What Do You Call Your "Pibble" ?

STOP THE MADNESS

PM = People Magazine

WD = Webster's Dictionary 
UD = Urban Dictionary
CK= Common Knowledge

Pitbull - a famous rapper (PM)

Pittbull, Pitt bull, Pitt - a member of the Branjelina family (PM)

Pit - a large hole in the ground; an area enclosed or reserved for a specific activity; a hallow or indentation in the surface of; to set someone or something in conflict or competition with (WD)

Pity - the feeling of sorrow or compassion caused by the suffering or misfortune of others; a cause of regret or disappointment (WD)

Pitty - a breast that lies into the armpit while lying down (UB)

Pibble - dialect variant of pebble MEANING pibble = pebble in other languages (WD)

Pibbly Wibbly - a pebble that moves unsteadily from side to side (WD) * two definitions merged into one *

Pit Bull - shortened from the American Pit Bull Terrier - a purebred dog (CK)

American Pit Bull Terrier - Pit Bull - a purebred dog (CK)

pit bull - a proper noun that SHOULD be capitalized - American Pit Bull Terrier - a purebred dog (CK)

american pit bull terrier - a proper noun that SHOULD be capitalized - Pit Bull - a purebred dog (CK)

APBT - American Pit Bull Terrier - Pit Bull - a purebred dog (CK)

apbt - American Pit Bull Terrier - Pit Bull - a proper noun that SHOULD be capitalized - a purebred dog (CK)

There you have it! Now you know what you've been calling your dog all along. The proper usage of the breed Pit Bull is Pit Bull, American Pit Bull Terrier, and APBT. However, as you should know by now, if your dog doesn't have papers, it's not a Pit Bull. APBT owners CRINGE every time they hear the incorrect aforementioned "nicknames" being used. So, uh, just stop doing it. Kay? Kay!

Breeding a Dog Once Before You Fix It

JUST. DON'T. DO. IT. LEAVE IT TO THE PROS!

It has been absolutely unreal when it comes to the amount of owners who want to breed their dog once before they're fixed so they can have one of their "children". I just don't get it. It is the single most selfish thing you can want when it comes to being a dog owner. If a dog is not registered, it is a mutt. WE DO NOT BREED MUTTS. WE BREED TO BETTER A BREED. A MUTT IS NOT A BREED. SO WHY BREED MORE MUTTS?

I see it every day on Facebook and other sales sites. People want to breed their mutts because they think they are Pit Bulls and want a puppy who either looks just like their dog or a puppy who acts just like their dog. Well, HELLUR folks. There are millions of dogs and puppies in shelters and rescues. You're telling me out of ALLLLLLLLLL the shelters and rescues, you cannot find a puppy who looks similar to your dog? Especially if your dog is a BBM. I mean hell, they're all labeled as Pit Bulls because they share a few characteristics with one another. So why not just go to a shelter and adopt a mutt who also shares characteristics with the mutt you already have.

Let us break it down. BBMs tend to have large litters. We'll say an average of 10. You stud out your mutt because you want a "father-son duo" (which is dumb by the way). You find an equally as irresponsible BYB who you've made an agreement with. You are going to keep 1 male out of the litter - your pick. 

Fast forward 2 months, the puppies are here. Just as expected, your big man has helped to produce 10 perfectly healthy puppies... for now. You are definitely keeping the male you picked. So we know for sure 1/10 puppies will live a good life with one owner. 

The owner to the dam was able to keep 1 puppy because just as you wanted, she also wanted a duo, but rather a "mother-daughter duo" (which is also dumb). So we now have 2/10 puppies who will have forever homes.

An average statistic conducted by myself (I have been employed by 2 shelters and still regularly volunteer) shows that no matter how hard you try to find good homes, 7/8 of those puppies will be re-homed within the first year of being alive. Bringing our total to 3 forever homes. 

1/7 of those puppies will find their forever homes because they are equally as amazing as their parents and they have gotten lucky to find owners who see them as a lifetime commitment. Bringing our total to 4 forever homes.

1/6 of those puppies will find their way to an abusive home, being left to eventually die due to neglect and/or injuries. Keeping our total at 4 forever homes and one dead puppy.

4/5 of those puppies will be re-homed at least one more time due to behavior problems caused by faulty breeding due to the unknown history of their ancestors. We now have 5 forever homes and 1 dead puppy.

1/4 of those puppies will be surrendered to the shelter because they have to move and their new landlord does not allow pets. Eventually, the puppy has been PTS (put to sleep) because they need to make room for new dogs and puppies coming in. We now have 5 forever homes and 2 dead puppies.

