Why Breed Banning will Not Work

March 22nd, 2007

I have heard both sides of the story. Ban Pit Bulls because they are dangerous. No! Do not ban them they are great dogs! Both sides have valid points and both sides are some what passionate about their views. But in that passion we fail to see the big picture. Or at least I think we do.

For example in Italy Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s are banned. You know those little long dogs that work cattle. They also banned Newfoundlands and a few other breeds that are not Pit Bulls or Pit Bull type dogs.

So why will banning dog breeds not work? I like to think that we are better than that. As people I mean. I mean instead of killing or should I say exterminating a complete generation of canines surely we can come up with something better.

For example, mandatory training for all dogs. Not just the “big” dogs or the “powerful” dogs.

Another way to help keep our streets safe from canine bites would be to require breeders to do background checks and really research the people buying one of their pups. Some breeders do this already.

A legal contract that binds the owners by law into specific terms (like training and spaying/neuter non-show dogs).

These things would go a long way to helping solve the Pit Bull dilemma. They would go even farther in solving the mass production of companion animals that are inferior due to irresponsible breeding and handling practices.

I don’t compare the dog problem to the gun problem because Pit Bulls and other canines are not weapons. They are living breathing animals that when not respected can cause tremendous damage to people’s lives. This goes for all dogs, of all sizes, of all breeds.

The worst bite I have had in my life was from a pair of bird dogs. One had me the other tried to get me but knocked the first dog off my leg. It took 15 stitches and a lot of pain for 12 year old. Yet I do not blame the dog for the bite. I was cutting through their yard to go to school and thought they were put up. Unfortunately for them they were out. They were put in the shelter for 10 days and then released to their owners.

As I think about it now my family could have easily said, “Ban those dogs!” but in those days if you were bitten by a dog it wasn’t a national media sensatio

Breed banning will never work because you have people with passion on the side of the dogs and the side of common sense. Common sense says the problem lies in the fact people do not recognize owning a dog has more to it than putting them in the back yard to stare at like some play thing.

Owning a bully breed is a privilege and not a right. If you are a bully breed friend remember that.

Bet Regards,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Pit Bull Information Site Online

Categories: Pit Bull Blog | 14 Comments

Are Pit Bulls More Susceptible to Hip Problems?

March 20th, 2007

Over the past decade the American Pit Bull Terrier has been showing more hip problems and bad hips or joints seem to be more of a problem. At least from my point of view anyway.
My advice is to have your dog’s hips OFA’d by the Othropedic Foundation for Animals and if you plan on purchasing a puppy I would insist the parents have OFA good to excellent hips.

While good to excellent hips in the parents are not a 100% surefire way to know your pup will not develop hip dysplasia it is a good start.

Taking your Pit Bull to the vet and getting annual and semi-annual check ups is also a good idea to help keep your dog healthy and ready for play time.

Pit Bulls are not more susceptible to hip problems than any other breed but there is an ever increasing portion of the Pit Bull population showing joint problems.

I would suspect that bad breeding and breeding for overly large dogs is the major cause of this increase in problems.

Taking care of your dogs hips is a good idea anyway. Warming them up before major exercise, taking them for walks on grass or dirt rather than hard concrete or asphalt are all good ways to lessen the potential for joint damage.

For more information about the OFA visit: http://www.offa.org/

Best Regards,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Informational Pit Bull Site Online

Categories: Pit Bull Blog | 3 Comments