Project Pit Bull^TM
Is Temperament Really That Important?

Yes. Temperament is the single most important trait in the American Pit Bull Terrier. Actually, temperament is important in any dog you may find yourself living with.

We see dog bites and specifically Pit Bull bites for a number of reasons. Topping the list is poor temperament. People have said for years, "it's how you raise them that matters." That is only half right. If you have a dog with a poor temperament handling is important but that will not fix a poor temperament. You will manage it better if you give them a good quality of life with rules and training but again you can't fix a poor temperament.

Badly bred dogs + Poor Handling Methods = Dog Bite. The equation is straight forward. A badly bred dog that was bred without regard to proper temperament in the wrong hands is bad news. I think this is one of the major reasons for many of the problems our breed faces today.

Let's face it, not all Pit Bull owners are good people with morals. Place a badly bred dog in a badly raised persons hands and you will end up with a problem. People, as I have always said, are responsible for this problem. That includes you and me. We're not bad people and we have to live our lives. However, when the time comes to step up and fight against BSL laws, ignorant people telling us we are crazy and our dogs are baby killers the vast majority cut and run.

Let's get back to the point here... Why is temperament so important?

Did you say because dogs with outstanding temperaments are less likely to bite and cause problems? If you did give yourself a nice pat on the back and have an oreo cookie. That is exactly why a solid temperament is important. These dogs are what some people like to refer to as "bomb proof." Bomb proof dogs can take whatever anyone or anything dishes out and does not freak out and attack or bite.

Temperament is the single most important thing you can look for in a Pit Bull. Coming in at a close second is proper structure. If you have a great looking dog with a bad temperament you are living with a potential problem. If you have a dog with bad structure and a perfect temperament you are living with a walking vet bill. A nice walking vet bill, but a vet bill none the less.

That might sound harsh or uncaring. Maybe it is, but it's true.

How to Spot a Solid Temperament

If you are buying a puppy or have a puppy one thing you can do is a little test that gives you a small idea what the puppies temperament is. Before you do this test it is important to remember that dogs learn as they grow and temperament changes until they reach full maturity. So you might have a solid puppy but somewhere along the way the puppy develops a problem due to life experiences. This is why I said, "it's how you raise them that matters" is only half the story.

By the way you can do this test with adult dogs too.

Take a stainless steel dog bowl and while your dog is not paying attention drop it. Drop it on the driveway or the porch. Any where it won't break anything and it will make a loud bang. The proper response is to be startled but then come back and investigate immediately. If your dog shows signs of fear or aggression and does not investigate but rather runs and hides or tries to bite the bowl or growls at it well the temperament isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Pit Bull Health Tip of the Month:
Hips, Elbows, and Joint Disease

Over the years some "breeders" have been producing dogs with horrible hips, elbows, and over all structure. This goes back to the Project Pit Bull article a little but we are going to focus on the dogs structure this time around. Structure, like temperament is vital. Proper structure is what keeps your dogs from coming up lame every 20 minutes.

Also with these new "fat, wide, short" Pit Bulls you will see more joint problems in the hips and elbows. The breed on a whole though is showing signs of hip dysplasia and bad elbows. Due to dogs being bred larger and the fact our dogs are agile super athletes.

Bad or poor structure + High impact exercises like spring pole play or long runs = potential joint problems.

My dog Angel has joint disease in her back ankles. This is more likely due to her age and active lifestyle than breeding but I wouldn't rule that out. The only reason I can not say it is breeding for sure is because I do not have access to her parents or grandparents or siblings While I don't think it is her breeding it could very well be.

So what do you do when you are faced with joint problems? First, get your dog on a supplement. I'm not a big fan of most supplements but the technology and research going in to these things in recent years is producing top quality alternatives to harmful medicines. For example, Angel was put on anti-inflammatory that could damage her liver. I stopped using it and went to an all natural supplement containing glucosamine. The results have been mixed but hey, her liver is not getting damaged as well.

The main treatment is prevention. If your dog is overweight get those pounds off your dog by providing a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. If you are feeding what the bag recommends I suggest you cut that by 30-50%. This goes for dogs that are seemingly the right weight too.

Stretch your dog out before hard workouts or long runs/walks. Give them a little short jog to warm up their joints and muscles and then rub them down vigoursly to get the blood moving. Then give them a gentle pre-stretch work out before taking off. You will save yourself hundreds in vet bills by doing these simple things.

Pit Bull Training Tip of the Month:
4 Steps to Boundary Training Your Pit Bull

What is boundary training? Boundary training is showing your dog they are to stay within or outside of a particular area. For example, streets. The boundary is the sidewalk. They are not allowed to step into the street. Another example would include the babies room. I do not allow nor advocate allowing dogs into an infants room for any reason. Even if I am standing there. Teaching the dog to say at the door would be boundary training.

Jason, How do I boundary train my dog? I'm glad you asked. Here are the four simple steps to boundary training. They work for any boundary you are working with. You will need three things before you start: A leash, patience, and something to motivate your dog.

First place the leash on the dog. For inside boundary training let them drag the leash. It is for your control not for corrections. If you are outside boundary training hang on to the leash but give them all the slack they need. Again it's for control not corrections.

The Goal - Teach the dog that they can not go past a certain boundary point. Examples include the curb to the street or the entry to a bed room.

The Method - Starting with your dog just in front of the boundary line take a step over it. When the dog follows give a verbal warning, "atttt atttt" or whatever you want to us and then walk them back to the other side. Repeat this 2-3 dozen times. Always allow the dog to make a decision before giving the verbal warning.

Step Two: Take a step over the boundary and if your dog does not follow praise them. Then return to the dog. Again step over the boundary and if your dog does not follow encourage them by patting your legs. If they step over the boundary give verbal warning and walk them back over the line.

Resources:
Where to find Great Gear for Your Pit Bull