Pit Bull Chat Forum - Blogs http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php Pit Bull Chat is an educational community of advocates, owners and lovers of the pit bull dog breeds who promotes responsible ownership and rescue work en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:33 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/005/misc/rss.jpg Pit Bull Chat Forum - Blogs http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php <![CDATA[Otto's New Trick from his own blog]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=356 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:45:17 GMT I eat mostly what Mom and Dad eat. Even vegetables! I love potatoes and carrots, especially. But in between, I really love my milkbones. I call... I eat mostly what Mom and Dad eat. Even vegetables! I love potatoes and carrots, especially. But in between, I really love my milkbones. I call them my "Bisquies"

I have to remind Mom to get them for me. She's always working on her pet portraits and forgets that I like to snack. I'm nice and slim so it's not like I snack too much!
So to remind her, I started training her. I scratch on the refrigerator. My snackies are on top of it. Every time I do it, she says "Otto, stop that", and THEN I KNOW I'll get a treat.

But yesterday she said to me, "Otto, you're a shady guy. You've got me trained! Now we're going to learn a new trick, you have to earn your treats!"

So before she gives me a "Bisquie", I have to sit and tap my right paw 3 times. At least, that's what Mom is making me do! She askes me if I want a Bisquie and then she says, "Sit". And grabs my leg and taps in on the floor and says "One, two three, Bisquie!" and then I get it.

This morning, when she asked me, I sat down and lifted my paw. It's a little confusing because I also like to shake hands and "high five". But mom thinks I can learn it. What do you think? Otto the Good Boy ]]> RobinZ http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=356 Kill more American Pit Bull Terriers. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=352 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:01:50 GMT Its been a while since I've written a blog on here and I've been juggling a topic or two around in my head for what I wanted to discuss in my newest work....I want to preface this blog with the disclaimer that this blog is not directed at any member of this forum..

.And so I've decided that I'll discuss my opinion on why more American Pit Bull Terriers should be killed instead of being adopted out. I hope readers of this blog will read this with an open mind and see that I write desiring to see the death of more of these dogs simply because I love the breed and want to see it succeed.

I hope that we can start this with a total agreement.... this breed is most certainly not for everyone.As well as that the average person has no idea what handling this breed properly means. I mean how many stories have we all read on this very forum about people that had dogs for several years together and never took measures early on to avoid accidents later in life? Refusing to separate dogs... not crate training, refusing to tether dogs... and allowing them unsupervised time in the house together. How many stories have we read about the dog that kills a beloved family cat, rabbit, or other breed of dog? They never saw it coming... they don't understand why it just snapped.... Why did it happen?

It has been my understanding in these stories that the majority of dogs in question have been rescue dogs.. and more so that they are often the first "pit bull" a person has owned. Many times I've seen the post of a person I just rescued a pit bull.... now what? They have read nothing on the breed, nothing on the history of the breed natural GENETIC tendencies of the breed. Bascially they know nothing beyond maybe a few episodes of The Dog Whisperer... or maybe they've looked at Bad Rap's website and seen all the "good fortune" they've had with the rescued Vick dogs.. and so they have all the good intentions of these people and groups and they want to make help this noble breed....

But what is it they've said of the road to hell and good intentions?......

Sadly good intentions can not help the majority of these cases..... these dogs need a special kind of person. They need to someone that understands that this breed is a warrior breed and NOTHING more. Yes they make excellent pets, yes they are very lovable creatures and make wonderful couch potatoes.. but they are warriors and I believe truly happy in combat.. yes they can be happy doing other things but their true calling is combat.

With dogs that tend to be this highly geared toward a natural aggression and desire for combat so deep in their genes we must look beyond trying to love and teach this desire out of them. They need someone to respect this desire and manage it.. not do away with it. And I just don't believe that many rescue people have the ability to do this.... and by rescuing a dog of this caliber giving it a place in your life and not being capable of understanding this you do a disservice to your dog.

By placing a dog like this is a home that isn't able to handle their special needs...because believe me they do have different needs than your average breed.. you set them up for failure. And I fully and completely believe that each time one of these dogs fail in the eyes of the public the entire breed fails. And in this day and age with the rabid monster of Breed Specific Legislation running wild one failure is too many,

So I do believe an overhaul is needed on the policies of the adoption of this breed..... if we truly wish to see it carry on. The more and more of these dogs that are adopted out just willy nilly to anyone with good intentions the more stories of failure we will see. I see no other realistic way of combating this issue other than to promote a higher number of APBTs in shelters to be euthanized. Because I do not see a way shelters across the country can afford to implement a good enough adoption process to assure that APBTs are placed in capable understanding homes.

SO yes... I love this breed... I want this breed to succeed more than anything.. and I want the witch hunt against this breed to stop. I wish for a day when responsible American Pit Bull Terrier owners can proudly and without fear claim the love for their animals... when they can have breaksticks, treadmills, flirtpoles, spingpoles, and other tools that every responsible owner should have without fear of being accused of engaging in illegal activities.

And one of the ways I see this being able to happen is by having less and less of these animals failing because of owners that simply just don't know better or are too ignorant to see beyond what they want these dogs to be and see what these dogs ARE... and the most effective way I see of achieving this is to simply to make it harder for people with good intentions and no real knowledge of the breed to be able to adopt them.

Currently there are shelters nationwide overpopulated with pit bulls...and last time I checked at my local shelter it was about $75 to adopt a dog from them. So anybody with $75 can adopt a dog... 75 dollars could put your ability to own an American Pit Bull Terrier... your breed of choice at risk... simply because someone with all the good intentions in the world but without the ability to contain what their $75 just got them as it kills the neighbors Labrador, or gets loose and kills a few cats.

Is that a chance you'd really be willing to take? Would you be willing to lay your dogs on the line so that someone that has a full season of The Dog Whisperer on DVD and has read pit bulls for dummies can spend $75 and feel like they are making a difference in the dog world?

Me.... I'd rather see more dogs killed than adopted out simply to keep these dogs away from those people that I described. Now I realize that not everyone that adopts is incapable of properly caring for, understanding, and containing this breed... and those of you out there that do rescue and adopt and properly care for your animals you do a wonderful thing or this breed and I do thank you for what you do for this breed and the dogs you save from the gas chamber.

Kill More... Rescue Less... Save the breed... ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=352 The Russians have it right... Game Testing... http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=341 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:11:30 GMT While many of you know that I have always made my opinions toward dog matching/fighting be known. While I am not against professional dog matching... While many of you know that I have always made my opinions toward dog matching/fighting be known. While I am not against professional dog matching under Cajun Rules... I do however prefer game testing over everything else.

By game testing I am referring to the only way proven throughout the history of the American Pit Bull Terrier to prove gameness; by matching over time a APBT into a few other APBTs to make sure that the dog is game and should be bred. So that the gameness trait will be allowed to carry over into future generations of the American Pit Bull Terrier keeping the dog as true to form as physically possible.

I have my own opinions as to matching female dogs... and while I don't mind a female dog being rolled just to make sure it is not a rank cur, I don't believe females should be matched as hard as males as their purpose is to make puppies and I believe that if the female is bred REALLY well but is cold, she still has a good chance to produce when bred to a proven dog. Although I don't believe in breeding to a proven cur.

Now.. while I do believe gameness should be at the forefront of any breeding program I also believe that the physical soundness and structure should follow a close second. I don't believe in breeding a dog that is so far out of standard should be done just because the dog is game, I believe that it should fall within the "breed standard" but form should ALWAYS follow function.

I was recently doing alittle research on other fighting breeds and I focused a good bit of time on the fighting breeds of Russia, such as the Russian Wolfhound. While I don't know that I would call the Russian Wolfhound a "gamedog" I don't believe they are far from one either.

In Russia they have what they call "Temperament testing" on male Russian Wolfhounds. The breeders believe that males used for breeding have to have preserved fighting ability and dominant tendencies because it is a typical mark of their breed. They also believe that weak dogs without fighting abilities will cause a decrease in quality of the breed.

This is exactly what myself and many other fanciers of the APBT believe.... without gameness being carried over it will cause a decrease in the quality of the breed.

As part of the test, breeders release two young dogs and let them behave naturally even if they begin to fight. If the fight looks dangerous, the breeders pull the dogs off each other to prevent their injury. If one of the participating dogs shows fear from the other dog and displays no dominant tendencies, he is removed from breeding to ensure his weak nature is not passed on to his descendants.

Sounds alot like rolling two young APBTs into each other to let them get a feel of what being in the [ ] is all about doesn't it? And if one is a cur he is removed from breed..... sounds alike like culling to me...


The Temperament Test is practiced with wolfhounds. The word "Wolfhound" is derived from two words - Wolf and Hound = such a dog that is able to stand against a wolf and to fight it. To be able to do that, he must be tested in a fighting test with other wolfhounds. Fighting Temperament Test is an absolute necessity. It should be done when the dogs are two years old. The goal is not only the victory but also the proper way of the dog behavior, typical to a wolfhound.

