better way to build the bond between you and your dog than by taking him to classes and learning together? A second course helps further the bond between you and your pet, as well as ensuring your dog will be an outstanding ambassador for the breed.


INDOORS 75%

is a stipulation placed on Pit Bulls for numerous reasons. If the dog is inside the house with you, he is not only getting the socialization that he needs from you, he is also learning the rules of the household. Pit Bulls are a breed known for being clean and easy to maintain. That short coat makes it difficult to protect them from the sun if left outside, resulting in sunburn and the risk of developing skin cancer. Pit bulls also do not like the cold weather, again because the short coat does not allow them much protection from rain, wind, or snow.


NO SMALL CHILDREN

is a requirement for the reason of the dog's strength and size. A small child can easily be knocked over by an excited, friendly Pit Bull coming to say hello.


MANDATORY CRATE TRAINING

means house training your Pit Bull using a crate. Crate training has proven to be the most effective way to train any dog to not eliminate inside the house. The crate is also a useful training tool to ward off destructive behaviors and it allows the dog to sleep indoors, yet under control.


ALL FAMILY PRESENT

guarantees that everyone in the household likes the dog, and the dog likes everyone in the family. At this time, if there are any questions family members have about the breed, they can be answered by the adoption staff BEFORE they get the dog, rather than waiting until the dog is already home.


http://www.hssv.org/adoption_pitbull.html

[Escamsrasiush]

Thank you Purple.

Here is one of the handouts that they will be getting that I think explains some of those points




Temperament and Placement of
The American Pit Bull Terrier

The American Pit Bull Terrier is known throughout the dog world for it’s stellar temperament. It has been called many things but the things that it is, these are only to name a few:

Friendly- They are generally very trusting of strangers and greet you with tail wags so hard that the whole behind is wiggling in excitement.

Stable- Once you have an adult Pit Bull (they mature at about 2-4 years old) it’s pretty much “What you see is what you get.”

Humorous- Their craving for food and human attention keeps them constantly working to get that reward. In doing so they will always keep you laughing with their antics.

One of the major downsides to the breed that makes them not a breed for everyone is their tendency to be dog aggressive. They were bred and conditioned to be this way for over a hundred years and it has made them what they are today. While dog aggression can be a hard thing to manage, for the right person it CAN be managed and quite well.
Successful placement of this breed in a multi-dog household can be done but always remember these few restrictions. The resident dog needs to be of opposite sex and a meeting of both dogs MUST be done prior to placement. Introductions must be on leash and with more than one adult present. Even when the introduction goes well, the adopter must be counseled and reminded that dog-aggression can happen at any time with this breed and that it can be effectively.

Always recommend an adopter use a crate. The crate is confinement when the dog cannot be supervised and is for the dogs safety. This tool is effective in managing this breeds high energy level and need to chew and destroy as well as separating dogs if and when dog aggression arises.
Always remember this breed is VERY high energy. Since they don’t really “slow down” like some other breeds, this is not the type of dog to go to an inactive person or family. Remember that this breed IS a Terrier breed. Even though their size may fool you, don’t forget that they can have the same drive as a Jack Russell. A tired dog is a happy dog so exercise is crutial. It curbs destructive behavior and helps create a more focused dog.

While they may be large to some people, this breed is actually a Medium-sized breed ranging from 30 to about 65lbs. Many apartments and landlords do not accept large dogs, remember that this is not one. Always check to see the weight restrictions as sometimes this breed falls into the acceptable category.

This breed is still a “fad” breed and many of the younger adopters will be attracted to them. While it is great for adoption numbers, it is placing a dog into a potential bad situation and setting them and the dog up for failure. The younger adopters may be lacking the judgment, experience and necessary life skills for managing a breed that can potentially cause problems. The more mature adopter is much more recommended to avoid a lot of possible issues.

Socialization is important at an early age for this breed. The better socialized the Pit Bull is the easier it is to manage. Always encourage your adopters to socialize their dog properly (no dog parks!) and introduce it to training tools such as the leash, crate and reward-based training.
Cats and small animals are a hard one for the Pit Bull since the Terrier prey-drive is something that they are prone to having. Again, socializing at a young age can help with these issues. Not to say an adult Pit Bull does not like a cat, but who wants to take any chances? Even if an owner states that their Pit Bull is good with cats, it very often depends on the cat and the situation. Always warn adopters of this and try to cat test if possible.

Pit Bulls are excellent with children. An untrained Pit Bull can very easily knock them over with their jumping and exuberance, but once trained they can live with children of all ages. They were once called the “Nanny Dog” and historically have been good with children. Remind adopters that children must be respectful of the animal and the animal will be respectful of them.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is just as versatile as the people who adopt them. While always following the standards of adoption for this breed “just-in-case.” Remember that you will be limiting the number or type of person who would adopt this breed, but you are at the same time helping preserve a breed in crisis. This breed is subjected to Breed Specific Legislation in the US and around the world. The ban may someday come to your area and this beautiful and caring breed would no longer be allowed. Some people think this is for the best, but understanding the breed and proper management are all it takes to be a responsible American Pit Bull Terrier owner.

[molaunterbizone]

Looks like you got it covered!

[Escamsrasiush]

and another


The American Pit Bull Terrier
Breed Identification

What IS a Pit Bull? What is an American Pit Bull Terrier? An American Staffordshire Terrier? What about a Staffordshire Terrier? It all can get very confusing and there is no good, one answer.

