I don't often come across folks walking where we train anymore since I found a new place that is a wide open field where my Pits can train and then play, do some running and so forth. I love the field because you have a constant view of what is coming and going. Yesterday when I pulled into my drive way I noticed some boys playing football in the court in front of my house. Both dogs are on their leads. I opened my males crate and commanded him out then into the house. I came back out and commanded my Lilly out of her crate..she comes out and then I tell her to sit.

About this time the little football from the boys plops right next to us. Lillys play drive is intense. She just sits and looks at me (she is shaking all over, like she is going to explode), within a few seconds the little boy come running up to get his ball, now he has not seen the dog as we she is sitting behind my truck.

He sees the dog, and I get this "Awwww look at the puppy", he comes a runnin arms open, Lilly stays in her sit and looks at me.....I stepped in front of the boy and said she just got done doing her excersize and she is very tired. The boy goes "OK", about that time here comes Boys Dad and three other boys...he gives me this look and says "They just want to pet the dog!" Lilly remains in her sit, she is now doing an excited trembling.

I tell the man, the boys may pet her one at a time and be calm as she must remain in the sit. Each boy gives her head a few pets...the man asks if she is a pit bull, I tell him yes, he says she is awful small for a pit bull and very friendly. I told him most real pits are are not more than 45 to 50 lbs and very people passive, however she really was an American Staffordshire Terrier which tend to be bigger the the APBTs...she was just a runt. My girl was happy to get the attention and behaved like a lady...the Dad did not seem to be bothered by the fact that she was a Pit...being as puny as she is....I am proud of her, but I have to admit I don't feel as comfortable as I should having strangers pet her. Should I have not allowd it? Opinions please.

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I am proud of her, but I have to admit I don't feel as comfortable as I should having strangers pet her. Should I have not allowd it? Opinions please.

Hi Valerie, you're not going to get any expertise from me <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> but would like to ask why you don't feel comfortable letting strangers pet her...is it Lil's temperment that makes you uneasy or is it strangers' potential ineptness or do you, as a general rule of thumb, subscribe to the basic idea of "there's no reason for strangers to pet her"? Just curious.

Whatever the answer, I'm a firm believer in "If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't" (for you at that moment in time). I pick and choose who pets my dog. I always allow women w/children if they ask and 9.9 out of 10 children have better sense than the parents. Children always ask first. Can't say the same about adults w/o children in tow. Stupid.

Anyway, I think the answer to your questions lies in what you are looking to get out of the times you allow strangers to pet her. If it's something you can't get any other way, I'd allow it but pick and choose who gets the privilege of petting your dog.

Judy -

That is a simple question for me, the only reason I feel uncomfortable is because she is a Pit Bull. Her temperment with people especially kids is great. I just feel such great pressure that every thing she does must be perfect and since I don't often get the opportunity to test her OB I am tense. She has done well so far. After the kids pet her and I took her in the house she did act a fool, rolling on her back like she was scratchin somehting that really itched, but instead she was just so proud of herself as I kept telling her "Yes Lilly...Good Girl!!!"

I hope that makes sense.

Well, not that it's your job but, when someone has a PB or Rott or GSD (like me) that is always sweet, maybe we should share the joy <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> . It's small but your moments of allowing people to pet the big bad PB may actually go a long way in "educating" those who have doubts about the breed. How nice would it be if they (and they probably do to some extent) share their experience w/friends or family after meeting your dog. Picture the father out w/his friends and maybe a subject about dogs comes up and his buddy says, "Pits are all dangerous". Now that he's had the experience of petting your Lil, he may be inclined to defend the breed just a little. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I would evaluate her as herself, not as her breed. Can *she* handle it? Is *her* temperment suited for it?

All things being equal with her temperment, etc, if she were a Lab instead of a Pit Bull, would you be worried?

I generally let most people (who ask) pet my dog. But that is because she used to be extremely shy and the more I can set up positive interactions, the more comfortable she becomes around people in general.

Mara -

You are absolutely dead on..if she were a Lab I would not be worried at all. But picture this Lab all excited sitting reached up and gives a boy a lick on the face..."awww what a sweet dog", Pit does the same Dad could interpret this as an aggressive behavior. Believe me Lilly would have loved nothing more than to cover those boys with Pit Bull kisses...BUT SHE DIDN'T, and that is what she was supposed to do...first for her and a first for me!!!!! I hope the Dad tells all my neighbors what a well behaved dog she is.