Once again.... this sounds VERY similar to game testing breeding stock for the APBT... doesn't it? American Pit Bull Terrier is a dog that is able to stand against another APBT and to fight it... and to be able to do that he must be tested against other APBTs.... the goal is not necessarily victory... just to prove gameness and that he is worthy of breeding.

The Russians believe there is no way to replace such a type of test ,even if the dog underwent the best possible training of protection against human enemies and general conditioning without fighting encounter with other dogs he is still unprepared to protect completely against all the enemies including beasts. Testing fight also helps to recognize the dog's temperament, his type of behavior, dominant tendencies etc. There is no way to replace it!

There is one Russian proverb about the dog testing... "Test is from the God - don't try to change it!"

Now while I can't say that game testing is from God.... I do believe that it is the correct way to go about deciding which APBTs are bred and which ones are to be removed from the gene pool. I believing by removing this aspect of the breed from the APBT it will continue to result in the downward spiral that is currently the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Being a red blooded American.. I guess I've always looked at the Russians as someone to watch with a cautious eye... too much cold war movies I guess.... But here I believe the Russians have the right idea about keeping true to the nature of the beast.... and I envy those owners of the Russian Wolfhound that are allowed to keep their working dogs true to form....

As most of us sit idly by and watch OUR breed turn into a shell of its former self. I think we owe the American Pit Bull Terrier more than that... ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=341 <![CDATA[The Inuit Sled Dog's Life (Prove your usefulness)]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=325 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:20:37 GMT Its been a while since I've blogged and I finally came across something that piqued my interest. I recently read a magazine article about the Inuit Sled Dogs of Greenland.

This article truly brought to life one of the points I've attempted to make on here and just can't seem to get through to some people. Some dogs are just a tool... they are just working dogs and nothing more. It doesn't make them any less loved than a pet....but they are expected to perform a task and earn their keep. Prove their worthiness. Maybe some insight into how some other working dogs are treated might show that the life of the Game Dog is not so different.

Here I'll give you some quotes from the article written by John Ross who spent time with the Inuits of Greenland and their amazing dogs. Then I'll add my two cents and attempt to compare it to the Game Dog. I've broken the quotes up into section hopefully to make my responses easier to follow.

1. THE HARSHNESS OF IT ALL:


"Inuit hunter named Ilanguaq Qaerngaq, who directs the dozen dogs fanned out before us with deft snaps of a 15-foot-long whip. From out of nowhere, a dog from another team—its trace cut or broken—veers in front of us and falls beneath our left runner. Our 11-foot wooden sled, loaded with several hundred pounds of seal and walrus meat, rides over the creature and continues on. Behind us, the dazed dog struggles to its feet, limping badly. I catch Qaerngaq’s eye, but he shakes his head. In a minute, the dog has become a dark speck on the ice behind us. As we set up tents on the sea ice a couple of hours later, I keep a lookout for the injured dog, but it doesn’t appear. I fear it has become a meal for a polar bear or an arctic fox."

"That evening, one of our dogs refuses to eat. Julia Bent, a 55-year-old veterinarian from Seattle, examines the animal and wryly prescribes “warm cage rest, IV fluids, a full blood analysis and urinalysis, probably abdominal and chest X-rays, and appropriate therapy based on our laboratory findings.” She gives the dog some Pepto-Bismol, but the next morning as we leave camp, one of the Inuit hunters shoots the animal in the head with his rifle and leaves the body on the ice."

"Early on, a pregnant bitch in the sled in front of us delivers prematurely, dropping her newborn pups onto the ice, and our dogs gobble up the tiny, bloody bodies without breaking stride."

"I’ve just been given another lesson about the relationship between the Polar Inuit and their dogs in the high Arctic. It’s all business; on the ice, the Inuit have neither the inclination nor the means to care for badly injured or sick canines. And yet the Inuit’s connection to their dogs is one of the world’s oldest and most complex human-animal partnerships, a relationship “as close as a marriage,” as the French Arctic explorer Jean Malaurie noted in the 1950s."

Here hopefully you can see the harshness of the life of an Inuit Sled dog. Can't or won't work.... you get culled. And culled here means the same as it did for the Game Dog, no its not neutering and finding a sweet pet home for them, it s a bullet to the head and inferior genes being removed from the breeding pool. Like alot of the Dogmen of old didn't have the inclination nor the means to provide medical care for every sick dog on their yard.. they did what they could on their own and put down the rest..... But notice how even with the harshness of having to kill a dog and leave it on the ice to be eaten by whatever happens by... as far back as the '50s people see the love expressed from owner to dog... going as far as to compare it as being as close as marriage. Many old dogmen spent more time with their dogs than they did their wives. Many an old dogman would fit into this category easily.

THE MONSTER KNOWN AS B.S.L.

"I notice that Qaerngaq is never without his whip. Once I saw him wade into a canine dispute swinging the wooden whip handle. The dogs separated immediately. Bred to attack polar bears, the dogs can be dangerous. Children are warned not to go near them. I met a 12-year-old girl in Savissivik whose face had been terribly disfigured by a dog attack. When Inuit dogs reach the age of about 8 months, they are placed in a harness in which they’ll spend the rest of their lives. Many Inuit knock out some of their dogs’ molars or file down their canine teeth so they won’t be able to chew their harness and escape. If a dog does break its tether in Qaanaaq, the owner has only two hours to retrieve the animal before it may legally be shot. Concern in Greenland over the Inuit dog’s temperament has led to a ban of the animal below the Arctic Circle, about where the sea ice ends"

See they even face the similar B.S.L... perhaps not as strict as the APBTs fight against B.S.L. but a fight none the less. And notice how they don't speak of mobs of anti BSL support.. the hunters, much like the Dogmen of our breed just go on about their business but the Inuit face a better fate with their dogs as at least the government of Greenland has understood that the breed isn't meant to be handled by just anyone with a heart.... they limit their access to a certain portion of the country. Too bad we don't have luxury here for our Dogmen.

THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT:

"Without a word from the hunters, our dogs and those of another sled begin pulling furiously in their harnesses. We race across the sea ice, hunters, visitors and dogs all straining to beat the other sled. Our team pulls ahead, then the other sled overtakes us. Though we lose the race, we feel exhilarated, not only from the speed and the competition, but by the thrill of dog and human working together, as we have for many thousands of years."

One of my favorite parts of the article... notice without a word from the hunters without a crack from the whip the dogs instinctively compete against one another... it is this instinct this desire to win that drives them. It is what nature tells them to do... nature tells them to pull, to race, to overcome the pain....to do whatever it takes even die to win, to finish the task... is this so different from what compels our Game Dog? Why is it so wrong for those of us that love the Game Dog to promote that desire and those traits? I envy those Inuit hunters that can allow their dogs to compete and do what it is they were bred to do.

NOT SO DIFFERENT OF A CREATURE:

"Norwegian Arctic explorer Otto Sverdrup summed up the contradiction of the Inuit dog when he wrote in 1904 that it is “the warmest breath of civilization” but also the “wildest breath of Nature.”

Now if that final quote doesn't sum up the Game Dog almost as completely as it sums up the Inuit Sled dog... I don't know what does.

In closing.....

Let me reiterate that I am not looking to convert anyone over to my way of thinking I am simply trying show folks another way of looking at the Game Dog, the act of game testing and Dog matching and maybe just maybe its not as horrible as most people make it out to be.... if we can just learn to understand that some dogs are a working breed... they are a tool that is expected to get a job done and they are expected to achieve acceptable results.

I do not feel that it means these dogs are not loved, or cared for.... it means simply that when the tool can no longer perform an assigned task you must replace it with one it can and those that have achieved exceptional results they are the ones that should be allowed to breed and continue on the breed.

~NCPG ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=325 Why Bulldogs? http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=312 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:02:10 GMT While riding the bus on an adventuruous trek through South Korean traffic congestion I chose to pass time by opening by laptop and browsing through... While riding the bus on an adventuruous trek through South Korean traffic congestion I chose to pass time by opening by laptop and browsing through my "old pictures" folder. Inside of my "old pictures" (titled so because I transferred them from my old computer) I found a folder titled "Bulldogs." Inside of my bulldogs folder I literally surfed 100's of photos of dogs that I have saved, acquired, and colleted. Some of the dogs are famous, some are vintage photos, some are of dogs that members of the forums own, but all of which capture the essence of what I beleive to be the spirit of the American Pit Bull Terrier...that essence that I have grown to love. Adam's GR CH Zebo, Crenshaw's CH Hurt, Santa's GR CH Mongoose, Gambler's CH Crazy Annie, etc. Shon/Marty's Beauregard, Speed's Bella, Scratchin' dogs Angus, TommyT's Buck, etc. Literally hundreds all of which I can name on site...Carver's Missy, Cates Gr CH Nigerino, Fat Bill's Two Eyes, Carver's Bloody Sunday, Garner's CH Chinaman, GAPITS Bustin' Loose and hundreds of others. My mind shifted toward the cause of this obsession. Why do I have so many pedigrees bookmarked, or saved? Why do I have so pics, historical documents, books, breeding/genetics articles, exercise and nutritional guides etc? The real question is what is the root of my obsession with the American Pit Bull Terrier?

