First, thank you to everyone who replied with pulling information and links. There is more out there than I imagined (I loved the carts the mastiffs were pulling, but I don't think Sutter is big enough for that. Good heavens those dogs are huge! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I really want to find something my dog enjoys.

Elaine, thanks for the bully dog pointers. My current mixed-breed is strong-willed and also dog aggressive. He's never out off leash and I've done a lot of training with him so that he ignores other dogs unless they run right up to him (I won't go into my rant about people who leave their dogs off-leash under the supervision of a 10-yr-old.) Like most dogs (and children) the more exercise he gets, the better behaved and more content he is, hence the pulling questions.

elaine,
this is good info, a public service, and i would never want to underplay the responsibilities involved in owning a bully breed and especially one of the breeds called pit bulls.

however, do you really feel it is accurate to portray all bully breeds as you just have the pit bull?

or perhaps you'd like to clarify which breeds you are including?

for example, i would consider mastiffs and boxers to be bully breeds, but i would never characterize them the way you have the pit bulls. they can be stubborn, independent, and need a strong-minded and experienced owner, but mastiffs, for example, are rarely dog aggressive. mastiffs commonly live peaceably in large packs without any supervision. generally they have a low prey drive.

boxers also often get along well with other dogs.

i think it is important to point out that these tendencies exist; however, puppies of all different temperaments can be born into a litter of any breed. some family members of mine have an aggressive glen of amal terrier, for example. she was the most dominant pup in the litter and they didn't manage her properly.

my pup's litter had both dominant and very soft, submissive pups in it.

i think picking the right pup personality trumps breed in the end.

again, i think you are providing an important public service here by outlining what is commonly expected with this breed and what to prepare for. but my experience with bully breeds, fwiw, is that they don't *all* fit the picture.

Elaine -

Yes, yes and yes....great post for pit bull owners. Even a very cold dog can get his "switch" flipped and then you have problems.....most pits I have been around enjoy being around people much more than other dogs, the good ones are such loves!!!!!

Elaine, I concur with Valerie. Your post should be printed out and given to all new/inexperienced/ignorant pit bull-type owners; it was very good and to-the-point!

hey, thanks to the link posted here on scootering, i remembered that i have a scooter i bought a few years ago and never used. after reading those web pages, i dug it out of the shed in the back yard, leashed up my pup, and we practiced scootering back and forth up and down the paved alley behind my house.

what a blast! it took him zero time, practically, to get the hang of it. he's already got "whoa!" down. he loves it!!!!

tomorrow i'm going to put on my bike helmet and gloves and give it a whirl on the bike path that is right out our door.

interesting side note: the author of the scootering website, daphne, gets credit for me being able to own my dog. because of horrifically hot weather that july, he had to be flown to me via seattle, and daphne picked him up at the delta airlines cargo and drove him over to alaska airlines cargo for his final leg home to me. she's an online friend of my dog's breeder. great lady!

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do you really feel it is accurate to portray all bully breeds as you just have the pit bull?

or perhaps you'd like to clarify which breeds you are including?

I agree!

The advice given is wise and should be taken as it is responsibly handling any breed of dog.

HOWEVER, it is impossible to generalize the temperament of ONE breed of dog, much less generalizing the temperament of a group of hundreds of breeds.

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i think it is important to point out that these tendencies exist; however, puppies of all different temperaments can be born into a litter of any breed.

Well said!

The best description of the "bull and terriers" group I have heard is simply MORE: more loved, more feared, more aggressive, more docile, more athletic, more lazy, more drive, more patient, more stubborn, more compliant, more reactive, more tolerant...

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Most of the pit bull "attacks" you read about are just being protective when they maul some kid.

Additional note:

Statistically, the majority or fatal attacks on children under 12 by "pit-bull-type" dogs is "child wandered to chained dog." In nearly every case, the dog was owned by the fmaily, neighbor or relative.

Other common ones are visiting dog or visitng child, and child walking near an eating dog.


Thank you for your post Elaine! It takes me 30+ pages of writing to explain responsible bully ownership ... and who will read that? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />