Sure, APBT’s love to fight… and chihldren like to eat nothing but candy. So responsicle adults don’t allow either behavior. There are MANY ways to allow a ‘game’ dog to work, fighting is NOT mandatory. Shutzhund (sp?) work, agility, pulling, PPDA, and many other athletic pursuits prove the courage, determination and stamina of the breed. Pitts have incredible pain tolerance, and great loyality. If they know you want them to fight they will - because they want to please. Fighting dogs is just plain evil, weither they want to fight or not. Cleo didn’t often instigate, but she sure would finish anything that was started… and I have the scars to prove it - from being bitten while pulling the dogs apart. Intentionally putting an animal into a situation where it is mamed is WRONG, there is no other way to put it.
Tate, I think you should try to take comfort with knowing that even if your APBT was the least game of the entire breed it would still be more game than any other member of any other breed of dog. I don’t agree with dog fighting at all and I think there are more constructive ways to channel the dog’s willingness to please. Also, I think dog fighting perpetuates the myths that most people hold about pits: “Man, them things are mean and they kill people.” Or some other type of bullshit when these dogs are some of the most wonderful animals(when properly treated). These people who chain these wonderful animals away from human contact, don’t take care of them, and abuse them for the sole purpose of making a dog meaner to fight just pisses me off. I just don’t think needing to know how game your pit is necessitates you resorting to fighting your dog with others. And it just kills me that people are so ignorant of the temperament of these dogs, and dog fighting helps perpetuate that myth.
First if you can’t test gameness, how can it be maintained? Gameness is maintained by breeding two very game dogs. How could you know what dogs two breed together? Second if you breed two dogs that are determined weight pullers all you will get is puppies that are likely to be good weight pullers. Third since you own AMSTAFs and APBTs you know they are two very different breeds, with very different qualities. Finally I would like to say that I do not like the cruel reality of fighting dogs. I just like what it has given me and every other responsible owner.
The American Pit Bull Terrier.
Tate
I guess the first question is for each of us to define ‘gameness’. And can it only be measured in the fighting ring?
"Finally I would like to say that I do not like the cruel reality of fighting dogs. I just like what it has given me and every other responsible owner." If you are happy with the outcome of dog fighting I can not see how you truly dislike the fighting itself. That does not seem to make any sense. How can you love the end product of a process you don't like?
Michelle is right tate, by virtue of the fact that you would purchase a dog from a known pit fighting breeder is supporting pit fighting weather you actually like the practice or not.
Amstaffs and apbt are the same dog. Yes amstaffs are a little more uniform looking and pits tend to be a little more game in general, but they are still the same dog with virtually the same characteristics. In fact a confirmation pit is much more likely to resemble and display the characteristics of an amstaff than a game bred pit. Don’t believe all the bullshit you read in dog fighting publications. Those morons would have you believe that any pit that isn’t game bred isn’t worth shit. Ryan is right that an ungame pit is still more game than any other breed of dog. If you don’t plan on ever fighting your dog, why would you even care how game it is? Other than for the purpose of fighting, an ultra game dog has nothing more to offer you than a regular old pittie. Lastly to Michelle: gameness, as far a pitties go, refers specifically to the desire to fight and to never give up. If a pit turns in a fight it is labelled a “curr” and usually put down. Pit fights have been known to last up to two hours with a dog at times even winning from the bottom. A really game dog will die before it quits. Basically a game bred pit has an iron will. There is not an animal on earth (including humans) who has the will of game pit. While gameness refers specifically to fighting it will be a strong attribute in pitties used for boar hunting, cattle catching, weight pulling, ect. BTW Michelle: you had mentioned awhile back that you might be interested in an amstaff pup. Just read in the local paper about 9 amstaff pups up for adoption and free to a good home. Let me know if your still in the market and I can look into it for you.
Hey Magnus, what is the best way to curb, or completely abolish any form of food aggression in dogs?
Magnus - I really appreciate it, but as I am still out of work, adding another mouth to feed would be a bad idea. We have also decided to look for a ‘bull breed’/boxer mix instead of a pure bred. Thanks though!!
If your talking about agression towards people while eating, it’s fairly easy. Simply feed him every meal by hand. Instead of putting the bowl of food on the floor, put it on the counter and feed him each kibble one or two at a time. As he gets better, put the bowl on the floor but still feed him by hand. It should only take a couple of weeks (if that) for the dog to make a positive association between people and food. You want him to realize that you are the only resource for food. If their are other members in the family, have everyone take a turn doing this. If it’s aggression towards other animals during feeding, the easiest answer is to simply seperate them into different rooms.
Thanks Magnus. The one pit, I rescued was always food aggressive, to everyone and everything except myself. heh.