It believe that the American Pit Bull Terrier being selectively bred for strenuous purposes, and forged by societies working class was instilled with, as a bi product, a companion soul compatible with mankinds own. Dogs have been our best friends and partners for eons, but the American Pit Bull Terrier transcends all of this. His facial expressions are human like. His eyes display a window to the soul that I just referred to. Dogs of Velvet and Steel (as Bob Stevens called them) with the will of a warrior and the temperment for companionship. Consider that historically speaking the bull dog is the companion of the down trodden. The working man's dog bred to do tasks that our contemporaries can not begin to fathom. Bull running. When a rancher/butcher could not move semi-wild cattle he called his bull dog to do it. This spirit is alive in my American Pit Bull Terrier! In society men will project the qualities that they value through its heroes. The same way that superman embodied truth, justice, and the American Way" those same American ideal were embodied in my beloved breed. While he's been called by several names (Yankee Terrier, Rebel Terrier, Bull dog, Bull and Terrier, American Bull Terrier, etc.) his spirit remains intact. His loyalty, commitment to a task, unadulterated will, intelligece, and pure abilty is what caused America's love affair with this breed during industralization and periods of war. These qualities also define mine. What American's respected about the Dogs of Velvet and Steel so do I. The values that I hold ideal are embodied in my companion of choice. My breed. Velvet and Steel is what I expect from myself, respect from others, and try to instill in my children. Capable, intelligent, adaptable, iron willed, and loyal. The American Pit Bull Terrier. My dogs, my ideals, my path to the future! ]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=312 Independence Day http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=311 Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:31:10 GMT I've debated back and forth, and even tried once before (luckily the form timed out before I posted), but on the inspiration of a friends successful blogging I figure its high time I start blogging as well. I am not sure how often, or what my inspiration will be, but...

I celebrated the 4th overseas this year. I have celebrated the 4th in a foreign country on three other occasions, but it never was a situation where a fireworks show was feasible. This year the venue was Seoul, South Korea...and the time that I spent flipping meat on the grill allowed for some reflection.

To give some background Independence is the grandest holiday we celebrate in my humble opinion. The time of year, the festivities, the root cause of celebration all appeal to me and lend to my fondness with the event. As a kid we always wore new outfits, bbq'd, and watched fireworks in the evening. My mom was never interested in taking us near the large one in my area, but we lived close enough to three different fireworks show that I could view all three from a park near my apartment complex. As I got older, and we moved, I still found an open area to view the spectacular 4th...after a day filled with fellowship, good eating, and rotating outfits. As a teenager I got into to fighting traffic to see the big show...so not worth it, but of course as a teen my mom didn't know shit anyway.
As an adult we made a tradition within my own family of lavish 4th's. We'd of course BBQ, and invite friends. We always host, and never travel (the burden of cleaning is worth it for being a hosting control freak I guess), and in the evening we'd make the trek to 4th fireworks shows. THe most fond of these memories comes from the time I spent at Fort Campbell, KY between 2003-2008. At Fort Campbell they sponsor a carnival to set up for a week on post. They have different deal through our the week like dollar arm band night where you get unlimited rides for a dollar (I know this one, of course, with a family of 6 this is the only night we all go lol). Not only the carnival, but they have various Nashville stars that take the short 40 minute trip up from Nashville to perform for the troops. Amongst various nonamers I've seen Brad Paisley, Kelly Pickler, Toby Keith, and Kenny Chesney all for free, but I digress (BTW country musicians are some of the most patriotic folks that exist). The night of the 4th will start of course with carnival and walking around, an early concert, and then get into the 4th extravaganza with a 50-gun state salute, an paratrooper airborne demonstration, the 101st Airborne Division paracute team demonstration, etc. up until fireworks time. Then, the best thing was that I let my kids experience all of this, and it only took us 5-10 minutes to get home on post...I miss those days.

The choices we had in Korea were USAG Yongsan in Seoul, or Camp Casey in the North to see fireworks. We chose Yongsan. We, of course, bbq'd all day, swam in the pool, and left at about 8pm to go see the fireworks. The show was fine, the traffic was minimal (until we left post into the trenches of Seoul city traffic) and I was satisfied. We'll probably shoot up to Casey next year, but I am glad that those of us that love the 4th can have a good time even in US controoled sections of foreign lands...just wish fireworks were possible on those 4ths in Iraq! ]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=311 God spoke to me this weekend http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=310 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:20:39 GMT So... time for me to make alittle more of a personal blog than one about dogs. So here's your chance before you get to deep into it thinking this well turn into something about dogs...... it won't. So turn back now if you don't want to read anything about my personal life, religion and all that you've been warned :)



Recently I have been feeling more and more drawn to Church and reading spiritual stuff. I've been reading this awesome book called The Case For Faith.. its really good done by an investigative journalist. But anyway... i don't know why but I have been feeling more and more drawn to God and the church recently.

Most all of ya'll don't really know me other than on here.... so I'll give alittle insight to me. I was raised around the church, my Great Grand Father (PopPop) was a First Free Will Baptist minister and opened like 60 churches in his time as a minister and was also the first paid employee at Mount Olive College here in NC. So I was raised around it and grew up going to church, doing the youth group thing and all that. Then after a series of unfortunate events I sort of lost my faith I pulled away from the church and from God.

I started doing what I wanted to do... drinking, drugging, messing with married women, fighting alot doing alot of things I shouldn't have been etc etc etc.... I stayed in and out of trouble from my mid teens until my early mid twenties... I'd run wild all week long hurt people and not care. But it was funny if I did something particularly harsh or stupid and I got to feeling bad about it I'd just go to church and I'd feel better then I'd run around and do it all over again.

But the deeper and deeper I got the less and less I felt bad about the things I was doing. Then one day something clicked and I started feeling bad about it again....but by this point I had a beef with God... so I was willing to stop doing the stuff I was doing but I wasn't willing to ask for forgiveness. I met my wife got married.... I put on the religious face for her because it was important to her. But I wasn't taking it seriously... I was still holding my grudge.

But finally something happened thats alittle too personal to get in on here and I finally broke. I literally got on my knees and begged for forgiveness...I cried, I confessed, I begged and cried some more... then finally I felt something come over me and everything just stopped. I felt it inside.... Get Up....and so I did..and things changed for me that day.

I got to talking to some of my old buddies and they were still doing the same stuff we had been doing for years. And they were still going to church on Sundays and feeling that made all the shit they were doing during the week just fine. Well I've never been on to feel "right" by preaching to people about their lives and how what they are doing is wrong when I was doing the same or worse.

Well I got to talking to a fried of mine that I fellowship with and he said well pray about it. So I did.... I prayed and asked for insight into what to do and how to approach someone and help them away from a path that I know will lead them to a bad place.

Well Saturday the church we attend was having a block party... a big cookout and they showed a movie, and all the bible study groups were there for people that were interested in getting in one could talk to and see if the fit was right for them. Well I didn't really want to go, but I promised my wife I would go and so I went. My wife's cousin Carla was there and she had a couple of young guys with her.

The young guys were probably 19 or 20... there were 3 of them Ian, Johnathan, and Devin. Well I met them and we talked alittle and ate some dinner and sort of hung out. I noticed right away that Ian and Johnathan were high... and Ian was telling me he just got out of jail and was on probation for B&E in vehicles. But Devin was quiet... very polite and easy going. I asked Carla about him and she told me he was like a little brother to her but he was hanging around with the wrong crowd and it was a shame because he was such a good kid.

Well something clicked inside of me and I was just sort of drawn to Devin. We all played a few games of basketball and I talked with Devin afterward. He told me he would be coming to church on Sunday... I told him I'd be there. So that night I prayed about it and I really felt God telling me to try and help this kid, or at least to offer it. So I made a decision if he showed up at the service I'd talk to him.

So Sunday we went to church and him and Carla were there. We all sat together during the service and afterward I pulled him aside and talked with him. Turns out he's 61 days sober and is seriously trying to turn his life around. Said thats why he was coming to the church in an attempt to meet some people that had their life together better and people to be friends with.

I told him my story of when I was about his age and how I ran crazy and did alot of stupid things...hurt people... broke up a couple of marriages etc etc...and I had seen that the people he was hanging around eventually were going to pull him down with them because in the end they don't care about you.