1/3 of those puppies will fall ill due to a genetic disease. One of which could have been avoided by not breeding because having a lineage could have showed proof of the genetic disease existing. So we now have 5 forever homes and 3 dead puppies.

1/2 of those puppies will find their way to live outside with little to no human interaction for the rest of it's life. We now have 6 forever homes and 3 dead puppies. 

The last puppy will find it's way to a no kill shelter waiting to be fostered or adopted. Sadly, the puppy has now turned 11 years old without a single person interested in adopting. He is known as the shelter "Pit Bull" that everyone loves, but no one wants because he didn't come into the shelter while he was in his cute puppy stage. We now have 6 forever homes, 3 dead puppies, and 1 who will soon die of old age in the shelter.

So, breaking it down a little further. You two irresponsible BYBs have kept your 2 puppies. They live a good, happy life. One of your buyer's also kept the puppy giving it a good, happy life. 7 of the puppies were re-homed at least once. However, only 2 of them were able to have a good, happy life. One of them has lived a crappy life because they have no one to show them love and attention every day, or rather any day. One died due to you irresponsibly breeding puppies with genetic diseases. One puppy died in a shelter. One puppy lived the rest of his life in a 5X5 kennel. One puppy was abused to death. And you you have no clue any of this has went on. Feel shitty now? YOU SHOULD!

This is what happens because you only want ONE puppy from your male or female. This is the harsh reality. Not to mention, this will happen again. At least half of those puppies will have litters themselves. Then the cycle will continue. Be happy with your dog you have now. There is no reason to keep breeding dogs when you can just as easily find the mutt you're looking for in a shelter. That's all there is to it.

Leave the breeding to the "professionals".

If only papered dogs were bred, that would take care of at least 70% of shelters overpopulation problem. If dogs were ONLY bred by reputable breeders who follow breeding ethics to a T, that would take care of 100% of the population. Reputable breeders have contracts. They stay in touch with ALL of the puppies new owner's throughout the rest of their lives. They KNOW what happens with their puppies. They take the time to meet you in person. They want to know your address. They want references. They want your number, your S/O's number, your email, your physical address etc. They will do whatever it takes to ensure their puppy is going to a good home. If you aren't willing to cooperate with said breeder, they will not sell to you.

Don't want to pay the prices a reputable breeder has set for their puppies? Save your money! Do you still find the prices to be ridiculous? Go adopt a dog from the shelter. Can you AFFORD to buy the puppy? If not, don't get one period. Dog's aren't cheap. You need to figure their expense off of a 15 year commitment. For one dog, a lifetime supply of dog food costs an average of $8,100. That doesn't include toys, bones, carpets replaced, drywall replaced, shots, random vet checkups and emergencies. If you can't see yourself spending between 800-$1,500 on a well bred dog from a reputable breeder, you shouldn't be able to see yourself spending $8,100 on dog food. 

There you have. Agree. Disagree. I don't care. Just know, whether you agree or not, I'M RIGHT!

Things TRUE Pit Bull Owners NEED You to Stop Saying

You're only hurting the breed by saying these MYTHS!!!

Pit Bulls were once called nanny dogs!

No, they weren't. Until a dog can cook dinner, scrub a toilet, change a diaper, give a bath, rock a baby to sleep, and do things HUMANS do, no dog will EVER be a nanny dog. The nanny dog myth was connected to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier by breeders to get the negative stigma away from them being pit dogs. There is not a single dog in history that has ever interviewed to be a live in babysitter. Point blank! That's all there is to it. It was a LIE!!!!!!!

Pit Bull is a group of dogs!

No, there is only one Pit Bull, the American Pit Bull Terrier. No other breed has the words "Pit" and "Bull" used together in it. So a Bull Terrier can not be a Pit Bull. It can be a Bull breed. It can ALSO be a Terrier. However, it can NOT be a Pit Bull. The GOVERNMENT chose to label any dog with short fur, a medium to large build, square head and medium length tail as a Pit Bull. Did you catch what I just did by the way? I just named off 4 characteristics in which MOST dogs share. So by that classification, 90% of breeds are Pit Bulls. So uh, JUST STOP SAYING THAT!

There are no bad dogs, just bad owners! 

No, there ARE bad dogs. There are no bad breeds, but there ARE in fact, bad dogs! Now, you CAN blame an owner who's dog was not properly confined during avoidable situations. You CAN blame an owner who hasn't taught their young child proper interactions with ALL dogs of ANY breed. You CAN blame an owner who buys or adopts a dog without researching the breed! You CAN blame owners who buy dogs from back yard breeders that have not done any research themselves or any temperament or health testing! You CAN blame an owner when they buy/adopt a breed labeled as "vicious" and REFUSE to learn what EXPERTS are telling them. That's when you can blame the owner.

