Pit Bulls Temperament & Characteristics Webster defines temperment as: the peculiar or distinguishing mental or physical character determined by the relative proportions of the humors according to medieval physiology: characteristic or habitual inclination or mode of emotional response : extremely high sensibility; especially: excessive sensitiveness or irritability. Disposition: prevailing tendency, mood, or inclination: temperamental makeup: the tendency of something to act in a certain manner under given circumstances: the dominant quality or qualities distinguishing a person or group. The breeds of dogs commonly known as "pit bulls" include any Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of one or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds; and the breeds of dogs commonly known as "pit bulls" are descended from dogs that were selectively bred for the purpose of competitive dog fighting; and the characteristics selectively bred into or otherwise commonly found in these dogs include: A strong fighting instinct, together with a low level of inhibition from fighting which make pit bulls dangerous to humans as well as to other animals; A strong chase instinct which, experts believe, causes pit bulls to be a danger around running children; A tendency to attack humans and other animals who exhibit no provocative behavior; A diminished tendency to bark, growl, or otherwise warn potential victims of an intent to attack; A tendency not to cease attacking once engaged, which results in more severe injuries than those inflicted by other breeds; The ability to withstand great pain, which makes it difficult for a person or animal to fight off a pit bull attack; Powerful jaws capable of crushing bones and hanging on to victims even while the pit bull withstands infliction of injury or pain. The true temperment of a pit bull seems to be precariously hidden. Pit bull lovers will not consider their precious animal to be anything other than the best dog breed, no matter how many people are mauled and killed. They are blinded and need to know the truth. They need to know the troublesome characteristics of the pit-bull, which is gameness, determination, and insensitivity to pain....their strong, powerful jaws, their fight to the death attitude and emotional disposition, their intollerance to stress, sensitivity and carelessness with kids, and anger toward other animals. Our temperment relates to our heritage and genetic background the same way a dog's temperament relates to its breed history and genetic inheritance. It is common knowledge, that the Pit Bull breed was created by man for blood sport. First and foremost, memorize the following: THE GOLDEN RULE OF PIT BULL OWNERSHIP - NEVER TRUST YOUR PIT BULL NOT TO FIGHT! This breed is descended from pit dogs one way or another, and, given the right circumstances, most Pit Bulls will fight and against any other breed, they will win (you really don't want to see that!). Scared yet? You should be. Everything a pit bull owners dog does, effects everyone in society. Pit Bull owners have to be extra vigilant 24/7, period. They need to be receptive, have strong leadership, and be able to read canine body language to recognize signs of tension between housemates. They must be prepared to separate the dogs if tensions develop. They need to know when their dog becomes aggressive and they need to take control of their dog under all circumstances. Sound like a lot of work and hassle? It is. Tantamount to raising a child, they need consistancy in training, devoted loving care, a warm, comfortable bed, constant companionship, exercise, and good food. They demand consistant attention. The pit bull is extreemly tempermental, and will become aggressive under stress and strain. Tantamount to a 2 - 5 year old child, they are highly emotional, often frustrated, torn between rant and rage, and in need of constant emotional guidance. If a pit bull owner is emotional or insecure, their pit bull WILL anger and not knowing how to release it, IT WILL EVENTUALLY ATTACK...and it will probably be on the the owner or on the owners child. Surely a pit bull owner believes they are capable of controlling this powerful, tempermental animal, but most pit bulls are smarter than the average man, and the pit does the intimading and controlling. A pit bull is incapable of emotional stability, unless however, the owner is stable, and emotionally secure. How many families today are relieved of stress, strain, and quarreling? 