Pit Bulls...What Do You Think?

American Pit Bull Terrier
without cropped ears

Aaahhh...the ever controversial "Pit Bull" discussion. When I talk about Pit Bulls I'm referring to the American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. I don't include the Bull Terrier (the Target mascot dog) into this group because they usually aren't mistaken as a Pit Bulls since they don't have the "boxy" looking face like the other three.

To some, Pit Bulls are scary, vicious, people killing machines. This was not always the case. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century these dog were considered "Nanny Dogs". In fact, Helen Keller's dog was a Pit Bull, as was the dog on "The Little Rascal's". So how did these dog go from being a common family dog, who was considered loyal and protecting of children, to being feared and banned in many cities? That's easy...stupid people. Individuals who saw dog fighting as a sport became very interested in these dogs because of their muscular physique and fearless nature. These horrible people started to breed these dogs into aggressive, reactive animals who were willing to fight to the death. Since the areas the dog fought in where pits in the ground, these dogs became known as Pit Bulls. Although Pit Bulls have the traits to be aggressive, if raised correctly and socialized well they are much less likely to show any aggressive behavior. Beware though, they can lick you to death.

As I'm sure you've noticed, I'm being careful not to say that they can't hurt people but I believe any breed of dog will react differently based on each situation. As much as I wish I were the Dog Whisperer, because I think he's extremely talented, I'm not. Therefore, I don't know why one dog reacts differently than another. I use to live next door to a family who had a Lab that was the sweetest dog ever...until it bit my friend's hand. Did that make me think ALL Labs are unpredictable? Not at all. It just shows that dogs have their own personalities. Some bite, others run away and others would just not be bothered by the same situation.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier
with cropped ears

I also believe the media has a huge part in portraying Pit Bulls in a negative light. There have been many reports of dog attacks that have said to be Pit Bulls, when in fact it was a Lab or Boxer or some other large breed dog. Not everyone can detect what a Pit Bull looks like. The media knows it will get a more reactive response, therefore more ratings, if they say it was another one of those "vicious" Pit Bulls then it being a Lab or Retriever. Yet, you have to search for the "Hero" Pit Bull stories because they usually aren't broadcast on prime time as the horror stories are. Just recently I've found quite a few stories on Pit Bulls being heroes. In one story, a man was trying to stop an intruder from entering his home. His Pit Bull bit the man and was shot in the head by the intruder in the process. Once the dog let go, the man took off. Thankfully, the dog survived because the bullet ricocheted off his thick skull. Another story involved a little girl, I think around 3 years old, who wandered off from her home and was found hours later in the woods by her neighbor's house. Her Pit Bull was by her side, just as a Nanny Dog would be. The media is not as willing to tell these stories though because that would go against the main stream of how horrible Pit Bulls are "suppose" to be.

When people ask me if I'm afraid Maci will hurt my son...she sleeps in his bed with him every night..I want to high five their face. Do they really think I would have a dog that I'm afraid will hurt my child anywhere near him? Of course I'm not worried. Maci would run away from something before she would bite. Will she correct dogs at the dog park when they won't leave her alone...yep! That's what dogs do. They teach each other manners and will let each other know when they are done playing...or sick of getting sniffed in between the legs like Maci does. I've only heard Maci bark 5 times since we've adopted her. Twice she barked because something scared her and the other 3 times were to let Meeko know she was all done with his craziness.

I've learned a lot about Pit Bulls since adopting Maci. I've learned they are amazing, loyal, friendly, misunderstood, stubborn dogs. I've learned to become an ambassador for the breed and not reacting like a crazy woman when people make ignorant statements about them. I've learned they are one of the most forgiving and appreciative dogs. Most of the rescue Pit Bulls I've seen are so thankful and happy that they've been given a second chance. I've learned they need to be exercised and mentally stimulated unless you want them to find things to do on their own...which usually means finding your prized possessions torn to shreds (I miss you pink suede boots!!). I've learned they can have horrible upbringings and pasts but can make the most loving dogs when given a chance.