It's all in how you raise/train them!

It is NOT all in how an owner raises ANY dog of ANY breed. If a dog was bred to be dog aggressive, HE WILL BE DOG AGGRESSIVE! If a dog was bred to be human aggressive, HE WILL BE HUMAN AGGRESSIVE. You cannot love genetics out of ANY living being. You can train a dog to lie down, roll over, play dead, beg for a cookie etc., but you CANNOT train a dog's instincts out of it! 

Dogs can not SPEAK like humans can. If you're doing something to PISS ME THE HELL OFF, I can warn you that I'm about to flip my shit. A dog cannot speak to warn you of your awaited doom. Not to mention, dogs have the mentality of a young child, no matter it's age. If I were to be a 5 year old child and you were pissing me the hell off, I would slap the shit out of you. A dog will just bite the shit out of you. It's really no DIFFERENT! 

I was raised with Pits, my kids were raised with Pits, they wouldn't harm a fly!

Well, for starters, any dog AND cat I have ever owned loved to chase any insect with wings. *sigh* Maybe it was MY fault for training them to be aggressive. *sigh* GTFO! If you were raised with Pit Bulls, you would KNOW they can tear a fly the F up! They don't love your kitty, Mr. Snuggles or your 5 pound Chihuahua, Mr. Peanut! They want to KILL Mr. Snuggles and Mr. Peanut. If your "Pit" loves other animals, then your "Pit" is NOT A PIT! Pit Bulls aren't snuggle buddies with other animals. Do they snuggle with humans? OF COURSE they can! They aren't human aggressive, they are ANIMAL aggressive. 

Dogs aren't humans! They cannot decipher right from wrong. They are a domesticated wild animal! Any dog, of any breed, of any upbringing CAN and WILL bite given the right circumstances. It isn't Rocket Science, but it IS basic Science! Nurture versus Nature has an ENTIRE chapter dedicated to it in primary, middle, and high school Science books. 

My Pit Bull was a bait dog! / Don't give your puppy away for free, he can be used as a bait dog!

No the hell it wasn't. ANY dog of ANY breed can get into a fight and be physically scarred for life. Just because a dog has scars, does not mean it involved fighting of any kind. Not to mention, "bait dog" was started by animal rights activist and the ASPCA. No dogman of ANY importance have ever documented using dogs or other animals as bait. The ASPCA has helped to promote this ignorance to keep from having owners constantly re-home their mutts for them to eventually end up in their shelter. Thus, making their jobs harder. Every time this "bait dog" myth gets thrown around, that just gives ideas to unorganized, underground, street dog fighters. If you repeat myths enough, it CAN and WILL become a reality to IDIOTS who don't know any better. 

My Pit Bull rescue was trained to fight!

No the hell he wasn't. Wrapping this back into the bait dog myth... Fighters CONDITION dogs to fight. Conditioning a dog is not training a dog to be aggressive so he/she can fight. Conditioning a dog gets them in top, physical condition so they can compete for the fight and conquer their opponent. They were BRED to fight. If they DON'T fight, they will not later be used as bait. It. is. a. MYTH.

My 120 pound blue Pit Bull rescue was a fighting dog!

Again, no he wasn't! One, I have yet to see a blue Pit Bull throughout my entire years of living who didn't have a questionable pedigree. Two, NOBODY WILL USE A 120 POUND DOG TO FIGHT. Your 120 pound "blue Pit Bull" would keel over from physical exhaustion within the first 22 seconds. 

I love my Pibble, Pitty, Pitt, Pitbull, Pibb, Pib, Pit, Pit Bull Terrier, Pitbull Terrier!

No the heck you don't. No owner of an American Pit Bull Terrier would call their dog ANY of the aforementioned names. They just wouldn't. Not only does it piss APBT owners off when you call your dog this, but you shouldn't be calling your MUTT any variation of them. Your dog is a mutt! No lineage = MUTT. Mutt = NOT A BAD WORD!

I read this article on Goo...

STOP RIGHT THERE! You BETTER not even begin to quote an article found on Google if you're speaking to me. Google LIES. Google is NOT your friend. The internet can be manipulated. ANYBODY CAN WRITE ANYTHING THEY WANT ON IT! The internet has done NOTHING but hurt this breed.

I have a rednose/bluenose Pit!