85% of families today are dis-functional. If there is not peace in your family and you fuss and fight, your pit bull will follow suit. Pit Bulls are often dog and people aggressive to one extent or another (this often shows up at or near sexual maturity). Tantamount to a teen ager when going into puberty, their emotions run wild. We have seen what has happened in our schools today, when a teen loses control. The same goes for a pit bull. Their sexual drives take over and seeking release, they over-react and attack. It has been known in many homes, a teen to stand up to their parents, usually a boy against their dad, (I have also known one woman who actually wrestled with her 12 year old daughter.) It is noted that teen age years are the most difficult. Now, take a pit bull, that is their temperment forever, they cannot mature, swaying to and fro like a pendulum. A dog that was previously non-dog aggressive may "turn-on" and suddenly doesn't like other dogs of the same sex, or, for that matter, any dogs at all, even housemates they have been raised with. Pit Bulls should NEVER be left alone with other dogs and require proper supervision. Pit Bulls may exhibit intense "prey drive", leading them to "stalk" small animals such as cats, rats, chickens, livestock, or other pets. Visualize this, "all the dogs and cats have been mauled and killed by the pit bull, and the streets are filled with people walking their bullie dogs and bullie dogs are running the streets without guardianship. How often would you want to go out of the house? How safe would you feel? Can you really trust another person's pit? Most people cannot be trusted themselves, how can one trust their dog. Pit Bulls are precocious and incomparable escape artists, who will often seem to squirt right out of a supposedly secure yard or enclosure. They can jump over a 6 foot fence and dig under any foundation that isn't cement. It has been stated that they are the most difficult animal to contain. Sedalia Mo. pit bull law requires the dog to be kept in a kennel with a top and concrete floor, but this sounds like a cage in which I do not agree. I don't believe any animal should be caged or set out to die upon a leash. However, when you encage a pit bull, they seeth and rage inside waiting for the first opportunity to explode. That pit bull running down the street without a collar, or the pit down the street, could very well be an angry bull, seeking to take his revenge out on you. Pit bulls are intelligent, and love to be trained, in the exact way children want to be disciplined. The way all animals want to be trained, so they can get an "ATTA Boy, or GOOD Girl, and more attention". My kitties LOVE when someone says, "Good girl, or Good Boy". An un-trained pit bull reverts back to their blood fighting days and go on a rampage. A Pit Bull that shows unprovoked human aggression (puppy play nips do NOT count) is showing BAD temperament and in most cases should be put to sleep. The breeding of dogs with bad temperaments is one of the largest problems the breed faces today and fuels the fire of bans and breed specific legislation. Webster says Aggression means: marked by combative readiness . AGGRESSIVE implies a disposition to dominate often in disregard of others' rights or in determined and energetic pursuit of one's ends: dominating, domineering, imperious, overbearing... And all pit bulls have been bred specifically to be aggressive. Major Concerns: 1. Unstable temperaments. American Pit Bull Terriers are a dime a dozen today, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who need a feeling of "power" and "invincibility", and for their love of money. Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see LOTS of Pit Bulls with flat-out dangerous temperaments. Because pit bulls have unstable temperamants, childlike, they can become dangerous at the blink of an eye. 2. Extreme animal aggression Pit bulls are extreemly protective toward their owners and aggressive toward other animals. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize cats, small dogs and other fleeing creatures, including deer and livestock. Because of their initial "Pit bull" breeding, they are capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals and people. To keep a Pit Bull in, and to keep other animals out, fences should be 8' high with wire sunk into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks. 3. Providing enough socialization. American Pit Bull Terriers can be friendly, but they cannot be trusted. Remember, a pit bulls instincts are to attack when it feels threatened, and because of their obsessive, protective instincts, under debate or argument, a friend or relative could be their ideal bait. I have heard that pit bulls need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." But children do not quite know what normal behavior is, so a pit bull cannot know the difference. Every person a pit bull owner invites into their home are in potential danger. Pit bulls are typically suspicious of others, which leads to aggression toward people. 4. Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. American Pit Bull Terriers are powerful dogs who MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Pit Bulls are famous for chewing through drywall, ripping the stuffing out of sofas, and turning your yard into a moonscape of giant craters. If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in weight-pulling, or agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or schutzhund (protection), or a similar canine activity, this breed is absolutely not recommended. And since people fear this dog and veer away, it is difficult to find a place where one can do this successfully, without putting someone's life in danger. 