I gave him my number and an open invitation to my house to come and cookout, play playstation3, mess with the dogs, or just to fellowship and talk alittle. He seemed to be very happy about that offer. And I made it clear he had to stay clean.... there'd be no showing up at my house drunk or high, but anytime he needed anything he could call.

So far things are going good with him and I am excited with the prospect of helping him get his stuff together. I truly feel God directed me to this young man and I hope that I can help him get stuff together.


Maybe I'll talk more about dogs next time....:) ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=310 To make matching less cruel.... http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=302 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:29:41 GMT I was speaking with a buddy of mine the other day and we got to talking about the old days of dog matching and how the sport got labeled cruel by... I was speaking with a buddy of mine the other day and we got to talking about the old days of dog matching and how the sport got labeled cruel by people who really had no clue about the sport on a whole. Now most everyone knows the rules of the sport known as The Cajun Rules- http://www.sporting-dog.com/select-pages/cajunrules.html - for those of you who don't there is a quick link.

Now our conversation went to the point of how the rules make the match less cruel by the simple fact that in a scratch and turn contest the dogs make the choice whether or not they scratch. Some argue that instinct drives them and they don't know what they are doing but I believe differently. I believe with a thought process like that you are selling your dog's intelligence short. Sure I can make my dog do things he doesn't enjoy doing but can you make a dog do something repeatedly that actually hurts them if they don't enjoy it? See I have a pen built for my dogs as well as chain spots, not to prevent escape form the pen I have a electric wire running around the pen, when you first put the dog in there they inevitably hit the wire a few times...then they stop because it hurts, and they learn the boundaries.... now my smartest dog will actually check the wire to see if its on...and if I cut it off she will attempt to dig out of the pen.

But I digress...... my buddy and I got to speaking about how could you take the rules and tweak them alittle just to make them alittle more socially acceptable to those people that still see the sport as barbaric and cruel.... he personally doesn't think they need changing at all.

Myself, I could see adding a few things to make it alittle softer for the general public...maybe not to accept but to tolerate. For example.....

I could see actually calling the match a draw after a certain amount of time.... make it so there is a 2 hour limit on the match and after that it is ruled a draw. Right now...from the best research I can do... 98% of matches never make it this long, and most matches are ended somewhere in the first 30 -45 minutes.

I could also see adding a vet stoppage rule... just like in other combat sports there are doctors ringside. So why not a vet pitside? After each turn is made and the handlers separate the dogs while in the corner have a vet check each dog and make a determination of the medical condition of the dog.

And that would go for before the match as well... a toxicology report would be ran on each dog to make sure it has not been put on steroids or any other performance enhancing drugs and to make sure no rubs have been used on the dogs.

I could also see having it sanctioned so that anyone found cheating would be banned from the sport and stripped of their match dogs. Then the HSUS could go after the back alley dog fighters instead of the professionals.


Now I know this is a pie in the sky theory....a pipe dream at best. I also know that the chances of this happening are about as good as it is for me to shit a gold brick.... but I honestly think it would work, and I honestly think it would make the sport alittle less cruel and barbaric. As long as you realize that you'll never make everyone accept it, I mean there are many places where MMA is still banned because it is "barbaric"....But I believe you could make this sport alittle more tolerable.

So feel free to add your tweaks to the rules in your responses...I look forward to readin them. ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=302 Been A While Since My Last Entry http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=300 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:42:45 GMT ... the one and only, that is :p

I'll say this much - getting laid off last month did not me much good; I feel a bit like a ship minus its rudder.

That is not having positive effects on my MS - the MonSter has taxed me more than usual lately.

What should have been a lovely excursion to one of our historical Ranchos turned into a physical struggle (for no apparent reason); I found navigating the slightly slanted paths and the occasional steps difficult :( ]]> Madeleinemom http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=300 Need help http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=297 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:11:05 GMT Our city is trying to pass an ordinance that will ban pitbulls in city limits. We have already done what we were told and leash them at all times... Our city is trying to pass an ordinance that will ban pitbulls in city limits. We have already done what we were told and leash them at all times outside. Our dogs are inside dogs and don't understand why we no longer let them play in the yard.You can see our pics. Our dogs barely know they are dogs. If they pass this, we will be able to keep them if we get insurance to cover any damage. We have 3 so I'm afraid we would not be able to afford it. We would have to move or get rid of them.If you know any way we can help fight this K-9 profiling, I would greatly appreciate it. Please anyone!! ]]> Popsw http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=297 Pics http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=296 Thu, 28 May 2009 04:43:26 GMT i added some new pics to my album :sonn_u11: i added some new pics to my album :sonn_u11: ]]> shawnhall0123 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=296 May 13/09 - What A Long Day http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=291 Thu, 14 May 2009 20:32:39 GMT So yesterday started off like every other day, I got up, grabbed my coffee and a smoke. Went to the backyard with Zeus and the other dog's. He did his business then hopped onto his chair and sat with me..

An hour or so later my phone rings and my buddy wants to come over with his 6 month old girl pitbull, i had no problem with that.

So they come over and we have Zeus and Tila out front meeting each other quickly and right away they get along. I kept Zeus muzzled for a couple reason's. Just incase he got a bit too agressive he wouldn't be able to bite, also trying to show him that his muzzle isnt a bad thing.. He dealt with it perfectly fine, had no problems what so ever with it.

So they played for about 3 hours, Zeus came in, had some food, did his thing again then had a nap.. Couple hours later we go for our walk and get a coffee and meet up with a friend of mine. We took Zeus to a closed off hockey rink with a chain fence all the way around and let him off leash, played fetch/keep away/raced, and piggy in the middle in the hockey rink for about an hour. Afterwards Zeus and I walked over to the girlfriends place (5 minutes away), he said his hello's, had a drink, played a bit then laid down.. About 45minutes to an hour later we leave to go play again at the rink.. Ran into an older guy playing fetch with his 13 month old chocolate lab.. I got Zeus to sit as they came over and Hershey (the girl) and Zeus got along great, they played a bit.. Chased the ball together, then we said our bye's and we continued onto the rink. We played until it got dark and none of us could see the ball anymore (had a few friends swing by to toss the ball with Zeus and I)..

As were about to leave we run into another friend of mine, Amanda, the one with the little pitbull puppy named Storm. (she is the one the rotti tried to attack, Zeus occasionaly goes on walks with them).. So we went for about an hour walk and then we left to go home..

Zeus played and walked in total about 9 hours yesterday, he's so tired today he even let me clean out his ears and brush his teeth lol.... But wow is he ever tired.. He's probably only played around for an hour today and it's only 2:30.. He usually would of been playing from 10-2 or so..



Oh also meant to say, while we were playing piggy in the middle with Zeus, the ball bounced over my head so I ended up jumping to get it at he came full speed at me, I was just about to land and he took my legs out.. I did a complete football spin onto the ground.. Funniest thing to happen in a long time.. Eveyone who came out yesterday ended up getting knocked down at least once by Zeus trying to snag the ball away before we caught it. :lol: ]]> JustinS http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=291 May 07/09 - The Day After Hell http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=287 Fri, 08 May 2009 04:45:02 GMT So to sum up last night Zeus and I went for a walk, we met up with a friend of mine and introduced him to the 5 month old little girl pitbull. Got... So to sum up last night Zeus and I went for a walk, we met up with a friend of mine and introduced him to the 5 month old little girl pitbull. Got along amazingly, but we did get "attacked" by two dogs. A really big rotti jumped the fence and went for the pup, then later a pitbull jumped out of the back of a truck and came for us.


Last night after posting what happened mandreweav sent me a message giving me advice. It read

Stop about 15 feet back from the fence. Dont look at the dog and stay as calm and assertive as you can. Make your dog sit there, I dont care how many times you have to make him sit, just make him do it and dont get frustrated. Get to the point he can just sit there for a while and just stand and act proud without looking at the dogs there next to you while these dogs are going nuts. When you feel like enough time has passed and your dog is very calm Just continue on your walk.
So just down the street from me there are two medium dogs behind a chain link fence and whenever anyone walks by them these dogs freak.. So i did as he told me too and within a couple tries Zeus understood exactly what I wanted him to do.. He sat there watching the other dog's, not growling or anything. We moved a little bit closer (about 5-10 feet away off the road) and he sat back down after a couple tries and just watched them.. We went for a walk aroung the block quick and came back to it. Did it a few more times but i was getting him to ignore the dogs, glanced every now and again at them, the last time he walked right by glancing over only once at them.. This really helped for later on in the day.