We've already determined blue Pit Bulls are pretty much extinct. Bluenose and Rednose are terms created by back yard breeders to sell their puppies for higher price tags. Bluenose/Rednose/Dotnose/Blacknose/NoseNose etc. are NOT a type of Pit Bull or a Pit Bull bloodline. Old Family Red Nose is a STRAIN off of a bloodline, but MOST APBT fanciers and owners laugh at OFRD dogs the way they do at American Bullies. OFRD was BELIEVED by MANY to be crossed with another breed and only done so for looks. So, uh, even if you have LINEAGE proving OFRD, I wouldn't even admit that to a dogman. 

I rescue Pit Bulls so I think I....

Yes, you were indeed cut off again because.... No, no the heck you don't rescue Pit Bulls. You rescue mutts. You rescue mutts who would be discriminated against due to BSL because you continue to mislabel, but you do not rescue Pit Bulls. You never have, and you never will. Kay? OKAY! So no, you don't know crap about Pit Bulls. Rescuing, donating time, supplies, and money to a shelter does NOT make you an expert. It doesn't. Point Blank. Experts are knowledgeable. You just THINK you are knowledgeable about the breed. When in fact, you don't even know what a Pit Bull looks like.

I have a rare Pit!

What the heck is a rare Pit? You have a mutt. If you have papers, you most likely have a Bully being Pit Bull owners and breeders know there is nothing rare about one of their dogs. Any Pit Bull owner would know there is no "rare" Pit Bull. Unless you have a blue Pit Bull, you have nothing of the rarity.

I don't have a normal Pit Bull, I have a bigger bred Pit Bull!

Oh my! No, you don't!  You have a MUTT! Pit Bulls will NEVER be big. Pit Bulls will NEVER weigh 120 pounds. They will never weigh 90 pounds. You're really pushing it if it weighs 70 pounds. I mean, PUSH-ING IT-UH! Most Pit Bulls never exceed 50 pounds. 50 pounds is really pushing it for a Pit Bull as well. Can Pit Bulls be more than 50 pounds? Of course they can. However, they are exceptions to the breed. The breed was bred for performance. The breed is STILL bred for performance. Since they never were and still aren't bred for looks, you can have slight variations in the breed and the different bloodlines.

Don't feel bad, life is a learning experience. If you want to know more about Pit Bulls, just stick around. If you want to make a difference and help your dog from being discriminated against, stick around. First things first though, if you don't have any papers on your dog or you rescued it from the shelter, start calling it a mutt immediately. Educate your family and friends. Education is KEY to help put an end to BSL. 

American Bullies Are Not Pit Bulls

They are their OWN breed!!!

And...

Let's talk bloodlines.

Since when did a cross bred dog become a purebred dog? Just because American Bullies originated from American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers does NOT mean they're Pit Bulls. First of all, The American Staffordshire Terrier isn't a Pit Bull. Therefore making the cross between the two a mixed breed with a hung pedigree. Dave Wilson has openly ADMITTED to crossing the two breeds together to be less DA and give it more size. It wasn't selectively breeding a Pit Bull. The bloodline he created by breeding the two is what we all know today as Razor Edge. Razor Edge was NEVER a purebred APBT bloodline. 

Tony Moore produced "Notorious Juan Gotty" which was later bought by Richard Barajas. Jaun Gotty's registered name is Notorious Juan Gotty (with a "y"). Over the years, it was somehow changed to Gotti (with an "i"). I don't know. These folks is just cray cray. Some say it was the registry's fault for misspelling the name, while others say it just changed over the years. ANYWAY... I wouldn't consider Tony Moore or Richard Barajas to be a "game changer" like Dave Wilson and others. Dave Wilson created mixed dogs to create a new breed. However, don't get it twisted. Dave Wilson wasn't the first and only breeder who helped to create American Bullies. He is however, the most noted breeder. Tony and Richard just bought a dog while the "game" was being "changed". Looking back through Gotty's pedigree, his ancestors do not hold true to APBT standards. Therefore, Gotty/Gotti was not the "game changer", but rather just a popular dog because his owner put forth the effort and time to get him noticed. 

Who's to actually say Juan Gotty wasn't a product of hung papers? Nobody will ever actually know. Anyway, basically, Juan Gotty is the reason the American Bully has a bloodline named Gotti.

Back on subject...

Eventually Razor Edge dogs were bred to Gotti dogs. Gotti dogs had a much larger build than Razor Edge dogs to begin with. Gotti dogs were (most still are) shorter and wider than Edge dogs. I've yet to see an American Bully with only Edge or Gotti. A lot of breeders say "Oh my dog is Edge top and bottom". Meaning, their dog doesn't have an Gotti in it's pedigree. Bullllllll Crapppp. Just because the pedigree doesn't have Gottiline's *insert name here*, doesn't mean those dogs are only Edge. My own personal opinion, I think American Bullies get their size from Gottiline.

