Few Steps from Home Bully Breed info

"Pit Bulls have locking jaws."- There is nothing about a Pit Bull's jaws that would greatly distinguish them from the jaws of any other breed. The breed's jaws can't lock any more than a Poodle's can. Pit Bulls do have a lot of jaw-strength, however. The wide jaws allow them to hold onto an object, even dangling mid-air. This is a trait that comes from the bulldog ancestors of the breed. Jaw strength was needed in order for a dog to be proficient at bullbaiting, in which the dog would grab the bull by the nose and hang on until the enraged animal was subdued.

Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia: "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."

"Pit Bulls can hold on with their front teeth while chewing with their back teeth." Another physical impossibility. Pit Bull jaws are constructed in the same way any other breed's jaws are.

"All Pit Bulls are vicious", or "Pit Bulls are born mean". No one breed as a whole is bad, the same as no one race of humans is bad. Much has to do with the individual, it's genes, upbringing, and training. In the case of Pit Bulls, a breed that was created to be especially gentle with people, all of the human aggressive dogs are victims of one or more of the following: poor breeding, bad training, or irresponsible upbringing. There are thousands upon thousands of Pit Bulls that are loving, loyal, safe pets, who will live and die without ever having bitten a human. They are the proof that this "born bad" idea is fiction, pure and simple.

"Pit Bulls have more jaw strength per square inch (psi) than any other breed." This is pure speculation, as there is no reliable way to test psi jaw pressure. In testing, many variables come into play (what is driving the dog to bite, how motivated is the dog, etc ), and it also has a lot to do with the individual dog, itself. The results vary greatly.

"Dogs that are aggressive towards other animals are automatically aggressive towards people." Human aggression in dogs is entirely different than aggression directed at other animals. Aggression towards animals is a natural trait of the breed (as it is in many terrier breeds, among others). Historically, humans were always in the pit, handling fighting dogs closely, while the animals were in full fight drive. A dog that was a danger to people and prone to biting was not feasible, and therefore carefully selected against.

"Pit Bulls attack more people than any other breed." (Also, please see Breed ID) Bite statistics actually show otherwise. More popular breeds that are generally considered to be "nice dogs" top the majority of lists. It may seem to the general public who is constantly bombarded with disturbing reports on Pit Bull attacks that this is the only breed that harms humans with any great regularity. However, the fact remains that Pit Bulls are hot news items. Dogs of all breeds and mixes bite and attack people all the time, but it is mainly the Pit Bull bites that get sensationalized. A report about the local Golden Retriever that attacks and maims a child isn't considered newsworthy. No one wants to believe that any dogs--even the fuzzy, cute, popular ones--are capable of biting. It's much easier to blow up and sensationalize a story about a vicious dog when it's a member of a breed who's reputation preceeds it. Pit Bulls are already considered the demons. All the reporters have to do is stand in front of the camera, look horrified, and say, "A Pit Bull did it".

"The only people that own Pit Bulls are criminals, and the only thing the breed is good for is dog fighting." The majority of Pit Bulls are owned by normal dog-loving folk. Pit Bulls are kept as companions; they're used as working dogs involved in search and rescue, therapy, and police service; they compete in obedience, conformation, agility, tracking, and schutzhund; the list goes on and on. The breed is very versitile, due to the fact that the traits that make a good fighting dog also make for a good [insert your activity here] dog. Plus, although pit fighting was the main activity the breed was originally created for and involved in, there were also many other functions the breed was used for during it's developement. This breed is truly a jack-of-all-trades.

"Red or blue nose dogs are: a special type of Pit Bull / rare / worth more than black nose dogs": The answer to all of the above is: FALSE!!!

Tips for Responsible Pit Bull/Bully Breed Ownership:

1. Never allow your Pitbull to roam free. Your dog should always be leashed when outside of your home or yard for their protection. Unlike a Golden Retriever, when a Pit Bull approaches a stranger unleashed, people will automatically assume that the dog is vicious and take quick action to remove the dog from their area. The public will not hesitate to call animal control, or even the cops, when they see a Pit Bull on the loose; bully breed dogs have been killed by police officers for no reason other than being in the street unleashed. This is an unfortunate truth.

