blakkjackal

The big problem is everyone calling their bull mutts "pit bulls". That isn't exactly helpful when it comes to the actual American Pit Bull Terriers and their reputation. The biggest problem, though, is back yard breeding.

The term 'red nose' annoys me to no end. The only appropriate use for it would be when talking about Old Family Reds but even then you wouldn't be likely to shorten that to just red nose. I can't stand it when certain physical traits become "fad". Same with blue dogs, I'm utterly disgusted with breeders trying to breed for colour only. Besides, it's not an APBT colour anyway. This is where we have a problem; if pit bulls = most bull breeds with no known lineage and pit bulls = APBT then the burden of the globally bad reputation still falls on the APBT's shoulders. I think we should distinguish these two as "pit bull" is clearly a pet name for an APBT. Encouraging people to call their mutts (no offense, I call mine that too) pit bulls is just not going to help the situation. I understand that this isn't something we can change by ourselves but I think this is where education steps in. As long as this continues every "pit bull attack" will affect the APBTs reputation even if the attacking dogs were scatterbred mutts (which is the case in 99% of the attacks).

Lurchers, what's in a lurcher? Doesn't matter really what the cross is, it's a type rather than a breed. You make it sound like "pit bulls" are multiple breeds. They aren't, there is only one Pit Bull and that's the American Pit Bull Terrier. It's a shame that the term has become such a vague name for everything half-bullyish looking.

The gamebred pitbull is the original type of Apbt. In saying that the breed was never well defined from the beginning. The were many different variations, bloodlines, mixes and yes names for the dog. To me it's seems the dog was more of a concept than a breed. It's only when some of the dogmen tried to begin to regulate the breed that the Apbt name was more tied to standard. How legitimate you think these Apbt registries(and their pedigrees) are, is up to you. I personally won't pay for their papers. As for these others (dogs with no ped). I won't even say they are Amstaffs with 'cool' names. The Amstaff is a pedigree breed. These "others" are bullbreed mixes often given names like pitbull, Apbt or Amstaff or staffy. Sometimes I see people with dogs and I'd ask them what dog it is, they'll say things like "pitty" or "rednosed pitbull". Then I'll ask how the dog is bred and they'll say stuff like " oh, purebred rednose" or " Dad was a pitty/staffy and mum was a rednose". And I just think. Ok- its a bullbreed mix. With "the other dogs" I was referring to UKC/AKC type APBT.I'm not even going to the bull breed mix thing -- it is an absolute disgrace that everyone seems to be entitled to call their dogs pit bull terriers. I'm also not entirely sure what I think about the whole "pit bull type" thing, as pit bulls are a breed just like dalmatians are and I've never heard anyone say they've got a dalmatian type dog. Or a GSD type dog. Or anything like that. When it comes to actual breed types though, then it is fine. Bull types, shepherds, terriers etc.

Really funky and colourful collars and harnesses made by KANA, I really want one of her collars but can't decide what to get lol. If the webpage doesn't work for you properly here is her FB-page. An online shop that specialises in custom-made, decorated sighthound collars, Designdog. Carlo Collection Wulffi's collection Ämmä-collars There's a few. Most of the websites are in Finnish but Google Translate can probably deal with such simple wording and I'm always more than happy to help if anyone needs translations. edit: I know plenty of people who have gotten collars from the places listed above and not once have I heard a bad word of any of them. :)

I've got a few Finnish companies I can recommend if anyone is interested -- they all make lovely, unique things and the quality is impeccable.

A change in the dog's diet could help. Some people say that the small amounts of copper sulphate in certain dog foods can cause this so maybe try switching to a brand that doesn't contain it?

Did anyone else in SA see the ad in today's Advertiser about the Argentinian Mastiff pups? I think there were 5, going for about a grand each if I remember correctly. Apparently good guards and hog dogs, would really like to know how legit these dogs are as the ad stated that they're purebred...

Is Jarrah a ped dog? I personally think there is only one real APBT and that is the game/performance bred variety. The others are just Amstaffs with a "cool" name. One of the biggest issues with pit bulls is the sad thing that everyone likes to call their bull mutts and anything with a red nose a pit bull. That's obviously not the case. Especially with pit bulls it's not one unless you know the dogs behind it. On a side note though, it's incredible what crap registries are willing to register as pure so even a pedigree doesn't guarantee anything -- just look at any Whopper dog...

Most dogs can be managed. DA is generally not something that will make a dog "bad", it is perfectly controllable but requires a responsible and knowledgeable owner. HA is bad and IMO a proven HA dog (not just a protective one) needs to be euthanised, there really isn't a place for those dogs in society. When it comes to pit bulls euthanising man biters is even more important as the breed has been bred for decades NOT to ever bite humans. I agree with Rocketeer about the "underground breeds". Pit bulls were fine up until they became the "family dog suitable for everyone". Yeah they might be the best family dogs but given their past they need proper management around other animals and possible dog aggression should not come as a surprise. Education is everything.

Correct. They made up a fancy name to try and cut any connections to pit dogs.

You can still dual register Amstaffs, AKC recognising Amstaffs and UKC APBTs so really there was never need for an "introduction".

Mixeduppup, this is with the old school pit bulldog people that preferred their dogs in their natural state. All over the US and also Europe (especially in the Balkan area). Some cropped champions do exist, but they're fairly rare. Cropping is popular, but really with pit bulls and amstaffs etc. these days it's done for mostly aesthetic purposes because those owners with self-esteem problems like their dogs "tough" looking. I doubt you saw any fighting dogs, unless you're talking about byb bull mutts that are used for amateur street fighting... Smh.

