A Word on Pit Bulls

 Did you know that:

• Jack “the brindle dog” Little House on the Prairie (the REAL Little House on the Prairie as opposed to the television series.) was a pitbull?
• Petey the Pup Little Rascals was a pitbull?

Helen Keller had a pit bull as a companion animal, so have Fred Astaire, President Roosevelt, Mary Tyler Moore, Thomas Edison, Brad Pitt, Ann Bancroft, President Woodrow Wilson, Humphrey Bogart, John Stewart and Bernadette Peters. Even the little dynamo Rachael Ray has a pit bull.

Source: “America’s Nanny Dog”, Tyla Hafstrom/My Word/The Times-Standard, 9/25/07

I’m by no means suggesting that a pit bull terrier is the perfect pet for every household; I AM suggesting that you needn’t run away in fear when you see a pit bull terrier or think the dog’s person is involved in nefarious activities!  Many dogs defy their public images; pit bulls are one of those breeds.  

I have to admit, I was cautious when I met my first pit bull.  Now, I have a 50-pound lap dog that offers me her toys as soon as I walk in the door of my friend’s office.   That interaction made me a little bolder. So when two playful pit bull puppies ran towards me on the beach, I had no problems petting them, tossing the ball or letting Butters play with them.

If you think you’d like to make friends with a pit bull, here are some tips:

• Ask the owner.  Admit that you’re apprehensive, but you’d like to overcome that fear.  The owner should be able to tell you if their dog is fine with fearful folks or if the dog will feed off of your fear.
• Once the owner has control of their dog, offer the back of your hand to the dog for a sniff.
• Let your conscious be your guide. Give the dog a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. If the owner approves offer a small treat, but don’t be offended if the dog doesn’t take it.  Just give it to the owner for later.