Razor Edge and Gotti are considered foundation bloodlines... Even though Razor Edge wasn't the beginning of the breed and Juan Gotty/Gotti wasn't the first bred American Bully, Gotty/Gotti and Edge dogs were the biggest "Bully Movement". DAX, Miagi, Remy, Iron Cross, Camelot etc. are strains of Gotti and Edge. Gotti and Edge will always be the foundation bloodlines in which American Bullies will always consist of. Unless their papers are hung..............

So, in conclusion, Edge and Gotti were NEVER American Pit Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier bloodlines. No breeder of game dogs would even consider TOUCHING an Edge or Gotti dog. Therefore, Edge and Gotti will never make it's way back in as APBT bloodlines. They are neither APBTs or ASTs. They are American Bullies. 

My reason for making this post. FACEBOOK OF COURSE! One guy, like hundreds of other unknowing owners, asked what kind of Bully/Pit his dog was and what bloodline he was. Well, for starters, you can't look at a dog and tell it's breed let alone it's bloodlines. So the good ole' Razor Edge; Pit Bull VS American Bully bloodline started. 

I stated the facts I have reiterated above. Somehow, it got turned into an argument saying I was incorrect because I said Edge was created when the APBT and AST were crossed. So in THEIR mind, they think that means it is an APBT ANNNNND AST bloodline. NO BITCH! People  knew what Dave Wilson was doing. People who wanted to stay true to either breed had nothing to do with him. Therefore, THE BLOODLINES NEVER BECAME A BLOODLINE FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE AMERICAN BULLY. If an AST or APBT was registered with Dave Wilson's kennel name, RAZOR EDGE, breeders who weren't apart of the Bully Movement would not breed to his dogs. It's. That. Simple.

Edge was started by crossing two established breeds together. Those dogs were no longer Pit Bulls or Am Staffs. They were Pit Bull/Am Staff mix. That ISN'T A breed. A breed is a pure dog. A mixed breed is not pure! It really isn't THAT hard to follow. After generations of breeding the mixed breed dogs the same way to have them remain CONSISTENT, it became a new breed. Thus, the American Bully. Who woulddathunk?

Ugh, I swear. Folks! Please!!!! PLEASE stop using google as a way to get your information. 

Also, before you jump on a Facebook post to call somebody ignorant, PLEASE know and understand the meaning of ignorance.

One is not ignorant because they have said something you disagree with. Lack of knowledge makes one ignorant. Using expletives does not make one ignorant. Lack of knowledge makes on ignorant. Knowing MORE than you does not make one ignorant. Lack of knowledge makes one ignorant. LACK. OF. KNOWLEDGE. = IGNORANCE!

We Need to Put a Stop to Breeding

Breeding really should be banned, if they're not breeding with ethics.

Purebred dogs with papers can end up in shelters. Just because a dog has papers doesn't mean it was bred by a reputable breeder who follows breeding ethics set by reputable registries. 

We shouldn't ban breeding all together, we need to ban breeding mutts. There is not a single reason as to why mutts should reproduce. Reputable breeders do not breed mutts. 

( Mutt - a dog of unknown lineage )

How do you know if a breeder is reputable?

First things first they're the realesttt. No, really though, they are the only ones who should be breeding. The REAL first thing first is, do they have papers from a reputable dog registry? If the answer is "No", walk away. If they DO in fact have papers from a reputable registry, you may proceed......... With caution!

Have they used any labels that would be considered a back yard breeder term? 

Examples of a back yard breeder term who claims to have "Pit Bulls" are of the following:

Bluenose, Rednose, Gatormouth, Gotti, Razer Edge, XL Pit Bull, XXL Pit Bull, Block Head etc. (These are the most common I have seen and heard)

First of all, if a breeder claims to have a Pit Bull or Pit Bull puppies for sale, they are not Pit Bulls if they have used any of the aforementioned bloodlines or "types".

A breeder of Pit Bulls know the only type of Pit Bull is a Pit Bull. I have recited this many times throughout this blog. The American Pit Bull Terrier is the only Pit Bull. Therefore, a Pit Bull is the only type of Pit Bull. Just as the Jack Russell Terrier is the only Jack Russell. They can both be classified as Terriers, but no other breeds can be called Pit Bulls or Jack Russells.

Basically, if a breeder is calling a dog something of ignorance (lack of knowledge), do not continue any further with said breeder. 