If you look back in history and trace the three breeds, at one time they were one. Breed registries and fanciers have now made the breed three and they all have very specific standards.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the oldest of the breeds, it can be traced back to 18th century England. It seems to be the foundation breed that has created the American Staffordshire Terrier as well as the American Pit Bull Terrier. While they all share a lot of the same genetics, they are all very different dogs.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is not a breed recognized by the most popular and largest dog registry, the American Kennel Club. The AKC closed it's studbooks to American Pit Bull Terriers. They allowed registration only to those dogs with parents registered as Staffordshire Terriers. For a short period in the 1970's, the AKC reopened its studbooks to American Pit Bull Terriers. In 1973 the AKC added the prefix "American" to the breed's name in an effort to distinguish it from the newly recognized Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Today, only those dogs with AmStaff parents are eligible for registration. Both the UKC and the ADBA allow registration of AmStaffs, but in these organizations the dogs carry the original name, "American Pit Bull Terrier."

Confused yet? This breed has never been far from controversy, whether it be in it’s name, registry, history or Breed Specific Legislation.
A fun game to play is the “Find the Pit Bull” game and you can play it here: http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html There are actually 20+ breeds that are commonly mistaken for a Pit Bull.



Breed Standard by the UKC:
General Appearance
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature. This breed is both powerful and athletic. The body is just slightly longer than tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in body than dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head is of medium length, with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle. Ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be natural or cropped. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point. The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in all colors and color patterns. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.

Characteristics
The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed's natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.

The American Pit Bull Terrier has always been capable of doing a wide variety of jobs so exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's versatility.


EYES - Eyes are medium size, round to almond-shaped, and set well apart and low on the skull. All colors are equally acceptable except blue.

EARS - Ears are high set and may be natural or cropped without preference. If natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred. Prick or flat, wide ears are not desired.


Body
The chest is deep, well filled in, and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs, but the chest should never be wider than it is deep. The forechest does not extend much beyond the point of shoulder. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung from the spine, then flattening to form a deep body extending to the elbows. The back is strong and firm. The topline inclines very slightly downward from the withers to a broad, muscular, level back. The loin is short, muscular and slightly arched to the top of the croup, but narrower than the rib cage and with a moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping downward.

Coat
The coat is glossy and smooth, close, and moderately stiff to the touch.



Height and Weight
The American Pit Bull Terrier must be both powerful and agile so actual weight and height are less important than the correct proportion of weight to height. Desirable weight for a mature male in good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds. Desirable weight for a mature female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds. Dogs over these weights are not to be penalized unless they are disproportionately massive or rangy.

What does all this show and breeder jargon mean to a regular person? Pictures are not always a positive identification but they do help.

A well-bred example of the breed


Your average APBT in a shelter



Property of PNWPBR 2007

[molaunterbizone]

What about common myths?

[Escamsrasiush]

What about common myths?

Yup, our Myth handout will be part of it as well. As will being a responsible APBT owner.

I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with the director again so I just wanted to have some ideas what id like to train the staff on.

Id like to talk about breaking up a dog fight if anyone has literature on that.

[NicolasOL]

:whistles:

How about the importance of routine health care, vaccinations, heartworm and flea/tick prevention?

A debriefing on the standard issues (I'd personally start with parvo, distemper, lepto, intestinal parasites like hookworms, giardia and coccidia, heartworms, etc). You'd be surprised how many owners just don't know about these things because they've never heard of them. If you're counseling owners on being "good and responsible" then, by jove, give them all the damn information you can!!!!

This is just a quick recommendation and doesn't necessarily have to be taken seriously, but when I make a sale (I also breed reptiles, invertebrates and some small mammals apart from my "4 legged" passion) I always make sure the new owners know 1) where they can contact me 2) that I run a forum for exotic animals and they are welcome to join and ask all of their questions and 3) give them a few places to reference so it can become a passion for them...instead of "just a pet".

What human's fear, they destroy. Knowledge is the best combat!


Sami

[NicolasOL]

While I don't have any literature on breaking up dog fights, I thought I'd mention that "how to prevent a dog fight" (and what to watch out for) might be a good insert if you DO find info on breaking up a dog fight.

Have you looked at doghobbyist.com? They have a few articles and message boards...I've found some interesting information on there. They also have a board for APBT (and the like) owners.


Sami

[chootsonege]

One of the things that I would suggest is counceling the shelter staff on what to do if a dog fight breaks out and making sure potential adopters know what to do too.

Forgive me for copying my post from another forum, but I'm running out to a meeting and this says it best.

As parents, with pit bulls in our household, we've adopted more of a "when" versus an "if" mentality when it comes to the possibility of a dog fight and made sure both of our kids know what to do.

Autumn is now 15, she has been trained to use a break stick and choke off a dog with a collar on by a Police dog trainer that is a client of mine. She's also been taught the basics of First Aid and to know when she should intervene or if the situation has escalated to the point when she should get the hell out. She has been taught, when in doubt, stay the hell out, so she doesn't get hurt.

We taught the Gremlin, who is five, to get the hell out of the way. Go into another room and shut the door or if she can't get out of the room, climb up on a sturdy piece of furniture and stay there. We quiz her once in awhile when we're at a friends house or outside somewhere and ask her where she would go if a dog fight broke out, just to make sure she remembers.

What we taught the girls was tested over a year ago when our two dogs got into a fight in the yard. Fortunately they broke it off when I bellowed at them, so we were able to seperated them and treat their injuries. The Gremlin had run up onto the deck, slammed the deck gate shut and I found her standing on the patio table with a telephone in her hand. When asked what it was for, she said to call Daddy or 911 if I needed her to.


I think that more parents should trained their kids how to react to a situation in which there is a strange or an aggressive dog loose or a dog fight. In our minds, that is part of being a responsible dog owner, training your children as well as your dogs.