I took Zeus for his daily night walk and we went to my girlfriend's house, we played there for a while and then we ran to the store (taking Zeus with us). On the way back i notice at the next block there is a Boxer that was unleashed (still fairly young, only about 6-7 months old im guessin) and Zeus never noticed it and the Boxer never noticed Zeus.. So i kept zeus's attention and told him he was a good boy about his muzzle, etc.. He only put his head down 3 times today because of it.. So after a few minute's i decide to see if we can cross the street and get farther from the dog... Zeus notices it just as it noticed Zeus.. Tried walking a bit but Zeus was over excited and the dog was getting closer. I got Zeus to sit right beside me as the dog came only a few feet away. Zeus growled once and stayed at my leg sitting.. Finally the owner come's around the corner with two other dog's on a leash a momma who just had babies (the "utters" were hanging really low) and obviously the dad, Was very protective.. So he appologized and tied the dog's up, came over and we introduced Zeus and this Boxer.. They sniffed each other and after a while he gave Zeus and his dog a treat. They ignored each other afterwards and we continued our walk back to the girlfriends. Zeus never even looked at the momma dog or the protective older boxer. Only the young one because it got so close.

On the way back to my place we crossed a smaller dog and as soon as it saw Zeus and I it was jumping and barking like crazy (i could hear it through my ipod with the music pretty loud) and Zeus walked right by it, only looked at it when we were a few feet apart beside each other.

He's learning so fast, thank you very much mandreweav for the tip. I recommend everyone to try it. ]]> JustinS http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=287 Game Dogs and Thoroughbreds..... http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=283 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:08:53 GMT I recently read an article about a veterinarian that works at a horse track...the article covered her job as a vet and even touched on the history of... I recently read an article about a veterinarian that works at a horse track...the article covered her job as a vet and even touched on the history of the sport of horse racing even talked about the thoroughbreds alittle as well and it got me to thinking about the similarities between game dogs and thoroughbreds and even alittle about how horse racing and dog matching have some common bonds.


" In the paddock, 10 horses circle, models strutting on a runway, on display one last time for the gamblers to ogle before they place their bets. Shiny and sculpted, the Thoroughbreds revel in the attention. They are born to compete, and they show it in how they flatten their ears when behind by a length or bite a challenger who gets too close or stretch their necks to win by a nose and then pose for the cameras afterward."


That was a excerpt from the article.... and I think you could take that and change it to game dogs and it would fit perfectly. I hadn't really thought about it, until I read this article, to how much the game dog and the thoroughbred are alike. Much like the thoroughbred the gamedog is looked over by the gamblers and their pedigrees are scrutinized by breeders and possible buyers and much like the thoroughbred the game dog loves to compete and will die to prove how much they do love to compete.

I know many will argue my words and my beliefs... but I believe that the Thoroughbred runs because it loves to run, it runs because it enjoys the race. Not because there is a man sitting on its back... the horse will run regardless. We've all marveled at the beauty of the wild mustang running across open lands they they still inhabit... they run because it is what nature tells them to do.

And in the same breath I believe the game dog fights not because it is sat down in a box by a human and told to fight..... rather it fights because it is what the dog loves to do. If you take that same dog and turn it loose around other dogs more likely than not it is going to fight one of those dogs..... not because its mind was been warped by humans but simply because it revels in combat, as the thoroughbred revels in the race.

The animals are treated much the same... they are given the utmost care before and after their sport, and when they have proven themselves worthy they are retired to stud. And just as those dogs that are proven cur are culled... race horses are culled as well and sold for meat or sold to dog food companies or what have you.

The gamedog is I believe treated with more respect than the thoroughbred... I know of dogmen that have buried dogs that they lost too soon and they mourn the loss of those dogs. Lester Hughes (mountain man) had a gravestone made up for his dog CH. Homer. Then look at the race horses that were lost early in they careers and then sold to a dog food company or shipped to Europe and Japan for human consumption.... boy thats love for your animal right there. I wonder if they at least made it into a bag of premium dog food.....

Now just like not all game dog owners are heartless people that are in it for the money alone.... not all thoroughbred owners sell their dead horses for dog food. Look at Barbaro he was buried and treated like the champion he was.

Yes there are many "dogmen" that couldn't give a damn about their animals and see them as easy come easy go. But I believe the majority of the game dog owners feel the same about their animals as Barbaro's owners felt about him. They love their animals and truly mourn their passing.... and not because they are mourning the loss of potential money that will come from races/matches or studding that particular dog out and banking off of their offspring. No they mourn it because they become as close to friends as they can become with that animal.

The end of the article had another little excerpt that I found made me think of the dog game as well.

"They don't shoot horses anymore. They used to when horse racing mattered, back when it grabbed America like football does now-- back when it was more about the horses and less about the money...less about us."

Now while dog matching has never, even in its prime, been as popular as horse racing was... I believe the same influences that corrupted the dog game corrupted the horse game as well. Money.... plain and simple. Money was the killing shot that did the dog game in (in my opinion) When the owners have so much money on the line they are willing to do whatever it takes to win. And when they began paying bills with the money they made from peddling puppies they opened the circle than can never be closed again.

Using steroids, leaving a dog down longer than needed...instead of picking your dog up and shaking the hand of the other dogman and saying he had the better dog that day. All because they were stupid enough to bet the mortgage on the dog match.

In the end I don't believe dog matching can be saved and brought back to a legalized sport... and I believe if PETA and the HSUS have their way horse racing is well on its way to ending up like dog matching... and I believe the only thing that might save horse racing is the amount of money you have to have to get started....... its alot cheaper to buy a dog than a thoroughbred.

I am still surprised that the two sports and the two animals which I never thought of in the same light have so much in common to me. ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=283 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=271 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:35:33 GMT I thought I would knock a few lines out tonight as this line was said to me today and stayed with me today.

I was at my brother in law's (not the coon hunter) the other one... and he has a mess of chickens and roosters, and he has this one particular rooster I believe he called it an 'Americana' but I am not sure.... but it was ugly to me personally.... "Damn thats a ugly bird".. to which he shrug and informed me that the bird did the job needed and beauty was in the eye of the beholder.

This stuck with me and I began considering that along the lines of dog matching. To me when dog matching is done the right way... when it is done for the purpose of bettering the breed and preserving 'gameness'.... I must admit it is a beautiful thing to me.

Much like I guess boxing is considered the sweet science...and you watch as the boxers change their tactics throughout the fight to counter the other's defenses. and you have certain fighters that are head hunters, and others that are speedsters, you have brawlers, counter punchers, and technicians... all important to the sport all beautiful to watch in their glory.

I feel much the same about the dogs.... when I think back to match reports I've read and old timers I talked to.... never did I hear them speak of the money they made on a bet, it was always stories about the dogs. And it dawned on me that... it is a beautiful thing.

Much in the same way I say watching a horse run is a beautiful thing... just a big muscular creature running wide open for no other reason than thats what it was born to do and thats what comes natural to it.... like it or not it plays right along with the game dogs that I love so much.

I do believe, truly believe that these dogs enjoy doing what it is they do inside the box. And much like boxing each dog has its prefered style of fighting.. and defending. I've heard of dogs that displayed mutliple styles and would readily switch between styles mid match to counteract its opponents defenses.

Yes it is a "blood sport" but then again so is any combat oriented sport...and there will be the occasional death during the activity in question... I personally watched the match where Leavander Johnson was beaten by Jesus Chavez... and died 5 days later from injuries recieved during the fight. And after his death his manager "he died doing what he loved. He died a champion." I feel the same is true for each dog that is lost in matches.

But I also know that 9 out of 10 times a dog match is not allowed to go on long enough for one of the dogs to die... they either stand the line, or are picked up...and contary to popular belief the losing dog is not killed simply for losing. I can point out many many cases where a person at pit side would offer to buy the losing dog if its handler would pick it up. There is many a dog with a loss on its record that has gone on to produce. Because it is not the win that matters but it is simply whether or not the dog is proven game.

I love to listen to coon dogs and beagle track their intended prey... I love it! I get chill bumps hearing those hounds bay and chop... its a beautiful thing to watch an animal being allowed to perform their intended function. I honestly have a part of me that feels sorry for an animal that is denied this freedom..

Maybe I have a twisted sense of beauty...maybe I am alittle weird to think of a dog match as a beautiful thing.... but it is to me and beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all... and watch an animal doing what they love to do...what their instincts tell them to do is a beautiful thing!

I guess my brother in law was right...that rooster was beautiful, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.








This is Mountain Man's Ch. Homer... an amazing dog.. a canine gladiator... truly happy...and I feel part of that is because he was allowed to be what he was..and not in spite of what he was....a BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=271 Dog fighting vs Dog matching. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=263 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:43:28 GMT I wanted to take a minute and cover part of a subject that tends to come to the forefront when the American Pit Bull Terrier is discussed. There are... I wanted to take a minute and cover part of a subject that tends to come to the forefront when the American Pit Bull Terrier is discussed. There are alot of animal rights people out there that want to jump up and down and scream about how cruel dog fighting is, and I agree with them that dog fighting is cruel... that is why I prefer the word dog matching. There's a big difference between the two in my view. Lets start with a few examples....