Dogos are not commonly used as fighting dogs. They are hog hunters though and are commonly cropped for that reason just like Alano Españoles are too. I love these dogs. Graceful, beautiful, loyal. Problem is they often suffer from severe allergies, deafness and skin issues. edit; Also, ear cropping isn't actually very popular for fighting dogs (excludes street fighters..) as it leaves too much exposed. Look at any old photos of match dogs, most of them have natural ears. The owner would rather tend to a torn ear than have half the dog's face ripped off..

I agree with letting the dog mature, absolutely. I personally wouldn't desex until about 2 years of age to make sure they are fully grown both mentally and physically. I find it sickening that a lot of vets are perfectly fine with mutilating puppies less than 12 weeks old. Desexing is fine, but for most dogs training and responsible ownership will be enough. I personally won't get my male castrated even though he is not a purebred dog and will never be bred. I have no problems managing him just as he is now. In households with several entire dogs of different sexes it might make things easier though, but that still wouldn't justify operating them early just to avoid heats etc.

Make that a fridge door. :D(My dog also has a habit of "checking" whether all doors really are shut by poking them with his nose, probably hoping for a treat...)

Not every dog and their cause of death gets reported -- informing the KC is completely optional, although recommended. It could be that people are more likely to report their dogs deceased in an accident instead of passing because of old age as that would be the "norm". Just speculating. Terriers and small dogs in general are in a way more prone to fatal accidents; smaller things will kill them.

I too use horse leads the same way you have described, although at the moment I have an "actual" rope dog lead. Much prefer ropes to traditional leads. Very soft, light and comfy to handle yet very durable. Dries quickly too. Because I like to be on the safe side when it comes to strength of equipment mine has a heavy duty bull snap. Absolutely nothing to complain about on the lead and not once have I doubted the lead's ability to contain my dog (which definitely has happened before with supermarket leads!).

That's what I saw as well on the packet when I looked at it the other day. I found it a bit misleading. 50% meat doesn't = 50% protein. Meat isn't all protein matter. i.e. 100grams of chicken may only contain 30g of protein. I know but the way it was written made me think they meant 50% protein. I found it misleading. And it isn't 50% meat in my book when chicken and turkey meal were the first 2 ingredients. Actually "meal" is a lot better than just "chicken" or "turkey" as meal doesn't include the moisture (which in meat makes up a good percentage). It's a lot more concentrated and if it's at the top of the list that's good. Chicken/turkey/whatever meat as the first ingredient is just a marketing trick to make it look more meaty -- dehydrate the meat and all of a sudden it falls a lot lower on the ingredient list.To the actual topic; finally there's something half decent in supermarkets! The canned chicken-no-extra-bs didn't look too bad at all.

The GSD's face cracked me up... :D

Stillwater Kennel Supply (here is the big dog range; http://www.stillwate...gdogcollars.htm). They're in the US but their service is super fast and I got my stuff way quicker than expected. Reasonably priced too and they have definitely earned their reputation!

Shark cartilage could also be something worth trying, although there can be ethical issues about feeding it...

Really? How have poodles benefitted from being outcrossed? For a start they lose the one thing that attracts many to the breed - their non-shedding coat. What benefit would you get from outcrossing Whippets? What issue would you be "fixing"? You're buying the hybrid vigour argument hook line and sinker but you're losing sight of what outcrossing brings - unpredictability. They did it for the kromfohrlanders for the reasons I already stated. Are you saying whippets have an endless gene pool? It's not always about "fixing issues" but about keeping the vitality of the breed.Also, I said most. Not all.

I am not talking about random byb crossbreeding, those kind of breedings will have absolutely zero effect on pedigree dogs and the breed itself. I am talking about Kennel Club approved outcrosses that are already being made. Maybe not here, but overseas. A well thought out crossbreeding every few generations will help expand the very narrow gene pool of pedigree dogs. Even if the breeders of British Bulldogs decided to only ever use the most healthiest, most correct dogs this would eventually lead into trouble. This is why I believe in well thought out cross breedings, they can be a tremendous help in trying to battle genetically inherited problems and genetic variety. Just recently there was a kromfohrlander-poodle cross in Europe, all pups registered as kromfohrlanders (the breed suffers from a limited genetic variety and the breeders wanted to try and preserve the health of the breed). Another example is the German pinscher-schnautzer cross, some 2nd generation crosses managed to get conformation CH titles (the litter was registered as pinschers). I think this should be practiced more often as most breeds would benefit from it. Although this post is completely off topic I felt the need to explain my "cross breed advocating" as I am in no way encouraging random back yard bred cross breeding. They benefit no one.

Haredown Whippets; I was talking about "work" in general, as in moderate to heavy exercise. Fly ball, running next to a quad bike, lure coursing, pulling, agility, bikejoring, schutzhund etc. , whatever you can think of. Just because there are indeed some healthy bulldogs doesn't change the fact that the majority suffer from one or more health related issues (not excluding allergies and chronic fungal & yeast infections which seem to be a real problem for the breed!). Now if OP still wants to go with the British Bulldog, I suggest do your research. Find a breeder that does extensive health testing, including hip and elbow scoring (which, surprisingly, doesn't seem to be common practice with bulldogs that carry most of their weight on their front end and for this they need clean elbows) and has dogs that don't make "cute sounds" when breathing. edit/ typos