I have a feeling Meeko was the instigator in this 
war with the kleenex but Maci wasn't afraid to 
take the blame.

I could go on and on about how wonderful this breed of dogs is but I think you get the point. They need structure, a strong pack leader, love and patience. They are not fighters, they are lovers. The unfortunate truth is too many people abuse, torture and make these dogs fight to make them money. I've seen too many graphic pictures of dogs who have been used as bait dogs or have been tortured because they lost a fight and it makes me sick. Pit Bulls can and do feel pain. They are like any other dog that just wants to be loved and show love back.

American Staffordshire
Terrier Puppy

I encourage all those that think Pit Bulls are evil dogs and should be euthanized on the spot to volunteer at a rescue for Pit Bulls. Find out their past and then look at the dog who's spirit is broken and defeated and tell me the dog deserved that treatment. Work with the dogs, let them get to know you and see how just a little attention and love gives them happiness and hope. If, after you have worked with these dogs for even a month and still feel the same way, then fine. Everyone has their own opinions but I would find it hard to believe that they won't steal your heart and change your mind. My Maci has my heart and even though she's terrified of life, I know if I needed her to protect me or my son, she would.

One last note...please adopt, don't buy. There are so many dogs in facilities waiting to die because people feel the need to breed their dogs. Help stop innocent animals from dying everyday and adopt your next fur baby.

What Should You Be Feeding Your Dog?

I think most people question what they should be feeding their dogs. It was a big question I had when adopting Maci. There are so many different brands and I was clueless on what would be best for her. There are 3 different kinds of dog foods you can feed your dogs. There is raw, which is the best option but is expensive for most dog owners. Then there is dry or soft food, each has their own benefits depending on your dogs needs. I'll be addressing dry food, since that seems to be the most commonly used for dog owners. 


When determining a pet food brand make sure you look for a few things. 

1. Make sure the first 5 ingredients are not fillers (corn, by-products or wheat gluten. To fill you in on by-products, it's things other than meat (not used for human consumption) such as eyeballs, tendons, lungs, spleen, kidneys,brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hooves. This is according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

• Although corn is not considered toxic for your dog, there have been reports of allergies and behavioral issues related to dogs who consume corn. I stay away from it since people can't even digest it properly so why would a dog...but that's my 2 cents. 
• Just remember, the more fillers, the more clean up on the other end. Maci only poops once a day...Meeko about 3 times, but he's much smaller. Maybe too much information for you but it shows you that with a good dog food, you don't have as much to clean up.

1. Any meat should be named...such as "beef", "lamb", "chicken", etc. Do not buy a product that just has "meat" as the listing for the meat ingredient.
2. Never buy a product with “by-product meal” or “meat and bone meal.” The quality of these meals can vary from batch to batch and are not a reliable source of nutrients for your animal.
3. Try and find a brand that is labeled “AAFCO guarantee". This means the company has either met a list of nutrients or contents or passed an actual feeding tests. Feed tests are actual clinical studies, although not guaranteed, it is the preferred method to go by.
4. Avoid store or generic brands. These are rejects from the larger manufactures that contain poorer quality and cheaper ingredients.

My thought is, dogs use to forage on the land. Do you think they ate grains and fillers before they would eat meat? The sad fact of the matter is, most dog food is made out of dead, dying or diseased animals. Traces of pentobarbital, the most common euthanasia drug, is found in most pet foods. The common myth of dead cats and dogs in pet food is no longer the case, but it was common practice years ago.

So what do I feed my babies? They are fed Life's Abundance Premium Dog Food. It is shipped right to my house...I even have autoship so I don't have to remember. I know that it hasn't sat in a warehouse, then on a truck and on some store shelf for months before it gets to my dogs. That whole process can take months! No, I don't get any sort of kick back for mentioning this product. I just really like the product. It follows all the guidelines listed above, minus #3, but I did do research and this company has never had a recall on their food. That is huge for me! I guess the little bit of extra cost for dog food is worth it since I know it will save on health related issues down the road. 