Dog fighting to me is done by someone that really doesn't have or want a grasp on the reason why the activity is conducted. They don't understand that the activity is FOR THE BREED'S BENEFIT and not to line the pockets of the owner or the spectators watching the event. A dog fighter doesn't care about the breed, they don't care about the past or the future of these great animals. They don't understand that the reason why it is done is so that we have the best genes getting passed on the future generations.

Animals fight in the wild for the right to breed with each others. The strong survive and breed and pass their superior genes on to their offspring while the losers genes are removed from the gene pool. The same thing happens in the canine world, look at wolves for example. They fight to establish a pack structure, to determine everyone's standing or "rank" within the pack. The best male breeds with the best female to create the best, strongest, smartest pups to ensure the pack's survival.

That is how I look at dog matching. A dog that is properly matched is done so for the sole purpose of proving its worthiness to breed. You breed the best males to the best females to ensure that the best, strongest, smartest, pups are born so that we ensure the breed continues to stay the amazing breed it is. And the trait that is bred for is gameness....the sole thing that separates this breed from any other breed out there.

I think alot of the problems with dog fighting come from the money involved... if I was betting a few dollars on the outcome of a match I would be more worried about my dog's well being and I would look out and know that I should pick my dog up when it has been out classed. No sense in leaving a dog down against a superior opponent just to watch it get destroyed, no pick it up and live to fight another day.

On the flip side of that.... if I was to bet a big amount of money.. a few mortgage payments or a few car payments. Number one that is stupid to bet that kind of money on any sporting event. But if one was to put that kind of money on the line it leaves you wanting to win your money. So the dog gets left down against a superior opponent and takes unnecessary punishment, when it should be saved and picked up. But no it leaves you to tell the people pit side... "my dog has been here before...he knows how to come from behind." When you know you are just hoping your dog gets lucky and hits a bleeder.

I've heard tale of people pit side watching a dog fighter leave their dog down entirely too long... telling the owner to pick his dog up, even offering to buy the dog if he'd just pick it up. But thats when the money and the pride get in the way of the man.. and he no longer cares about the dog. He's more worried about the money he bet on the fight worried about the fact people will think his dog was a cur.

In the end if you've got a dog willing to scratch, if you got a dog that has proven himself game... and don't think for a second a losing dog can't prove himself game, why not pick it up and live to fight another day. The name of the game is for the dog to prove itself game, not to win the match.

And that is what the dog fighter doesn't understand. Its not about wins and losses..its about gameness and wanting to see this breed continue on being what it is.

Now not every old timer that pitted a dog was a dogman, in my opinion many were dog fighters and cared only about the money. But I firmly believe that there were more dogmen and women than dog fighters in the old days, and I am not so sure that is the way it is any more.

In the end, I wish I could convince people that game testing is a vital part of this breed's future because it was such a vital part of this breed's past. I wish I could convince people that there is no other way to prove gameness other than in the [ ] but to me there isn't. I wish I could convince people that allowing these dogs to be matched professionally by dogmen and women is the best way to ensure that we continue to enjoy this amazing breed. But I know that I am fighting a losing battle against the rescuers, JP Goodwin and his cronies and the PETA crazies. But it is a battle that is worth fighting in my eyes. That is why I firmly believe in quote that is my signature. I wish more people understood it and lived by it.

--"Those who want to live, let them fight, and those who do not want to fight in this world of eternal struggle do not deserve to live."- -
 ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=263 viedoes of Abby http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=258 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:27:40 GMT http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=52238181

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=52399961

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=52399321

tell me if u like the vids ]]> shawnhall0123 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=258 7 days without http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=245 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:14:05 GMT Tomorrow will be my seventh day without my beloved Kelly dog. I can say without a doubt this has been the hardest and most trying week of my life.... Tomorrow will be my seventh day without my beloved Kelly dog. I can say without a doubt this has been the hardest and most trying week of my life. The day of her death was torture. Feelings of guilt come and go. Did I make the right decision? I try to reassure myself, she couldn't walk, she couldn't move at all, she was at 59 respirations a minute, she couldn't even eat or drink water. I think it must be the crappiest feeling in the world when you make that decision. I just pray she forgives me. After 17 years her being gone just leaves such an empty place wherever I am. I still turn to look at her lying under the dining room table, but she isn't there. I wonder if she knows how much I loved her, how much I still love her? Is she happy, what does she do with her days in heaven? ]]> megschristina http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=245 Gameness.... http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=234 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:38:16 GMT As many of you know I am more of an old school APBT fan... or at least the old school way of doing things. It seems that more and more lately rather... As many of you know I am more of an old school APBT fan... or at least the old school way of doing things. It seems that more and more lately rather it be here on this forum or just the public's witch hunt against the APBT... gameness is seen as a bad thing or a liability. For the life of me I just can't seem to wrap my head around that line of thinking.

Now I've admitted on more than one occasion my views in general be it on the practice of dog matching, to politics, to religion hell even race relations do not mesh with the majority of society as a whole. I've been called everything from a dog fighter, to a heretic, to a neocon, to a white supermacist...... and I don't believe any of those facts to be true. I would discuss my views on politics, religion and race relations but I am sure I'd be censored since it would be a violation of forum rules...but on the more pressing issue at hand..... gameness...

It seems to me that more people here and other places are confusing gameness with aggression... and it's just not true. They can go hand in hand to a certain point, because in a fight there has to be some level of aggressiveness in the animal to make it fight back even if just to defend itself. But when it comes to the actually test of gameness.... Aggression will send a dog into a fight.. but Gameness, on the other hand, does not really make a dog a mindless fighting machine, but if the dog has no other choice but to fight, a game dog will fight until it wins or dies trying, and will keep going as long as need be.

It baffles me that people can look upon gameness... again this is true gameness not just aggression... with a sneer and think it is a bad thing. I've not heard one, not ONE argument that holds water as to how gameness can be a bad thing, and never have I seen the owner of a game bred APBT actually say gameness is a liability. When if you have that gameness in your dog you have truest example of the best qualities in the breed. More than likely when you own a game dog or at least a game bred dog you are getting an animal who's breeding was planned out ahead of time and they are bred for the best traits of the breed. They aren't some accident that ends up as a shelter dog in a few months, nor are they on the evening news as the "pit bull" that mauls the kid down the street.

I have often challenged people to show me one example when a truly game dog... mauled a person. And the ones that know history shout "Chinaman and Zebo" While i have long challenged their status as game dogs.. they were pit dogs, and I am not one to sit and say no pit dog has ever bitten someone. I will admit fully that they were unsound and more than likely should not have been bred. But I'm 100% sure I can find 100 more stories of where a "gotti style" pit bull has mauled someone or a byb bred pit bull has mauled someone than a truly game bred APBT.

The only human virtue that I can consider remotely close to gameness is just unwaivering courage. We've heard the stories of it mainly on the battlefield... soldiers that go into insurmountable odds because it what is called for. They do it because they are soldiers...and because instinct drives them. Much as the game dog crosses the line with broken legs, and scratches hard despite the injuries and the pain... they both can look at their opponent and say "You may kill me... but you can not defeat me."

I've been told that I am fighting a losing battle... and I have said many times I would rather see the breed extinct and read about its greatness in history books than to watch it become a shell of its former self. To watch this great canine warrior turned into a simple dog. because while I am guilty of muttering the phrase "Its just a dog" Gameness is what sets the American Pit Bull Terrier apart from every other dog breed on the planet and I just can't see how preserving that can be a bad thing. ]]> NcPrisonGuard http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=234 Fighting for Pits Part 3 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=229 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:49:49 GMT Something else being tried here that seems to be working BUT is NOT directly related to Pits although it helps with Pits also. Some areas have... Something else being tried here that seems to be working BUT is NOT directly related to Pits although it helps with Pits also.

Some areas have been trying a new way to rehome dogs.
Certain minimum security jails and detention centres have been taking in dogs (from shelters) as part of a Pets As Therapy program.

The prisoners being rehabilitated are allowed a dog (from a shelter) as a Pet and for Therapy.
The prisoners not only get a new friend to cuddle and talk to but are learning to be responsible.
The dogs coming from shelters are seen as being 'commrades' by the prisoners as they have both been locked up and faced hard times.
The dogs also get a loving family/friends, and are NOT facing death anymore. They get well fed, walked and cared for and seem to be very much in love with their new owners..
100 dogs are have now escaped the death penalty and are being cared for by prisoners in one prison alone. Imagine if ALL prisons could manage something similar????

The womens prisons take in bitches with pups or litters of pups.
The pups are getting much more attention than in a shelter/pound.
They get group and individual care as each woman gets attached to different pups.
The pups seems to 'flourish' and are growing into happy healthy well adjusted young adults, that are very social and outgoing. (they are rehomed easier)

With these dogs now escaping certain death at the pounds/shelters and with the amount being needed,,,,,there is much more time, space and money to care for other dogs that may have been PTS rather quickly...Pits!!!

