From: hope@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov (Sharon Hope)
Subject: Re: pitbulls
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 92 12:57:01 GMT

In article <1992Oct4.020146.28734@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> mw6c@curry.edschool.Virginia.EDU (May  Wang) writes:
>I need information about pitbulls, their origin, their
>behavior, or anything else that a future owner needs to know.
>I'm interested in this type of dog and boxers.  Also, does
>anyone know of a breeder for these dogs.  I can't buy and own
>one now, but I will in the  very near future.  Thanks
>
>May Wang
>Univeristy of Virginia

To: mw6c@curry.edschool.Virginia.EDU
Subject: Re: pitbulls
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Cc: 
Bcc: 

There are several books out on the Pit Bull, as well as books on associated 
breeds such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, etc.  As keeping a Pit Bull 
past the age of 18 months or so is a tremendous responsibility, it would
be an excellent idea to do some thorough reading on the breed, attend some
UKC Dog shows & talk with MANY owners who have adult, mature Pit Bulls (The
emphasis is on adult, as they don't reach their full temperment/agressiveness
until they are @ 18 mo or so, and many former owners who swear how nice they 
are, find they have been stolen from them before this age by people who fight 
them).

AFTER you do all the research, I would suggest going to a university law 
library and looking up case law on the liability that owners of pit bulls 
face (Look into the various cases & see WHY there have been so many 
judgements against Pit Bull owners, compare the number of cases against 
pit bull owners with cases against owners of the other @200 breeds plus 
mongrels owned in the US.  Then check into the size of the judgements against
these owners, both in money and time served.)  See if you can find out the 
answers to the questions: Which breed most often bites people?  Which breed
most often seriously wounds or kills people?  Which breed is most often the 
subject of a lawsuit/prosecution?  What relative percentage of the dog 
population do these breeds represent?

Then, go to the pound & talk to 5 or 6 people who work there and ask for
their opinion on dealing with Pit Bulls.  Ask the circumstances under which
they took these dogs into custody & find out if the pattern of pound
involvement with this breed is different from the other @200 breeds plus 
mongrels owned in the US. 

Call several vets, find out what involvement their office has had with 
pit bulls, either in treating the dogs themselves (do they put a larg number
to sleep for other than health reasons?), or in treating other animals 
which have been exposed to pit bulls.  Is there a higher incidence of 
negative behavior from this breed than would be expected by the relative 
numbers they represent?  If so, to what does the vet attribute this?  Has 
the vet any positive experience with pit bulls?  Is there a personality
type which makes a better owner for this type of dog?

Finally, read some books on genetics, social behavior of the dog, agression, 
etc. (Se FAQ for titles, include Pfaffenberger's New Knowledge of Dog 
Behavior) to be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CANNOT 
"TRAIN AWAY" traits which have been genetically selected for through many
generations of highly selective breeding.

Good luck,
Sharon Hope     (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels & a Newfoundland)
hope@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov   "all opinions my own"
From: krattige@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kim Krattiger)
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 22:58:58 GMT
Subject: Re: Dogs in Europe
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server