What are some other things you look for when buying your pet's food?

"Tick" the Season

Tick season is in full swing here in the Midwest. So what can you do to help protect your dogs and cats?
First, you need to make sure that you have a good tick preventative. Frontline and K9 Advantix are two of the better known monthly topical treatments. I've found a cheaper option that works just as well called, BioSpot. You can buy it at Fleet Farm for around $13 for a 3 month supply. There are other treatments you can try such as tick collars, herbal supplements, dips, sprays and powders. I find the topical treatments to be the easiest to administer though. 

Ticks aren't just gross and irritating for your dog, they can carry deadly diseases that pose serious threats to your pet. The following are 2 of the most common tick-borne diseases.

• Lymes Disease, which is carried by Deer Ticks and most prevalent here in the Midwest, is the most common of the disease passed by these nasty buggers. Symptoms include, arthritis, loss of appetite, fever, swollen lymph nodes, lethargy and change in their gait. If left untreated, kidney failure can occur with is often fatal for your dog. My Aunt's dog Molly (Rest in Peace) went deaf after contracting Lymes disease. 
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is another disease transmitted by ticks. This disease, can show similar signs of Lymes disease symptoms but can also cause more serous issues. Some dogs have had seizures, pneumonia,& hemorrhages in the retina and may also develop blood in the stool or nose. Renal failure is also a major concern. Symptoms usually occur within 2-14 days after the tick bite.

Second, make sure to check your dog regularly for ticks. Although most ticks live in forested or tall grassy areas, your dog can still pick them up in your back yard or on a walk. Check around their head, ears, neck, feet and skin folds extra carefully as this is where most ticks like to hang out. If you do find a tick on your dog do not just pull it off. The proper way to extract a tick is; 

• Apply rubbing alcohol to the tick and pull straight off with a tweezers. 
• Do not twist or squeeze the body of the tick as this may cause bacteria and disease containing material to be injected into the site. Be sure to take care not to allow any of the blood from the tick to come into contact with your dog's skin. This could transmit any diseases to your pet.
• After removing the tick, place it in a container filled with alcohol to prevent it from reattaching to your pet or yourself. It is a good idea to save the tick for a few weeks in case your dog starts to show any symptoms of illness. The tick can then be examined for identification of any diseases it may be carrying.

Finally, be sure to start your tick prevention treatments right away in the Spring and continue into the Fall. Colder weather does not kill ticks. In fact, Deer tick numbers are at their peak during September through November so this is the prime time to contract Lymes Disease. If you live in warmer climates, you will need year round treatments...as I'm sure you already knew. If you do live in an area where Lymes Disease is an issue, you can have a Lymes vaccination given to your dog. This is something you would want to talk with your Veterinarian about.

As for cats...don't worry, I didn't forget about them. They have their own line of products. Never ever give a cat the same treatment you would give your dogs. In fact, if you are using Advantix for your dogs, make sure to keep your dog and cat separate for 12 hours..or until the oil has completely dried. The reason is, Advantix contains permethrin which is toxic to cats. This ingredient can be metabolized by dogs but not cats, which is why you can safely use it on your dogs.
The biggest tick-borne disease spread to cats, besides Lymes Disease, is called Cytauxzoonosis. In most cases this disease is fatal and symptoms include; anorexia,lethargy, fever, dehydration and enlarged lymph nodes. Symptoms will show about 3-7 days  before death occurs due to massive organ failure and bleeding disorders.

If you have an indoor cat I wouldn't really worry about a tick prevention. But, if you have a cat like mine, who likes to escape when ever given the chance, it's best to protect them....just in case. Same rules apply as for dogs, but find the cat friendly substitutes for the topical treatment. Be sure to check them every time they come back into the house and remove ticks properly as soon as you find them.  
Please feel free to add any other suggestions that you use to protect your fur babies.

About my family...2 legged and 4 legged.

