[PitRottMommy]

I'm curious to see how many of us switched horses in the middle of the river and how many of us already knew how awesome APBTs were...so I'm including a poll, too.

I want to know everyone's story.

I've been in the veterinary field for quite some time. I've been through good dogs, bad dogs and everything in between (including reptiles, amphibians, exotic cats, hoofstock and one very sweet clinic mascot that was an armadillo named Armand). I have always had an affinity for the look of the APBT and the drive. I cannot really tell you what turned me on to the idea of having one, but last year about this time my boyfriend at the time bought me a 1.5 year old male named Chico. He was, supposedly, of Razor's Edge blood...but who's really keeping tabs on these things, right? It wasn't until I had Chico that I realized the gooberish temperment on these silly beasts. You know the stereotype. Locking jaw, complete drive to kill. I can't really tell you what Chico's drive in life was...but he was a complete goober in front of the camera and he loved his car rides.





He loved sleeping in bed with me. For some reason, he never liked my ex. Chico would walk right up to the side of the bed, stick his head under the covers, lick your arm, nuzzle his head a little closer and then (with his head under the covers) try to get into bed with you. This involved him being unable to see now...and he'd step all over you (we're talking 75#s of muscle, ladies and gents---boy wasn't little, esp. in a queen sized bed with a king sized boyfriend). After making his break into the bed, he'd want his belly scratched and lay out on the bed with his head on your pillow...and he'd steal covers!! HE WOULD!!!

In the car, you'd think he was going to fall out of the window. Lord, don't turn that A/C on...someone roll the windows down! He'd lean as far out of the window as he could...tongue flappin' against the side of his square head...coating my truck in his slobber. Occassionally, he'd look back as if to say "HeeeeyyyHeyyyyyyyyy! Duuuuudes, check me out!".

I only had Chico 10 days before my ex and I broke up and he stole him from my apartment. But I was "scarred" for life. My previous affinity for other dogs quickly vanished behind this breed that I now loved to love.

Don't get me wrong, stereotypes still keep my hands in my scrub pockets most days...but every staff member in the clinic knows that come hell or high water I'm the "pibble" technician. Everyone has their favorite breed. The world knows mine Call me a rebel!

I'm still reluctant to touch the APBT I dont know. Some are aggressive, some submissive, others not socialized...but most are loving, excited to be there, happy-go-lucky, soaking up life animals. And that is the epitome of an APBT in my mind. I won't ever go back.

[Wyldmoonwoman]

I was a hater and terrified of pit bulls...I knew a few and even though they were nice dogs, I believed that they could "snap"

I never wanted a pit bull but through some crazy circumstances ended up with a poorly socialized abused dog that spent her entire first year of life in a cage. I certainly wasn't prepared for what I got! I almost had my dog put to sleep because she was agressive towards some people, my vet made me get her evaluated before he would put her down...it turns out that she was fearful and acted agressive because she wasn't socialized.

So I inherited a project dog...she has responded beautifully to consistent training and slow socialization and she is really the love of my life, everyone loves her and she is so well behaved. I would never have another project dog again, it was ALOT of work. We still have some issues to work on becuase she does not do well in unfamiliar places and needs to have a consistent routine.

Miss Thorne also loves car rides, when I grab my keys she runs in circles at the door and sometimes she will sit in my car in the driveway and give me the puppy dog eyes.

[PitRottMommy]

Brogan and Bryce are just as bad with car rides. Bryce wants to sit on the seat...but Brogan. It's his job to sit in the car with his head parallel to the window and randomly bite the air. My APBT is such a dork. Don't tell anyone. He thinks he's a pimp

[bahamutt99]

I was 8 years old and had never heard of a Pit Bull when I came in contact with the breed. The dogs did their own convincing.

[Michele]

I always loved them. Never judged them.

[jeoestreich]

I never met one until I started dating my current boyfriend. I never had an opinion about them whether good or bad. I try to form my opinions based on experience rather that second hand information. Queen is a sweet nature girl and the first time I met her she climb right into my lap and it was love at first sight.

[buddysmom]

I used to be afraid of pit bulls.

Then I learned they were really good "people dogs" but I also learned that they were so overbred, abused, fought, etc. that I STILL supported BSL "for their own good" (I am really ashamed to say this) ...

Then some good people on another forum set me straight about this twisted POV, and I really started to research the APBT and related breeds in depth to make up for my previous ignorance.

And most importantl I sought out the pit buills in my neighborhood; on my walks and in the shelter I volunteer at sometimes, and really got to know how wonderful they are.

I still hate BYB-ers and dogfighters by ANY name but I do love the pit bull with all my heart now and no one can say otherwise.

[PNWPBR]

Great thread!!!


