prejudism

[badger]

I've been thinking more seriously about adopting a dog. It's been over 2 years since my dog died, and I miss having a canine companion.

My dog was mostly-rottweiler and he was an amazing ambassador to that breed. Many people who previously was afraid of them, he won them over.

So, I've been wanting to do the same for the maligned pit bull. I know I shouldn't be, but I'm shocked at the level of hatred people have towards the breed. Today, a coworker said "ew!! pit bull?! I hate pit bulls!" When I asked her why, she couldn't give me a specific reason, just that she hated them. She denied it when I asked if it was because of the media. Another friend told me to not even think about bringing it over to her house.

I faced prejudism regularly with my old dog. People would cross the street to avoid us, or cower when he wanted to go towards someone to say "hi". I'm sure I'll face the same, if not worse, when I get my new dog (a rescue, not a puppy).

I guess I'm just using this to comment more than anything else, because most people who have made up their minds that pit bulls are bad will feel that way no matter what I say. It's a shame because they make amazing companions.

[Veronica]

I had the friendliest pit bull come up to me when I was running about a month ago. I'll admit that I was a bit leery when I first saw him, but as soon as I saw the wiggling stump, I knew he was just a happy boy.

We had a Rott rescue. Loved how that stump would wiggle. She was the BEST dog! I know everyone thinks that about their baby.

I'm glad you're giving a needy pooch a home and I hope seagulls poop on the naysayers. (There's a friendly seagull in my current read aloud at school.)

Veronica

[Irulan]

You must mean "prejudices". "Prejudism" is like "refudiate"... not a word but it sounds like it should be, and we know what you mean anyway.

[7rider]

I figure a rescue animal - particularly an animal that has spent some time in foster home - has already passed some threshold level of "acceptability" and is a fairly know entity. If an animal is unfit to adopt out - and there are some of all breeds who are just lost souls - chances are, that animal wouldn't be available to you. But a rescue pet is giving a wonderful animal a second (or third, or....) chance. I also believe that THEY know it and (anthropomorphizing aside) are grateful for it.

Do what feels right for you. There are so many wonderful animals in need of a loving forever home - pure breds and wonderful mutts. Maybe you'll convert more than a few to their cause.

[badger]

there are 2 excellent bull-breed rescue groups in the area and they only adopt out dogs that will give their breed a good name. Both of them require adopters to attend obedience classes.

I'm not in any rush, but this girl's fitting the bill pretty well: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18124885

[Koronin]

I like Pits and Rotts, but would personally never own one. That, however, is more due to my lack of ever owning any type of dog and feel that they need to be with much more experienced owners like yourself. A previous neighbor had two Pits (one Am Staff and one APBT). The APBT was the sweetest dog. The Am Staff was a bit more leery of people she didn't know, but was a very nice dog once she decided that you weren't going to hurt her. (Both were/are rescued females).

[blackhillsbiker]

One of our best friends in Wyoming had a pit bull terrier who was one of the sweetest, smartest dogs I've ever met. When she died, they got another one. Every bit as sweet, but not as smart. Still a really good dog. I've also known a wonderful Rottweiler. I think dogs are as much a product of their environment as anything.

Deb

[NbyNW]

Amber looks like a very sweet girl!

I believe pit bulls do get a bad rap through the media but whenever I meet one in person I'm so impressed with how well-behaved they are. And that's really a reflection of how devoted their owners are to training them properly and making sure that they are happy in their homes.

On the other hand, if I had a nickel for every time a golden retreiver charged at me or jumped up on me . . . .

Badger if you make arrangements to meet Amber and hopefully adopt her, I hope you'll share the experience with us! I know from your posts how much you love animals and that you know what you're getting into bringing a new animal into your home. Best of luck.

[jobob]

Well, it wasn't just hearsay for me, I had reason to loathe pit bulls after my darling Bozo Kitty was mauled by one on our front steps.

But, many years later, I met BikerZ and her pitbull Simon. And Simon was a sweetheart. So, I'm not so leery and distrustful of pitbulls anymore.
Well, maybe only a tiny bit.

[divingbiker]

Well, it wasn't just hearsay for me, I had reason to loathe pit bulls after my darling Bozo Kitty was mauled by one on our front steps.

I had a similar experience. Many years ago, my cocker spaniel was picked up and thrown around like a rag doll by a Rottweiler and a pit bull who got away from the person who was walking them. Remy had a few broken ribs but was otherwise ok. The dogs' owner claimed, as all of them do, that the dogs were friendly.

Since then, I've carried pepper spray when I walk my dogs. I've not gotten over my fear, and though I'm sure there are nice rotts and pits I'm not taking chances.

[kermit]

Good for you and good luck with whatever you decide. I am of the opinion that any dog can be a good or bad dog depending on how you raise and treat them. My nephews both have pits, all rescues and they are are big, lovable goofs. My husband and I got chased one day on our bikes by a huge, black pitt. We chose to stop and he came up, wiggled and rolled over on his back. We had a running/cycling partner with us for the next two miles. He got to the river, took a swim and went home. Amber looks like a sweetheart! Keep us posted.

[OakLeaf]

The "classic" pit personality is animal-aggressive, very sweet with humans. Training and environment affect both of those, obviously. But as I've said before - our pit mix was well socialized with other dogs when she was young, but we didn't continue classes for her after she "graduated," and that was probably a mistake.

I don't know whether or not constant lifetime reinforcement would've made her good with other animals (other than the other dogs in our household), but as I've said before, she was so gentle with humans that we could - and a couple of times had to - put a hand in her mouth to pull her off another animal. I've been bitten breaking up dogfights, but NOT by her. She was so aware and so good with humans that she wouldn't even bite by accident.

[TsPoet]

there are 2 excellent bull-breed rescue groups in the area and they only adopt out dogs that will give their breed a good name. Both of them require adopters to attend obedience classes.

I'm not in any rush, but this girl's fitting the bill pretty well: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18124885

She looks fabulous!
Obedience classes should be required of all dog owners - at least something like CGC, IMHO.

I had to pick up Murphy on a walk last night - a young pit wanted to play with him and Murphy is a crotchety old man. I was terrified Murphy was going to talk the puppy into something other than play, but play was definitely what the pit wanted.

[Biciclista]

good luck with your dog. I don't understand why you would pick a dog that will give you negative feedback from people, but that's your business. be sure you've cleared it with your home owner's insurance or if you rent, with your landlord, because in some places there are premiums for people that want dogs like that.

[carinapir]

When I was in high school, my mom picked an injured female Pit-bull of the road, got her patched up at the vet, and we kept her for a while. Unfortunately, we had two cockers and had had to keep her separate while her broken pelvis was healing so she never got socialized with our dogs. She attacked one when she was feeling better and we decided to get her a new home. But she was the sweetest thing ever, even when she was hurting. She seemed to know that we were helping her.

The one thing I would say about a pit bull is that they are extremely strong. Our Pit's jaw was a big lump of muscle and she chewed the heck out of the dinning room table (she was a younger dog). With regards to them being dangerous, I think that Pits just do damage so much quicker than other dogs that that's the real reason you have to be more careful. What would be a standard fight for other dogs is more likely to turn bloody with a Pit, even if they are not really that mad.

Carina