On to temperament...

A dog evolves into their temperament. The majority of puppies are energetic, happy, playful, loving etc. However, all human babies cry when they're hungry. As adults, they no longer cry. They become evil. At least I do. BASICALLY I am trying to tell you, a reputable breeder will wait until the dog is an adult to breed. Human brains do not stop developing until the age of 25. Dogs are not mentally or physically matured until 2 to 3 years of age. An owner (especially a breeder) will notice once a dog has become fully matured based off of it's actions. 

If you breed a male at 8 months of age, they can prove to be unstable later on in life. Temperament is another genetic trait passed down into future generations. Shyness, aggressiveness, fearfulness, dog aggression etc. can not be nurtured out of a dog. If a dog was never dog aggressive until it turned 2 or 3, it is because it has now fully matured into the dog it was always meant to be. Dog aggression will always be okay within some breeds. Just as animal aggression in general will always be an acceptable trait. Human aggression however, is NOT okay. If a dog is aggressive towards humans, first you need to try and give it a soft cull (spay or neuter). If the soft cull has no effect on the dog's aggressiveness, it needs to be put to sleep.

With that being said, waiting until the dog is age appropriate is crucial when it comes to temperament. A dog should be temperament tested by a certified dog trainer who will give unbiased results. If in doubt, ask for the trainer's name and contact information. You should then research the trainer. By breeding a dog who isn't at full maturity can be dangerous, especially depending on the breed. 

On to health....

No dog alive should be bred until it is at least 2 years of age. I'm sure you're asking why I have came up with that loony idea. Well, it really isn't a loony idea, it is again, science. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or OFA, is a MUST when it comes to responsible breeding. All breeds are predisposed to different health problems. Large to giant breeds, especially German Shepherds, are known for having hip-dysplasia. By having a dog tested through OFA, it cannot promise the dog does not carry the genetic trait. However. it can give you an idea of the likeliness of said dog developing the genetic trait later on in life. If said dog's chances of developing any type of dysplasia is relevant, it shouldn't be bred. 

You can go directly to CLICK HERE DAMMIT  to check on a certain breed and see what their statistics are. Ask the breeder for proof of OFA testings. If the breeder is not willing to show you, it is time to walk away. You should not be spending money on a new dog or puppy for it to cost you thousands in healthcare when it was completely unavoidable. If I know a breeder does not OFA test, I know I will not use that breeder.

On to conformation...

Are you buying a puppy because you want it to look a certain way? Just because a dog doesn't look identical to the ones you searched on google doesn't mean it is mixed with something. It doesn't? Uh.... Nooo. A dog can be 10000000000% purebred and not fit breed standards. However, a reputable breeder will not breed a dog if it does not meet the breed's conformation and temperament standards.

Ask to see the dam (puppy's mom) in person. If a breeder is not willing to let you come to their house, they need to at least be willing to show you videos. Some people are sketchy, so I do not hold a breeder a fault for not disclosing their location. Take a good look at the dam. Does she physically meet breed standards? If she does, move on to the sire (puppy's dad). Some breeders will use a stud which belongs to another person. However, reputable breeders will use a stud that also meets breed standards. If the sire also fits breed standards, you may continue.

If either the dam or sire do not meet breed standards, do not buy a puppy from them. Just because the sire and dam meet breed standards does not mean all puppies from the litter will meet the standard. However, you have a better chance of your puppy being your dream "google image" with both parents being conformationally correct.

Moving on to reasoning... 

Why does the breeder breed? Do they think their dog is pretty? Do they like puppy breath? Do they just like the breed? If that is their only answer, walk away.

A reputable breeder will ONLY breed for a purpose. There are MANY different purposes for breeding dogs. However, if the main purpose isn't to better the breed, walk away. A reputable breeder will only breed dogs who fit conformation standards, temperament standards, health standards, etc. Whether the purpose of their breeding be for show or work, they will always need a reason behind it. That reason should be to better the breed. 

If you breed mutts, you cannot better any breeds. You can only better pure breeds. There is literally no conformation a mutt should follow. Therefore, mutts should not be bred. Breeding mutts literally kills dogs world wide. Chances of a back yard breeder's dog ending up in a shelter is statistically higher than that of a reputable breeder. 

How many litters does the breeder have annually?

If a breeder has one stud to 10 females, there should be major red flags. If a breeder is using their dog's to pay bills, walk away. Reputable breeders can put upward 10 thousand dollars into one litter. This can be between healthcare, food, shots, appointments, stud fees, testings, shows, training etc. A breeder will usually shoot for recouping the amount of money they have spent to care for the litter. If a breeder is selling a puppy for 2500 dollars because they spent 2500 dollars on the dam or sire, walk away. Breeding shouldn't be considered a job, but rather a hobby.