5. The strong temperament. Pit Bulls are not Golden Retrievers. The best Pit Bulls are versatile working dogs, capable of learning a great deal, but they have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and many are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. To teach your Pit Bull to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. This American Pit Bull Terrier Training Page discusses the program you need. 6. Low Intollerance Tolerance has to be learned, and it takes many, many years of practicing self-control. And as you can clearly see in this world today, few can maintain a peaceful and compromising attitude. Yes, just like you, pit bulls frustrate easily, but since they are exceptionally sensitive, they act out their physiological intolerance on other living matter. If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, do not get a Pit Bull. Their intollerance to children and old people is too uncontrollable. 7. The Pit Bulls Bite Grip. Reports of pit bull type dogs refusing to release a bite grip is more likely a function of the breed's gameness - a willingness to engage in a task (such as combat and aggression) despite pain and discomfort. A variant of the 'locking jaw' story is told by Tom Skeldon, Lucas County (Ohio), dog warden, who said that an impounded pit bull that had been used in fighting started "going wild," biting at the walls of the kennel. He shot the dog with a tranquilizer, and then left it for five minutes to let it pass out. When he came back the dog had indeed passed out, but not before it had leaped up and clamped its jaws on a cable used to open the door of the kennel. "Everything else was relaxed, the dog was out cold, but its jaws wouldn't let go of that cable, and he was hanging in midair," said Skeldon. "Not even a Jaguar will do that." 8. Legal liabilities. Pit Bulls are already targeted for "banning" in certain areas. Homeowners' insurance policies may be refused or revoked if you are discovered to own a Pit Bull Terrier. Your friends and neighbors may be very uncomfortable around this breed. In this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a fighting heritage should be seriously considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable. Most Pit Bulls are "too much dog" for the average household. Very few people really have the knowledge or skills necessary to manage this breed, or to provide the type of activities that keep him satisfied. And since accidents happen, and since they will happen to you too, owning a pit bull is like waiting for an accident to happen. I have found that is what I have been doing...Waiting! When will another attack happen? Today, most likely tomorrow, for sure the day after. When? Shortly you will pick up the paper or turn on the news and you will know of another mauling or killing done by the pit bull. Will you be the one defending these animals and blaming everything and everybody else, or will you stand up to what's right and admit to what you knew before you purchased your pit bull puppy...you knew the dangers of owning this animal. You heard about the mauling and killings and you heard loud and clear, but you refused to listen. Are you listening now? Tip: You cannot love and breed an animal simontaniously because they contradict one another. You cannot love and use something at the same time and come out successfully. I could no more make a brothel out of my home with my babies (animals), than I could with my children. And there are no promises that the new borns would get into the right hands. In fact, the odds would be against it. And anyone knowing the truth, that the pit has done This Kind Of Damage Throughout The Country and continues, should be sentenced as the murderers themselves. I see they are cracking down on this in many cities and states, and now Countries. Few people know how to take care of animals properly. In some cities is seems they would just as soon eat them as deal with them. Some put their dogs on chains in the yard and leave them there, some behind a fence with no human contact at all. They become deepely depressed, lose their ability to learn, and die a horrible death. People do that with all animals, not just the pit bull. And No, it's not the pits fault. It's people. It's the breeders who bred this animal in the renaissance days for fighting purposes. It's the fault of today's breeders who breed knowing the inbred viciousness of these animals, the insecurities, the split personality, the seemingly mystics of these temperamental dogs. No, it's not the pit bulls fault. It's not Blackies fault either, or the shitzu Molly, or the little girl that was mauled to death and layed into the casket, or the hundreds more that have already been and are going to be disfigured and killed within this year. God did not create this disaster, man did. And as man created it, man must take the responsiblity and put it to an end. Pit bulls will be literally RUNNING the streets where we live, if the breeders and irresponsible owners are not banned, fined, and jailed to the Greatest extent. My Pit Bull Attack Story Pit Bulls Ancestry The Pit Bulls Temperament Latest Update on Pit Bull Attacks, Maulings, Killings Safety Tips For Pit Bull Attacks Pit Bull Bans - Licenses - Laws Dangerous Dog Liability Insurance Suggestions To Pit Bull Owners Training Your Pit Bull Pit Bull Shelters and Rescue Organizations Pit Bull Awareness Center