So growing up I had a collie, a chow and some corgi's.... not your typical APBT. The chow was the only dog that was mine, the others were my sisters and I loved that dog more than anything I knew in my preteenage and teenage years. The chow my parents took away when I was 15 because he did what Chows do, he protected me (yes he was neutered) and his backyard. He eventually got to the point where only my mother or I could pet him and they decided he was unsafe. While I now see and understand the signs and what he was doing.... at that time I was crushed and devastated.

I didn't own another dog until 5 years ago when I thought I was adopting what I was told was a Pit Bull and Chow mix. I had friends over the years that had Pit Bulls and I really liked their energy and goofy antics, and then the Chow of course was my love from childhood. I found the dog on Petfinder, no picture, but something told me she was the one for me. I dont know why.

I filled out an application, passed the screening, and my daughter who was 1 at the time and I went to meet her. My parents were so mad at me for considering adopting a dog that had two of the "worst dog breeds!" in her.

She urinated when she saw me and hid under a table.

I came back a second time.

and a third, and then a fourth.

Then I took her on a trial and for some reason which my husband still doesnt understand, I fell for the fearful dog who could not look me in the eye. The dog who would urninate or defecate on the spot if scared, the dog that I had to leash to me for almost a month just to get her used to me.

The dog who was called a Pit Bull and Chow mix, who turned out to be a Pit Bull and Cane Corso mix.... who turned out to be my soul-mate and the best dog in the world.

It is because of her that I started my research on Pit Bulls. It is because of her that got me started doing what I do now. It is because of her that I tell myself that I will not let what happened to her happen to another dog.....

I owe a lot to this dog, mostly for teaching me how to love a dog again.

[pitrottdaddy]

I was never really a fan of the APBT. I believed all the stereo types and never really wanted to be around them. Then I met Pitrottmommy and made an agreement with her that we could get an APBT if we could also get a Rottweiler. My views have changed a lot and having two of the most feared breeds and knowing that they are very well behaved and would not hurt a fly. Both of our boys are great and I love them very much. Thank you Pitrottmommy and Brogan for showing me not to believe everything the press says.

[Irena]

can't chose neither of the answer above
i never belive stories becaue i know ppl all to well
but i never liked pit bulls etc not because i tough anything of this true but because i didn'ttake them as my kind of breed as i don't like labs, shar peis and many many littel dogs
but after living for the past 3 years with pit bull femal and am.staff male i can say that no matter what we will always have one of those at home, probably spayed but he orshe will be there for sure lol

i got my first one in 1984. first dog i ever owned. my parents wouldn't allow us to own any animals. seemed strange to me since they both grew up in the country. my dad on a farm. anyway, the APBT was the first dog i ever owned and only breed i've ever owned since then. i'll tell the truth. i was 18 and got my first one to have a cool dog. it took about 2 days for me to see the special characteristics of this breed and i was hooked forever. the devotion to humans is what will always have me thinking these dogs are the best!

[fearlessknight]

I always thought that only ghetto and street thugs owned pitbulls, and that they were always trained to fight them and be aggressive to humans, until I learned otherwise....not that to an extent some of this isn't true, but I have learned that they are not the only ones that have them...
I thought this because everytime you heard about a pit bull mauling, it always seemed to have involved the above type person.....I did not want to be in that class, even though I like the dogs....I am glad I know better now...

[Patch O' Pits]

From the first time I met an APBT I knew that was the breed I wanted

[monkeys23]

I chose the sterotypes option, but I didn't really have any--it was more like I was oblivious. I had really only ever been exposed to various breeds of cowdogs, although apparently my mom had had both a doberman and a APBT at different times much earlier in her life.

So when my boyfriend (who has no time for a dog) had this dog given to him by some drug addicts at the bar where he worked (this was after a long unsuccessful attempt to get a rottie puppy btw), I went over to his house late one night. The poor thing was scared of everything, growling a little because he was nervous. I just lean over and let him sniff my face and it was like we just became best buddies, all of a sudden hes licking me and wanting pets. I'm so attatched to this dog, he's my best buddy.Next time I have to get a new dog, I'm totally getting another APBT.

My dumb boyfriend was like "Aren't you scared of him?"... he actually said that again recently. Maybe if he petted him he'd realize what a nice dog he claims as his... bitter, I'm not bitter...

Anyway, I'm kind of in shock still from finding out just how prejudiced people are against APBT's and AmStaffs. I don't understand how people can fool themselves into being that blind because I didn't have to do much research to figure out just how rich a history these dogs have with their people (the awful things that happen to them aside). My "landlord" even thinks that the breed has an HA aggressive line in their temperment that they will eventually cross and turn on their people. What the hell?

On the other hand my Mom has nothing but good stories about her beloved Buster.