If a breeder has 5, 6, 7, 11, 15 litters a year, you should look elsewhere. Back yard breeders see their dogs as cash cows. If a breeder has 2 litters in the same year with the same female, look elsewhere. Again, the dog is being seen as a cash cow. It is detrimental to the dam's health if she is being bred back to back.

____________________________________

Overall, a lot more goes into breeding than just somebody who likes puppies. Of course you should look for a breeder who loves and cares for their dogs. However, loving and caring for a dog does not make a breeder. A lot of time, money, and research goes into being a reputable breeder. Not every person will have what it takes to be a good breeder.

We need to fight to put an end to back yard breeding. Shelters are not overrun with reputable breeders productions. Shelters are overrun with unwanted mutts who were sadly produced by back yard breeders. An accidental breeding makes one a back yard breeder as well.

Stay away from pet stores! Pet stores are nothing more than puppy peddlers who buy out a whole litter from puppy mills and commercial breeders. Stick with a breeder who breeds one breed. Breeding is literally a full-time hobby. Breeders learn something new every day. A good breeder will stick to one, maybe two, breeds. Not all breeds are the same. Breeders cannot know the main things to know about 10 different breeds. Not to mention, it is typically illegal to own more than 4 domesticated animals in one household unless they're under the age of 6 months. 

Do your research before purchasing a puppy. If you are not willing to put in the research to find a reputable breeder, adopt a deserving dog or puppy from your local shelter or a rescue. Purchasing puppies from back yard breeders will give them more momentum to continue to destroy breeds.

Proof is in the Pudding; Mislabeling Kills Innocent Dogs

STOP FUELING BSL, BULL BREED OWNERS!

Here is an example of how a Boxer mix can become the victim of BSL. This dog is in no way, shape, or form an American Pit Bull Terrier. Remember guys, APBT is the only breed that is not only called, but recognized as a Pit Bull. Bull breed mixes/mutts, mixed breeds/mutts, Terrier mixes/mutts etc. should never be called a Pit Bull. THIS SHOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL TO EVERYBODY WHO INSISTS ON USING PIT BULL AS A BLANKET TERM. Because this dog has a couple of characteristics of what the government thinks a Pit Bull is, he may very well lose his life TONIGHT!

This is why it is important to educate yourselves so you can educate others. No medium to large size dog or puppy is safe from being discriminated against. This was taken from a group called "Guess the Dog Breed". The owner's friend was trying to find a way to prove the dog is not a Pit Bull. She was not asking what the breed of dog it is because it is unknown, she was looking for proof to help her friend get her dog back. 

Hopefully I can make an update at a later date and happily report the puppy is safe at home where he belongs. 

Just a reminder, this can very well happen to your dog or puppy. Just because your dog ISN'T  a Pit Bull doesn't mean it doesn't share characteristics. A dog only needs to share a few characteristics with that of a Pit Bull to be a victim of BSL. We cannot stop this from happening until we educate ourselves first. Without the knowledge, we will always be sheep. If more people were willing to learn about the breed they may or may not own, we could help all families from having their beloved pet put to sleep.

Giving Up on "Pit Bulls"

The thought is always going to be there.

Some days I just want to give up on advocating for the Bull breeds that are mislabeled as Pit Bulls. Take what was supposed to be an eye opening reality turned into an argument last night. I was in a group that is supposed to be "helping" to ban fighting and animal cruelty. Well, for starters, dog fighting is illegal in the United States, therefore, it IS banned. Animal cruelty is also illegal in the United States, therefore, it is ALSO banned. So the title of the page is just all wrong to begin with. Maybe "Help Put a Stop to Fighting and Animal Cruelty" would better fit. However, I'm not here to talk about the name of the group. 

How as advocates of animal welfare rights are you not willing to educate yourselves? This was the number one issue with APBT fanciers in the group. People were posting pictures of bulky dogs claiming they're Pit Bulls and blah blah blah. When fanciers tried to educate them, they were immediately banned from the group. 

I have a calm approach to education whereas most educators jump down throats. I simply typed a post stating how mislabeling dogs is animal cruelty in my eyes. Why? For starters, some shelters will euthanize any dog that can be labeled as a Pit Bull. By mislabeling dogs as Pit Bulls, you have just given that dog a death wish. How is that not animal cruelty? We are killing dogs because a POS human mislabeled it! How are you going to fight for a breed that isn't even the breed in question? We should be fighting for ALL breeds that are being mislabeled. 