Let me introduce myself. I'm Beth...yes, just Beth, not Elizabeth or Bethany (though my friends like to call me that and I still answer). I'm a single Mother of a son who I don't think could be more amazing. I like to think I had a lot to do with who he is as a person since his Father (a.k.a. Sperm donor as I call him) has never really had a role in his life. Hasn't even seen him or talked to him in 6 years, which is perfectly fine with me. I think there are a lot of perks of single parenthood...I don't have to argue with anyone about his upbringing, discipline, what activities he's going to be in, who's house he's going to be at for which holiday....you get my point. Yes, I wish I could get financial help but he has what he needs, nothing more, nothing less. My son is caring, helpful, athletic, is well mannered, well behaved and still loves his Momma. I'm not sure what he's going to be when he is an adult...he says an NBA player...but I know it will have something to do with sports. I think he's a little bit obsessed since he started watching ESPN at the age of 3. He memorized the MN Twins players, their numbers and stats at the age of 6 and can give a good argument on different basketball teams and why they are good or not at the age of 8. Every Mother's Day (or around that day) we go to a Twins game as a tradition. I think these are good to have with children since it gives them things to look forward to. We have a very strong bond since it has just been us together his entire life. Also, I believe in tough love and may have been a little harsh on punishment when he was a toddler but it paid off in the end. You will not see my child acting crazy, talking crazy, or doing a fourth of what some of these kids I see doing today. I think I decided not to have any more children when he was about 3 and I realized how lucky I was to have such a good kid. I don't wanna press my luck with another and have the possibility of some wild child that I have to work 3 times as hard to manage.
One more tip, I'm horrible with grammar and punctuation. So for all of you that are anal about this, please don't email or comment with my errors. I know they're there, you get what I'm trying to say so no need to point them out.

I'm also a proud pet lover. Growing up, my Sister and I had birds, chameleons, rats, mice, hamsters, fish, turtles, cats and dogs. We took very good care of our pets and never had to get rid of them because we weren't taking proper care of them. I'm sure my Mom would have preferred a "pet-free" home but she was a trooper letting us bring home our random creatures.

Baby Graydon

When my son was about 5 I decided he was old enough to have a pet in the house, so we adopted a cat. We went to the Humane Society and found a beautiful gray cat named Graydon. Since my son's name is Jayden we decided it was fate that the cat's name rhymed with his so we took him home. Graydon is a pretty cool cat..if I do say so myself. He isn't too needy, he doesn't meow much, if at all and he's pretty mellow. Even my Dad likes him which is unheard of. My Dad usually says, "Sure I like cats, I like them dead." But my Dad is the one who takes care of Graydon when we are out of town, so that says a lot about how he feels for my cat. I never thought of myself as a "cat person", even though we had one or two growing up, but Graydon converted me. Not sure how I feel about all cats, but mine is a keeper. My Sister's cats are okay too I guess...one is too fat to be obnoxious but the other one has some sort of separation anxiety. He meows too much for me and is terrified of everything.

A year later I had an urge to get a dog. I love love love dogs! I really wanted a Rottweiler but I knew my house wasn't big enough for one. Also, I still live with my Mom (it's in the basement and it's like an apartment set up...only have to go upstairs to leave the house) so I had to get her approval. She tried to convince me that I didn't want a dog, that they were expensive and I wasn't home enough to take care of one. Of course, those were just excuses so she didn't have to live with another dog. I had a plan though. I would have Jayden ask her in his sweet little voice that she couldn't resist. Just like I planned, it worked!

That night I was on the computer looking at dogs and trying to decide the breed and temperament to best fit our family. Unfortunately, there were SO many dogs to look at. They were all cute and some had such sad stories that I wanted to save them all! Finally, I came across a dog named, April. Her pictures was stunning. Her eye color matched her fawn colored fur and she had the cutest wrinkle in her forehead when she was cocking her head for the picture. She was a Boxer/Pit Bull mix and was about 1.5 years (good, no puppy stage were they chew and pee on everything). She was good with kids and cats...good cuz I had both, so I needed to find out more.

