Pit Bull Puppy

Pit Bull Related Injuries

2008-09-17T01:15:00.003-05:00

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!

2008-04-16T01:40:00.001-05:00

"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

2008-03-09T21:05:00.002-05:00

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.

Pit Bull Breeders

2007-12-28T00:39:00.001-06:00

Pit Bull breeders, may I join your circle? I swear, every time I take Rocky out for a walk, someone asks me if I'm interested in breeding him. First of all, Pit Bull breeders are a dime a dozen and they don't want me chasing them Pit Bull Bible in hand. Secondly, Rocky's so crazy I'd NEVER dream of allowing him to procreate! There isn't enough room in this world for two Pit Bull goofballs of Rocky's magnitude.

I will say that I don't have any ill-will toward responsible breeders (ie, those not breeding brother-sister, mother-son, and so on). No, my beef is with backyard breeders (ie, those who say, "You've got a male? I've got a female. Wanna breed them and split the cash?" YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, Mr. R******s!). What motivation, aside from the glitz and sparkle of quick cash, is there to breed two random dogs that probably don't fit breed standards or are mentally unsound?

So, to all you irresponsible Pit Bull breeders who have essentially asked me to aid in the descent of this beautiful breed, please don't look my way if you see me walking down the sidewalk with my gorgeous goofball. He's off limits!

Dark Sport of Dog Fighting

2007-09-07T18:04:00.000-05:00

Picture this with me for a moment: A young American Pit Bull Terrier's battered, lifeless body floating in a river. The poor animal's body is covered with bite wounds; its fur stained with blood; an electric cord wrapped several times around the young dog's neck.

This was the scene in a small Midwestern town in August. The Pit Bull was found by children playing in the area. Officials weren't surprised to discover the animal's body. It wasn't completely unusual to find dead Pit Bulls scattered throughout the area. However, this comes at a time when dog fighting is under deep scrutiny. Police officials in the state said that dog fighting was unfortunate, but hard to stop. Dog fighting is big business. Most rings seem to stay just one step ahead of police.

I looked at Rocky as he kept himself busy wagging his tail and licking the cats. How can people do this to these poor creatures, I thought. Watching my ten-month old puppy, not much younger than most dogs used for fighting, I said a silent prayer for those battered animals.

Dealing With the Negative Pit Bull Image

2007-08-31T00:52:00.000-05:00

I recently "puppy-sat" two hyper and rambunctious Labrador puppies. In the short time that I had them, I was: bitten, nipped, screamed at, pummeled over, and pounced on. Rocky sat nearby quietly watching these two pups, Bonnie and Clyde, get into anything and everything. Once Bonnie and Clyde were (thankfully) returned to their owners, I sat down with Rocky and thought about my experience. Why is that no one flinched when those chocolate Labradors behaved in the manner described above? Why is it that Rocky, who is the exact opposite, receives negative comments and worried glances?

For the last several years, Pit Bulls have had to endure a very negative public image. Sensationalism sells. Responsible Pit Bull owners have done their best to remedy the hysteria by training their Pit Bulls to be ambassadors for the breed. However, for every positive mention Pit Bulls receive from the media, we can expect ten negative ones. People aren't able to see just how mild mannered Pit Bulls can be in day to day interactions.

If you are a Pit Bull puppy owner, this mountain can seem insurmountable. Don't be discouraged, because there are some things you can do for you, your puppy, and the Pit Bull community.

1. Enroll your puppy in obedience classes. The first step to improving the Pit Bull's image to have a well-mannered puppy. In other words, don't let your puppy become a Bonnie or a Clyde.

2. Be responsible. Being a Pit Bull owner can be challenging due to the stigma related to the breed. You have to remain one step ahead of the pack. For example, don't allow your dog off leash at dog parks (better yet, avoid them altogether), don't leave your dog unsupervised around children (kids can effectively push ANY dog's buttons). These are but a few things you can do to display responsibility.

3. Educate your community. Oftentimes, fear is the offspring of ignorance. What people don't know or understand, they justify with theory and assumption. This fact has been demonstrated countless times throughout history. You may have heard that the jaws of Pit Bulls lock and can exert 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. Ridiculous. As Pit Bull owners, we have to make an effort to educate our communities and extinguish the myths and fear that plagues this beautiful breed.

Raising a Pit Bull Puppy

2007-08-21T00:18:00.000-05:00

Raising a Pit Bull puppy to be a healthy and happy part of the community is actually very straight-forward. At its simplest, raising a Pit Bull puppy requires that you be consistent and fair. Follow this neat little guide to get you headed in the right direction raising your puppy.