[mealony]

two years ago, i had a neighbor who had a litter of pit pups. she had three small children and the moma dog just adored these kids. i was amazed at the patience the moma dog had with these kids(more patience than myself)haha anyways long story short, she had one puppy left and i took him home with me.now 2 years later, hes the love of my life.words cannot describe what this dog means to me.he is so loving and sweet.i now have 3 pits,dirty(2yrs),then sadie(15months) and my new babygirl zoey(7months).people tell me my dogs are spoiled, i say shh, they dont know they're dogs and they arent spoiled, just loved alot!hbaby:

[copasetic1011]

I have had various types of pets in the past, but I have always held a special place in my heart for pitbulls, my first pit was named Cujo and everyone was scared to death of him except our family! Over the years I have had a couple more but it seems that they get stolen right out of my yard, I now have 2 kids at home, ages 12 and 9, and once again everyone was scared for the kids when I bought another pitbull, but that dog loved the kids more than he loved me it seemed! I just recently purchased another one a red nose male pup named Bodie and already everyone has fallen in love with him and I will never own another breed of dog!

[Pirbul-Bongo]

When i was a kid i was really afraid of all dogs, i got bit by a giant snauzer and i would run in panic to see any dog from any size.

I got my first dog that was a female from unknown breeding,she was small and fat because we didnt walk her and he finally died.

Then switched homes and a friend of mine showed me his brother female. I literally fell in love, i didnt know the breed but this brindle dog got my heart in a sec... i was afraid she was dangerous then she PETTED me lol, the sweetest thing i ever seen, small,strong and loving dog... who needs more?

This was before all the "pitbull boom" in Spain, my friend got a litter and gave me a dog off this female that i named Bongo and few months late came the pitbull fever to here,then late all the pitbull hate,BSL and everyone got rid of those dogs but the real dog lovers... 10 years later i got this pup, this time papered dog and now being more experienced with the breed and once APBT.. always APBT!!! Hes right now 7 months old and looking really good

[Jalelia]

I actually never had a formed opinion of pitties until I owned one with my ex boyfriend. Her name at first, was Ooze. She later became Jade. I had never had a dog of my own, so she was extra special. She was such a sweet little thing when she was a pup. She was very petite, and all black, with some white on her chest. Neither my boyfriend or I were able to keep her, so my older sister and her husband took her. After that I would watch her when they would go away on vacation, and I became more and more in love with her. After her, I made it my life mission (seriously) to own one of my own. I had never met a dog so loyal, so sweet, and so intelligent. Not to mention they are just beautiful animals. They have a solid build, but yet their eyes are so gentle. I did tons and tons of research within a span of approximately 3 years, and I finally ended up with my very own pitty. I don't plan to own any other breed, as of right now. I am very much so biased. Even my sister has owned nothing but pitties since Jade. She grabbed a hold of our hearts, and never let go. She is now deceased. A terrible accident. RIP Jade

[Jalelia]

Originally Posted by PNWPBR Great thread!!! So growing up I had a collie, a chow and some corgi's.... not your typical APBT. The chow was the only dog that was mine, the others were my sisters and I loved that dog more than anything I knew in my preteenage and teenage years. The chow my parents took away when I was 15 because he did what Chows do, he protected me (yes he was neutered) and his backyard. He eventually got to the point where only my mother or I could pet him and they decided he was unsafe. While I now see and understand the signs and what he was doing.... at that time I was crushed and devastated. I didn't own another dog until 5 years ago when I thought I was adopting what I was told was a Pit Bull and Chow mix. I had friends over the years that had Pit Bulls and I really liked their energy and goofy antics, and then the Chow of course was my love from childhood. I found the dog on Petfinder, no picture, but something told me she was the one for me. I dont know why. I filled out an application, passed the screening, and my daughter who was 1 at the time and I went to meet her. My parents were so mad at me for considering adopting a dog that had two of the "worst dog breeds!" in her. She urinated when she saw me and hid under a table. I came back a second time. and a third, and then a fourth. Then I took her on a trial and for some reason which my husband still doesnt understand, I fell for the fearful dog who could not look me in the eye. The dog who would urninate or defecate on the spot if scared, the dog that I had to leash to me for almost a month just to get her used to me. The dog who was called a Pit Bull and Chow mix, who turned out to be a Pit Bull and Cane Corso mix.... who turned out to be my soul-mate and the best dog in the world. It is because of her that I started my research on Pit Bulls. It is because of her that got me started doing what I do now. It is because of her that I tell myself that I will not let what happened to her happen to another dog..... I owe a lot to this dog, mostly for teaching me how to love a dog again.

I was nearly brought to tears! A beautiful story, and your dog is very lucky

[Suki]

i got my first APBT exactly 21 years ago. then had rotts for 15 years and now APBT's again (back into them 5 years now) and i think i have an affinity for the "misunderstood" breeds simply because we, as humans, have done this to them, (labeled them, imo, unfairly) which makes me love these breeds ALL the more and makes me WANT to 'fight' for their rights. so, no, not, nor never a bias, more a predisposed, unconditional love on my behalf, i guess you could term it...