The Bull Breeds and Dog Parks

I'm a big fan of the Bull Breeds and I have an Am. Staff who is the best dog in the world, I have also had a couple of Bull Terriers who were great, but not dog-friendly, but great otherwise.
I have recently become irate over a local pit bull advocacy groups statement about not bringing ANY Pit-Biull breed dog to an off leash dog park. I think that this is insane. That groups own motto is "judge the deed not the breed", what are they doing by making this blanket statement?
I understand their concern, they do not want the breed to get any more bad press, but allow the owners of the individual dog to make that decision for themselves. That is just as bad as the States mandating stupid laws on Pit Bull owners, instead of realizing that all dogs should be treated individually. I'm aware that Pits have a greater tendancy to be VERY dog aggressive, but the best way to counteract that is to socialize the animal. By not doing so practicly gaurentees that you will have an aggressive dog.
I believe that the 'type' of owner who is willing to socialize their dog are the very owners we want to have as ambassadors for the breed. I have seen stupid dogs of EVERY breed and those dogs should not be at the dog park, at least without more training, but do not label the eintire breed.

I think all dog parks should have the same rules for everyone.
-pick up your dogs poop
-no dog agressive dogs off leash
-must be fairly trained (enough to come when called)

I love am staff's and pits. I want one when I'm older but I'm afraid that the dog would be confined to do certain things. I already get bad looks when I walk kai with a muzzle looking halti...they think he's agressive...I just stare back at them (and tell him to bark lol).

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Originally posted by binka_nugget
I think all dog parks should have the same rules for everyone.
-pick up your dogs poop
-no dog agressive dogs off leash
-must be fairly trained (enough to come when called)

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I agree.

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Originally posted by binka_nugget

-must be fairly trained (enough to come when called)

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Or maybe

-Owner must be fairly trained. Control your dog when needed.



I love Pitties, they're my favorite. It's only the people who make them look bad.

The only pit bull I have seen at the dog park was Serenity, Mike and Molly's dogs. she is such a sweetie, it would be totally unfair to ban her based on breed alone. I also know a few American Bulldogs, and they too are very sweet dogs.

KayAnn, I like your rule :)

i agree kfamr, good rule (some dogs owner havnt a clue about raising and socialising a dog) and then it is an intire breed that suffers the consequences ~grumbles~

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I already get bad looks when I walk kai with a muzzle looking halti...they think he's agressive...I just stare back at them (and tell him to bark lol).

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lol, i get tha same treatment with clover, and try to explain the workings of the halti, but its a bit hard when the people quickly cross the street ~GRRRRRR~

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I have recently become irate over a local pit bull advocacy groups statement about not bringing ANY Pit-Biull breed dog to an off leash dog park. I think that this is insane. That groups own motto is "judge the deed not the breed", what are they doing by making this blanket statement?

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that is insane, the breed needs as much socialisation as possible if not that is when you have trouble ~Grrr~

I've been to about 2 or 3 dog parks, all in the Northern VA area.
They are generally well kept parks, and I see a lot of breeds come in and out of there, and there are no breed restrictions, which is the way it should be.

What you can do is find out who owns and helps run this dog park and speak to them your concerns about this breed ban!

I have seen some pit breeds come in, and see some other owners grab their dogs and immediately walk out.
I've seen several rowdyness and fights, but NEVER from any pit looking breed.
I frankly LOVE pits and really hope to own one someday, I have a soft spot for them as one of my fav breeds.

-Scoop your poop, and any that someone ELSE didn't bother to pick up.
-ALWAYS keep your eye on your dog(s)
- Always have the leash on your body
- No dogs that are aggressive PERIOD, even if they are onleash, some other dogs can since anothers attitude, or hear growling, and it can send a large pack of dogs into a big frenzy towards other dogs. Some dogs feel uneasy onleash while all others are offleash, and act out. And some other dogs will pick on dogs whom are ON leash.
- I think it's great to have a trained dog, I wish all owners would be this responcible. But I do understand that there are just some dogs that will not 100% reliably come to you when you call them, while they are offleash outdoors. Shiba Inu's specifically are notorious for this!
- An owner needs to be able to take control of their dog in any situation.
- Water guns are stupid when dogs start fighting! It waist time, while another animal gets injured.

My last foster was attacked by 2 dogs, a GP/BC mix, and a rottie (and the rottie's owner had said just a moment sooner, oh, he'd never hurt anyone.)
There was also some ugly Irish Setter mix, HUGE, a good 180 pounds easily. He started 3 fights before his owners finally left, actually the rest of us MADE them leave. And on all occasions the owners just stood in a corner not doing anything about their dog fighting. After ripping open one dogs side, it went for a black lab and bit a chunk out from under it's eye, my fiance had to reach down and grab the Irish SetterX by the neck and litterally lift it up and off of the other dog, cause no one else there could do anything to help the lab, let alone strong enough to do anything about it (another perfect example of bringing dogs you LITTERALLY can not control in any situation)!

My fiance had to hold the dog like this (very aggresive dog) until it's owners finally decided to saunter over, everyone formed a circle around this dog to help prevent him from attacking again.

I don't think it's the pit breeds we need to be worrying about.