2. Never take your Pit Bull to a dog park. Even if you think your Pit Bull is wonderful with other dogs, all it takes is one incident. If a Chihuahua starts a fight and your Pit Bull finishes it, whom will everyone blame? Let’s face it; the Pit Bull, or dog that “looks like” a Pitbull, is always at fault in the eyes of the public. Small playgroups are best for Pitbulls, check your local Craigslist or join a Meetup group to find other bully breed owners looking for a way for their dogs to socialize.

3. Take your Pit Bull to obedience classes. Ongoing obedience classes are best for bull breed dogs. This is an important one because it is a lot harder to look down upon your Pit Bull when he is well-trained and behaved. Show off your well-educated pitty every chance you get!

4. Socialize your Pit Bull as much as possible before and after they reach maturity. Socialization is Important for Pit BullsPitbulls do not fully mature until about 3 years of age, and around this time some owners will notice a dramatic change in their dog’s tolerance of other pets. In order to keep the peace, and for your dog to be able to handle new situations with confidence and pleasure, ongoing socialization is a must. Socialization does not mean visiting your local off-leash park and allowing your dog to run wildly, an obedience class in which your dog is surrounded by, but not directly interacting with other dogs is still being social. Any time you can bring your dog out with you to a public place will help with their socialization and help them to deal with various situations.

5. Be a responsible parent! Do not allow your Pit Bull to be subjected to people who are belligerent or cruel, as your dog has a keen sense of knowing who likes them vs. who does not care for them so much. By forcing your dog to interact with these types of people, you are being an irresponsible owner. You would never force your human child to deal with an uncomfortable situation you placed him in, so do not expect the same from your dog.

6. Know where your dog is at all times. Do not leave your Pit Bull outside unattended; inside the house or enclosed within a large dog run is the only place your dog should be when you are not home. You have no idea what is going on in the yard when you are away - children could be teasing your dog or they could be practicing those bully escape techniques they perfect oh-so-quickly.

7. Working Pit BullPit Bulls need a job. Not all bullies are made for police work or able to be trained as a service animal, so think small. A job can be obedience classes, taking a walk with you everyday, sitting at your feet while you are on the computer in the evenings, or following you around the house while you do chores. Pit Bulls and bully breed dogs are highly intelligent animals with above-average problem solving skills; they need to feel important and needed.

8. Daily exercise is a must. Playing fetch, hiking, bike rides or whatever you love to do, your Pit Bull will be more than willing to participate.

9. Spay and neuter your dog. Altered pets live longer and generally healthier lives. Altered dogs are also easier to train and exhibit more stability than their unaltered peers, as they do not have the fluctuations in behavior attributed to hormones. To date, no fatal dog attack by an altered dog was ever reported.

10. Understand that your Pit Bull may be dog-aggressive. Take precautions and use common sense - do not allow your Pitbull to run up to unknown dogs, and never allow unknown dogs to run up to your Pit Bull. You are the pack leader, not your dog, and you should never expect your dog to be friends with unfamiliar dogs, especially without a proper introduction. Some Pit Bulls cannot be around any other dogs at all, and dog aggression is not something you will be able to train out of your pet Pit Bull. You can curb DA behavior and often control it, but not stop it altogether. The key to dealing with dog aggression is to understand your dog’s particular triggers and work on controlling the behavior, but most of all - love your dog for who he is!

11. Never trust a Pit Bull not to fight. Even though your dogs are the best of friends, it’s better to be safe than sorry. All it takes is one time for a fight to break out. This is especially true with multiple Pit Bulls in one household of the same sex. If you have no other option than to leave your dogs together, be sure to remove any causes for fights such as food, toys or other possession that may cause a conflict.

12. Do not breed or buy while shelter animals die. Many Pit Bulls Die in Shelters Waiting For HomesThousands of Pit Bulls die in shelters each year, and bully rescues are often up to their ears with requests for dogs needing to be rehomed. There are many wonderful pets out there waiting for their forever homes, so instead of going to a breeder or breeding dogs for yourself, contact a rescue or shelter and save a pitty from certain death. Instead of being part of the problem, be part of the solution

Insurance companies adding to the problem?

By Brian Sodergren

The insurance industry appears to have dog caregivers on a short leash, or at least those owners who prefer large, powerful breeds such as rottweilers, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, akitas, pit bulls, or chows.

Insurers are re-evaluating coverages for homeowners who share their living spaces with such breeds. To the industry, the numbers are as sobering as a dog howling at midnight: One-third of all liability claims against homeowners stem from dog bites, a statistic that the insurance industry claims has forced it to pay out $310 million annually.