See,,this isn't anything we have done directly to save Pits BUT in the long run,,it helps alot.
Most shelters etc cannot afford alot of dogs so those like Pits are PTS without alot of help or time. NOW these shelters with 100 less dogs can take the time/money to care/save and help a few more Pits.

We are hoping this will kick in, in most states/areas and more jails/detention centres will begin taking dogs. ]]> SadMushroom http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=229 Fight for Pits Part 2 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=228 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:10:38 GMT OK, The next major thing we do in OUR area is stay ON TOP of everything. We have someone who keeps in continual contact with our local council... OK,
The next major thing we do in OUR area is stay ON TOP of everything.

We have someone who keeps in continual contact with our local council and any smaller areas nearby who don't have anyone to do so. These people keep up with ALL Dog Acts (incoming and outgoing) especially relating to Pits or other restricted breeds.
They communicate with councils and rangers and keep us all posted as to what is happening.

We have someone who keeps in contact with pounds/shelters around the area and any other shelters within 100km's that take and rehome Pits. IF a Pit is picked up here where it is illegal to rehome them,,our 'contact' alerts us and we ALL jump in to have the Pit taken to somewhere else where it can be rehomed.

We ALL check regularly for ourselves on both areas BUT have found that if ONE person is in continual contact with council/rangers/shelters etc that a 'bond' seems to form between them and we get more headway than just having everyone contacting all the time.
Not only that but if the council/rangers/shelter gets the same calls/emails from a hundred people in a day or two they seem to get sick of it and end up being 'turned off' by the continual harrassment,,,,,,so having ONE regular person doing it means we are NOT seen as being ignorant or harrassing.

We need these people to see us as being organised, responsible and level headed.

For alot of people dedicated to this breed that isn't always easy to maintain. ONE harsh word at the wrong time can mean the "end of conversation".
Choosing someone who believes in our cause but doesn't actually own a Pit is usually better for these jobs.

We also have someone (ME) who keeps up with police and what is going on illegally.
Alot of drug dealers etc own pits as well as the illegal fighting ring.
THESE dogs are giving the breed a bad name due to the way they are treated and raised.
Most of these dogs have never seen a vet let alone get vaccinated, microchipped or registered.
They are kept hidden away, under houses and in garages etc and never see people,,so when police raid they are met by some pretty mean dogs.
It is my part to try and help where possible. Cannot say too much but it helps,,especially when there is a pit in need of help and because of my contacts with the police I can offer them options.

We all take it as our job to keep up with news reports etc and IF there is an attack, we go and double check the "facts" as stated by the news. We will talk to friends and neighbours and we do make sure if there was "misleading" going on that it is cut-short and the 'facts' reported.

We also take our pits everywhere with us.
Which is sometimes a pain in the ass as the laws here are very strict.
IF I take my pit to an outing I CANNOT even leave her with my 16yo son to hold while I go to the toilet!!!!!!!!!

You have to be 18yo or over and be sober (no alcohol at all) to be able to have a pit out of your yard.
The pit has to be muzzled, secure (chokerchain) collar and leash, and have a red/yellow striped flouro collar on.
It's kind of like trying to dress your kids before going out.

We have meet'n'greet pits, which attend local fete's, functions etc and go just to meet people and dogs.
The more they are seen in public,,especially with all that gear on,,,the more people ask WHY???? ]]> SadMushroom http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=228 Fight for Pits http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=227 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:03:52 GMT This could be long and more than one post so thought I would do it here rather than on the boards. With over 20years of fighting for the... This could be long and more than one post so thought I would do it here rather than on the boards.

With over 20years of fighting for the different breeds facing BSL, I have found that you cannot do it alone or without the help from others owning different breeds.
You may get 50 people all owning a APBT writing letters and making a stand but that will mean little compared to 25 people who own APBT and 25 people owning any other breed all banding together.

Each year here we have our own "Dogs Walk For Life". Thousands of people with dogs walk from different meet points to a final destination (usually on some government building lawn)
People from all over the country come with all types of dogs. (Other cities have their own dog walks and we attend them too)
We tie flouro tape around trees and poles so people from out of town know which way to go, and others join in as the people and dogs pass their houses etc.

Of course these walks are fighting for the life of ALL dogs, but lately the emphasis is for the Pits and we wear shirts and put up banners. From start to finish the walks are about 5km's, but people just join in where ever they feel comfortable walking from.

During the few days setting up, the day of the walk, then the days cleaning up,,,,there is like a week where every car and every person going passed cannot ignore the fight for dogs rights.
When people that have NO CLUE about what is going on in a pits life are suddenly faced with a few pits walking along merrily with a handful of other, often smaller dogs, it opens their eyes.
They go home and tell others what they have seen.
Some even turn up to the meet just out of curiousity or to see if anything happens...

You cannot just tell one person and convince them.
You need to put doubt into the minds of as many people as possible.
NOT by arguing or sending emails, BUT by showing.
When you show a few thousand people a heap of pits that are acting like every other dog it adds doubt to what they read in the papers or hear in the news,,,BECAUSE they have SEEN it with their OWN eyes.

Once that doubt is in place, they inturn start telling their family/friends,,,and they are doing half our job for us.
The next meet you end up with those peoples family and friends driving passed or stopping for a look because that DOUBT was placed in their heads and they want to see it with THEIR own EYES.

Some areas hold smaller meets and some make a one weekend a month thing out of it. Bottom line is,,, the more pits that are seen in public amongst other people and dogs in what is obviously a co-ordinated get together, the more people have to face up to the fact that they may have made a mistake in believing what they heard or read.

Seeing is believing. ]]> SadMushroom http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=227 1st Night Crate Training http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=225 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:05:52 GMT I took my kids to the library yesterday. I looked through the pet section and while there wasn't a large selection, I found a book called Puppy Preschool by John Ross and Barbara McKinney. There was a section about a puppy in it's new home and how separation anxiety can occur. It talked about how when people crate or confine their new puppy to a different room at night, they can feel "abandoned or isolated from the pack." In the wild, a pack of wolves/dogs would sleep together. When a puppy/dog is crated in a room with other pack members, they feel secure. I know some people don't believe in the whole pack thing, but it made sense to me. So out my daughter and I went to buy a crate for Callie. We came home with one we thought would be a good size for her once she's full grown. We set it up and put the partition that came with it, up to make the crate area small enough for the size Callie is now. Then we rearranged some furniture in my bedroom and put the crate by my side of the bed. At bedtime we took her out for one last potty and a little romp, hoping it would wear her out some. When we put her in the crate, she did cry some, but nothing terrible and it didn't last long. She cried a little bit off and on till around 1 a.m. Finally at 1 she really started crying and I figured she needed to go out and potty. So out in the cold we went. She peed almost immediately when I sat her down. I know they say not to carry them to the potty spot, but I knew she wouldn't make it all the way to the potty spot walking on her own. So, till she gets a little bigger and has more control, I'll just carry her. Inside and back to the crate. She whined and cried for a little longer. But she never went to the full yipping and howling like she had done when we had confined her to the kitchen. She finally settled down and went back to sleep till about 3. Run back outside, she peed the tiniest bit. Back to the crate, whine and cry, back to sleep. She did wake up and cry a little when my DH got up for work, but she quickly settled down when I reached out my hand and told her to go back to sleep. Back up and outside to potty at 6:30. Back to the crate, but I don't think either one of us really fell back asleep. But she wasn't making any noise, so I got up and took her to the kitchen with me. We let the other dogs out, she peed and pooped. Back inside for breakfast, a little play and back outside to poop again. Now she's playing with some toys while I'm writing this. All in all, I think it was a good night. I'm really impressed with how well she did in the crate. I really expected the complete meltdown like she had been doing when confined in the kitchen. We'll see how she does the next few nights, but this morning, I'm sold on the whole "being with the pack" concept. (not to mention the crate should really speed up our housebreaking process, fingers crossed.) ]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=225 Raising a Pit Bull Puppy From 4 Weeks http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=224 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:08:52 GMT We got Callie when she was a day shy of 4 weeks old. She should have stayed with her mom and litter mates at least 2 more weeks. So why did I bring... We got Callie when she was a day shy of 4 weeks old. She should have stayed with her mom and litter mates at least 2 more weeks. So why did I bring home such a young pup? I wish I had a really good, justified answer to that. But I really don't. All I can say is, I really don't recommend anyone follow in our footsteps. With Callie, we now have 7 dogs total. Probably 6 too many. :p

We took Callie for her 1st vet visit the day after we got her. We were told to supplement her with puppy "formula" at least 2x a day and offer her 3-4 small feedings of puppy food a day. The 1st few days she eagerly went after the formula supplement, but only from a bottle. If we put it in a dish, she would wonder over, smell it, then come back to us and sit and cry. At the end of a the 1st week, she was showing less and less interest in the bottle and more interest in real puppy food (slightly wet down with warm water). At 5 weeks 3 days, she was refusing bottle supplements at all and eating a good amount of puppy food 3-4x a day.

