Pit Bull Related Injuries

So, Rocky is going to be two years old in a few months and I've been thinking about how he has changed and matured over the years. It's so hard to believe that the little four week old puppy I got seemingly yesterday is now a 70+ pound lap dog.

You know, you really have to respect and admire the strength that Pit Bulls possess. They're some pretty powerful dogs! I remember looping Rocky's lead around the leg of our dining room table so he could be around us and still be close enough to his potty area (outside). He was less than three months old and pulling the table all over, which shouldn't have been such an easy feat.

His strength, while fascinating, has been hazardous to our health. During training and regular play sessions, I've been battered and bruised. I was sitting on the floor a few weeks back, when Rocky decided to come run up to me and try and push himself on my lap. He's a major lap dog, but he's a bit too big for it now. Anyways, he was really happy to see me, so he raised his head to try to lick my face. That simple movement resulted in him head butting me and giving me a nice fat, sore lip. My lip was swollen for days, actually. He was none the wiser.

There have been more serious injuries. As a four month old puppy, he decided to play tug of war with something that belonged to me. I wasn't paying too much attention to what he was doing, so little Rocky snatched the object, lowered his body to the ground, and gave a nice tug. Before I knew it, I was left dealing with a dislocated shoulder. Other various injuries we've sustained include a broken finger while playing with Rocky (no, he didn't bite the finger), a knee injury due to Rocky not paying attention to where he was running, assorted bumps and bruises caused by either a wagging tail or a head butt, scratches of various degrees because Rocky decided to jump on a lap and not budge from it.

Pit Bull love sometimes hurts. What Pit Bull related injuries have you endured?

Pit Bulls: Supersize Me!

"Hey, is that a Pit?" the guy asked.
"At least that's what they tell me!" Six week old Rocky stopped chasing imaginary playmates long enough to give the stranger his undivided attention (a whole three seconds' worth).

I was accustomed to people asking me what breed Rocky was. Rocky is a sleek, yet modest, 60 - 65 pound menace NOW, but as a pup he was always much smaller than other American Pit Bull Terriers his age. Because of this, people usually thought he was some other kind of terrier or bully breed.

"Really? He's little!" By now the guy was squinting; as though he were trying to see an ant scale a tree from thirty feet away.
"No, he's six weeks." Can you sense the sarcasm?
"Yeah, my dog was bigger than that at six weeks, though," he countered, shaking his head.
"Well, perhaps my boy just got the smaller side of the genes, huh." I was really getting annoyed.

Why is there so much infatuation with over sized Pit Bulls? Most, if not all, of these "giant" Pit Bulls are cross-breeds, mixed with English Bulldogs or Mastiffs usually. If I had wanted a Bulldog or Mastiff, I would have adopted a Bulldog or Mastiff.

The problem is that most of these large Pit Bulls are being bred for the "scare factor" alone. A 120lb Pit Bull is a bit more intimidating than a 60lb Pit Bull. Shouldn't breeders focus more on temperament than size? What about possible health consequences?

This "bigger is better" mentality may be a by-product of the male dominated Pit Bull breeding circuit (shh...).

Oh, yeah, I ran into that guy again when Rocky was about ten months old. Suddenly, my Pit Bull was "big and ripped." Funny how puppies can do that...grow, that is.

Have you ever met someone obsessed with "giant Pit Bulls?"

Pit Bull Dogs: Not Allowed

I'm in the process of finding a place to rent. Obviously, Rocky and the rest of the fur-gang will be tagging along. Since there's three altogether, I'm expecting to have to put down a hefty pet deposit, not mention the pet fees added onto the monthly rent. I've decided to further my education, so, once again, I am a poor college student.

When I found a lovely little place for rent that was actually within my budget, close to my family and in a familiar area, I was thrilled! There was room for the cats to lounge, and room for Rocky to have his Pit-Fits. To top it off, the four of us wouldn't have to stare at each other all day due to lack of space.

Bam! The owner said dogs had to be "pre-approved." That's when my Spidey Senses began to alert. I would have to pay this dude a $750 PET deposit just to get all three of my guys in the home. They had to be "pre-approved" too?

He said, "No Rottweilers."
I said, "That's fine."
He said, "No Pit Bulls."
I said, "Define what you'd classify as a Pit Bull..."

Long story short, the home will go to someone else. I currently live in a complex that doesn't care what breed of dog you have. Just as I found this one, I'll find another.