My education and facts turned into an argument because apparently Dobermans, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, German Shepherds, Chows, etc.  are making their way on the news every day for mauling or killing children and adults. Pit Bulls are the most commonly mislabeled and misidentified breed. Everything I said was being twisted around and my words were being used against me. I personally have never seen a dog fighting organization with Dobermans pop up on the news. Apparently, based off of her facts, other breeds described as aggressive are fought just as much, if not MORE, than Pit Bulls and dogs mislabeled as Pit Bulls. 0.o Bitch what? 

Her invalid argument stated by calling them Bull breed mixes would just put a ban on Bull breeds in general. Well, um, hello!?!? Bull breed mixes and mutts are already being banned because that is what society thinks a Pit Bull is. 

Her little admin friend was attempting to back her up with more false information. I learned yesterday it is a PROVEN fact that when you breed two aggressive dogs together, only ONE puppy out of the whole litter will come out to be aggressive. 0.o Bitch what? Where the hell was I at when this fact was PROVEN (yes she yelled proven at me every time)? I just sat there and stared at my computer screen. I didn't know what to say because that has got to be one of the stupidest things I have ever heard somebody say in all of my time fighting for this breed. 

We live in a democracy! Why are we just lying on our backs and letting the government tell us what we can and cannot own? We can't bring knives to a gun fight. Opinions are knives, facts are guns! By stating it is all in how an owner raises a dog is a fucking opinion. It is an opinion that has been debunked thousands upon thousands of times. Amazing owners have dogs who attack. Shitty owners have dogs who would never even so much as growl. It isn't all in how a dog is raised or treated. Refer back to my first blog post and see my comparison. 

The lady and her admin friend both stated it is okay to classify dogs as Pit Bulls because society will always think they are. WHAT IN THE HOLY APPLE BALLS?!?! We are supposed to be fighting to stop dogs from being mislabeled as vicious. So why are you seriously okay with a dog's breed being mislabeled? It makes absolutely zero sense whatsoever. 

I honestly almost gave up on Pit Bulls last night. I kept relaying what they had said. If you are against breed bans, why wouldn't you try anything and everything to stop them? I felt as though my knowledge wouldn't make a difference if that's how other BBM's owners felt. 

By letting the government know they were WRONG for mislabeling dogs and categorizing more than a dozen breeds as one breed, we could help show the government it is the dog itself and not the breed of dog. That is how we can help by properly labeling. If we bring FACTS to the government to prove they have been DEAD WRONG for all of these years about what a Pit Bull is, it would only further prove we need to blame the dog as one rather than the breed as a whole. 

Once we win the fight to rid BSL, we can come together and eventually win the fight for stricter breeding laws. We can fight the UKC, ADBA, ABKC, AKC, CKC, the crappy CKC, APBR etc. to only register a litter of puppies if they have proof of OFA testings as well as documentation from the state stating the dog has passed all forms of temperament testing. We can fight for country wide laws on the spay and neuter of any dog (even cats) that will not be used for show, breeding, or working purposes. They will obviously need to be provided with proof of papers with the dog's registry as well as be able to be given a certain license allowing this. This will help tremendously on accidental litters as well as the over population of dogs in shelters. 

We can fight for mandatory laws that require all breeders to microchip their dogs and puppies. Let the breeders be the responsible ones to register the dog or puppy with the new owner's information on the microchip. Stricter laws mean less abandoned dogs and puppies.

We can help fight stricter laws for shelters. Use some of the billions of dollars Americans pay in taxes each year to provide proper vet care for all shelters run by the county. No shelter dog should leave the shelter until it has been spayed or neutered. 

The small differences we can make will help with unwanted dogs and puppies in shelters. Of course purebred dogs and puppies can end up in shelters. However, as you should know by now, without proof of papers and lineage, a dog is a mutt. 

If we don't at least try and fight, nothing will change. Gay and Lesbians couples can now legally be married and receive the same benefits just as a traditional couple would. It took decades of fighting for those rights. So why should we be discouraged after our first no? We keep at it until we hear a yes!

Fighting for anything takes time. Not once did I say this would happen overnight. However, again, for the millionth time saying it, we will never know if we don't try.

Now, I know some people are against S/N of their pets because studies have went back and forth showing benefits as well as risks. However, wouldn't you be willing to do anything to keep your dog? If S/N a mutt was the only thing I had to sacrifice to stop BSL, I would grab those scissors in a heartbeat. 

As of now, I feel my head is back on straight and I am still willing to continue to educate. I just ask that all of you do the same.