For many insurance companies, these numbers add up to an outright ban on certain breeds. While such a step may have been considered extreme at one time, the industry says it is now just a consequence of the society we live in.

But the consequences of breed bans stretch far beyond denied coverage and the dollars and cents of the insurance industry. The bans are also having a chilling effect on dog ownership in the United States, and are forcing shelters to deal with those who choose their insurance policy over their dog.

At the Humane Society of Atchison, Kansas, the number of rottweilers relinquished because of insurance coverage has jumped 40% within the past year.

"For a lot of people—myself, I have a rottie—these aren't just dogs," says Penny Virts-Bell, the executive director of the shelter. "They are an important part of the family. It's like giving up your child."

Virts-Bell said that none of the relinquished dogs were aggressive or vicious, and the people gave up their animals only as a last resort.

"They tried to find homes for the animals," she says. "We tried to go up against the insurance company on their behalf, but ran into a brick wall."

With 3-4 million pets euthanized in shelters each year, the insurance industry breed bans are only adding to the problem. But insurance officials blame breed bans on the latest trends: They say more dog-bite cases are going to court, and juries are awarding larger sums to victims.

"Obviously people have had dogs and insurance for years and years," says Alejandra Soto of the Insurance Information Institute (III). "We don't know why, but there have been more cases of dogs biting people in the past five to ten years, with these cases going to trial. Why are they ending up in court more than they used to? We don't know."

According to the III, there were 4.7 million dog bites reported to authorities in 1999, up from 4.5 million in 1996; most victims were children. The $310 million paid out in 2001 for dog-bite liability claims is also an increase from the $250 million paid out five years ago.

Soto says that every time a dog-bite case is tried, the risk factor for insurance companies changes, and the industry has to make judgments on those risk factors. Some have just decided that people with certain breeds are too much of a risk. However, Kenneth Phillips, a lawyer in California who has handled dog-bite cases for more than a decade and who runs the dogbitelaw.com web site (see link below), says that the insurance industry is wrong about the increase of cases being tried over the years.

"I don't think there's been any change at all," Phillips says.

As for the breed bans, Phillips agrees with The HSUS that they're wrongheaded, and create more problems for dog owners and the community.

"There's no way to really identify all the breeds that could pose a danger," he says. "The ban on breeds is a very simplistic and knee-jerk reaction to a much more complicated problem. A breed ban only takes care of 10% of the problem. The other 90%—training, socialization, health of dog, the victim's behavior—a breed ban doesn't address those issues."

The alternative, say opponents of breed bans, is to look at the dog, not the breed.

"The insurance companies are missing the boat," says Stephanie Shain, Director of Companion Animal Outreach for The HSUS. "Any dog can bite. The insurance industry needs to look at this issue on a case-by-case basis, and make judgments about a particular dog, not an entire breed. If the insurance industry is ready to properly evaluate dogs, which with 68 million dogs kept in the U.S. will also be a good thing for their business, we are ready and waiting to help."

Soto counters that the case-by-case model may not be realistically feasible for insurance companies.

The fact is, dogs bite for many reasons. They may bite out of fear or to protect their territory or to establish dominance over a person. Dogs may also bite because some owners mistakenly teach their canines that biting is an acceptable form of play. What's more, every year a number of newborn infants die when bitten by dogs who may see them as "prey" or who may harm them unintentionally during unsupervised interactions. Because of the variety of reasons behind dog bites, responsible dog care—including proper socialization, supervision, humane training, sterilization, and safe confinement—is necessary to prevent biting.

Unfortunately, no matter why a dog bites, people on the short end of insurance company breed bans don't have much recourse.

Soto says that it may be possible to provide documentation to an insurance company, proving that the dog is not a biter, but even that may not always sway an insurer that ban certain breeds no matter what. For people dealing with those companies, Soto says the only thing to do is shop around, and let their insurance company know they are doing so and why.

Another option for people is to complete The HSUS's insurance incident form, on which they can document their problem in an easy-and-clear format while also making The HSUS aware of their problem.

"Above all," Soto says, "don't panic. The best thing to do is to be aware of the issue if you're thinking about getting a dog. And if you have a dog, be a responsible owner. Take all the preventive measures you can."