Maci Moo

Reading her story brought me to the realization that owning a rescue dog is not an easy task. April had a rough life before coming to her foster home here in MN. She lived outside in what they called a "hoarder house" where 80-100 dogs lived under a deck. The rescue in GA thought she was pregnant when they took her in because she her tummy was so extended due to worms. The summary on her gave a warning that she has high anxiety and would need a lot of work and patience to work through it. The story was touching, not as horrible as some of the other dogs that I looked at, but enough to know April did not have any human interaction for the first 1.5 years of her life and needed some love. It was going to take a lot to get her trust and make her feel comfortable in our home. But, was I ready for a dog with "issues"? Yes, I love dogs but I've never had to deal with one that was abused, neglected, hurt, or otherwise. Jayden and I discussed it and we decided she needed us and we needed to help her. Before we even met her we decided she needed a new name. It was like starting a fresh life and a new name was going to help in that process, we would call her Maci.

I did a lot of reading about rescue dogs and her breed. I wanted to make sure that I was the best dog Mommy to her and that she was going to be a good dog for us. I knew at that time that Pit Bulls were looked at as vicious dogs but I had no idea the paranoia that some people had about them. After much reading and research I felt like I knew what I needed in order to be the "pack leader" of my house. All dogs need a pack leader, but the bully breeds really needed a strong leader or they try to fill that role and that's when trouble starts. So not only did I need to work with her anxiety, her lack of human interaction, a new home but also needed to obtain this "pack leader" mentality to make sure she felt secure...was I really ready for ALL of this?

After filling out the paperwork to adopt Maci and having a woman from the rescue come to my house to do a "home visit", to make sure we would be suitable for a dog, we set up a time to meet Maci. Jayden and I met the foster parents at the adoption center for the rescue. We were told not to look directly at her and to let her just come to us. When Maci came in the room it was clear she was very nervous. Her tail was tucked tight up under her belly and she crouched low to the ground. It was hard not to look at her because we had been waiting almost a week to meet her. I kept thinking, "How am I going to bring a dog home that I'm not even suppose to look at?" After about 5 minutes Jayden says, "When can we look at her." I whispered back, "I'm not sure." So we both gazed at her from across the room being careful not to lock eyes with her. Maci finally came up to give us a sniff but was more interested in the room we were in then the people in it. A few minutes later her foster parents came in and said they were really impressed with how Maci was acting with us. Apparently, another family had been interested in her but Maci was terrified of them. So I paid the adoption fee, got her favorite toy and we took her home.

The first 24 hours were interesting to say the least. I must have brought her outside every 25 minutes to use the bathroom but she wouldn't go. She ended up finally peeing in my house which was right around 24 hours from when we first brought her home. Acclimating her to our house and rules was harder than I thought. I was hoping at her age she wouldn't be much of a chewer or continue to pee and poop in the house. I kept telling myself it would get better and she was an outdoor dog for 1.5 years so she needed to get use to being inside. For the first month if I coughed, sneezed or cleared my throat, she would run away from me. She still kept her tail tucked under her belly and paced throughout the house. We took walks twice a day to help get some of her anxious energy out. I think it helped us bond a lot more too.

During the day when I was at work I would crate her. Day 2 of crating I came home to a house that was destroyed! Apparently, these dogs are sneaky! She figured out how to escape her crate, that was held shut by a bungy cord (I know sounds really ghetto but it didn't have a lock, got it off Craigslist), and had a great time chewing everything in reach. Jayden's inhaler was in pieces, a library book was shredded, anything and everything that she could get off the coffee table was destroyed. She was just sitting there looking so guilty yet so cute and I couldn't punish her after the fact (read that in one of the many books about dogs). This happened a couple more times until I got smart. I left her out of her crate, gave her a frozen kong...filled with peanut butter and food of course, picked up anything that she could reach and magically the house was safe from destruction...most days.