Sleeping at night.

When we first brought her home, she slept with my 14 yr. old and 3 of our other dogs. After all, it was her pit bull puppy that she had begged and pleaded for 2 and a 1/2 years to get. We felt sorry for Callie, we had taken her from her mother and litter mates to early, we couldn't bare her crying at bedtime. But after a week, my 14 yr. old was exhausted. Callie would get up once or 2x a night and want to play. The first few nights, she was too cute to resist. Then my daughter got sick. She didn't feel well and needed her rest, could Callie sleep in the kitchen in the puppy pen? Of course, no problem, except for the seemingly all night crying. Now no one was getting any sleep. But we somehow managed to hold out and now, though she cries and howls when we first put her to bed, it doesn't last long. We usually try to cheat and wait till she's tuckered out and has climbed into her dog bed by herself. But this doesn't always work. I'm still not sure she could "hold it" all night long, so instead of a crate, we have her in a puppy pen. It's big enough for her bed on 1 end and some newspapers at the other. Not sure if this is the right thing to do, but I felt it was better than jumping out of bed at every little whimper afraid she needed to go! Our newest problem? DH was off from work the 1st week we had Callie in the puppy pen at night. This week he's back to work, which means he gets up at 4:30 a.m. Callie starts crying the minute he walks into the kitchen. SO he lets her out a bit, gives her some attention and some puppy food. Then before he leaves he puts her back in the puppy pen. For the next 2 hours, I listen to her whine, cry and howl off and on. I can't quite figure out my timing of going and getting her out of the pen. I want her to associate being able to come out when she's being good and quiet. But the second she hears me moving, the crying etc. starts. I could stand in front of her till I was ready to pass out, but once she sees me, game over, I lose, she wins. She can cry etc., a lot longer than I can stand to hear it. She'll be 6 weeks old in 2 more days. My goal for myself is to do some research and see if she "should" be able to hold it through the night. Maybe it's time to start actually crate training. Then the only decision we have to make? Where in the world the best place for the crate is and how to deal with the mornings since Dh gets up so much earlier than the rest of us. ]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=224 tiger attack blamed on a pitbull http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=223 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:52:20 GMT I was surfing the web and i came across this article. When three tigers attacked a worker at an exotic animal park in southwestern Missouri on... I was surfing the web and i came across this article.

When three tigers attacked a worker at an exotic animal park in southwestern Missouri on Monday all eyes were on the Pit Bull. In an attempt to cover up the tiger attack, the owners and associates at the park went ahead and cleaned up the site, telling authorities that the victim had been attacked by a Pit Bull. Only later during the weekend were authorities told what really happened, and were subsequently led to the tiger’s carcass, which had been taken to another property as part of the cover up. Sandra Smith, one of the owners of the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya animal park, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she had initially misled authorities because she feared the facility’s animals would be euthanized if authorities learned the truth. Why did the investigators not question why a Pit Bull would have been inside of the park in the first place? And how could someone, who allegedly is a supporter and lover of animals, use one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented breeds to take the fall for an attack carried out by a wild animal?!
This story is just another example of the way in which Pit Bulls are viewed in our society, and here we have yet another person that has worked to further the hysteria and stereotypes surrounding these animals. The fact that no one initially questioned the fact that a dog attacked someone inside of a wild animal park enclosure is saddening, but the fact that the owners of the animal park would even choose to cover up the incident by wrongfully blaming the Pitbull is even more so.
No arrests have been made in the case, and no one from the animal facility has been charged with any wrongdoing, despite the fact that in 2003, the Smiths surrendered their license to exhibit the animals. Their license was later revoked after the USDA said there were violations at the site, including gaps in fencing where lions and tigers lived.
The person injured in the attack has undergone surgery on their leg and is expected to make a full recovery. ]]> philly pitbull http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=223 Unbridled Ignorance any Hypocracy http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=222 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:09:42 GMT I know this may sound crazy, but lets try to use logic and reason as a basis for this discussion. Let’s say, hypothetically, that 2009 becomes the... I know this may sound crazy, but lets try to use logic and reason as a basis for this discussion. Let’s say, hypothetically, that 2009 becomes the year of Golden Retrievers… and not in a good way. Imagine every time you leave your house you see more and more pseudo-gangsters and rednecks with these dogs- collectively beaming with ignorance and testosterone. You start to hear about underground dog-fighting rings in your town and soon innocent family pets and even children are getting attacked on a weekly basis. Golden Retrievers become the new rage in “security” and you realize SCUMBAGS are exploiting them for their own sick pleasures. Would you insist these beautiful animals be wiped out because of a disgusting trend? Would you advocate the removal of beloved family pets and arresting their owners? What would YOU do if YOUR breed of dog was suddenly demonized and required by law to be turned in to authorities to be put to sleep? Even if it were a certified/licensed therapy or police dog, it would STILL be killed. Do you think this is rational or right in ANY sense?

According to this logic, MEN should all be put to sleep as well. After all, statistically they are more violent, aggressive, and unpredictable. Throughout history they have been responsible for virtually all rapes, kidnappings, domestic violence, corruption, and murders. They are responsible for just about every negative thing since the beginning of time: yet we still allow them to roam the streets, care for our children, and make monumental world-changing decisions. Should we ban them as well?

I simply do not understand how ANY intelligent person could be an advocate for this ban on Pitbulls. It is both illogical and Fascist as far as I’m concerned.

The people responsible for the production of dangerous dogs are the same people who commit violent and dangerous crimes themselves! THEY are what’s wrong with society and until we deal with the root of the problem innocent people will always pay.

HOW DO YOU NOT SEE THAT? These people need to be HEAVILY fined and jailed for the TORTURE AND ABUSE OF INOCENT ANIMALS. Do you have ANY idea of the conditions of these dogs when they are rescued? HOW DARE you put the blame on them after the hell they’ve gone through. If any of you had personal experience with these dogs you would see they are just as loving and gentle as any other breed. PERIOD. They DO NOT have locking jaws, they ARE NOT born killers, and they DO NOT have the most powerful bite. Like people, however, they will mirror their environment and behave how they’re raised. Do some research before regurgitating false information.

I have no problem with the idea of mandatory sterilization of Pitbulls. There are millions on death row as we speak and the only reason people breed them is to fight them. The fines for dog torture (starvation, cutting or any other slow and painful death) should be a SERIOUS FELONY with YEARS of jail time. I also believe a background check is reasonable for the purchase or adoption of large dogs.

I am sorry for the injury to anyone who has also been a victim of dog abuse. I would go after the owner myself and make sure they paid for it, by any means necessary. I do not, however, believe in defaming an entire breed, an entire nation, or an entire race based on the actions of a few. ]]> jamiemichelleis@gmail.com http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=222 How do I chage my screen name http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=221 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:22:38 GMT Could some body tell me how to change my screen name Could some body tell me how to change my screen name ]]> 619loc http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=221 What u think http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=219 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:14:48 GMT i was was wonderin wat u guys think about my 6 week old pit Abby i was was wonderin wat u guys think about my 6 week old pit Abby ]]> shawnhall0123 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=219 <![CDATA[Pitbull "Boil sore"]]> http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=218 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:39:55 GMT My pitbull has these like "boil" type of things on his legs. Sometimes they pop out orange gooey stuff? What could this be? ]]> mrcpne2007 http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=218 is my dog too protective? http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=217 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:17:15 GMT my 11 month old true is a great family dog, family being myself my fiance and his daughter. and she gets a long great with our other pitt trouble.... my 11 month old true is a great family dog, family being myself my fiance and his daughter. and she gets a long great with our other pitt trouble. but whenever she hears someone by the door she starts growling, or if she hears a noise by the window she'll start barking.
and if someone comes by our car... forget about it. she goes nuts!
and i noticed she doesnt like when theres like big things passed over her head.
the other day i brought her by my dads..and she was sitting right at my feet..as she always does. and my dad came over to me to show me a piece of paper... and she started going nuts barking and growling at him.. she didnt lunge or anything.. but he made me take her outside (he's a pitt- profiler, so that was a BAD first impression)
please someone tell me if i'm wrong...
but i honestly think that she was trying to protect me. even though he wasnt going to do anything to me.. it was the way that he came over with that paper.. over her head.. and very suddenly... she thought that he was coming for me?... am i right?.. or does anybody think that i'm just out right defending my "baby"? ]]> truetrouble http://www.pitbull-chat.com/blog.php?b=217