Establish boundaries early. Your pit bull puppy, like a child, needs boundaries and rules. A Pit Bull who knows its place within the pack is very happy. Decide before you adopt your puppy whether they will sleep in your bed (discouraged) or their own crate (better option).

Give puppy a lot of exercise. The old saying, "A tired puppy is a good puppy" applies here. By providing an outlet for your puppy's excess energy you are reducing the possible occurence of undesired behavior. Most destructive dog behavior such as chewing, digging, and fighting can be traced to boredom and excess energy.

Provide mental stimulation. If a tired puppy is a good puppy, then a puppy who isn't mentally engaged is a bored puppy. Puppyhood is an exciting time in your Pit Bull's life. They are literally like sponges, absolutely absorbing every bit of information they can get a hold of. Use this opportunity for basic obedience training.

Be consistent. Puppies, especially, respond to consistency and routine. When obedience training, consistency is key. For instance, if you are trying to teach your puppy not to jump up on visitors, imagine how confusing it is to be scolded for jumping up only half of the time. If something isn't allowed in your home, please make sure it stays that way.

Socialize. Proper socialization is of utmost importance when raising your Pit Bull puppy. Expose your puppy to different people, places, and things. To minimize the chances of dog-aggression in your Pit Bull puppy, give your puppy supervised play time with other dogs. Note: Pit Bulls were originally bred to be dog-aggressive, not human-aggressive. This doesn't mean that Pit Bulls can't or won't get along with other dogs. It simply means that, due to their history, some Pit Bulls may need to be provoked less than others to engage in a fight with another dog.

How to Deal with a Mouthy Pit Bull Puppy

2007-08-21T00:16:00.000-05:00

Puppies like to explore the world around them with their mouths. This isn't so different from a human baby. However, those needle-sharp little puppy teeth can hurt! Good news: this is normal puppy behavior. Better news: with some consistency, your Pit Bull puppy will learn that mouthing and nipping is unacceptable.

Puppies are fairly predictable. You can use this trait of theirs to your advantage. Certain actions from you will result in certain responses from your puppy. For instance, if you notice that your puppy becomes over-stimulated and compelled to nip or mouth during a game of tug-of-war, play fetch or hide-and-seek instead. Don't give the puppy any inclination to be tempted to nip or mouth.

If your puppy was taken from its litter before the age of eight weeks, you can expect to have to teach them bite inhibition. Littermates instill this trait in each other. If one puppy bites another a little too hard, that puppy will yelp and walk away leaving the biter bewildered and suddenly alone. The puppies soon learn that if they want playtime to continue, they must play nicely. You can accomplish the same result by yelling "Ouch!", walking away, and completely ignoring the puppy for several minutes. This technique is very effective but must be performed consistently.

Bitter apple spray. While the "yelp and walk away" technique is perfect for long-term bite inhibition, you can get even quicker results by using bite and mouthing deterrents, such as Grannick's Bitter Apple® Spray. These products have a strong, unpleasant taste and were initially used to discourage dogs from biting or excessively licking their wounds. Simply spray some of the product on your hands before a play session, or when your puppy is most likely to be over-stimulated. After tasting the product once or twice, your Pit Bull puppy will be less than eager to have to taste it again. This product may also be used in discouraging the puppy from biting furniture and other "teeth-off" items.

Rocky's Pick of the Week

Basic Pit Bull Puppy Training

2007-08-20T23:51:00.000-05:00

Many new Pit Bull puppy owners express a similar sentiment. They want their puppy to listen to them and obey commands. If your Pit Bull puppy thinks that "come" is a suggestion rather than a command, read on to learn how to mold your puppy into a model canine citizen.

The first, and often overlooked, thing you must do is have a clear vision of how you want your puppy to behave. Keep this vision in your mind's eye during training sessions. Also have a clear vision of your own posture, voice tone and quality. Remember that Pit Bull puppy training begins with you.

Your Pit Bull is young and everything around them holds the promise of a new adventure. This is a fancy way of saying that they have very short attention spans. For this reason, keep training sessions short, fun, and focused.

To avoid future dominance issues, only give your Pit Bull puppy what they've earned. Before each meal, tell the puppy to sit-stay (you can learn how to teach your dog the sit-stay command here). After they've obeyed, offer them their meal.

Never engage in any play fighting or tug-of-war games when your Pit Bull puppy is hyper-stimulated. This can lead to misbehavior or dominance issues in the future.

Make sure that you give your puppy outlets for excess energy. A bored puppy can be a destructive puppy.

For more in-depth Pit Bull puppy training information, check out Pit Bull Zone Training Guide, a neat report that gives practical ideas on how to train your Pit Bull puppy.