One of the first things I knew I had to do was get this dog some training. With all of her "issues" though I knew I couldn't bring her to a training facility. Her anxiety would make it difficult for her to focus and I didn't want to put her in that position so early on. What I found was a trainer that came to my house to work on training. It was the best solution for us. We would train in what was becoming comfortable for Maci and there weren't any distractions. The trainer said that Maci's case of anxiety was pretty severe but she was confident that with a few lessons I could learn how to make her feel safe. By the 3rd lesson, Maci was actually going near the trainer, her tail wasn't totally between her hind legs and she wasn't pacing as much. The trick was to get Maci to feel more confident so she wasn't so anxious. I learned so much from this trainer and still use the advice when telling other people how to help their dogs.

Everyday when I would look at Maci I would think of how lucky we were to have her in our lives and how lucky she was to have us. I kept thinking about all of the other dogs I looked at and wondered what happened to them, or what about the other dogs that haven't had a rescue to help them, or the ones in a kennel that could be put to sleep at any time because they have been their too long. What could I do to help these dogs without becoming a "hoarder house" myself? That's when I decided to get involved with the rescue I adopted Maci from. I helped with some events to raise money for the rescue and coordinated adoption days. I also became a Representative for their Bully Division. I even fostered a few puppies myself. That's an entirely other blog in itself. What I learned from that is, I need to open my own rescue and have my own rules and guidelines. Until then, I will continue to donate money, and participate as I can at other rescues. My ultimate goal is to have my own rescue/sanctuary that dogs and cats can come live out the rest of their lives regardless of medical condition, age, breed, etc.

Since Maci had been with other dogs her whole life I sometimes looked at her and thought she looked so sad and lonely. I wanted another dog to keep her company but I knew I couldn't afford one. Then my Mom came to me one day about this litter of Rat Terrier puppies that her friend's daughter had and needed to get rid of...she was a breeder but wanted to get out of the business. The deal was, I would be the caretaker and my Mom would be the financier. That day, while Jayden was gone, we went to go look at the puppies. Now, when you go to "look" at puppies I don't know how you can leave without taking one home. We were originally going to look at a female named Sky, that was supposedly really friendly and mellow. When we got there, another puppy seemed to be more interested in us instead. His name was Jager...the whole litter was named after alcohol...and he had this little white spot on his black back that made him stand out. Again, how could I not leave with one of these adorable babies? Jager came home with us that day and Jayden was so surprised we had a new puppy!

Meeko and Maci

Maci wasn't as happy as I had hoped. She wasn't too thrilled with this ball of energy that would pounce on her when she tried to sleep or kept stealing her favorite crab toy. In fact, she looked irritated. He was more of a pest than a friend. Thankfully she could hop up on the bed to get away from him but that only lasted a few months. As you can imagine, I didn't want my son yelling "Jager" out the door when calling for the puppy so we named him "Meeko". Meeko would definitely keep things interesting and busy. He barked ALL the time. Maci has only barked a handful of times and they were either when something spooked her or she was irritated with Meeko and would give him one loud bark. So all the barking that Meeko did was probably normal for his breed but not appreciated in the neighborhood. I highly suggest researching that "Free Puppy" breed before bringing them home. As much as we love Little Buddy Meeko, he can be a pain in the butt. I think my Mom really likes having him around because Maci still won't go near her...yes even after 1.5 years...and Meeko will snuggle up right in her lap. Meeko is definitely an attention whore. If anyone gives any attention to one of the other animals, he will come right in the middle of your hand and that animal so that you give him some love instead. He can't stand being ignored or not fussed over. I tell him all the time he's lucky I love him because he makes me crazy!

So that's my story. I have 2 dogs, a cat and a kid. I like it that way. We have a system and a schedule and even if my son doesn't help out with the animals as much as he says he would, I don't mind taking care of them because they are my babies too. I can never imagine life now with animals in it. I think I've finally found my true passion in life...helping animals in need.