Pit Bulls n' Other Animals |
Terrier - or 'terrior-ist'? Pit Bulls are bred down not only from bulldogs, but also from fiesty hunting and ratting terriers. Ya know, those frisky, tenacious little dogs that chase everything that and meaner than they, and have larger than life attitude. These are the relatives of Jack Russels, Fox Terriers, Patterdales, and other similar breeds. Because this type of dog was bred for high prey drive - the intrinsic drive all dogs possess to one degree or another - they often end up in hot pursuit of small animals, unable to help themselves because it's just so darn fun (well, not for the animal being chased). Because Pit Bulls retain this high prey drive, a hand-me-down from their terrier ancestors, this breed may often prove problematic in a home that also keeps cats, or similar small critters. Sometimes a chase is just a chase - other times, a dog in the heat of the moment may actual catch and do harm to the animal it was after. A home with cats that is bringing a Pit Bull into its midst should consider carefully the ramifications of adding a dog which tends to hit the high end of the prey drive scale. Choose an adult dog that's lived with cats peacefully, and be sure to always keep dog and cat seperated when no altercation. The bulldog side of the coin: At the heart of the APBT breed is a bulldog: bold, loyal, courageous beyond all compare. These dogs were bred to catch and hold bulls for the butchers of England-past. Not only were they used for this job, but also for the gruesome 'sport' of bull and bear baiting. That means these dogs were used to catch and hold animals many hundreds of times heavier than they, much stronger, and much meaner. Pit Bulls can be savvy around farm animals, and some have even been known to make herding dogs! However, let's not forget - dogs will be dogs! And for that reason, don't expect your Pit Bull to necessarily view a horse or a cow as a friendly, over-sized playmate. Keep your Pit Bull on leash when around new types of animals, introduce him slowly to the concept of large-smelly-prey-animal (which is essentially all horses and cows are to dogs), and remember that not only could your Pit Bull potentially hurt one of these animals, these hoofed critters could potentially seriously harm your Pit Bull as well. |